The Hidden History of the Laundry Chute

Dead bodies, thieves, skulls, and historical bits of ephemera that fly out of pockets on the passage down are just some of the hidden secrets that laundry chutes reveal.

Source: The Atlantic
Published: Feb 16, 2017
Length: 7 minutes (1,925 words)

Dissipation and Disenchantment: The Writing Life in Argentina in the 1990s

In 1995, twenty-one year old novelist Mariana Enriquez came to fame in Argentina on the power of a single novel built around youthful subcultures, drugs, and her love of Emily Bronte, David Bowie and Iggy Pop, then she quickly sank back into the shadows. She liked it that way.

Published: Feb 21, 2017
Length: 13 minutes (3,334 words)

Writing for Rejection (and Reading Doris Lessing)

On reality, writing, publishing, fiction, non-fiction, Doris Lessing, and femininity: a writer muses on writing that impacted her, and what it means to write fiction at all.

Author: Nell Zink
Source: n+1
Published: Feb 24, 2017
Length: 18 minutes (4,525 words)

Tokyo Plays Itself

From butler cafes and cat cafes to dinners eaten in front of robots, Tokyo offers visitors a range of over-the-top, touristy experiences as beloved for their camp as their escapism, but what does the city’s themed experiences reveal about its unique psyche? Does it have to mean anything at all?

Source: Eater
Published: Feb 21, 2017
Length: 14 minutes (3,701 words)

The red carpet isn’t actually red, and other secrets underfoot at the Oscars

The secrets behind the famed red carpet at the Oscar Awards, revealed.

Published: Feb 24, 2017
Length: 6 minutes (1,618 words)

The Wait

On the agonizing waiting period after an inconclusive ultrasound and whether there is such a thing as a good miscarriage.

Source: Lenny
Published: Feb 15, 2017
Length: 10 minutes (2,596 words)

The Eye of the Beholder

Rorschach tests may have fallen out of favor among psychologists, but maybe their real value is as pieces of art?

Author: Merve Emre
Published: Feb 21, 2017
Length: 9 minutes (2,482 words)

Code Rouge

Cosmetic companies like Estée Lauder Cos., the company behind MAC, Clinique, and other popular brands have been battling counterfeit cosmetics for years. But the rise of sourcing websites such as China’s Alibaba has made it even easier for people to buy counterfeit makeup in bulk and sell them to unsuspecting buyers who believe they’re getting a deal on real products.

Published: Feb 22, 2017
Length: 14 minutes (3,698 words)

The Future of Not Working

As automation reduces the need for human labor, some Silicon Valley executives think a universal income will be the answer — and the beta test is happening in Kenya.

Published: Feb 3, 2017
Length: 16 minutes (4,150 words)

The Hunt for the Perfect Sugar

The quest for a zero-calorie sweetener is getting more urgent — and harder than ever. Will the science and economics of Big Food finally get us to the fake-sugar grail?

Source: Fortune
Published: Feb 22, 2017
Length: 16 minutes (4,049 words)