Top Ten for June 24, 2021
The outsider and the insider perspectives on taxes and the absurdly wealthy – I await Matt “Everything Is Insider Trading” Levine’s take
We don’t have a drinking problem, we have a social disconnection problem
Tone Glow interviews George Lewis
John Eliot Gardiner’s podcast on Monteverdi and the world of 1600 – also Harnoncourt’s Monteverdi productions are subtitled on YouTube: L’Orfeo and Poppea
Russia’s Adaptive Authoritarianism
When Graphs Are a Matter of Life and Death
“Neither the evolutionary nor the technological changes to our social systems have come about with the express purpose of promoting global sustainability or quality of life. Recent and emerging technologies such as online social media are no exception — both the structure of our social networks and the patterns of information flow through them are directed by engineering decisions made to maximize profitability […] The emergent functional consequences are unknown”
Relatedly: Out-group animosity drives engagement on social media
The Underground Railroad – I was unfamiliar with the source material, only knowing it was highly regarded, so I was unprepared for how fantastic this adaptation is. The magic-realist tone (reminding me of Exit West) is a daring choice, and should not work but succeeds brilliantly and adds layers of emotional depth. It's a nightmarish experience to watch – the closest thing I can think to its unflinching cavalcade of horror would be Come and See. (There's a film the director Barry Jenkins uploaded featuring static shots of Railroad’s characters which is also remarkable.)