December 1st, 2011
utnereader
Zoom GQ compiled a list of the windbags who qualify as the 25 least influential people alive. Among the useless: Hosni Mubarak, Harrison Ford, Amy Chua, and Michele Bachmann’s husband Marcus. (Oh, and the guy pictured above.) The coolest artists’ retreats in the world: the Fogo Island Studios. Some schools say computers don’t belong in classrooms. Bisexuality isn’t a lie. Environmental journalism doesn’t always have to be tragic—or does it? Local-food smackdown: Anna Lappé takes on economist Steve Sexton, a.k.a. the Freakonomics guy, after he crunches the numbers and determines that Big Ag should feed the world. Some people step on ants and vacuum up spiders. Others build overwintering structures for insects. Would mauve roses convince you to accept biotechnology? Race to the bottom: India’s maiden Grand Prix, reports Caravan, arrives in the middle of a simmering controversy over land and development. There’s a certain sort of sardonic humor in the visual history of the airline safety card. Created by the founder of PayPal and a philosopher who wears purple pants to work, Palantir is the CIA’s secret weapon against global terrorism. Pointlessly gendered products. Who knew women sleep better with pink earplugs? Science nerds, rejoice! Scientific American is offering its complete archive of magazines from 1845 to 1909 online for a limited time. Included in the issues are lists of new inventions: the December 18, 1909 edition includes an antiseptic toothbrush holder and adjustable candelabra, with an artificial foot and baby gate on the list of patents pending. Are scribbled drawings by the Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten as important as ancient hieroglyphics and cave paintings?

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