Weekend Reads: August 17, 2018

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Dude, She’s (Exactly 25 Percent) Out of Your League

Robinson Meyer | The Atlantic | Tweeted by Brian Knight

Do dating leagues exist? Which genders, ethnicities, and ages are most desired? A University of Michigan study reveals trends in the world of online dating.

 

Behind Hollywood’s A-List Bidding War for a McDonald’s Monopoly Article

Chris Lee | Vulture | Shared by Andrea O’Sullivan

An article exposing a true crime case of drug trafficking, mobsters, strip clubs, and Mormons became a bidding war between Hollywood’s top producers. Learn how this little-known story went from FBI archives to a $1 million movie option with Matt Damon and Be Affleck’s production company.

 

Here’s How Stanford Scientists Measured the Speed of Death

Luke Dormehl | Digital Trends | Retweeted by Tyler Cowen

How does death actually take form in a person’s body? Luke Dormehl examines new research from Stanford University on how living cells die.

 

Progressives Are Regulating Away the Equality-Boosting Benefits of Uber, Airbnb and Google

John McGinnis | Time | Shared by Donald Boudreaux

New technologies help reduce inequality by increasing access to services that ease day to day life, but complex regulations could slow or stop this process, according to John McGinnis in Time.

 

Self-Driving Cars Are Surprisingly Secure

Neil J. Rubenking | PCMag | Tweeted by Veronique de Rugy

Ever imagine yourself sitting in the car, reading the daily news or listening to the latest Conversations with Tyler podcast, while the car automatically drives you to work? This dream may be closer to reality than you imagine—and safer.

 

Banks and Retailers are Tracking How You Type, Swipe and Tap

Stacy Cowley | The New York Times | Shared by Andrea O’Sullivan

Did you know that the way you tap, scroll, and type can be tracked and used as a unique identifier? Companies are expanding their data capabilities at a dramatic rate and using such information to track and prevent fraud.

 

Spotify’s $30 Billion Playlist for Global Domination

Robert Safian | Fast Company | Tweeted by Brent Skorup

An unlikely company changed the music industry and now seeks to take on giants like Apple, Amazon, and Google.

 

Why is Macroeconomics so Hard to Teach?

The Economist | Tweeted by David Beckworth

Learning and teaching Macroeconomics courses can be difficult; it is not sufficient to merely “crank through the equations.” Learn why this is and how the best professors master the craft in The Economist.  

 

In Thailand, ‘Obesity in Our Monks Is a Ticking Time Bomb’

Muktita Suhartono | The New York Times | Shared by Tyler Cowen

Modern food trends toward store-bought and sugary food are having an unexpected outcome in Thailand: monks are gaining weight via unhealthy food offerings. Read about a struggle between old and new cultural practices.

 

Bribes, Backdoor Deals, and Pay to Play: How Bad Rosé Took Over

Victoria James | Bon Appetit | Shared by Andrea O’Sullivan

Rosé is breaking into the evening fare limelight—but at what cost? It turns out the pink drink may be deceiving restaurant-goers, according to sommelier Victoria James in Bon Appetit.

 

The Walter Lippmann Colloquium and the Meaning of Liberalism

Richard Eberling | American Institute for Economic Research | Tweeted by Peter Boettke

The term “liberalism” has become distorted in recent political theory. What is its history, and why does the language matter?

 

New York City is the Perfect Scooter Market, but It’s Also the Most Impossible

Shoshana Wodinsky | The Verge | Tweeted by Jennifer Huddleston Skees

Trying to manage a tough regulatory market, scooter companies like Bird and Lime Bike are eager to make headway in New York City’s car-focused transit system.

 

Are Buybacks Really Shortchanging Investment?

Jesse M. Fried and Charles C.Y. Wang | Harvard Business Review | Retweeted by David Beckworth

In America’s largest public corporations, how do stock buybacks and dividend payments contribute to the economy? Jesse M. Fried and Charles C.Y. Wang explore the issue in Harvard Business Review.  

 

The Sprawling, Intrusive Administrative State is Keeping You Unwell

George Will | The Washington Post | Shared by Donald Boudreaux

An additional MRI machine would benefit Gajendra Singh’s North Carolina community and his business, but he must appeal to state regulators and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars simply to get such a purchase approved.