Weekend Reads: July 13th, 2018

“Google Was Not a Normal Place”: Brin, Page, and Mayer on the Accidental Birth of the Company That Changed Everything

Adam Fisher | Vanity Fair | Retweeted by Andrea O’Sullivan

A first-hand account from Google’s original founders, advisers, and investors on how the development of arguably the most important company on the internet really happened.

McDonald’s 2.0: How Fast-Food Chains Are Using Design to Go Local

Nate Berg | Curbed | Shared by Tyler Cowen

Quick-service restaurants are experimenting with changing their customer experience to capitalize on emerging trends, from serving beer to sponsoring local art.

An Isolated Country Runs on Mobile Money

Matina Stevis-Gridneff | The Wall Street Journal | Retweeted by James Broughel

Developing countries, such as the self-declared republic of Somaliland, are relying more and more on digital money services to support their economies. In the midst of extreme economic and fiscal situations, money apps like Zaad are a driving force for the economy.

Waiter, There’s a Bloody Mary in My Chicken Dinner

Thomas Vinciguerra | The Wall Street Journal | Tweeted by Brian Knight

Typically a post-rough-night staple, some restaurants are taking the classic Bloody Mary to new heights.

It Took a Village to Raise Kavanaugh

David Brooks | The New York Times | Tweeted by Tyler Cowen

In his column at The New York Times, David Brooks reviews the history and rise of the conservative legal movement. He points to the role of communities in developing top thinkers and transforming the legal landscape.

A Massive, Black Sarcophagus Has Been Unearthed in Egypt, and Nobody Knows Who's Inside

David Nield | Science Alert | Retweeted by Veronique de Rugy

A tomb recently found in Alexandria, Egypt likely hasn’t been opened since it was sealed 2,000 years ago, a rare find for the area. Experts are working to determine what – and who – is inside.

You Accidentally Sent $149 to a Stranger on Venmo? Good Luck Getting It Back

 Telis Demos | The Wall Street Journal | Retweeted by Brian Knight

What happens when you Venmo the wrong person? Hopefully, you sent it to the “right” wrong person, and they’ll return it. Otherwise, you’re out of luck.

Casper Is Opening a Nap Store

 Chavie Lieber | Racked | Shared by Tyler Cowen

If you’re in New York City, you can now pay $25 to take a 45-minute nap at the Dreamery, a “nap store” brought to you by mattress-in-a-box trendsetter, Casper. With fresh sheets and loaner pajamas, the Dreamery offers a place to lay low and recharge.

Hunting the Con Queen of Hollywood: Who's the "Crazy Evil Genius" behind a Global Racket?

Scott Johnson | The Hollywood Reporter | Retweeted by Andrea O’Sullivan

For over a year, a cunning thief posing as powerful women in the entertainment industry has scammed freelancers, photographers, former Marines, and more out of thousands of dollars by offering high paying work.

Bugs Are Coming Soon to Your Dinner Table

TicToc by Bloomberg | YouTube | Tweeted by Robert Graboyes

The newest super food? Ground up crickets. A video by Bloomberg claims this high protein powder may be the key to resolving the world food crisis.

Why Detroit is the Most Expensive City in America to Buy Car Insurance

The Economist | Tweeted by Brent Skorup

Estimates find that up to 60 percent of Detroit drivers operate vehicles without car insurance. This problem is likely due to insurance costs in the area being nearly four times the national average. What spurred these excessive prices? The Economist writers explore.

When We Raised Taxes to Fund Wars

 Jerrod Laber | The American Conservative | Retweeted by Veronique de Rugy

The Afghanistan war is now more than a decade old. Why has it garnered so little public attention? Because the United States now pays for war on credit instead of by raising taxes claims Sarah Kreps in her new book, Taxing Wars: The American Way of War Finance and the Decline of Democracy.