Guest Thinkers — November 30, 2010

Correction: “Wire” Creator David Simon Not Optimisitic At All

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

A student asked Wire creator David Simon whether he saw any hopeful signs for the younger generation….

[Photo credits: “Correction,” great catch by Dennis G. of Balloon Juice, David Simon would be proud that someone is still paying to read the news in print; “David Simon” by Lindsay Beyerstein.]

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

A man with long hair, a beard, glasses, and a bandana on his head, reminiscent of David Foster Wallace, poses for a portrait against a plain background.

High Culture

How suicide warped David Foster Wallace’s legacy

The writer’s tragic death at age 46 has led many to view him as a tortured artist. Here’s why this label is reductive.

Image with a split view: the left half shows a black-and-white image of Earth, the right half depicts a grayscale crowd scene. Text overlay: "More Humans Are Better," with the number "3" in the top right corner.

The Present

The overlooked virtues of a crowded world

In a world of rising cynicism, a celebration of our capacity to create, adapt, and thrive.

Person holding an open, empty brown wallet with both hands, outdoors.

The Past

The deep and enduring history of universal basic income

While the concept stretches back centuries, it has garnered significant attention in recent decades.

Five people stand or sit around a large, ominous hole in the ground, under a cloudy sky, reflecting on their struggles and supporting each other in raising mental health awareness.

Neuropsych

“Awareness” overload: How TikTok’s mental health content goes off the rails

Mental health awareness is more widespread than ever. Some professionals think it may have gone overboard — especially on TikTok.

A man holding a transparent rectangular object up to his eyes, reminiscent of the analytical gaze of Robert and Frank Oppenheimer.

The Past

The atomic bomb, exile and a test of brotherly bonds: Robert and Frank Oppenheimer

A rift in thinking about who should control powerful new technologies sent the brothers on diverging paths. For one, the story ended with a mission to bring science to the public.

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Inventor, entrepreneur, author of best-selling book The Singularity is Near, and futurist Ray Kurzweil recently spoke to TIME magazine about his predictions for humanity’s future. Some highlights: 1) Computers are becoming cheaper, […]