Guest Thinkers — August 18, 2010

Customers Warm to Coffee Shops That Ban Wi-Fi Access

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More signs of a shift in society towards time and space that is unplugged: Cafes are attracting customers by banning Wi-Fi access. “People come here because we don’t offer it. They know they can get their work done and not get distracted,” Los Angeles cafe owner Dan Drozdenko tells the blog Where the Locals Eat.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Arms burdened with a large stack of papers, folders, and rolled-up documents, a person exemplifies toxic productivity. Their black bag hangs precariously from their arm as they navigate the weight of their workload.

The Learning Curve

How to break free from your “toxic productivity” cycle

Psychotherapist Israa Nasir explains how a “value-aligned life” can help us crush our goals — without being crushed by the need to accomplish more.

Collage of social media icons and pixelated images in a grid layout, featuring Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook logos on a red background.

The Present

Internet freedom is fading in the new era of social control

“The evolution of digital media makes stricter regulation of online behavior not only feasible but inevitable,” writes media ecologist Andrey Mir.

Abstract digital art featuring geometric shapes, circuitry patterns, and a central star motif on a blue and red background.

The Present

Is this the biggest industrial espionage campaign in history?

The cat-and-mouse game between China and the world’s semiconductor companies is already having enormous consequences.

Illustration of human evolution with silhouettes of ape to human walking against an abstract background with swirling red and white patterns.

The Past

A new spin on the “Stoned Ape Hypothesis”

The controversial theory about magic mushrooms and human evolution gets a much-needed update.

A bald man in a black-and-white portrait is centered on a split blue and green background with flowcharts and graphs, embodying founder mode.

Business

The nuances of “founder mode”: Boundaries and empowerment

Semyon Dukach — founding partner of VC firm One Way Ventures — adds balance to the founder mode debate.

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