Technology & Innovation — November 2, 2009

Magnolia Bakery, Uncut

Steve Abrams wouldn’t advise dropping out of college, though it seemed to work for him. He got out of there a semester in, and is now successfully the owner of New York City’s famous cupcake spot, Magnolia Bakery. Does Abrams regret missing those four years of higher education?

Abrams also talked to Big Think about what it’s like to own a popular food joint in the city that never sleeps, while his brother Danny is doing the same thing on the Upper West Side. Is there ever strife between the two siblings as they navigate the fickle waters of New York?

Abrams delves into the push-pull between retaining the integrity of a brand and expanding it. Will we soon be able to buy Magnolia cupcakes in Whole Foods?

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Neuropsych

25 years since Columbine: We’re closer to decoding mass-shooter psychology

Public mass shooters almost always have worldviews shaped by the "3 Rs": rage, resentment, and revenge.

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Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: “Is there anything wrong with trauma dumping?”

When does "oversharing" become an issue?

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Leadership

Adam Grant on how to identify and develop high-potential leaders

The ability to toggle between abstract and concrete thinking is a key differentiator of high-potential leaders.

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Business

Want true success? Be more philosophical about “good” and “bad” failure.

Bob Dylan gave us the paradoxical gem "there's no success like failure, and failure's no success at all." He had a point.

Starts With A Bang

The idea that matter is mostly empty space is mostly wrong

Practically all of the matter we see and interact with is made of atoms, which are mostly empty space. Then why is reality so... solid?

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