The 'Caliphate's' Colonies: Islamic State's Gradual Expansion into North Africa
“The Jihad route leads from Tunisia via Tripoli into Turkey and on to Syria. Thousands have followed the path into Syria, and only a few have returned.”
“The Jihad route leads from Tunisia via Tripoli into Turkey and on to Syria. Thousands have followed the path into Syria, and only a few have returned.”
Mirco Keilberth, Juliane von Mittelstaedt, Christoph Reuter Der Spiegel English Nov 2014 15min Permalink
How a major American company helped bring Charles Taylor to power in Liberia.
T. Christian Miller, Jonathan Jones ProPublica Nov 2014 10min Permalink
The comedian on his show business bucket list, Donald Sterling, and whether he ever feels guilty for being funny.
"I just know that sometimes the things that scare you the most or make you want to cry the most or are the most tragic are the things you just gravitate to or address in a comedic context, partially because you shouldn't."
Previously: Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah's "If He Hollers Let Him Go," a Best of 2013 pick.
Mark Anthony Green GQ Nov 2014 20min Permalink
A profile of Uber CEO Travis Kalanick.
Ellen Cushing San Francisco Nov 2014 25min Permalink
"Imagine a great hall of fetishes where whatever you felt like fucking or being fucked by, however often your tastes might change, no matter what hardware or harnesses were required, you could open the gates and have at it on a comfy mattress at any time of day. That’s what the internet has become for music fans. Plus bleacher seats for a cheering section."
Steve Albini The Guardian Nov 2014 30min Permalink
How bad lawyering and an unforgiving law cost condemned men their last appeal.
Ken Armstrong The Marshall Project Nov 2014 20min Permalink
Superstar coders, like actors and athletes, now have agents.
Lizzie Widdicombe New Yorker Nov 2014 25min Permalink
A report from the Central African Republic, where "acts of extraordinary cruelty have become commonplace."
The rapid rise of a wordless language.
Adam Sternbergh New York Nov 2014 20min Permalink
Wikipedia's legendary sex illustrator, the mysterious L'Wren Scott and an old friend confronts Stephen Glass — the most read articles this week in the new Longform App, available free for iPhone and iPad.
The story and work of Seedfeeder.
Sixteen years after he was exposed as the most fraudulent journalist of his generation, Stephen Glass is confronted by an old friend.
Hanna Rosin The New Republic 25min
How do you start closing the gap between rich and poor? Convince the rich to do it themselves.
L’Wren Scott went from bullied Mormon teen to international model to Hollywood stylist to fashion designer, becoming Mick Jagger’s girlfriend in the process. In March, she took her own life.
Phoebe Eaton GQ (UK) 30min
An investigation into sexual abuse in youth sports, with a focus on USA Swimming.
Rachel Sturtz Outside 10min
Virginia state senator Creigh Deeds, a year after his mentally ill son stabbed him multple times before committing suicide.
Stephanie McCrummen Washington Post Nov 2014 25min Permalink
The early days of electronic spreadsheets and how the tool transformed business.
Steven Levy Harper's Jan 1984 20min Permalink
During the financial crisis, Sal Pane ran a multimillion-dollar mortgage scam. A few years later, with the help of some high-profile media appearances and a dead man's resume, he won the government contract to clean up Ebola in New York.
Alex Campbell, Andrew Kaczynski Buzzfeed Nov 2014 20min Permalink
On systemic corrpution in the upper house of British Parliament, where lawmakers have the freedom to work for any business—banks, oil companies, Facebook—willing to pay for their “expertise.”
Justin Scheck, Charles Forelle Wall Street Journal Nov 2014 10min Permalink
A woman bonds with her terminally ill sister over food, memories, and shaky lives.
For a daily short story recommendation from our editors, try Longform Fiction or follow @longformfiction on Twitter.
Kyle Lucia Wu Joyland Nov 2014 30min Permalink
The story of a New York City bar and its owner, Old John McSorley.
Joseph Mitchell New Yorker Apr 1940 25min Permalink
How do you start closing the gap between rich and poor? Convince the rich to do it themselves.
Michael Lewis The New Republic Nov 2014 10min Permalink
What happened to McDonald’s?
Beth Kowitt Fortune Nov 2014 15min Permalink
Last summer, Gia Allemand took her own life in a New Orleans apartment complex. The first person on the scene was her boyfriend, NBA star Ryan Anderson. This is the story of how he survived.
Chris Ballard Sports Illustrated Nov 2014 1h15min Permalink
“The Anonymous mystique had allowed a group of incompetents to hijack, then discredit, an important grassroots movement in the eyes of national media.”
Adrian Chen The Nation Nov 2014 Permalink
“‘Have you ever killed anybody?’”
Patsy Sims Oxford American Nov 2014 45min Permalink
An illustrated look at modern love, texting, and sex.
Jenna Wortham Matter Nov 2014 15min Permalink
An investigation into sexual abuse in youth sports, with a focus on USA Swimming.
Rachel Sturtz Outside Nov 2014 10min Permalink
The art of the voiceover.
Mac McClelland Medium Nov 2014 20min Permalink
Reihan Salam is the executive editor of National Review.
"I’m incredibly curious about other people. I’m curious about what they think of as the constraints operating on their lives. Why do they think what they think? If I weren’t doing this job, I’d want to be a high school guidance counselor."
Thanks to TinyLetter, Bonobos, and Cards Against Humanity’s Ten Days or Whatever of Kwanzaa for sponsoring this week's episode.
Show Notes:
Nov 2014 Permalink