Longform

The history of a Japanese archipelago and its inhabitants, through rebellions and famine, a 20th century exodus for prostitution work across Asia, and finally depopulation and isolation.

A profile of Eric Holder.

Steven Seagal spent a few years in Japan and  returned to open a dojo in L.A.. Jules Nasso was the wiseguy producer behind all of Seagal’s hits. When it all fell apart, Seagal reputedly offered money for a contract killing, and Nasso may have been caught on tape arranging to extort Seagal through the Gambino Family.

The case that brought leaks to the popular consciousness.

The profile that led to the Massey Energy CEO’s resignation.

On the suicide of a promising professional golfer.

The director of Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours on his aversion to America, the advantages of small budgets, and the challenges of directing the opening ceremony for the London Olympics.

A Stockholm prostitute is found hacked apart in a dumpster, her head is never found. Two accomplished doctors, confirmed creeps, are arrested. Uncertainty endures.

The interior life of a sniper, the most misunderstood icon of the modern military.

A report from Minnesota’s Angle Township, which was put in the U.S. instead of Canada by a map-maker’s error.

A tech neophyte looks for answers in Silicon Valley, “the last place in America where people are this optimistic.”

The amiable international arms dealer and the sting.

A former pilot of miniature cocaine-smuggling submarines tells his story.

A grandmaster on the computers that have bested him and how we have misunderstood the implications of artificial intelligence.

Nick Denton is rebooting his entire Gawker empire—and his vision is drawn more from TV than blogs.

“Why are you putting all that muddle in your brain that’s not needed to be there?”

An interview about why giving interviews is totally worthless.

A profile of the late artist and author Norris Church Mailer, who stayed with her husband Norman despite his notorious philandering.

Thoughts on an emerging brand of feminism and the ridiculousness of claiming that Tina Fey is unattractive.

Inside the world of competitive coding.

Autopsy of a spy.

The cop says she nabbed an online sexual predator. He says he was just willing to chat whatever it took to get laid in real life. Their story, from both perspectives.

A profile of Rafael Pérez, an infamously corrupt LAPD officer and the inspiration behind the Vic Mackey character on The Shield.

Where the actual online money is centralized, and where Google will have to go to continue chasing it.

The addictive lure of Brooklyn’s last bingo parlors.

A profile of Larry David, with a focus on his years as a struggling stand-up. “I was hoping that somehow I could get some kind of cult following and get by with that.”