The chief executive of National Public Radio has resigned, in the wake of a kerfuffle involving a James O'Keefe video sting. I am baffled by the whole affair, but the core crime that set all of this in motion appears to be the fact that another NPR executive had the audacity to use the word "xenophobic" in relation to the Tea Party. WaPo, NYT, more NYT. (disclosure: I am a proud freelance contributor to the radio network).
NPR CEO resigns
Why e-sports careers are shorter than those of athletes
E-sports stars have short careers—shorter than sports stars. The general assumption is that the coordination and focus required selects for youth even more than athletic performance does, but medical experts say that's not at all true. Instead, the Washington Post's Jonathan Lee traces more complex causes: success leads to an entrepreneurial track promoting gamer bric-a-brac;… READ THE REST
Amazon to close 68 stores, including all bookstores
Amazon is to close all its "physical" bookstores among dozens of others, reports Publishers Weekly, ending a six-year experiment even as other brick-and-mortar efforts thrive. Many industry observers believed Amazon's goal in opening the stores was to experiment with new shopping technologies, showroom its book and book-related offerings, and examine consumer behavior. Indeed, after the… READ THE REST
Epic Games is buying Bandcamp
Fortnight publisher Epic Games has acquired Bandcamp, the online platform that transformed the independent music business in wonderful ways. "The products and services you depend on aren't going anywhere, we'll continue to build Bandcamp around our artists-first revenue model," said Bandcamp co-founder/CEO Ethan Diamond in a statement. From The Verge: Epic describes Bandcamp as committed… READ THE REST
This minimalist light packs a maximalist punch
A beautiful light can really tie together a room or even a car for that matter. And while there are some really not-so-subtle ones that can drum up conversation, you're much better off having a more subdued-looking light that lets its color do the speaking. Unfortunately, there's no shortage of tacky and attention-grabbing pieces of furniture out there,… READ THE REST
This affordable and stylish tabletop fire pit leaves zero mess
Whether it's winter or summer, there is something so inviting about a fire. It's a great way to create intimate lighting, adds to the coziness of an atmosphere, and enhances the aesthetics of any situation. We haven't even gotten to the s'mores benefits of fires yet! But the reality is that fires can be frustrating… READ THE REST
Get your wine on this summer with 15 bottles from Splash Wines for $50
There's nothing quite like sipping on a chilled glass of wine on a hot summer day to take the edge off and wind down. This summer, instead of spending $10 to $20 per bottle, you can get an assortment of 15 good-tasting wines from Splash Wines for only $50. An amazing way to prepare and stock up… READ THE REST
