Those who read own the world, and those who watch television lose it.
-Werner Herzog

Food for Thought:

• NYTimes – The Last Day of Her Life. When Sandy Bem found out she had Alzheimer’s, she resolved that before the disease stole her mind, she would kill herself. The question was, when?
• Medium – ‘One Thing You Can Say for the War on Drugs … Is We Gave It a Fair Shot’.  An Interview with Johann Hari, best-selling author of “Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs.
• NYTimes – Where Would the Kardashians Be Without Kris Jenner?  It almost pains me to include this as the Kardashians are inescapable – but behind the tv show, commercials, shameless product endorsements, etc. is Kris Jenner – the master puppeteer.
• LongReads – The Man Who Became Big Bird.  An interview with Caroll Spinney, who, at 81, has worked at “Sesame Street” as the puppeteer behind Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch for 45 years.
• ChiMag – These Suburban Preppers Are Ready for Anything.  They’re rich, armed, and ready for the end of days—and they just might live in the McMansion down your street.
• WSJ – Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s Lessons Learned.  Five years after his firing, the former U.S. commander in Afghanistan on modern warfare, Islamic State and applying military lessons to the business world.
• Slate – YouTube Killed the Studio Audience.  What I learned from going to tapings of every late-night show.
• WSJ – Letterman, the Last American Broadcaster.  David Letterman, who steps down next week after more than 30 years in late-night TV, evolved from zany oddball to great American broadcaster, one without peer in his ability to segue from serious stuff to slapstick.

Business/Economics/Investing:

• New Yorker – Tomorrow’s Advance Man.  Marc Andreessen’s plan to win the future.
• WSJ – Bank of America’s Woes Test ‘Fixer’ CEO.  Brian Moynihan struggles to move past the financial crisis, trying shareholders’ patience.
• WSJ – The Federal Reserve Asset Bubble Machine – Credit BN – Easy money is driving up the price of stocks, bonds, houses and other assets in a era without historical precedent.
• Barrons – Can Third Avenue Get Back on Track?  Marty Whitman’s fabled value shop is struggling to regain its performance edge. A new manager with an eye on risk could help.
• NYTimes – Facing Vicious Debt Cycle, Greece Sprints to Apply Fixes
• Medium – Shut Down Your Office. You Now Work in Slack.  The messaging service first took over the digital work world. Now it’s everywhere… Behind the scenes of the fastest growing start up of all time.

Life/Culture/Art/Science:

• Nautilus – The Man Who Beat HIV at Its Own Game for 30 Years. A survivor’s story is about to change.
• WSJ – The ‘Michigan Model’ for Malpractice Reform.  A communication and resolution program reduced claims by 36%.
• WSJ – Bourbon Feels the Burn of a Barrel Shortage.  Surge in popularity coincided with downturn in white oak logging.
• WSJ – Restaurants’ Secrets to Keeping VIP Diners Happy.  Databases, clandestine food deliveries and other ways to please big-spending repeat customers.
• Medium – The Future of Web Design is Hidden in the History of Architecture