From a special issue of Behemoth: A Journal on Civilisation on Illegal Markets, Criminal Organizations, and Political Violence, Letizia Paoli (LINC): Searching for the Determinants of Organized Crime: Some Preliminary Reflections; and Thomas Welskopp (Bielefeld): Bottom of the Barrel: The US Brewing Industry and Saloon Culture Before and During National Prohibition, 1900–1933. From AJPS, Rick K. Wilson on the Seven Deadly Sins of Publishing. From the latest issue of 4strugglemag, Ward Churchill on Lynne Stewart and the perversion of compassionate release. Is the NSA a fascist tyranny? Mike LaBossiere wonders. From the Army Times’ Outside the Wire blog, Toni Rico on a controversial billboard: What’s the problem with this photo? DJ Pangburn on how Nixon had it right: The government should be wiretapped. From Politico, Maggie Haberman on Hillary Clinton's shadow campaign. We need to talk about TED: Science, philosophy and technology run on the model of American Idol — as embodied by TED talks — is a recipe for civilisational disaster. Could ad hominem arguments sometimes be OK? Evan McMorris-Santoro and Ruby Cramer on one progressive group’s shameless plan to take over the world. Emily Atkin on everything you wanted to know about the “polar vortex”. You won’t believe these Weather Channel headlines: By naming winter storms and creating viral web content, The Weather Channel has transitioned into the modern media age.
