Articles of the week
How America Can Break Its Highway Addiction: In the 1980s, an unlikely alliance slowed the construction of nature-destroying dams. We just might be able to pull it off again. (Slate)
The Business—and Politics—of Storytelling: “Everyone is talking about ‘narratives,’” Crisis of Narration begins. Han offers no specifics about this “everyone,” or about what they may have said in their discussions about narration. He adds merely that everyone’s discourse “betrays a crisis of narration.” Our ability to make sense of our own personal experiences within the framework of an autobiographical life story, and of our collective identity and aspirations within the framework of a political history, he declares, is being degraded—as love, labor, etc., are said to have been degraded in Han’s other texts—by modern technology. (American Affairs Journal)
Meet the megadonors pumping millions into the 2024 election. The 50 biggest donors this cycle have collectively pumped $1.5 billion into political committees and other groups competing in the election, according to a Washington Post analysis of Federal Election Commission data. (Washington Post)
Private Equity Is Coming for Youth Sports: Kids’ sports have become an expensive, high-pressure affair. An industry famous for squeezing out value claims it will make the experience better. (Businessweek)
Sunk cost: The rise and fall of NFTs made and unmade OpenSea — the largest marketplace for the crypto asset. But insider accounts of the company reveal a chaotic work environment, ever-shifting priorities, and troubles with the SEC. (The Verge)
How To Make Millions As a Professional Whistleblower: A little-known provision in US law permits anyone to blow the whistle on financial fraud — and potentially take home a percentage of the funds collected. One undercover sleuth has made a wild career out of it. (GQ)
Experiencing Car Week Through The Lens Of Rolex: Car Week, an annual event held in August, sees the automotive world descend upon the Carmel-Monterey area for a series of shows, events, unveilings, and more – all leading up to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Rolex, the famed Swiss brand has been a long-time supporter of events, and over four days no small measure of amazing cars, along with an endless stream of timepiece spotting along the way. (Hodinkee)