Take some time this weekend to delve a bit deeper and enjoy these long reads.
Across the African divide – Ron Johnstone (Inside Story)
The widespread myopia that lumps all African-Australians together as a single community means the negative focus of the media and our migrant-obsessed discourse reflects badly on anyone of black African descent. “Like it or not, these guys are Australians now,” says Lado. “If you keep referring to ‘Africans,’ you’re accusing even the most innocent baby born here.”
My life with Lance Armstrong – Mike Anderson (Outside Online)
I was Lance’s personal assistant for two years, during the height of his racing career. Do I think he cheated? Yep. But my real problem is something that diehard fans seem unable to grasp: the vengeful tactics he uses against people who tell the truth about him, on and off the bike.
Sneakers is a masterpiece – a series of six essays celebrating its 20th anniversary, organised by John Swansburg (Slate)
That may seem like an obvious statement in 2012, but [Sneakers] was written—by Robinson, and by War Games-screenwriters Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes—before Google, before Facebook, before smartphones, before any of us had email.
New Order: A marvellously unexpected rebirth – Dorian Lynskey (The Gueardian)
Few bands have been as mythologised as New Order and their previous incarnation Joy Division – the members have been played on screen twice.
Cosmo, the hacker ‘God’ who fell to Earth – Mat Honan (Wired)
I wonder how much of everything else Cosmo has told me is true. The only thing I am certain of is that online security is an illusion. But I think he is being honest now. I think he’s genuinely remorseful and just wants all these gaping account holes, many of which he found or helped publicize, closed at last before anyone else has their identity stolen, or the SWAT team sent to their door. That’s what I believe, at least. But then, he’s a very, very good liar.
A counterpoint to RUOK Day’s false promise – The Chrisgethard Show (Tumblr)
This isn’t some bullshit brochure about suicide prevention. This isn’t some health class rhetoric being spit out at you. This is a guy you actually reached out to, actually answering, and actually saying that yes he has been there, and actually saying that if I had gone through with what my impulses were telling me to do, I would have missed out on so many of the absolute BEST parts of my life.
Born this way: Sympathy and science for those who want to have sex with children – Cord Jefferson (Gawker)
N.B. quite confronting reading
“You are not guilty because of your sexual desire, but you are responsible for your sexual behavior. There is help.”
