Who Wants to Shoot an Elephant? – GQ
“In addition to airfare, ammo, and equipment costs (the antique double-barreled Holland & Holland rifle Robyn bought for the trip typically sells for about $80,000), the Waldrips are paying Jeff Rann $60,000 for the privilege of shooting the animal, at least $10,000 of which goes to the Botswana government. In September 2013, a ban on elephant hunting goes into effect in Botswana, making the Waldrips’ hunt one of the last legal kills. It is a precious, expensive experience, and Robyn wants to take her time to find big ivory, not to simply blast away at the first elephant that wanders past her sights.”
My No-Soap, No-Shampoo, Bacteria-Rich Hygiene Experiment – The New York Times
“In the last few years, the microbiome (sometimes referred to as “the second genome”) has become a focus for the health conscious and for scientists alike. Studies like the Human Microbiome Project, a national enterprise to sequence bacterial DNA taken from 242 healthy Americans, have tagged 19 of our phyla (groupings of bacteria), each with thousands of distinct species. As Michael Pollan wrote in this magazine last year: “As a civilization, we’ve just spent the better part of a century doing our unwitting best to wreck the human-associated microbiota. . . . Whether any cures emerge from the exploration of the second genome, the implications of what has already been learned — for our sense of self, for our definition of health and for our attitude toward bacteria in general — are difficult to overstate.””
What Ethan Swan Learned From Tracking Every Tattoo in the NBA – Five Thirty Eight
“At the Nets-Heat game in May, I asked Swan about his own tattoos. He lifted his shirt and undershirt and showed me one on his belly — a misshapen tattoo of a ghost. He opened the top buttons of his shirt and revealed an image of a pet rabbit that had died. The bunny is wrapped in a ribbon that says, “My Warm Heart.””
Mind your manners: a timely guide to social media – The Guardian
“How the term “selfie” changed its meaning from “a picture you have taken of yourself” to “a picture” is unclear, but probably has to do with desperate politicians descending on vaguely trendy terms like a flock of down-with-the-kids vultures. It must stop. If we cannot keep the ancient and true meaning sacred, what hope have we as a society?”
22 Things You Might Not Know About the Stanley Cup – Mental Floss
“Unlike other major league sports trophies, a new Cup isn’t made every year. Instead, after each championship, the names of the players, coaches, management, and staff of the winning team are added to the Cup. The first team to have its roster engraved was the 1906-07 Montreal Wanderers, whose names were etched within the inner bowl of the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup. The only other team names engraved on the inner bowl are the 1914-15 Vancouver Millionaires.”
The Dream Kickoff – Grantland
“On June 12, during the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, eight paralyzed individuals will come onto the pitch. Seven will be seated in their wheelchairs. One of them, however, will be standing. He’ll walk a few steps toward a soccer ball. When he reaches it, he’ll hitch back his leg and then strike the ball. It may roll only a few feet, but that will be enough to officially kick off the Cup. To accomplish this astonishing feat, all he’ll have to do is think about walking. A bionic exoskeleton controlled by his mind will do the rest.”
Bad Call – The Walrus
“On March 9, 1949, The Hockey News published “NHL President Warns TV May Keep Fans Home,” an interview between Clarence Campbell and writer Syd Thomas. In it, Campbell cautioned that viewers would both miss the action of the live game, and cause a decline in revenue from lost ticket sales. During the 2012–13 season, more than 5.1 million fans watched on the CBC as Boston knocked out Toronto, a first-round audience record. Last November, Rogers Communications signed a $5.2-billion deal for the rights to broadcast NHL games in Canada.”
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Photo courtesy of Guy Jaques.
