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An Arab country with neither secret police nor censorship is unprecedented in recent decades. Tunisia is inspiring similar demands in Egypt and Jordan. When skeptics wonder if the Revolutions of 2011 would really change anything essential in the region, they would be wise to keep an eye on these two developments in Tunisia, which, if consolidated, would represent an epochal transformation of culture and politics. Arguably, Tunisians are now freer than Americans. The US government thinks our private emails are actually public. The FBI and NSA routinely read our email and they and other branches of the US government issue security letters in the place of warrants allowing them to tap phones and monitor whom we call, and even to call up our library records and conduct searches of our homes without telling us about it. Millions of telephone records were turned over to George W. Bush by our weaselly telecom companies. Courts allow government agents to sneak onto our property and put GPS tracking devices under our automobiles without so much as a warrant or even probable cause. Mr. Obama thinks this way of proceeding is a dandy idea.

One of our most innovative, popular thinkers takes on-in exhilarating style-one of our key questions: Where do good ideas come from? With Where Good Ideas Come From, Steven Johnson pairs the insight of his bestselling Everything Bad Is Good for You and the dazzling erudition of The Ghost Map and The Invention of Air to address an urgent and universal question: What sparks the flash of brilliance? How does groundbreaking innovation happen? Answering in his infectious, culturally omnivorous style, using his fluency in fields from neurobiology to popular culture, Johnson provides the complete, exciting, and encouraging story of how we generate the ideas that push our careers, our lives, our society, and our culture forward. Beginning with Charles Darwin's first encounter with the teeming ecosystem of the coral reef and drawing connections to the intellectual hyperproductivity of modern megacities and to the instant success of YouTube, Johnson shows us that the question we need to ask is, What kind of environment fosters the development of good ideas? His answers are never less than revelatory, convincing, and inspiring as Johnson identifies the seven key principles to the genesis of such ideas, and traces them across time and disciplines. Most exhilarating is Johnson's conclusion that with today's tools and environment, radical innovation is extraordinarily accessible to those who know how to cultivate it. Where Good Ideas Come From is essential reading for anyone who wants to know how to come up with tomorrow's great ideas.

When we study Marx in my graduate social theory course, it never fails that at least one student will say (approximately), "Class struggle didn't escalate in the way Marx expected. In modern capitalist societies class struggle has disappeared. So isn't it clear that Marx was wrong and his ideas are of little value today?" I respond by challenging the premise that class struggle has disappeared. On the contrary, I say that class struggle is going on all the time in every major institution of society. One just has to learn how to recognize it. One needn't embrace the labor theory of value to understand that employers try to increase profits by keeping wages down and getting as much work as possible out of their employees. As the saying goes, every successful capitalist knows what a Marxist knows; they just apply the knowledge differently. Workers' desire for better pay and benefits, safe working conditions, and control over their own time puts them at odds with employers. Class struggle in this sense hasn't gone away. In fact, it's inherent in the relationship between capitalist employer and employee. What varies is how aggressively and overtly each side fights for its interests.

10 shocking, illuminating moments that prove just how out of touch the powerful really are

It has become clear that in a era of Republicans focused on defending tax breaks for millionaires while cutting government assistance for everyone else, the middle class - and its influence in society - is shrinking. But we haven't just lost our political clout.  It turns out that we're no longer that influential in multiple spheres, including marketing.  At some point as more of the nations wealth became consolidated within the top percentage of the upper class, the consumer industry turned to them as the only people to woo.  And as the income gap grows, that's only going to continue.

A University of Zurich study 'proves' that a small group of companies - mainly banks - wields huge power over the global economy. The study is the first to look at all 43,060 transnational corporations and the web of ownership between them - and created a 'map' of 1,318 companies at the heart of the global economy. The study found that 147 companies formed a 'super entity' within this, controlling 40 per cent of its  wealth. All own part or all of one another. Most are banks - the top 20 includes Barclays and Goldman Sachs. But the close connections mean that the network could be vulnerable to collapse

Why should linear designs be the preserves of weekend homes/resorts? Can we not employ them in regular homes and redefine our living spaces? Get to know about two such experiments and leave us your views.

Treat yourself to some striking visuals of floor coverings that contribute to a glamorous ambiance. Check out the multifarious options and leave us your feedback...

100architects designs a #public #art #installation, #PaintDrop to vivify a mixed-use development space and engage passers-by by guiding them to the new #open-air LifeHub@Daning #retail space in #Shanghai. Read on to know more

Department of Architecture at @ku_leuven along with Architecture firm DMOA design a façade that appears 'alive', in that, it produces soundscapes actively engaging with passers-by, and evens nudges them to interact with each other. Check out the full story here…

As the mercury soars, Shilpi Madan from Team India Art n Design (dot)com meets the fashion doyens to collate the most happening summer styles especially for you. Check them out here…

In a large office, where the company's working system is not restricted to desks, Ar. Samira Rathod of SRDA adopts an inclusive design approach. She designs precision-crafted tables turning them into 'follies' or whimsical focal points in an otherwise minimalist though spacious interior. Check out how design can work on the psyche… and do leave us your views…

Interior Designer, Minnie Bhatt gives a Bollywood twist to two eateries in Mumbai catering predominantly to pop culture among the youth, but making them fun places for all age groups. Check it out…

Studio Ben Allen has created an area featuring archways, steps and a fold-down desk dedicated to children to let their creativity flow! Raw, minimal and functional allows customisations by the young users as the space grows with them. Read on to know more here…

Luxury designer Sanjyt Syngh gives an uber chic twist to objets d'art representing a common vibe by using them as strategic interior décor elements, and creating a warm, intriguing eclectic-luxe home for himself in Delhi. Check out his signature style that borders on the unconventionally cutting-edge!

Overdoing the décor takes away from the ambience by crowding vision and creating a sense of confusion and irritation. So, while you visit and imbibe all the 'in' things in the market today, IndiaArtnDesign gives you some spot pointers on the art of accessorising! Check them out here…

IndiaArtnDesign picks out five perky variants of the 'prints-and-patterns' trend in home décor to equip you add an oomph factor to your home this festive season… check them out here…

Gaurang Jawle & Associates crafts two #Mumbai homes with contemporary interiors ingrained with timeless appeal. Check them out here