American POW Released and Other Fascinating News on the Web

1. Bowe Knows

The release of a prisoner of war after five years of captivity seems like a moment for universal celebration. But the coming home party for Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl, who was abducted in Afghanistan, is complicated. First, there are some in Washington who believe the prisoner release that helped free Bergdahl sets a dangerous precedent. And second, there are some in the military who consider Bergdahl to be a deserter who wandered off the base and put lives in danger.

+ Here’s Nathan Bradley Bethea in The Daily Beast: “I served in the same battalion in Afghanistan and participated in the attempts to retrieve him throughout the summer of 2009 … Bergdahl was a deserter, and soldiers from his own unit died trying to track him down.”

+ And for a very different perspective (and you can expect the dueling perspectives to grow into a huge story over the next week): Sgt. Bergdahl’s Hometown Rejoices At His Long-Awaited Release.

+ The Atlantic: Why are there so few POWs from today’s wars?

2. Working 9 to Forever

“You’re probably not very excited to get to the office in the morning, you don’t feel much appreciated while you’re there, you find it difficult to get your most important work accomplished, amid all the distractions, and you don’t believe that what you’re doing makes much of a difference anyway. By the time you get home, you’re pretty much running on empty, and yet still answering emails until you fall asleep.” If that describes you, the NYT is here to explain why you hate work.

+ There are no power lunches. No executive suites. And failure is considered a badge of honor. The Hollywood Reporter compares work life in Hollywood vs Silicon Valley: Clash of the Corporate Cultures. (Here’s the key difference: When you’re a celebrity, people want to have sex with you. When you’re a tech power broker, they want you to fix their printer.)

+ Pacific Standard: Ignoring your co-workers is worse that bullying them. (Unless they’re vesting.)

+ Slate: The advantages of offices without managers.

+ The weird Google searches of the unemployed and what they say about the economy.

3. Coal-Cocked

In what some are calling the strongest climate change regulations ever, the EPA will mandate cuts in carbon pollution by 30% by 2030 (which, if my math is right, is just about the time my city will be swallowed up by the sea.)

+ Most Americans support additional regulations on power plants.

+ Related: What’s the difference between party cloudy and mostly sunny? (I always thought it was attitude.)

4. What’s Cooking at Apple?

During their much-anticipated WWDC keynote, Apple introduced new versions of their mobile and desktop operating systems; and the two are more linked than ever. Big announcements included a Dropbox-like file sharing service, the ability to answer calls on your Mac, iOS 8, and OS 10.10. Also, Apple has launched Healthkit which will track all the exercise you’re not getting because your phone and computer are so addictive. And there’s also Homekit, for home automation.. Wired has a running list of the highlights.

+ People don’t just line up for Apple products. They line up for Apple keynotes.

5. A Wire Cause

As Apple makes moves on Earth, Google takes to space with plans to spend billions launching a fleet of satellites that will provide connectivity to the unwired regions of the globe.

+ Want to geek out on the emerging global web? Check out this very interesting slide deck.

+ Vox: 40 maps that explain the Internet.

6. His Cup Runneth Over

“His introduction came at 17, just after he’d dazzled aficionados in the ’58 World Cup with a semifinal hat trick and then two goals in Brazil’s 5-2 win over host Sweden in the final — the first score a circus act so flamboyant that it makes even black-and-white clips seem Technicolored.” The stadiums and infrastructure may not be complete, but Brazil’s top World Cup attraction is ready and waiting. From Sports Illustrated: Everybody wants a piece of Pelé.

+ Want to get fired up for soccer (or any other sporting event)? Watch this excellent monologue from Vision Quest.

+ The NYT has a two-part series on the fixed matches that cast a shadow over the World Cup.

+ 13 numbers from this year’s World Cup.

7. Cause for Removal?

As of 2012, one in five Americans had a tattoo. That means tattoo removal is about to become a massive growth market. From Bloomberg: No Pain, No Gain.

8. Alice

Ann B. Davis died in San Antonio. A generation of us knew her better as Alice from The Brady Bunch. It’s almost impossible to explain Alice and The Brady Bunch to today’s kids. It wasn’t a segment or a meme or a trend. It was everyone.

9. The Genius Bar

“I don’t think we’re paying too little attention to our young geniuses. I think we’re paying too much.” So says Jordan Ellenberg, a former child genius.

10. The Bottom of the News

Forget big news and new technological breakthroughs. This will always be remembered as the day when Prince showed up at the French Open wielding a scepter.

+ Phil Collins joins a student band at Miami Country Day to sing a few hits.

+ Smart e-Cigarettes that track your vital signs. (Is looking like a complete douche a vital sign?)

+ “Although my training tells me not to overuse exclamation points because they are shouty and juvenile, I find myself using them because I fear being seen as unfriendly or insincere if I only use a period.” Even grammar experts can’t help themselves. It’s too late. Exclamation marks are unstoppable now.

+ Even elephants take selfies.

+ (New feature) Popular from yesterday’s NextDraft: This weekend, everyone I know was talking about the Client Feedback on the Creation of the Earth piece featured with some other interesting/odd stuff in Friday’s bottom of the news.