Stories from Around the Web (Week Ending July 19, 2013)

10 Rules of Internet
The most brilliant thing I’ve read about the Internet in a long time, maybe ever.
—Brent Turner, Chief Digital Officer

You Are Being Tracked
Police docs reveal the extent of license plate scanning in the U.S.
—Tom Simonite, IT Editor

Do Clinical Trials Work?
The vast majority of new drugs fail in clinical trial, often at late stages. This article argues that the solution is to test many drugs within a single trial.
—Susan Young, Biomedical Editor

Crunching Literary Numbers
Interesting piece from the Sunday Times on using big data to study trends in literary novels through the centuries.
—Tim Maher, Managing Editor

The Pros and Cons of a Surveillance Society
Nick Bilton ties together seemingly disparate news events to mull how cameras everywhere can inhibit but also enhance freedom.
—Brian Bergstein, Deputy Editor

CIA Backs $630,000 Scientific Study on Controlling Global Climate
Mother Jones has an interesting news story about how the CIA is footing half the bill for a National Academy of Sciences-led investigation into certain proposed geo-engineering strategies.
—Mike Orcutt, Research Editor

The Tyranny of Traditional TV
As technology companies work to revolutionize the living room, the stranglehold of cable companies may finally be slipping.
—Will Knight, Online Editor