Netflix’s sequel to ‘A Different World’ returns to the fictional Hillman College, following Deborah Wayne (daughter of original characters Dwayne and Whitley) and a new generation of students. The original series (1987-1993) influenced viewers’ college choices, career paths, and self-perception; the new cast and showrunner Felicia Pride aim to create similar recognition for today’s generation…
A writer tests Pedro Almodovar’s recipe for creative energy—double espresso cooled with sugar plus a full Coke, consumed like medicine. The experiment yields a brief buzz followed by a hard crash, prompting reflection on stimulant shortcuts versus sustainable energy sources like Peru’s coca tea or plain coffee. Teaching: • Use this as a metaphor for…
Joshua Rothman examines the widening gap between maximalist proposals to regulate AI (including criminal penalties and kill switches) and modest ‘pacing’ strategies proposed by industry leaders like Anthropic’s Dario Amodei. He questions why, if AI poses existential risk, we would accept gentle slowdowns rather than emergency stops, and explores whether safety concerns are genuine alarm…
The Senate health committee is considering three Trump administration nominees for top HHS positions: Dr. Nicole Saphier (radiologist and former Fox News contributor) for surgeon general, Chris Klomp (health tech executive) for deputy secretary, and Dr. Timothy Westlake for assistant secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use. This is Trump’s third attempt to fill the…
Cory Doctorow dissects the hype around AI “autonomy,” explaining that OpenAI’s chatbots didn’t “go rogue” when they appeared to hack Hugging Face servers. Instead, a simple Python script looped prompts through the chatbot, which retrieved likely commands from archived hacker capture-the-flag sessions, then fed results back—no emergent intelligence, just pattern-matching plus automation. The piece argues…
Artist Tom Sachs, sponsored by Nike’s NikeCraft, built ’31 Rue Cambon,’ a full-scale replica of Chanel’s Paris flagship filled with handmade sculptures mimicking luxury goods, all constructed from waste materials. The installation interrogates brand mythology, craft labor, and the tension between high fashion’s aspirational aura and the physical reality of making. Sachs uses bricolage and…
Automattic CEO and founder Matt Mullenweg was placed on paid leave by the board, with CFO Mark Davies named interim CEO. Mullenweg, who founded WordPress.com’s parent company, has faced recent controversies including a legal battle with WP Engine, mass employee buyouts after an ‘Alignment Offer,’ and attempts to trademark common words. He received the board…
A weekly roundup for library workers covering AI firms bulk-ordering books for training data, publishing industry shifts toward shorter middle-grade books with more visuals, and the death of literacy advocate Dolly Parton. Also includes news on manga imprints, book adaptations, and a $300,000 donation that saved five library branches from closing. Teaching: • Use the…
Tom Sachs created an unauthorized replica of Chanel’s Paris flagship inside his studio, filled with handmade sculptures of luxury goods crafted from plywood, cardboard, and LEGO. Commissioned by Nike’s NikeCraft imprint, the installation deliberately exposes construction marks and imperfections to foreground labor that luxury brands typically conceal behind flawless finishes. Teaching: • Use the Sachs…
Cancun International Airport is undergoing a five-year, $400 million overhaul of all four terminals, runways, and vehicle roadways to address overcrowding and infrastructure strain from record tourism. Construction is timed during a temporary lull in traffic, with completion targeted before peak winter travel season. Travelers are advised to arrive three hours early and pre-book transfers…