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Human Cognition Worldwide Is Declining. Why?

Obviously, there's no single answer as to why people seem to be struggling with cognitive skills, but one key indicator is the sharp decline in reading and the world's changing relationship to the way we consume information and media. - Futurism

OpenAI Appeals To Trump To Let Its AI Feast On Copyrighted Work (Or We’re Dead)

"If the PRC's developers have unfettered access to data and American companies are left without fair use access, the race for AI is effectively over," the company wrote in its policy proposal. "America loses, as does the success of democratic AI." - Futurism

Trump Moves To Close VOA And  Institute of Museum and Library Services, Which Funds Libraries

One order signed Friday night calls for the agencies — some of which are focused on minority business enterprises, museum and library services, and homelessness prevention — to “be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” - Washington Post

Disney’s Huge “Snow White” Mess

At the heart of the stunning decision appears to be Disney boss Bob Iger’s determination to avoid the wrath of Trump and the MAGA movement, which has put the entertainment giant in their crosshairs, rather than standing by the company’s creatives. - Status News

Trump Canceled Marine Band Performance With Kids. Musicians Found A Workaround

This past Sunday, at the music center at Strathmore, near Washington, 22 students who had lost their chance to play tuned up with the military band veterans for the concert that was not meant to be heard. - CBSNews

AI Versus Copyright Just Got More Hard Core: Google Gemini Removes Watermarks

Gemini 2.0 Flash will uncomplainingly create images depicting celebrities and copyrighted characters, and — as alluded to earlier — remove watermarks from existing photos. - TechCrunch

Did This Irish Band Bring A Statue’s Decapitated Head On Stage Last Weekend?

"The solid bronze severed head of Melbourne’s decapitated King George V statue was reported to have briefly reappeared in public, gracing the stage during a performance by Irish rap group Kneecap.” - Irish Times

Artists Who Left Everything Behind In Artsakh Strive To Create in Exile

"'Creating is my way of life; perhaps it’s a form of self-defense. Sculpting is healing, a form of struggle, and therapy all at once,’ Meliksetyan explained. So long as he draws breath, Meliksetyan has never considered abandoning his art.” - Hyperallergic

So, How’s The Frick Turning Out?

According to the NYT, all is well: “The expansion is about as sensitive and deft as one could hope for. At moments, as in a voluptuous new marble staircase and airy auditorium, it approximates poetry.” - The New York Times

Miami Beach’s O Cinema Responds To Mayor’s Threats

“Throughout the years, we've certainly had vocal audience members or community members who've questioned some programming choices. … But what we have never encountered is elected officials trying to dictate what we should and should not be showing.” - NPR

Meet The Guy Who Chooses The Books In White Lotus

“It’s one of the more fun things for me on most jobs, because it gets right into either who people are or who they want to be.” - LitHub

What Actor Gemma Chan Has Been Doing With Her Fame Since Crazy Rich Asians

Movies, music, cats, and … football. “I’ve supported Arsenal for nearly all of my life, since I was 4. I try to go several times a year to Emirates Stadium. There’s often moments of crushing disappointment that you become very familiar with.” - The New York Times

The Creative Fields Being Decimated, Fast, By Generative AI

Translators, photographers, illustrators: all are suffering, thoroughly. But some still say they use ChatGPT to help with work - and to help with personal tasks as well. - The Observer (UK)

Tango Dancers Take To The Streets Of Rome Outside The Pope’s Hospital

“The performance was both a gesture of support and a spiritual offering. One dancer described the event as a way to send energy and love to the Pope through movement. An actor who joined the gathering said the experience deepened his sense of faith and human connection.” - Reuters (Yahoo)

Did Harvey Weinstein Ruin The Oscars For Blockbusters?

Joe Russo, director of Avengers: Endgame and some other things you might have heard of or seen in the company of many other people, said, “Popular films were winning Oscars before the mid ’90s, then Weinstein started mudslinging campaigns.” - Variety

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