Stories

Do We Really Need A Four-Hour Documentary On Elon Musk?

“The penchant for treating founders as god-kings whose companies are mere extensions of their visionary genius is a large part of the story underlying Musk’s (and others’) precipitous rise, but it’s not only a credulous media and easily swayed investors who are to blame.” - Slate

At The Venice Film Fest, ‘Woman Unknown’ Wins Big

“The film, a period drama set in Denmark, follows a servant about to marry her factory-owner employer in the uneasy years after World War II.” - The New York Times

How, Exactly, Will AI Transform Capitalism?

We know AI is going to change everything, but how? “We face a choice: delay and obstruct AI adoption in the name of social justice, or embrace it in a radically altered form.” - The Guardian (UK)

Jonathan Cooper, One Of The Rare Fine Violin-Makers In The US, Has Died At 76

Cooper was “a luthier who crafted violins of such supple tone and exquisite range that they allowed players to bridge the gap between classical and American fiddle instrumentation, making him a favorite of musicians like Mark O’Connor and Alison Krauss.” - The New York Times

The Musician And Artist Behind The World Of Meadowlark

“Meadowlark’s kids transmit messages of bravery and courage and celebrate childlike wonder in a world determined to stamp it out. Ósk’s folkloric storytelling has created a deeply parasocial fandom, attracting followers who find solace in this outsider world.” - The Guardian (UK)

Turns Out That ‘Call My Agent’ Was Barely Even A Satire

When the series began, or even during financing, “There was scepticism about whether anyone in France, let alone audiences around the world, had any interest in a dramedy that pulled back the veil on the Gallic film industry.” Er … very, very wrong. - Irish Times

Every Real City Needs A Cheap Music Venue

As the Music Hall of Williamsburg closes, one fan wonders what will happen next. - The New York Times

Parents, Children Sue Meta Over Their Images Being Used For AI Facial Recognition

“The proposed class action alleges that Meta violated Illinois and California privacy laws by extracting biometric information from people’s photos without notice or consent” for training smart glasses - and generative AI images. - Wired

As More And More Small Museums Get Hit By Thieves, Can France Keep Its Art At All Safe?

“Museum workers, the police and government officials are rattled. They worry about how to protect France’s cultural patrimony in an era of increasingly violent criminal gangs, some of whom have broken into museums in broad daylight.” - The New York Times

That Time When Russian Printers Went On Strike Over Commas

“At the time, printers were paid by the letter set, but this didn’t include punctuation.” The workers were not having it. - LitHub

Sarah Paulson On The Long Slog For A Great Movie Part

When Paulson got the script from fellow actor and writer Cody Fern, “I thought he must have sent to Cate Blanchett or Kate Winslet. … It’s a part in the film space that I haven’t had the opportunity to embody.” - Variety

Jay Maisel, Photographer Of Miles Davis And So Many More, Dies At 95

“While not necessarily his best photograph — he wished it had been sharper — the Davis picture became part of a portfolio of remarkable depth.” - The New York Times

The Current President Of The United States Wants To Install A ‘Colossus’ Statue Of The First President

Of course, the “request” came on conservative social media site Truth Social. It “underscores a perception that he sees himself as curator-in-chief of the nation’s national museum.” - The Guardian (UK)

Is Talk Of Extinction Simply Meant To Distract Us From The True Threats Of AI?

Timnit Gebru: Sometimes “I read quotes to people about artificial intelligence that I’ve gathered in my research, and I ask, What decade was this statement made in? Sometimes people get it right, but a lot of times they do not, because it all sounds the same.” - Wired

The Warnermount Talks Will Continue Next Month

Hm: “A judge has instructed Paramount, California attorney general Rob Bonta, and the Writers Guild of America to sit down and talk face-to-face in a month.” - Vulture

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