I’ve decided to try something different. Instead of listing all the links I’ve read and thought were interesting, I’m going to limit it to just ten, with maybe a bonus link or two. This first week of September will be my first week attempting this. Feedback is always welcome.
Onto the links:
- What is the blue light from our screens really doing to our eyes? We’ve known for a while that excessive screen time is not good for your sleep schedule, but the latest findings are overwhelmingly gloomy – and extend well beyond insomnia. (Gigaom)
- South Korean Singer EunB Of Ladies’ Code Dies In Van Accident: South Korean singer Go Eun-bi, better known as EunB, died after a van carrying her group Ladies’ Code crashed into a guard rail on a rain-drenched highway near Seoul, police said Thursday. (Huffington Post) You can also read a lovely article about EunB and Ladies Code and watch their last performance together (OTD) And read a more recent update on the conditions of the rest of the group. (Soompi) Note: I’m sharing this because I recently became a fan of Ladies Code and it breaks my heart.
- One Artist’s Journey To Photograph The Black Men Of America: One year, 16 cities, 47 portraits, and one plea: “I ask you to see us as we see ourselves.” (Buzzfeed)
- Pop culture’s newest apocalypse: Visions of a smartphone dystopia Two acclaimed new books show how our smartphone addiction is changing the way we think about the end of the world (Salon) Note: I have read neither book, but the premises of both are similar to many a YA dystopia — though that’s not a bad thing. I do wish the author was familiar with other dystopian novels, though.
- Hong Kong’s Democracy Dilemma: On Sunday the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress issued restrictive guidelines for the election of Hong Kong’s next chief executive in 2017. Shorn of its technical details, the proposal in effect gives Beijing the means to control who could run for the top office in Hong Kong: Voters would get to cast a ballot, but only for one of just a handful of candidates pre-selected by the Chinese government. (New York Times)
- What’s missing in the Ebola fight in West Africa: If the Ebola epidemic devastating the countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone had instead struck Washington, New York or Boston, there is no doubt that the health systems in place could contain and then eliminate the disease. (Washington Post)
- Shenzhen trip report – visiting the world’s manufacturing ecosystem: Last year, a group of Media Lab students visited Shenzhen with, bunnie, an old friend and my hardware guru. He’s probably best known for hacking the Xbox, the chumby, an open source networked hardware appliance, and for helping so many people with their hardware, firmware and software designs. bunnie is “our man in Shenzhen” and understands the ecosystem of suppliers and factories in China better than anyone I know. (Joi Ito)
- Death to the Gamer: Tainted by its misogyny and embrace of consumption as a way of life, gamer culture isn’t worth saving. (Jacobin)
- It’s good to talk: China opens up to psychotherapy Nearly 60 years after psychology was banned under Mao, interest in the western ‘talking cure’ is gaining ground (Guardian)
- From ISIS Videos to JLaw Nudes, When Is Looking Abetting Evil? The Steven Sotloff execution video, like the James Foley video before it, was made for you to see. The stolen celebrity nude photos were never meant for you to see. So should you? (The Daily Beast)
Bonus links! Something a little more fun:
- Funko Debuts New Thor Vinyl Fig…OMG LADY SIF!: And a little tiny Idris Elba Heimdall to protect your shelves! (The Mary Sue) Note: Yes, I did preorder both Lady Sif and Heimdall. Who doesn’t want a tiny Idris Elba?
- Robert Downey Jr. Thinks It’s Time For A Black Widow Movie, Remains The Best Human: Captain Marvel is also acceptable. Note: I’ll take Rescue (Pepper Potts), Black Widow and Captain Marvel movies, please. Also, Young Avengers, a Runaways TV show and Miles Morales (even though I haven’t even read him yet).
