This week, there was proof positive that New York marijuana laws have truly been relaxed.
- Old Print Articles: Hitler’s yacht becomes a New York tourist attraction (1949) + Wiley Post takes a robot co-pilot around the world (1933).
- Featured Videos: Robert Reich queries Peter Diamandis about technological unemployment + Carl Sagan waxes philosophically about colonization of space + Anthony Burgess discusses utopias and Shakespeare with Dick Cavett (1971).
- Recently Posted on NYC’s Craigslist: Married hobo with texting skills wants to impregnate you + At least the apocalypse comes with a toll-free number.
- Chris Rock says the smartest thing possible about “black progress.”
- There are pros and cons to Manhattan’s Big Data approach to crime reduction.
- Video footage of Eric Garner’s murder may yet bring about justice.
- Serial is many things, but it’s probably not an economic model for journalism.
- Stephen Hawking worries about the existential threat of AI.
- Margaret Atwood thinks energy usage is more worrisome than AI.
- Nick Bostrom and Russ Roberts debate the AI’s potentially destructive powers.
- We might need to fear the rise of the machines–or perhaps not.
- Urban economist Edward Glaeser considers the oddness of Silicon Valley.
- Some believe we’re in the midst of a technological malaise.
- Oh yeah, the universe may be completely unstable.
- Even right-wingers no longer desire an American prison state.
- Many who love Uber are still uncomfortable with the company. Why?
- Uber is cooking up new ways to marginalize drivers.
- For the time being, Amazon’s robot army is good for human workers.
- Jeff Bezos wants millions of people living and working in space.
- Bezos was skeptical about WaPo’s chances, still bought the company.
- Cryptocurrency enthusiasts gathered recently in the Magic Kingdom.
- Cryptocurrency is not a long-term but not immediate threat to big banks.
- The Gigafactory wants to disrupt the utility industry.
- Technology may be both boon and bane for law firms.
- Malls, long pronounced dead, may still have some life in them.
- Alcor, pioneering cryogenics firm, is experiencing market resistance.
- War contractors are even more dishonest than Wall Street bankers.
- Solar cars may be coming to the market in 2015.
- A.O. Scott looks at the impact of race and class on art.
- Insect armies keep NYC from smelling even worse.
- A brief note from 1909 about a burial at sea.
- A brief note from 1902 about a gold piece.
- A brief note from 1910 about patient gravediggers.
- This week’s Afflictor keyphrase searches.