An interview of 7 writers, looking at how they juggle the chaos of their day jobs with their penmanship. Probably the most surprising, and inspiring, case-study is that of construction worker Bud Smith, nicknamed by his colleagues “Professor”. His life resembling chess boxing, Smith carefully slots in his writing time throughout his day of welding and rigging. “At the end of the day when everybody else is fighting to get out of the parking lot, I write for twenty more minutes. It adds up.” Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
