If you grew up watching the old cartoons produced by Looney Tunes and Warner Bros, there’s a big chance that you learned classical music at the same time. Through his brilliant Twitter thread, cartoonist and animator Vincent Alexander invites his readers to an exercise in nostalgia, naming a few classical pieces — such as Johann Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus” in Tom and Jerry — that a whole generation has associated with some of the best slapstick moments in cartoon history. 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
