“[W]hy would a person who thinks I’m a murderer want my name so prominently displayed in their biography?” Chimamanda Adichie was used not once, but twice by aspiring writers who denounced her. One of them had insulted her publicly on Twitter after misconstruing her statement regarding trans women to smear her name. But the insults did not bother Chimamanda as much as their greed; they called her a murderer — among other things — yet still used her name to promote their novel. 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
