Alfredo Martinez was a talented forger who had a love-hate relationship with the art world; he was disillusioned by its inner workings, yet it called to him. Forgery was his way of getting revenge on the art world. With forgery came a prison sentence, and getting caught contributed to part of his greatest ‘swindle’: His harsh experiences in prison gave him a rich story that patrons of the arts lapped up, propelling his original works into stardom. 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
