Blog/Commentary
Alternative Energy
Mainers reject historic bid to make for-profit utilities publicly owned | Canary Media
The ballot initiative aimed to bolster Maine’s energy transition, grid reliability and affordability. Utilities fought the effort with a torrent of cash.
Photography
The Miracle of Photography - The Millions
The two most revolutionary technological advances in human consciousness are the invention of writing and the form of photography.
Media
First-Gen Social Media Users Have Nowhere to Go | WIRED
The collective erosion of X, Instagram, and Facebook marks a turning point for millennials, who are outgrowing a constant need to be plugged in.
Markets & Economy
New York Will Be Fine. Other Downtowns Have More to Fear. - The Atlantic
Outside the “superstar” coastal markets, many central business districts were in danger even before the pandemic.
Inflation in the US isn’t the issue. High prices are here to stay. - Vox
What goes up may not come down. Like, ever.
Whatever happened to NFTs? - BBC News
Boom has turned to bust for NFTs - a way of attaching your name to original artwork.
China Is Making Too Much Stuff—and Other Countries Are Worried - WSJ
The country’s factories lack customers and are pushing exports harder, raising trade tensions.
Sustainability
The Ultra-Efficient Farm of the Future Is in the Sky | WIRED
Take a tour of a rooftop laboratory where scientists show how growing crops under solar panels can produce both food and clean energy.
Technology
How Farmers Are Teaching Old Tractors to Think for Themselves - WSJ
Deere, Agco and CNH Industrial are offering cheaper retrofits to ease the transition to more automation.
Culture
The Secret Power of Swearing - The New York Times
The linguist Geoff Nunberg wrote that “dirty words are magic spells that conjure up their references.”
Real Estate
Airbnb guest in luxury rental has refused to leave or pay - Los Angeles Times
Last year, an Airbnb guest at a luxury studio in Brentwood refused to check out after her scheduled stay ended. She hasn't paid rent in more than 500 days.
Real estate industry holds its breath as commissions system teeters - The Washington Post
After jurors recently found that there was a conspiracy to inflate commissions, experts say changes could shake up the business.