August 16, 2023

empowering you with insights and information from the edge of today’s headlines

Law and Order

Blind Sided: Retired NFL Star Michael Oher, whose story was immortalized in the 2009 movie The Blind Side, is suing the Tuohy family in Tennessee court, alleging that they didn’t actually adopt him, among other tall tales from the movie. Oher claims that the family tricked him into a conservatorship and enriched themselves over his life story — the family, including the Tuohy’s two children, received earnings from the movie (which made over $300M) while Oher received none. Oher also claims that the Tuohys purposely portrayed Oher with mental deficiencies in the movie, which would later harm his career. The Tuohys claim the conservatorship was the only way to adopt Oher and satisfy NCAA rules while he was over the age of 18. Oher didn’t start investigating the conservatorship until after his NFL retirement in 2016. The movie was based on a book by Michael Lewis (who happens to be writing a book on SBF at the moment and is no stranger to writing about fraud and the legal system), so we’ll wait for the sequel.

Climate Wins: Montana activists won their lawsuit claiming that “state agencies were violating their constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment.” While the State will most likely appeal the ruling, it is up to the legislature to determine how to bring the State’s fossil fuel emissions into compliance. The plaintiffs waited over two years to see their suit get this far, but we wouldn’t advise them to hold their breath for any meaningful change, as the AG’s office called the ruling “absurd” and a “taxpayer-funded publicity stunt.”

Educated Cartel: Five former students have accused 17 top colleges of working together to limit financial aid packages, and the University of Chicago is the first to settle. The lawsuit targeted the 568 Presidents Group, which received an anti-trust exemption from the Higher Education Act as long as the schools collaborate on “need blind” financial aid. The students alleged that the schools’ admissions policies were not truly need blind and discriminated against poorer students. While the 568 Group and its anti-trust exemption dissolved last year, UofC withdrew from the group in 2014, and thus, set it apart from the other defendants.

Dismantling Diversity: After successfully challenging affirmative action in education in the US, conservative activists are now finding “clever” tactics to fight DEI initiatives in the corporate workforce. For instance, in 2020 Starbucks announced an initiative to increase BIPOC representation at all corporate levels through grants and accelerators. A shareholder group sued the company claiming this was “outright racial discrimination,” since the initiative was tied to executive pay. This week, a judge dismissed the suit, saying the shareholders should and could seek other investment opportunities. Amazon and Comcast have also been sued for programs which sponsor minority owned contractors, and the plaintiffs are citing the 1866 Civil Rights Act, rather than promoting the benefits of diversity. Unfortunately, the recent Supreme Court ruling which upended affirmative action noted that the laws governing employment discrimination are nearly identical to those in education.

True Funghi: If you are a fan of true crime and murder mysteries, you might have heard of the drama going on in Australia, where a woman, Erin Patterson, invited her former in-laws to dinner and three died a few days later. The guests were served Beef Wellington with mushrooms, but unfortunately, the mushrooms were of the poisonous variety. (Patterson served herself and her children a different dish because apparently they don’t like mushrooms.) So far, the host has not been charged with the murders (one other guest is still in critical condition at hospital), and she claims to have bought the dried mushrooms from a local store. To make the story even more dramatic, Patterson’s ex-husband had a mysterious illness last year after eating food prepared by Erin, after which he was put into a medically-induced coma. We’ll steer clear of foraged mushrooms for the time being and wait for the podcast.

Technology

AI Menus: If the poisonous mushrooms didn’t scare you off of eating, don’t worry, AI has you covered. A New Zealand supermarket used AI to generate a meal plan using the leftovers in customers’ homes, and unfortunately, the AI got creative: with recipes like “Oreo vegetable stir fry,” an “aromatic water mix” that was actually chlorine gas, and “bleach-infused rice surprise.” Don’t worry, chefs, AI isn’t coming for your jobs any time soon.

AI Authors: You may have thought that AI would be taking over chatbots and reviews, but humans are getting rather greedy with their use of ChatGPT. If you scroll through travel sections, you’ll see a huge amount of AI generated guide books for sale with deceptive reviews. And now we are also seeing, fraudulent books using author’s names that haven’t been written by the authors, and the authors are having difficulty removing them from Amazon or Goodreads. The fakes are using author’s reputations and Amazon’s algorithm to make a quick buck, but gaming the trademark system, because in the US, you can’t normally trademark your name.

AI Musicians: While writers and actors are striking over the use of AI in their craft, music labels are in the process of negotiating how to license their artists’ voices to AI creators. Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group are in talks with Google about licensing voices and melodies for AI-generated songs. Apparently, the plan is to have a tool for fans, a payment model and a way for artists to opt in, although details are undetermined.

AI Personas: There are many AI-powered chatbots that allow you to talk to historical figures (character.ai), or ones where you can talk to an author or literary figure after accessing all of their work. But this new chatbot is getting some raised eyebrows: Text with Jesus. On the app, you aren’t limited to JC, but you can choose to converse with “the Holy Family, the apostles, the prophets, Ruth, Job and Abraham’s nephew, Lot.” If the Bible is not your thing, head on over to Meta (Instagram or Facebook), and soon you’ll be able to have your own personalized chatbot to help you search for information. Looking for details about your next flight, why not ask Ben Franklin? Yes, why not?

DoD gets officially into the game: The US Department of Defense announced the “Generative AI Task Force” code named “Task Force Lima.” The Force will focus on enhancing national security and we’re honestly surprised it took this long.

Meta Museums: We know Fortnite as the scene for a multi-player war game where you can buy dance moves and skins and even watch a concert or buy the latest Nike drop. Now, Fortnite is creating a historical world within its metaverse that aims to educate players about the Holocaust. (Fortnite has done historical museums before partnering with the Museum of African American History in a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.) We appreciate the opportunity for those to visit museums online who may not have the chance to visit them IRL, but we are not sure the Fortnite-verse is the most appropriate, but it might have the largest audience?

Culture

Style of Styles: The National Portrait Gallery in London will be running a new exhibition of David Hockney’s work later this year, and we suspect that one of his paintings will be drawing unusually long lines: a portrait of Harry Styles. Styles sat for the artist in 2022, in a signature cardigan and string of pearls, but the original Hockney show was closed early due to COVID. Although Hockney was unaware of Styles, Harry was a full on Hockney fanboy, even wearing a pair of pants that featured the artist for one of his Vogue cover shoots. If you get a chance to visit the exhibition, you’ll have a chance to see about 160 portraits, including 30 new ones, that may or may not look like the original subjects.

Psychology of a Swiftie: Arizona State University will be offering a Taylor Swift-themed psychology course this fall. The course will use the topics featured in her songs, her life and her fans to dive deep into topics of social psychology. "The course is basically using Taylor Swift as a semester-long example of different phenomena — gossip, relationships, revenge," according to the course’s instructor. Sadly, the course is already over enrolled, and we don’t have the required prerequisites.

We’re getting old: This week was the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop, and for your listening pleasure: The most iconic samples from Hip Hop over the last 50 years.

We’re getting bored? We’re not sure if we’ve reached the end of Netflix, or everyone is searching for the early 2000s again. But Ugly Betty (starring America Ferrara) and Suits (starring Meghan Markle) are trending. (Guess they were just added to Netflix in the US, although they’ve been sitting idly on Amazon and Hulu respectively for quite some time.)

Ultimate Collab: Croc-Tarts, need we say more? Crocs and Pop-Tarts are collaborating on off-white clogs (meant to resemble Unfrosted Pop-Tarts) that come with themed-Jibbitz (those pins), edible ones and even socks.

How many ways to say “Jerk”: The Ringer has launched a list of the best jerks in pop culture, and you can vote, as to whom you think deserves the crown. But before you get to voting, you might want to read their Explainer on the Gradations of A*sholery. If you are looking for a new name to call an ex-friend, there is plenty of inspiration. We were especially drawn to the definition of Jerk: “Jerks make the world go round. We love a suave jerk (Han Solo), a mean jerk (Selina Meyer), a dumb jerk (George Costanza), an irksome jerk (Larry David), a jock jerk (Kenny Powers), and even a jerk who’s obsessed with jewelry (Gollum). We also can’t stand any of those jerks.”

Hard Coffee: Feeling like day drinking but weren’t sure how to get away with spiking your coffee? Now you don’t have to worry, as Dunkin’ is releasing Spiked Hard Coffee (and tea) by the 12 pack. We would have thought that spiking coffee would mean adding a little hard liquor to smooth the coffee flavor, but nope, Dunkin’ is going full Boston and making Coffee Beer with a 6% alcohol content. The cans will only be available in certain states and in stores (not Dunkin’ locations). So as the story says, get your Drunkin’ on, if you dare.

History by Britney: You learn something new everyday…from Britney Spears’s Instagram? Britney gave us a lesson on the history of the Polka Dot, and all we can say is “who knew?”

Guilt-Free Chips: Heading to Sweetgreen for lunch in an effort to feel healthy? Now you can add some potato chips to your order, as SG is getting into a “partnerchip” with Siete Foods, producing Green Goddess Ranch Potato Chips with a Hint of Poblano. The chips are made with avocado oil and are gluten and dairy (huh?) free. We are of the opinion, that if you are going to cheat, go bold, but let us know if the Goddess satisfies your crunch.

— Lauren Eve Cantor

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