Writers often find themselves undercompensated for their contributions. Ed Simon, writing for LitHub, muses on the necessity of day jobs for authors, including his own experience. Herman Melville, despite having published his most notable works, received little recognition in his time. The Boston Post critiqued ‘Moby-Dick’ as ‘not worth the money asked,’ prompting Melville to shift to government work, examining ship manifests while writing poetry in his free hours. His coworkers valued his honesty, a rarity in the late 19th-century public sector. Despite this respect, Melville toiled for six days a week at the Merchant’s Exchange Building on Wall Street, earning $4 daily without a raise over two decades.
Simon contrasts his brief six-month federal stint, beginning with a January 2020 oath at the United States Postal Service, with Melville’s longer tenure. Although not claiming to be Melville, Simon shares a similar dissatisfaction leading to a necessary day job.
In a discussion with Colin Warren for the Nation, a college student who became known for his critique of AI art argues against its validity. ‘AI isn’t art,’ he asserts, emphasizing that the creative process is often more crucial than the end result. He criticizes AI art for overshadowing genuine artistic skill and commercialization of art.
Meanwhile, Samantha Cole from 404 Media reports on how individuals are obscuring their identities from surveillance technology using everyday clothing and accessories. Harvey explains that items like sunglasses, hats, and facial coverings can lower biometric matching scores, though the effectiveness is uncertain.
Laura Jedeed, writing for Slate, exposes the minimal requirements to join ICE. Her undercover experience at a recruitment event highlights the agency’s recruitment inefficiencies, raising concerns about who is being armed and sent into communities.
India Roby for Fader reflects on the nostalgia for 2016, questioning what this trend overlooks about the year’s significant events. The sentiment is driven by Zillennials, nostalgic for a seemingly simpler period amid today’s challenges, but also pointing to a commercialized revival rather than an authentic one.
In the Guardian, biologist Helen Pilcher argues that new findings about animal intelligence challenge human exceptionalism. With examples like polar bears and octopuses using tools, she suggests our perceived superiority is misplaced.
Finally, Willow Defebaugh of Atmos writes about the discovery of a rare ‘fairy lantern’ plant in Malaysia, highlighting its mysterious blooms and the unique ecosystem it inhabits.
