Campus Protests, Spam Musubi, and How Best to Use AI [#138]

As Kathryn Schulz put it, it is remarkable how the ordinary and the existential are always stuck together.

Aloha from Hawaii,

I just spent a most nourishing weekend in Honolulu, kicking off AAPI Heritage Month with a book event with the AAPI community here. I ate a lot of spam musubi and poke, spent quality time with my friend Jean, who is temporarily calling Hawaii home, and got to thank in person Heijin Lee, whose research and writing catalyzed so much of my thinking for Flawless. Mahalo, Hawaii!

Only book event where I got lei-ed. Afterward, hung out with these incredible AAPI ladies.

Reading

On campus protests, this reportage from Lydia Polgreen is a must-read. It didn’t have to come to this. Universities should answer to students and their primary mission of education. And they must protect student journalists. A senior State Department assessment of the Israeli military finds “unconscionably high levels of civilian harm to military advantage,” and “killing humanitarian workers and journalists at an unprecedented rate.”

The full piece is here, but for Puck subscribers only

Getting paid to do nothing is a dream job, if you can get it. If you read one piece about polyamory (amid the flood of stories this year), it should be this one. And I can’t remember if I already shared this in 2021 when I was dropping it in all my group chats, but I love this one, about how queer writers have shaped thinking about relationship structures.

Werk Werk Werk

Forever 35, a podcast I’ve enjoyed for years and co-hosted by besties Kate Spencer and Doree Shafrir, is entering a new era. Kate has decided to retire from the show, and Doree asked me to co-host for a little bit as she figures out what’s next. So starting in June, I’ll be interviewing guests and talking about the things we do do take care of ourselves with Doree, on the Forever 35 feed. Hope you’ll join us.

Flawless got a shout out in a Washington Post gaming review, which surprised me, but the game kicked up a bit o’ controversy because the Korean woman in it is so rigidly adherent to impossible Korean beauty standards.

Watch and/or Listen

Vibe Check on the campus protests offered context and perspective on the campus protests in a way that put the students’ learning, the universities responsibilities to students, and student experience at the center, and I thought it was really well done and sensitive.

What is AI, anyway? At TED, one of the leaders in the AI advancements of late came up with a fresh metaphor for thinking about it … curious to hear what y’all think.

For a brisk overview of artificial intelligence, where we’re at with it, and tips on how to use it more effectively, check out Ezra Klein’s interview with Wharton professor Ethan Mollick.

Challengers! OMG go see Challengers! Sexy, thrilling, and the best ending.

HOO BOY I know we just went on a real tilt-a-whirl of story topics, so thanks for riding along. Let me know what you’re thinking and reading, also. Especially if there are better reads on protests, polyamory, or doing nothing … send ‘em my way or drop a line in the comments!

Mahalo,

Elise