Latest Stories from Charlie
Could music be contributing to a toxic work environment?
A US federal court is allowing a lawsuit brought forward by warehouse workers who say their workplace has become ‘more hostile’ as a direct result of music. Could our favourite artists be causing problems in our offices? Raunchy, explicit, or misogynistic music could be an illegal workplace practice, a US appeals court has said. Eight former employees of S&S Activewear in Nevada have been allowed to move forward with a...
Why is New York City’s air so orange?
New York City is currently shrouded in thick, orange smog, with stage performances cancelled and sports games postponed. It is the result of Canadian wildfires that have worsened due to the climate crisis. Tens of millions are under air quality alert in the US, as smoke from Canadian wildfires travels southward and covers New York City. The smog will persist for at least several days, leaving city goers in an...
Designer Gyuhan Lee upcycles McDonald’s bags into lamps
These nongreasy upcycled lamps were made from McDonald’s paper bags by Gyuhan Lee. They’re a fun example of how packaging and waste can be repurposed to become useful decoration. Fancy yourself a midnight snack? Craving the golden arches of fast food convenience? Single-use packaging could be worth more than you think, even after it’s been used to store burgers and fries. Korean designer Gyuhan Lee is known for his sculptures...
Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill officially comes into law
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has signed a new anti-LGBTQ+ bill into law, which declares any ‘engagement in acts of homosexuality’ as a punishable offence. It proves that LGBTQ+ rights and legal protection are still intense issues that must be fought for. Uganda has passed a controversial new bill that imposes a range of harsh punishments for homosexual acts and any alliance with LGBTQ+ causes. Signed on 26th May 2023 by...
Nintendo latest company to end trading in Russia
Russian gamers will no longer be able to purchase digital games from the Nintendo store, as it ‘winds down’ operations. Nintendo has become the latest company to cease operations within Russia entirely, after suspending product shipments in March 2022. Russian consumers will no longer be able to purchase games digitally via Nintendo’s online shopfront. They will still be able to re-download previously purchased content, but cannot make any new payments nor...
Should we put restrictions on AI in music?
An anonymous artist called ‘ghostwriter’ created a song using AI-generated vocals from Drake and The Weeknd. It gained over 250,000 streams overnight before it was pulled from Spotify. Is this the start of an AI takeover in music? A song made using AI-generated vocals from The Weeknd and Drake was pulled from Spotify last week after amassing over 250,000 streams in a few days. Posted by an artist called ‘ghostwriter’, the...
MTV News becomes latest outlet to permanently shut down
The beloved, old-school division MTV News has shut down for good. It follows Vice, Vox, Buzzfeed, CNN, and others in laying off staff and shrinking workforces, leaving a gap in legitimate news coverage that caters to younger audiences. MTV News has officially closed down. Once a hub for older millennials and young Gen Xers, it was a cultural staple for information and journalism in the 1990s. Featuring musicians, young reporters,...
How is Facebook hoping to bring back alienated Gen Zers?
Facebook has fallen out of favour with young consumers. Once seen as the defining social media platform, it is now associated with misinformation, privacy breaches, and older people. Is there any way back? If you’re an older Gen Zers or younger Millennial, you may remember a time when Facebook was the place to be. In the late noughties and early tens, Zuckerberg’s social media unicorn was the spearhead for a cultural...
Google launches new AI tool PaLM 2
In an attempt to keep up with the competition, Google has announced PaLM 2, a ‘next-generation language model’ that will be available for many of its upcoming products. It will be in direct competition with services like Midjourney and DALL-E. Google is attempting to throw itself back to the forefront of AI tools and services. Despite years of AI research and in-house work, the company has been unable to create popular...
Ed Sheeran wins lawsuit against Marvin Gaye’s heirs for copyright
The world-renowned singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has faced multiple legal allegations of theft, most notably for his single ‘Thinking Out Loud.’ His win clears him of any wrongdoing, and ensures other artists are still free to use chord progressions in any manner they see fit. Ed Sheeran has won a court case in New York this week and was ruled not liable for copyright infringement. He was accused of ‘ripping...
