Amateur urban planners use DALL-E to re-imagine cities without cars
You probably know the DALL-E application best for the strange meme material it generates, but it has genuinely useful applications too. Recently, amateur urban planners have been using it to re-imagine cities designed for pedestrians, and the results are captivating. DALL-E is where many of us go to waste time, right? A...
Current in Culture
Opinion – Kate Bush’s surprise revival exemplifies a shifting industry
The 1985 ‘Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)’ single by Kate Bush is currently top of the UK charts, nearly four decades on from its release. It demonstrates how the current social media age allows old songs to become recontextualised for a new audience. I’m sure you’ve...
Why new documentary ‘Slay’ will make you re-assess fashion
Slay is an eye-opening documentary that will have you looking at your wardrobe in a whole new, probably red tinted, light. Slay is a new documentary premiering on WaterBear, the new environmentally conscious streaming service. Presented and directed by animal rights activist Rebecca Cappelli, the film aims to shine a...
Five sustainable housing initiatives supporting the refugee crisis
Last year, 89.3 million people were forcibly displaced from their homes due to conflict, violence, and climate change. Let’s look at the architects creating sustainable housing projects to meet their needs. When war erupts in one part of the world, it’s not an isolated issue. The consequences are felt by...
Disused Berlin airport to be transformed into sustainable neighbourhood
A once bustling hub for German airliners is set to become a liveable, sustainable haven within the next decade. Plans are underway for a self-sufficient and car free neighbourhood including 5,000 apartments, schools, parks, and green businesses. After nearly 50 years of facilitating commercial flights, a bustling region that was...
Rebel Wilson’s coming out tainted by Hollywood homophobia
Actor Rebel Wilson recently came out on Instagram, announcing her relationship with Ramona Agruma. But what should have been a joyful milestone was tainted by threats and pressure from the media. The Sydney Morning Herald has faced backlash for its handling of Rebel Wilson’s relationship news. After sharing a sweet...
YouTube apologises for hitting Lofi Girl with a DMCA takedown
Two of the platforms’ most popular livestreaming music videos were removed after users abusively reported the channel with false copyright claims. One of the internet’s most beloved livestreams – which provided more than two years of non-stop lo-fi background music for hundreds of millions of people studying or trying to wind down – was removed by YouTube on Sunday night after users lodged a bogus copyright dispute. Up there with the...
Lizzo changes lyrics to new single after backlash
The lyrics to Lizzo’s new single ‘Grrrls’ included an ableist slur at the beginning of the first verse. Fans criticised the track’s use of the word and Lizzo has now replaced the lyric in response. You’ve no doubt heard the popular single ‘About Damn Time’ from US singer Lizzo that’s making the rounds on TikTok at the moment. She’s facing backlash this week, however, with the drop of her latest...
Rubbish bins are talking dirty to Swedish citizens to prevent littering
Don’t be startled, Swedes - there’s no one living inside your public bins. They’ve simply been fitted with recordings of women talking dirty to encourage you from putting your rubbish exactly where it’s supposed to go. I’m on the fence about whether this is totally weird or somewhat genius. To discourage people from littering in the streets of Malmo, Sweden’s third largest city, two local rubbish bins have been fitted with...
British tourist is arrested for stealing historic Iraqi artifacts
A retired geologist from Bath, UK, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempting to steal historic artifacts whilst on a trip to Iraq. Jim Fitton, 66, claims he didn’t know he was breaking Iraqi law when he picked up shards of ancient pottery and placed them in his backpack. At the time, Fitton was on an archaeological and geological tour of Iraq. He also took 12 stones from...
