Japanese culture Being a fake loved one is big business for this Japanese man Rusty Blazenhoff

afrofuturism Watch this opera adaptation of an Octavia Butler novel on Friday night Thom Dunn

Games 'How to build a Nintendo Switch' for coronavirus #StayAtHome gaming Xeni Jardin

real estate The US government just "disestablished" a Native American reservation Thom Dunn

Election 2020 Michael Bloomberg wins "First in the Nation" primary in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire Gina Loukareas

useful stuff Interview with Douglas Rushkoff Mark Frauenfelder

tabloids Megxit Explodes – Who’s to blame? in this week’s dubious tabloids Peter Sheridan

cancer Love, loss, and Carrie Fisher’s lamp Gina Loukareas

science fiction Party Discipline, a Walkaway story (Part 4 — the final part!) Cory Doctorow

happy mutants Naomi Kritzer's "Catfishing on the CatNet": an AI caper about the true nature of online friendship Cory Doctorow

tabloids Johnny Depp dying, Caitlyn Jenner’s baby, and the sexiest man alive, in this week’s dubious tabloids Peter Sheridan

guns Most "black market" guns in America are purchased legally across state lines Thom Dunn

corruption Elizabeth Warren proposes a 4-year ban on government officials going to work for "market dominant" companies Cory Doctorow

Safety Here's how to take Wired's advice and get your own e-scooter, for a fraction of the cost Cory Doctorow

WeWork sounds like a real piece of work Xeni Jardin

grifters Billionaire who gave Jeffrey Epstein power of attorney in order to manage his finances says Epstein stole "vast sums of money" Cory Doctorow

law Affluent parents surrender custody of their kids to "scam" their way into needs-based college scholarships Cory Doctorow

tabloids Aretha Franklin murdered, Kevin Spacey in slaying scandal, and Obama’s secret lover, in this week’s dubious tabloids Peter Sheridan

bad old days Cruel punishment from the 17th century for minor offenses: the finger pillory Mark Frauenfelder

movies Remake of teen witch classic "The Craft" is underway David Pescovitz