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While I focus on Technology, Innovation, and Publishing, because I have a platform, I also flag items that I think are important, which you might have missed, and try to include a bunch of resources & opportunities. Please let me know what you think.
Important Items
A.L.S. Stole His Voice. A.I. Retrieved It.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/14/health/als-ai-brain-implants.html
Writers & Readers for Harris 2024
Dear Readers and Writers,
Please join the growing list of amazing authors in supporting Vice President Kamala Harris becoming our next president. The data show that we’re most influenced most by conversations with and social media posts by our friends.
So please, if you’re for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, too:
1. Join us HERE! This is for Authors and READERS to become involved in upcoming virtual book-related events and more to support the campaign.
2. SHARE the link to this website BOOKtheVOTE.ORG (not .com) in a post telling your friends why you’re with us. Have fun! Make your own sign and post with it! Every vote counts!
3. REPOST, love, and comment on #BOOKtheVOTE posts. Download the Video and post it yourself (looks wonky until you click to download).
4. REGISTER TO VOTE if you haven’t already.
5. Make a Campaign Donation — even the price of a single paperback makes a difference when we all chip in.
6. Volunteer in the campaign.
7. Mail in your ballot or vote in person when the time comes!
Reader. Voter. Ready.
RT @ALALibrary Need inspiration for voter engagement at your library? We’ve got you covered! Get your community #ReaderVoterReady this election season with our event ideas, customizable graphics, collaboration toolkits, & more:
https://www.ala.org/advocacy/reader-voter-ready
Cooking for Kamala
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1g1JP7aR8UfdeM-vc84x-8DRQy5RdxJqQzdrAHDS48kk/viewform?edit_requested=trueArmed and Underground: Inside the Turbulent, Secret World of an American Militia
RT @propublica “The next election won’t be decided at a Ballot Box,” an AP3 militia leader wrote in a private Telegram chat. “It’ll be decided at the ammo box.” He has said he is ready to force his way into voting centers if need be, or “whatever it takes.”
https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-secret-ap3-militia-american-patriots-three-percent
Innovation
This Code Breaker Is Using AI to Decode the Heart’s Secret Rhythms
https://www.wired.com/story/ai-doctor-roeland-decorte-future-industries/
Researchers Use AI to Decode the Secret Language of Dog Barks
https://gizmodo.com/researchers-use-ai-to-decode-the-secret-language-of-dog-1851523539
Sheinbaum Made Mexico City the Digital Capital of the Western Hemisphere
Technology
Online publishers face a dilemma: Allow AI scraping from Google or lose search visibility
Publishers report ‘negligible’ traffic impact of Google AI Overviews
https://searchengineland.com/google-ai-overviews-publisher-traffic-impact-445238
Flood of ‘junk’: How AI is changing scientific publishing
HT @publishingtrend Wiley has retracted more than 11,300 papers and has now introduced a “paper mill detection service” to detect AI misuse—which itself is powered by AI.
https://phys.org/news/2024-08-junk-ai-scientific-publishing.html
Google quietly opens Imagen 3 access to all U.S. users
https://venturebeat.com/ai/google-quietly-opens-imagen-3-access-to-all-u-s-users/
Artists Score Major Win in Copyright Case Against AI Art Generators
The court declined to dismiss copyright infringement claims against the AI companies. The order could implicate other firms that used Stable Diffusion, the AI model at issue in the case.
Universal Music and Meta Announce ‘Expanded Global Agreement’ for AI, Monetization and More
The AI Revolution: Opportunities and Challenges for Indie Authors
https://selfpublishingadvice.org/ai-revolution/
Can (A)I Really Write a 100-Page Ebook in a Week?
HT @bensbitesdaily @bethanymarz wrote, edited, and designed a 100-page, 25,000-word ebook on fractional work.
https://paragraph.xyz/@bethanycrystal/can-ai-really-write-a-100-page-ebook-in-a-week
SAG-AFTRA Deal Paves Way for Actors to License Voice Replicas to AI Advertising Marketplace
What Is Gemini Live and How Do You Use It?
https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-gemini-live/
The Google Pixel 9’s AI Camera Features Let You Reshape Reality
Add Me (add yourself into images), Reimagine (add things, like a UFO!), Autoframe, and Zoom Enhance—these camera features allow you to alter your photos with zero technical know-how.
https://www.wired.com/story/all-the-new-generative-ai-camera-features-in-google-pixel-9-phones/
Your Photos Aren’t Real
Google’s new photo-manipulation tools produce some convincing results, but how much of this unreality are we supposed to stomach?
https://www.wired.com/story/gadget-lab-podcast-655/
What AI in music can — and can’t — do
HT @FoSTorg This explores the tension between AI as an “instrument” for human creativity—which makes distinct new sounds + is accessible to play—& AI as a “sonic sludge” machine that dilutes and threatens human artists
Apple Aiming to Launch Tabletop Robotic Home Device as Soon as 2026 With Pricing Around $1,000
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/08/14/apple-tabletop-robotic-home-device-2026/
New TikTok Spotlight feature connects creators to fan content
It will automatically place an “anchor link” on selected fan-made videos. By clicking on the links, users will have access to links to buy tix, watch streaming, and see cast info.
https://readwrite.com/tiktok-spotlight-feature-anchor-links-analytics/
Netflix to Offer Shopping with ‘Emily in Paris’
Netflix viewers will be able to use Google Lens to scan Emily’s looks from the series and be directed to similar items to purchase.
Why Warner Bros. and Fandango are selling movie tickets inside Roblox
https://digiday.com/marketing/why-warner-bros-and-fandango-are-selling-movie-tickets-inside-roblox/
Amazon is testing product search results that don’t show customer review ‘star’ ratings
Publishing & Media
Adult fiction titles are booming, thanks to BookTok
HT @publishingtrend It Ends With Us is the latest big screen adaptation to make millions at the box office
https://sherwood.news/culture/adult-fiction-titles-are-booming-thanks-to-booktok/
Audiobooks are doing better than ever. Just ask Harper Collins
HT @KathMSchmidt Harper’s audiobook sales exceeded e-books for the first time last quarter.
PRH Audio Opens Applications for Fifth Narrator Mentorship Session
Barack Obama’s Summer Reading List
https://x.com/BarackObama/status/1823082706462253510
A Literary Road Trip Across America
https://lithub.com/a-literary-road-trip-across-america/
Book Bars Gain Momentum Around New York
People looking to ditch screen time to enjoy a low-key drink and conversation are keeping them in business.
Why companies from Cirque du Soleil to Esquire are launching perfume
Esquire magazine is teaming up with Michael Malul to launch fragrances with names like New Journalist and Editor in Chief.
https://www.glossy.co/beauty/why-companies-from-cirque-du-soleil-to-esquire-are-launching-perfume/
Audacy to Shutter All-News WCBS-AM, New York
Audacy announces that it is ending the all-news format on WCBS-AM, New York and will lease the signal to Good Karma Brands, which will begin airing its sports talk “ESPN New York” format on the signal, beginning August 26. Audacy plans to change the call letters to WHSQ-AM. Audacy, which will continue to operate all-news WINS-AM/FM
Appeals Court Delivers a Mixed Decision in Iowa Book Banning Case
The good news: The appeals court held that the plaintiffs in the case—which include the Big Five publishers led by Penguin Random House as well as four bestselling authors—do have standing to sue, and swiftly dispatched with the state’s government speech argument. The government speech doctrine holds that the First Amendment does not impose “a requirement of viewpoint-neutrality” on speech undertaken by the government. But the appeals court soundly rejected the state’s attempt to extend government speech to the selection of books in schools and libraries. #teamPRH
Iowa can now enforce book ban law after appeals court overturns injunction
The Des Moines Register has documented 3,400 books pulled from schools under Senate File 496, which has also prompted concerns from advocates about the effect on LGBTQ+ students.
Resources & Opportunities
Layoffs are the Worst: Online Small Group Social with Board Member Allison Moore
WMG Members: Don’t miss this free, virtual small group social 8/23 10-11AM ET.
https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-5788457
Literary Journals Opening for Submissions
RT @laughingyeti Hey! Here are some literary journals opening for submissions in September! Some are also open now & some will close soon. Genres, themes, & guidelines vary, & dates are tentative. I think these are all no-fee submissions. There are more resources & journals out there! Good luck!
https://x.com/laughingyeti/status/1825292295542850029
2025 We Need Diverse Books Mentorship Applications are officially open!
MT @diversebooks For 2025, WNDB is offering fifteen mentorships split among the following categories: Picture Book (text), Middle Grade, Young Adult; and Illustration. 🗓️ Apply August 15th – September 15th
https://diversebooks.org/programs/mentorship-program/
Pulitzer Center, Financial Times, and One World Media Announce Film Partnership on Climate Change
They are looking for filmmakers from the Global South. Your film will need to be 25 minutes or less and be completed by June 2025. Prize includes $25K in funding and global promotion.
https://pulitzercenter.org/blog/announcing-film-partnership-climate-change-labor
The Goldschmidt Programme for German- and French-speaking literary translators
https://www.buchmesse.de/en/fellowship-and-grant-programmes/goldschmidt
Celebrating 100 Years of James Baldwin
Join The New York Public Library to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of writer and activist James Baldwin with special exhibitions, free programs for all ages, book giveaways, and more.
https://www.nypl.org/spotlight/baldwin100
NJ Transit Fare Holiday 8/26-9/2
MT @NJTRANSIT As a thank you to our loyal customers, Governor Murphy has announced a transit fare holiday period for all customers from 8/26 through 9/2. Fares will be waived for all modes of transportation, offering free rides across the NJ TRANSIT network. Customers purchasing a monthly pass will receive a 25% discount on their September monthly pass.
https://www.njtransit.com/fare-holiday
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