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How Author Dave Eggers Avoids Smartphones, Internet Access, and Flock Cameras

A few weeks ago on a bike ride "inspiration struck" for Dave Eggers, reports SFGate...

Without a pen and paper handy, he was stuck texting the idea to himself. The problem? Eggers doesn't own a smartphone. "It takes 20 minutes to write a sentence," Eggers said... It's a funny predicament for Eggers, given that he's arguably the city's biggest proponent of the written word... Now age 56, Eggers' latest book is called "Contrapposto"...
On writing days, Eggers bikes to his sailboat docked near the Golden Gate Bridge. He writes using a hefty 1998 Mac that has never been connected to the internet. On the boat, he keeps "banker's hours," working 9 to 5 without any meetings or interruptions except for the occasional wildlife visit. "You're there with the cormorants and the occasional porpoise and sea lions and seals, and when you want to take a break, you walk around and you're in the thick of it, one of the most beautiful spots on Earth," he said. "Especially coming from the Midwest, it never gets old."

Given Eggers' decidedly low-tech existence, it's not surprising that the current state of San Francisco gives him pause, but there's a streak of hope that underlies his concerns. He abhors the growing surveillance technology that's gripping the city, refusing to get into Ubers that use recording devices, but he feels a well-written ballot measure about Flock cameras could potentially save our dwindling privacy. ChatGPT's effects on the art of writing are demoralizing, but he welcomes that teachers are re-embracing pencil and paper, with cursive making a big comeback. The wave of artificial intelligence ads blanketing bus stops imploring companies to stop hiring humans are so over the top, they'd sound cliché if he were to include them in one of his dystopian tech industry novels like "The Circle" or "The Every," but tech philanthropy has helped many of his projects flourish.

Case in point, Art + Water, a new art space scheduled to open next year on Pier 29 funded largely by art world donations... Co-founded with the artist JD Beltran, the space is slated to operate as an old-school apprenticeship system, hosting 10 artists in residence mentoring 20 students, all free of charge... The ultimate goal is to break down the financial barriers that keep students from pursuing art.

Thanks to Slashdot reader destinyland for sharing the article.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The Guardian

Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice

Australia v Turkey: World Cup 2026 – live

⚽️ Kick-off time: 9pm local/2pm AEST/5am BST/12am EDT
⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Mail Jonathan

Vancouver has an Australian presence throughout the year, but the city will be green and gold this evening.

Roughly 25,000 people in Canada claimed Australia as their birthplace in the 2021 census. Almost half live in British Columbia. Many of them are only here because of the mountains that crisscross Canada’s westernmost province.

The ski town of Whistler 120 km away is colloquially known as “Whistralia”. Snow-obsessed Australians make up a significant part of the region’s alpine culture thanks to an uncapped visa scheme that allows working holiday stays for two years, longer than most countries. Many never leave.

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Australia news live: Jonno Duniam says ‘I haven’t wasted a single day’ as he announces retirement from politics; Australian child killed in Pakistan

The Tasmanian Liberal senator has announced he will leave parliament before the end of the year. Follow the day’s news live

The Senate will deliver its report from the NDIS inquiry on Tuesday. Butler doesn’t directly answer a question about whether or not he is willing to make any significant changes to the legislation the government has put forward.

He says:

Look, the direction of travel I think is an important one for us to follow through. This largely reflects reviews and insights that we’ve gathered over the last three years since the independent review was done of the NDIS in 2023 and endorsed by all governments at national Cabinet later that year.

I’m utterly convinced this is the right plan for the NDIS… I’m not saying there won’t be any change. We heard ideas from the crossbench in the debate in the House of Representatives. I’ve very much heard that people want greater reassurance about what won’t change because of the reforms we’re putting in place.

We have to constrain that growth. Without reforms it would grow to $20 billion by the end of the decade and that’s simply not a sustainable position.

It’s also allowed us, as I said, to protect the core supports people rely upon for that safety that was part of your introduction.

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Doelman Neuer keert tegen Curaçao terug in basiselftal Duitsland, ten koste van vaste kracht Baumann

Doelman Manuel Neuer keert zondag terug in de basisopsteling van Duitsland, dat in zijn eerste WK-groepswedstrijd tegen Curaçao speelt.

PSV’er Saibari scoort voor Marokko in gelijkspel tegen Brazilië

Zwaargewichten Brazilië en Marokko zijn hun campagne voor de wereldtitel zaterdag begonnen met een 1-1 gelijkspel in een uitverkocht New York New Jersey Stadium in East…

after spring there is JUNE, then summer

ajpscs posted a photo:

after spring there is JUNE, then summer

the SQUARE
HYDRANGEA
© ajpscs

They All Say It

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

They All Say It

Meat Market

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

Meat Market

千鳥ヶ淵 Chidorigafuchi

ELCAN KE-7A has added a photo to the pool:

千鳥ヶ淵 Chidorigafuchi

毎年恒例、開花にあわせた、千鳥ヶ淵の桜のライトアップ。The annual illumination event at Chidorigafuchi. Cherry blossoms, Someiyoshino were in full bloom.

千鳥ヶ淵 Chidorigafuchi

ELCAN KE-7A has added a photo to the pool:

千鳥ヶ淵 Chidorigafuchi

千鳥ヶ淵で満開の染井吉野。Cherry blossoms, Someiyoshino along Chidorigafuchi were in full bloom.