Link About It: This Week’s Pick
Harper Lee dies at 89, a labyrinthian cake maze, how the internet killed Playboy and more in our look around the web
1. Harper Lee, Author of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ Has Died
Few works of fiction have carried as much of a resounding impact as Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Beyond its commercial success, the book introduced an array of beloved characters to the world and they have entered the literary canon for their awareness, sensitivity and care. After her book published in 1960, Lee became a recluse and an almost-mythic representation of modern writers from the American south. While Lee is no longer with us, her work lives on—in school curriculums and book shelves and in the hearts of her fans.
2. You’ll Want to Visit LA’s Giant Cake Maze
A maze-like castle made of (fake) cake, the labyrinthian “Break Bread” exhibition at Downtown LA’s Think Take Gallery sees six rooms adorned with sculptural dessert details and acrylic frosting. The luxuriant, large-scale exhibition covers the walls from top to bottom, touching all the architectural elements in between—with many micro-surprises in the mix. Artists Scott Hove and Baker’s Son (aka Keith Magruder) have truly delivered a whimsical wonderland that will also be playing host to plenty of programming during its run through 13 March 2016.
3. Why Teenagers Roll Their Eyes
Rather than dismissing teenagers’ behavior as angsty or difficult, the New York Times has investigated why adolescents (specifically girls) oftentimes roll their eyes rather than verbalizing their feelings. Whether it’s a reflex, act of aggression, a signpost that an adult has crossed the line or hit a sore spot—an eye-roll from a teenage girl can mean much more than we realize.
4. The United States’ Climate Change Refugees
Deep in the Louisiana bayou, residents of Isle de Jean Charles are being forced from their homes. The island (about 1.5 hours from New Orleans) has lost a staggering 98% of its land since 1955—due to climate change, hurricanes and 2010’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill—and the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Indian people who live there have been fleeing for some time, but now have officially been offered $48 million to relocate. They are the United States’ first official climate change refugees and their island home is expected to have completely disappeared within 50 years. Read more on Atlas Obscura.
5. Your Parmesan Cheese Might Actually Be Wood
When acting on a tip a few years back, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that Castle Cheese Inc was selling “100% parmesan” cheese that was anything but. Not only using cheaper substitutes, the company was even filling out their product with wood pulp. It’s believed that Castle wasn’t the only company using the trick and considering the popularity of store-bought grated cheese in the United States, Bloomberg News took a closer look and the results are startling.
6. St Vincent Designs a Guitar
St Vincent (aka Annie Clark) is set to release her own signature guitar with Ernie Ball Music Man, which she designed from scratch. Along with it channeling her own aesthetic, the retro-feeling instrument has also been designed with “room for a breast or two,” as she noted on her Instagram account. In her interview with Guitar World, the singer-songwriter explains the need for a lightweight guitar. Available in two “classic car colors,” the eye-catching St Vincent Signature Guitar will be available for purchase next month.
7. Radio Flyer’s Tesla Model S for Kids
Radio Flyer, the heritage brand long-producing bright red wagons for kids, announced a turbo-charged new product that’s slated to hit shelves in May 2016. The miniature Tesla Model S is powered by a long-lasting, fast-charging flight speed lithium ion battery. The little electric auto features working headlights, turbine rims and a premium paint job. It only reaches 6mph, but that’s more than enough for young drivers. And, like the full-size Tesla, there are a lot of customization options.
8. The Internet Killed Playboy
While humans are no less interested in porn, the ways in which we consume it have killed the “lads mags” of yesteryear. Playboy has suspended use of nudity and Penthouse has folded its print iteration, all because we are just a few clicks away from anything we want. HighSnobiety explores the changing landscape, in which “90% of all of the data that the human race has ever produced has been generated in just the past two years” and, incredibly, “of that digital imprint, 37% of everything left behind on the internet is related to the field of pornography.” Find out more on HighSnob.
Link About It is our filtered look at the web, shared daily in Link and on social media, and rounded up every Saturday morning.
