1. Christine Osinski’s Photos of 1980s Staten Island
In the upcoming book “Summer Days: Staten Island,” photographer Christine Onsinski captures the spirit of residents of New York City’s “forgotten borough.” Taken during the summer seasons of the 1980s, the monochromatic images offer a glimpse into the culture of Staten Island, which sits just a ferry ride away from the bustling streets of Manhattan. AnOther recently spoke with Onsinski ahead of the book’s release to discuss how digital media has helped expose her nearly 40-year-old works.
2. A Forgotten American Train Journey
Once called “the grandest scenic trip on Earth,” the Mount Lowe Railway transported passengers through miles of mountainous vistas high above southern California. Conceived by American inventor Thaddeus Lowe in the late 1800s, the short-lived venture was forced to permanently close in 1936 after it failed to draw the crowds needed to keep it in operation. Lowe eventually went into bankruptcy and lost the railway and, now, rusted gears and abandoned tracks are all that’s left of the historic transit. Head to Messy Nessy Chic to read more about its history.
3. A New Dinosaur Has Been Discovered
Amateur fossil-hunters recently uncovered the bones of a brand new dinosaur in Wales. The dog-sized dino, newly named Dracoraptor hanigani (which means “dragon robber”), was a small, carnivorous species that lived during the Jurassicc period. With about 40% of its bones found, the fossil is one of the most complete Jurassic-period fossils in the world, and it’s currently on display at the National Museum Wales in Cardiff.
4. The Future of Design is Africa
The future of design may rest in the hands of Africa’s burgeoning artists and architects, according to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. The contemporary design museum’s newest exhibition, “Making Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design,” shows off the continent’s innovative thinkers who are helping to reimagine our world. “Africa [is] a hub of experimentation, generating new approaches and solutions of worldwide relevance, and [is] a driving force for a new discussion about the potential of design in the 21st century,” explains Petra Joos, a co-curator of the show. It’s set to run until 21 February.
5. Vietnam Lifts Ban on Same-Sex Marriage
While it’s not the equivalent of making same-sex marriage legal, Vietnam’s recent move to lift the ban on gay marriage is a step in the right direction—and means that couples won’t face legal prosecution or fines if they try to get hitched in the South East Asian nation. The government still won’t officially recognize same-sex marriages, or provide legal protection for those in them, but it’s still a huge step toward equality in the nation. Read more at Out Magazine.
6. Inside Fujifilm’s Camera Factory in Japan
With the announcement of the brand new X-Pro2 mirrorless camera from Fujifilm, The Verge traveled to the camera-maker’s factory in Sendai, Japan to see how they’re created. Inside, they discovered a surprising lack of robots and assembly lines and, instead, workers meticulously hand-assembling the cameras with extreme care and consideration. Head to The Verge to take a visual tour through the factory and see exactly why Fujifilm is so proud to etch “Made in Japan” onto each of their cameras.
7. 62 People Have the Same Wealth as Half the World
According to a new report from Oxfam, 62 people now hold the same wealth as half of the entire world’s population. That group of people, which could fit into a double decker bus, has accumulated a sum of $1.76 trillion—a number so vast, it takes the world’s poorest 3.5 billion people to match it. “The economy after the financial crisis and the recession is beginning to grow again and everyone takes that to be a positive, but what we’re seeing is that this growth, the increased income and wealth, is being captured by the richest,” reveals Gawain Kripke, the policy director for Oxfam. Read more at Newsweek.
8. Cute Overload is Shutting Down
After over 10 years of uncovering the internet’s most adorable animals, Cute Overload announced that it will be shutting down. In its final blog post, the five-time Webby-winning site said, “The time has come to say thank you to you all, our dear peeps, and everyone that has worked so hard to make Cute Overload a decade of laughter, outraaaageous vocabulary and endless squeals of delight.” And though daily updates from the self-proclaimed “juggernaut that brought you joy” will cease, don’t give up hope: Cute Overload “may be back in some form at a later date, we’ll see.”
Link About It is our filtered look at the web, shared daily in Link and on social media, and rounded up every Saturday morning.