Link About It: This Week’s Picks

Albanian bunkers, Michel Gondry's novel cars, state-shaped skillets and more in our look at the web this week

1. RIP MCA Adam “MCA” Yauch—founding member of the Beastie Boys—passed away at the age of 47 this Friday following a prolonged bout with cancer. The influential music icon took his group from a garage band in Brooklyn to superstardom alongside Michael “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Adrock” Horovitz. In addition to music, Yauch led charities for Tibetan citizens, 9/11 victims and directed several of …

edX

Albanian bunkers, Michel Gondry's novel cars, state-shaped skillets and more in our look at the web this week

Boston universities MIT and Harvard have teamed up on an open-source platform that offers free online degree programs. With $60 million in initial investment, edX is a philanthropic effort that promises to educate a billion people and shake up higher education’s profit scheme.

Jonathan Harris at PSFK

Albanian bunkers, Michel Gondry's novel cars, state-shaped skillets and more in our look at the web this week

Identifying four ominous trends in the way we now communicate online, new media artist Jonathan Harris is seeking to provide an online space for sharing the “higher elements in people.” At this year’s PSFK Conference NYC, he shares the story of his life and the philosophy behind his website Cowbird.