For more than a century, the Wanamaker Organ, which sits at the heart of a seven-store department store, has been a key part of Philadelphians’ holiday celebrations. @TheConversationUS looks at the glorious past and uncertain future of this local treasure.

theconversation.com/the-wanama…

#Lifestyle #Christmas #HOlidays #Music #Philadelphia #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

The Wanamaker organ has been part of a treasured holiday tradition in Philly for over 100 years − a historian explains its illustrious past and uncertain future

With Macy’s stores across the country shuttering, some Philadelphians are concerned about the fate of the 120-year-old instrument once touted as ‘the greatest organ in the world.’

^{The Conversation}

Everyone in the U.S. who is pregnant or who is close to a pregnant person should read @ProPublica’s story, which was written in consultation with doctors and gives essential information on medical procedures, terminology and more.

propublica.org/article/miscarr…

#Pregnancy #Healthcare #Abortion #News #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

How Do Abortion Bans Affect Miscarriage Treatment? What to Know

Women experiencing pregnancy loss in states with abortion bans told us they wished they had known what to expect and how to advocate for themselves. We created this guide for anyone who finds themselves in the same position.

^ProPublica

Last year, “Barbie” was everywhere as audiences embraced the idea of an all-female Supreme Court and the closure of the Mojo Dojo Casa House. Canadian publication @thetyee says that these days, movies from the U.S. hit different — even classics from the past.

thetyee.ca/Culture/2024/12/18/…

#Film #Movies #Cinema #USPolitics #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Of COURSE people are trying to laser drones out of the New Jersey skies — how else would 2024 end? @jasonkoebler of @404mediaco says the pilots of at least 11 commercial planes flying into NYC-area airports have reported lasers being shone into their cockpits due to the hysteria over mysterious objects in the skies. [Story may be paywalled]

404media.co/we-are-getting-las…

#Drones #NewJersey #AirTravel #Planes #Technology #Tech #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

“We Are Getting Lasered”: Nearly a Dozen Planes Lasered Last Night During New Jersey Drone Panic

Air traffic control audio reviewed by 404 Media shows 11 aircraft near New Jersey reporting people shining lasers at them during the ongoing drone panic.

^{Jason Koebler (404 Media)}

Until recently, Latin America’s most viewed figure on YouTube was then president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. His press conferences were watched for 49 million hours in 2023 alone. A slew of creators built reputations, audiences, and careers on covering those press conferences. Now, López Obrador is out of office — and the YouTubers are trying to figure out how to stay relevant.
restofworld.org/2024/amlo-yout…

#Tech #Technology #Mexico #YouTube #Influencers #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

AMLO YouTubers face uncertain future after former Mexico president’s exit - Rest of World

Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s daily press conferences helped YouTubers build massive followings. Now, they’re adjusting to a new political era under Claudia Sheinbaum.

^{Karla Zabludovsky (Rest of World)}

Kenya has about 40,000 “shadow scholars” who are paid by university students in Western countries to write their essays. @thecontinent reviews a new documentary, “The Shadow Scholars,” about this industry, which is directed by Eloïse King in collaboration with Oxford scholar Patricia Kingori. “Kingori’s scholarship is interested in teasing out how power dynamics shape the past, present and future of the global order. In this case, she is appalled by how easily the efforts of these young Kenyans are erased as they go uncredited for their intellectual output – an erasure with loud echoes in history,” writes Wilfred Okiche

continent.substack.com/p/revie…

#University #Academia #Kenya #Movies #Film #Documentary #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Review: Outsourcing academia

Meet the Kenyan intellectuals quietly ghostwriting academic works for lazy students in the Global North.

^{The Continent}