[{"_updatedAt":"2024-05-31T23:43:15Z","body":[{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.vice.com/en/article/epv9pe/billionaires-are-building-luxury-bunkers-to-escape-doomsday","_key":"bb3495a67bd9"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Many of us live with a sense of hopelessness about the threats to humanity that seem to always lurk in the background. Those who can afford to take a proactive approach, however, have been busy ","_key":"079b6ada37ae0"},{"_key":"079b6ada37ae1","_type":"span","marks":["bb3495a67bd9"],"text":"implementing"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" some truly impressive plans.","_key":"079b6ada37ae2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ad14d6ef4e29"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Destination New Zealand (or maybe Alaska)","_key":"528edaaf36570","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"41432ff4945e"},{"children":[{"_key":"9cb84e622f7b0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Media theorist Douglas Rushkoff discovered first-hand what tech billionaires and wealthy celebrities were doing to prepare for a potential doomsday."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6f8e23e630dc","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"df9f29d999a1","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The year was 2017 and he","_key":"1b54f22ec4f50"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" thought he was going to deliver a standard address ","_key":"08166217f822"},{"text":"at an event focused on the digital future. Upon arrival, though, the Big Tech execs organizing the retreat threw him a curveball.","_key":"ed634b0f9bf8","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"They peppered him with a host of questions about how they could build ","_key":"fad2309d387b0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"lavish, self-contained bunkers ","_key":"4ec6de4d69f4"},{"marks":[],"text":"capable of providing all the necessities of life for the duration of almost any disaster.","_key":"770aa92e6bf6","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d0b3bb997b31","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And they had a couple of locations in mind. New Zealand, where billionaire Peter Thiel has already secured a passport, tops most lists … but Alaska isn’t far behind.","_key":"4a184e574f5e0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b735a44a8be8","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"0fd946cdd34a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Putting all the pieces in place","_key":"c73304d2bc930","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"79f7248d28d7","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In addition to a boatload of money, building an effective bunker requires plenty of planning. And Rushkoff said he found himself providing many of the details the elites gathered at the exclusive retreat would need for the job.","_key":"8f277a1dcc0a0"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_key":"27af5595b15a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“The rest of my hour with them was them asking me "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"all of these really specific questions ","_key":"41ef2b79d77f"},{"text":"about how to water-test their plans for the apocalypse,” he recalled.","_key":"4f7ea91e5f35","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2747efadfacc","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"58304f3e12b9","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While pursuing their vision for a safehouse filled with enough food, entertainment, and security needed to weather a yearslong storm, Rushkoff noted that these individuals were essentially admitting that their global influence had failed to create a safer world.","_key":"b91786b86e1d0"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"92faca44ebfc","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“The most powerful people in the world","_key":"14b4326efeaf0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" see themselves as utterly incapable","_key":"6185127c290e"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of actually creating a future in which everything’s going to be OK,” he concluded.","_key":"12b4e945e8e3"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"}],"category":"culture","slug":"/story/2024/06/an-apocalyptic-event-might-be-coming-but-elites-are-prepared-to-ride-it-out","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_type":"story","image":{"asset":{"extension":"gif","size":1188736,"_id":"image-967a665ab23f0b2e0d53171c6364a3faa0c9d44f-480x360-gif","source":{"name":"Simpsons Apocalypse GIF","id":"eXo5eC1tK7cas","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/simpsons-apocalypse-eXo5eC1tK7cas"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/967a665ab23f0b2e0d53171c6364a3faa0c9d44f-480x360.gif","metadata":{"blurHash":"V7EyoC?000np~pTWTARtOpNE0QNq~qo|0eR;VFNFvy%N","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightMuted":{"population":0.13,"background":"#9ccba5","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"vibrant":{"background":"#d6bd1d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":3.34},"dominant":{"population":6.88,"background":"#5b6d2c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.41,"background":"#254e3b"},"muted":{"background":"#63a696","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.15},"lightVibrant":{"population":2.43,"background":"#6c90bb","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"darkVibrant":{"population":6.88,"background":"#5b6d2c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"width":480,"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"height":360,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions"},"isOpaque":true},"mimeType":"image/gif","sha1hash":"967a665ab23f0b2e0d53171c6364a3faa0c9d44f","_createdAt":"2024-05-31T23:41:54Z","originalFilename":"adbf637f-15ce-4d24-b2d7-1cc772bf3dcb.gif","uploadId":"J79SfntgOztg5h8E9pP7R2oSpptVsh4W","_rev":"xglB1fDiW6dczZU8SFh69i","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/967a665ab23f0b2e0d53171c6364a3faa0c9d44f-480x360.gif","assetId":"967a665ab23f0b2e0d53171c6364a3faa0c9d44f","_updatedAt":"2024-05-31T23:41:54Z"},"crop":{"right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop"},"hotspot":{"width":1,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":0.8921568627450982,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy"},"title":"An Apocalyptic Event Might Be Coming, But Elites Are Prepared To Ride It Out","summary":"One of many examples revealing why it's helpful to be loaded with money.","_rev":"IeHNZqX3OUzK1APT6htE1n","publishDate":"2024-06-01","_id":"99909d98-c11e-4349-83ce-5107b35fea73","id":"ZXNVmCdo","visibility":"true","_createdAt":"2024-05-31T23:40:54Z"},{"category":"culture","_updatedAt":"2024-05-27T19:22:09Z","body":[{"children":[{"text":"It wasn’t that long ago that smoking weed was seen almost exclusively as the pastime of slackers and bohemians. 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But","_key":"98a374da73660"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" is it really a big dea","_key":"f19ec39b50cb"},{"marks":[],"text":"l if white-collar workers unwind with a joint during their free time?","_key":"ea771b6df7ce","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"After all, we don’t want our insurance agents getting drunk on the job, but we’re probably OK with them having a happy hour cocktail.","_key":"63e33870df5a0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1cc85987972c"},{"_key":"2e8985d69560","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Corporations weigh in","_key":"46d7c6721b190"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It can be tricky for national and international companies to regulate marijuana use since","_key":"829fd9e69e0b0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" laws vary by jurisdiction","_key":"74fe955dff12"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". But many major corporations are significantly rolling back their prohibitions.","_key":"43a10169ca5c"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bf93f41fd167","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e12d155ed4aa","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For its part, Amazon has eliminated pre-employment tests for the drug, explaining that it “allows us to","_key":"bbd0de5f7ecb0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" expand our applicant pool","_key":"39a9c8ad21fc","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".”","_key":"1b38f452387f"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Human resources consultant Niki Ramirez said the trend is likely to continue, concluding: “Policies have become more relaxed, and if they haven't then","_key":"8d0a4ed024910","_type":"span"},{"text":" employers are hearing about it","_key":"13ab71b90142","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"16f91ab333bb","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" from the candidates.”"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5a3ece6330de"}],"title":"More White Collar Workers Are Getting High These Days … But Is That A Bad Thing?","id":"zbOeM780","publishDate":"2024-05-28","summary":"New laws and looser corporate restrictions are ushering in a new age for pot. 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But no matter which side of the issue you find yourself, there’s no denying the fact that the number of older folks doing time in prison has steadily ","_key":"e6ede63ee2150","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["193112ce8dc2"],"text":"increased","_key":"e6ede63ee2151"},{"marks":[],"text":" in recent decades … and many of them won’t make it out alive.","_key":"e6ede63ee2152","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6d22a328c87d"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"018558c327e6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"cb797dd205610","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here’s what the statistics show:"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In 1991, only ","_key":"725db670b0860"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"about 3% of the U.S. prison population ","_key":"06bc2e824c48"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"was above the age of 55.","_key":"daccf31df101"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"634f62370bca","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"e4472a84daa0","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Thirty years later, that percentage had ","_key":"313ae25765f70"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"ballooned to roughly 15%","_key":"0ec3119e5730"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"06665aa99de3"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"1ca610bfd66e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Between 2020 and 2022, the number of inmates over 55"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" grew from 166,000 to 186,000","_key":"d010a123c4da"},{"text":".","_key":"e5c207cc4d43","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"46d2ccc434ff"},{"_key":"1c48910b4990","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Exploring the causes","_key":"aeee77b173810"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8c4b1f8410d2","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There are several significant reasons for this trend, including some that have little to do with how crime is prosecuted in the U.S. The average life expectancy has gone up over time and as the Baby Boomers age, the number of elderly Americans continues to grow.","_key":"a6c29b0461d10"}]},{"_key":"cfdd9ca699f8","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But there are also two more direct reasons that so many more older Americans are locked up.","_key":"194730eeed760"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"text":"First, longer prison sentences and","_key":"501fb4ed199a0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" the world’s highest incarceration rate","_key":"37e9b75825be","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" means inmates of all ages are simply living out much of their lives in prisons. And secondly, research shows that older Americans (particularly those experiencing homelessness or mental health issues) are being locked up at a higher rate than in the past.","_key":"61f87cae038d"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"82a0e578541a","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Examining the effects","_key":"5094b409d8aa0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b61a06a1db53"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Even with the prison system’s healthcare expenses skyrocketing in recent years, inmates get sick and die on average at a younger age than the general population. One report showed that a 59-year-old behind bars can expect to develop diseases with ","_key":"ab86c54aa1e70"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"the same frequency as a 75-year-old ","_key":"d7d4fc4e45d2"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"who isn’t in prison.","_key":"25ee0af9100c"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7d92551cc0f0"},{"children":[{"text":"That’s why activists are not only calling for prison reform, but also for investments in programs designed to help those most at risk.","_key":"0704941d147a0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f03cfe5e9d04","markDefs":[]}],"_id":"1d0ee0fa-3563-4c55-9a2b-3fa06261d8a8","category":"culture","slug":"/story/2024/05/a-growing-number-of-older-americans-are-spending-their-final-days-behind-bars","_updatedAt":"2024-05-06T23:12:16Z","summary":"Let's explore a couple of the important factors at play.","id":"cbP4K6U1","publishDate":"2024-05-07","_rev":"bCk4A661i0BHrBzQZ4EL6n","_createdAt":"2024-05-06T23:07:15Z"},{"slug":"/story/2024/05/a-young-boy-gave-away-his-last-dollar-but-the-selfless-act-paid-off-big-time","_id":"9095f252-662b-44bd-b4ee-986603205fd6","_updatedAt":"2024-05-05T22:17:45Z","summary":"He thought he was giving it to a homeless man, but looks can be deceiving.","_createdAt":"2024-05-05T22:17:45Z","image":{"asset":{"extension":"png","uploadId":"7j8RYhqOVDe6TMzUNPL8jmz2xKMmUhhl","mimeType":"image/png","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/84a49e4c3021832a0d64bf15be243df63db43294-1508x788.png","size":784841,"sha1hash":"84a49e4c3021832a0d64bf15be243df63db43294","_updatedAt":"2024-05-05T22:16:11Z","metadata":{"blurHash":"M8H.7u?bP;4T4To#_2.6D*4oE#IB$Ntl%M","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkMuted":{"background":"#593d2f","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.96},"muted":{"background":"#8f7058","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":7.69},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#bc9073","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.7},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#5b3629","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0},"lightMuted":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":11.51,"background":"#cfcaba","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"vibrant":{"population":0.06,"background":"#bc816c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"dominant":{"background":"#cfcaba","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":11.51},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette"},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/png;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":1508,"aspectRatio":1.9137055837563453,"height":788},"isOpaque":true},"_rev":"UVxGE7SlBaHqgzFeoe7YrT","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/84a49e4c3021832a0d64bf15be243df63db43294-1508x788.png","_createdAt":"2024-05-05T22:16:11Z","assetId":"84a49e4c3021832a0d64bf15be243df63db43294","_id":"image-84a49e4c3021832a0d64bf15be243df63db43294-1508x788-png","originalFilename":"Screenshot 2024-05-05 at 6.15.55 PM.png"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9349315068493148},"_type":"image","attribution":"YouTube screenshot/CBS Evening News"},"_rev":"UVxGE7SlBaHqgzFeoe7cej","_type":"story","publishDate":"2024-05-06","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"category":"culture","visibility":"true","body":[{"_key":"fc4b6c0a897b","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/a-9-year-old-boy-mistook-a-millionaire-for-a-homeless-man-and-gave-him-his-last-dollar-report-says/articleshow/109864022.cms","_key":"06426b2bf78a"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Most of us have felt the urge to help someone in need, whether by offering a hot meal or a few bucks. For one 9-year-old boy in Louisiana, that ","_key":"2d4ef2aa4ff10"},{"_type":"span","marks":["06426b2bf78a"],"text":"desire","_key":"2d4ef2aa4ff11"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" prompted him to give up the only dollar he had to his name.","_key":"2d4ef2aa4ff12"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"9b8d256f4fba","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Here’s how it happened","_key":"5ea8b2fe1a910","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"ff0001a2762e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"dcd85a244d9f0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to reports, Kelvin Ellis Jr. was walking by a coffee shop in Baton Rouge when he saw a man he thought was homeless and offered a dollar. It was the boy’s last dollar, but he was happy to give it away because he’d always felt a desire to help someone in that situation."}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d81c1f1840fd","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“I had money,” the boy later said. “It wasn’t that much, but ","_key":"aba9a103faaf0"},{"text":"it could still help him get something","_key":"67e28f1ec7bc","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"marks":[],"text":".”","_key":"d9aae8c80f3f","_type":"span"}]},{"children":[{"_key":"1f904b18bfb60","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In reality, however, the man was Matt Busbice, a 42-year-old millionaire who had rushed out to the coffee shop after a fire alarm went off at his residence."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bad8487a1d64","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"ff0bd9ccf949","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"He might have looked disheveled and indigent, but he’s actually the owner of a line of retail stores specializing in hunting and other outdoor activities. 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During COVID-19, many folks picked up golf clubs,","_key":"1ac7330f32a10","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" often for the first time","_key":"1c06051059ec"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", and developed a love for the game.","_key":"a8c49a2c32de"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The National Golf Foundation reported that more rounds of golf were played last year than any other year on record. 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","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Beauty pageants have been around in some form for many generations, but they’ve fallen out of favor in some circles over the course of recent decades due to concerns about judging women on their physical characteristics.","_key":"51663553f02d0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7b8f68fc45ca"},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/lesliekatz/2024/04/15/first-ai-beauty-pageant-to-crown-winner-based-on-looks-and-social-clout/?sh=6157d2191a55","_key":"0c54120c23c9"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But what if women (at least those with flesh and blood) are","_key":"d95d5f79180c0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" not the ones competing","_key":"2c4b9ef0c390"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"? 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On the other, gun-control critics ","_key":"257649dc33c6"},{"_key":"7db8613ad6b4","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"point to the Second Amendment"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" as their basis for defending widespread availability of firearms.","_key":"c1df8880f1f8"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/biofire-smart-gun-biometric-safety-rcna143637","_key":"04904417a6dd"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But one company based in Colorado is ","_key":"ff3c24ad9eb90"},{"_type":"span","marks":["04904417a6dd"],"text":"introducing","_key":"ff3c24ad9eb91"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" a product that might find some common ground between the two sides of this debate.","_key":"ff3c24ad9eb92"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ec4e14ecd7da"},{"style":"normal","_key":"f1aa7cba68c0","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"What is a “smart gun”?","_key":"7660ccac2fa70","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"9aef8d48565b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Fingerprint and facial recognition has been implemented across our modern society — from smartphones to cars — and the technology has gotten pretty impressive over recent years. That’s why Biofire believes","_key":"6d68231a19550"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" the time is right to add some of those safeguards","_key":"f6e37997c820"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to guns.","_key":"fc3af2c323e1"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7084015f924b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"79711148e5030","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The company’s first offering in the “smart gun” sector is expected to be shipped out later this month in the form of 9-millimeter pistols. Biofire says its firearm will succeed where other attempts to create a smart gun prototype have failed."}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f731a94f0038","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to the company, the firearm will be able to recognize ","_key":"4b2341a7a46d0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"either the fingerprint or face","_key":"781624344d91","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of an authorized user, allowing quick access in an emergency but preventing unauthorized individuals (think criminals or children) from using the weapon.","_key":"8af569d30276"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Bipartisan pushback","_key":"cbf2ee93c1de0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9e596e46ca36"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"While those who favor increased gun control might argue that Biofire is offering a potentially inflated sense of security, the concept of smart guns in general has 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promises from politicians in both parties to bring back tougher penalties for law-breakers.","_key":"b07ef45291130"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"82713f6e9bee","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/us-crime-rate-still-dropping-says-fbi-rcna144100","_key":"fc56c6e29398"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And the drumbeat of that ","_key":"f8fdf470c6670"},{"_type":"span","marks":["fc56c6e29398"],"text":"narrative","_key":"f8fdf470c6671"},{"text":" has prompted a wide-ranging belief among the American people that crime is on the rise nationwide.","_key":"f8fdf470c6672","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"5832d400345e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to the FBI, that’s simply not the case.","_key":"b0a34b0172a30"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Reality vs. perception","_key":"71c34d7b934e0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"163f24522711","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"763afb29fa93","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While it’s true that the pandemic era did usher in a wave of crime, caused in large part by a reduction in enforcement and prosecution due to the unparalleled public safety threat. 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He said that communities nationwide have seen a rise in disorder over the past five years, which has skewed perceptions.","_key":"7fe0b1ae2d07"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4526e50d1272"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1ffe73d99882","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"“People confuse disorder and crime, so the presence of a lot of disorder can signal to regular folks that they are in a dangerous place when they aren’t necessarily in a dangerous place,” he said.","_key":"927d09076ca90","_type":"span"}]}],"category":"culture","visibility":"true","title":"Most Americans Think The Crime Rate Is Increasing, But Statistics Tell A Different Story","slug":"/story/2024/03/most-americans-think-the-crime-rate-is-increasing-but-statistics-tell-a-different-story","_type":"story"},{"_type":"story","body":[{"_key":"59b758efaa24","markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.businessinsider.com/bike-lanes-good-for-business-studies-better-streets-2024-3","_key":"400cba7cc627","_type":"link"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Riding a bike instead of taking a vehicle can have lots of pretty obvious benefits, including physical health, reduced emissions, and less traffic. 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events in history have carried on as long as the Somin-sai festival at the secluded Kokuseki Temple in Japan. 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holiday.","_key":"d76ef1017082","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"86f0bf793dfe","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"71d7b7556846","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/11/business/anti-valentines-day.html","_key":"6dd8f825f859"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Perhaps you are single, maybe you think Valentine’s Day is just a scam to sell cards and candy, or it could be that you’re just not into romantic gestures. If so, there’s good news: It’s easier than ever to find an “anti-Valentine’s” ","_key":"f152ce2bce140"},{"text":"alternative","_key":"f152ce2bce141","_type":"span","marks":["6dd8f825f859"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that will help you redirect Cupid’s arrow.","_key":"f152ce2bce142"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"dae6b59b16a9","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here are a few ways you can turn the holiday on its head:","_key":"3143bfdb387d0"}]},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cb9052812823","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Support a cause:","_key":"2464a77b56440","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"text":" Sure, you can donate to charity any day of the year, but Valentine’s Day presents a unique opportunity for those of you who are still a little bitter about a relationship that went awry. The San Antonio Zoo is once again hosting a fundraiser whereby roaches and rats are named after someone (usually the donor’s ex) and then fed to one of the animals. Morbid? Maybe. But it’s certainly an innovative spin on Valentine’s Day.","_key":"306fabf969ca","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f6076cd5ca9b","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"350bb6266be10","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Laugh it off:"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" They say laughter is the best medicine. And if you’re nursing a broken heart or just tired of the hearts and roses lining the aisles of every store, there are comedy shows like one in London during which singles in the audience can share stories about their bad relationships and couples are open targets to be made fun of by the comedians on stage.","_key":"d6b144c9e66f"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"a2ff43f097fd","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Focus on yourself: ","_key":"71fdc1c168400"},{"_key":"ad5e4c185191","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A little retail therapy never hurt anyone, and this week’s holiday provides an increasingly popular opportunity. The online retailer Etsy, for example, recently revealed that searches for “self-gift” on the platform are 12% higher this year than the days leading up to last Valentine’s Day."}],"level":1,"_type":"block"}],"_id":"694484f3-6b1e-4146-8555-77216dc077c1","visibility":"true","id":"5urKm1g9","category":"culture","_createdAt":"2024-02-11T21:30:05Z"},{"id":"nImfpEZq","category":"culture","image":{"asset":{"mimeType":"image/gif","metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MMHw}c0L~VRj9a^%R*M|j?kCWBWBayfPoy","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkVibrant":{"background":"#58341c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.85},"lightMuted":{"background":"#cebba8","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":6.57},"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":4.7,"background":"#977948","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"dominant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":7.97,"background":"#94816a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"population":5.63,"background":"#7d5c44","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"muted":{"background":"#94816a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":7.97},"lightVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.73,"background":"#d5b381","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAALABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGQAAAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUBBAcI/8QAJBAAAgEEAQIHAAAAAAAAAAAAAQMCAAUGEQQHEhMhIzFRYYH/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADBP/EABgRAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAAMS/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwCFMilK3MaIJjEGW/YUt6b33m3DJ7ottzWziRZ6K+4b19UjzB7Y4XzCJkHw9VnPSJzI57agJkDv1+VBPP1LrKtKDdblxnKRJ356oqmwkMlr5ookyG//2Q==","dimensions":{"aspectRatio":1.791044776119403,"height":268,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480}},"source":{"name":"variations on an aria GIF by Topshelf Records","id":"l378eOvUNqosKIjrG","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/topshelfrecords-people-like-you-variations-on-an-aria-l378eOvUNqosKIjrG"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/97aa0c483c16de0ee73a8d2928e0cd4b3bd82b01-480x268.gif","_createdAt":"2024-02-10T00:02:29Z","_id":"image-97aa0c483c16de0ee73a8d2928e0cd4b3bd82b01-480x268-gif","_updatedAt":"2024-02-10T00:02:29Z","extension":"gif","uploadId":"yu9vc43JkuwrreeTjZIvlQhtNfLf63N7","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"97aa0c483c16de0ee73a8d2928e0cd4b3bd82b01","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/97aa0c483c16de0ee73a8d2928e0cd4b3bd82b01-480x268.gif","size":2841516,"_rev":"3nXF8WUqCrFbR3A5nrTzBU","assetId":"97aa0c483c16de0ee73a8d2928e0cd4b3bd82b01","originalFilename":"f6b6daff-7d84-4bf3-9d0f-bd71cafedec1.gif"},"crop":{"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0},"hotspot":{"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8219178082191783,"x":0.5},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy"},"_createdAt":"2024-02-09T23:58:42Z","slug":"/story/2024/02/exploring-a-key-difference-in-how-americans-and-europeans-make-connections","title":"Exploring A Key Difference In How Americans And Europeans Make Connections","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_type":"story","publishDate":"2024-02-10","_id":"310c835e-b575-4730-8925-41468ee8fbe6","_updatedAt":"2024-02-10T00:04:33Z","_rev":"3nXF8WUqCrFbR3A5nrWvpo","visibility":"true","body":[{"style":"normal","_key":"66799dd4ab7a","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.businessinsider.com/cultural-differences-between-us-europe-american-traveler-2024-2","_key":"894d6fb48383"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Despite sharing some clear cultural similarities, there also a ton of ways that life in the U.S. is nothing like what Europeans experience. For Allie Hutchison, a writer who grew up in America and has spent the past seven years in Europe, there’s one thing that stands out as the biggest difference: what creates ","_key":"316524d72eb50"},{"_type":"span","marks":["894d6fb48383"],"text":"bonds","_key":"316524d72eb51"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" between people.","_key":"316524d72eb52"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"85f1d586dc48","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Americans emphasize similarities","_key":"166801cef19c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f368ead14200","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"If you’re used to establishing relationships in the U.S., chances are you do so with the goal of finding interests that you share with other people. From an early age, American children connect with each other over their love of certain ","_key":"e672829b2d040","_type":"span"},{"text":"sports, games, cartoons, toys, etc.","_key":"3ba067e6adeb","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"marks":[],"text":" — and that strategy typically extends to the friendships American adults cultivate.","_key":"bb6d143b01c2","_type":"span"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That fact is","_key":"e576cf5a20900"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" especially evident","_key":"71439502e17e"},{"_key":"1aeb5791088e","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" with the Super Bowl coming up. Fans of both teams will unite to root on their favorite franchise … and on a broader scale, anyone who enjoys football or commercials or Taylor Swift can find some common ground to establish new connections."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"aa69739d154b"},{"children":[{"text":"Generally speaking, conversations in America gravitate toward subjects about which there is a shared interest.","_key":"35f7cd2d2d390","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3659c20d7ac9","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"c735190a4ce4","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Europeans embrace variety","_key":"816818f7818c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"27ef62eddbea","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Hutchison realized after living in the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, and Portugal that conversations","_key":"d268d097df4e0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" introduced new interests","_key":"7b7411ba2678"},{"marks":[],"text":" rather than reaffirming existing ones. This has led to the discovery of some entertainers and pastimes that she would’ve otherwise missed.","_key":"992d21925317","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"b198a5fffbe9","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Not only are Europeans more open about admitting they’re not familiar with a topic, Hutchison said, but they’re also eager to learn more about it.","_key":"b26ede3ae19c0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Of course,","_key":"f9bc0344afe30"},{"text":" there are plenty of exceptions ","_key":"0c46a233a76c","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"5231afaeff69","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"in both the U.S. and Europe. But no matter where you are, there’s something you can learn from these observations. If you’re trying to make connections, there’s power in both the things we have in common as well as our many differences."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0b68c980a278"}],"summary":"A little international travel will open up a world of variety."},{"body":[{"children":[{"text":"Whether legal or not, there’s going to be a lot of betting on the upcoming Super Bowl. And while most of those wagers will result in a monetary loss or gain, a growing number of bets don’t involve money at all … and they’re being made by ","_key":"aafcb580a9be0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["cf3c1b760b71"],"text":"kids","_key":"aafcb580a9be1"},{"marks":[],"text":" on their phones.","_key":"aafcb580a9be2","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"efcc178d0068","markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/02/05/fliff-social-sportsbooks/","_key":"cf3c1b760b71","_type":"link"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The rise of Fliff","_key":"38a45f328c940"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cc8425f1fe69","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"_key":"8ede8f5493fc0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you haven’t heard of Fliff, chances are you know a teenager who has. The app allows users as young as 13 (officially, that is, since kids even younger can download it) to make sports bets of all types using virtual currency instead of cash."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"457a9b55b59b","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e96d75555b4d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"And the results speak for themselves:","_key":"c97f6bb312ce0","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"_key":"9edad50c8f10","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"More than","_key":"72b43b14360b0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"text":" 200,000 bets ","_key":"fddb9b371d05","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"aef7fb6aa99e","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"were placed during the NFL conference championship games."}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d560e66d2514","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The app had a total of about ","_key":"38353e8ecf850"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"1.4 million downloads","_key":"9b17f0e5acf3"},{"text":" last year.","_key":"4266a10594e4","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1},{"_key":"9a955dba0e68","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It beat out apps like the NFL to become the","_key":"894e1940a0df0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" 12th most popular","_key":"ea239635d3d8"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in the sports category.","_key":"4a4b2bf747db"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4536219ac32f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Even wagers made with virtual currency can be traded for cash prizes — and despite offering what fans say is harmless fun, critics say Fliff and similar apps could provide a gateway to problematic gambling down the line.","_key":"0f5d63efa3580"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"149ba44690c90","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Cause for concern"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2deec0f8c481"},{"_key":"b74e99b06fe2","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"National Council on Problem Gambling Executive Director Keith Whyte weighed in on the potential risks associated with introducing this type of gambling-based social media to kids.","_key":"8b1be1424d960"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"a581ccc81223","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"4cbfbd6c81a40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“The people who have gambling problems, who are vulnerable to gambling problems and especially youth, "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"can develop gambling problems","_key":"72db4f1aada3"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" based on usage of these apps,” he 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