Hump Day recs - 9/6/23

Listen:David Byrne and Choir! Choir! Choir! perform a David Bowie classic. Check out the musical magic as David Byrne, frontman for the classic 70s-80s band Talking Heads, joins several hundred friends to bring new life to the iconic Bowie anthem “Heroes.” – Willis

Read:The War That Doesn’t Say its Name. Scholar and journalist Jason Stearns dives deep into the roots of the conflicts in the mineral-rich eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, focusing in particular on why cycles of violence continue two decades after the 2003 peace deal that led to billions in international aid and the largest U.N. peacekeeping mission in world history. – Matt Kendrick

See: A Frank Lloyd Wright house. As a Michigander, I’ve had the opportunity to tour Wright’s Meyer May House in Grand Rapids, and I’ve enjoyed seeing the Pope-Leighey House in Alexandria, VA. But nothing prepared me for the wow factor of Fallingwater, which I visited this weekend. Built of locally quarried stone and sand, and perched over a waterfall, this rural Pennsylvania home — constructed as a weekend getaway — offers stunning views from every window that pull you toward the great outdoors. If you love great design, find a Wright house in your area. – Tracy

Listen: “The Retrievals.” The women in this story who went to the Yale Fertility Center for IVF treatment thought they were in the best hands at a time of intense vulnerability. What happened to them next was nightmarish. This five-part series from Serial and the New York Times tells a dark story with compassion and nuance. – Gabrielle

More from GZERO Media

People gather outside the National Assembly after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 4, 2024.
REUTERS/Kim Soo-hyeon

In an unexpected, late-night speech on Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, banning all political activity, taking control of all media, and suspending parliament. For all of a few hours, it turned out.

- YouTube

Ian Bremmer's Quick Take: President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea deciding to suddenly declare emergency martial law, announcing together with the military all political activities prohibited. All media now under state control. No strikes, demonstrations allowed. Ian Bremmer breaks down the reason for this decision in this Quick Take.

Proud Source Water became a Walmart supplier in 2021. Today, their team has grown 50%, and they're the largest employer in Mackay, ID. When local suppliers work with Walmart, their business can grow. In fact, two-thirds of Walmart's product spend is on products made, grown, or assembled in America. By working with Walmart, local businesses like Proud Source Water can reach more customers, hire more people, and help their communities thrive. Explore the positive impact of Walmart's $350 billion investment in US manufacturing.

Supporters of Hamas wave their green flags during a celebration marking the 35th anniversary of the founding of Hamas in Gaza City in December 2022.
Yousef Masoud / SOPA Images/Sipa USA via Reuters

Fatah and Hamas are reportedly close to a deal on a post-war government for Gaza, marking a potential end to Hamas’ 17-year rule. The agreement would establish a committee of 12-15 politically unaligned technocrats with authority over issues of the economy, education, health, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction.

Globally, one in five people identify as neurodivergent, an umbrella term that refers to variances in how the brain processes information. A new collaborative study between Microsoft and Ernst & Young reveals insights into how AI-powered tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot are transforming experiences for the neurodiverse in the workplace. The study involving over 300 neurodivergent or disabled employees found that 91% consider Copilot helpful for communication, 85% believe it creates a more inclusive workplace, and 76% say it aids their work performance. This study is part of Microsoft’s ongoing work to increase understanding of how Copilot and other Microsoft tools can improve the workplace. Read more here.

US President Joe Biden shakes hands with Angolan President João Lourenço at the Presidential Palace in Luanda, Angola, on Dec. 3, 2024.
REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

With seven weeks left as US president, Joe Biden was in Angola on Tuesday to meet with President João Lourenço. It's the very first visit of a US president to this former Portuguese colony.

Courtesy of Midjourney

Throughout Joe Biden’s presidency, the Commerce Department has gradually tightened its chokehold on China’s access to semiconductors needed to access, train, and build artificial intelligence. It just announced its “strongest controls ever," prompting China to respond in kind with restrictions of its own that send a signal to President-elect Donald Trump.