Anti-Obscura: Gone are the days of singularity elitism

In the heyday of Lookbook.nu, I tried and failed to become a star. Despite composing whimsical names for my looks, incorporating vintage pieces, and trekking out to the middle of nowhere to stage folksy shoots, I topped out at 100 fans. But Lookbook did serve as a source of inspiration for my 2010’s twee, pseudo-French girl wardrobe. And several of its proteges went on to make careers of fashion blogging, creators like Luanna Perez-Garreaud, Rachel Martino, and Steffy Degreff.

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Spanish Language Movie Log

In preparation for a 5-week trip to Mexico, I decided to watch as many Spanish-language movies as possible. I find that exposure to language in low-pressure circumstances provides access to vaults of vocabulary that move to the recesses of the memory through disuse. And I wanted to brush-up.

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The disenfranchising effect of Georgia’s voter challenge law

The other day I received a piece of mail from Fulton County, Georgia. As I unfolded the letter, I saw the title “Notice of Hearing - Residency Challenge”. I read further: my “qualification to remain on the electors list with Fulton County Registration and Elections [was] being challenged due to Residency - Voter Does Not Live at Registered Address.” The letter provided the name and address of the person who had challenged my eligibility.

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Seattle Is Suing Two Theft-Prone Automakers Using Public Nuisance Laws

Earlier this year, the City of Seattle filed a lawsuit against Hyundai and Kia in response to a wave of car thefts. The City’s case relied on an interesting legal theory – that the automakers’ failure to install immobilizers amounted to a violation of the City’s public nuisance laws. Although the action has been stayed pending a Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation in California, the lawsuit is a first of its kind. A rare instance of a city taking on a corporation, the lawsuit implies that companies have responsibilities to groups beyond their consumers.

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