Category Archives: Futurism

"To be blunt, the nations commerce will grind to a halt."Grinding to a Halt

US airlines are warning that cutting edge 5G technologies could force the industry to its knees, The Guardian reports and it has nothing to do with bogus 5G conspiracy theories.

The reasoning: the C-Band 5G techthat the telecom industry is eager to push out to airports could interfere with various airplane instruments including radio altimeters, equipment that tells the airplane how high its flying in low-visibility conditions.

This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions or delays, reads a public letter, sent to the White House and signed by a number of US airline CEOs as well as UPS and FedEx.

To be blunt, the nations commerce will grind to a halt, they warned.

The White House recently reached an agreement with AT&T and Verizon to roll out the technology at a select number of airports as part of a test.

It was a highly contentious issue that had more than just airline execs worried. Less than a day after the letter went out, the two carriers announced that theyll delay the rollout over to the concerns, The New York Times is now reporting.

Thats on top of delays that had already pushed the rollout from December to early this month.

To be very clear, were incredibly disappointed that we are at this point, that the entire US airline industry is facing major disruption as new wireless technology is activated, American Airlines CEO David Seymour wrote in a letter to staff, as obtained by the Times. The two should be able to coexist, but that only comes with better understanding of potential impacts.

Telecom industry players have downplayed concerns, arguing the technology was already being safely used in parts of Europe. But opponents were quick to point out that 5G networks were implemented differently there.

READ MORE: AT&T and Verizon will change their 5G plans after airlines warn of flight chaos. [The New York Times]

More on 5G: Experts: Stop Wearing Radioactive Anti-5G Necklaces, Idiots

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Airlines Warn That New 5G Tech Could Mess Up Planes' Ability to Fly Safely - Futurism

"I realize I crossed a line."Crossed a Line

Wordle, a beloved word-guessing game that skyrocketed in popularity this month, was almost immediately ripped off for profit by a different developer named Zach Shakked.

But huge backlash led to Apple removing the clone from its App Store. And now, Shakked has issued a public apology.

I realize I crossed a line, he wrote in a lengthy tweet thread today. And I surely, surely will never do anything remotely close to this again. I fucked up.

The original game, a web-based game created by Josh Wardle, saw an explosion in new users after it went viral on social media earlier this month. Wardles game even got its own writeup in The New York Times.

Shakkeds ripoff was more or less the exact same game but unlike Wordle, which is only accessible via an ad-free web app, the clone was made available via Apples App Store.

Worse yet, the developer charged an optional annual subscription plan to play an unlimited number of games, for an egregious $30.

Unsurprisingly, the clone saw an exponential rise in popularity by exploiting the app store model.

Were going to the fucking Moon, Shakked shamelessly boasted in a Tuesday tweet.

Later that evening, though, Apple yanked Shakkeds app from the App Store.

Out of context I look like Im gloating but I promise you, I was excited, Shakked wrote in todays apology. When youve been making apps since high school like me and you launch something that overnight is hitting like this was, you get excited.

Whether the apology will be enough is anyones guess. Shakked clearly regrets going there, and says hes getting harassed from every which direction.

Ill go back to creating apps based on my completely, evergreen, original ideas and never fuck with anything remotely like this again, he concluded.

Thats probably a good idea.

READ MORE: Wordle copycat creator apologies for ripping off the popular free word game [The Verge]

More on games: Parents Alarmed by Children Slicing Off Enemies Limbs in VR

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Guy Who Shamelessly Ripped Off Beloved Word Game Issues Apology - Futurism

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After celebrating a hallmark heart transplant in which a human patient received a genetically modified pig heart, news outlets have since turned to reporting on the mans troubled past.

Patient in Groundbreaking Heart Transplant Has a Violent Criminal Record, blared a headline in the New York Times yesterday about an incident decades ago in which the patient stabbed a man, leading to the victim becoming paralyzed.

Sure, its a grabby headline. But is it really the most responsible way to cover the issue? Every doctor the Timesinterviewed said criminal history shouldnt be used to determine the worthiness of a patient who needs healthcare, so why did the headline place sensationalism over the actual conclusions?

It is the solemn obligation of any hospital or health care organization to provide lifesaving care to every patient who comes through their doors based on their medical needs, University of Maryland Medical Center, where the transplant operation was performed, said in a statement. Any other standard of care would set a dangerous precedent and would violate the ethical and moral values that underpin the obligation physicians and caregivers have to all patients in their care.

Youre not alone if the incident calls to minda 2011 episode of Greys Anatomy in which fictional Dr. Cristina Yang realizes shes operating on a mass shooter. She gives the other nurses a chance to walk away and many do, but she stays to complete the surgery and save his life. Its partially about saving the patient, but more about being the kind of doctor who saves lives, period.

Considering that many lawmakers are looking to pass additional anti-LGBTQ and anti-trans healthcare bills this year after passing a handful that made severely limited youth healthcare or even made it illegal, its not hard to imagine the slippery slope created by doctors getting to pick and choose who they care for based on their opinions or personal desires.

Others could, for example, follow the lead of those who gave fake COVID-19 vaccines because they believe conspiracy theory and not fact.

Its also worth noting that because the patient in the transplant received a pig heart, no human organ donations were used according to the Times. In addition, the operation was part of a plan to perfect using modified organs in other surgeries to overcome the current shortage in organ donations. The organ waiting list can be a death sentence for the more than 100,000 patients on the organ donation waiting list if they wait too long.

Yes, one patient may have had a violent past, but we cant allow doctors to choose who does and doesnt deserve healthcare, especially if it comes at the expense of life-saving scientific advancements.

More on the patients surgery: Doctors Transplant Gene-Hacked Pig Heart Into Living Human Patient

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Newspapers Criticized for Reporting That Patient With Gene-Hacked Pig Heart Stabbed Someone Decades Ago - Futurism

A weekly guide to whats happening.

JAMESTOWN REVIVAL PLUS ROBERT ELLIS

The pair of longtime Texas buddies tunes about everyday life is fueled by rich harmonies and a melting pot of Americana, country rock and western music. The duos debut, Utah, scored universal critical acclaim. $22 advance/$25 door. Wednesday, Jan. 19, 8pm. The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. catalystclub.com.

BRIAN CHARETTE TRIO

New York City-based organist/pianist Brian Charette is a leading voice in modern jazz. Charette won the 2014 DownBeat Critics Poll for Rising Star in the organ category and was the 2015 Hot House Magazines Fans Decision Jazz Award for Best Organist. Charette has released nineteen albums, to-date. His trio on this concert date features guitarist Will Bernard and drummer Tommy Igoe. $26-32. Thursday, Jan. 20, 7pm. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. kuumbwajazz.org.

JUST FUTURES: BLACK QUANTUM FUTURISM, ARTHUR JAFA AND MARTINE SYMS

A video exhibition of work by Black Quantum Futurism, Arthur Jafa and Martine Syms is curated by History of Art and Visual Culture Professor TJ Demos. The exhibit runs through March 19, 2022. Free. Thursday, Jan. 20. Sesnon Gallery, Porter College, UCSC. Visit art.ucsc.edu/sesnon/just-futures for more info and times.

DJ LOGIC WITH SPECIAL GUESTS OBJECT HEAVY

Music theorist and turntablist DJ Logic is a hip-hop legend whose deep knowledge of jazz has led to collaborations with everyone from Medeski Martin and Wood to Charlie Hunter to Fred Wesley. Logic is also respected for his bandleader and session musician skills. Meanwhile, Object Heavys dance-friendly soul is easy to shake your booty to. $20-25. Friday, Jan. 21, 9pm. Moes Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. moesalley.com

EXPRESSIVE ARTS GRIEF WORKSHOP (IN-PERSON) This workshop will use creative activities to tenderly encourage expression, insight and growth in a supportive environment. Members will be offered new ways to tell their story, express emotions without words and feel connected and supported as they creatively honor their grief and loved ones. Free. Register: 831-430-3000. Saturday, Jan. 22, 10am-3pm. Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 65 Nielson St., Watsonville.

KIDS PROTECTION PLANNING WORKSHOP Local mom/attorney Roxanne Olson will cover what you need to know about ensuring your kids are taken care of if anything should happen to their parents. Olson will guide you to take charge and ensure you have done the right thing for your family. Free. RSVP required: happeningnext.com/event/kids-protection-planning-workshop-eid4sntxw7imb1. The workshop may be moved to virtual. Tuesday, Jan. 25, 11am. Fine Point Law, Inc., 113 Cooper St., Santa Cruz

ENTRE NOSOTRAS GRUPO DE APOYO Entre Nosotras support group for Spanish speaking women diagnosed with cancer. Meets twice monthly. Registration required: 831-761-3973. Friday, Jan. 21, 6pm. WomenCARE, 2901 Park Ave., Ste. A1, Soquel.

TCF SIBLINGS GRIEF SUPPORT The Compassionate Friends (TCF) of Santa Cruz Sibling Group is for individuals who have experienced the death of a brother or sister at any age. Meetings are open to bereaved siblings 14 and older. For more information, visit tcfsantacruz.com. Tuesday, Jan. 25, 7-8:30pm.

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Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Jan. 19-Jan. 25 - Good Times Weekly

Call it the Wachowski effect. Just as the visionary work of the filmmaking sisters is experiencing a renaissance thanks to the release ofThe Matrix Resurrections, celebrities appear to be taking their fashion cues from Neo, Trinity, and the leather-clad characters of the 90s sci-fi action film. Granted, Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner have been referencing the franchises slick aesthetic for seasons, but last week actors and entertainers joined them in adopting the look.

While tabloids were busy elevatingUncut Gemsstar Julia Fox to it-girl status, Fox has been busy wearing standout fashions. While enjoying a night out with boyfriend Kanye West and Madonna at retro themed West Hollywood nightspot Delilah, Fox wore a custom crop top from Factory New York with built-in gloves and matching pants with a low-rise waist right out of the early 2000s. As usual, Fox wore the pieces with swagger, adding on one of 2022s must-have accessories, Balenciagas miniature hourglass bag in a glossy black stamped croc material that paired perfectly with all that shiny leather.

Elsewhere in LA, Jenner and Bieber stepped out in the sci-fi-inspired look they helped popularize, hitting up the party for Fai Khadras collaboration with Oliver Peoples on the rooftop of private members club Pluto. Bieber went for layers of black leather, her bootcut Attico trousers, long Magda Butrym trench, and vintage Tom Ford for Gucci shirt working seamlessly together. Jenners take on leather was irreverent; in another material or color, her mini-skirt, boots, and cardigan would have seemed cutesy, but in all black and worn with the sleekly designed shades from Khadras collection, the combination was dominatrix worthy.

Of course, theres more than one way to do futurism, and around the globe, stars had fun putting their spin on that concept. Barbarella style boots were trendingBella Hadid exited Craigs restaurant in Hollywood in Justine Clenquet mod white patent Edie boots, while Gray Sorrenti stole the show in Milan at Fendis Fall 2022 menswear collection in a python version of the lookas was luxury outerwear. Leave it to Rihanna and FKA Twigs to reimagine the humble puffer coat as a topper for transparent dresses and an all-weather showcase for an enduring logo addiction.

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This Week, The Best Dressed Stars Stepped Into The Matrix - Vogue

Little did we know at the beginning of this term that Afrofuturism would become now, as weve been forced to adapt to new uses of technology not just to complete the school term, but just to go about our daily lives.

Tananarive Due, lecturer on Afrofuturism in UCLAs Department of African American Studies, speaking at the departments virtual commencement on June 12

Professor Due continued by paraphrasing Angela Davis, one of UCLAs most famous faculty members: In order to work toward a better future, we need to believe that future is possible. For many, Afrofuturism is exploring those possibilities.

An Array of Expanding Definitions

What is Afrofuturism? Its the story of musicians, artists, writers, philosophers, fashion icons, filmmakers, costume and set designers, actors, activists and academics who have believed in a better future for Black people and for all people.

Afrofuturism, more concretely, can be understood as a wide-ranging social, political and artistic movement that dares to imagine a world where African-descended peoples and their cultures play a central role in the creation of that world.

Witness the sci-fi novels of one-time UCLA Extension student Octavia E. Butler. The saxophone epics spawned by former UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music student Kamasi Washington. Marvels blockbuster Black Panther and the Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, executive-produced and co-directed, respectively, by Bruins. Or Jay-Z and Beyonces Family Feud music video, set in 2444 and directed by UCLAs own Ava DuVernay.

These are all examples of Afrofuturism, a term coined in the 1990s to describe a decadeslong cultural wave thats now being recognized as a powerful creative force. Not only are these captivating, provocative works being brought forth by Bruin creators, but an entire body of UCLA scholarship also offers perspective on and gives shape to this multidisciplinary movement.

The album cover for the Sun Ra Arkestras Nuclear War.

Many of its aesthetic tropes a rich color palette, African iconography and a fascination with technoculture were laid down by cosmic philosopher and jazz giant Sun Ra, starting in the 1950s. According to Shana Redmond, professor of musicology and global jazz studies in the School of Music and professor of African American studies, the Afrofuturist movement is evidence that Black music has often operated as protest strategy as well as a portal for developing ideas about new futures for African-descended peoples. Today, during a health pandemic that has disproportionately impacted Black communities, combined with a renewed focus on systemic racial injustice, Afrofuturisms power to imagine a more just society is increasingly relevant.

Being in Los Angeles offers unique possibilities for the theorizing and practice of Afrofuturism, because theres such incredible talent in this space and people are constantly colliding through formal institutions such as UCLA, she says. The creative magnetism of Los Angeles is naturally going to feed into all of the rivulets of a formation that might be called Afrofuturism.

Sheer Boldness

With Afrofuturism, the point is to challenge what it means for Black people to be free on our own terms. Liberation is a very important part of the genre.

Dalena Hunter

Librarian and archivist for Los Angeles Communities and Cultures at UCLA Library

One of the movements inspirational figures is Octavia E. Butler, an Afrofuturist writer and thinker long before critic Mark Dery coined the term in his 1993 essay Black to the Future.

Butler was born in Pasadena in 1947. A self-described hermit, she would venture to the Los Angeles Public Librarys Central Library in pursuit of her passion for storytelling. At the library, she wrote her first book, Patternmaster, published in 1976.

In 2019, the Central Library opened the Octavia Lab, a do-it-yourself studio space named in Butlers honor. This past summer, the Octavia Lab used 3D printers the kind of technology that Afrofuturism celebrates to produce personal protective equipment for health care workers.

Against the odds, Butler blazed a trail through the white maledominated world of science fiction. She told the New York Times in a 2000 interview: When I began writing science fiction, when I began reading, heck, I wasnt in any of this stuff I read. I wrote myself in, since Im me and Im here and Im writing.

One of her fans is Dalena Hunter, a librarian and archivist for Los Angeles Communities and Cultures at UCLA Librarys Special Collections. In 2018, Hunter and Kelly Besser, archivist for UCLA Librarys Special Collections, participated in a San Diego Comic-Con panel called Beyond Wakanda: Intersectional Afrofuturism. Hunter says, With Afrofuturism, the point is to challenge what it means for Black people to be free on our own terms. Liberation is a very important part of the genre.

Besser notes that the Octavia E. Butler Collection the most-requested papers at the Huntington Library in 2019 offers an intensely personal window into Butlers writing life. When she was struggling to become who she became, she created these large posters that had inspirational themes on them: Act Courageous. Act Confident. Act Quietly Intelligent. And Take the offensive against your fears conquer them by sheer boldness, Besser says. It has a real goosebumps effect.

When Besser taught Butlers 1993 novel, Parable of the Sower, to high school students in South L.A., the teenagers saw parallels with the 1965 Watts riots and 1992 L.A. riots. The kids responded to the idea of shaping the future. There were people [in the novel] of all races, genders and sexual orientations struggling to survive. It looked like L.A. to my students.

Amazon Studios is adapting Butlers books Dawn and Wild Seed for TV, the former in partnership with DuVernays ARRAY Filmworks. Another indication were living in an Afrofuturist present? Parable of the Sower takes place in a fictional Los Angeles, set in the 2020s, thats dominated by corporate greed, wealth inequality and ecological disaster themes that are all too familiar today.

Jabari Jacobs

Dexter Story

A World of Sci-fi Black Champions

Music, too, is a critical element of the landscape. Dexter Story M.A. 19 is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer and producer who grew up in the View Park section of L.A., bordering Inglewood. He has produced and music-directed several concerts for downtown L.A.s Grand Performances summer series Mothership Landing: Funk and the Afrofuturist Universe of 77 in July 2017, among them. A Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellow working toward his ethnomusicology Ph.D. at UCLA, he tells the story of Afrofuturism from the perspective of a musician, an academic and a fan.

I entered the world of Afrofuturism through comic books, the Black Panther when TChalla meets the Fantastic Four, he says. My start was in art. My mom was very encouraging of music but thought I should be involved more in fine art. What pulled me into Afrofuturist music were the

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Story was hooked on the funk collectives two bands throughout the 70s. Concurrent with me going into this Afrofuturist world with [Parliament-Funkadelic members] Bootsy [Collins], Bernie [Worrell] and [George] Clinton, I also had the artwork on the vinyl that spoke to sci-fi movies and soundtracks.

When Story saw Parliament-Funkadelic band leader George Clinton and the Mothership on stage in 1979, he realized it wasnt just that it was symbolic of Afrofuturism [Clinton] dared to go there and turn his narrative into an embodied experience for people a spaceship that flies over my head and blows pyrotechnics, then he exits, and Im transported to a world of sci-fi Black champions. So its that, too its daring to create ones relationship to this present and push the boundaries of whats possible.

Top Brass

Saxophonist and composer Kamasi Washington embodies Afrofuturisms potential in the current moment, without being defined by it. He credits his time as an ethnomusicology student at the School of Music, from 1999 to 2004, with widening his worldview. He says he relates to the science-fiction and surrealist aspects of the Afrofuturist movement.

Ive always had that storyteller imagination, and I would drift off into my own little world, he says. Even before I knew the term Afrofuturism, once I found out theres a whole movement of people that are like that, it was like, Oh, cool!

It shaped who I am, musically and aesthetically, how I think and how I exist. To Washington, Afrofuturism is the creative expression of the wonder and marvel of what the future may hold.

Washingtons music comes out of the jazz tradition but is constantly seeking to go beyond. Washington, saxophone player and producer Terrace Martin, producer 9th Wonder, and piano and keyboard virtuoso Robert Glasper make up the recently formed supergroup Dinner Party (their eponymous album was released in July). The groups animated music video for Sleepless Nights is decidedly Afrofuturistic. Washington is also working on a graphic novel that draws from this aesthetic.

For Washington, music works as protest because it profoundly impacts the mind of the listener.

Sound is the one sense that we cant turn off, he says. [Music] is a great tool for creating empathy and for learning. Ultimately, the world is what the people who live in it make it. As we shape the minds of the people that live in the world, we help shape what that world will be at the same time.

Reflecting on the current social justice movement, Washington says: The most powerful thing Ive seen is the notion that everyone needs to help push this rock up the hill. This global system that were all in is not meant for equality. If were going to keep the same system, then that just means were going to put somebody else in a state of inequality. That means we have to change systems.

Black Panther, Green Light

Nate Moore 00 had his own Afrofuturist awakening in the early 90s through Marvels Black Panther comics, not knowing that one day he would be a steward of the billion-dollar Marvel film franchise. I was a fan of the comic Black Panther: World of Wakanda through the years the characters introduction by Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four, then Don McGregor embraced African culture and tech and combined the two, says Moore, who executive produced the 2018 hit film. There were the possibilities for an Afrofuturistic aesthetic with these characters. Chief among them was King TChalla, gracefully portrayed by the late Chadwick Boseman,who died Aug. 28 after a four-year battle with colon cancer.

Disney/Marvel Studios

A Black Panther scene featuring the Masai-inspired Dora Milaje, Wakandas elite royal military unit.

Moore says Black Panthers production designer, Hannah Beachler, and costume designer, Ruth E. Carter, worked in concert inspired by Afrofuturism to fully realize Wakanda on the big screen.

Hannah put together a Wakanda bible that would pull from the technological cutting edge and from various cultures in Africa, he says. It was a love letter to as many cultures as we could include, without breaking the reality of the world or crossing over into appropriation. Hannah focused on: What does the future look like? How do you steep that in Afrofuturism?

Moore adds: How Black Panther embraces Afrofuturism is why we wanted to make the movie in the first place. Without Octavia Butler and others laying the groundwork, it would have been harder to pull off. We owe them.

Following the movies breakout success, Moore has started to process what Black Panthers legacy could mean. Unfortunately, in America especially, visions of Africa are always of people in need of saving, he says. Saviors can come from Africa. That seemed revolutionary.

A Future Without Limits

So whats next? Or rather, whats now?

Story believes the coronavirus and current racial tensions related to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery are accelerating our collective journey into Afrofuturism: [Video gaming platform] Twitch is the new home of Afrofuturism, if you follow people like [hip-hop DJ collective] theBeat Junkies, activistTanya DePass,BlackGirlGamersandThe Roots. The pandemic has dropped us into a wormhole of the cyberculture.

Hunter looks to the Afrofuturist movies that younger Black people are being exposed to, such as Spider-Verse, which was co-directed by former UCLA fine arts student Peter Ramsey. I appreciated how they incorporated [Miles Morales] African American heritage into his identity as Spider-Man, she says. Hes not trying to fit in, but finding his place in this new school and flourishing. You get to watch him mature.

And Redmond is optimistic for whats next. Theres been a whole recentering of the scholastic enterprise of Afrofuturism through the route of fiction and of music making, she says. We understand how much value we [as African-descended peoples] hold as a creative force in the world. If we can begin to take that seriously and train toward something different, then the alternative world will follow.

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Afrofuturism: From the Past to the Living Present | UCLA

Well, that's not good.Where Theres Smoke

As if the global chip shortage hasnt been unkind enough to PC builders and gamers, some are noticing their Asus motherboards heating up and in rare cases catching fire, Toms Hardwarereported last week.

The boards,which are a high-end model targeted at gamers called the ROG Maximus Z690 Hero that retails for $600, appear to have a backwards capacitor that may be causing neighboring transistors to burn out, as YouTuber Buildzoid suggested in a recent video.

In the worst case, as one Reddit user pointed out in a post last month, the mix up caused two transistors to visibly generate smoke.

Fortunately, in most if not all cases, the systems shut down before their PCs could fully burst into flames, according to Ars Technica.

Asus publicly acknowledged the issue last week, with its PR team starting to fan out the flames. The company set up a webpage that allows users to check if they own a faulty motherboard.

We have recently received incident reports regarding the ROG Maximus Z690 Hero motherboard, a statement received by Toms Hardware reads. In our ongoing investigation, we have preliminarily identified a potential reversed memory capacitor issue in the production process from one of the production lines that may cause debug error code 53, no post, or motherboard components damage.

The company is also working with relevant government agencies on a replacement program so there may be some hope for affected users after all.

READ MORE: Asus Admits Fiery Z690 Motherboard Flaw, Starts Recall Program (Updated) [Toms Hardware]

More on PCs: New Gaming PC Consumes so Much Power That Its Banned in California

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Expensive Motherboards Are Literally Bursting Into Flames - Futurism

Well, Facebooks metaverse is off to a depressing start.

Meta aka the artist formerly known as Facebook announced a slate of big name virtual reality concerts set to take place entirely in in its Horizon Venues metaverse last month. The star-studded lineupincluded rapper Young Thug on December 26, DJ David Guetta on December 31, and finally EDM duo The Chainsmokers for a New Years Eve concert to ring in 2022.

The only problem? Not many people noticed and those who did didnt seem to really care.

Despite being completely free, the concerts seemed to get incredibly little traction or notice from anyone outside of Meta offices. There was barely any mention of any of the performances on social media platforms like Twitter or even Facebook, let alone on news and music publications.

It probably wasnt helped by the fact that the concerts were barely optimized for a VR experience. Guetta just had a 2D live streamed video of his performance at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, Young Thug and The Chainsmokers offered just a 180 degree view of their concert for Oculus users.

Young Thugs performance racked up just north of 100,000 views, while Guettas performances accumulated almost a million. The Chainsmokers performance, for its part, seems to have been removed. And keep in mind, too, that Facebook has been known to put a very optimistic spin on view counts previously in order to build hype for its fledgling video streaming platform.

If you think about it for just a second, it makes sense. Watching a concert alone while wearing a VR headset at home isnt how a lot of people want to spend their New Years Eve even if they are massive fans of The Chainsmokers for some reason.

Overall, it seems like the metaverse concerts werent the hit Zuckerberg was hoping theyd be. And the elephant in the room, of course, is Travis Scotts Fortnite concert last year, which drew tens of millions of participants and commanded huge amounts of media attention.

So while Meta has set some ambitious goals for itself, it seems like creating a successful metaverse and drawing new users in is going to take a lot more than some free concerts.

More on Oculus troubles: Christmas Present VR Headset Sends Boy to the Hospital

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Facebook Hosted Three Huge Concerts in the Metaverse and They Seriously Flopped - Futurism

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If it seems like everyone you know is catching COVID-19 now, youre not alone. The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has caused a surge in cases that has disrupted nearly every facet of everyday life once again.

Thats because Omicron appears to be significantly more contagious than previous variants of the virus. In fact, some experts believe that its the fastest spreading virus in all of human history.

Anton Erkoreka, a medical historian and director of the Basque Museum of the History of Medicine and Science, told Spanish newspaper El Pais that the Omicron variant has even surpassed the bubonic plague known as the Black Death which resulted in the most fatal pandemic ever recorded almost 700 years ago, but took years to spread to be the most transmissible disease ever.

It is the most-explosive and the fastest-spreading virus in history, Erkoreka the newspaper.

William Hanage, co-director of the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at Harvard University, echoed the historians sentiments, telling the newspaper that the variant is certainly the most rapidly spreading virus among the ones we have been able to investigate at this level of detail.

Of course, the cultural context of the pandemic is also important. The Black Death was spreading in Medieval Europe, where travel was rare, whereas COVID quickly took over a very globalized world.

Omicron is currently the most dominant variantof COVID in the US. While it is spreading rapidly, health experts have found that it is resulting in far fewer deathsthan previous variants.

This is due to a number of factors including higher vaccination rates, which can drastically diminish any impact infections can have, and how the virus primarily invades the upper respiratory tract instead of the lungs, El Pais reports.

Of course, if we continue to let Omicron run rampant, itmay only be a matter of time before the number of deaths catches up.

Luckily, theres some hope. Current signs out of South Africa indicate that the variant has already begun to wane in the region. With testing and boosting efforts being pushed more in the US, well hopefully be able to avoid the unmitigated disaster that occurred last year.

Then again, who knows. If weve learned anything from nearly two years of lockdowns and a healthcare system on its knees, its that people can be recklessabout public health.

After all, people are literally pinning Betty Whites death on the booster.

READ MORE: Omicron: The fastest-spreading virus in history [El Pais]

More on COVID: Elon Musk Fans Furious That He Posted Antivax Meme

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Omicron Is the "Fastest Spreading Virus In History," Experts Say - Futurism

Alexa, open the pod bay doors. Amazon to Artemis

In yet another odd marriage of capitalism and space travel,Lockheed Martin has announced that it will be sending an Amazon Echo as part of the upcoming Artemis 1 mission.

No, astronauts wont be using it to check the weather or to play some lunar road trip tunes. Instead, itll be used to explore how commercially-available voice recognition technology could be used to help astronauts in future missions.

The project, dubbed Callisto, is a partnership between Amazon and Cisco. The idea is to demonstrate how Alexa, along with Ciscos teleconferencing platform Webex, could be used on future missions, SpaceNews reports.

We want to show that this type of technology can help astronauts with some of those unique human interface technologies, making their jobs simpler, safer, more efficient, Rob Chambers, Lockheed Martins director of commercial civil space strategy, told the site.

Lockheed hopes the tech will be able to help astronauts with tasks ranging from the simple to literal rocket science.

For example, crewmembers might be able to access key pieces of data regarding flight trajectory with it, and might even be able to adjust their spacecraft controls via voice command.

One way youll be able to do this with the Callisto payload is to say, Alexa, what is the average temperature across all the batteries, and what is the peak temperature? Itll perform that data processing for you, Chambers explained.

Artemis 1 is an uncrewed mission, so there wont actually be anyone aboard to test out Callistos voice command. Instead, Chambers said there will be virtual crew members that will give commands to the AI.

This is all about testing it on this flight, seeing if its valuable, and then we can assess how it can be used as we move forward not just on Orion but on habitats, at Gateway, rovers, and any number of other applications were actively looking at, he told the site.

So it seems like this is mostly a gimmick for now. If things do go well, though, we might see a future where astronauts are controlling their craft via voice command.

Hopefully, they work out the kinks until then to avoid any HAL 9000 scenarios.

READ MORE: Amazons Alexa to be tested on Artemis 1 [SpaceNews]

More on Artemis 1: NASA Head Says Moon Landing Delayed a Year, Blames Jeff Bezos Lawsuit

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NASA Is Installing Amazon Alexa on Its Next Moon Mission, for Some Cursed Reason - Futurism