James Ellroy, 78, discusses his aversion to technology, his new novel "Red Sheet" set during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and his contrarian views on the Red Scare and Hollywood blacklist. He also reflects on Richard Nixon, his recurring antihero Freddy Otash, and his personal life.
A gay man recounts his journey from discovering he was an uncle at 22 in Madrid to becoming a beloved figure for his seven nieces and nephews, navigating societal prejudice and redefining family.
Parents are increasingly choosing screen-free environments for their children, citing concerns about addiction, sleep disruption, and mental health. Some families are making significant lifestyle changes, including relocating and opting for screen-free schools, to prioritize a less tech-dependent upbringing.
AT&T is suing California and asking the FCC to intervene, challenging the state's requirement to maintain landline service. The company argues the century-old copper network is underused, costly, and prone to theft, while California maintains its rules are technology-neutral and protect essential services.
The Tin Can is a simplified phone device for children designed by three Seattle fathers, featuring bright colours, big numbers, a curly cord between handset and base, and no texting, apps or games. Priced at $100 with a $9.99 monthly subscription for calling regular numbers, it connects via wifi and plugs into a normal power socket. Parents can approve a contact list to eliminate concerns about strangers. Bloomberg reports hundreds of thousands of sales with school endorsements, though critics question whether kids will actually want to use a device that lacks the features they typically desire.
Shen Yuxiu, an 80-year-old grandmother in Shanghai, has been managing the city's last staffed public phone booth for 33 years, earning only 2 yuan (3 US cents) per week. Located on Fuzhou Road between The Bund and People's Square, the booth features two vintage landline phones. Shen works daily from 9am to 8pm, charging 0.4 yuan for local calls per three minutes and 0.2 yuan per minute for provincial calls.
