A journalist’s journey to 50 payphones in a single day has uncovered a unique game that fosters exploration and community, reminiscent of Pokémon Go. Caitlin Cassidy spent 8.5 hours and walked 22,000 steps to play PayphoneGo, a game created by Brisbane student Kris Norris. The game encourages players to find payphones, call a number, and leave voicemails, creating a strange sense of connection in a small corner of the internet.
PayphoneGo: A Game of Exploration
Cassidy’s adventure began early in the morning, and by the end, she had visited payphone number 5. Along the way, she encountered unexpected sights: a dirty high chair, a broken-off manicured nail, and pigeons feasting on unknown items. Despite these oddities, the game’s charm lies in its ability to promote exploration and community. The voicemails left by players are often poignant, with people talking about their favorite local areas, what they can see, venting, or even singing.
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“In my delirium, I start visiting the same payphones twice, sometimes three times. I pass others without noticing them, even though I have their location on a map,” Cassidy wrote.
100 Unlikely Items That Reveal History
In a separate story, Roman Mars selected 100 objects to summarize the US, including the Billy Possum, a failed teddy bear competitor from 1902. The story explores how these items, from the screw thread to a coin that sparked a gold crisis, reveal the complexities of American history. Mars also included a failed time capsule, highlighting the challenge of telling a nation’s story through objects.
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“It’s a humbling story about how hard it is to tell our own story and the impossible challenge of choosing objects to represent our history,” Mars said.
Dementia: A Diagnosis for Creative Possibilities
George Rook, diagnosed with dementia, received advice to disengage and prepare to die, but a group of dementia rebels is challenging this narrative. They advocate for socializing, staying active, learning new things, and volunteering, emphasizing the hopeful, creative possibilities after a diagnosis. The movement aims to empower people to live as well as possible with autonomy and independence.
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“We underestimate what’s possible because of the idea that the person has already died,” said one of the changemakers.
Kate Moss: A Cross Between a Ballerina and Janis Joplin
In the 1990s, photographer Greg Brennan captured an iconic image of Kate Moss leaving a play, which became famous for its fallen angel quality. Brennan recalls the stampede of 200 male photographers that would follow Moss, but he notes that the sensationalism of the image didn’t reflect the truth of the moment.
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“She looked at me, she recognised me because I’ve been photographing her for many years. I started taking the picture. She didn’t react, didn’t say anything,” Brennan said.
Less Lethal Weapons: A New Normal in Crowd Control
Australian police use “less lethal” weapons like OC spray, flashbang grenades, and teargas on crowds with little scrutiny. Medical doctor Rohini Haar warns that these weapons can kill, and an interactive investigation exposes how police deliberately hide details of these weapons. Protesters describe the experience as feeling like razor blades in their eyes, and the weapons have become a new normal in crowd control.
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“They’re bringing their kids along and seeing these police fully kitted up with guns and grenades and having to explain … what’s going on. This is the new normal,” Haar said.
