Can technology ease the alienation technology created? BY SARAH EDWARDS

Empathy Machines

Can technology ease the alienation technology created?

BY SARAH EDWARDS sedwards@indyweek.com

you’re communicating with other people, but that it’s a temporary respite. Turning it off and going back to your actual IRL life brings up issues of anxiety and depression for a lot of people because it feels like you were in this space with a whole bunch of other people—and then you’re alone.

Ever since I got an iPhone, I’ve experienced something akin to an ache in the middle of conversations: an inane compulsion to make contact with my phone, followed by shame and the fear that some part of myself has been sanded down.

As I learned from the Durham-based journalist Kaitlin Ugolik Phillips, there’s a term for this: “phubbing,” which means to snub someone by looking at your phone instead of at them.

In her new, debut book, The Future of Feeling: Building Empathy in a Tech-Obsessed World, Phillips explores the ways that technology has altered the ways we relate to each other. She also interviews a variety of experts—doctors, teachers, and scientists—about the technology that is evolving to bridge these gaps in empathy.

Does this mean that we’re in the clear, then—that technology can solve the interpersonal problems it has created? Not really. Phillips, who has written for places like VICE, Quartz, and the Columbia Journalism Review, is a deft researcher and an accessible writer, but she’s not particularly optimistic about our slow slouch toward dystopia. The Future of Feeling is more about taking stock of concerns about where we are, with a sideways glance toward where we might go.

On a recent snowy Thursday, I gave Phillips a call—hey, we planned to meet face-to-face, but Mother Nature had other plans—to chat about clicks, likes, swipes, and everything human in between.

INDY: How did this grow from an interest to a book? KAITLIN UGOLIK PHILLIPS: I call myself an old millennial—I’m 32, so I grew up with a lot of social media use, Myspace and then Facebook. Around 2014, a lot of people were in groups, and we would talk about things that were really important to us, like politics and feminism. It seemed like people were trying to talk about really big, really important things, but just kind of talking at each other more than really considering what the other person was saying—and I include myself in that, too. I wanted to find some hope, and so I looked into whether anyone was studying this. And thankfully, I found that they were, and I wanted to read a book about it—but it didn’t exist.

You also mention this idea that people are becoming less lonely but more isolated. What’s the difference? Research has shown that we spend more time physically alone but communicate with people by our devices. The research on loneliness is really interesting but changing as we speak. They’ve shown that people tend to feel less lonely when they use social media because How does an increased need for validation tie into a decrease in empathy? There’s a correlation, in some survey research, between people who are seeking validation all the time and people who are not great at perspective-taking, which is another way of kind of describing empathy.

That makes sense, anecdotally. Yeah, a lot of this is anecdotal, and one of the reasons that I wanted to write the book is that I wanted to take the importance of technology—especially social media—in our lives seriously, and also the concerns about what that might be doing to us. We don’t have concrete answers to a lot of these questions, but I don’t think that means that we shouldn’t write about it and talk about it.

What are some of the technologies that made you optimistic about technology’s ability to generate empathy? I did learn and write about some people who are using chatbot technology to make connections with people who might not otherwise feel that they can connect with people. It can help direct people to mental-health resources and things like that— kids who were afraid to call a suicide hotline or go to a person for help. I really like VR, but I also really understand a lot of the criticisms of it. I think it’s a useful tool for a lot of organizations that are trying to raise money or raise awareness about different issues, to get people to put on headsets and embody the experience of someone else.

Did you finish the project feeling hopeful? I don’t know. I think that I feel more hopeful that someone is trying to address these things, and [that] people are talking about it and are concerned about it. There’s potential for regular people to have agency in how we use tech. But it’s more like a faith-in-humanity kind of thing than optimism that everything’s going to be, you know, puppies and roses. W

arts

Painting by Maxan Jean-Louis, depicting the assassination of Jean Dominique. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RUBENSTEIN ARTS CENTER

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Radio Haïti-Inter: Three Decades of Resistance From 1957-1971, former president of Haiti, François “Papa Doc” Duvalier led one of the most tyrannical regimes in the country’s history, largely through what “Radio Haiti Project” archivist and author Laura Wagner describes as “the violent silencing of the free press.” Even up until its eventual 2003 closure, Radio Haiti-Inter was subjugated to various attacks in the name of suppressing broadcasts which promoted Haitian ideals. This story of collective fearlessness is the subject of a two-week multimedia exhibit inside Duke’s Rubenstein Arts Center. This opening reception kicks off the exhibit, as well as When I Say Africa: Photographs from the Continent, which will be on display through March 8, also at the Rubenstein. —Eric Tullis Rubenstein Arts Center, Durham 6 p.m., FREE

Opening

Ebony G. Patterson: ... while the dew is still on the roses ... Mixed Media. Feb. 27 - Jul. 12. Nasher Museum of Art, Durham. THRIVE 2020 Creative conference with keynote speakers. $50+. Feb.28- 29. The Fruit, Durham. Michael Kovick Handmade guitars and mandolins. Fri., Feb. 28, 12 p.m. Music Maker Relief Foundation, Hillsborough. In Conversation: Leyla McCalla, Kiyoko McCrae, Laura Wagner Fri., Feb. 28, 12 p.m. Rubenstein Arts Center at Duke University , City of Durham. Smoke Sculptures Photography. Sun., Feb. 28-Mar. 22. Skylight Gallery, Hillsborough. Quiet Moments Photography. Feb. 28-Mar. 22. Skylight Gallery, Hillsborough.

Opening Reception: Smoke Sculptures and Quiet Moments Photography. Fri., Feb. 28. 6 p.m. Skylight Gallery, Hillsborough. Henna Extravaganza Sat., Feb. 29. 10:30 a.m. Forest Hills Neighborhood Clubhouse, Durham. Sarah Jane Tart: The Wonder Collection Paintings. Mar. 3-Apr. 29. Urban Durham Realty, Durham.

Ongoing

Josef Albers and Homage to the Square Paintings. Through Aug. 30. NC Museum of Art, Raleigh. All That Glitters: Spark and Dazzle from the Permanent Collection Costumes. Through May 17. Gregg Museum of Art & Design, Raleigh. All is Possible: Mary Ann Scherr’s Legacy in Metal Jewelry and design. Through Sep. 6. Gregg Museum of Art & Design, Raleigh. Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology Other exhibits at NC State Libraries and GES Center. Through Mar. 15. Gregg Museum of Art & Design, Raleigh. John James Audubon: The Birds of America Ornithological engravings. Through Dec. 31. NC Museum of Art, Raleigh. John Beerman: The Shape of Light Paintings. Through Feb. 29. Craven Allen Gallery, Durham. Megan Bostic, Andy Mauery, Rosemary MezaDesPlas: Hairstory Art made of human hair. Through Feb. 29. Artspace, Raleigh. Cornelio Campos: My Roots Paintings. Through Mar. 12. Durham Arts Council, Durham. Compose and Materialize Group show. Through Mar. 7. Durham Arts Council, Durham. Consensual Hallucination: Dara Morgenstern Through Mar. 20. Holy Mountain Printing, Durham. Cosmic Rhythm Vibrations Mixed media. Through Mar. 1. Nasher Museum of Art, Durham. Stephen Costello: Places Sculpture. Through Feb. 29. Craven Allen Gallery, Durham. A Creative Protest: MLK Comes to Durham Through Apr. 5. Museum of Durham History, Durham. Cultures of the Sea: Art of the Ancient Americas Mixed media. Through May. 31. Nasher Museum of Art, Durham. Design By Time Group Show. Through May 17. Gregg Museum of Art & Design, Raleigh. Domestic Demise: Elizabeth Alexander, Patty Carroll Group show. Through Apr. 11. Artspace, Raleigh. Favorite Things Paintings. Through Feb. 29. V L Rees Gallery, Raleigh. The Full Light of Day Group show of artists with disabilities. Through Mar. 6. VAE Raleigh, Raleigh The Future is Female Group show. Through Dec. 31. 21c Museum Hotel, Durham. Gifts of Earth and Intimacy Copper works. Through Dec. 31. 21c Museum Hotel, Durham. Abie Harris: Painting Music Through Mar. 1. The Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist, Chapel Hill. Shelly Hehenberger, Luna Lee Ray, R.J.Dobbs Mixed media and sculpture. Through Mar. 7. FRANK Gallery, Chapel Hill. Mar Hester: Action/ Reaction Photography and origami. Through Feb. 29. Artspace, Raleigh. Horse & Buggy and Friends: Satellite Parrish Street Gallery Group show. Through Apr. 1. Horse & Buggy Press PopUp Shop, Durham. Instruments of Divination in Africa: Works from the Collection of Rhonda Morgan Wilkerson, Ph.D. Sculpture and objects used in divination. Through Jun. 7. Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill. Daniel Kariko: Surburban Symbiosis Insectum Domesticus Photography. Through Mar. 1. Nature Art Gallery, Raleigh. Jeana Eve Klein & Anne Hill: Meditative Obsessive Mixed media. Through Feb 29. Horse & Buggy Press and Friends, Durham. Jane Kraike: Serigraphs Prints. Through Mar. 28. Adam Cave Fine Art, Raleigh. Yayoi Kusama: Open the Shape Called Love Solo exhibit. Through Apr. 12. Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill. Law and Justice: The Supreme Court of North Carolina, 1819- 2019 Artifacts, images, texts. Through May 31. NC Museum of History, Raleigh. A Moving Grove Paintings. Through Feb. 29. Anchorlight, Raleigh. Eleanor Mills: Wildflowers of Crested Butte, Colorado Photography. Through Apr. 18. Duke Campus: Lilly Library, Durham. Organized Chaos #1: Geometric Shapes & Patterns Paintings. Through Mar. 10. Triangle Cultural Art Gallery, Raleigh. Ali Osborn: Macadam Drawings. Through Apr. 11. Oneoneone, Chapel Hill. Past Lives Mixed media. Through Mar. 14. The Scrap Exchange, Durham. Corey Pemberton: creature, comfort Paintings. Solo exhibition. Through May. 10. CAM Raleigh, Raleigh.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29 Annie Blazejack and Geddes Levenson: AMovingGrove Local painters Annie Blazejack and Geddes Levenson work together so closely, so attentively, that it’s hard to say where one ends and the other begins in the exhibit A Moving Grove, which has an artist talk and closing reception at Anchorlight in Raleigh on February 29. Friendly fabric snakes coil around clean-lined visions of sci-fi architecture, while enigmatic shapes evoke both landscapes and cellular biology; other chimerical creatures are glimpsed through striking spatial abstractions in this self-described “feminist, ecocentric” cosmology. —Brian Howe

Anchorlight, Raleigh 4-7 p.m., FREE

“A Charm of Powerful Trouble” by Annie Blazejack and Geddes Levinson PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARTISTS

ART S C O N T.

Kenneth Proseus: Reasons to Get out of Bed Paintings. Through Mar. 8. Golden Belt Arts, Durham. QuiltSpeak: Uncovering Women’s Voices Through Quilts Through Mar. 8. NC Museum of History, Raleigh. The Right Angle, the Meander, & the Star Maps. Through Mar. 16. Durham Arts Council, Durham. Seeing Red Group show of women artists. Through Feb. 29. Local Color Gallery, Raleigh. Linda Starr: No Lack Of Color Solo exhibit. Through Mar. 1. Personify, Raleigh. Sydney Steen: Fault Lines Vignettes. Through Oct. 25. 21c Museum Hotel, Durham. Billy Strayhorn Solo exhibit. Through Mar. 22. Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, Hillsborough. Think Big!—A Small Works Exhibition Group show. Through Mar. 16. 5 Points Gallery, Durham. Cheryl Thurber: Documenting Gravel Springs, Mississippi, in the 1970s Photography. Through Mar. 31. UNC Campus: Wilson Special Collections Library, Chapel Hill. To The East Group show. Through Feb. 29. The Centerpiece, Raleigh. Toriawase: A Special Installation of Modern Japanese Art and Ceramics Through Apr. 12. Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill. JP Trostle: Quantum Flux Photography. Through Jul. 14. Durham Convention Center, Durham. Urban Saga Group show. Through Mar. 18. Litmus Gallery, Raleigh. Louis Watts: Sequoyaland Drawings. Through Mar. 22. Horace Williams House, Chapel Hill. Michael Weitzman: Natural Beauty Photography. Through Mar. 21. Herbert C Young Community Center, Cary. Jeff Whetstone: Species Complex Photos. Through Mar. 14. Lump, Raleigh. William C. Wright: New Works Paintings. Through Mar. 22. Gallery C, Raleigh.

stage

2.29

3.1

3.4

3.7 Gillian McDunn The Queen Bee and Me 2pm Erik Larson The Splendid and the Vile at MEREDITH COLLEGE’s Jones Chapel (Ticket Required) 2pm Sundry Poets 2pm Joseph Wheelan Bloody Okinawa7pm David Plouffe A Citizen’s Guide to Beating Donald Trump 7pm

www.quailridgebooks.com • 919.828.1588 • North Hills 4209-100 Lassiter Mill Road, Raleigh, NC 27609 CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST: BOOKIN’ w/Jason Jefferies

Elizabeth Teresita Howard in Jacqueline Lawton’s XIX PHOTO BY DONN YOUNG / COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27 & FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 The 19th Amendment Project In two different showcases, UNC faculty artists present four new works commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Dance-theater work The Debate examines depictions of women in politics over the last century and multimedia piece #19 views the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment through laseretched film, archival footage, and music. A solo show depicts Sojourner Truth’s journey, meanwhile, while fourth work XIX—which considers the amendment’s racial divide—will have a staged reading, ahead of its October premiere at the Women’s Theatre Festival. —Byron Woods

CURRENT ArtSpace + Studio, Chapel Hill 7:30 p.m., $5 suggested

Opening

H.L. Boney, Janeen Slaughter Comedy. $10. Sat., Feb. 29, 9:30 p.m. The People’s Improv Theater (PIT), Chapel Hill. GCA Improv 101 Graduation Showcase Improv. $10. Thu., Feb. 27, 8 p.m. Goodnights Comedy Club, Raleigh.

Corey Holcomb Comedy. Showtimes: Fri.: 7 p.m. & 9:15 p.m. Sat.: 6:30 p.m. & 9 p.m. Sun.: 7 p.m. $25-$75. Feb. 28 - Mar. 1, Raleigh Improv, Raleigh. Julius Caesar Play. Showtimes: Mar. 4-7, 10-13, 17-21: 7:30 p.m. Mar. 8, 15 and 22: 2 p.m. Mar. 14: 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. $15-$64. Mar. 4-22, PlayMakers Repertory Company, Chapel Hill.

One Song Productions: Dead Man’s Cell Phone Play. Showtimes: Fri.-Sat.: 7:30 p.m. Sun: 3 p.m. $10. Feb. 28 - Mar. 1, The ArtsCenter, Carrboro. Seussical Jr. (SensoryFriendly Performance) Musical. $12-$17. Sat., Feb. 29, 1 p.m. Raleigh Little Theatre, Raleigh. SoMogo Stories: A Musical Celebration Of Storytelling Across The African Continent $10. Sat., Feb. 29, 6 p.m. Duke Campus: Page Auditorium, Durham.

Ongoing

GCA Stand-Up 101 Graduation Showcase Comedy. $10. Wed., Feb. 26, 8 p.m. Goodnights Comedy Club, Raleigh. Loving Play. Showtimes: Fri. & Sat.: 8 p.m. Sun.: 3 p.m. $24. Through Feb. 29. Pure Life Theatre, Raleigh. The Old Man & The Old Moon Play. Showtimes: Feb. 14-15, 20-22, 28-29, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 and 23, 3 p.m. Mar. 1, 3 p.m. $33. Through Mar. 1. Theatre In The Park, Raleigh. SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical $30+. Showtimes: Tue.-Thu.: 7:30 p.m. Fri.: 8 p.m. Sat.: 2 p.m & 8 p.m. Sun.: 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. Through Mar. 1. Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham. Sweat Play. Showtimes: Fri. & Sat.: 7:30 p.m. Sun.: 3:30 p.m. $5-$23. Through Mar. 1. Umstead Park United Church of Christ, Raleigh.

2/28– 3/1 DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE (presented by One Song Productions) 3/14 JOHN JORGENSON BLUEGRASS BAND 3/20 DOM FLEMONS WITH CHRIS FRISINA 3/22 ALASH 3/13 LEAHY

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film

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28— SUNDAY, MARCH 1 A Tribute to Robin Williams The Cary Theater salutes the oddball genius of Robin Williams in a look back at some of his most famous comic and dramatic roles. Night one features two of Williams’ best performances: his Oscar-winning therapist in Good Will Hunting and his Quixotic homeless man in The Fisher King, which combines his abilities to play both manic comedy and tragedy. Saturday has the broad comedy of The Birdcage and Williams’ first major dramatic role in the adaptation of the zany bestseller The World According to Garp, while Sunday has a matinee of the increasingly problematic family classic Mrs. Doubtfire, which is somewhere between a light cross-dressing comedy and a dark look at a bitter divorcee stalking and gaslighting his family. Legacies are strange things. —Zack Smith The Cary Theater, Cary Various times, $6

Special Showings

Always In Season Thu., Feb. 27, 7 p.m. The Cary Theater, Cary. Bedlam Tue., Mar. 3, 7 p.m. Durham Arts Council, Durham. The Birdcage $6. Sat., Feb. 29, 7 p.m. The Cary Theater, Cary. Demon Within, Biotherapy Fri., Feb. 28, 10 p.m. Alamo Drafthouse, Raleigh. Extra Ordinary $13. Sun., Mar. 1, 9 p.m. Alamo Drafthouse, Raleigh. The Fisher King $6. Fri., Feb. 28, 9:30 p.m. The Cary Theater, Cary. For Sama Thu., Feb. 27, 7 p.m. Rubenstein Arts Center - Film Theater, Durham. Four Minutes Til Midnight Fri. 4:50 p.m. & Sun. 4:10 p.m. $10. Feb. 28 - Mar. 1, 7 p.m. Carolina Theatre, Durham. Good Will Hunting $6. Fri., Feb. 28, 7 p.m. The Cary Theater, Cary. Hobbit Trilogy, The Lord of the Rings 7 p.m. all showtimes. $9. Feb. 21 - Mar. 1. Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh. I Was at Home, But… Fri., Feb. 28, 7 p.m. Rubenstein Arts Center - Film Theater, Durham. Mrs. Doubtfire $6. Sun., Mar. 1, 2 p.m. The Cary Theater, Cary. Nevermore Film Festival See website for full schedule. $10+. Feb. 28 - Mar. 1. Carolina Theatre, Durham. The Phantom of the Opera Tue. 7 p.m., Wed. 7 p.m. $12. Feb. 25-26. Alamo Drafthouse, Raleigh. Odd Squad $5. Sat., Feb. 29, 10 a.m. Alamo Drafthouse, Raleigh. The Shawshank Redemption $8. Fri., Feb. 28, 7 p.m. Alamo Drafthouse, Raleigh. On Happiness Road Sat., Feb. 29, 2 p.m. Rubenstein Arts Center - Film Theater, Durham. Showgirls $7. Wed., Feb. 26, 9 p.m. Alamo Drafthouse, Raleigh. The World According to Garp $6. Sat., Feb. 29, 9:30 p.m. The Cary Theater, Cary.

Opening

The Invisible Man—This adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel stars Elisabeth Moss as a woman stalked by an obsessive, controlling ex—who has figured out how to turn invisible. Rated R.

Now Playing

The INDY uses a five-star rating scale. Unstarred films have not been reviewed by our writers. 1917—Epic war drama about two soldiers tasked with sending a message that could save 1,600 soldiers. Rated R. Bad Boys for Life—Buddy cop comedy about a midlife crisis. Produced by Will Smith. Rated R.

Birds of Prey—Irreverent superhero flick about the supervillain Harley Quinn. Rated R.

Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island—The twisted fantasies offered by a remote tropical resort slowly twist into nightmares— who knew? Lucy Hale stars. Rated PG-13.

Brahms: The Boy II—Katie Holmes stars in this sequel to The Boy; in this film, a young boy crafts an unsettling friendship with a doll named Brahms. PG-13.

The Call of the Wild— Harrison Ford shares the screen with a CGI Great Bernard, in this adaptation of the classic Jack London adventure novel. Rated PG. Dolittle—Robert Downey Jr. plays the eccentric veterinarian in this fantasy action reprisal. Rated PG.

½ Downhill— A bleak comedy from a talented team, Downhill is a real conundrum, with some things done very well and others completely botched. Rated R. Ford v. Ferrari —Matt Damon and Christian Bale star in a biographical sports drama about a legendary race. Rated PG-13. Frozen 2— In search of the origins of her powers, Elsa and her sister Anna strike out beyond their frosty homeland. Rated PG.

 The Gentleman— Guy Ritchie, the undisputed kingpin of the British gangster film, is back with a high-energy action-comedy. Rated PG-13. —Glenn McDonald

Gretel and Hansel— Horror fantasy remake of the fairy tale about two children whose hike goes awry. Rated PG-13. Jojo Rabbit—Black comedy about a German boy who discovers that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in the attic. Rated PG-13. Jumanji: The Next Level— This adventure comedy picks up where the 1995 flick left off. Rated PG-13. The Photograph—Issa Rae plays the estranged daughter of a famous photographer whose life is turned upside-down by the emergence of a photograph— and by a handsome journalist, played by LaKeith Stanfield, who wants to tell its story. Rated PG-13. The Rhythm Section— Blake Lively plays a woman hellbent on revenge after her family is murdered in a plane crash. Rated R.

Sonic the Hedgehog— Sega’s video game mascot hits the silver screen, now with less-scary teeth and legs after fan outcry over its trailer. Rated PG.  Uncut Gems — Loud and brash, with extreme close-ups and a discordant score ratcheting up the unease, this Safdie brothers flick stars Adam Sandler as a jeweler who places a high-stakes bet. Rated R. —Neil Morris

½ Just Mercy— Based on the book of the same name, this film tells the story of Bryan Stevenson, a young lawyer defending a client who is unjustly on death row. Rated PG-13. Like a Boss—Things go awry for raunchy and ambitious duo Mia (Tiffany Hadish) and Mel (Rose Bryne) when things sour with a beauty tycoon. Rated R.

 Parasite—This Oscar-winning social satire from filmmaker Bong Joon-Ho is crammed with dark twists and intricate metaphors. Rated R. —Sarah Edwards

Sonya Renee Taylor PHOTO COURTESY OF NC STATE UNIVERSITY

page

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Sonya Renee Taylor “The body is not a math test / The body is not a wrong answer” writes activist, performer, and author Sonya Renee Taylor in her poem “The Body Is Not An Apology.” Now a book, pedagogy, and online community, the piece’s title has come to be shorthand for Taylor’s vision of a radical self-love movement that centers the experiences of marginalized bodies. Taylor is the keynote speaker for NC State’s Womxn’s Herstory Month. —Josephine McRobbie

Witherspoon Campus Cinema, Raleigh 6 p.m., FREE

Readings

Adam Domby The False Cause: Fraud, Fabrication, and White Supremacy in Confederate Memory. Wed., Feb. 26, 7 p.m. Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill. Adam Domby The False Cause: Fraud, Fabrication, and White Supremacy in Confederate Memory. Thu., Feb. 27, 5 p.m. Duke University: Classroom Building, Durham. Carolyn Forché What You Have Heard is True: A Memoir of Witness and Resistance. Mon., Mar. 2, 5 p.m. Ahmadieh Family Lecture Hall, Durham. Thomas Goldsmith, Laurent Dubois, Joe Newberry Earl Scruggs & The Foggy Mountain Breakdown. Tue., Mar. 3, 7 p.m. Regulator Bookshop, Durham. Rebecca Hodge Wildland. Sat., Feb. 29, 11 a.m. McIntyre’s Books, Pittsboro. Wesley C. Hogan, D’atra Jackson On the Freedom Side: How Five Decades of Youth Activists Have Remixed American History. Thu., Feb. 27, 7 p.m. Regulator Bookshop, Durham. Erik Larson The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz. Ticketed event. $40. Sun., Mar. 1, 2 p.m. Meredith College: Jones Auditorium, Raleigh. Meredith Leigh, Beth LittleJohn The Ethical Meat Handbook: From Sourcing to Butchery, Mindful Meat Eating for the Modern Omnivore. Thu., Feb. 27, 7 p.m. Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill. Charles C. Ludington, Matthew Morse Booker Food Fights: How History Maters to Contemporary Food Debates. Tue., Mar. 3, 7 p.m. Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill. Gillian McDunn The Queen Bee and Me. Sat., Feb. 29, 2 p.m. Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh. Jennie M. Ratcliffe Nothing Lowly in the Universe. Wed., Mar. 4, 7 p.m. Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill. Julius S. Scott, Vincent Brown The Common Wind: Afro-American Currents in the Age of the Haitian Revolution and Tacky’s Revolt: The Story of an Atlantic Slave War. Sun., Mar. 1, 1:30 p.m. Regulator Bookshop, Durham. Joseph Wheelan Bloody Okinawa: The Last Great Battle of World War II. Wed., Mar. 4, 7 p.m. Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh.

Lectures

Black History Month Read-In Sat., Feb. 29, 1 p.m. Pure Life Theatre, Raleigh. Black History, Black Futures Wed., Feb. 26, 6 p.m. Orange County Main Library, Hillsborough. Census 2020: Let’s Make it Count! Thu., Feb. 27, 4:30 p.m. Chapel Hill Public Library, Chapel Hill. The Monti StorySLAM $12. Wed., Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m. Motorco Music Hall, Durham. Sonya Renee Taylor: The Body is Not an Apology Wed., Feb. 26, 6 p.m. NCSU Campus Cinema, Raleigh.

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NOTICES

Durham County Board of Elections Notice of Resolution to Adopt a Time for Counting of Absentee Ballots

On 1/9/2020, the Durham County Board of Elections met at 201 E Main St., Durham, and adopted a resolution of the following effect:

1. The Board of Elections shall meet at 2:00 p.m. on Primary Election Day, Tuesday, 3/3/2020 at 201 E Main St., Durham (Room 126), to count absentee ballots.

2. The results of the absentee ballot count will not be announced before 7:30 p.m. on the date of the primary/election.

3. The Board of Elections shall meet at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, 3/12/2020 at 201 E Main St., Durham (Room 126), to count additional timelyreceived absentee bal lots prior to the county canvass. 4. Any member of the public may attend these meetings. Notice To Creditors All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Joyce Wilson Biggers, deceased of Orange County, NC are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before May 5, 2020, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 30th day of January, 2020. Sara M. Biggers Executor, 101 Aberdeen Court, Carrboro NC 27510.

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MISC.

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Work with Kindred Spirits Who are dedicated to guiding you to higher awareness, passion + purpose. Get UNstuck with certified Conscious Coaches - www. mysoulrenity.com - (202) 643-6396 (AAN CAN)

919-416-0675 www.harmonygate.com

HOLISTIC HEALTH

Tai Chi Traditional art of meditative movement for health, energy, relaxation, self-defense. Classes/workshops throughout the Triangle. Magic Tortoise School - Since 1979. Call Jay or Kathleen, 919-360-6419 or www.magictortoise.com

Energy Healing Lynne C. Johnson, Ed.D. Red Hat Qi Gong Practitioner Lynnecjohnson.com 919.928.4100

MEDICAL SERVICES Attention Diabetics! Save money on your diabetic supplies! Convenient home shipping for monitors, test strips, insulin pumps, catheters and more! To learn more, call now! 855- 667-9944 A Place for Mom The nation’s largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today! Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1-888-609-2550

Dental Insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures. Call 1-844- 496-8601 for details. www.dental50plus.com/ ncpress 6118-0219

Medical Billing & Coding Training New Students Only. Call & Press 1. 100% online courses. Financial Aid Available for those who qualify. Call 833-990-0354

HISTORY TRIVIA:

• On February 28, 1935, the General Assembly

ratified the Uniform Driver’s License Act, marking the beginning of drivers’ licensing in NC. Driving exams, however, did not begin until 1948 • On March 3, 1891, the General Assembly

passed a bill establishing Elizabeth City Colored Normal School (today’s Elizabeth City State University) to educate black teachers. The bill was introduced by the African-American representative Hugh Cale.

Courtesy of the Museum of Durham History

SERVICES

FINANCIAL Save Big on Home Insurance! Compare 20 A-rated insurances companies. Get a quote within minutes. Average savings of $444/ year! Call 844-712-6153! (M-F 8am-8pm Central) (AAN CAN)

Struggling with your Private Student Loan Payment? New relief programs can reduce your payments. Learn your options. Good credit not necessary. Call the Helpline 888-670-5631 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Eastern) (AAN CAN)

HOME IMPROVEMENT Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-877-649-1190

Bathroom Renovations EASY, ONE DAY updates! We specialize in safe bathing. Grab bars, no slip flooring & seated showers. Call for a free in-home consultation: 877-898-3840

LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE PRESENTS

PRESEN TS

O U t N OW ! YO UR GUIDE TO A FUN LIFE IN THE TR IAN GL E THE 2019/2020 ISSUE IS YOUR GUIDE TO A FUN LIFE IN THE TRIANGLE OUT NOW!

PUZZLES

If you just can’t wait, check out the current week’s answer key at www.indyweek.com, and click “puzzle pages” at the bottom of our webpage.

su | do | ku © Puzzles by Pappocom There is really only one rule to Sudoku: Fill in the game board so that the numbers 1 through 9 occur exactly once in each row, column, and 3x3 box. The numbers can appear in any order and diagonals are not considered. Your initial game board will consist of several numbers that are already placed. Those numbers cannot be changed. Your goal is to fill in the empty squares following the simple rule above. this week’s puzzle level:

If you just can’t wait, check out the current week’s answer key at www.indyweek.com, and click “puzzle pages.” Best of luck, and have fun! www.sudoku.com

2.26.20