Words By Carmen Macri    Andrew Bachmann had a stroke of genius upon his arrival in Jacksonville in 1993: Why spend the time studying the city’s rich history when he could simply learn from vintage postcards instead?    “I just thought it was a great way to learn about the history of the new city that I had just moved to,” Bachmann explained. He also had a good friend from Miami who had been collecting vintage postcards for years whose passion and collection also swayed him.   Since moving to Jacksonville, he’s collected roughly 7,000 postcards — 3,500 of which …

A guide to Jacksonville’s best thrift stores Words By Carmen Macri  Now, when I say thrift store, I don’t mean those fancy-schmancy vintage boutiques charging an arm and a leg for second hand threads. No, no, no. I’m talking about the real deal, non-profit thrift shops where I can score a whole new wardrobe for a bargain. We don’t want to offend those posh vintage stores, would we? But let’s face it, where do you think those highfalutin’ establishments get half of their inventory from? Not only is thrifting an eco-friendly and wallet-friendly option to traditional shopping, but it’s also …

Ukraine’s Struggle Against Injustice and Crimes Against Humanity Words By Carmen Macri   On Feb. 24, 2022, Ukraine was invaded by Russia, and more than a year later, the conflict persists. The battle has led to widespread suffering, displacement, and loss of life. The global community has responded with empathy and support for Ukraine. People from all over the world have come together to stand side by side with Ukraine as they bravely endure the atrocities of war and crimes against humanity. Among those who have shown unwavering support for the Ukrainian people locally is a dedicated board member of …

Words and photos by Carmen Macri There is one thing Jacksonville loves more than the Jags (maybe), and that is supporting small local businesses. And what better way to do that than hosting a pop-up event at Jax Beach’s favorite bar?  On March 25, Surfer [The Bar] was transformed into an art market with local vendors scattered throughout the space. Capri Aesthetics gathered dozens of local female-owned businesses for Bossn’ Beach Babes: a women-focused pop-up. These events often feature a wide range of vendors and activities, all geared toward celebrating and promoting female-owned businesses and organizations. From fashion and beauty …

A 2023 Dystopian Novel by Florida Government Words By Carmen Macri    Some Duval County students returned from winter break to an empty class library. Why? Because good ol’ Ron DeSantis and Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) deemed over 176 books “too inappropriate” to be in K-12 classrooms. And right in time for literacy week! The DCPS and Ronnie boy claim that while these books have all been confiscated out of classrooms or are covered so as to hide the title and images, they are not banned: They are strictly “under review,” though, not a single teacher in Duval County …

By Carmen Macri and Open AI Chat GPT Chat GPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) technology that enables virtual agents to have natural conversations with users through text or voice. It is based on natural language processing and machine learning algorithms that allow the agent to understand user intent and autonomously generate relevant and meaningful responses. With Chat GPT, virtual agents can converse with users in a conversational style, providing accurate and personalized responses. This technology can be used to create virtual customer service agents, virtual sales agents, and virtual assistants.   I was always fascinated by the power of …

The Rise of Girls of Virtue  Words By Carmen Macri  It comes as no surprise that being a woman in today’s society can be terrifying. Our rights are being stripped away in front of our eyes. We face misogyny in our day-to-day lives, whether it be subtle or overt. Since birth, we were dealt a shitty hand. Growing up I was always taught to cover my shoulders and watch what I say around boys … rather than teaching them human f***ing decency. It was always on us to censor ourselves so the men around us could act right. That is …

“His life is my fight.”  Words by Carmen Macri   On Jan. 26, 2017, the world stopped moving for Latasha Hobbs when she lost her 18-year-old son, Maurice Hobbs, to a fatal gunshot wound. For six years, this case has run cold. For six years, Latasha has fought tirelessly for gun safety and education. For six years, Latasha has been trying to navigate through her grief while still fighting for her son’s life, fighting for her daughters’ lives and fighting to stay afloat.  On the night of Jan. 26, only two days after Maurice’s 18th birthday, Latasha was driving through …

A modern love story Words by Carmen Macri   Dating sites are a dime a dozen nowadays. And it seems like all the fish in the sea are swimming in the same pond.  As of 2021, the number of dating app users surpassed 323 million. That’s a lot of fish and a lot of pressure to stand out. Finding love at your fingertips can be exciting and exhausting, especially with the number of dating sites there are. I mean, even Facebook has a dating page, not to mention Craigslist (I pray no one is that desperate.)  With this, comes the …

The Jags. That’s who.  Words by Carmen Macri   It didn’t look that way in the 2020-2021 season when the team finished 1-15, which was not only a personal worst for the Jaguars but also the worst record in the league, only to be followed up with a 3-14 record.  It didn’t look like that this season either when the team was in last place in their division. Yet, the Jags turned it around and clinched the AFC South with a record of 9-8 (thanks, in part, to the Tennessee Titans who lost their final seven games but who’s counting?). …