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Artificial intelligence: The way students complete assignments could change with new software that can do their work for them
“This is a giant tidal wave coming to academia.” That’s how Paso Robles High School English teacher Aaron Cantrell describes ChatGPT—a new artificial intelligence software that’s been the talk of classrooms all across the country. The software has ignited conversations among teachers at Paso High since its launch on Nov. 30, 2022. Created by San…
Black Summer
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2019-2021 Where’s it showing? Netflix Seems like we can’t get enough zombies! I started watching the new HBO series The Last of Us, and after a couple “meh” episodes, in the third it’s getting good. While looking for something similar to watch as I await the long week until the…
Morro Bay city manager to leave for position at HASLO
After six years of serving the city of Morro Bay, City Manager Scott Collins is moving on. Collins, who was selected as city manager in 2017, told New Times that he will be the new executive director of the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo (HASLO). The decision to step down came after Collins said…
My Friend Mike’s in San Luis Obispo is the neighborhood sleeper hit that whips up creative pizzas
Pie prep New pizzeria My Friend Mike’s has limited supply, so place advanced orders via myfriendmikes.com or call (805) 801-1020. Pick them up or choose to eat your orders indoors at 2324 Broad St., San Luis Obispo. The restaurant is open Thursday through Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m., and from 11:30 a.m. to 6…
Endorsed by 805 Beer, professional mixed martial arts fighter Tabatha Ricci also teaches jiu-jitsu
Firestone Walker Brewing Company’s 805 Beer partnered with Brazilian professional fighter Tabatha Ricci to make her the newest face in their line of endorsed athletes. “Over the 10 years we’ve been brewing 805 here on the Central Coast, we’ve been honored to share the stories of the inspirational people who call this place home,” Nick…
Art Central celebrates 12 years of service to the San Luis Obispo community
Come celebrate Enjoy live artist demos, gift bags, and storewide sales starting at 10 a.m. on Feb. 4 at 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, as the store kicks off its 12th anniversary event. For more information on this and future events visit Art Central’s website at artcentralslo.com or follow them on Instagram @artcentralslo. As…
New SLO exhibit showcases multi-faceted artworks by JooLee Kang
The Harold J. Miossi Gallery in San Luis Obispo presents Rock Scissors Paper, Slug Frog Snake, a new solo exhibition of works by Korean artist JooLee Kang, whose pen and ink drawings, paper sculptures, and digital animation work will be featured in the show. An opening reception for the exhibit will take place on Feb.…
Bluesman Black Joe Lewis plays The Siren on Feb. 5
It’s hard to believe that bluesman Black Joe Lewis didn’t pick up the guitar until he was 19. The ripping player was working a shift at an Austin, Texas, pawnshop, picked up a guitar, and started teaching himself how to play. He soon found himself immersed in the local Red River blues and garage band…
Increasing density in downtown SLO won’t fix the problem
The city of SLO is in the process of gathering input on the idea of allowing large numbers of small condos and apartments in the commercial zones downtown, ranging up to 600 square feet. I’m not generally a fan of New Times opinion writer John Donegan, but his column “San Luis Obispo should heed San…
SLO has a responsibility to protect its history
San Luis Obispo is one of only a handful of original California towns, those built around the missions, the beginning of “European” culture in the Western United States. As such, we who live here have a responsibility to citizens and visitors—far beyond our local population—to protect, maintain, and provide academic interpretation for the historic structures…
Board of Supervisors needs to change county campaign finance rules
The League of Women Voters commends the SLO County Board of Supervisors for its decision to revisit the ordinance capping individual campaign contributions to candidates for countywide offices at $25,000. We urge the board to do the sensible thing and revert to the state limit of $4,900. The League, together with 700 other individuals and…
Quoting from the Bible marginalizes those who aren’t Christian
In the most recent edition of New Times, John Ashbaugh quotes scriptures from a Christian book, immediately marginalizing and othering a significant portion of the community that does not believe in what he does, as well as relegating his opinion piece to irrelevancy (“Advocate to your city, county, or Congress member about just, true, honorable…
New bills are not gifts to taxpayers
Our state elected representatives are at it again, producing a blizzard of new bills. Just who of everyday Joes on the streets is going to know anything about any of these? These bills are for the biggest paying supporters or the biggest attention-getters. Most of these bills are “penny dreadful” junk bills. The basic problem…
Economic fantasy
Downtowns are every city’s long-term, never-ending project. They’re a fantasy of economic ecstasy. Think San Luis Obispo is the only place that’s on the struggle bus? Guess again. Even the city of Santa Barbara with its high-end chain stores and fancy-pants restaurants and wineries is champing at the bit for change. The bougiest city on…
SLO holds budget meeting, cautions about ‘economic headwinds’
San Luis Obispo gathered with dozens of residents in the Ludwick Community Center on Jan. 26 for its biennial community budget workshop, which sets the stage for the city’s next two-year financial plan. But before locals could weigh in on their preferred priorities, goals, or projects, city officials delivered a cautionary message: the upcoming few…
San Luis Obispo unveils downtown zoning change to encourage smaller, denser housing
A new proposed zoning change to downtown San Luis Obispo would try to incentivize smaller, denser housing development in the city’s core—without overbuilding it. That’s the fine line that city officials say they’re trying to walk with the “downtown flexible density program,” a policy that would essentially eliminate density restrictions on downtown housing units that…
Eight painters participate in new Morro Bay group show, Peaceful
In early February, Gallery at Marina Square in Morro Bay debuted a new group exhibition that showcases paintings in a variety of media—oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, and more—from eight participating artists. The featured painters in the show are Patricia Newton, Jari de Ham, Nancy Jensen, Virginia Mack, Hope Myers, Lubov Pavluk, Sandra Sanders, and Gregory…
Tensions flare at redo of OCSD district officers’ election
Combining two issues into one item became a lightning rod during the Oceano Community Services District’s (OCSD) election of its district officers. “The suggestion of rotating the president and the vice president on an annual basis by district was combined with the election for the officers, which further confused the situation and muddied it up…
Living chronicles a man coming to life while on the precipice of death
LIVING What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth, Glen? Full price What’s it worth, Anna? Full price Where’s it showing? The Palm, Stadium 10 Oliver Hermanus (Moffie) directs Bill Nighy in his Academy Award-nominated role as Mr. Rodney Williams, a humorless bureaucrat who in 1953 London receives a fatal diagnosis, leading him to take time…
Candidates gear up for special Paso Robles school board election
Paso school district voters will get to choose between recently ousted board member Kenney Enney and community volunteer Angela Hollander in an upcoming special election to fill the seat Enney was booted from. Appointed in October 2022 and removed via a voter petition in December, Enney upset community members with anti-transgender comments he made on…
Black Bird
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2022 Where’s it showing? Apple TV Plus Created by novelist Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone, Shutter Island), Black Bird is based on the amazing true story of Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton), a drug dealer sentenced to a decade in minimum-security prison, who’s recruited by the FBI to transfer…
Los Osos CSD to discuss state water connection
The Los Osos Community Services District (CSD) is considering its next steps in building a potential pipeline connection into the State Water Project. The CSD board of directors will meet on Feb. 2 to discuss a request for proposals that, if issued, would kick off the necessary environmental work for a 2.5-mile intertie—envisioned to run…
