What Robots Can—and Can’t—Do for the Old and Lonely

Plus: George Floyd and the Tulsa massacre; and can Rilke change your life? View in browser | Update your preferences Brave New World Dept. What Robots Can—and Can’t—Do for the Old and Lonely For elderly Americans, social isolation is especially perilous. Will machine companions fill the void? By Katie Engelhart Daily Comment George Floyd, the Tulsa Massacre, and Memorial Days The two tragedies make for easy inferences about the importance of commemoration. But this is not how trauma works. By Jelani Cobb Letter from the U.K. Great Britain Needs a Vacation A nation of devoted international travellers has been bottled up by the coronavirus. By Rebecca Mead Under Review Can Rilke Change Your Life? “Letters to a Young Poet” has spoken to artists for almost a century. The other half of the famous correspondence reveals the treacherous work of becoming who you want to be. By Kamran Javadizadeh Culture and More Photo Booth Rahim Fortune’s Homecomings The photographer’s new collection, “I can’t stand to see you cry,” documents his return to Texas early in the pandemic to care for his ailing father. By Andrea DenHoed Listening Booth Georgia Anne Muldrow’s Beats for Returning Outside Her new album, “Vweto III,” is filled with music that leads you out of confinement. By Sheldon Pearce Dept. of Automation The Automat Returns, Pushing Dumplings Into American Stomachs How the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop serves high-concept fare, favored by Daniel Boulud, Patti LaBelle, and Fat Joe, via an update on the old Horn & Hardart system. By Henry Alford The New Yorker Documentary The New Yorker Documentary The Mothers of the Disappeared Search Mexico’s Migrant Trail for Answers The documentary short “Desde Que Llegaste, Mi Corazón Dejó de Pertenecerme” follows a group of women from Central America on an emotional journey. This film is the last installment of a series on motherhood that published weekly in May. Film by Erin Semine Kökdil Text by Danielle Mackey Humor and Puzzles Crossword Today’s Crossword Epitome of silence: four letters. By Aimee Lucido Daily Shouts When the Knicks Are Good Even the dog-sized rat at the park seems kind of cute. By Sam Spero Daily Cartoon Wednesday, May 26th By Sarah Kempa You're receiving this e-mail because you signed up for The Daily from The New Yorker. Was this e-mail forwarded to you? Sign up. Unsubscribe | Manage your e-mail preferences | Send newsletter feedback | View our Privacy Policy Copyright © Condé Nast 2021. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.