How Chow circled the Square

Plus, what we’ve learned from covering Israel-Palestine events, ditching Christmas presents and the legacy of ChatGPT one year later [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning — and a very merry Christmas Eve to those observing. A short programming note: we’re off tomorrow morning but back in your inboxes bright and early on Boxing Day. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Steve Russell/Toronto Star file photo DUNDAS DEBATE [Inside Chow’s surprise intervention in the Yonge-Dundas Square renaming process]( On Dec. 12, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow had a simple request for the committee tasked with drafting potential names for Dundas Street: present a single option for a new name for Yonge-Dundas Square that city council could vote on before the holidays, Ben Spurr reports. The committee — not Chow — landed on Sankofa; two days later, the West African word had council’s stamp of approval. [That timeline has raised criticism of the city’s governance](. Susan Kao/Toronto Star photo illustration ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR [The GTA’s approach to Israel-Palestine is as complicated as ever]( From thunderous rallies to sombre memorials, dozens of events have been held across the GTA in the 11 weeks since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. “Pro-Israel” or “pro-Palestine” labels don’t capture the spectrum of beliefs and behaviours Ben Cohen and Joshua Chong witnessed at the (generally peaceful) demonstrations. Having seen all the heartbreak and hope, [this is what they believe the future holds for a city on edge](. Sebastien Bozon/Getty Images file photo Technology [One year on, this is the true legacy of artificial intelligence software ChatGPT]( Within two months of launch, the program boasted 100 million active users and became history’s fastest growing consumer application. It wowed the world with its ability to spin out reams of text — all coherent and contextually relevant. For University of Waterloo economics professor Joël Blit, ChatGPT’s legacy is the democratization of AI tech, bringing it from the domain of data scientists to the masses. [We can scarcely imagine what its future holds](. Steve Russell/Toronto Star HOLIDAYS [This reporter’s family gave up Christmas presents for good and it changed the holidays for the better]( Ten years ago, Karon Liu’s family decided to stop exchanging traditional Christmas gifts. No more mad-dash scrambling at the mall to fulfill Secret Santa obligations. Instead, the intrepid food reporter would take on cooking the annual holiday dinner (as much a gift for the kitchen-loving Liu as his family). [Here’s why they have no regrets](. Steve Christo / Corbis via Getty Images sports [A life-altering collision ended her pro soccer dream — until Rylee Foster fought back]( In 2021, with her pro soccer career just beginning with English powerhouse Liverpool, Rylee Foster suffered a near-fatal car crash that caused seven fractured vertebrae and brain bleeding. Doctors cautioned she might never walk again, Hayley McGoldrick writes. Fast forward to 2023, Foster has miraculously returned to the pitch in New Zealand. [Read her incredible comeback story](. UP CLOSE Nick Lachance/Toronto Star Carley Fortune’s had a heck of a year. Her second novel, “Meet Me at the Lake,” hit No. 1 on the New York Times’ bestsellers list. Then the Duke and Duchess of Sussex came calling to adapt it for Netflix. Sarah Laing chatted with the Toronto author about [her choice to leave the media industry to make her own, well, fortune](. Mix THIS Susan Kao/Toronto Star illustration Planning on entertaining over the holidays? Jessica Huras breaks down six toast-worthy cocktails you can find around the city — [the perfect inspiration for your at-home recreations](. Thanks for reading. Any Dukes and Duchesses who wish to adapt this newsletter into a steamy Netflix romcom can send their best offer to the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_206033). We’ll see you back here on Tuesday. LAST CHANCE Only $39.99 for 1 Year [Get This Offer]( If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](