David Lidsky's Blog, page 154

Why qualifying for the Kentucky Derby is 9x harder than becoming a NASA astronaut

Think getting accepted into Y Combinator is hard? Try qualifying for the Kentucky Derby.

The 2025 Kentucky Derby is horse racing’s most exclusive starting gate. Twenty horses will post at Churchill Downs on May 3—an elite field, even by exclusivity’s standards. Y Combinator admits less than 3% of startups. Fewer than 1% of those who apply to NASA become astronauts. Google famously hires less than 0.2% of applicants.

‘I like the flow of constant work’: Artist Adam Pendleton on how discipline leads to creativity

The artist, whose new show just opened at the Hirshhorn Museum, talks about the value of carving out space and time for creative practices.

When artist Adam Pendleton was growing up in Richmond, Virginia, he started his own newspaper that he delivered to the residents at a nursing home in his town. “I wanted to be a creative person functioning in the world,” he says. “I wanted to be an artist.” Over the years, that inclination took various forms: a t-shirt business (which he now laughs that, as a teen, he saw as a fashion line), script-writing, musical theater, original poetry.

Here’s why you’re still waiting for your tax refund

If you’re getting antsy about when to expect your 2024 federal tax refund, here’s why it might be delayed.

Getting your tax refund is the only fun part of filing your taxes every year—which can make it especially galling when Uncle Sam takes his sweet time sending your money. Waiting for a refund in 2025 has some added stress, considering the recent IRS layoffs, the department’s plans for a 25% reduction in force, and the heartburn-inducing game of acting director musical chairs that played out during this year’s tax season.

This free audio enhancer will totally transform your voice memos

Adobe Enhance Speech turns audio from Apple Notes, Google Recorder, or any other source into a crisp, clear recording in seconds.

Every now and then, you run into a tool that truly wows you.

Virginia will use technology to slow chronic speeders’ cars—and other states are rushing to join in

Intelligent Speed Assist can prevent a car from exceeding the speed limit. Republicans in Virginia just passed a law to make it a punishment for repeated traffic violations—and other states may soon follow suit.

Americans worried about their country’s sky-high rate of crash deaths haven’t had much to cheer lately. Although pedestrian fatalities remain near an all-time record, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wants to stop funding “active” transportation projects such as sidewalks. A prominent webpage encouraging safe street designs has disappeared, and layoffs have rocked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal agency responsible for minimizing crashes.

Why Apple needs Tim Cook more than ever in the age of Trump

Cook’s relationship with the president is helping Apple mitigate risk during this chaotic era. CEO succession talk can wait.

In December 2023, I wrote an article exploring Apple CEO Tim Cook’s most likely successors, because there will come a day when he steps aside as chief executive at the iPhone maker. I wrote the piece in response to rare comments Cook had made—to Dua Lipa, no less—revealing that Apple has “very detailed succession plans” in preparation for his departure.

As disasters surge, this system is helping keep rural America afloat

Regional intergovernmental organizations (RIGOs) are collaborative bodies that allow local governments to cooperate for services and programs they might not otherwise be able to afford.

Last year was a record year for disasters in the United States. A new report from the British charity International Institute for Environment and Development finds that 90 disasters were declared nationwide in 2024, from wildfires in California to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

Why cloud dependency is not the future of home automation

Smart home technology developers are making it hard for consumers to truly own their devices and experiences.

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more.

How to watch the funeral of Pope Francis on TV or livestream it online for free

The first Latin American pope will be laid to rest at St. Mary Major Basilica on Saturday morning. Here’s where to view the mass and procession.

Pope Francis’s funeral mass will be held on Saturday morning in St. Peter’s Square, a large plaza in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

Considering applying for Fast Company’s Brands That Matter? Here are 3 reasons to apply now

Want to celebrate your brand work or highlight a CMO? Applications are still open for 2025’s Brands That Matter program.

What’s your favorite brand? Now ask yourself, why? Brands That Matter is Fast Company’s effort to answer that question on a broader scale. To recognize the brands that have significant cultural relevance, find unique and powerful ways to connect with audiences, and of course, drive business impact.