David Lidsky's Blog, page 168

Why paying for shipping is an effective form of economic resistance

American consumers have come to expect free next-day shipping as a matter of course. But what are the real costs of free delivery?

I couldn’t tell you what my very first purchase from Amazon was—although I know it was a book and that I purchased it on my 7-pound laptop using a dial-up modem that took several minutes to connect me to Al Gore’s internet. I’m certain I was delighted to receive my purchase about a week later, even though I was paying for shipping.

This great free tool brings Pixel-quality image sharpening to any device

Transform your old and out-of-focus images—no matter what kind of phone, tablet, or computer you’re using.

It really is mind-blowing how much incredible stuff we can do with images these days.

’Twasn’t long ago, after all, that advanced image adjustments required pricey desktop-computer software and super-specific knowledge.

With tariffs looming, brands are choosing surcharges over sticker shock

Seafood, cookware, and software: Few industries are immune to tariff-related increases.

With President Trump’s tariffs looming, companies are scrambling to figure out how to adjust their prices—especially now that the pause doesn’t apply to China, which just hit back by raising its tariffs on U.S. goods to a whopping 125%.

‘Build up your emergency fund’: Millennials are sharing recession survivals tips on TikTok

Millennials are taking over TikTok to share memories of life during the 2008 recession, and tips on how to survive.

Millennials were told the 2008 recession was a “once in a generation” economic crisis. Almost two decades later, déjà vu has struck.

Elizabeth Warren and other senators call for an SEC investigation into Trump’s ‘great time to buy’ post

Democrats in Washington want the agency to look into whether the president manipulated markets to enrich his associates.

Senators including Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Chuck Schumer of New York signed a letter on Friday asking the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate President Trump. The move comes after the president’s April 9 Truth Social post in which he told followers it was a “GREAT TIME TO BUY”—just hours before announcing a 90-day pause on the sweeping international tariffs that he’d enacted just days earlier. 

Linda McMahon just handed A.1. steak sauce an unbelievable opportunity

The secretary of education mixed up AI and ‘A.1.’ Heinz’s steak sauce brand didn’t miss a beat.

On a panel this week, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the former WWE CEO who is now charged with making sweeping decisions for 100 million American school children, repeatedly referred to AI technology as “A1.”

The Masters offers public phones as alternatives to cellphones. Here’s what attendees think

Augusta National requires its patrons to leave their cellphones and other electronic devices behind.

Attending the Masters for the first time was a new experience for Thomas Abraham, and it wasn’t just about the golf.

The next big AI shift in media? Turning news into a two-way conversation

Generative AI has the potential to transform how we consume news—not by guessing what we want, but by helping us ask better questions.

When people talk about how AI might reshape media, the term “hyper-personalization” comes up a lot. In broad terms, it means that AI can tailor the experience around your preferences—assuming it has enough data about you. To some extent, algorithms and ad tech have been doing this for years, recommending links and stories based on your clicks and browsing behavior.

5 things to know about Meta’s upcoming FTC trial

The government’s antitrust case could force Mark Zuckerberg to give up Instagram and WhatsApp—shaking Meta’s dominance.

Meta is set to face off against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday in an antitrust trial that could force the social media giant to divest itself of Instagram and WhatsApp.

Social Security Administration anti-fraud update: Here’s the latest news on changes to SSA claims

Messaging around forthcoming changes to Social Security has been inconsistent and vague. For now, the Trump administration appears to have walked back stricter requirements.

If you’ve talked to any senior citizens lately, there’s a good chance they’ve brought up their concerns about looming changes to the anti-fraud policies of the Social Security Administration (SSA). Many seniors are worried that the changes may mean that they will stop receiving their Social Security payments, or that there could be a delay in receiving them.