David Lidsky's Blog, page 3217
July 11, 2014
A Giant, Pregnant Tarantula Has Possibly Escaped In Brooklyn
Could this kind of poisonous spider make a new home in New York City?
People with arachnophobia, turn away now. Especially New Yorkers with arachnophobia.
Flying Cars Predicted In Two Years: What Then?
People are already putting down money for self-driving flying cars. Are American motorists up to the challenge?
Since the dawn of aviation, Americans have dreamed of buying a flying car and opening up the skies to everyone. The utopian dream is embodied in the opening credits of The Jetsons, in which a relaxed George commutes to work and plops his feet on his desk for nap. There's s more pessimistic example of what happens when anyone can fly in the (true-life) opening of The Wolf of Wall Street, when a stoned Leonardo DiCaprio crashes his helicopter while trying to land it at his home.
Everyone's Going Gaga About The Mediocre Women's World Cup Poster
Does this poster really do justice to the "beautiful game?"
FIFA has just unveiled its official poster for the 2015 Women's World Cup in Canada--to be the biggest women's event in FIFA history--and the reaction among the sports blogosphere has been one of awe: it's been called "amazing," "gorgeous," "ridiculously good," and "one beautiful piece of art." According to FIFA.com, the poster was "designed to reflect the diversity of Canada's multicultural society and capture the essence of the great Canadian outdoors."
Despite Ban, Lyft Moves Forward With NYC Launch
We have Lyft off! Well, sort of.
In a move as bold as its signature pink mustaches, Lyft says it is moving forward with its New York City launch despite threats from taxi regulators. The San Francisco-based startup allows users to hail rides from car services through its app. The problem is that neither the cars nor their owners are regulated by the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission--and it's a problem that could come with hefty penalties for Lyft's drivers.
Let Your Web Browser Reveal The Insane Amount Of Money In Politics
Think of it as a technological gut-check for politicians who'll do anything to get re-elected.
There's a school of thought in political science arguing that values don't have much to do with a politician's platform. The only reason politicians do anything: To get re-elected.
IBM's $3 Billion Investment In Synthetic Brains And Quantum Computing
IBM thinks the future belongs to computers that mimic the human brain and use quantum physics...and they're betting $3 billion on it.
IBM is unveiling a massive $3 billion research and development round on Wednesday, investing in weird, science fiction-like technologies--and, in the process, essentially staking Big Blue's long-term survival on big data and cognitive computing.
The Office Of The Future Could Be A Park
Architect Ju-Hyun Kim re-imagines the workplace as a more public social space, filled with grass and natural light.
The cubicle is dead, but what's next? Will the office of the future be a self-driving car? A city in itself? A cabin in the forest?
July 10, 2014
Forensics Helped Create The World's Most Lifelike Jane Austen Waxwork
It took a team of specialists three years to make this uncanny rendition of the beloved Pride and Prejudice author.
Jane Austen fans can be an obsessive bunch, with the most worshipful self-identifying as "Janeites:" they hold Austen-themed tea parties and balls in elaborate period costumes, organize conventions, and write fan fiction. So it's almost scary to think how these superfans will react to seeing their idol newly resurrected in wax.
Airbnb Tweaks Its Review Process For More Honest Feedback
Can you handle the truth? Airbnb thinks you can.
For most online services and products, reviews can be a one-sided affair; customers hold influence over businesses, for better or worse. But since its start in 2008, Airbnb's review process has been different: The guest (aka "customer") and the host (aka "business") both submit reviews, which means they can hold each other accountable for how good (or god-awful) an experience was. Infamous example: The orgy party from hell.
U.S. Bike-Sharing Programs Hit A Speed Bump
Staying afloat means getting creative about drumming up cash.
The number of U.S. cities with bike-sharing programs has exploded from six to 36 in the past four years, promising residents and tourists a convenient, healthy, environmentally gentle way to get around. But how robust are these programs?
You've just got to hustle and just get as much money as you can.
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