David Lidsky's Blog, page 3306
March 20, 2014
Hawking Hummus In Utah Is Just As Hard As You Think
What happened when we went on the road with hummus company Sabra as it urged wary Americans to dip into its products for the first time.
Lucille Jennings is sitting in a mall in a suburb of Salt Lake City, about to have her first taste of hummus. The great-grandmother peels back the seal on a small cup of Sabra and peers at the beige mass inside. "You know what that reminds me of?" she says. "Chicken mesh. My mom and dad were farmers, and they ordered baby chicks through the mail. They fed them this kind of stuff."
Self-Cleaning Subway Strap Protects Against Gross Germs
A self-cleaning conveyor belt of safety.
Studies have shown that the subway is littered with bacteria, from Enterococcus to Streptococcus (that's poop and disease-causing bacteria, respectively). Various forms of these bacteria can cause illnesses, especially when trapped in an enclosed environment like a subway car. A team of designers may have a solution.
A High Percentage Of White Dudes Who Wear Oculus Rift Are Also Mouth Breathers
Just White Guys Wearin' Oculus Rifts proves that VR gaming looks a lot better when you're the one wearing the headset.
Here's a surprising finding from the Tumblr of the moment, Just White Guys Wearin' Oculus Rifts: A large percentage of them are mouth breathers. Oh wait...that's not weird?
This App Turns Your Smartphone Into A Medical Diagnostic Device
Developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge, the Colorimetrix app uses a smartphone's camera to accurately read colorimetric test strips to monitor medical conditions.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a smartphone app to monitor medical conditions and quickly transmit that data to a laboratory or health professional. Published in the June issue of Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, the app can accurately read glucose, protein, and pH concentrations, but the researchers say there's potential to help fight pandemics in developing countries.
From An Ex-Apple Designer, A Cozy Blanket Inspired By Origami And Science
Finally, a way to laze on a couch and be vaguely associated with art and science.
As chilly weather drags on, there's still time to curl up on the couch under a nice cozy blanket. But most blankets are just so...flat. Not in terms of color or impact, but literally, they're flat, because they're a flat piece or knit of fabric. Not so with the Bloom, an art- and science-inspired blanket that's currently on Kickstarter.
What Hotel Operators Really Think Of Airbnb
Airbnb is in talks to raise more than $400 million from investors, and on track to become the world's largest hotel business. So why aren't the big chains more worried?
In January, when Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky learned that Marriott International, one of the largest hotel groups in the world, planned to add 30,000 rooms to its property portfolio in the coming year, he defiantly boasted, "We will add that in the next 2 weeks."
Watch The Most Amazing "Wheel Of Fortune" Wins Throughout History
Pat Sajak called last night's "Wheel of Fortune" win the "most amazing solve" he's seen in 30 years of hosting the show. But it's not the only one!
It's always fun to watch people win a bunch of money on game shows that are generally rigged against the contestant. But, what makes a truly great win is when players accomplish what looks like the impossible. Last night's Wheel of Fortune win certainly meets that standard. Host Pat Sajak called it the "most amazing solve" he has ever seen in the show's 30-year history.
What Engineers At Facebook, Pinterest, Snapchat, Airbnb, And Spotify Listen To While Coding
Maybe you can uncover new coding success by listening to these seasoned engineers' playlists.
The NSA Vs. Edward Snowden Onstage At TED
Yesterday, Snowden appeared via video at TED. Today, we got a counterpoint from the NSA. Hear both sides.
Edward Snowden, who leaked nearly two million secret documents from the National Security Agency (NSA) to journalists, has been making the conference rounds recently, popping up first via satellite for a keynote at SXSW, and this week via a telepresence robot at the TED conference in Vancouver. The majority of the TED audience appeared to be supportive of Snowden's rationale for stealing and releasing the documents, based on an informal on-stage poll by TED curator Chris Anderson (and by the constant chatter about the appearance among TED attendees).
March 19, 2014
How A Stupid Experiment In The Armpit Of NYC Launched Refinery29
A pop-up store in the Port Authority bus terminal was enough to launch a brand now worth $29 million. Here's how they did it.
Five years ago, Justin Stefano and Philippe von Borries launched what they call one of their stupidest ideas ever: a one-month pop-up shop at the grimy Port Authority bus terminal in Manhattan. Somehow, the oddly placed little shop run by two fashion newbies generated nearly a million dollars in sales, helping add rocket fuel to the Refinery29 brand. It's now the largest independent fashion website in the U.S. with a value of $29 million.
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