David Lidsky's Blog, page 38

We finance our disadvantages—and call it progress

Take actions that benefit you, not institutions.

A lot of people are getting fed up with how powerful people and institutions benefit themselves while things get worse by the day for the rest of us. Especially younger generations.

Companies have a role in stopping school shootings

Marketing, media, and tech companies can stop promoting content that glorifies violence and firearms.

At first glance, preventing school shootings, gun violence, and youth suicide may seem like the responsibility of parents, educators, or law enforcement. But a closer look—backed by research—reveals a much bigger truth: The marketing, media, and tech industries play an outsized role in shaping the narrative of how children view and engage with firearms. That influence can be used for good—or remain a dangerous force accelerating one of our most urgent public health crises.  

20 years after Katrina, collaboration matters

Disaster preparedness is not a solo sport.

Twenty years ago this August, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. More than 1,300 lives were lost. It destroyed homes, displaced families, and overwhelmed many of the institutions that undergird civil society.

A creative’s guide to community-building

Powerful community-building means celebrating differences and welcoming unique perspectives.

I grew up on different continents—Africa, Europe, and North America. Having the privilege of living in and experiencing diverse countries and cultures during my formative years made it clear to me that, while we are all unique in many ways, there are still core things that are universal. We all want to nurture and spend time with our families. We all want to have fulfilling careers and to feel safe. We all value community.

Why the NFL just put AI on its roster

Microsoft’s latest AI deal promises to change what happens on the sidelines—and beyond the field.

Just in time for the season’s kick off, the National Football League (NFL) is tapping into artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze game and performance insights in real time.

A new FDA-approved device could change how Americans lose weight

Signos’s glucose-tracking system uses AI and real-time data to guide healthier habits—no prescription required.

Hank Green’s passion project to help you stop scrolling is dominating the App Store

Focus Friend, developed by Green and mobile game maker Bria Sullivan, uses an animated character to keep users from getting sucked into their screens.

The top free app in Apple’s App Store right now is a passion project from Hank Green that includes a sentient bean, knitted socks, and home decorating. Its entire goal is to get you to put your phone down.

Spotify just turned your phone into a DJ booth

Spotify’s new ‘Mix’ mode lets listeners turn on auto-transitions between songs or make their own custom mixes to share with friends.

Impressing everyone when you’re handed the aux in the car to play DJ just got easier. Spotify now offers the option to listen to playlists with seamless transitions between songs, plus the user interface (UI) to mix them yourself if you want.

Gavin Newsom’s Trump trolling is working. Here’s how we know

The California governor has been posting on social media in the president’s signature ALL-CAPS style, and the internet (and Polymarket) are here for it.

California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has been trolling Donald “TACO” Trump (shorthand for “Trump Always Chickens Out,” as Newsom has repeated) on social media, with the president’s signature ALL-CAPS tweets, for weeks. And not only are Democrats here for it, but the strategy also seems to be working.

Don’t miss the rare black moon rising August 22—it will be years until the next one. Here’s why it will help you see the Milky Way

The celestial event happens once every 33 months, and it will be the perfect night for stargazing.

It’s safe to assume you’ve heard the term once in a blue moon, which refers to the rare occurrence when there is a second full moon in a calendar month. But you might not have heard the term “black moon.”