David Lidsky's Blog, page 39

Radioactive shrimp scare sparks Walmart recall

FDA says shrimp shipments tested positive for Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope linked to serious health risks.

Do you buy raw frozen shrimp at Walmart? If so, the Food and Drug Administration is recommending you throw away packages of the retailer’s Great Value brand that were purchased in 13 states because of possible contamination with a radioactive isotope.

Trump’s bill kills clean energy tax credits. Here’s exactly how much money Big Oil gave to Republican backers

The industry gave millions to 15 Republican lawmakers whose states have major renewable energy sectors. It’s now getting back millions in tax breaks.

The oil industry was a major donor to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, and it’s gotten a return on that investment. Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” kills clean energy incentives, gives millions of dollars in tax breaks and handouts to fossil fuel companies and executives, and mandates new oil and gas lease sales on federal land.

Palantir, Nvidia stocks slip as Wall Street edges away from its records

Palantir Technologies dropped 5.7%, for the largest loss in the S&P 500.

Wall Street is edging lower on Tuesday following drops for Palantir and other stars that had been riding the mania surrounding artificial intelligence technology.

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is at the center of a massive ticket scandal

The FTC alleges brokers illegally scooped up Eras Tour tickets and resold them for millions in profit.

We’re on the other side of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour now, but the landmark 149-show world tour’s rollout was plagued by bots, resellers, and spiking ticket prices that left many unhappy fans empty-handed. Now, we know a little more about how all of that went down.

Black beauty businesses are stuggling under Trump’s tariffs

The wealth gap puts Black entrepreneurs, especially those in low-margin businesses, into precarious financial positions as tariffs eat into their bottom lines.

Earlier this summer, Dajiah Blackshear-Calloway, 34, started to notice that her regular clients weren’t visiting her hair salon as often as they used to.

When is Apple’s iPhone 17 launch event? Date, time, what to expect

Apple’s biggest event of the year is just weeks away. Here’s what we know about the expected September launch of the iPhone 17—and maybe a surprise or two.

The biggest tech event of the year is likely just several weeks away. In early September, Apple is expected to hold its annual event, where the company will preview its lineup of the upcoming iPhone 17 series. For people itching to buy a new iPhone, this event can’t arrive soon enough.

The Grand Canyon’s Dragon Bravo wildfire sheds light on water infrastructure

Water infrastructure is not merely collateral damage during wildfires—it is now a central concern.

As wildfire crews battled the Dragon Bravo Fire on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim in July 2025, the air turned toxic.

Here’s what nobody tells you about building an innovative culture—not everyone will thrive in it. (And that’s okay.)

Some people fit in in some roles, others don’t. The trick, for companies and employees, is finding the right fit.

Years ago, we had a manager named Ania running one of our publishing operations. She was well-liked, diligent, and responsible. Still, we felt the business needed a more creative spark, so we brought in a rising executive to take her place. Ania transitioned out gracefully and left the company on good terms.

Why AI can’t beat primal intelligence

Thinking in terms of story, for example, enables us to act smarter than computers in volatility and uncertainty.

Angus Fletcher is a professor of story science at Ohio State’s Project Narrative. His research has been endorsed by renowned psychologists, neuroscientists, and doctors, as well as having received support from major institutions such as the National Science Foundation. In 2023, he was awarded the Commendation Medal by the U.S. Army for his work.

How to layoff proof your job

So far this year, companies have eliminated 800,000 jobs. Here are some tips for protecting yours.

When times are good and the economy is expanding, companies grow in a variety of ways. They build in some redundancy so that key functions survive even if an employee leaves. They add capacity hoping to grow the size of the core business. They consider new projects or products that might enable the company to enter new markets. All of this is reflected in a growth in the number of employees at the firm.