Tim Harford (Undercover Economist, guest blogger, statistical superhero) has a new show on BBC Radio 4, called Pop Up Economics: well-told tales about the dismal science. The inaugural episode (MP3) is a beautiful parable about innovation and invention.
Great economics/storytelling podcast
Red phone boxes in Yorkshire more likely to have non-phone uses now
Smartphones have relegated iconic red British telephone boxes to things of the past, but they are being preserved and repurposed. In fact, Yorkshire now has more repurposed boxes than working phone boxes.Via The Yorkshire Post: READ THE REST
Nursing home residents pose for album cover recreations, from Adele to Queen
While in quarantine, residents at a North London elderly care facility, and their caregivers, have been posing like Adele, Madonna, David Bowie, and other musical artists for an album cover recreation project. The photographer, Sydmar Lodge's Activities Coordinator Robert Speker, writes that it's his "job and privilege to keep them entertained during the COVID crisis… READ THE REST
UK antitrust watchdog to investigate Facebook acquisition of Giphy
The United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority, the UKs antitrust watchdog, has begun an investigation into Facebook's acquisition of Giphy. READ THE REST
These 5 highly-rated password managers are on sale for an extra 40% off ahead of Black Friday
How many years has everyone been screaming about password security? Yet, even with all of the warnings, NordPass recently dropped the list of the most common passwords of 2020. And they're the same embarrassing assortment we see every year. The top 5 were: 123456, 123456789, picture1, 12345678, and the perennial favorite–password…sigh. You're obviously not one of… READ THE REST
Start 2021 as an electrical engineer with this training for less than $20
Considering how 2020 has played out, it feels like making resolutions about what you hope for in 2021 is a little underwhelming. Under the circumstances, you may need something a little stronger than a simple New Year's Eve promise to achieve your goals. If your job situation isn't the greatest right now, consider this: starting… READ THE REST
Discover why this inverted lighter raised over $300K on Kickstarter
The average lighter is about as simple an idea as you'll find anywhere. Push a button and get a flame through the top. Unfortunately, simple ideas are often confronted with challenges. One of these challenges could be trying to light something you can't reach from underneath, like a candle. With a standard lighter, that means… READ THE REST