advertisement advertisement advertisement In the first-ever season of Sesame Street , in 1970, cast member Bob McGrath appeared in a memorable sketch where he receives a delivery from his local grocer, a grumpy blue muppet. “Did you get everything I ordered?” McGrath asks. “No,” comes the reply, but he’s helpfully supplemented the delivery with other fresh veggies. McGrath breaks into song, a version of the now iconic “People in Your Neighborhood,” to explain to kids the role a grocer plays in the community. The grocer is the bearer of sustenance. advertisement advertisement A few weeks ago, during Super Bowl LV, “People in Your Neighborhood” got remixed into an anthem for the app-based delivery platform DoorDash to signal to the world that it is expanding from restaurants to convenience and grocery. In a crisp 60 seconds, a tap dancing Daveed Diggs ( Hamilton )—directed by French auteur Michel Gondry ( Eternal Sunshine of … [Read more...] about If DoorDash wins, what do we lose?
Most band member changes
At least 6,500 workers have died building Qatar’s World Cup
advertisement advertisement advertisement As the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar prepares to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, the toll on the mostly migrant workers building its venues and related infrastructure is rising. According to a new report from The Guardian , more than 6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since it was selected to host next year’s World Cup back in 2010. advertisement advertisement Due to inconsistent and imprecise records, it’s difficult to know exactly how many of these deaths are directly connected to projects being built for the soccer tournament, but the report draws a clear relationship between Qatar’s World Cup building spree and a labor rights system that puts migrants at risk. “The numbers of deaths revealed by The Guardian are deeply alarming and further raise fears that migrant workers are paying the highest price in this tournament,” says May Romanos, a Persian Gulf … [Read more...] about At least 6,500 workers have died building Qatar’s World Cup
You’re probably not planning enough for unlikely events
advertisement advertisement advertisement In the wee hours of the morning on Monday, February 15, my house, like many others across the state of Texas, lost power during a winter storm. For the next 48 hours, we wore layers of clothes and huddled under blankets as temperatures indoors dropped to about 40 degrees. Even after the power came on, water supplies were low, and the city of Austin was under a boil-water order. advertisement advertisement This cold snap and series of storms were by far the worst I have encountered in the 23 years I have lived in town, but longtime Texans do remember other bad winter storms over the years. They are not utterly unprecedented. So why was Texas so poorly prepared for a week of snow and freezing temperatures? A lot of it has to do with how people make decisions about unlikely events. People generally have difficulty with understanding very small probabilities—and, importantly, how those … [Read more...] about You’re probably not planning enough for unlikely events
Why the new USPS mail truck should be even dorkier
advertisement advertisement advertisement The United States Postal Service, beloved for its adorable dog costumes, beautifully designed stamps, and being an American tradition, is redesigning its iconic mail delivery trucks. advertisement advertisement The new truck, which will come to a neighborhood near you starting in 2023, will be designed and manufactured by Oshkosh Defense, a tactical vehicle manufacturer. The proportions of the new design, which has a slim, low-to-the ground front hood and super-tall carriage and front window, has caused some critics to note that it looks a bit cartoonish (either Pixar or Big Mouth , take your pick). Those kinds of comparisons don’t exactly read “sophisticated.” But initial reactions aside, experts say there shouldn’t really be a controversy. The chassis are flexible: They can work with both electric batteries or standard engines, which can be retrofitted later. The new fleet … [Read more...] about Why the new USPS mail truck should be even dorkier
What’s the actual risk of telling a little white lie on your résumé?
advertisement advertisement advertisement The truth is out: A 2020 ResumeLab study shows that a majority of job seekers fudge a detail or two on their résumés. Thirty-six percent of those surveyed confess to outright lying, and still others admitted to stretching the truth, bringing the grand total of résumé fraudsters to 56%. advertisement advertisement If you are a recruiter or hiring manager you may well have seen a résumé that has this touch of “creativity.” In fact, a full 93% of people surveyed in this same study said they knew someone who had lied on their résumé. Let’s look at what constitutes a lie, why people do it, and what the consequences are if you’re caught. WHAT CONSTITUTES A “LITTLE WHITE LIE” ON A RÉSUMÉ? There are several common ways job applicants “enhance” their résumés, convinced such statements will improve their chances of landing the job. The most common lies are in work experience. That might … [Read more...] about What’s the actual risk of telling a little white lie on your résumé?