Think, Thought, Imagine: Daily tech, media & more (12/17/15)
Quick News (read the headlines and you’re done)
Vine Will Now Curate A Channel Of Posts It Thinks You'll Want To See [the point: yet another example of curation – it’s akin to Twitter’s (owner of Vine) Moments] – The Verge
NASA is Creating a Virtual Reality Mission to Mars, ‘The Mars 2030 Experience’ [they partnered with Disney owned Fusion – in hopes of inspiring more people wrt space] – Road to VR
P&G’s Gillette Sues Dollar Shave Club [can’t (stand to get) beat (by) ‘em? sue the friggin shit out of ‘em – context: Dollar Shave Club’s subscription service has acquired 8% of the market in just three years (Gillette started their own too btw)] - WSJ
Please Explain (someone's gotta do it)
Brazil Restores WhatsApp Service After Brief Blockade Over Wiretap Request [explain: Facebook owned messaging platform has 100 million users in Brazil (i.e. half the population), and often used by poor because texting rates can be prohibitive – Government wanted it shutdown for 48 hours - this was over a non-complied with wiretap request (Facebook said it’s literally not possible) – why interesting: Gov vs Tech is becoming a big issue with recent conerns around terrorism (as well as “foreign companies” holding data), with the US government dealing with similar issues right now] – NY Times
Look, Listen (and um, learn)
Listen: Hear A New Solo Song By John Paul White, Formerly Of The Civil Wars - NPR
Look: An Abandoned Church Is Transformed Into A Colorful Skatepark [worship] - Juxtapoz
Culture (more)
Why Handmade Ceramics Are White Hot – NY Times
“And among certain creative-minded millennials, ceramics have replaced jewelry and furniture made from salvaged lumber as the craft du jour, with access to choice kilns as a status symbol to be flaunted on Pinterest and Instagram.”
U.S. Teens Smoked, Drank, Used Drugs Less In 2015: Study - Reuters
“Only 7 percent of students in grades eight, 10 and 12 who were polled reported smoking cigarettes in the previous month, down from 8 percent a year earlier and the lowest level in 41 years of annual tracking.”
Interestingly…
“The survey said 12 percent of eighth-graders, 25 percent of 10th-graders and 35 percent of 12th-graders reported using marijuana at least once in the prior 12 months.”
Down From the Trees, Humans Finally Got a Decent Night’s Sleep – NY Times
“The one big exception: humans. We sleep a lot less than one would predict based on the patterns seen in other primates.”
Industry (we're so Hollywood)
Streaming TV Isn’t Just a New Way to Watch. It’s a New Genre. [on the ways the new format affects storytelling]– NY Times
“In TV, narrative has always been an outgrowth of the delivery mechanism. Why are there cliffhangers? So you’ll tune in next week. Why are shows a half-hour or an hour long? Because real-time viewing required predictable schedules. Why do episodes have a multiple-act structure? To leave room for the commercials.”
Google Trends
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Ben Carson - discussion around the Republican candidate
Ethan Couch - reports that the teen who used "affluenza" defense has left the country
Bella Thorne - actress talked about a person whom she calls a "billionaire mean girl"
Top YouTube Videos
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Watch: Our Pick — For the undying 9/11 MORONIC JET FUEL ARGUMENT
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