Month: December 2021

Lee Kaufman, Who Cleaned Her Way to Late-Life Stardom, Dies at 99 – The New York Times

by dldamore

Lee Kaufman, Who Cleaned Her Way to Late-Life Stardom, Dies at 99 – The New York Times:

They were the pioneers in an advertising strategy for Swiffer built on ordinary people, rather than actors, and the public responded with adoration and a click count that soared into the millions.

A three-minute spot intended for the internet was produced and got such a response that it was carved up into shorter segments for social media and television commercials; a string of other Swiffer ads using ordinary people followed. The Kaufmans’ eureka moments in the bits were genuine enough — the couple said later that they’d been unaware of Swiffer products before the filming.

“The bottom line is, don’t die young,” she said. “There are too many things that can happen.”

Moved a Wi-Fi router? That could mess with an iPhone’s location | Macworld

by dldamore

Moved a Wi-Fi router? That could mess with an iPhone’s location | Macworld:

These signal captures are paired with millions—or maybe billions—of Wi-Fi “snapshots” taken every day by iPhones, iPads, and Macs that help flesh out the picture. Your devices are constantly scanning for nearby Wi-Fi networks, even when connected to an active Wi-Fi router or hotspot. Those scans contain signal strength information and bolster Apple’s database.

*Interesting read. Data can be collected and put to use in ways you hadn’t thought of.

PCE Index Hit Highest Level in November Since 1982 – The New York Times

by dldamore

PCE Index Hit Highest Level in November Since 1982 – The New York Times:

Fed policymakers announced this month that they are speeding up their plans to withdraw support from the economy, and they set themselves up to potentially raise interest rates several times next year. That would make buying a car or expanding a business more expensive, making it more attractive to save and less attractive to spend, cooling off the economy and, over time, weighing on inflation.

 

“We understand that high inflation imposes significant hardship, especially on those least able to meet the higher costs of essentials like food, housing and transportation,” Jerome H. Powell, the Fed chair, said last week. “We are committed to our price stability goal.”

Amazon X-Ray

by dldamore

Experience more with X-Ray on Prime Video. Get instant access to cast, characters, music, trivia, photos, videos and other bonus materials while you watch.

*It would be interesting if more related data could be shared with users for different services. This makes me think of voice activated data requests and how they often miss the mark currently. Over time these will get better. Will user frustration prevent some of the late early adopters for becoming work of mouth for their friends and family?

How a Relief Fund for Restaurants Picked Winners and Losers – The New York Times

by dldamore

How a Relief Fund for Restaurants Picked Winners and Losers – The New York Times:

James Hutton submitted his claim just one minute after the application system opened on May 3, seeking $2.4 million for his business, Players Sports Grill & Arcade in San Francisco. At the end of June, his grant was denied.