Adam Chandler is a journalist. He was formerly a staff writer atThe Atlanticand his work has appeared in TheNew York Times,The Wall Street Journal,The Washington Post,WIRED, andVox, among many other publications. He is a recurring guest on The History ChannelsThe Food That Built Americaand regularly appears across television and radio, such as on CBS and NPR.Whats the big idea?American work standards are damaging the well-being of employees, as well as the success of companies. Myths about achievement, productivity, and equality are clouding our collective reasoning about what leads to a long and fulfilling life. Fixing job culture has the power to fix Americas social crisis.Below, Adam shares five key insights from his new book,99% Perspiration: A New Working History of the American Way of Life.Listen to the audio versionread by Adam himselfin the Next Big Idea App.1. The American AbracadabraThe Bootstraps Myththe belief that anyone can succeed with hard work and a little moxieis a core tenet of American life. Its visible in culture, policy, and civics. But theres a dark side to this ideal. If you fail to get ahead, it means that you didnt try hard enough. I call this The American Abracadabra.The danger of the abracadabra is that it turns success or failure into a matter of individual character, rather than prompting us to collectively confront the obstacles that have made achieving success so much harder in recent years. To understand what prevents Americans from a prosperous and stable life, we might examine the costs of housing, healthcare, childcare, and college in the U.S. A recent study by the Brookings Institution revealed that an astonishing 44% of Americans hold jobs that qualify as low-wage.2. Everyone benefits from time off,especiallyemployersGenerous time-off policies in the U.S. have long been looked upon with suspicion by bottom-line-minded employers, particularly when compared to Americas peer nations. One result is that American workers log more work hours than nearly all other industrialized countries. They also tend to eschew the breaks to which theyre entitled. According to Pew, roughly half of all U.S. workers avoid using their allotted time off out of fear of seeming disloyal, replaceable, or burdening their coworkers. Interestingly, its higher earners in particular who are the most reluctant to use all their paid time off. Studies have found that at companies with unlimited time-off policies, workers take even fewer days off.Employees who take time off are not only happier and healthier, but also more productive, more creative, and more loyal.Theres a strong case for employers to encourage workers to step away from their desks and take time off. Employees who take time off are not only happier and healthier, but also more productive, more creative, and more loyal. Another big piece of this equation is the high cost of turnover for companies in training and replacing workers, as well as in lost morale. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019, Gallup put a conservative price tag of $1 trillion on the replacement cost of employees who leave their jobs in the U.S. each year, estimating that The cost of replacing an individual employee can range from one-half to two times the employees annual salary.3. The American work obsession is a civic and social crisisAmericans disproportionately define themselves by their jobs. In a recent Pew survey, an astounding 71% of Americans listed having a job or career they enjoyed as the top measure of what makes for a fulfilling life, more than close friendships, having children, or marriage.Even as we put more of ourselves into workwhether its how we spend our time, construct social circles, or identify ourselveswork does not love us back. A 2023 economic opportunity poll by Gallup found that 39% of Americans believed that they were failing to get ahead despite working hard. That figure was 23% in 2002. Works failure to get us where we want to be is driving resentment, distrust of institutions, xenophobia, and extremism.4. Immigration is critical to the strength and durability of the American economyIn recent years, immigration, legal or otherwise, has been the focus of populist ire and the centerpiece of political campaigns. What they often leave out is that immigrants are 80% more likely to start a business than native-born Americans, whether its a mom-and-pop outfit like a restaurant or gas station, or a huge company like Google, Zoom, or Duolingo. On average, immigrant-founded businesses hire more workers than others.Immigrants are 80% more likely to start a business than native-born Americans.When it comes to government benefits, immigrants pay $1.38 in taxes for every dollar of government benefits they use. Lastly, undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022, far more than many loophole-savvy billionaires or companies on the Fortune 500.5. American income inequality isnt just about moneyIncome inequality has reached dangerous levels. The effect of these disparities has had strange consequences. Between 1970 and 2009, Stanford researchers estimated that the share of families living in middle-income neighborhoods dropped from 65% to 44%. In other words, higher-income households wended their way to wealthier neighborhoods while low-income households went to poorer ones. Back in 1980, you could live in a city with a high level of income inequality, and it didnt necessarily map geographically. The kid of a doctor and the kid of a dockworker were more likely to play ball in the same street and go to the same school.But thats no longer the case. These divergences influence everything in a neighborhood, from crime rate, school quality, social mobility, and its stock of good-paying jobs to the presence of environmental hazards, the likelihood of developing chronic health conditions, and the life expectancies of both old and young. Fortunately, countless people at every level of society are working on bold initiatives to make communities stronger, safer, healthier, and happier.Thisarticleoriginally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission.

The computer interface of NASA's 1960s Apollo spacecraft is meticulously replicated in miniature in the DSKY Moonwatch, a multifunctional timepiece created by British start-up Apollo Instruments.The DSKY Moonwatch recreates the instruments of the Apollo DSKY, the computer interface used by astronauts on NASA's moon missions to guide and navigate the spacecraft.Made of ceramic-coated stainless steel, the watch includes a micro-LED screen with green digits and a mini annunciator panel the light-up display in an aircraft that indicates the status of various equipment or systems.The DSKY Moonwatch recreates the computer interface from the Apollo spacecraftBelow them is a tiny keypad with numbers and commands such as "noun" and "verb", which are used to request various functions.The original DSKY was developed by the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory and continues to be highly regarded, especially for its simple, calculator-like design that gave astronauts without extensive computing know-how a straightforward way to interact with Apollo's advanced onboard computer.Its name is an abbreviation of the words "Display and Keyboard" and is usually pronounced "diss-key". Apollo Instruments aimed to satisfy the DSKY's enduring fan base with an object that is made of high-grade materials and accurately represents even the system's smallest details, such as colour and font.Wearers can request functions using the keypad"We are driven to commemorate the legacy of the Apollo space programme and the courage of its astronauts through a tribute that genuinely celebrates the remarkable achievements and sacrifices they made to present to the world mankind's greatest adventure," Apollo Instruments founder and CEO Mark Clayton told Dezeen."A significant amount of time was invested researching the original NASA and MIT archives to ensure the most authentic and aesthetically accurate reproduction was achieved. To this end, our DSKY Moonwatch is an accurate 4.6:1 scale homage to the original Apollo DSKY."Read: Space architects are preparing for humanity's return to the moonTo interact with the DSKY Moonwatch, wearers use the same system used by the Apollo astronauts, inputting simplified noun-verb combinations in place of words. The verb defines the action to be performed for instance, display, monitor or update and the noun specifies the data to be operated on.Each word corresponds to a number that the user inputs into the keypad to issue a command. The computer's operations are shown on the LED display on the right-hand side of the watch face, which features the program number that is currently running, the verb and noun numbers being entered, and a trio of open five-digit numeric fields.Out of the box, the DSKY Moonwatch can display information including the time and date, GPS navigation, an alarm and stopwatch. There is also the option to run a range of original DSKY operations, such as a GPS-driven landing routine and a lights and display test.The annunciator panel is located on the top left-hand side of the watch faceIn the long run, Apollo Instruments hopes to grow this list of functions with its own software updates, as well as through programming contributions from its user community.On the left-hand side of the watch face is the DSKY's distinctive annunciator panel, with 12 different light-up warning indicators under abbreviations such as UPLINK ACTY, indicating that data is being received from the ground, and PROG, indicating that the astronaut should input more information to complete a programme.This is one area where Apollo Instruments, which did all of the DSKY Moonwatch design in-house, paid particular attention to detail, matching the original Gorton font on the indicators and working with lighting filter company Rosco to achieve authentic colouration.The strap is made of Nappa leatherAccording to Clayton, to produce the desired level of light fill, each segment of the annunciator panel incorporates three micro LEDs, which match the three incandescent bulbs found in each segment of the original Apollo DSKY.It was also a challenge to create the fine lettering that appears across the annunciator panel and keypad. The company tried digital printing and screen printing, but both methods failed to deliver the precision the designers sought."Ultimately, we adopted pad printing, a technique first employed in watchmaking during the late 19th century," said Clayton. "The chemically etched plates enabled us to reproduce the exceptionally fine detail necessary for the miniature lettering on the DSKY Moonwatch.""This experience effectively illustrated how we often mistakenly assume that contemporary digital solutions are superior, whilst demonstrating that this assumption isn't universally true and that the traditional analogue methods developed by our ancestors deserve careful consideration."Read: Prada and Axiom Space reveal spacesuits for next lunar landingClayton, who worked in computer science and electronics before founding Apollo Instruments, said that orders for the watch have already come in from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, alongside current and former NASA personnel.The DSKY watch is made in England from machined 316L grade stainless steel, a material often used in high-end watches, and finished with a ceramic coating that Apollo Instruments says is military grade.Among the other high-end details are scratch-proof display glass, a Nappa leather strap with a flexible GPS aerial built-in, and a keypad with individual mechanical switches rather than a membrane for tactile feedback.The DSKY Moonwatch could be paired with other moon mission-inspired clothing, such as Heron Preston's streetwear collection created in collaoration with NASA and Tom Sachs' Nike Mars Yard trainers, which are modelled on the boots of spacesuits.The post DSKY Moonwatch brings mini Apollo space computer to people's wrists appeared first on Dezeen.

Just like turntables, instant cameras have become quite the trend in recent years. Seeing a photo you may or may not have perfectly taken printed out immediately brings a kind of joy that was lost with digital cameras, smartphones, and the social Web. Those joys dont always last long, however, as the limitations of these analog media, though delightful, eventually become chains that drag peoples creativity.Thankfully, you can have the best of both worlds, and Fujifilm is more than happy to prove it. By combining the flexibility of a digital camera and the immediacy of a smartphone printer, the Instax WIDE Evo offers the simple joys of an instant camera when you want it, but also provides filters and effects when you want them. Best of all, it still comes wrapped in a premium analog aesthetic that makes the modern instant camera still unmistakably retro in spirit.Designer: FujifilmAlthough instant cameras already have their own visual flavor, sometimes that isnt enough for the budding photographer or content creator. Filters and effects are all the rage these days, but such results are only possible with smartphones or digital cameras and only seen on social media. Thats the kind of variety and creativity that the Instax WIDE Evo tries to offer without complicating the experience with menus and apps.You have, in practice, 10 lens effects and 10 film effects that can drastically change the way your photos look. Plus you get to choose the degree of the lens effect, opening the door to dozens of possible combinations. The best part is that you control these using analog dials and buttons that match the retro theme of the instant camera. For example, you twist the camera lens to change the degree of the effect, and you turn a dial to cycle through the different film effects.The retro nostalgia doesnt end there. Instead of a button, the shutter comes in the form of a lever that gives a satisfying click for every shot you take. And yes, you can still half-press the lever to lock the focus first. Want to take in more of the view? Switching to a wider angle doesnt involve tapping on a screen (which you cant do anyway) and instead requires pushing a manual switch. You even have to turn a crank to print a photo These analog controls perfectly match the black and gray motif of the camera, making it look like you squashed a DSLR into a square.The Instax WIDE Evo definitely has plenty of other modern amenities to delight shutterbugs and creators, like a 3.5-inch LCD screen that lets you see the final result even before it gets printed. Theres also a Bluetooth connection with a paired smartphone to get the most out of the companion app, which lets you not only see what others have taken but even copy the combination of effects they used. And, of course, you get a printout as soon as you want, using Fujifilms special wide film format, allowing you to instantly share your masterpieces as many times as you need.The post Instax WIDE Evo Hybrid Instant Camera Brings adds modern conveniences to a retro experience first appeared on Yanko Design.

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MacworldThe FileVault security system, introduced many years ago to macOS, prevents someone from starting up or restarting your computer and gaining access to its startup volume, which is encrypted. (FileVault handled the encryption in its early days, but its now handled in hardware and always enabled with any Intel Mac with a T2 Security Ship and with all Apple silicon M-series Macs.)This introduces a problem if youre using remote screen access to use your Mac. If you need to make a change that requires rebooting your Mac, it will go right back to the FileVault login screen, which cannot be accessed through remote-control software. The password has to be entered at that screen to unlock the startup drive and to boot into macOS.Restart manually and bypass FileVaultIf you need to restart manually after making a change, you can use a Terminal command that will restart your computer into macOSa single time.Make any changes on your remotely controlled Mac before restarting. This can include installing software that ends with a Restart option. Dont click that button.At the Terminal, entersudo fdesetup authrestart -delayminutes 0and press Return. Set0to the number of minutes you want the Mac to wait, or leave it at0to restart immediately.After the Mac restarts, you should be able to resume your remote session and access the login window to enter the account password.There are three important provisos:This only affects the restart created by thefdesetupcommand. Subsequent restarts will go through the FileVault login.Starting a Mac from having its power off or power cycling itsay, through a HomeKit or other remote-controlled outlet or UPSstill requires a FileVault login.Its possible thefdesetuprestart will go awry and fail to allow you back in.Disable FileVault to ensure remote accessYou could disable FileVault in System Settings > Privacy & Security > FileVault. Then, whenever your Mac reboots, it will always allow access from the main macOS login window. This works in case of a power outage, a crash and automatic restart, or a manual restart. (Make sure that System Settings > Energys Start up automatically after a power failure is enabled.)However, it comes with the risk that your data could fall into the wrong hands. With FileVault disabled, someone with access to your computer can restart it into recoveryOS, typically used for Disk Utility or reinstalling macOS, and easily retrieve all your stored files.Disabling FileVault is a common practice for Macs used as servers, which are typically stored in locked rooms, secured with biometric or other unique access codes, and monitored by security cameras.For a home user, you should consider whether your Mac ever leaves the house, how susceptible you are to theft, and whether youre concerned your data would wind up in the hands of someone else.With Find My enabled, if the Mac is connected to the Internet, you can remotely lock and restart it to prevent access. However, thieves are unlikely to connect a Mac before trying to access data on it if theyre sophisticated enough to extract your information.This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Cynthia.Ask Mac 911Weve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns:read our super FAQto see if your question is covered. If not, were always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours tomac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered; we dont reply to emails, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.

MacworldThe rumors are heating up for Apples next major iPhone release. In this episode of the Macworld Podcast, we cover whats going on with the iPhone SE and what we could see in the next few weeks.This is episode 918 with Jason Cross, Michael Simon, and Roman Loyola.Watch episode 918 on YouTubeListen to episode 918 on Apple PodcastsListen to episode 918 on SpotifyGet infoFor more information about the topics discussed on the show, click on the links below.iPhone SE 4: Everything you need to know about Apples next budget phoneSubscribe to the Macworld PodcastYou can subscribe to the Macworld Podcastor leave us a review!right here in the Podcasts app. The Macworld Podcast is also available on Spotify and on the Macworld Podcast YouTube channel. Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/macworldTo find previous episodes, visit Macworlds podcast page or our home on MegaPhone.Apple

A group of Englishmen toss Frisbees in 1966. Keystone-France / Gamma-Keystone / Getty ImagesWhen Wham-O Manufacturing Co. rolled out its first flying discs on January 23, 1957, there must have been some speculation: Would the idea fly with consumers?But 68 years later, hundreds of millions of Frisbeesaerodynamic plastic discs that are typically about eight to ten inches in diameter and feature a curved lip, creating a lift force that helps them soar through the airhave been sold worldwide.American inventor Walter Frederick Morrison came up with the idea for what would later become Frisbees in the late 1930s while tossing the lid of a popcorn tin back and forth with his future wife, Lucile. Once the tin wore out, the couple started tossing a cake pan instead. Someone noticed the two of them having fun with their makeshift toy and offered the pair 25 cents (equivalent to between $5 and $6 today) to purchase it.That got the wheels turning, Morrison later told a reporter for the Virginian-Pilot, because you could buy a cake pan for five cents, and if people on the beach were willing to pay a quarter for it, wellthere was a business.Morrison started selling his Flyin Cake Pans along Southern Californias beaches and parks, but his business screeched to a halt during World War II, when the inventor flew P-47 fighter-bombers and was briefly imprisoned in Europe. Upon his return, he continuously refined his flying disc.First there was the Whirlo-Way, a design Morrison named in honor of the 1941 Triple Crown winning racehorse, Whirlaway. Then in 1947, Morrison met investor Warren Franscioni. Together they created the Flyin Saucer, a name meant to cash in on a growing craze for unidentified flying objects (UFOs). The two had their toy molded in plastic, allowing it to fly farther and with more accuracy than the previous tin pie plates. However, Morrison and Franscioni went their separate ways in 1950 after disappointing sales.Still, Morrison kept at it, eventually creating the archetype for the modern plastic flying disc, the Pluto Platter. Aerodynamically superior to previous versions, this mass-produced plastic disc was also the first to have a UFO-influenced cupola on top. It caught the attention of Wham-O, a toy company known for the wildly popular Hula-Hoop, and in 1957, Morrison granted them full control of the Pluto Platters manufacturing and marketing in exchange for royalties.Soon after the first Pluto Platters were introduced, Wham-O discovered that New England students had been tossing empty pie tins from Connecticuts Frisbie Pie Company back-and-forth, a habit that led them to refer to Pluto Platters as Frisbies. Wham-O liked the nickname and renamed their disc Frisbee, altering the spelling to avoid copyright infringement.Though sales of Frisbees remained steady, it wasnt until Wham-O hired toy inventor Ed Headrick in 1964 as head of research and development that the flying disc really took off. He patented the design for todays Frisbee in 1967, adding a band of raised ridges on its surface for a better thumb grip. Headrick then began marketing Frisbee as a sport.Soon after, a group of Maplewood, New Jersey, high school students invented Ultimate Frisbee, a game that includes elements of American football, basketball and soccer. Headrick himself came up with the idea for disc golf, in which players toss flying discs into metal baskets. Canines love Frisbees, too: Originating in the 1970s, Disc Dog (often called Frisbee Dog) is a fast-paced game that lets dogs and their human disc throwers compete in a variety of events together.Although Mattel Toy Manufacturers bought the official Frisbee from Wham-O in 1994, it's still flying off the assembly lines today. In 1998, the Frisbee was even inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.