If you’re feeling like a hot mess, you’re not the only one. San Francisco got its summer heatwave right on schedule: the second week of fall. The links were also heating up, so let’s get into it. It’s too hot to categorize this week, so you’re getting a mash-up edition.
If I Embarrass My Baby on TikTok, Will He Stay My Baby Forever? (NY Times)
This one made laugh and then think. I don’t have a baby but I’m near a lot of babies these days (hi Ollie and Ezzie!) and so I have been thinking about how their digital footprints are already a major decision to make in their first few weeks of life.
Explainer: UAW expands strikes against GM, Stellantis in fight over new contract (Reuters)
I write about cars (well, mostly EVs), so the Hot Labor Summer has entered my arena. A good explainer is always helpful.
Legacy Fleet Decommissioning (BART.gov)
Here’s your dose of local public transit news. It’s an end of an era for the old fleet.
My Running Club, My Everything (NY Times)
I kept waiting for Midnight Runners to get mentioned, but this obviously resonated as a fully committed Midnight Runner here in SF (I’ve run with the cult, er, group, in New York, Mexico City and Buenos Aires, too!). Samia got me into the group in June 2021 when my gym was still closed because of Covid and I haven’t stopped going since.
Midnight Runners SF photo break/appreciation time. Here’s the Right Way to Rescue a Soaking Wet Smartphone (Wired via Pocket)
This seems helpful, especially after I had my own iPhone-in-the-inflatable-pool drop this summer. Everyone immediately tells you to soak it in rice, but don’t! (The phone survived and has since renewed its longevity as Maya’s “new” phone.)
A San Francisco Parking Meter Charges $10 per Hour. Here’s How Much It Earned Last Year (SF Standard)
This story made me say, “Dang,” and reminded me that there are so many great stories just sitting there in public datasets! Computer-assisted reporting is what we used to call it in the early 2010s and it still works.
Average American takes this many photos per day (Talker)
This is admittedly veering into trashy click-bait content, but I was curious about the findings beyond posting on social media. Since I started traveling (Shameless promotion: Remote Year referral link here if you’re trying to take your job on the road!), my photos are my main souvenir.
Brazil's President Lula set to undergo hip replacement surgery (ABC News)
Tudo bem? I loved this detail thrown in there: “Lula also underwent minor eyelid surgery…”
The 25 Best Restaurants in San Francisco Right Now (NY Times)
Am I patting myself on the back for taking my out-of-town friends to one of the places that made the list? You betcha, gotta get my cool points where I can in this town. (We went to Shuggie’s Trash Pie in the Mission.)
UC Irvine astronomers offer tips for safe observation of upcoming partial solar eclipse (University of California)
After seeing totality in Oregon back in 2017 (what up, eclipse gang!), I’m always keeping tabs (always!) on where eclipses are happening. This one is Oct. 14, coming up.
GROUP-CHAT CULTURE IS OUT OF CONTROL (The Atlantic via Apple News)
I love my WhatsApp chats, but I agree the sub-groups are getting out of hand. Few people realize WhatsApp now has a “Community” feature, which really helps organize things.
That’s all for this sweaty week. Next week I’ll be in transit (hint: the country was mentioned in one of these links), so you might need to hold tight until later into October for your next fix.