Iterate Weekly - Issue 121
This week we're talking about X, calculating how much bad meetings cost, our EV batteries can't take the heat, inflatable bike helmets could be the future, and Wes Anderson's "Asteroid City"!
Welcome to issue 121 of Iterate Weekly!
Hope you’re all doing well. This is just a friendly reminder that you can always reply directly to these messages or leave a comment on the Substack post. Feedback is highly encouraged and I’m happy to answer any and all questions that come up.
Let’s jump into this week’s stories.
🤖 Tech
Twitter becomes “X”
This story was just starting to break all across the internet while I was putting the finishing touches on this issue. So I may not have all the details just yet and you’ve probably already heard.
Twitter is officially rebranding to be known as X.
It’s an odd move to say the least. It seems a bit like a rash decision but Elon Musk has been sitting on the x.com URL for years, so I don’t know.
I know that we all grew to know and love the Twitter blue bird branding but it was a little too cartoonish in my mind for what the company became. Don’t get me wrong, I think calling a company X is pretty silly, but Twitter was due for a reimagining even before Musk took over the reigns.
So right now, you can go to x.com and you will see a quick splash of the new logo before redirecting to the typical Twitter homepage. I’m sure this will get updated again very soon. It seems like this is being thought out as it’s happening which is super entertaining for us watching on the outside.
Apparently the sign has already been partially removed the HQ building in SF. That sign had really become somewhat of an iconic landmark even if it wasn’t for all the right reasons. But it looks like they couldn’t even remove a sign without running into red tape with the city.
Look, I’m not really sure what else to say here. This is clearly a big tech story but I don’t think we can draw a whole lot of conclusions just yet. Will X continue it’s path as the last breaths of Twitter or will we see some meaningful product changes in the coming weeks? Who knows? But I’m hard-pressed to think of a more haphazard rebrand without proper vision. Maybe New Coke?
Let’s all just acknowledge how far Twitter has fallen and keep our eyes peeled for what’s next.
🎓 Education/Productivity/Work
Calculating the cost of worthless meetings
We’ve all found ourselves in pointless meetings from time to time. You know the ones that have no clear agenda or just don’t need so many people in attendance?
Well, Shopify has run some calculations to figure out exactly how much money is being spent on these waste of time gatherings of otherwise perfectly-capable minds.
In simplest terms, a 30-minute unproductive meeting costs about $1,600.
Shopify is surfacing this information in Google Calendar invites so you know roughly how much of the companies money is being eaten up in that quick brainstorm session or product demo. You’ll see an estimated based on the average salaries of those who are invited to the meeting and the tally will go up as you add more attendees.
It’s a brilliant way to steer people away from unnecessary meetings and I hope other companies follow suit. It seems like an easy enough calculation for other companies to set up within their own calendar invites.
While we’re at it, why don’t we start to calculate how much money is spent reading/replying to pointless emails. Please be mindful of the CC people!
♻️ Health & Environment
A reminder, your EV batteries don’t like the heat
This is just a friendly reminder to take care of the batteries on your electric car or bike. They don’t like cold temperatures, and during the seamlessly endless global heatwaves that are now a standard occurrence they also hate heat.
A good rule is to treat your EV batteries like a human. Would you like to be outside in freezing temperatures? Would you be up for the task of powering a machine when the temperature reaches triple digits Fahrenheit?
Keep your batteries in a temperate garage or within your home whenever possible. When they’re exposed to extreme temperatures, they are more prone to premature aging. You won’t see the range and power that you’re used to seeing once the temperatures go up.
Sure, there may be times when there is nothing you can do to keep your batteries out of the heat. But if you’re blissfully leaving your e-bike outside all day in the heat when you can easily remove the battery and transport it into your air-conditioned home you could be avoiding some headaches later in the lifespan of your battery.
Baby those batteries in order to maximize their longevity!
🛍 Grab Bag
Can an inflatable helmet be safe?
We have helmets, and then we have inflatable airbags. But what if the two morphed into one kooky-looking product? Could this design be just as safe (or safer) as a standard bike helmet while also being far more portable?
It comes from a company called Inflabi and it just might be the future of bike helmets. With the ability to pack down to 25% of its total size, you should really never have the excuse of leaving your helmet behind. It can deflate to be in your pocket or bag whenever the unexpected bike ride comes up. This is the absolute perfect scenario for those times when you decide to rent a quick bike from the bikeshare rack when you realize it will be faster than a bust or taxi. Previously in that situation you’d have to skip the bike ride or take a risk to do it helmet-less.
We’ll see if this is a flash in the pan or if it will become the standard look for our helmets. The Inflabi should go on sale next month for a cost of 150 Euro, no word yet on a North American release. I kinda like the odd look! It’s certainly a conversation starter and looks like it could double as a solid camping pillow. It’s also nice that it can be inflated with a standard bike pump.
💬 Quote of the Week
"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."
-John F. Kennedy
🎥Content Review
Asteroid City
This week I’m recommending the latest offering from Wes Anderson. It’s called “Asteroid City”
I feel like most people either love or hate the work of Wes Anderson, and I don’t think this film will really change that. I’ve always enjoyed his movies and I was thoroughly entertained while watching this one. If you look at the star-studded ensemble cast, it’s hard not to be impressed.
You’ll find the typical roster of Wes Anderson actors but then there’s Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, and a comically underused Jeff Goldblum among others.
I didn’t think it was the best work by Anderson but I did like it better than his last film “The French Dispatch”. If you love the quirky aesthetics and dry humor of Anderson’s other films, this one is worth checking out.
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
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