Iterate Weekly - Issue 191
This week we're going back into the time machine to revisit what we were talking about three years ago!
Welcome to issue 191 of Iterate Weekly.
In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, we’re taking a brief recess and I’m reposting our issue from this week back in 2021.
Plenty has changed in this time, but there are some gems in here that you may have missed.
Happy Thanksgiving and thank you as always for reading!
🤖Tech
I bought a robot lawnmower
Yes, robots really are taking over our lives.
As we’re moving into a new place that has a small, flat, rectangular patch of grass in the backyard, I thought it was wise to invest in a robotic lawnmower.
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it yet. On one hand, it makes me feel incredibly lazy that I can’t go mow my own small patch of grass. It’s not a huge undertaking, it shouldn’t take me too long.
But on the flip side, that’s why it’s so perfect to automate! There are no hills, no funky terrain or obstacles. I can just automate the whole process and always have a well-manicured lawn. Well, it’s still important to be mindful of water usage in a drought. The grass may get a little brown in the summer, but it’ll be well-trimmed dammit!
I’ll report back after a few months to see if it was a smart move or just another piece of superfluous tech to add to my collection.
🎓Education
Medium acquires audio learning company Knowable
There has been another big acquisition in the world of EdTech.
Medium as acquired audio-learning startup Knowable to help bring more audio content to the platform.
Full disclosure, I did some freelance work for Knowable in their early days to help lay the groundwork for some of their course content. I have a ton of respect for co-founder Warren Shaeffer who will be joining Medium as a VP of Audio.
It looks like a smart move for both companies. I’ve long been a fan of Medium and still post there from time to time. I think they’ve lost a lot of great writers to other platforms like Substack over the past few years. If they’re able to establish themselves as a place for audio education, it could inject some new life into a seemingly waning fan base.
For Knowable, the concern has always been convincing people that they need to download and subscribe (or sell a la carte as we did when I worked there) to another service. The content isn’t quite as passive as a podcast, but not as robust as a comprehensive video course either. It kinda falls into a nebulous middle ground. I do know that they’ve made some changes to how they develop content and are leaning more into big names (Chris Paul, Mark Bittman, and Alexis Ohanian come to mind).
But having audio learning options built into the time I’ve dedicated to reading long-form educational pieces on Medium sounds like it could be promising. Let’s hope this breathes new life into both companies.
🩺Health & Nutrition
Vegan meat with skin and bones
Another week, another development in the world of fake meats.
Nestle is partnering with San Francisco-based Sundial foods to bring more “realistic” imitation chicken to consumers.
These products come equipped with actual skin and bones. Yes, all the makings of an actual chicken leg! I can say that I’ve tried similar wings that have artificial bones and it’s a strange sensation.
I suppose if you think of it more like just eating a kebab off a skewer it feels natural. But it certainly doesn’t look like a traditional bone. I am excited to see where this investment goes though. Nestle certainly has the deep pockets to make food tech like this go more mainstream.
🛍Grab Bag
The Turkey Trot
Most American cities offer some sort of communal run or “Turkey Trot” on the third Thursday of November. How did this come to be a tradition?
Runner’s World takes a great look at how the Turkey Trot became the most popular race in America. The inaugural trot was hosted by a local YMCA in 1896 in Buffalo, New York.
They claim that in 2015, Thanksgiving officially eclipsed July 4th as the most popular race day of the year. Funny, I don’t really associate Independence Day with running at all.
I’m proud to say that I make it out for a Turkey Trot most years. I highly encourage all of you to check out a trot in your local area this week!
💬Quote of the Week
“The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us.” - James E. Faust
📺Content Recommendation
Home Sweet Home Alone
Maybe it’s just the nostalgia of the impending holiday season, but I really enjoyed watching “Home Sweet Home Alone” recently on Disney+. I suppose I’d call it a sequel more than a reboot of the classic but it’s hard to tell.
No, there really is no good reason for this movie. The plot has plenty of holes in it. But there was just enough irreverent humor and nods to the original (look for the cameo appearance by a certain older brother) to keep me entertained.
They did get some solid comedic talent on the cast as well. Keenan Thompson had me laughing the most. If you’re not a fan of the original (shame on you) you won’t like this. But if you’re curious to see modern ways for a 10-year-old to keep burglars at bay, you’re in for a treat!
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
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