US recession risk uncertain amid labor market strength Surveys show consumers and analysts are pessimistic that a recession can be avoided in the US, but the current scenario is anomalous, as unemployment has risen in every one of the recessions since World War II yet the job market remains relatively strong this year. Few economists in a recent survey expect a significant rise in unemployment, prompting economics professor Robert Gordon to comment: "We are going to have a very unusual conflict between the employment numbers and the output numbers for a while." Full Story: Politico (7/4),The Wall Street Journal (7/4)
L.A. minimum wage increase goes into effect A minimum wage increase went into effect on July 1 in Los Angeles, raising the pay floor from $15 per hour to $16.04 per hour within the city. Meanwhile, a measure will be on ballots in California this November that could boost the state's minimum wage to $18 per hour for some workers by 2025 if voters approve. Full Story: KTLA-TV (Los Angeles) (7/1),Los Angeles Daily News (6/30)
If your summer time plans include hanging out by a pool of some other body of water, you might want to look into how your phone might handle an unexpected dip in the water. Is it waterproof or merely water-resistant? If you really want to do a deep dive (hopefully deeper than your phone), research your phone's Ingress Protection (IP) rating. Full Story: The Conversation (6/29)
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Moodsonic spent two years developing nature-inspired "biophilic" soundscapes that can be used in offices, healthcare setting and schools. "The biophilic sounds give people a sense of mental and psychological well-being they are not able to find in other spaces," says Gale Moutrey of Steelcase, which tested the technology in its home office in Michigan. Full Story: Installation (7/1)
Roller coasters are a staple of theme park fun. And while new death-defying rides seem to pop up all the time, one kind you probably won't see is a roller coaster that takes riders on a small, perfectly circular loop. Buckle up and learn why. Full Story: Vox (6/29)
POLL QUESTION: When was the last time you rode a roller coaster?
