Unemployment Is So 2009: Labor Shortage Gives Workers an Edge

– The New York Times 

With employers adding more than two million jobs a year, some economists suspect that American workers — after being pummeled by a furious mix of globalization and automation, strangled by monetary policy that has restrained economic activity in the name of low inflation, and slapped around by government hostility toward unions and labor regulations — may finally be in for a break.

 

15 Cities Where Unions Are Disappearing

– 24/7 Wall Street 

24/7 Wall Street profiles cities that were union strongholds but where membership has taken a nose dive. The issues that labor leaders are experiencing in these markets is indicative of their larger challenge to maintain and gain footing in the United States.

 

A Smart Recycling Bin Could Sort Your Waste for You

– Smithsonian Magazine 

Do you ever find yourself hovering over a recycling bin, not sure whether the container in your hand can go in or not? What is the difference between high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) anyway? A new “smart” recycling bin aims to help relieve any confusion. The bin uses computer vision to identify the material held in front of its cameras, and then tells the consumer exactly where to place the container.

 

Apple Wants Its Stores to Become ‘Town Squares.’ But Skeptics Call It A ‘Branding Fantasy.’

– The Washington Post 

Moments before unveiling the iPhone X, Apple executives introduced its new concept: Company stores that would double as public spaces, complete with outdoor plazas, indoor forums and designated boardrooms for local entrepreneurs.