That’s about how many messages have been submitted to Textie, a new site that lets users submit tricky, sometimes emotional messages like “Are you in love with me?” or “I need to move out” and crowdsource replies. The Washington Post’s Intersect blog dug into some of these messages and why some of our most important conversations happen via SMS.
That’s how many states currently ban same-sex marriage. And that can lead to a lot of problems for married gay veterans, as last week the Senate failed to pass an amendment that would ensure they receive the same benefits as their straight counterparts. The Senate resumes debate on Monday.
That’s how much the nude tourism industry is worth, according to its trade group. And it’s not just beaches; there are nude cruises and even clothing-optional towns. Marketplace Weekend took a dive into this growing community with author Mark Haskell Smith, who stripped down himself to study it.
That’s the download speed of Helsinki’s free public Wi-Fi network. Live since 2006, the hot spots are the result of a decision to concurrently install open networks in addition to the Wi-Fi being put into official buildings at the time. As Quartz reports, part of the city’s ability to maintain such a service is the high municipal tax paid by Finnish citizens.
That’s how much was won by a team from Korea in a DARPA-sponsored robotics competition. Competitors completed a series of challenges based on disaster scenarios. But as reported by the New York Times, these were far from the elaborate droids currently seen in television and movies. It was seven and a half hours before the a robot was able to finish the first obstacle course.
That’s how many suppliers Patagonia uses around the world to assemble its clothing and other products, the Atlantic reported. But that’s just one part of a longer supply chain, including about 175 mills, farms and other manufacturers. That means it’s difficult for even a more labor-conscious brand like Patagonia to ensure illegal or exploitative labor isn’t used to create its products. The company is a case study for the clothing industry at large.
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