Friday Fives, Vol. 94
Every Friday we highlight five things we have on our radar that we think should be on yours, too.
Here’s this week’s Friday Fives.
99 billion plastic bottles on the wall
There are few pieces of human engineering that unite the modern world like the plastic water bottle. With more than 580 billion (yes, billion) bottles projected to be used by 2021, disposable bottles have revolutionized our consumer habits, brought greater ease and convenience to our everyday lives, and exponentially increased the damage that humans are inflicting on our planet. The evolution of plastic bottles from a beloved convenience to the scourge of the land and sea has taken place over just one generation, and we’re here to talk about it. Last week, two data visualization specialists at Reuters published this powerful (and globally guilt-inducing) infographic to visualize the number of plastic bottles we discard every second. If you’ve ever given yourself a pat on the back for spending an additional 2.5 seconds throwing your Fiji bottle in the proper bin after finishing your $30 workout class, now is the time to reconsider your priorities. Despite all good intentions, only 6% of the total plastic produced by humans has ever been recycled. And what about the rest? Incinerated, chucked into a landfill, or dumped into our waterways (where a turtle likely fashioned it into a killer necklace). So grab your Swell bottle, find a water fountain, and start tallying up that “bottles saved” number like our lives depend on it — because, actually, they might. — MC²
Tuch like the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the introduction of Popeyes’ new sandwich in August has erupted into an all-out war between fried chicken magnates. Chick-fil-A and Wendy’s were quick to take to social media, each claiming they were home to the “original” fried chicken sandwich and banning together to launch a massive meme-based assault against Popeye’s. As the battle ensued, KFC — with a pre-existing roster of chicken sandwiches — remained in the shadows, silent and ready to strike, hitting the world with its checkmate on September 10th in the form of I Love You Colonel Sanders! A Finger Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator. A collaboration with Wieden+Kennedy and developer Psyop, the chicken-themed dating sim boasts an immersive gaming experience, where you, a chef-in-training, compete in cooking battles to win the heart of Colonel Sanders, a fried-chicken chef extraordinaire and uncomfortably sexy love interest. Chock-full of action, romance, and a talking corgi named Professor Dog, the simulator is sure to be as entertaining as it is weird. — AD
Even social media is sick of likes
Nothing brings me more joy than waking up in the morning to a tidal wave of Likes on a killer selfie. Although I know that my Like count on social media doesn’t define my worth in the real world, I’m not above the gratification that comes from scrolling through a mountain comments peppered with fire emojis and heart-eyes (along with that one comment from your Aunt Carol who just wants to know if you’re coming home for Christmas). But what is the actual value of these virtual interactions? Are they really worth our time and energy? Recently, our social media overlords have begun asking these same questions. Over the past year, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube have all dipped a toe into a word without digital ego-stoking, temporarily eliminating the the “Like” count on users’ posts. Not unexpectedly, this change resulted in a huge backlash from users who believe that these numbers are essential to their social media experience. But is it really worth the fight? Kylie Jenner may have 146 million followers, but most people who’ve actually helped make meaningful progress in the world since the advent of Instagram don’t have 30 million followers (or their own lip gloss line) and that’s A-okay with us. — AH
I want to ride my bicycle,
I want to ride my bike
Every New Yorker has been there — sitting in a cab after a sudden subway failure, stranded in rush hour traffic, watching as bikers, pedestrians, and even that granny in her wheelchair wizz past on the sidewalk. Although the idea of having your own private ride may seem nice in theory, one thing is for certain — they really don’t move that fast. Whether cabs are hitting every stoplight or blaring their horns at some jerk parked in the middle of the road, the obstacles of New York City street traffic seem to constantly get in the way. The good news? There’s a cheaper, healthier, and less headache-inducing alternative: biking. With bike paths in New York City expanding every year, cyclists are able to deftly weave through busy city traffic, unlike their sluggish gas-guzzling counterparts. And now, studies have confirmed what’s been long-suspected by the New York biking community — and no, it’s not that everyone’s out to door them — it’s that biking in New York City is actually faster than taking a cab. With speed, eco-friendliness, and affordability on your side, it’s clear what the better choice for transportation is. You’re just going to have to google what a “fixed gear” is first. — AD
Ilana is the hero couch potatoes deserve
This week, Nike took a breather from its typical advertising strategy featuring super-mega-fit-athletes to focus on a more relatable role model for the masses — Ilana Glazer. The brand’s latest campaign feature’s Nike’s Joyride Beads sneakers, a specially designed shoe with a low-impact, bead-filled heel that look like you’re running on a bunch of boba. And although I’m definitely not a runner, never in my life have I felt so personally targeted by an ad. For a sneaker company founded by runners, for runners, a campaign featuring Ilana Glazer openly mocking runner culture is a breath of fresh air, and begs the question: Are they even allowed to do that? The brand’s forway beyond their typical athletic stars has been welcomed by many Nike fans (a.k.a. me) who enjoy wearing the brand without necessarily wanting to run a 5K — or even a 1K. Finally, a sports brand that understands me. — DK
