A lesson for Texas: Don’t mess with tinkerers, because they have Twitter handles and they’re not afraid to use them.
#IStandWithAhmed became a roiling rebuke to the arrest of a 14-year-old student who brought a handmade clock to school and wound up in handcuffs.
President Obama Tweeted an invitation to Ahmed, Steve Jobs was invoked and Ahmed’s family gave pizza to the media staked outside their home.
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“Arresting Ahmed Mohamed for bringing a homemade clock to school is the greatest attack on the STEM and Maker movement to date. Outraged,” Tock CTO Brian Fitzpatrick ? tweeted.
If only the new Facebook dislike button had been ready for that day. Actually it sounds like it won’t be called dislike, exactly, but the social giant said it will create some way to acknowledge a post and/or express empathy without having to give a thumbs up, Meg Graham reported. There is a certain awkwardness in having to “like” sad news in order to express support or follow a post, after all.
Meanwhile, the tech community has won some concessions on the city’s Cloud Tax; is that enough?
Medical crowdfunding platform GiveForward unveiled new services that allow patients and caregivers to manage more of the process of dealing with an illness. New tools allow users to sign up to prepare meals, offer emotional support through notes and pings, and fulfill other items on a patient’s wish list.
“Crowdfunding is a key part of going through a challenge that’s medical in nature,” said GiveForward CEO Josh Chapman. “The idea here was to build this singular platform that someone could use to manage all the tasks that tend to come up.”
Which universities are the most innovative, based on academic research and patent filings? Reuters released a Top 100 survey that included a number of Illinois universities, and photo editor Keri Wiginton gave us a tour. And speaking of tours, check out the Office Space of the color-filled, shape-defined Morningstar.
Our spotlight on Talent & Culture continued with stories on the on-boarding process for new employees; a call to focus on solid B-level employees as well as your stars; and insight from Chicago tech recruiters on in-demand skills. Cheryl V. Jackson shared the story of some creative takes on meetings, including one company where employees stand up in the morning and mention a daunting task they want to complete that day.
Starter School, a Chicago Web development and entrepreneurship program led by popular startup-scene figures Neal Sales-Griffin ? and Mike McGee ?, has put classes on hold as it awaits approval to operate from the Illinois Board of Higher Education, Amina Elahi reports. The nine-month program costs $36,000, so the founders are looking at other ways to bring in revenue during the hiatus.
Events season is heating up. Check out our full community calendar and plan to join us for our onstage interview with champion swimmer Diana Nyad. And check out our recaps of the ITA City Lights awards
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and the Chicago Founders Circle gathering on Thursday.Email: [email protected] * Twitter: @andreahanis