Friday Fives, Vol.47
Every week The Working Assembly shares inspiration that intersects art, music, fashion, and culture — five stories that we have on our radar and think should be on yours, too.
Here’s this week’s Friday Fives!


Glossier’s next makeup shake-up
A former beauty startup turned cosmetic cult leader, Glossier is well-known for dropping bombs on the traditional beauty industry. Widely recognized for their millennial pink packaging and “no-makeup makeup”, the company is now planning major moves into the digital sphere with the creation of Glossier’s very own social media/e-commerce platform. Like their blog Into the Gloss, the site will offer advice and product feedback to help shoppers find beauty products that are right for them — strictly Glossier products, of course. And now that California has become the first state to pass a bill that will ban sale of cosmetics tested on animals, Glossier is sitting pretty with their 100% cruelty-free philosophy. — MM


Uber can now deactivate your account for being a jerk
Wild weekends on the town may be getting a bit less wild following a recent announcement from Uber. The ridesharing service is cracking down on unruly passengers by implementing a strict 4.0 minimum rating for riders. If a rider dips below this number and is unable to improve their score, their account may then be deactivated. We’re all for respectful riders and happy drivers, but after a long night out (and a few too many drinks) 4 stars can sometimes feel like a *bit* of a stretch. For passengers who are slightly less inebriated, Lyft has just launched its electric scooter service in Denver, allowing access to cheap autonomous transportation. Regardless of your preferred transportation method, please drive (or ride) responsibly! — DF


The future of work shouldn’t look like a frat house
In recent years, the concept of “coworking” seems to have taken over the modern workforce. As a tidal wave of entrepreneurs trade in their offices for shared workspaces, it’s becoming clear that free beer and trendy open floor plans do not make up for a serious lack of inclusivity in the coworking industry. Birds of a feather flock together, and (much like Silicon Valley) those birds are often white, cis tech bros. The backlash against this lack of gender diversity has resulted in a surge of exclusive, female-only coworking spaces like The Wing where men are simply not allowed — ever. Enter Amy Nelson, founder and CEO of a new coworking space that aims to disrupt these polarizing gender trends. Called The Riveter (like Rosie), the Seattle-based company prides itself on being “women-first, but gender-equal.” Click the link above to read Nelson’s inspiring interview for Quartz’s How We’ll Win gender equality series. — KJ


RIP URL
This week marks the 10th birthday for Google’s Chrome browser. Those 10 years have been filled with radical breakthroughs in the online world, and there’s no sign of slowing down. The next potential change? Getting rid of the URL altogether. Google believes that the next internet frontier will involve scrapping the confusing and outdated URL system in favor of a new, more transparent method. Say goodbye to link shorteners, redirect schemes, and strings of gibberish like .com/mIinVOqPXmdm7i6hX2/e that make it easy for cyber criminals to build malicious, exploitative sites. With several alternatives already being explored behind the scenes, Google says that it will soon be ready to talk publicly about its ideas for the future of online browsing. — MM


This smart mirror is bringing the gym to your living room
Gazing at your own reflection has just gotten a lot more… sweaty. An NYC-based startup known simply as “Mirror” just unveiled their new Peloton-style gadget for at-home workouts — a smart mirror. Using a camera, a full-body mirror, a microphone, and speakers, the hardware brings studio classes to your living room and connects you in two-way interactive experience with a real fitness trainer. Starting at a steep $1,495, the hefty price tag is definitely a drawback. But with a virtual gym literally in your living room, there are no more excuses for staying put on your couch (except for Netflix, of course). — AB
Originally published at eepurl.com.
