You want fries with that? Welcome to Wednesday, dear readers, as Grimace runs out of magic, political pundits quarter-pound away on that ill-conceived McDonald’s stunt and another flame-broiled workweek drives on thru.
Yes, the Mets are out of it, but the Yankees are playing in their one-billionth World Series. And yeah, Election 2024 keeps getting uglier and crazier, but the big vote is just two short weeks away. So let’s all relax and enjoy a happy meal, in the form of this detailed and delicious innovation newsletter.
Slap schtick: We definitely don’t condone this, no matter what your coworker says.
Backhand compliment: It’s Oct. 23 out there, and if frustration over the state of American politics is getting the better of you, we understand – and we caution against resorting to violence, particularly on National Slap Your Irritating Coworker Day, when it doesn’t take much (never shuts up, chews too loudly, etc.) to let it fly.
Co-starring: Among those earning slap-happy reprieves today are the sidekick stars of National Paralegal Day and National Medical Assistant Day, always unflappable (and unslappable) on Oct. 23.
A pie in the face instead? Maybe, though that would be a tragic waste on National Boston Cream Pie Day.
He was only off by 4.5 billion years: More pie-in-the-sky was 15th Century Irish Archbishop James Usher, who did the research, crunched the numbers and calculated that the Earth was created on Oct. 23, 4004 B.C. (at precisely 9 a.m., for those keeping score).
Bar none: More scientifically sound were monkey bars, which were patented on this date in 1923 by New Jersey-based inventor Ted Hinton. (How scientifically sound? Ask his dad.)
Short and sweet: A testy animators strike might have limited the runtime of the original “Dumbo,” but not its heart.
You will believe an elephant can fly: Slightly less cartoonish than Usher’s miscalculations was the original “Dumbo,” which premiered on Oct. 23, 1941, and was arguably the sweetest of Disney’s early classics (despite its stereotyping of Black people) and certainly the shortest (likely due to a tense animators strike).
Smurf’s up: Also making animation history were Belgian artist Peyo’s indomitable “Smurfs” (“Schtroumpfs” in their original French), who first Smurfed 66 years ago today.
Pod people: And it was Oct. 23, 2001, when Apple introduced one of its most iconic products, the first-generation iPod.
Promising “1,000 songs in your pocket,” Apple would sell more than 400 million iPods – the hardware cherry atop the tech giant’s iTunes software sundae.
Heeeeere’s Johnny! American television personality, comedian, writer and producer John William “Johnny” Carson (1925-2005) – a six-time Emmy-winner remembered best as longtime host of “The Tonight Show” (who should posthumously resume the gig, according to some) – would be 99 years old today.
Kick starter: Nobody lit up the pitch like Pelé.
Also born on Oct. 23 were American football player and coach John Heisman (1869-1936), who not only revolutionized the sport and became a trophy, but was a Shakespearean actor; Estonian astronomer Ernst Julius Öpik (1893-1985), an early expert on meteors and meteorites; American swimmer Gertrude Ederle (1905-2003), the first woman to swim across the English Channel; Japanese American meteorologist Tetsuya Theodore “Ted” Fujita (1920-1998), who improved understanding of severe-weather events; and Brazilian professional footballer Pelé (born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, 1940-2022), widely considered the best to ever play his sport.
Everyone into the Deadpool: And take a bow, Ryan Rodney Reynolds! The Canadian American actor, producer and businessman – a fan-favorite on the screen and a true virtuoso in the boardroom – turns 48 today.
Wish the telecommunications, professional soccer and payment-processing executive well at editor@innovateli.com, where we’re heavily invested in your news tips and calendar events.
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BUT FIRST, THIS
Scientifically significant: The ASM honors reflect years of good work by the Renaissance School of Medicine’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology, according to Department Chairman David Thanassi.
Milestone moment: The Renaissance School of Medicine has been lauded for its front-line battles against infectious diseases.
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Stony Brook University’s medical school has been named a Milestones in Microbiology site by the American Society for Microbiology, for advancing the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases on a global scale. Only the 20th program nationally to receive the distinction, the third in New York State and second on Long Island (after Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), the department was crowned for its broad scientific portfolio, including the landmark discovery that viruses could package enzymes required for their own replication – a revelation that has triggered many innovative therapeutic strategies.
Other breakthroughs heralding the ASM distinction include the discovery of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria identified as the primary cause of Lyme disease in humans. “The designation … recognizes the impact the department has made through its groundbreaking discoveries,” noted David Thanassi, the Zhang Family Endowed Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. “This distinction not only reinforces the significant contributions of our former and current faculty, students and staff, but also raises the profile of the department and university to the wider scientific community.”
Walk in the park: The New York Racing Association has updated the Long Island Association on the $455 million transformation of Belmont Park.
The LIA’s Small and Mid-Sized Business Committee welcomed NYRA President and CEO David O’Rourke and representatives of general contractor AECOM Tishman Oct. 8 for a refresher on the massive, years-long project, which includes demolition of the old grandstand (completed), construction of a modern, smaller, amenities-loaded grandstand (begun) and installation of an all-weather track (extending the park’s thoroughbred horseracing season). The project, which has temporarily relocated the famed Belmont Stakes race (part of horseracing’s Triple Crown) to upstate Saratoga Race Course through 2025, is projected to ultimately generate 3,700 construction-phase jobs and $1 billion in construction-related activity – and, once completed, $155 million in annual economic output.
Those impressive numbers make the new Belmont Park a cornerstone of regional socioeconomics during and after construction – “an economic engine for Long Island,” noted LIA President and CEO Matt Cohen – in addition to being “incredibly important to the future of racing downstate,” according to O’Rourke. “[The Racing Association] will deliver a facility that existing fans and the next generation will be proud to have in Nassau County,” the NYRA president added.
TOP OF THE SITE
Cell high: Albany is kickstarting the massive New York BioGenesis Park – designed to position the Empire State (and Long Island) as the center of the Cell and Gene Therapy universe – with a huge $150 million investment.
Secret sauce: Kevin Tracey, Bob Catell, Michael Dowling, Adrienne Esposito, Robert Zimmerman, Laura Curran, Kevin Law, Marc Alessi, Donna Drake, Mitch Pally, Terri Alessi-Miceli, Eric Alexander … and those are just a few of the names you know sharing the secrets of their success on Spark: The Innovate Long Island Podcast. Name it.
VOICES
Law, media, healthcare, real estate, government, technology – these are the sectors that most affect your professional success, and they’re the topics tackled weekly in the Innovate Long Island Voices column, where the smartest minds in regional socioeconomics share their front-row perspectives and best ideas. Don’t guess … know.
STUFF WE’RE READING
Look up: The “solar maximum” could bring more auroras to Long Island – and maybe blackouts and crashing satellites, too. Live Science eyes the skies.
Listen up: “Purposeful listening” is an essential part of innovation and corporate-resource allocation. Fast Co. is all ears.
Grow up: Kids are never too young to learn the basics of cybersecurity. Salon starts ’em young.
RECENT FUNDINGS
+ Carbon Robotics, a Washington State-based robotics pioneer focused on artificial intelligence-powered farming, raised $70 million in Series D funding led by BOND.
+ Biological Lattice Industries, a Massachusetts-based biotech specializing in bio-fabrication and life sciences R&D, raised $1.8 million in pre-seed funding led by Greek venture capital firm Uni.Fund.
+ Perry Weather, a Texas-based technology platform for weather safety and operations, raised $15 million in Series B funding led by Arthur Ventures.
+ Solubag, a Florida-based manufacturer of a water-soluble alternative to single-use plastics, raised $4.5 million in Series A funding led by Exit Ventures.
+ HEN Nozzles, a California-based firefighting-tech innovator, raised $8 million in funding. Backers included O’Neil Capital Partners, Cthulhu Ventures, Z21 Ventures, TiE Silicon Valley Angels, Sacramento Angels and Shasta Angels.
+ Herald, a New York City-based digital infrastructure for commercial-insurance providers, raised $12 million in funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Brewer Lane Ventures.
Like this newsletter? Innovate Long Island newsletter, website and podcast sponsorships are a prime opportunity to reach the inventors, investors, entrepreneurs and executives you need to know (just ask Sahn Ward). Marlene McDonnell can tell you more.
BELOW THE FOLD (Food For Thought Edition)
Oh, what a leaf it is: Science says nothing does a body good like this largely unheralded veggie.
Food finder: Vox restaurant reviewer Eater has launched its first mobile app.
Food forecast: Predicting the major food and beverage trends of 2025.
Food’s finest: Behold, the world’s healthiest vegetable.
Brain food: Please continue supporting the fantastic firms that support Innovate Long Island, including Sahn Ward Braff Coschignano, which serves every corporate client a savvy smorgasbord of nourishing knowledge. Check them out.
