No. 1055: A very busy May Day, in which labor leaders organize, AI goes small and the Dark Knight rises

 

You May: Welcome to Friday, dear readers, and not just any Friday but the first Friday of May – the first day of the new month, in fact, as we throw our arms around May Day.

Far from the distress call it might suggest, May Day is a two-headed celebration of ancient Spring festivals and global labor demonstrations. This year, the latter includes plans for a “domestic economic blackout” across the United States – “no school, no work, no shopping,” according to organizers.

You may (if you can get to it): That should leave you lots of free time, which you’re going to need – not only is May 1 National Phone In Sick Day (which tracks) and National Worthy Wage Day (ditto), but it’s Global Love Day, National Silver Star Service Banner Day, National New Homeowners Day, National School Principals Day, National Couple Appreciation Day, National Save the Rhino Day, National Mother Goose Day, National Frequent Flier Day, National Executive Coaching Day, National Black Barbershop Appreciation Day, National Therapeutic Massage Awareness Day, National Chocolate Parfait Day and National Mantra Day, a self-reflective study in repetitive chanting.

It’s also Lei Day (huge in Hawaii) International Doodle Dog Day (celebrating poodle mixes), National Purebred Dog Day (excluding poodle mixes), National Rotate Your Beer Day (keeping suds fresh) and both Law Day (a reaffirmation that nobody is above the law in this country) and National Loyalty Day (pledging allegiance to freedom, equality and other American ideals) – though those last two are merely a punchline in the current sociopolitical climate.

Higher education aspirations: Of course, Law Day and Loyalty Day are rooted in something much deeper than the vainglorious moral rot humiliating America today – consider Howard University, the historically African American institution that was already ahead of its time (with five White women comprising its entire student body) when it opened on this date in 1867.

Revved up: Also aiming high was Serbian American futurist Nikola Tesla, who patented his revolutionary electromagnetic motor on May 1, 1888.

Bright lights, big city: Also looking up (metaphorically) was President Herbert Hoover, who on this date in 1931 flipped a (symbolic) switch in Washington that lit up – and officially dedicated – the Empire State Building in New York City.

Dark knight, big city: In a slightly different Gotham, caped crusader Batman officially entered the zeitgeist 87 years ago today, swinging into action in Detective Comics Issue No. 27.

BASIC instinct: And it was May 1, 1964, when computer programmers John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz – intent on mainstreaming computing at a time when complex Fortran and Algol languages ruled the digital roost – ran the first-ever program in the BASIC computer language.

Beginner’s All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code followed the pioneers’ earlier simplification attempt: DOPE (Dartmouth Oversimplified Programming Experiment), which was actually too simple to do anything useful.

The mother of all labor leaders: Irish American activist Mary Harris “Mother” Jones (1830-1930) – a former schoolteacher, part-time dressmaker and self-proclaimed “hell-raiser” who became a fearless labor-union leader, prominent political activist and “the most dangerous woman in America” – would be 196 years old today.

Also born on May 1 were American folk artist, inventor, teacher and entrepreneur Rufus Porter (1792-1884), an imaginative polymath who decorated taverns, invented airships, improved cameras and founded Scientific American magazine; American frontierswoman Martha “Calamity Jane” Cannary (or Canary, 1852-1903), a rowdy sharpshooter known to cavort with Wild Bill Hickok; American humorist, talk show host, writer and actor Jack Paar (1918-2004), a radio and television standout who was the second host of “The Tonight Show”; American broadcast journalist Maxie Cleveland “Max” Robinson Jr. (1939-1988), the first African American television network news anchor; and American director and screenwriter Wes Anderson (born 1969), known for quirky comedies with a distinct visual aesthetic.

Tug at the heartstrings: And take a bow, Samuel Timothy “Tim” McGraw! The American singer, songwriter, producer and actor – the secret son of an all-time New York Mets great who grew up to become the 21st Century’s most popular Country performer – turns 59 today.

It’s Your Love (or Something Like That), so it’s up to you if you want to send a Cowboy Lullaby to McGraw at editor@innovateli.com – of course, you’ll be My Our Best Friend if you do (and include some news tips and calendar events). Truck Yeah!

 

About our sponsor: At Nixon Peabody, we deliver sophisticated legal services to our clients and our communities by combining high performance, entrepreneurial spirit, deep engagement and an unwavering commitment to a culture of collaboration, diversity and humanity. Visit NixonPeabody.com. 

 

BUT FIRST, THIS

Small steps: A new U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation effort aims to give small businesses on Long Island (and everywhere else) a leg up on artificial intelligence.

Launched in partnership with Google.org, the California-based tech titan’s philanthropic arm, Small Business B(AS)sics is a comprehensive suite of no-cost online courses and in-person training sessions designed to help entrepreneurs incorporate AI protocols into their burgeoning businesses. The program’s goal is to give 40,000 nationwide startups and early-stage enterprises “foundational AI skills,” according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, by presenting “practical guides and resources” designed specifically for busy small-business owners.

Enrollment in the self-paced online courses is now open, with local Chambers of Commerce around the nation preparing a full slate of Small Business B(AI)sics seminars. “Small businesses are eager to understand how AI can help them save time, reach new customers and stay competitive,” noted U.S. Chamber of Commerce Chief Digital Officer Mike Morello. “With Small Business B(AI)sics now live, we’re turning that interest into action and giving entrepreneurs practical, easy‑to‑use tools they can apply right away, whether they’re learning online or in their own communities.”

Book smart: Two esteemed Zucker School of Medicine’s co-founders have authored a how-to book on shaping progressive medical schools.

Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Dean David Battinelli and Founding Dean Emeritus Lawrence Smith have lent their names (and their knowledge) to “Revolutionizing Medical Education: Proven Blueprint to Transform Curricula and Prepare Future-Ready Physicians” (Wiley, 2026). The book chronicles how the co-founders and other leaders from Hempstead-based Hofstra University and New Hyde Park-based Northwell Health replaced traditional teaching methods with an innovative curriculum focused on improving student outcomes and physician capabilities.

By transforming medical education – eliminating grades and class rankings, replacing multiple-choice exams with simulations, collaborating with visiting faculty from 50-plus international institutions and more – the circa-2008 Zucker School has become a model for other global medical schools, as detailed in the new book. “Traditional medical education often created a divide between learning science and caring for patients,” Battinelli noted. “Our approach was built on the belief that students learn medicine best by doing medicine, connecting with patients early, collaborating with peers and demonstrating competency through authentic assessments that mirror real clinical practice.”

 

TOP OF THE SITE

It’s also what’s outside that counts: A Commercial Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island panel discussion dug deep into adaptive reuse – repurposing outdated infrastructure without changing its character – and why it’s gaining steam across Long Island.

Jet engine: Talon Air CEO James Chitty joins “Spark: The Innovate Long Island Podcast” to discuss his Republic Airport-based aircraft charter, maintenance and management operation – and detail why private jets aren’t exclusively for wealthy fliers.

 

ICYMI

Meet Pat Pending – an AI-powered platform that can coach inventors from the drawing board to commercialization nirvana, courtesy of Long Island-based “Inventor Coach” Brian Fried.

 

BEST OF THE WEST (AND SOMETIMES NORTH/SOUTH)

Innovate LI’s inbox overrunneth with inspirational innovations from all North American corners. This week’s brightest out-of-towners:

From California: San Francisco-based financial-management cloud software pioneer Planful forecasts insights with a conversational, AI-powered Planner Assistant.

From Illinois: Wilmette-based cold-press juice juggernaut Twisted Alchemy pours its entire craft-beverage product lineup onto the Sysco Marketplace.

From New York City: Home-textile titan Bedsure redefines cool and comfy Summer sleeping with all-new bamboo-based bedding collection.

 

ON THE MOVE

+ Mahendra Jagmohan has been hired as chief financial officer at Garden City-based Family & Children’s Association. He was vice president of finance at Mount Sinai Health System in Manhattan.

+ Ted Anastasiou has joined Uniondale-based Harris Beach Murtha as a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He was a principal attorney at Acrtus Group in New York City.

+ Hauppauge-based Austin Williams has announced several new hires:

• Sarah Gould has been hired as a copywriter. She was director of communications at New York Cancer & Blood Specialists in Ridge.
• Dan Heller has been hired as senior organic marketing strategist. He was search engine optimization manager at California-based Wpromote.
• Bhawan Singh has been hired as a senior paid media strategist. He was a paid social strategist at Hearst Corp. in Manhattan.

+ Stony Brook University has announced two new hires in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology on its Southampton campus:

• Emily Reno has been hired as an assistant professor. She was a research scientist at the Maryland Initiative for Literacy & Equity.
• Dolores DiStasio Laskin has been hired as a clinical assistant professor. She is director of related services at MKSA in Plainview.

+ Leonard Badia has been hired as assistant dean of career and professional development at the Central Islip-based Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center. He was chief clerk at the District Court of Suffolk County in Central Islip.

 

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 – on Long Island, and soon, across New York State (just ask Nixon Peabody). Gregory Zeller can tell you more.

 

BELOW THE FOLD (It’s The Economy, Stupid Edition)

Next question: Inflation is surging, and Congressional Republicans don’t want to talk about it.

Pet(roleum) project: How Guyana built the world’s fastest-growing economy.

Get real: Why economics students demanded more reality in the classroom.

All business: Nobody understands mergers or copyrights or finance or property transactions or any other corporate-economics issue better than Nixon Peabody, unrivaled masters of international law and one of the fantastic firms that support Innovate Long Island. Check them out.