Welcome to this week’s eclectic list which covers navigating the treacherous world of parking to perfecting your dating app game and buckle up as we journey through the galaxy with the latest health ring craze. Get ready to laugh, cringe, and maybe even learn a thing or two along the way.
S
For Statistics
Interesting Parking Stats
95%: The amount of time your car spends parked in its lifetime, according to Donald Shoup’s The High Cost of Free Parking.
20,000: Spots available at West Edmonton Mall in Canada, the largest parking structure in the world.
1,825: Total vehicle miles cars travel per curb space every year just looking for parking, according to Donald Shoup’s The High Cost of Free Parking.
$1 billion: How much New York City is currently owed in unpaid parking and speeding tickets, according to the Independent Budget Office.
12: City blocks that would be required for parking spaces if the Empire State Building was built with today’s requirements, according to urban policy journalist Henry Grabar’s Paved Paradise.
76%: Percentage of US college students who say they have to pay to park on campuses, according to a 2022 Inside Higher Ed survey.
20: The number of roller coasters the solar panel installation being put up over the parking lot at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles will reportedly be able to power.
57%: The percentage of UK drivers whose heart rate surged while attempting to parallel park, according to Auto Trader UK.
92%: The percentage of the nearly 1.2 million parking and traffic tickets issued every year to San Francisco motorists for things that do not affect public safety, like overstaying their meters or parking in the way of street cleaning trucks
U
For Unusual
Show Me The Money, Honey
Hey there! So, there's this new dating app called Score that's not your typical matchmaking service. It's not about finding the perfect drinking buddy for Jim or the best taco spot for Pam—it's all about connecting singles who are responsible with their finances.
You're invited to apply if you have a credit score of 675 or higher, and it's all brought to you by Neon Money Club. CEO Luke Bailey says it's not just about finding love, it's about starting conversations and understanding personal finance better. If you don't make the cut, no worries! You'll still get tips on how to boost your credit score.
Score will only be around for about three months, but it's not just a gimmick. Studies have shown that people with high credit scores tend to have more successful relationships. And hey, financial literacy is all the rage these days—especially among Gen Zers. In fact, some singles even went viral last year for flaunting their credit scores on their dating profiles and getting tons of matches. So, for anyone looking for love and good credit, Score might just be the perfect match for you.
E
For Explore
New Rules on Parking Spots
America's golden building rule: Thou shalt have a roof over thy head and a spot to park thy chariot. From fancy apartments to the land of Chuck E. Cheese, developers have been forced by city governments to create enough parking spots to rival a NASCAR race.
But hold onto your hats, because over 50 cities have decided to throw caution to the wind and make parking optional, giving developers the power to decide if parking is a must-have or a nice-to-have. California even jumped on the bandwagon in 2022, becoming the first state to kiss parking minimums goodbye for buildings near public transit.
Why the sudden change of heart? Well, critics have been yelling from the rooftops that parking mandates are putting a damper on housing construction and encouraging everyone to hop in their cars instead of taking the good ol' public transit. They argue that parking requirements eat up valuable land that could be used for more housing, cost developers a pretty penny (think thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars per spot), and turn our cities into concrete jungles filled with boring parking lots.
And don't get them started on the randomness of it all. One suburb mandates two parking spots per bowling lane, while another demands seven. It's enough to make even the most seasoned bowler scratch their head. State Senator Omar Fateh from Minnesota is pushing to ban parking minimums statewide, so buckle up!
But not everyone is thrilled about this parking-lot revolution. Some drivers are worried they'll be left circling the block in search of that elusive parking spot, while others argue that we need solid public transit options in place before we kick parking to the curb.
So, grab your keys and hold onto your seats, because this parking drama is far from over. Who knew a simple parking spot could cause so much trouble?
‘S
For Special
Why ring it up?
Want to make sure your health stays in tip-top shape? Samsung has the bling for you! Introducing the Galaxy Ring - the latest in wearable tech designed to keep you on track. Say goodbye to boring old fitness trackers and hello to a stylish accessory that not only looks good but also tracks your sleep and activity levels. And hey, it even lets you make contactless payments - talk about convenience!
Move over traditional jewelers, Samsung is taking the electronic ring game by storm. The competition is heating up as tech giants like Apple consider joining the ring-wearing craze (at a possibly luxurious price, of course). Samsung isn't just stopping at tracking basic health stats - they're working on adding glucose monitoring and pressure sensing to their future wearables.
So why choose a ring over a smartwatch? Samsung thinks some users may prefer the sleek and subtle look of a ring, and hey, why not wear multiple devices for an all-encompassing view of your health? Plus, the Galaxy Ring comes in platinum silver, gold, and ceramic black - because who says health monitoring can't be fashionable?
Keep an eye out for the Galaxy Ring this year - it's just the beginning of Samsung's journey into the stylish world of wearable tech. Who knows what other cool features they'll come up with next? So go ahead, put a ring on it - your health, that is!
See you next week
Sue
