People with a motor neuron disease gradually lose their ability to move and control muscles. In time, they may lose their voices. Thanks to new technology, however, it’s sometimes possible for them to get a voice clone.

AI is bringing back those lost voices. Both Jules and Joyce have fed an AI tool built by ElevenLabs recordings of their old voices to re-create them. Today, they can “speak” in their old voices by typing sentences into devices, selecting letters by hand or eye gaze. It’s been a remarkable and extremely emotional experience for them—both thought they’d lost their voices for good.

That’s a pretty fantastic use of technology. It’s not without issues though, as Joyce Esser found, when she was temporarily banned for something she said.

I once tweeted that the “Reply All” button found in email clients ought to require a permit, and I stand by that idea.¹ An email sent by “New Yorker” editor Susan Morrison provides the latest supporting evidence.

Footnotes:

1. X Formerly Twitter is no longer at all a reliable repository of information. It’s also a place many no longer wish to visit. Here’s a screenshot of the tweet from the carefree days of 2009:

   

   It’s unfortunate that past writing which I still find relevant lives there. ↩︎

How do you get funding for a new hardware company working to build smart bicycle handlebars?

In 2025, the answer is apparently “OnlyFans”. Engineer Sabrina Fischer is a founder of Flite, which has been funded with the proceeds from sharing “cycling-related adult content” of Fischer, as well as her co-founder and romantic partner Matthias Huber. It’s certainly an unconventional way to bootstrap a business.

The Flitedeck handlebars first came to my attention thanks to an article in Wired, which mainly focused on the technology. Though the hardware will cost quite a bit more than my entire commuter bike, I am intrigued by the idea of something like CarPlay for a bike. Maybe someday.

Using OnlyFans as a funding source for a hardware startup is the real hook here, though. That novel idea is perhaps not great for society, but it has allowed Fischer and Huber to retain 100% of their equity, while also garnering more press for their invention. Thus far, the pair has no regrets.

Previously in unexpected members-only areas: Police Noted

Sea levels are rising. Land is eroding. Climate change is not a hoax. It’s as real as this multi-million dollar home that’s about to fall into the ocean, and we badly need to act.

Edward Gorey was a prolific artist who wrote over 100 books and provided illustrations for 100s of others. He also apparently took the time to illustrate mailing envelopes, as seen in a new book called “From Ted to Tom: The Illustrated Envelopes of Edward Gorey”. It features:

50 illustrations that Gorey sent to his friend, Tom Fitzharris, at the height of their friendship in 1974 and 1975. Not content to simply drop his typewritten letters in the post, Gorey took the time to meticulously adorn each envelope with a one-of-a-kind artwork.

Gorey’s style has always resonated with me, so the idea of receiving custom art in the mail like this is pretty incredible. Tom Fitzharris was a fortunate man, and now he’s sharing that good fortune with the world.

Apparently, adding a bit of recycled cooking oil to roads could help asphalt last longer. Nice work, science.

When I wrote about Googie last month, I linked to a New York Times article which included stunning shots of the McDonald’s in Downey, California. That location is the chain’s oldest operating location in the world, and it’s visually arresting. Alas, McDonald’s in America has veered away from interesting architecture:

But across the country, McDonald’s golden arches, once among the most ubiquitous examples of Googie, are harder to find, as the company opts for plainer designs in newer locations.

In other places around the globe, McDonald’s restaurants are far more interesting. Photographer Gary He has a new book called “McAtlas”, and it features images of unique McDonald’s locations from dozens of different countries. Who knew there was a McDonald’s ski-thru?

Particularly given the non-existent vegetarian options at US locations, I may not be loving McDonald’s food, but I do love some of this architecture. CNN has a nice sampling of He’s work, which may whet your appetite for the full book.