Tue. 1/5 - A Nanny Cam to Keep You On-Task?

<p><strong><em>People who are choosing to be surveilled by strangers and productivity nannies in order to stay on task while remote working. A 3D-printed hydrogel inspired by cephalopods that changes shape when exposed to light. And UK officials have arguably messed up a commemorative coin, again.</em></strong></p><p>Sponsors:</p><ul><li>NordVPN, Get 68% off plus an additional free month––at <a href="https://nordvpn.com/creator/?coupon=kottke&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_term&amp;utm_content&amp;utm_campaign=off568&amp;utm_source=aff48086" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">nordvpn.com/kottke</a> or use coupon KOTTKE</li><li>Magic Spoon, Save $5 at <a href="https://magicspoon.com/pages/partner?partner=kottke" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">magicspoon.com/kottke</a> and use code KOTTKE</li></ul><p>Links:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.wired.co.uk/article/productivity-nanny-work-smarter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">People are hiring productivity nannies to watch them work</a> (Wired)</li><li><a href="https://www.futurity.org/3d-printed-hydrogel-shape-changing-2496352-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shape-Shifting Hydrogel Mimics Octopus Skin</a> (Futurity)</li><li><a href="https://qz.com/1446229/let-us-finally-resolve-the-octopuses-v-octopi-debate" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Let us finally resolve the octopuses v. octopi debate</a> (Quartz)</li><li><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/the-many-plurals-of-octopus-octopi-octopuses-octopodes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Plural of Octopus: Octopi vs. Octopuses vs. Octopodes</a> (Merriam-Webster)</li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jan/05/hg-wells-fans-spot-numerous-errors-on-royal-mints-new-2-coin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HG Wells fans spot numerous errors on Royal Mint's new £2 coin</a> (The Guardian)</li><li><a href="https://lithub.com/heres-a-nice-low-stakes-problem-the-royal-mints-hg-wells-coin-is-riddled-with-errors/" rel=