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Colossus video | A robot battled the Notre Dame blaze | TIME published its list of the 100 most-influential people Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( Based on your background, you and your colleagues may be interested in today's issue of While You Were Working SmartBrief. While You Were Working SmartBrief is a free daily e-newsletter designed for busy professionals looking to avoid information overload and read more about news that really matters. If that sounds like you, [sign up today](. Today's issue is below. While You Were Working SmartBrief focuses on news, not noise. Sign up today to receive tomorrow's issue. [Sign Up]( While You Were Working SmartBrief is a SmartBrief original publication and is not affiliated with our association partners. SmartBrief, Inc. | 555 11th St. NW | Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004 | [Unsubscribe]( April 17, 2019 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( News, Not Noise [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [FORWARD]( ADVERTISEMENT [] This Happened [] [] [A robot battled the Notre Dame blaze]( Why it matters: The fire at Notre Dame on Monday was followed by stories about pledges to rebuild the historic cathedral. One of the lesser-known stories is about how a robot was called upon to battle the inferno. "Colossus" is a special robot designed to fight fires in situations that are too dangerous for human firefighters. The robot can even carry victims to safety if needed. There are a lot of stories these days about the march of robots and how machines are replacing humans in all manner of jobs. This isn't one of those stories. This is about a robot being used to do the kind of work that even the bravest firefighters couldn't do safely. Jalopnik]( (4/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [TIME published its list of the 100 most-influential people]( Why it matters: These lists can be fun sometimes (even if it is a humbling experience because you've never heard of many of the people on the list). It is kind of surprising that this year's list doesn't include Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, Lionel Messi or any member of the British royal family. [TIME online]( (4/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [The college admissions scandal presented an opportunity]( Why it matters: The recent college admissions scandal that ensnared rich and famous parents might open a small window of opportunity for some students looking to gain entrance to schools like Yale and USC. Whenever a school is caught in negative headlines, applications for admission tend to decline for a few years. That means the odds of being accepted to those schools gets better for those who see past the scandal and still choose to apply. [The Conversation (US)]( (4/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Microsoft refused to sell facial-recognition technology to law enforcement]( Why it matters: It matters because privacy matters. We all choose to sacrifice some of our privacy when we download certain apps or plug Alexa into the wall. But should you be subjected to facial-recognition technology every time you are stopped by law enforcement? Microsoft says no. What do you think? [Engadget]( (4/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Should law enforcement be able to use facial-recognition technology every time they stop someone on the road or on the street? [Vote]( [Yes.]( [Vote]( [No.]( [] [This real estate ad from Australia "put Baby in the corner"]( Why it matters: Rather than do some boring ol' video to promote the sale of a home, why not spice things up a bit. The video for this home in Australia was already incredible ... and then someone mashed it up with the soundtrack from "Dirty Dancing." And the Oscar goes to ... The Guardian (London)]( (4/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Seen and Heard [] [Walking Assembly video]( [] ["Walking Assembly" became a term you should know]( Why it matters: Have you ever wondered how ancient civilizations built massive stone pyramids or structures like Stonehenge without the help of giant cranes? This story might provide a clue as to the answer. Researchers at MIT partnered with CEMEX to create giant stones that weigh as much as 25 tons that can be moved by hand - by one person. The video is incredible. This development not only provides clues to how giant structures of the past were built, it also holds huge promise for buildings and other structures of the future. [Gizmodo]( (4/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] For Your Listening Pleasure ADVERTISEMENT [] [Music produced by artificial intelligence sparked lots of interesting questions]( Why it matters: Machines have been used to make music for centuries. Up to now, the machines have been the instrument artists use to make music. But what happens when the machines are making the music on their own? The question might seem trivial, but the answer has huge implications when it comes to music rights. It is one thing for artificial intelligence to sample dozens of artists to come up with a unique sound, but what happens when AI only uses the work of one artist. This article uses the example of Beyoncé, who [dropped a surprise album today]( that features 40 songs. If AI sampled those 40 songs and created a new hit, would Beyoncé be entitled to royalties? And who would get credit for the AI-produced song? The programmer who wrote the code? [The Verge]( (4/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] People Do Cool Things ADVERTISEMENT [] [This website helped you stay healthy on the road]( Why it matters: According to Monday's poll, 83% of you work out at least once a week. So chances are you've been on the road and found yourself in an unfamiliar city looking for a place to get some exercise. You can always go to the hotel gym, but those can be pretty bland and don't give you a chance to explore a new place. Enter: The Athletic-Minded Traveler. I stumbled onto this site a few weeks ago when I mentioned I was going on vacation to San Diego. WYWW reader Erin K. is one of the brains behind the site and she kindly emailed me a few suggestions for places to eat in SD. The domain name for her email caught my eye, so I checked out the site. It is cool. The site offers guides for various cities that go beyond just "local knowledge" about where to exercise. The information includes the best places to stay, where to eat, where you can pick up work out gear and where you can just go have some fun. All of the info is offered through the lens of healthy living. You might have already enjoyed the work of the Athletic-Minded Traveler and not even known it because the team works with hotel chains to design location-specific guides so guests can have athletic-minded info at their fingertips as soon as they check-in. [Athletic-Minded Traveler]( (4/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Oops ADVERTISEMENT [] [Melinda Gates answered the Proust questionnaire]( Why it matters: If you don't know what the Proust questionnaire is, you might recognize it when you see it. My favorite answer is the one Gates gives for "What is your greatest regret?" [Vanity Fair online]( (4/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Hmm... [] [Where you live in your 20s affects your age and health at retirement]( Why it matters: Researchers have found a strong connection between the employment data from where a person lives in their 20s to that person's long-term health and employment status - all the way through to retirement. This research suggests choices about where to live - and where to move to pursue a job at a young age - could have a dramatic impact on overall well-being for decades. [The Conversation (UK)]( (4/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] This is Cool [] [NASA took aim at asteroids]( Why it matters: Should an asteroid come bearing down on Earth, NASA would like to be able to deflect it. A contract has already been awarded to Space X to fire the rockets that would be needed, but NASA is still working on ways to detect asteroids sooner. Am I the only one who hears news like this and immediately thinks of the movie "Armageddon" and the "Asteroids" video game from the 80s? [ScienceDaily]( (4/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Your Future [] [...Might include getting ripped off by your dentist]( [The Atlantic online]( (4/17) [] [...Hopefully won't include hearing what a nuclear bomb sounds like]( [Gizmodo]( (4/17) [] [...Might include kids designing their own bedrooms]( [Fast Company online]( (4/17) [] Survey Results [] Here are the results from yesterday's reader survey: [] Should prison inmates have access to Pell Grants? Yes. 51.21% No. 48.79% [] Happy Hour Fun [] [The Mile High City might get higher]( Why it matters: Colorado was one of the first states to legalize marijuana. Now, voters in Denver are weighing the idea of legalizing psychedelic mushrooms. I can already see the bumper stickers: "Denver - It's where the magic happens!" [Vox]( (4/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] WYWW Playlist [] ["All Mixed Up" by 311]( I created a [WYWW playlist]( on Spotify to keep track of all the songs I list in this space. Enjoy! [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About the Editors [] Sean McMahon Sean McMahon Since I joined SmartBrief in 2003, I have produced content on a variety of topics including finance, energy, infrastructure, politics, telecommunications and international development. I can't remember the last time three of England's biggest cities - London, Manchester and Liverpool - all had soccer teams in Champions League action at the same time this late in the tournament. The action has not disappointed as there has already been loads of goals. As I push send on this email, there are about 15 minutes of drama left to play. If you like WYWW, hate WYWW or want to submit a story, [shoot me an email](mailto:smcmahon@smartbrief.com). Yes, I actually read them. [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [] It's not the load that breaks you down. It's the way you carry it. Lou Holtz, former football player, coach and analyst April is Stress Awareness Month [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [Sign Up]( [SmartBrief offers 200+ newsletters]( [Advertise]( [Learn more about the SmartBrief audience]( Subscriber Tools: [Manage Subscriptions]( [Update Your Profile]( [Unsubscribe]( [Send Feedback]( [Archive]( [Search]( Contact Us: Advertising - [Aaron Kern](mailto:akern@smartbrief.com) P: 202.407.7866 Editor - [Sean McMahon](mailto:wyww@smartbrief.com) Contributing Editor - [Bridget Reed Morawski](mailto:wyww@smartbrief.com) Contributing Editor - [Evan Milberg](mailto:wyww@smartbrief.com) Contributing Editor - [Paula Kiger](mailto:wyww@smartbrief.com) Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 © 1999-2019 SmartBrief, Inc.® [Privacy policy]( | [Legal Information]( Â