Legal aid on the road; Talking about disability via comedy

Here comes the Sun…do do do do.

While even a genie couldn’t turn night into day, a startup believes it has access to technology that comes pretty close.

Presenting Reflect Orbital, a company that well…wants to sell sunlight by reflecting it via giant space mirrors. There’s even a demo video and the “service” will be available by 2025-end. 

However, the news raises more questions than answers: How much will it cost to have a spot in the sun? How is the startup raising capital for this mega project? When will it launch the mirror-equipped satellite? None of the media reports on Reflect Orbital provide specific details.

For a startup promising to sell sunlight, its workings currently look quite shady. 

Moving on, satellites may or may not deliver sunlight, however, they are incredibly good at helping predict wind patterns. 

And, this has enabled the world’s largest sailing cargo ship–Anemos–to make its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. It embarked on its historic journey in early August from France and is now on its way to deliver 1,000 tonnes of cognac and champagne to New York City by September 3. 

A green way to ship cargo.

Quick question: Name a woman astronomer.

It is tough to recall the contribution of female astronomers as they have largely been ignored, ridiculed or even suppressed for decades.

These Hidden Figures are now emerging into the light.

Fun fact: The world’s biggest camera has been named the Vera C Rubin Observatory after American astronomer Rubin who established the presence of dark matter in the universe. 

The observatory, to be unveiled next year in Chile, will capture the cosmos in exquisite detail. 

In today’s newsletter, we will talk about 

• A startup for legal aid on the road
• Talking about disability via comedy

Here’s your trivia for today: What style of architecture is the Empire State Building?

Startup

Legal aid on the road

In India where traffic rules are considered mere suggestions, driving is a complex skill to master. 

Being pulled over by traffic cops for a violation or being involved in a minor accident can throw legal challenges resulting in stress, financial strain, and wasted hours. For truckers, a run-in with the law can lead to supply chain disruptions. 

This is where Lawyered steps in. The legal tech startup works to help commercial and private vehicle owners tackle on-road legal issues on the spot.

Fair play:

• The Gurugram-based startup, which started with an initial investment of Rs 1 crore from Founder Himanshu Gupta’s savings, now has a team of 57 members.
• Lawyered, launched after months of research and development, connects users with a network of lawyers specialising in traffic laws, vehicle regulations, and on-road legal issues. 
• Its B2C model includes an annual subscription of Rs 2,000 that covers legal support. For logistics businesses without fleets, a per-trip model offers flexible, case-by-case legal assistance. 

Inspiration

Talking about disability via comedy

Stand-up comedian Sweta Mantrii believes that starting the conversation about disability is essential for raising awareness and stresses the need to normalise the needs of people with disabilities.

“In stand-up, the validation from the audience is immediate, unlike working as a writer. For me comedy is not just about raising awareness about disability—it's also about reclaiming my power,” she tells HerStory.

Never say die:

• Mantrii was born with spina bifida—a condition that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don't form properly. Due to the condition, her left leg was not functional, however, with physiotherapy, she now has 25 to 30% movement.
• Living with a disability requires a lot of planning to go about daily life. She notes that she has to plan well in advance if the venue is on another floor and the place does not have an elevator. 
• Mantrii acknowledges that there are times when people don’t laugh at her jokes due to the sensitivity of the topics she addresses. However, she says that by learning the nuances of comedy and storytelling, she has learned how to navigate this challenge successfully.

News & updates

• Offline: One of the world’s most popular social networks, X, has gone offline in Brazil after Elon Musk’s refusal to comply with local laws meant it was blocked by the Supreme Court.
• Deepfakes: California lawmakers approved a host of proposals this week aiming to regulate the artificial intelligence industry, combat deepfakes and protect workers from exploitation by the rapidly evolving technology.

What you should watch out for

• IPO watch: Bajaj Housing Finance is expected to float its much-awaited Rs 6,560-crore initial share sale for public subscription on September 9. The bidding for anchor investors will open for a day on September 6 and the IPO will conclude on September 11, according to the red herring prospectus (RHP).
• Farewell Vistara: It’s the beginning of the end for Vistara Airlines. Passengers will no longer be able to book flights with Vistara starting from September 3 for travel beyond November 11. The formal merger of Vistara with Air India is on November 12.
• Journey home: Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is finally set to return home from the International Space Station on September 6—albeit without its two-person crew.

What style of architecture is the Empire State Building?

Answer: Art Deco

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