When it comes to getting kids interested in learning, nothing beats unabashed trickery. And robots.

Despite what we’ve learned from reliable sources such as Neo, T2 and that really, really sad Haley Joel Osment movie, artificial intelligence has yet to take over the business world. Our newfangled machines can make a fine Twinkie, but there are still some things that require a good old-fashioned human brain.

What group would be complete without a friend who never has cash? They come in two models – the I’ll-just-put-it-on-my-AmEx and the I’ll-hit-you-back-next-time. One saps your dignity while the other seizes your dough. But if you had an account with Venmo, all you’d have to do is text 646.863.9557 with a message saying “Who” and “How Much.”

There he was, Benjamin Gott, in the belly of the beverage beast’s warehouse. Utterly surrounded by 160,000 sq feet of empty, name-brand plastic bottles. A weaker man might have cried.

So you’re a busy little bee. “Go hard or go home,” you say. “Sleep when you’re dead,” etc. But scheduling anything with you is a nightmare. It’s almost not worth the hours of back-and-forth – the shuffling, the shifting. And it’s not just you. It’s your friends and family and coworkers. It’s the whole blasted system, man.

You should be paying attention. For one, it’s your job. And two, one of these “slides” is bound to contain some info you need. OK, probably not launch codes for the company’s nuclear submarine. Still, you’re presumably watching this PowerPoint for a reason.

Our world has become a stressful and difficult place for many of its residents, coping with multiple demands, a difficult economy, past baggage and worries about the future. It’s enough to drive a person to seek professional help – or perhaps a new app for their iPhone?

Many female shoppers have complained bitterly about the hit-or-miss sizing of different clothing brands. While a man may be able to pick up a pair of size 36 slacks to fit his 36-inch waist, women are faced with the frustration of figuring out what size to choose in which brand. SizeWize is on the scene to end the confusion.

Plants make great gifts for the horticulturally-inclined, but they don’t fare well in the mail. Now there’s a new way to combine a gift and a card that will address the whole bloomin’ gift-giving issue: PostCarden. Combination gift and greeting card, PostCarden is “a fun and simple pop-out card that transforms into a mini living garden.”

Most of us exercise to look good, but Banglz is here to help us look good while we’re exercising. Challenging the fitness industry, Banglz’s products are designed to help both girly girls and fitness freaks make more headway in losing extra pounds while going about their everyday business.

As high school BFFs and college roommates know, swapping clothes is a time-honored tradition. thredUP is challenging the retail clothing industry by allowing its members to grab items from other people’s closets without leaving home.

Before the “staycation,” taking time off to stay home was dubbed “a trip to Porchville.” Second Porch provides an alternative for vacationers who want a change of scenery: hang out on a friend’s porch!