Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away
Published on 08/14/2021We have known for a long time that Dubai plays by its own rules, so this next bit of information should come as no surprise. Officials in Dubai are using drones to artificially increase rainfall as the city grapples with oppressive heat, and who could blame them with temperatures increasing to and past 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Right To Repair Challenged
Published on 08/10/2021As software and other technologies get infused in more and more products, manufacturers are increasingly making those products difficult to repair, potentially costing business owners time and money.
Chicken: It's the Other Other White Meat
Published on 08/09/2021Sanderson Farms, the nation’s third largest poultry producer, is being acquired for $4.53 billion as the price of chicken soars.
Interactive Chatbot
Published on 08/09/2021Microsoft filed a patent this year that would allow the company to digitally revive deceased loved ones as chatbots, using their data. This won’t just be a basic chatbot like what you see on social media; in fact the AI-based chatbot that would be built upon the whole profile of a person, including their images, voice data, social media posts, electronic message style and habits, to name a few.
Where the Wood At? Part Deux
Published on 08/04/2021As we talked about in our article “Where the Wood At?” wood costs have skyrocketed over the last year, leaving would-be home renovators to choose between waiting in price purgatory or moving forward and possibly overpaying.
Activision Sued for "Bro Culture"
Published on 07/28/2021California legislators sued video game developer Activision Blizzard recently, citing its “pervasive ‘frat boy’ culture” and mistreatment of women employees. Following a two-year investigation into the company, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) claims that female employees were routinely discriminated against.
$15 Wage is Norm? Employers Struggle to Fill Jobs
Published on 07/27/2021Businesses, particularly in the restaurant, retail and travel industries, have been offering a $15 wage to try to fill enough jobs to meet surging demand from consumers, millions of whom are now spending freely after a year in lockdown. And many of the unemployed, buoyed by stimulus checks and expanded jobless aid, feel able to hold out for higher pay.
Who Knew Gaming Could Be So Profitable?
Published on 07/26/2021Forget forex, deep-six stocks, find me a sealed copy of Super Mario 64! A sealed copy of the Nintendo 64 classic recently sold at auction for a whopping 1.56 million dollars. The distinguishing mark for this sale? Wata Games, a games grading firm, graded this particular copy of Super Mario 64 a rare 9.8, making it the highest-graded copy on record. Not bad for a 25-year-old game.
Tokyo Olympics Open With Controversy
Published on 07/22/2021Tokyo’s 2020 Olympics opened this week; yes that’s right 2020, because COVID. And man, has it been rocky for Japan during this time. Not only is Tokyo facing a six-month high in COVID-19 cases, but their Olympic Committee has seen a ton of controversy.
We Didn't Start the Fire (but the ATF blamed us anyway)
Published on 07/12/2021It comes as no surprise that every year on the 4th of July that fireworks are bought and set off in colorful displays in celebration. You may be more surprised to know that fireworks are legal in 46 states with varying restrictions depending on the state. By fireworks, we mean things that don’t require a permit, like bottle rockets, sparklers, and roman candles.
July 2021
Published on 07/01/2021Of course, when you think of July you think of the 4th of July (which is a bank holiday that will be observed on the 5th). The birthday of America aka party in the USA. But what else happens in July? Nathan Bedford Forrest Day (July 13th, observed in Tennessee), Bastille Day (July 14th), Rural Transit Day (July 16th), Pioneer Day (July 25th, observed in Utah), Parents’ Day (July 25th), National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day (July 27th).
Lights! Camera! Matter?
Published on 06/22/2021Lights! Camera! Matter? Wait, what? Yes, that’s right- we can now get matter from light. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has the ability to transform matter into energy and then back into different forms of matter. Even cooler, on rare occasions, the Large Hadron Collider can skip the first step and collide pure energy.