And the Winner Is... Whoever.
Published on 09/04/2021Republican efforts questioning the outcome of the 2020 presidential race have led to voting system breaches that election security experts say pose a heightened risk to future elections. Copies of the Dominion Voting Systems software used to manage elections — from designing ballots to configuring voting machines and tallying results — were distributed at an event this month in South Dakota.
App Monopolies Banned in South Korea
Published on 08/30/2021South Korea’s National Assembly approved legislation that bans app store operators such as Google and Apple from forcing developers to use their in-app payment systems. South Korea is reportedly the first country in the world to pass such a bill, which becomes law when it is signed by the president, whose party has backed the legislation. The ban is aimed at promoting fairer competition.
Where's the Bacon?
Published on 08/21/2021It looks like California may never be ok, but this time they did it to themselves and it is not an act of nature like a flood or fires. At the beginning of 2022, California will begin enforcing an animal welfare proposition that requires more space for breeding pigs, egg-laying chickens, and veal calves. That does not sound like a big deal until you hear that roughly only 4% of hog operations now comply with the new rules.
Right to Drug!
Published on 08/17/2021Impatient with years of inaction in Washington on prescription drug costs, U.S. hospital groups, startups and nonprofits have started making their own medicines in a bid to combat stubbornly high prices and persistent shortages of drugs with little competition.
Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away
Published on 08/13/2021We 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 08/09/2021As 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 08/08/2021Sanderson 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 08/08/2021Microsoft 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 08/03/2021As 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 07/27/2021California 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 07/26/2021Businesses, 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 07/25/2021Forget 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.