The Disney empire was built on 100 years of near implosions

The Walt Disney Company’s massive modern empire is a far cry from the small animation studio Walt Disney and his brother Roy founded in 1923. One hundred years ago, the two brothers took a train from their hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, to Los Angeles, where they worked out of their uncle’s garage before purchasing a tiny studio space on Kingswell Avenue.
Read more: https://www.polygon.com/century-of-disney/23559556/disney-100-year-history?source=Snapzu

Intel shares erase almost all their 2023 gains after poor earnings and a chip glut

The cooling of the semiconductor market is happening faster—and proving colder—than companies might have expected, as chip firms across the board face a tougher market owing to a combination of excess inventory at retailers and a cooling market for consumer electronics.
Read more: https://fortune.com/2023/01/27/intel-q4-earnings-chips-semiconductors-inventory-revenue-tsmc-samsung/?source=Snapzu

Tesla surges above $500 billion market cap as its post-earnings rally helps pare last year's brutal rout

Tesla pushed above a market valuation of $500 billion on Thursday after the EV maker's record quarterly profit fueled a rally that chipped further away at last year's stock plunge. The stock jumped as much as to 11.7% to reach $161.42 a share, propelling the company's market capitalization to $510 billion.
Read more: https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-earnings-elon-musk-valuation-500-billion-stock-rally-capitalization-2023-1?source=Snapzu

What is Google doing with its open source teams?

Nothing good – the recent layoffs hit its best and brightest leaders hard
Read more: https://www.theregister.com/2023/01/27/google_open_source/?source=Snapzu

Drug maker paid for “news” story on CBS’s 60 Minutes, doctors’ group alleges

A 13-minute segment on a recent episode of CBS's 60 Minutes appeared to be a news story on Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug Wegovy but was actually a sponsored promotion, violating federal regulations, according to the nonprofit public health advocacy organization Physicians Committee. The group filed a complaint with the Food and Drug Administration last week, arguing that the segment, which aired on January 1, violates the FDA's "fair balance" requirement. This law requires that drug advertisements give a fair balance to a drug's risks and benefits.
Read more: https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/01/drug-maker-paid-for-news-story-on-cbss-60-minutes-doctors-group-alleges/?source=Snapzu

Amazon's Trickle-Down Monopoly

In this report, Moira Weigel tells the story of a group of hidden intermediaries who have played key roles in making Amazon one of the most powerful corporations in the world, while remaining mostly invisible to customers: third-party (3P) sellers.
Read more: https://datasociety.net/library/amazons-trickle-down-monopoly/?source=Snapzu

DOJ files second antitrust suit against Google, seeks to break up its ad business

The lawsuit targets Google's advertising business and comes after reports that DOJ antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter had been cleared to work on Google.
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/24/doj-files-second-antitrust-lawsuit-against-google.html?source=Snapzu

‘Robots are treated better’: Amazon warehouse workers stage first-ever strike in the UK

Hundreds of Amazon workers are on strike in Britain. The walkout marks the first formal industrial action in the country for the U.S. tech giant. The 24-hour strike action began Wednesday a minute after midnight. Strikers are expected to picket outside the company’s site in Coventry in central England throughout the day.
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/25/amazon-workers-stage-first-ever-strike-in-the-uk-over-pay-working-conditions.html?source=Snapzu

DirecTV Drops Newsmax As Conservative Lawmakers’ Protest

The pay TV provider had been at odds with the news outlet over carriage terms.
Read more: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/directv-drops-newsmax-1235308929/?source=Snapzu

‘Lachlan gets fired the day Rupert dies’: Murdoch biography stokes succession rumors

New book by Australian reporter Paddy Manning hints at Succession-style feud with ramifications for US rightwing politics
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/oct/31/rupert-murdoch-successor-news-corp-paddy-manning-book?source=Snapzu

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes attempted to flee US, prosecutors claim

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes attempted to flee the US shortly after her conviction on fraud charges last year, prosecutors claim. According to a new court filing, the 38-year-old bought a one-way ticket to Mexico last January. "Only after the government raised this unauthorised flight... was the trip cancelled," prosecutors said.
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64347162?source=Snapzu

How the U.S. Government Amassed $31 Trillion in Debt

Two decades of tax cuts, recession responses and bipartisan spending fueled more borrowing — contributing $25 trillion to the total and setting the stage for another federal showdown.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/22/business/economy/federal-debt-history.html?source=Snapzu

Why Are Tech Companies Laying Off So Many Workers?

Every week seems to bring a new round of layoffs in the tech sector. It started earlier in the year with smaller, growth companies who need to keep a close eye on their ongoing spend, and has now extended to the behemoths of the industry like Meta and Amazon. Just this week it’s been reported that Amazon is planning to lay off a massive 10,000 employees. This comes off the back of Meta letting go 11,000 workers last week and Elon Musk running a continuous revolving door over at Twitter.
Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/qai/2022/11/16/why-are-tech-companies-laying-off-so-many-workers/?source=Snapzu

Digital Books wear out faster than Physical Books

Ever try to read a physical book passed down in your family from 100 years ago?  Probably worked well. Ever try reading an ebook you paid for 10 years ago?   Probably a different experience. From the leasing business model of mega publishers to physical device evolution to format obsolescence, digital books are fragile and […]
Read more: https://blog.archive.org/2022/11/15/digital-books-wear-out-faster-than-physical-books/?source=Snapzu

Federal prosecutors are investigating whether Amazon hid injury rates to fraudulently secure loans

Prosecutors for the Southern District of New York are investigating whether Amazon "engaged in a fraudulent scheme" to deceive lenders about injury rates at its warehouses in order to obtain credit, the Department of Justice said Wednesday. The investigation was announced on the same day federal workplace safety regulators filed four new citations against Amazon over hazards related to its pace of work, which inspectors found put workers at high risk for back, muscle, and joint injuries.
Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/investigation-sdny-amazon-hid-injuries-defraud-lenders-2023-1?source=Snapzu

German Linux superpower SUSE delivers a great quarter

What's what with open-source news.
Read more: https://opensourcewatch.beehiiv.com/p/german-linux-superpower-suse-delivers-great-quarter?source=Snapzu

Netflix founder Reed Hastings is giving up his CEO role

Hastings co-founded Netflix in 1997. Ted Sarandos was promoted to co-CEO alongside Hastings in July 2020.
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/19/netflixs-reed-hastings-is-giving-up-ceo-role.html?source=Snapzu

Investing in Startups During a Recession: 10 Companies Founded During Downturns

Why is it that some of the most successful companies in the world were founded during recessions? There’s a lot of speculation around this phenomenon, and it’s likely due to a variety of factors. But one factor that has emerged is this: Recessions often breed innovation(goes to new website)(opens in a new tab). In a recent blog, we discussed why startup investing is worth your consideration. Here, we’ve highlighted 10 startups founded during recessions.
Read more: https://altoalternativeinvestments.com/investing-in-startups?source=Snapzu

Dr Dre successfully blocks Marjorie Taylor Greene from using his music

Dr Dre has successfully blocked Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene from using his music in any context to do with her political career after she used his 1999 hit Still Dre to soundtrack a promotional video. In the nearly two-minute video, posted on 9 January with the caption, “It’s time to begin … and they can’t stop what’s coming”, the far-right Georgia lawmaker walks out of her office in slow motion to the familiar first notes of the song, which features Snoop Dogg.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jan/16/dr-dre-successfully-blocks-marjorie-taylor-greene-from-using-his-music?source=Snapzu

No, you can’t get a 16TB SSD for a hundred bucks

Don’t just look at the average rating; read the reviews to avoid getting scammed.
Read more: https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/16/23557569/amazon-scam-review-merging-16tb-external-ssds?source=Snapzu

‘Not something you want to be listening to all night long:’ Nanaimo store using ‘Baby Shark’ to deter overnight loitering

A downtown business owner is trying a novel way to keep his storefront safe, secure and clean overnight. Before leaving for the day, NYLA Fresh Thread owner Leon Drzewiecki begins playing the viral children’s song “Baby Shark” by Pinkfong on the speaker outside his Commercial St. storefront. The new routine began Saturday, Jan. 7.
Read more: https://nanaimonewsnow.com/2023/01/13/not-something-you-want-to-be-listening-to-all-night-long-nanaimo-store-using-baby-shark-to-deter-overnight-loitering/?source=Snapzu

Canada's Grocery Code of Conduct one step closer to being implemented

Canada is one step closer to creating a Grocery Code of Conduct in an effort to level the playing field for both producers and grocery stores.
Read more: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/canada-s-grocery-code-of-conduct-one-step-closer-to-being-implemented-1.6231232?source=Snapzu

‘Avatar: The Way Of Water’ Nears $1.9B WW

The estimated global cume through Sunday is $1.894B. Avatar 2 still ranks as the No. 7 biggest movie of all time. Ahead of it at No. 6 is Spider-Man: No Way Home with $1.921B, so it should overtake that early this week.
Read more: https://deadline.com/2023/01/avatar-the-way-of-water-spider-man-no-way-home-puss-in-boots-m3gan-china-global-international-box-office-1235222402/?source=Snapzu

Apple Card Has Cost Goldman Sachs Over $1 Billion in Losses

Goldman Sachs has lost $3.03 billion in nearly three years on its group of businesses, called Platform Solutions, that houses Apple Card. Bloomberg reports that the credit card made up a significant portion of those losses. In a regulatory filing disclosed Friday, Goldman Sachs revealed that from the start of 2020 through the end of September 2022, Platform Solutions’ pretax losses amounted to $3.03 billion.
Read more: https://uk.pcmag.com/personal-finance/144920/apple-card-has-cost-goldman-sachs-over-1-billion-in-losses?source=Snapzu

U.S. judge rules Apple Watch infringed Masimo's pulse oximeter patent

A U.S. judge ruled that Apple had infringed on one of Masimo Corp's pulse oximeter patents by importing and selling certain Apple Watches with light-based pulse oximetry functionality and components, Masimo said on Tuesday.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-judge-rules-apple-watches-infringed-masimo-patent-medical-device-maker-2023-01-11/?source=Snapzu

The office is dead

Forget the ongoing debate about remote work or hybrid workplaces. It's time to proclaim: "Long live working from home."
Read more: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3684773/the-office-is-dead.html?source=Snapzu

A First Look Inside the Incredible Super Mario Brothers-Themed Restaurant in Los Angeles

Power up with a Princess Peach Cupcake, Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots, and even a Piranha Plant Caprese when Toadstool Cafe opens at Universal Studios Hollywood
Read more: https://la.eater.com/2023/1/9/23545048/toadstool-cafe-universal-studios-hollywood-super-mario-brothers?source=Snapzu

The US should break up monopolies – not punish working Americans for rising prices | Robert Reich

The Fed is putting people out of work to reduce workers’ bargaining power and reduce inflation. They’ve got it all wrong
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/08/us-monopolies-inflation-unemployment-rising-prices-federal-reserve?source=Snapzu

TikTok vs YouTube: Which Is Better for Your Business in 2023

Read more: https://snapzu.com/Mazaia2020/tiktok-vs-youtube-which-is-better-for-your-business-in-2023?source=Snapzu

US farmers win right to repair John Deere equipment

The grassroots movement has grown among consumers around the world as repair costs soar.
Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64206913?source=Snapzu

US Farmers win right to repair John Deere equipment

Tractor maker John Deere has agreed to give its US customers the right to fix their own equipment. Previously, farmers were only allowed to use authorised parts and service facilities rather than cheaper independent repair options. Deere and Co. is one of the world's largest makers farming equipment.
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64206913?source=Snapzu

‘Holy grail’ wheat gene discovery could feed our overheated world

Harvests that form a vital element of the diets of 4.5 billion people are being devastated by global heating. Now research has found a key to create a heat-resistant variety
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/07/holy-grail-wheat-gene-discovery-could-feed-our-overheated-world?source=Snapzu

U.S. agriculture agency extends climate funding to small farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will distribute an additional $325 million in funding for projects tailored to smaller-scale farmers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, taking its total annual investment in climate-friendly farming to more than $3 billion, the agency announced Monday.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-agriculture-agency-extends-climate-funding-small-farmers-2022-12-12/?source=Snapzu

Your stuff is actually worse now

How the cult of consumerism ushered in an era of badly made products.
Read more: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/23529587/consumer-goods-quality-fast-fashion-technology?source=Snapzu

Job cuts and falling shares: how did it all go so wrong for the US tech sector?

Amazon announced 18,000 job cuts, Apple’s share price fell below $2tn (£1.7tn) and there was more bad news from Tesla: it has been another tough week for big US tech firms. But this has not been a one-off. The ongoing drama at Twitter since its takeover by Elon Musk in October has taken place against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, retrenchment from aggressive expansion plans and China’s disruptive transition from Covid lockdowns to rocketing case numbers as restrictions ease.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jan/06/amazon-apple-tesla-elon-musk-job-cuts-tech-sector?source=Snapzu

Meta fined more than $400 million over ad targeting practices

Irish regulators on Wednesday hit Facebook parent Meta with hundreds of millions in fines for online privacy violations and banned the company from forcing European users to agree to personalized ads based on their online activity. Ireland's Data Protection Commission imposed two fines totaling 390 million euros ($414 million) in its decision in two cases that could shake up Meta's business model targeting users with ads based on what they do online.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/meta-fined-400-million-390-millon-euros-ireland-facebook-privacy/?source=Snapzu

Apple Patents Apple Pencil That Can Sample Colors From Real-World Surfaces

Apple has patented a possible next-generation Apple Pencil that can sample colors from the real world and then input that same color onto an iPad, as well as other features, including the ability to sample textures.
Read more: https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/03/apple-pencil-patent-real-world-color-sampler/?source=Snapzu

How agriculture hastens species extinction

Scientists believe humans are now causing a mass extinction of plants and animals. Modern agriculture is a major contributor.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/agriculture-mass-extinction-60-minutes-2023-01-01/?source=Snapzu

BP, Unilever, and HSBC have failed to properly exit Russia, new report warns

Three FTSE 100 companies - HSBC Holdings, Unilever, and BP - have been named as members of a “dirty dozen” of high-profile multinationals still heavily
Read more: https://www.cityam.com/bp-unilever-hsbc-have-failed-to-properly-exit-russia-new-report-warns/?source=Snapzu

Bezos, Gates, Zuckerberg. Behind every "self-made" millionaire is a father with money

It is commonplace in business mythology. The anonymous entrepreneur who only with a huge effort achieves that his idea, so original and disruptive, becomes a success story. The story is usually starched with all kinds of barriers, obstacles, often financial, that our hero has had to overcome to reach the top. The last lesson is always the same: if you want, you can. If he could, overcoming so many difficulties, perhaps you too. At least give it a try.
Read more: https://levelup-edu.com/bezos-gates-zuckerberg-behind-every-self-made-millionaire-is-a-father-with-money?source=Snapzu

A new weight loss drug could become the best-selling drug of all time. Who can afford it?

An Eli Lilly drug if approved for weight loss could become the best-selling drug of all time, but concerns are mounting about who will actually be able to afford it. Experts are confident that the drug, called tirzepatide, will be granted approval by the Food and Drug Administration sometime next year. If that’s the case, it would join two other popular — and expensive — recently approved weight loss drugs on the market, Wegovy and Saxenda, both from the drugmaker Novo Nordisk.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/weight-loss-drug-affordability-rcna60422?source=Snapzu