Huge publisher consolidation contested by Justice Department

Justice Department Sues to Block Penguin Random House’s Acquisition of Simon & Schuster Antitrust lawsuit alleges the almost $2.18 billion deal will harm authors, consumers The Justice Department’s suit claims the deal will allow Penguin Random House to exert outsize influence over which books are published in the U.S. and how much authors are paid.PHOTO: TIM … Continue reading Huge publisher consolidation contested by Justice Department

Early resignations during pandemic causing employer panic in a time of reduced immigration and fewer skilled workers

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/01/great-resignation-employers-sweating-time-to-escalate-pressure The Great Resignation has employers sweating. It’s time to escalate the pressure Erika Rodriguez This is a once-in-a-generation ‘take this job and shove it’ moment – which gives workers an upper hand. Let’s demand better hours, pay and work-life balance ‘2.9% of the workforce have quit their jobs in the past few months.’ Photograph: Keith … Continue reading Early resignations during pandemic causing employer panic in a time of reduced immigration and fewer skilled workers

A candy maker looks to its consumers and (gasp!) reverses a change

Here is a story that will make you smile. https://slate.com/human-interest/2021/10/skittles-for-halloween-this-year-see-you-later-green-apple.html It’s a Lime Skittles Halloween Green, crunchy ellipsoids for all. BY DANIEL SCHROEDEROCT 27, 202110:58 AM Photo illustration by Slate. Photos by Mars Inc. and Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash. TWEETSHARECOMMENT Skittles are the only candy I’m giving out this Halloween. That’s because the company that makes them, … Continue reading A candy maker looks to its consumers and (gasp!) reverses a change

Fluff (Easter egg) for the iPhone and other places on the internet

https://nypost.com/2021/11/01/iphone-has-secret-code-you-say-aloud-to-unlock-hidden-trick/ Your iPhone has a secret code that unlocks this hidden trick By Harry Pettit, The SunNovember 1, 2021 4:40pm  Updated The Konami Code is a sequence of key presses that unlocks fun visuals and other features.Getty Images Your iPhone has countless fun easter eggs that you can explore to kill a bit of time. Many of them … Continue reading Fluff (Easter egg) for the iPhone and other places on the internet

Will supply problems (goods and workers) spoil Christmas in the U.K.?

http://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-uk/will-supply-chain-issues-ruin-christmas? Will Supply-Chain Issues Ruin Christmas? By Anna Russell November 2, 2021 In recent weeks, an acute labor shortage in the U.K.’s farming and agricultural sector has cast a decidedly unfestive pall over seasonal preparations.Photograph by Hollie Adams / Getty The run-up to the Christmas season in London—manic, festooned—begins exceptionally early. The lights over Regent Street … Continue reading Will supply problems (goods and workers) spoil Christmas in the U.K.?

Plastic devastates marine life

https://www.deeperblue.com/new-research-highlights-the-devastating-impact-of-plastic-on-marine-life/ New Research Highlights The Devastating Impact Of Plastic On Marine Life BySam Helmy -October 25, 2021 New research conducted by Queen’s University Belfast has highlighted the devastating impact microplastics are wreaking on the environment through their impact on hermit crabs. Building on previous research, findings have shown that hermit crabs exposed to microplastics have their ability hindered … Continue reading Plastic devastates marine life

Why everyone is so rude right now

https://time.com/6099906/rude-customers-pandemic/ Why Everyone Is So Rude Right Now BY BELINDA LUSCOMBE  OCTOBER 15, 2021 11:59 AM EDT September 2021 was a bad month for manners. On the 21st, a woman pulled a gun on servers at a Philadelphia fast food restaurant when they asked her to order online. On the 16th, several women from Texas pummeled a hostess at a New … Continue reading Why everyone is so rude right now

Prohibition against refusing to accept cash catches upscale Van Leeuwen ice cream shop

https://ny.eater.com/2021/10/29/22752696/van-leeuwen-ice-cream-cashless-ban-fines-nyc NYC Fines Upscale Ice Cream Shop Van Leeuwen for Violating Cashless Ban The fancy ice cream purveyor was charged with 17 violations of the law in 2021by Erika Adams  Oct 29, 2021, 4:03pm EDT Van Leeuwen on the Upper West Side. Van Leeuwen’s cashless days appear to be over. The fancy, minimalist ice cream purveyor has … Continue reading Prohibition against refusing to accept cash catches upscale Van Leeuwen ice cream shop

NPR review of “State of Terror” by Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny

https://www.npr.org/2021/10/25/1048374851/hillary-clintons-louise-penny-state-of-terror-review In this new political thriller, a familiar pantsuited figure saves democracy October 25, 20219:41 AM ET Heard on Fresh Air MAUREEN CORRIGAN State of Terror, by Hillary Clinton and Louise PennySimon & Schuster I approached the package with caution. The book inside could be trouble, big trouble. Literary collaborations usually are and this one by two … Continue reading NPR review of “State of Terror” by Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny

How employers can get workers back into office

https://www.wsj.com/articles/boss-get-remote-workers-back-office-11635531138?mod=hp_lead_pos7 How Bosses Can Lure Remote Workers Back to the Office Sure, companies can insist. But there are also things they can do that will make employees want to return. By Alexandra SamuelOct. 30, 2021 10:00 am ET There is a magical land where the temperature is always 72 degrees, the Wi-Fi never goes down, and … Continue reading How employers can get workers back into office

Trying out iOS 15.1

https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/10/26/hands-on-with-all-the-new-features-in-ios-151 Hands on with all the new features in iOS 15.1 Andrew O'Hara | Oct 26, 2021 Apple has released iOS 15.1 — as well as many other platform updates — and we are going hands on with all of the new features including SharePlay, camera enhancements, and more. SharePlay There is an entirely new way to share experiences … Continue reading Trying out iOS 15.1

The U.S. is behind the entire E.U. in how it takes care of its citizens — Michael Moore gives us details

It's becoming more and more difficult to come up with any measure by which the United States comes within even the top ten -- whether it's the number of women who die giving birth, the expense of college, childcare and so many other measures. Instead we bleed off our wealth into the hands of those … Continue reading The U.S. is behind the entire E.U. in how it takes care of its citizens — Michael Moore gives us details