Category: Ecommerce / Retailing

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Tidbits #88 – Taiwan Aftermath, Jobs, Tiffany Pendants, Small Nuclear Reactors + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 World Affairs + Geopolitics

#1 – China Tests Taiwan Defense Zone, Cuts Off US Military Talks

China continued its most provocative military drills in decades on Friday and cut off defense talks with the US, as relations between the world’s biggest economies deteriorate in the wake of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #88 – Taiwan Aftermath, Jobs, Tiffany Pendants, Small Nuclear Reactors + More”
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Tidbits #87 – Recession, Crypto Securities?, AlphaFold, Regenerating Limbs + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 World Affairs + Geopolitics

#1 – Pelosi Confirmed Details Of Her Trip To Asia, But Did Not Say If She’ll Visit Taiwan

The speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, confirmed Sunday she will visit four Asian countries this week but made no mention of a possible stop in Taiwan that has fueled tension with Beijing, which claims the island democracy as its own territory.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #87 – Recession, Crypto Securities?, AlphaFold, Regenerating Limbs + More”
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Tidbits #86 – Becoming Restaurants, Coup Planning, TikTok Search, Neural Implants + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

Everything is Becoming a “Restaurant”

Back in 2020, many people noticed that most digital businesses were becoming fintechs. This observation was so common it became a meme:

And for good reason!

Commerce is a central part of all of our lives whether directly or indirectly.… Read the rest “Tidbits #86 – Becoming Restaurants, Coup Planning, TikTok Search, Neural Implants + More”

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Tidbits #84 – Fed and Crypto Dominos

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🛡 Defense and Cybersecurity

#1 U.S., EU Plan Joint Foreign Aid for Cybersecurity to Counter China

The U.S. and the European Union plan to introduce joint funding of secure digital infrastructure in developing countries, according to officials involved in the talks.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #84 – Fed and Crypto Dominos”
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Tidbits #82 – Tech Layoffs, Crypto Insider Trading, Stripe Apps + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

A New Emergent Business Model: Platform + App Marketplace

One of the articles in this edition discusses Stripe’s launch of an apps marketplace. This could fundamentally transform the scope of Stripe’s product and the infrastructure they have built.… Read the rest “Tidbits #82 – Tech Layoffs, Crypto Insider Trading, Stripe Apps + More”

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Tidbits #80 – Ponzi Boxes, Amazon’s Trojan Horse, Boeing’s Never Ending Dream, Reversing Aging + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 World Affairs + Geopolitics

#1 Putin’s Gas-for-Rubles Gambit Hits EU Fault Lines as Stakes Rise

After suffering months of punishing sanctions, Vladimir Putin used a powerful tool to impose some economic pain on Europe — and to fracture the unity of his opponents — by shutting off natural gas this week to a pair of NATO members.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #80 – Ponzi Boxes, Amazon’s Trojan Horse, Boeing’s Never Ending Dream, Reversing Aging + More”
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Tidbits #79 – Buy With Prime, Netflix Blitzed, Unreal Engine 5, Washing Machines Chips + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 World Affairs + Geopolitics

#1 EU Prepares To Hit Putin With New Sanctions Plan Next Week

Brussels is drawing up plans for a sixth package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, with measures expected to be presented to European Union countries early next week, according to several diplomats.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #79 – Buy With Prime, Netflix Blitzed, Unreal Engine 5, Washing Machines Chips + More”
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Tidbits #78 – NATO Expansion, Spiritual Leaders, Horizon Worlds, Elon Musk + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 World Affairs + Geopolitics

#1 Finland And Sweden Could Soon Join NATO, Prompted By Russian War In Ukraine

Finland and Sweden could soon join NATO, moves that would likely infuriate Moscow and that officials say would further underscore Russia’s strategic error in invading Ukraine.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #78 – NATO Expansion, Spiritual Leaders, Horizon Worlds, Elon Musk + More”
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Tidbits #76 – Nvidia, Apple BNPL, Rug Pulls, and More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 World Affairs + Geopolitics

#1 Biden Says Putin Can’t Remain in Power After Ukraine War

U.S. President Joe Biden castigated Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, in a speech in Poland on Saturday, repeatedly calling him a “dictator” and saying that he “cannot remain in power” after the Ukraine invasion. 

… Read the rest “Tidbits #76 – Nvidia, Apple BNPL, Rug Pulls, and More”
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Tidbits #74 – New Cold War?, NFT Factories, Apple M1 Ultra + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 World Affairs + Geopolitics

#1 Biden Bans Imports of Russian Oil, Natural Gas

President Biden banned imported oil and other energy sources from Russia to punish the country as it intensified its military campaign in Ukraine, a move that will add pressure to already record U.S.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #74 – New Cold War?, NFT Factories, Apple M1 Ultra + More”
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Tidbits #73 – Ukraine Week 2, Cyberwar, Commodity + Supply Shocks, Democracy 3.0 + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

As Ukraine drags on for another week, the world continues to feel like it’s in an unstable equilibrium that is about readjust very, very quickly and possibly permanently into a new state of equilibrium…The last few years (decades?)… Read the rest “Tidbits #73 – Ukraine Week 2, Cyberwar, Commodity + Supply Shocks, Democracy 3.0 + More”

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Tidbits #71 – Russia, Free Fire Ban, Inflation, Blockades + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

Sorry I’m a bit behind since the last issue 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately, I seem to have given myself a combination of carpel tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. Will need to see how my arm situation evolves from here to know how much I can type (and unfortunately each issue does take almost a full day to hash out).… Read the rest “Tidbits #71 – Russia, Free Fire Ban, Inflation, Blockades + More”

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Tidbits #69 – China Easing, Drinking Glue, Depressed AIs + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

Drinking Glue

In Internet culture, #69 is supposed to be a funny number. So I guess that’s supposed to make this edition special. Edgelords like Elon Musk can somehow masterfully insert 69 (and 420) into random situations to conjure up billions of dollars in market cap (and personal wealth).… Read the rest “Tidbits #69 – China Easing, Drinking Glue, Depressed AIs + More”

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Tidbits #68 – Antiwork, Rate Hikes, Autonomous Tractors, Pig Hearts + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 World Affairs + Geopolitics

#1 North Korea Claims Successful Test Of Hypersonic Missile

North Korea said Wednesday its leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a successful flight test of a hypersonic missile he claimed would remarkably increase the country’s nuclear “war deterrent.”

… Read the rest “Tidbits #68 – Antiwork, Rate Hikes, Autonomous Tractors, Pig Hearts + More”
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Tidbits #66 – Data Security, Elon, More Elon, TikTok on SNL, Log4j…+ Even More Elon

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

Hope you had / are having an enjoyable holiday break! 🎄🎄🎄

Although we spend most of our waking moments thinking mostly about what’s going on in our world and our work, what matters most is almost always our family, friends, and loved ones.… Read the rest “Tidbits #66 – Data Security, Elon, More Elon, TikTok on SNL, Log4j…+ Even More Elon”

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Tidbits #65 – Economic Alliances, Bitcoin Dumpster-Diving, Metaverse Marriages + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 Geopolitics

#1 Proposal Would Allow E.U. to Retaliate Against Economic Pressure

The European Commission, the bloc’s executive branch, put forward what it called an “anti-coercion instrument” relating to what it views as unfair trade pressure, arguing that new tools were necessary because of the “weaponization of trade for other geopolitical purposes.”

… Read the rest “Tidbits #65 – Economic Alliances, Bitcoin Dumpster-Diving, Metaverse Marriages + More”
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Tidbits #64 – Omicron, Powell, AI Paintings, Life-like Robots + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 Geopolitics

#1 U.S. And EU Signal “Converging” Views On China

The U.S. and the European Union are adopting “increasingly convergent” views on the threat posed by the Chinese government, according to senior Biden administration officials, deepening a trend that could tilt the scales in an era of great power competition.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #64 – Omicron, Powell, AI Paintings, Life-like Robots + More”
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Tidbits #63 – Still Stuck in the Metaverse / Web3

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

Maybe we’re all starting to wind down for the year…there isn’t much going on beyond a very narrow range of items centered around the concept of the Metaverse. Speaking of the Metaverse, there’s clearly a titanic struggle from several different groups for control of what comes next in tech / internet.… Read the rest “Tidbits #63 – Still Stuck in the Metaverse / Web3”

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Tidbits #62 – Playing the Real Game, Metaverse Mania

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

While lining up the articles below for this week’s edition, I am struck by how many different games are being played. People tend to discuss differences in strategy (whether personal, professional, or competitive), but strategy cannot be objectively evaluated without knowing the specific game that is being played.… Read the rest “Tidbits #62 – Playing the Real Game, Metaverse Mania”

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Tidbits #61 – PAX, Booritos, Meta + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

Happy Halloween 🎃🎃🎃

I wish I could carve a pumpkin like these!

Source: Parade

Source: Pinterest

🗺 Geopolitics

#1 Gen. Milley calls Chinese weapon test ‘very concerning’

China recently conducted a “very concerning” test of a hypersonic weapon system as part of its aggressive advance in space and military technologies, the top U.S.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #61 – PAX, Booritos, Meta + More”
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Tidbits #60 – Hypersonic Missiles, Cyberthreats, Trump SPAC’d, M1 Max, + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

This edition is super packed…so I’ll skip the random opening thoughts and dive right in.

🗺 Geopolitics

#1 China conducted two hypersonic weapons tests this summer

The Chinese military conducted two hypersonic weapons tests over the summer, raising US concerns that Beijing is gaining ground in the race to develop a new generation of arms.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #60 – Hypersonic Missiles, Cyberthreats, Trump SPAC’d, M1 Max, + More”
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Canary in the (Supply Chain) Coal Mine

Since the beginning of this year, Capital Flywheels has written about global supply chain issues on several occasions, including the Suez Canal blockage, auto chip shortage, and potential supply chain stress from China’s energy crisis.

In isolation, each of these incidents are more than manageable.

But together, repeated stress will eventually lead to breakage.

The way things break is not always obvious because we live in a non-linear world.… Read the rest “Canary in the (Supply Chain) Coal Mine”

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Tidbits #59 – Space Force, Taxes for the Digital Age, Tether?, Governance + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 Geopolitics

#1 White House plans 30-country meeting on cyber crime and ransomware -official

Top U.S. national security advisers will gather officials from 30 countries this month with plans to combat the growing threat of ransomware and other cyber crime, President Joe Biden said on Friday.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #59 – Space Force, Taxes for the Digital Age, Tether?, Governance + More”
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Tidbits #58 – AI Machine Guns, Collapsing Supply Chains, TikTok + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

How Comedians May Rule the World

Generally, I consider myself to be a fairly (long-term) optimistic person (but near-term realist). I’m generally more optimistic than almost anyone I meet or know.

Even with that starting disposition, the more I think about the sudden shocks from COVID-19, supply chain stress, and dramatic global geopolitical changes unseen in decades, the more I feel the need to tone down my medium-term optimism.… Read the rest “Tidbits #58 – AI Machine Guns, Collapsing Supply Chains, TikTok + More”

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Tidbits #57 – Babel-ing, Crackdowns, Reunifying Media + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

Tower of Babel

Sorting through all the things happening around the world recently has become a challenge in coherence.

Although we all live on one world, increasingly it feels like we live on multiple worlds. Sometimes these worlds touch and intersect, and sometimes they do not.… Read the rest “Tidbits #57 – Babel-ing, Crackdowns, Reunifying Media + More”

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How Shifting Consumer Preferences Could Threaten “Buy Now, Pay Later”

This is part of an on-going series exploring the “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) space.

Part 1 “Buy Now Pay Later” and What Might Be Coming Next discusses why BNPL adoption is likely to surprise to the upside…and why BNPL must ultimately merge with commerce to survive.

Part 2 “Buy Now, Pay Later” and the Coming “Closed Loop” discusses Square’s acquisition of Afterpay…and why BNPL is a credible threat to the current payment network landscape.… Read the rest “How Shifting Consumer Preferences Could Threaten “Buy Now, Pay Later””

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Tidbits #56 – New Frontiers

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

Less “news” in this edition, but a lot of thought-provoking think pieces that outline how society’s tectonic plates are shifting.

People are really thinking outside of the box!

Indeed a time for change. Perhaps COVID-19 has reminded us of how short life is, and there is never a better time to pursue ideas and dreams.… Read the rest “Tidbits #56 – New Frontiers”

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Tidbits #55 – Cryptolending, Dark Content, Shopee, and Exponential Age + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

👻 Cryptocurrencies + NFTs

#1 Bitcoin to Bucks: Crypto Fans Borrow to Buy Homes, Cars—and More Crypto

Crypto enthusiasts such as Mr. Anderson are tapping their holdings to buy homes, cars and, often, more crypto. They are getting these loans from upstart nonbank lenders and automated, blockchain-based platforms.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #55 – Cryptolending, Dark Content, Shopee, and Exponential Age + More”
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Tidbits #54 – CryptoPunks, Quantified Self, India Tech, “I am Groot!” + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

In Search of Power

The world has changed a lot in the last few decades.

The world has changed a lot in the last few centuries.

The world has changed a lot in the last few millennia.

But regardless of how the world changes – how people live, what they want – the thing that never changes is the quest for status and power.… Read the rest “Tidbits #54 – CryptoPunks, Quantified Self, India Tech, “I am Groot!” + More”

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Tidbits #53 – Million Dollar Rocks, Invisible Rocks, Burn Burn Burn🔥🔥🔥! + More

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Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 Geopolitics

#1 Intel Lands Pentagon Deal to Support Domestic Chip Making

Intel Corp. INTC 1.43% said it would provide commercial foundry services in the first phase of a broader Defense Department program that aims to build up domestic design and production of cutting-edge chips.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #53 – Million Dollar Rocks, Invisible Rocks, Burn Burn Burn🔥🔥🔥! + More”