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October 17, 2021 at 9:39 PM UTC
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Doug Dingus
Today I want to take a moment to share how we all own our conversations.
Let's start with we all are as offended as we think we are. For some of us the bar is very low. Others are not easily offended at all!
Because of this, we also have a difficult time understanding when an offence is genuine and when it is manipulation.
Controlling others is not the answer!
When you are faced with something that triggeres righteous indignation, try humor instead.
Check out these similar posts and Ortingos?
Simple Data Toolkit - Tutorial - GUI - JavaLet's suppose you want to create a task that loads a TSV file into a PSV file on a daily basis. This task is meant to be part of Java code, but you are unfamiliar with Java and are unsure of how to write the code. Good news, you can use the Sample Data Toolkit UI to figure out this code for you as follows: 1) Go to the app page for the Simple Data Toolkit UI, at the time of this writing it is here: https://www.vis-software.com/#sdtk 2) Click Choose Files. 3) Find the file you want to convert. 4) Click Open. 5) Select the output type you want, for this tutorial we will select PSV. 6) Then for script, select Java. 7) Then click Download Script. You will now have some Java code that uses SDTK to convert the file you selected to PSV. You can now either run this script or integrate it with another one. If you need to install SDTK for Java, you can do it by downloading the latest version from SourceForge and placing it in your class path. At the time of this writing, this can be found here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/simple-data-toolkit/files/0.1.3/sdtk.jar/download The code will look something like this: com.sdtk.table.Converter.start().readFile("complex.csv").tsv().textOnly().output().writeFile("complex.psv").psv().execute();Atotium News - Business Aggregate - 2024-12-19Micron Stock Dives As Chipmaker Whiffs On Guidance https://www.investors.com/news/technology/mu-stock-micron-fiscal-q1-2025-earnings/ Micron Technology's stock dropped significantly after the company missed Wall Street's expectations with its financial outlook for the current quarter, despite meeting analyst estimates for its fiscal first-quarter earnings. Micron reported an adjusted earning of $1.79 per share on sales of $8.71 billion, aligning with expectations. However, their guidance for the current quarter predicts $1.43 earnings per share on $7.9 billion in sales, below analysts' predictions of $1.91 per share on $8.94 billion in sales. Following the announcement, Micron's stock plummeted over 13% in after-hours trading. The company attributed its fiscal Q1 success to strong demand for memory chips, especially for AI servers, with data center revenue comprising more than half of its total revenue for the first time. Despite current setbacks in consumer markets, Micron remains optimistic about growth prospects in the latter half of the fiscal year, emphasizing their strategic positioning in AI-driven markets. When will mortgage rates go down? A look at 2025. https://finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance/mortgages/article/when-will-mortgage-rates-go-down-164144910.html Since late 2022, mortgage rates have risen significantly, settling between 6% and 7%. Rates began to decrease in the summer of 2024 following the Federal Reserve's decision to cut the federal funds rate by 25 basis points multiple times later in the year. Despite this, mortgage rates have not decreased as rapidly as anticipated. Experts predict that mortgage rates will likely decline gradually in 2025 but may not fall below 6%. Rates had predominantly increased until late November 2024, with slight decreases occurring afterward. Economic conditions, such as inflation and the federal funds rate, significantly influence these trends. While future rate predictions by Fannie Mae and the Mortgage Bankers Association suggest slight decreases, rates are unlikely to return to the low levels seen during the COVID-19 pandemic unless economic conditions deteriorate significantly. Ultimately, the decision to buy a home should be based on personal financial circumstances rather than expectations for significant rate drops. Potential buyers are encouraged to compare mortgage lenders and work on improving their credit scores to secure the best possible rates. FINAL SALE Big Lots to close all remaining 963 stores and starts going out of business sales after filing bankruptcy 3 months ago https://www.the-sun.com/money/13126830/big-lots-closing-all-stores-bankruptcy-liquidation-sales/ Big Lots is closing all 963 of its stores and has begun liquidation sales after filing for bankruptcy three months ago due to over $3 billion in debt. A potential rescue deal with Nexus Capital Management fell through, prompting the closures. Big Lots CEO Bruce Thorn expressed that the decision was difficult but necessary, although the company is still exploring other financing options that might reverse the liquidation process. The closure plans initially involved shutting 545 stores by early 2025, but with the current situation, a total of 426 stores have closed in 2024 alone. While the sales continue, jobs are at risk, with corporate layoffs expected in January 2025, and many employees receiving WARN notices about upcoming mass layoffs. The company's financial struggles are attributed to macroeconomic pressures, including high inflation and changing consumer habits. Lord & Taylor, America s oldest department store, to make a comeback after years of devastating financial hardship https://nypost.com/2024/12/14/business/lord-amp-taylor-americas-oldest-department-store-to-make-a-comeback-after-years-of-devastating-financial-hardship/ Lord & Taylor, America's oldest department store, is set to make a comeback after financial struggles and closures in 2021 due to the pandemic. The brand, revived by new owners Regal Brands Global, plans to relaunch online in 2025 using its iconic sweeping cursive logo, which had been discarded by previous management. Regal Brands Global aims to blend Lord & Taylor's historical elegance with modern fashion trends, focusing on home goods, dresses, and footwear that emphasize lasting quality over fast fashion. The brand will initially concentrate on e-commerce and licensed products available online and through select global retailers, with potential plans for physical store openings in the future. Established in 1826, Lord & Taylor aims to honor its storied past while innovating to meet contemporary customer needs.Simple Data Toolkit - Tutorial - PHP - Convert FileLet's suppose you want to create a task that loads a CSV file into an HTML file on a daily basis. This task is meant to be part of a PHP script, but you are unfamiliar with PHP and are unsure of how to write the code. Good news, you can use the Sample Data Toolkit UI to figure out this code for you as follows: 1) Go to the app page for the Simple Data Toolkit UI, at the time of this writing it is here: https://www.vis-software.com/#sdtk 2) Click Choose Files. 3) Find the file you want to convert. 4) Click Open. 5) Select the output type you want, for this tutorial we will select HTMLTable. 6) Then for script, select PHP. 7) Then click Download Script. You will now have a PHP script that uses SDTK to convert the file you selected to an HTML. You can now either run this script or integrate it with another one. If you need to install SDTK for PHP, you can do it by downloading the latest version from SourceForge, unzipping it, and placing it in your include path. At the time of this writing, this can be found here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/simple-data-toolkit/files/0.1.3/sdtk-php.zip/download The script will look something like this: readFile("ga_sample.csv")->csv()->textOnly()->output()->writeFile("ga_sample.htmltable")->htmlTable()->execute(); readfile("ga_sample.htmltable"); ?>Simple Data Toolkit - Tutorial - GUI - Python ScriptLet's suppose you want to create a task that loads a TSV file into a CSV file on a daily basis. This task is meant to be part of a Python script, but you are unfamiliar with Python and are unsure of how to write the code. Good news, you can use the Sample Data Toolkit UI to figure out this code for you as follows: 1) Go to the app page for the Simple Data Toolkit UI, at the time of this writing it is here: https://www.vis-software.com/#sdtk 2) Click Choose Files. 3) Find the file you want to convert. 4) Click Open. 5) Select the output type you want, for this tutorial we will select SQL. 6) Then for script, select Python. 7) Then click Download Script. You will now have a simple Python script that uses SDTK to convert the file you selected to CSV. You can now either run this script or integrate it with another one. If you need to install SDTK for Python, you can do it like so on the terminal/commandline prompt with the following command: pip install sdtk-visllc The script will look something like this: from sdtk import com_sdtk_table_Converter as sdtk sdtk.start().readFile("complex.csv").tsv().textOnly().output().writeFile("complex.csv").csv().execute();Atotium News - Business Aggregate - 2025-01-06There’s a Traffic Jam Forming at U.S. Rocket Launchpads https://www.wsj.com/science/space-astronomy/rocket-launch-pads-texas-california-c180c7e5 The article discusses the increasing congestion at U.S. rocket launch sites due to the rising number of planned rocket launches, primarily driven by SpaceX and other companies aiming to transport satellites and payloads to space. With only three major launch sites in Florida and California, the situation is expected to worsen, raising concerns about potential delays if these sites face weather disruptions or accidents. Smaller and new spaceports, including landlocked states and sea-based operations, are attempting to capitalize on this congestion but face challenges such as securing approvals and addressing local opposition to new sites. Innovators like the Spaceport Company are exploring sea-based launches, while states like Michigan and Maine plan to establish broader space ecosystems. Government agencies, including the FAA and Space Force, are working to address these issues by developing new strategies and expanding existing facilities. Competition for control over launch pads, particularly at popular locations, is intensifying among companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin. Meta scrambles to delete its own AI accounts after backlash intensifies https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/03/business/meta-ai-accounts-instagram-facebook/index.html In response to user backlash and media scrutiny, Meta has begun deleting its AI-generated accounts from platforms like Instagram and Facebook. The controversy began when users interacted with the AI accounts, such as "Liv" and "Grandpa Brian," which falsely presented themselves with detailed personal stories and identities. These accounts not only provided inaccurate backgrounds but also fabricated stories about their creators to seem more authentic. Meta initially pitched these AI personas as a vision for future social media interactions but faced criticism for blurring the line between genuine human connections and artificial ones. The company has since removed these AI accounts, citing a "bug" affecting user ability to block them. Despite attempting to project diversity and emotional connection, the AI bots were primarily used to drive platform engagement and ad revenue, raising significant concerns about transparency and ethical implications. Bitcoin’s Endgame: Quantum Computing Comes For BTC https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbirnbaum/2024/12/28/bitcoins-endgame-quantum-computing-comes-for-btc/ The article discusses the potential threat of quantum computing to Bitcoin and other cryptographic technologies. Google's announcement of its new quantum computer, Willow, has sparked concerns about the security of Bitcoin, as quantum computers could potentially crack cryptographic codes. While quantum computing will necessitate updates to Bitcoin's protocol, this is not an existential threat to the cryptocurrency and is similar to addressing the Y2K issue. The broader impact will be on all current cryptographic systems, which are integral to financial services, e-commerce, medical records, national security, and more. The concept of "harvest now, decrypt later" poses risks as encrypted data saved today could be decrypted in the future using quantum computers. To counter these threats, post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is being developed to create cryptographic algorithms resistant to quantum attacks. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is leading efforts to standardize PQC, aiming to implement quantum-resistant methods by 2035. The shift to a post-quantum world will be challenging but crucial for maintaining digital security and trust. Overall, while the transition might be complex and fraught with issues, it presents exciting prospects for technological advancement. The Pros and Cons of Investing in Private Debt https://www.kiplinger.com/investing/pros-and-cons-of-investing-in-private-debt The article discusses the growing accessibility of private debt investments to regular investors, a market traditionally dominated by financial institutions and wealthy individuals. Over recent years, there has been a significant increase in publicly traded funds specializing in private credit, offering attractive yields that can diversify investment portfolios. However, the article notes several risks, including potential decreases in returns as more investors enter the market, the complexity of evaluating private investments, and volatility compared to traditional stocks and bonds. Various investment options exist for those interested in private debt, including Business Development Corporations (BDCs) and interval funds, each with its own structure and risk profile. BDCs, for instance, are similar to real estate investment trusts and can use leverage to potentially enhance returns, although they come with high fees. Specific examples like Ares Capital Corp. and Virtus Private Credit are highlighted as prominent players in this space, offering diversification and potential high returns despite their expense ratios. Overall, private debt investments might suit income-seeking investors willing to engage in long-term strategies, balancing the potential for higher returns against inherent risks and fees.Atotium News - Business Aggregate - 2025-01-04Intel’s Problems Are Even Worse Than You’ve Heard https://www.wsj.com/tech/intel-microchip-competitors-challenges-562a42e3 The article from the Wall Street Journal discusses Intel's significant struggles in maintaining its market position in the face of growing competition. Intel is losing market share in key areas, including data centers, where competitors like AMD and Nvidia are making substantial gains. AMD has surpassed Intel's data-center revenue in a surprising shift, and the industry's shift towards GPUs, which Intel has a minimal share of, further exacerbates its challenges. Intel retains about 75% of the CPU market for data centers, but this does not translate into substantial revenue compared to its diversified competitors. Companies are increasingly moving away from Intel's proprietary x86 architecture in favor of ARM and custom chip designs, as seen with major cloud providers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. The company is attempting to innovate and improve its manufacturing capabilities while facing a $16 billion loss as it transitions into contract manufacturing. Former CEO Pat Gelsinger's ambitions to lead technological advancements and regain market dominance have put the company at a crossroads, with concerns about whether these strategies will pay off. Intel's challenges include competition from ARM-based laptops and portable gaming systems that erode its market share, as well as the limitations of its vertically integrated structure. These issues have stirred speculation about the company potentially splitting its manufacturing and product divisions. Despite its historical success and innovative legacy, Intel must overcome its current struggles to avoid falling further behind in the fast-paced semiconductor industry. Tripadvisor and Liberty TripAdvisor Announce Planned Merger https://ir.tripadvisor.com/news-releases/news-release-details/tripadvisor-and-liberty-tripadvisor-announce-planned-merger Tripadvisor, Inc. and Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. have announced a planned merger in which Tripadvisor will acquire Liberty TripAdvisor. Under the given terms, Liberty TripAdvisor's shareholders will receive cash and Tripadvisor stock, with an aggregate transaction value of approximately $435 million. This merger aims to simplify Tripadvisor's capital structure by retiring a large portion of its common stock held by Liberty TripAdvisor, thus providing greater strategic flexibility. The transaction, expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, has been unanimously recommended by a Special Committee from Tripadvisor and approved by both companies' boards. The merger will dissolve Liberty TripAdvisor's complex capital structure, enabling Tripadvisor to pursue its strategic goals more adeptly, especially in experiences and travel. The completion of the merger is subject to customary conditions, including shareholder approval. In case of delay beyond March 27, 2025, Tripadvisor is prepared to issue a secured loan to Liberty TripAdvisor to address its financial commitments. Paper Money Market: BNR Receives Nod as a Resource for New Collectors https://www.numismaticnews.net/paper-money/paper-money-market-bnr-receives-nod-as-a-resource-for-new-collectors The Wall Street Journal recently highlighted bank note collecting as a potentially lucrative alternative asset class in an article about enthusiasts who find significant value in rare bank notes. The piece emphasizes the importance of condition, serial numbers, scarcity, and errors when collecting. The hobby is experiencing growth, with Stack's Bowers World Currency Auctions reporting over $500 million in global sales annually. Social media platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp are credited with attracting young new collectors. For beginners, the article points out reputable grading services and auction houses as reliable resources. Two publications, Bank Note Reporter and a CDN Publishing wholesaler-focused publication, are recommended for new collectors. Although this feature in the Wall Street Journal is unlikely to cause an immediate surge in the number of collectors, it adds positive publicity to the field. The lab-grown diamond boom is over https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/lab-grown-diamond-prices-engagement-rings-carat-value-outlook-jewelry-2024-2 The lab-grown diamond market is experiencing a downturn, with prices expected to continue falling as demand wanes. Industry experts, such as diamond analyst Paul Zimnisky, suggest that jewelers are shifting their focus back to natural diamonds, with lab-grown varieties now overstocked and overly mainstream, especially at lower-priced retailers. The price decline could be significant, possibly dropping by up to 80%, according to Cormac Kinney of Diamond Standard. Although lab-grown diamonds made up about 20% of the diamond market due to their affordability and visual similarity to natural diamonds, their perceived value has decreased as they became more common. Sales growth for man-made diamonds is expected to slow, segmenting into a lower-priced market for those unwilling to purchase genuine diamonds. This shift has rendered existing lab-grown stones less valuable for resale, leaving current owners potentially stuck with their purchases.Simple Data Toolkit - Tutorial - GUI - Batch ScriptLet's suppose you want to create a task that loads a TSV file into a CSV file on a daily basis. This task is meant to be part of a Batch script, but you are unfamiliar with Batch and are unsure of how to write the code. Good news, you can use the Sample Data Toolkit UI to figure out this code for you as follows: 1) Go to the app page for the Simple Data Toolkit UI, at the time of this writing it is here: https://www.vis-software.com/#sdtk 2) Click Choose Files. 3) Find the file you want to convert. 4) Click Open. 5) Select the output type you want, for this tutorial we will select CSV. 6) Then for script, select Batch. 7) Then click Download Script. You will now have a simple Batch script that uses STC (Simple Table Converter - A commandline utility that is part of the SDTK) to convert the file you selected to CSV. You can now either run this script or integrate it with another one. If you need to install STC, you can install it via Chocolatey (https://chocolatey.org/) with the following command: choco install stc The script will look something like this: stc "ga_sample.csv" textonly "ga_sample.csv"Simple Data Toolkit - Tutorial - Windows - Scheduled TaskLet's suppose you want to create a task that loads a Pipe Delimited File into a database on a daily basis. The task is to run on Windows and you are using Snowflake for the database. You can do it with SDTK as follows: 1) Download SDTK. For this tutorial, we're going to use the latest version of the Windows Shell Script version as of this writing (0.1.2) which is here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/simple-data-toolkit/files/0.1.3/stc-wsh.js/download 2) Create a new text file called ConvertPSV.cmd 3) Open the file with a text editor (like Notepad or Visual Studio Code) Enter the following text: cscript stc-wsh.js clients.psv clients.sql createorreplace clients (For more info on STC and SDTK see the following URL: https://www.vis-software.com/#sdtk) (For more info on cscript see the following URL: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/cscript) SET SNOWSQL_PWD=password snowsql -a myorganization-myaccount -u jsmith -f clients.sql -d database -s public -o quiet=true -o friendly=false (For more info on snowsql see the following URL: https://docs.snowflake.com/en/user-guide/snowsql-use.html) 4) Go to the Start Menu. 5) Search for Task Scheduler. (For more info on Task Scheduler see the following URL: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/taskschd/about-the-task-scheduler) 6) Open Task Scheduler. 7) Click Create Task. 8) For name enter: Convert PSV to SQL 9) Click Triggers Tab 10) Click New button 11) Select Daily 12) Start start time to 8:00 AM. 13) Click the OK button. 14) Click Actions tab. 15) Click New button 16) For Program/script click Browse. 17) Find the ConvertPSV.cmd script. 18) Click Open. 19) Set Start in to the directory that the ConvertPSV.cmd script is in. 20) Click the OK button. 21) Click the OK button. 22) To test, right click Convert PSV to SQL. 23) Select Run.Atotium News - Business Aggregate - 2024-12-18Tech-Loving Hedge Funds Have a Crush on Utility Stocks https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/ai-power-supply-hedge-funds-utility-companies-095c928a Hedge funds known for investing in technology are increasingly investing in utility stocks, particularly power companies, due to the surge in demand for electricity driven by the AI boom. Companies like Vistra, Constellation Energy, and Talen Energy are benefiting from the increased power demand to fuel AI and data center operations. This shift has resulted in these stocks becoming some of the best performers in the S&P 500, significantly boosting hedge fund returns. Funds like Coatue Management and Lone Pine Capital have seen substantial gains from their investments in utilities, while traditional power demands and new trends like electric vehicles further increase power needs. The AI demand for electricity is estimated to be significantly higher than typical usage, causing some cloud providers to secure power at premium prices. Only certain power companies in deregulated markets with reliable, dispatchable power mostly natural gas and nuclear stand to benefit significantly. This trend has attracted a broad range of hedge funds, including those not traditionally focused on tech, resulting in impressive returns for firms like Discovery Capital Management and Castle Hook Partners. However, some energy-focused hedge funds are selling off positions as valuations rise due to the new interest. Meanwhile, recent and upcoming hedge fund launches are exploring related opportunities, such as upgrading the U.S. electrical grid. The housing crisis is global. What are other countries doing about it? https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/sep/28/the-housing-crisis-is-global-what-are-other-countries-doing-about-it The article discusses the global housing crisis, highlighting approaches taken by various countries to address the issue. Each nation faces unique challenges and responds differently. In New Zealand, government initiatives focus on unlocking land and changing zoning laws to increase housing supply, although efforts faced setbacks due to political shifts and public opposition. Japan tackled affordability by implementing a simple zoning system that encourages continuous construction and redevelopment, maintaining housing availability. Austria utilizes a housing tax to fund affordable communal housing, making rent-controlled options respectable and accessible. The Netherlands struggles with high housing costs and shortages attributed to past pro-market policies, foreign investments, and lack of regulation, prompting the Dutch government to pursue new home construction and rental regulations. In Colorado, USA, recently passed laws aim to increase housing near transit and allow for more diverse housing types, such as accessory dwelling units, to alleviate demand pressures. Overall, the article emphasizes the differing strategies and challenges each country faces in addressing the widespread housing crisis. Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq clobbered as Fed, Powell signal fewer rate cuts in 2025 https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-clobbered-as-fed-powell-signal-fewer-rate-cuts-in-2025-210323475.html On Wednesday, the stock market experienced a significant downturn following the Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points but signal fewer rate cuts in 2025 than previously expected. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all suffered steep losses, with the Dow dropping over 1,000 points, marking its 10th consecutive down session, the longest losing streak since 1974. The Fed projected only two rate cuts next year, down from an anticipated four, due to higher inflation forecasts and economic growth. Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized a cautious approach to further cuts, contingent on economic stability. The decision was not unanimous, as Cleveland Fed president Beth Hammack dissented, preferring no cuts at all. The market sell-off was widespread, heavily affecting the tech sector, with Tesla, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft experiencing notable declines. Additionally, sectors sensitive to interest rates, like small caps and real estate, also saw significant drops. Despite this market turmoil, Nvidia managed to gain slightly following its recent pressures from demand and geopolitical concerns. Bitcoin Price Nears $108,000. Crypto Bulls See It Jumping This High. https://www.barrons.com/articles/broadcom-nvidia-stock-price-avgo-nvda-1844d857 Bitcoin recently hit a record high, exceeding $107,000, driven by President-elect Donald Trump's pro-cryptocurrency stance and proposed supportive policies. The cryptocurrency has risen by 2.3% in the last 24 hours and nearly 60% since the election, largely due to Trump's strategic plans for a Bitcoin reserve and appointing crypto advocate Paul Atkins to lead the SEC. Additionally, new financial regulations now allow companies to hold Bitcoin as an asset, further legitimizing its corporate use. MicroStrategy, a major Bitcoin holder, will join the Nasdaq 100, reflecting growing institutional acceptance of Bitcoin.Atotium News - Business Aggregate - 2024-12-10Federal Reserve to cut rates by 25 bps on Dec. 18, pause in January- Reuters poll https://finance.yahoo.com/news/federal-cut-rates-25-bps-135054884.html The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points on December 18, with 90% of economists polled by Reuters predicting this move. Following this, a pause in rate changes is anticipated in late January amidst concerns over rising inflation risks. Economists attribute potential inflationary pressures to President-elect Donald Trump's proposed policies, including import tariffs and tax cuts. The job market's resilience has reinforced expectations for a rate cut, with most economists forecasting the federal funds rate to be reduced to 4.25%-4.50%. However, a majority expect the Fed to hold rates steady at its January meeting. While nearly 60% of economists predict at least three more rate cuts next year, there is no consensus on future actions. The Fed aims to reach a neutral rate that neither stimulates nor restricts the economy, recently assessed at around 2.9%. Inflation forecasts have been elevated, with concerns about inflation risks due to increased tariffs and potential trade disruptions from the incoming administration. The Fed will update its economic forecasts at the December meeting. GM exits robotaxi market, will bring Cruise operations in house https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/10/gm-halts-funding-of-robotaxi-development-by-cruise.html General Motors (GM) has decided to end its funding for the development of robotaxis by its subsidiary Cruise. Instead, GM plans to integrate Cruise into its larger technical team to focus on developing autonomous systems for personal vehicles. This decision, announced after an investment of over $10 billion in Cruise, is attributed to the competitive robotaxi market, capital allocation priorities, and the extensive time and resources required to scale up. GM bought Cruise in 2016 and plans to increase its ownership to over 97% by early 2025. This move will also reduce Cruise's annual expenditure from about $2 billion by more than half. Cruise, which halted its driverless operations in October 2023, faced regulatory issues including a crash involving a pedestrian and internal problems that contributed to the decision. GM's departure from the robotaxi market occurs as competitors like Waymo, Tesla, and others advance their own autonomous vehicle services. Microsoft Unveils Zero-Water Data Centers to Reduce AI Climate Impact https://finance.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-unveils-zero-water-data-170002064.html Microsoft has introduced a new data center design that requires zero water for cooling its chips and servers, aimed at reducing the climate impact of its expanding data center operations. This new system employs a "closed loop" method, recycling water that is initially introduced during construction without needing fresh supplies afterward. This initiative, launched in August, is expected to save over 125 million liters of water per year per data center. While the data centers will still need fresh water for facilities like bathrooms and kitchens, this new design is part of Microsoft s effort to address the environmental demands of its growing AI services, particularly in hot and dry regions such as Arizona and Texas. Existing data centers will maintain older technologies, but new facilities in Phoenix and Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, will adopt this zero-water design starting in 2026. Crypto Trading Frenzy Leads Analyst to Hike Price Targets for Coinbase, Robinhood Stock https://www.barrons.com/articles/crypto-coinbase-robinhood-stock-price-target-71f031b2 The article discusses a recent surge in crypto trading activity, prompting an analyst from Needham & Co., John Todaro, to raise price targets for Coinbase and Robinhood. Despite previous muted trading volumes, both platforms are experiencing increased activity. Todaro increased his target for Coinbase to $420 and for Robinhood to $52, while maintaining a Buy rating. The appointment of Donald Trump and his regulatory policy changes favoring the crypto industry are seen as beneficial for these companies. SEC leadership changes and Trump's pro-crypto stance are expected to promote new products and trading on these platforms, with Robinhood aiming to be a leader in crypto and options trading by 2027 and equities by 2029. Bitcoin has reached record highs, motivating a resurgence in trading activity after a period of relative quiet.Simple Data Toolkit - Tutorial - IEEE Events API - PythonSimple Data Toolkit provides an unofficial API for reading events from the IEEE API. (At the time of this writing, the release of this is pending for complete support, but it is coming soon) To retrieve all events in Python, using Simple Data Toolkit, we can do the following:
from sdtk import com_sdtk_api_IEEEAPI,com_sdtk_calendar_IEEEEventFormat
def printer(data, reader):
ieee = com_sdtk_calendar_IEEEEventFormat.instance
for event in reader.toArrayOfNativeMaps(None):
ci = ieee.read(event)
print(ci.summary)
com_sdtk_api_IEEEAPI.eventsAPI().retrieveData({"limit": "2"}, printer)
We can search using the following parameters:
- limit - The limit to the number of events to return
- start - The start datetime to search
- end - The end datetime to search
The columns supported at the time of this writing are:
- created-at mapped to created
- start-time mapped to start
- end-time mapped to end
- title mapped to summary
- uid mapped to uidAtotium News - Business Aggregate - 2025-01-09Lenovo debuts a Snapdragon desktop PC that’s compact and affordable
https://www.pcworld.com/article/2566689/lenovo-debuts-a-snapdragon-desktop-pc-thats-compact-and-affordable.html
Lenovo has introduced the IdeaCentre Mini x, a small-form-factor desktop PC powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X CPU, which was previously available only in laptops. This new device is priced at $659.99 and is expected to ship in April 2025. It measures 7.68 x 7.52 x 1.68 inches, making it a compact desktop computer. The internal hardware options include either a Snapdragon X Plus or Snapdragon X chip, with up to 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM and up to 1TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage. It also features HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a ports for external displays, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and three USB-A ports (two supporting 10Gbps speeds). While not designed for gaming, the IdeaCentre Mini x should be suitable for everyday office work due to its compact design and powerful specifications.
Paychex to buy rival Paycor in $4.1 bln deal to expand AI-driven HR products
https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/paychex-buy-payroll-firm-paycor-41-bln-deal-2025-01-07
Paychex, a human resources management firm based in Rochester, New York, announced it will acquire Paycor, another payroll processing company from Cincinnati, for approximately $4.1 billion in cash. The acquisition aims to enhance Paychex's AI capabilities and expand its market share. Paychex CEO John Gibson stated that the deal complements their existing services and will provide new growth opportunities.
This transaction is part of a broader trend of consolidation within the payroll and HR industry, as evidenced by earlier deals such as ADP’s acquisition of WorkForce Software for $1.2 billion in cash. Following the announcement, Paychex's stock price increased slightly, while Paycor's share price fell modestly due to investor skepticism.
The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025 and has been approved by both companies as well as private equity firm Apax Partners, which currently owns a significant portion of Paycor.
Microsoft inks strategic partnerships to make India’s core sectors AI-first
https://news.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-inks-strategic-partnerships-to-make-indias-core-sectors-ai-first/
Detailed information about the partnerships between various organizations and Microsoft in the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital transformation. These collaborations highlight the growing importance of AI in different sectors, from healthcare to education, and underscore the potential for transformative change that can be driven through strategic alliances. These partnerships represent a significant step towards leveraging AI for societal good. By fostering collaboration between educational institutions, healthcare providers, government entities, and tech giants like Microsoft, these efforts aim to create a more skilled, innovative, and equitable future. The emphasis on inclusivity and ethical practices ensures that the benefits of AI are accessible to all segments of society.
Even With an Office Glut, Firms Can’t Find the Kind of Space They Want
https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/commercial/real-estate-office-vacancies-shortages-1b640791
The article highlights a stark contrast in the U.S. office market between prime and subprime office spaces. In summary, the U.S. office market is experiencing a bifurcated recovery.
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