Aug 13, 2024

It's All Gone a Bit Rumi

Rumi, as we all know, is a type of hard cheese from Egypt made from a blend of cow's and water buffalo's milk, sprinkled with fine Sufi poetry. It is characterized by a sharp, salty flavor, a bit like this newsletter. And thank goodness the stock market behaved itself yesterday after last week, which means there's only another four days to go now, before we can all relax forever. Because it's not like it must all begin again next Monday and every Monday into the future until the inevitable collapse of civilization. Is it, Bueller? Bueller?

The Cheddlines:

Also, Donald Trump made his first post in a year on Twitter yesterday. I'm sure that'll be a low-drama story with zero intrigue over the coming months but just in case, we'll keep an eye on it for ya. Mkay?

—Matt Davis, N2K Chedditor

P.S. Who's in for some '90s nostalgia? Airbnb rebuilt a full-size Polly Pocket house on our Instagram.

P.P.S. Reader Ryan W sent me an email saying how funny my cheese puns are. I said thanks. Then he said, "crazy question for you, do you guys ever do like a 'musical spotlight' or 'artist' of the month or anything along those lines?" And I said, "no, Ryan, we literally never do that." Because we're a business and technology focused brand. But then, Ryan said, here's his mate's website. So: Go check it out, I guess, because we really are that easily manipulated? "I just want to help him get noticed," Ryan said. He sounds like a very nice person and a very good friend. Want to manipulate me into mentioning something off-topic? Email me! And use the subject line: "Journalistic integrity." Also do not send money using Cash App because it's not secure, apparently. And I am definitely not bribable for any sum under $9,999, which is like a dollar under money-laundering-reporting regulations for financial transfers, although it does admittedly leave a dollar-size "sweet spot" for people like Ryan's mate to exploit in the future.

Quote of the Day

"It's a no-brainer when it was like, okay, who's going to do a zero stout? It's got to be Guinness."—Laura Merritt

Read the story

1. How the 2024 Election Could Shape Venture Capital and Tech Trends

We spoke with Jordan Nof, co-founder and managing partner of Tusk Ventures, who described, not entirely approvingly, the "relentless scrutiny around every transaction by big tech" under the current administration. When Google, Amazon and Microsoft want to buy a smaller company, but the Biden administration blocks those moves for regulatory reasons, "the venture capital early-stage market is completely dependent on those types of transactions to occur for us to get liquidity and return capital back to our investors," he said.

So, he's for Trump?

Not so fast. Kamala Harris's entry into the race has "definitely had an impact," he said. "We've seen a lot of really high-profile names in the venture capital, the early stage market, throw their support behind the Democratic Party."

"At one point, the perception that a lot of early-stage investors had was that life was just better whenever Donald Trump was in office than whenever Joe Biden is now, and they're just going to vote with their pocketbooks," he said. But that's changed. "A group called VCs for Kamala Harris, led by Reid Hoffman, Mark Cuban and others, they wrote an open letter. More than 600 joined them on a Zoom call supporting Kamala Harris. They say we are pro-business, pro–American Dream, pro entrepreneurship, pro technological process. They are really coming in behind Kamala Harris. And overall, what they say is no chaos is good for business. And that's why they support the Harris ticket in the end."

So, he's for Harris?

At the end of the day, "no chaos" is "what every investor wants," Nof said. "You can remove uncertainty, and you know, any type of uncertainty, any type of risk, you're materially better off. And so, you know, I think that the market right now, they want certainty around rates, they want certainty around the election."

In that case, it's a good job the outcome of the election is already predetermined hahahah. Kidding. Watch Now

2. Meltdown at Cheddar HQ as Chuck E. Cheese Launches $7.99 Monthly Membership

As we all know, the co-founder of Atari, Nolan Bushnell, founded Chuck E. Cheese in the 1970s to bring pizza, games, and entertainment all under one roof, whereas before you had to go to different roofs to experience each one. The "E," I think, stands for "entertainment," although it could equally stand for "ecstasy" if that word didn't also have sinister John Mulaney–type connotations these days, and our dreams were still pure here in America.

The firm declared bankruptcy during the Covid pandemic, but now they're back with a monthly subscription program aimed at providing an affordable entertainment solution for families amid rising inflation.

The pass allows for daily game play at the family entertainment chain, depending on the chosen subscription tier, and offers an additional discount on food and drinks. With prices starting at $7.99 per month for 40 games per visit and a 20% discount on food and drinks, the program has three tiers, capping at $29.99 per month for 250 games and a 50% food and drink discount.

By my calculations that means you could save thousands of dollars on pizza if you were only also willing to also spend thousands of dollars on pizza. The subscription program has seen strong demand, with 350,000 passes sold during a trial phase across some of its 450 U.S. and Canada locations. That's, like, $3 million bucks' worth of passes.

The move reflects a broader trend among restaurants and chains leveraging subscription services to boost loyalty and secure a steady income stream, despite potential consumer hesitancy over accumulating too many subscription services.

My only question: Why haven't I you already subscribed to the $30-a-month plan? Read More

From @cheddar

Who's in for some '90s nostalgia? 🏠✨ Airbnb is celebrating Polly Pocket's 35th birthday by offering a life-size of the 1994 Slumber Party Fun Compact for sleepovers in Littleton, Massachusetts.

The 42-foot-tall vintage compact has been transformed into a unique home for up to four guests. Starting August 21, guests will be greeted by Polly's friends and can enjoy activities like trying on Polly's clothes, indulging in '90s snacks, and getting glammed up at her vanity.

In the evening, they can watch movies and choose to sleep on a pull-out couch or in the life-size Action Park Tent with sleeping mats and bags.

Follow @cheddar on Instagram!

3. Harris Backs Trump's No-Tip Tax Plan

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but in a tight election year, it can also amount to pragmatism. Maybe that's why Vice President Kamala Harris has got on board with a plan suggested months ago by former President Donald Trump to exempt tips from federal income taxes, targeting service-industry workers.

The tax policy has become a focal point for both politicians, particularly in Nevada, a state crucial for the presidential election and known for its large number of tipped workers, most notably in Las Vegas. The proposal has gained traction among service workers and significant support from the major union representing them.

However, economists and tax policy experts from both sides of the political spectrum have raised concerns about the potential fiscal consequences of such a tax exemption. They warn it could exacerbate the federal deficit, negatively impact Social Security and Medicare, and potentially open loopholes for higher-income individuals to evade taxes. Like there weren't already enough of those. Critics argue the proposal lacks detailed planning and may lead to more complex issues than it aims to solve. Then again, a vote is a vote. Read More

You Need 2 Know About This Box!

Meet the Sunset Box, a quarterly subscription service sending home, wellness, and travel goodies straight to your doorstep, curated by editors at mag Sunset, the Western-lifestyle magazine that just so happens to be a sister company of ours.

Since you clearly have good taste (you're an N2K subscriber, after all), we think you'll love this box. Use code CHEDDAR15 for 15% off your subscription.

Gimme the Box!

Note: Sadly does not contain any cheese.

4. Why Ready-to-Drink Cocktail Sales Are Exploding

Not literally exploding. Those are Molotov cocktails, and as we've just learned, you shouldn't drink those. Diageo's Laura Merritt, their president of beer (dope title!) and premix division (eh), joined us to explain why the company believes RTD (that's Ready to Detonate, right?) cocktails are trending well with consumers. Hint: Because after three of them, you'll not be able to mix anything, other than your metaphors, vowels, consonants, and possibly the names of your current romantic partner(s) with those of your exes. Watch out!

"The pandemic kicked off this entire maturation with cocktails and cocktail making," she said. "But we're all back to work and we're having to leave the house. So, we're a little pressured for time. People still want those cocktails, but they're looking for shortcuts."

Sign me up. Diageo has more than 200 brands of alcohol, and for the ~~WMDs~~ RTDs, they've got Crown Royal, they've got Ketel One, they've got Tanqueray.

"We are actually using our best brands in these because when you have a ready-to-serve item, that's not something you want to take a chance on," she said.

On the other hand, after a couple you might want to take a chance on texting the wrong people the magic words: "You up?"

Meanwhile, Guinness Zero is moving fast. "This is a brand that's been around since 1759, so hundreds of years of history," she said. "And it is alone in its class. And so, it's a no-brainer when it was like, okay, who's going to do a zero stout? It's got to be Guinness," she said.

"It's much lighter than people think," she said. "It has the fewer carbs, it has fewer calories."

True facts. It's also much easier to drink five in a row, although in my personal experience I can tell you, 3.5 Guinness Zeroes is the threshold for room-clearing flatulence. Then again, I also went to Mexico when I was 22 and came back with what I'm assuming must be some kind of parasite, which you are welcome to blame for all misfired cheese puns and political opinions. So please: Experiment for yourselves. Read More

5. Disney Unveils New Avatar & Star Wars Films

I'm hereby offering a Cheddal (it's like a medal) for the most outlandish stream-crossing, dead-horse-flogging rehashing of Disney's Marvel and Star Wars franchises. Hulk vs. Skywalker? Deadpool vs. Vader? Lobot vs. Molecule Man? Gonk vs. the Silver Surfer?

Still. Money talks. And in completely unrelated news, Disney has announced significant updates to its Avatar and Star Wars franchises at its D23 fan gathering in California. Filmmaker James Cameron revealed the name of the next "Avatar" installment, "Avatar: Fire and Ash" (that's no "Judgment Day," JC), set for release in December 2025.

Cameron teased that the new film would offer "unexpected content" but would "ultimately satisfy fans." I'm hearing that it'll be original but just derivative enough to continue the fiscal record of the previous two films with their combined earnings of $5.2 billion.

For Star Wars enthusiasts, new footage was shared for the upcoming film featuring characters from the "Mandalorian" series, including the beloved Baby Yoda, whose name, I know, is not technically Baby Yoda. The new movie is scheduled for release in May 2026 and marks the first Star Wars film since "The Rise of Skywalker" in 2019. Disney aims to revitalize the Star Wars cinematic presence after a pause due to diminishing box office returns. You think they'd have taken the hint by now, but evidently the Force is not with them.

The event also showcased future projects including "Moana 2" and Pixar's upcoming films "Hoppers" and "Toy Story 5," which we're pretty sure will be subtitled "Woody vs. a Fidget Spinner." Read More