Beenleigh There, Done That |
People often email Cheddquarters to tell me, "Matt, I realize you write this incredible newsletter which I love, particularly for your incredible cheese-puns AND your politics, which are in no way controversial to me. But also, you're a cool cat, you know?" And I just sigh and write back, like, "cool is my middle name, friend, don't wear it out." Even though my middle name is CHARLES. It's at times like these that I'm also particularly grateful I've Beenleigh around the block a few times. Because otherwise I'd get a big head. Also, "these city hotels are the epitome of cool," I tell them in case they need ideas on where to stay next time they're in the big smoke with the hep cats. Meanwhile, as we all know, Beenleigh Blue cheese is made from pasteurized sheep's milk at Ticklemore (who couldn't use more tickles?) Cheese Dairy in Totnes, England. Its fresh and lemony sweetness makes it perfect for a prominent position on any cheese board (just like this newsletter). The cheddlines: —Matt Davis, N2K Chedditor P.S. We've got footage of a dancing supercar on our 'gram! |
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"Siri will be able to look at your screen and see what you're seeing." — Emma Roth |
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1. These City Hotels Are the Epitome of Cool |
In America's concrete jungles, there are enclaves so hip they could make the front page of the Coolville Gazette. Take, for example, the Austin Proper Hotel, where the vibe is so potent you could bottle it. At Drift Palm Springs, the desert heat is made bearable by Baja beats and refreshing mezcal. These oases of cool aren't just places to crash; they're bastions of trendsetting lifestyles. Better yet, in case your subscription to the CG lapsed, the Sunset Travel Awards have rounded up these and other best city hotels for you. The article is a magnum opus to the traveling avant-garde. It's also linked right here on the Internet. You don't even need to be a VIP! Read More |
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2. Billionaire Leads First Private Spacewalk |
Four civilians embarked on an ambitious space odyssey dubbed the Polaris Dawn mission aboard a modified SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule yesterday, ascending from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in the wee hours.
The mission's benefactor — billionaire Jared Isaacman — and his select crew of a retired airman and two seasoned SpaceX engineers plan to push the bounds of private space travel. Their journey will take them further from Earth than humans have dared since Apollo's heyday, peaking at an elliptical orbit 800 miles above our planet's surface.
The first private spacewalk is a groundbreaking trial of SpaceX's new spacesuit technology. On their third day in space, all four astronauts are set to don these sleek suits, depressurize their spacecraft, and embark on an estimated 20-minute extravehicular ballet at an altitude of 400 miles. Meanwhile, what are you up to this Friday?
Their quest will add to our understanding of cosmic radiation and the void's effects on human health, collecting invaluable data to fuel humanity's insatiable drive towards the stars. Really, though, it's for bragging rights. You've got to spend those billions somehow, Jared. Right? Read More |
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| Ever seen a car jump?
Check out the BYD YangWang U9, the "dancing supercar" from Tesla's biggest rival.
This car isn't just fast—it can actually dance and jump. With 1,287 horsepower and 1,680 Nm of torque, it goes from 0-60 mph in just 2 seconds.
Its custom chassis helps it handle corners and brakes with precision. |
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3. How Starbucks' CEO Thinks He Can Turn the Place Around |
Starbucks' newly appointed CEO, Brian "I Take a Private Jet To The Office Occasionally" Niccol, has swiftly outlined his strategic priorities aimed at revitalizing the iconic coffee chain. He wants to focus first on the U.S. business before addressing international challenges.
Acknowledging the current decline in the brand's allure and customer service inconsistencies, Niccol, in an open letter to stakeholders, pinpointed four key areas demanding immediate attention. First, enhancing the barista experience; second, improving morning service efficiency; third, rejuvenating the cafe ambiance; fourth, refining the company's branding.
In my experience as a Starbucks barista, it's also very important to make sure that nobody is shooting heroin in the bathrooms. Although, frankly, that often proved easier said than done, and I'm going to say it probably falls under "rejuvenating the cafe ambiance." Literally, I'd say to the guy, "you're not going to shoot heroin in the bathroom today, are you?" And he would say "no." And then guess what he went and did. Like, several times!
Advancements in technology will be leveraged to better baristas' work conditions, streamline the supply chain, and enrich the app and mobile ordering system. Later, Niccol plans to pivot towards bolstering Starbucks' presence in international markets, notably China — its second-largest market, which is struggling post-pandemic. Read More |
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You Need 2 Know About This Box!
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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. |
Note: Sadly does not contain any cheese. |
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4. Are Apple's Announcements Enough For You To Upgrade? |
Perhaps, according to The Verge's Emma Roth. The new iPhone 16 comes with a visual intelligence feature where you can take a picture and then get information about it. Let's say you take a picture of a cute pooch at the park. Now, "you can get prices on dog breeds; you can get locations, phone numbers, addresses, websites at the touch of a button," Emma said.
The cameras are also better. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have upgraded to 48 megapixel telephoto and ultra-wide lenses. Siri also got creepier. "Siri will be able to look at your screen and see what you're seeing," Emma said. "And it'll be able to help you based on what's on your screen. Let's say if you want it to help you write an email, it'll use the context of what's on your screen to help you with that."
Should you upgrade? "If you're somebody who really loves taking pictures and is really interested in that capability, like visual intelligence, to take pictures of something and then get information about it, I would say that it is worth upgrading for that," Emma said. "However, I think some of the other things, like some of the other upgrades, weren't so major. So, if you can live without some of the like the visual intelligence, stuff like that, I would say stick with your current phone."
What do you think? Email me with your definitive opinions. Read More |
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5. Robot Resumes Mission To Retrieve Nuke Fuel From Fukushima Reactor |
Sure, AI can be useful, helping you get prices on new dogs with your new iPhone, but what about totally useless things like helping to decommission a nuclear power plant after an accident? Well, robots can do things like that, too!
A specialized robot has recommenced its delicate mission to gather remnants of melted fuel debris from one of the stricken reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. It's a critical step in the monumental, multi-decade decommissioning process triggered by the catastrophic 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
The robot's previous attempt was thwarted by a mishap with the arrangement of its extending pipe mechanism, a mistake that the Tokyo Electric Power Company attributes to oversights in checking and communication. Also, to the robot being "dumb" and "stupid." Joke.
Having rectified the procedural errors, the robot is now back on track to procure a minute sample of the hazardous material — less than 3 grams from an estimated 880 tons of radioactive fuel. The extracted sample is key to devising effective methods for the eventual full-scale cleanup, a project that TEPCO and the Japanese government aim to complete within 30 to 40 years. By then, maybe AI on your iPhone will also be able to do other stuff like order takeout on your behalf and predict what you'd actually like to eat. Read More |
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| So, What Do You Think of Cheddar?
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