Legacy, as we all know, is a Gouda-style cheese made in Missouri. Its distinctive, creamy flavor pairs well with champagne, just like this newsletter! Meanwhile today's cheddline-makers are all intent on preserving their reputations into the future: - Starbucks Goes Back to Basics
- Russia fines Google $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
- LA Dodgers Win 8th World Series Title in The Yankees' Backyard
- WaPo F***s Around, Finds Out As Subscriber Loss Reaches a Quarter Million After Non-Endorsement
- Disney Nabs Grammys from CBS for $500 Million
Leave only footprints. Take only pictures. Cheddar out! —Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor P.S. we've got a 3D printed bathroom made from recycled plastic on our Instagram! |
|
|
"A lot of people would have forgotten about the Harris endorsement slated to run in the newspaper. Few will forget about the decision not to publish it." — Erik Wemple |
|
|
1. Starbucks Goes Back to Basics |
One of my favorite things while working at Starbucks was when a customer would come in and say, "I just want a regular cup of coffee." And I'd say, "sure, I can do that," and then give them a tall drip. End of story.
New CEO Brian Niccol is making a bunch of changes to "rejuvenate the brand" and turn around tanking profits. Many of them could be summed up as "back to basics."
Among a bunch of other things, Starbucks will eliminate the extra charge for non-dairy milks like almond, soy, coconut, and oat milk. They'll refocus on being the "Third Place," restoring Starbucks as a community space. They have plans to make cafes more inviting, reintroduce personal touches like coffee served in ceramic mugs for in-cafe consumption, and redesign stores to encourage lingering. They'll revert to handwriting names on cups, a practice that was replaced by printed labels in recent years. They're also aiming to reduce the wait time in cafes to four minutes or less.
These and other strategic shifts are aimed at boosting Starbucks' market position by improving customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and maintaining a strong brand identity centered around quality coffee and a welcoming atmosphere. You'd think it would be straightforward to do that, really. But when you're a company as big as Starbucks has become, it's a bit of a challenge to turn the supertanker around. Read More |
|
|
2. Russia fines Google $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Russia has issued an extraordinarily large fine against Google, demanding over 2 undecillion rubles because Google refused to pay earlier fines related to blocking pro-Russian channels on YouTube. This amount is significantly higher than the global economy's total value of $110 trillion.
Despite the enormity of the fine, a Kremlin spokesperson suggested the amount is symbolic, emphasizing the importance of not restricting Russian broadcasters. Google, on its part, acknowledged the legal issues in Russia in its recent earnings report but indicated that it does not expect these issues to have a significant financial impact. Sounds like they're not planning to pay the fine.
Since Russia's full invasion of Ukraine, Google has scaled back its operations in Russia but has not completely left the country, continuing to offer services like Search and YouTube. Additionally, Google's Russia subsidiary declared bankruptcy following the seizure of its bank accounts by the Russian government. Read More |
|
|
| This innovative design, known as The Throne, is a 3D-printed bathroom made from recycled plastic. Developed by Spanish design studio Nagami, it composts solid waste and can be produced in just three days using advanced 3D printing technology. |
|
|
3. LA Dodgers Win 8th World Series Title in Yankees' Backyard |
The Los Angeles Dodgers claimed their eighth World Series title in franchise history this week, their first win since 2020, by defeating the New York Yankees in an exciting Game 5.
Overcoming a five-run deficit, the Dodgers staged the largest comeback to clinch a World Series, ending the game at 7-6. They overcame early Yankees home runs and exploited fielding errors. Yankees' errors in the fifth inning led to five unearned runs for the Dodgers, tying the game.
Dodger Freddie Freeman was named World Series MVP thanks to his exceptional performance throughout the series. Los Angeles celebrated their monumental win at Yankee Stadium, with plans for a victory parade in L.A. In other words they didn't fancy hanging around in New York to do their partying, which is probably a good idea. Read More |
|
|
4. WaPo F***s Around, Finds Out as Subscriber Loss Reaches a Quarter Million After Non-Endorsement |
The Washington Post has seen a significant decrease in its subscriber count, losing at least 250,000 digital subscribers, which is about 10% of its digital audience.
The paper itself reported on the numbers after publicizing a decision last Friday not to endorse a presidential candidate — quashing its planned endorsement of Kamala Harris. This situation is somewhat mirrored by the Los Angeles Times, which also faced subscription cancellations after its own non-endorsement decision, though not to the extent of the Washington Post's losses.
The owner of the Washington Post, Jeff Bezos, has said that presidential endorsements could lead to perceived bias without significantly influencing reader votes. His main regret, he has said, is publicizing the decision during a highly charged election period, especially since there was an editorial prepared endorsing Kamala Harris, which was eventually not published.
"A lot of people would have forgotten about the Harris endorsement slated to run in the newspaper," the Post's media critic, Erik Wemple, wrote. "Few will forget about the decision not to publish it." Read More |
|
|
5. Disney Nabs Grammys From CBS for $500 Million |
Disney has successfully secured the broadcast rights for the Grammy Awards with a landmark $500 million deal, ending the Grammys' 54-year association with CBS.
That's odd, isn't it: half a billion dollars to televise an awards show, but it is what it is. The prestigious music awards will be aired on ABC, Disney+, and Hulu from 2027. The agreement, announced by Disney and the Recording Academy, is set for a decade. CBS's exclusive negotiation window with the Recording Academy closed without an agreement, allowing Disney to step in. The move adds to Disney's portfolio of broadcasting rights, which includes the Country Music Association Awards since 2006 and the Oscars since 1976. Disney's acquisition enhances its live event offerings, a vital aspect of the modern entertainment industry.
I don't understand why people care so much about who wins all the prizes, personally — particularly when the list of amazing albums the Grammys failed to recognize is extensive. You tune in for three and a half hours to watch Milli Vanilli win best new artist...or that time in 1989 when Jethro Tull beat Metallica for best Hard Rock or Metal performance. Jazz fluuuuuuuuute! Read More |
|
|
| So, What Do You Think of Cheddar?
|
We want to hear from you! From shows to site to this very newsletter, we'd love some feedback. |
|
|
|
