The Data Examiner 03/05/2023

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WWE vs THE S&P 500

The market’s getting absolutely bodied by pro wrestling: While 2022’s been a year of crimson red for much of the market, World Wrestling Entertainment has been flexing its muscles. What’s happening? Because the company’s revenue primarily comes from long-term media rights deals and live events, it isn’t particularly impacted by the advertising slump now hurting many other media companies. With its devoted global fanbase, investors are eyeing WWE as a hot acquisition target at a time when niche sports are on the rise, per Axios. (Think Formula One, for instance.) With TV rights deals with Fox and Comcast set to expire in 2024, and an exclusive streaming deal with Peacock ending in 2026, expect there to be a media wrestling match for the next home of WWE content.

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Ad Spend Is Diversifying

For the first time since 2014, Meta and Google are on track to represent less than half of U.S. digital advertising spend, grabbing 48.4% of the market this year, per Axios. The space has grown especially crowded, partly out of necessity, as Apple’s privacy changes have made it harder for companies to track activity across apps and target ads. Though billed as a push for privacy, Apple has seemingly used the move as an opportunity to build out its own ad network across its apps. Other platforms and retailers with reliable first-party data have also launched their own ad services, including Uber, 7-11, Walmart, CVS, Chewy, Home Depot, Dollar Tree, Marriott, and more, further crowding the market. There’s also TikTok, expected to earn $8.6B in ad revenue in 2024 – and Amazon, which has done what Amazon does best, building a $30B+ advertising business on top of its retail and media offerings.

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Tesla Stock Performance

Despite these challenges, Tesla remains the dominant EV maker globally, with head starts in consumer EVs, semis, battery production, and charging. The company produced 930K EVs in the first nine months of 2022. For comparison, Ford sold 41.2K.

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Major U.S. Power Outages

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Antarctic Sea Ice Is Slipping Again

The Data Examiner – (Notable) Remarks:

** If you’re going to die on the street, San Francisco is not a bad place to do it. The fog keeps things temperate. There’s nowhere in the world with more beautiful views. City workers and volunteers bring you food and blankets, needles and tents. Doctors come to see how the fentanyl is progressing, and to make sure the rest of you is all right as you go. —- Nellie Bowles

** In this atmosphere a normal upstanding Republican or a normal accomplished conservative would beat whatever the Democratic ticket is. It is only Mr. Trump who would surely lose. He lost in 2020 by seven million votes with a growing economy and no inflation – and that was before the events of 1/6. America isn’t going to elect him again. They’re not going to let that guy back in that house. Because everyone knows it: Let Donald Trump back there and he’ll do a 1/6 again. Because while his followers love America, he doesn’t. He likes it as far as it goes, appreciates it as the stage for his greatness, but beyond that … Trump voters: Call an audible again. Look at the field and the facts, be strategic. Donald Trump, in the 2016 primaries, tended to win with about a third of the vote. In a field of 17 that was enough. It’s looking like the GOP field could be larger than expected in 2024, and of course Mr. Trump could run again and win the nomination again. It will be easier for him if past Trump voters fail to think strategically, and if donors big and small don’t move early to winnow the field. —- Peggy Noonan

** Raising interest rates sharply to cool demand for goods and services could very well cause a recession. If the Fed were to stop at this rate increase, the risk would be small, but that’s not the plan: According to projections released on Wednesday, the median expectation among members of the Federal Open Market Committee is for the top end of the target range for the federal funds rate to reach nearly 3.5% by the end of this year, up from 1.75% now and 0.25% when the year started. Investors are clearly worried. For most of the period since the global financial crisis of 2007 to 2009, stocks tended to rise, on average, when interest rates went up. Why? One theory is that inflation was a distant concern and higher rates tended to reflect optimism about economic growth. —- Peter Coy

“Intel for Influencers” – Who Reads The Data Examiner?

Prominent Rabbi David Wolpe along with 12 members of the White House staff, 3 Nobel Prize winners, over 100 Academy Award winners, 6 U.S. Senators, and over 300 Grammy Award winners.

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The Data Examiner – Bookkeeping:

** Remote work is costing Manhattan more than $12B per year, according to a study. READ

** Michael Jordan donates $10M to Make-A-Wish foundation, the largest donation ever from an individual in the organization’s 43-year history. READ

** Kitchen appliances brand Cosori recalls 2 million air fryers over fire hazard. READ

** East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment toxins killed 43,000 fish and animals. READ

** Welsh family’s 14.21-pound sunflower head breaks their own world record. READ

The Data Examiner – Readers Have Spoken:

DO YOU THINK COVID-19 ESCAPED FROM A LAB IN WUHAN, CHINA?

We asked Examiner readers in all 50 of the United States and in 26 foreign countries for their thoughts. The Data Examiner readers have spoken.

The Data Examiner:

Junk Fees Explained

Junk fees “add up to hundreds of dollars a month,” President Joe Biden said in his State of the Union address. A Junk Fee Prevention Act would ban or reduce several of them – but what are they? Ever book a hotel at what seems like a decent price, only to realize there’s also a “resort fee”? That’s a junk fee – an added cost that pops up when it’s time to pay. Some other examples: 1. Service fees when buying event tickets; one review found that sports tickets can rack up service, delivery, and other fees that amount to 50% of their face value. 2. Fees airlines charge for families to sit together. 3. Early termination fees for TV, internet, and phone services, which can exceed $200. 4. Hotel resort fees, which average ~$42 per night, cover amenities like Wi-Fi, gyms, and pools – even if you don’t use them. It’s often hard to avoid these fees because they’re not included in the upfront price, and in some cases – like when buying event tickets – buyers have few alternatives.

SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE MEDIUM:

Whatever else social media may do, it makes nearly everything performative. Of course, not all of us with Twitter, Instagram or TikTok accounts are there to perform. Yet the truth of Marshall McLuhan’s famous dictum “The medium is the message” seems unavoidable. The medium trumps our personal intentions.

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The Data Examiner – Worth A Look:

1. Jewelry Designer Erin Flynn
     2. Nick Computer Network Expert
3. Nutritionist Samantha Grant
           4. Author Nova Wallace Bipolar Bears

The Data Examiner – A Different View:…

The Data Examiner Disclaimer: 1.) The Data Examiner accepts no liability for the content of this email, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. The Data Examiner is not associated with any commercial or political organization and is transmitted via the web for the sole benefit of its subscribers. 2.) Unfortunately, computer viruses can be transmitted via email. The recipient should check this mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses.

The Data Examiner 02/26/2023

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It’s An Exciting Time For Board Games

It’s an exciting time for board games. Over 3K new ones debut annually, per online forum BoardGameGeek, with the global market estimated between $11B and $13.4B. The space has seen a boom in recent years. Even before the pandemic, interest in venues like board game cafes was rising. And through it, sales jumped as people looked for ways to connect at home, per WSJ. While the old classics still sell, smaller game-makers are having a moment, often leveraging TikTok to market their creations. Wingspan, a gorgeous game about bird-watching, was a bestseller on Amazon in 2022.

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The High Cost Of Snow & Ice Removal

In the winter of 1979, a powerful Chicago political dynasty began to collapse. Michael A. Bilandic, a cog in Richard J. Daley’s political machine, lost the mayoral election in a stunning upset. But there was a simple reason for the defeat: Bilandic didn’t clear the snow quickly enough. After a forecast for a couple inches, a blizzard hit Chicago that January. Buses and trains didn’t run for days, residents couldn’t find anywhere to park their cars, and plows took forever to reach neighborhoods – unless you were lucky enough to live on the same block as Bilandic. The lesson? Don’t take snow lightly. Beyond closures and clogged roads, it can come with steep financial costs. According to a study from the Federal Highway Administration, the nation’s tab for snow and ice removal can be upwards of $4B per year.

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Canada’s Sweet Stuff

In 2022, Canada yielded the most syrup on record, dating all the way back to 1924. Producers made 17.4M gallons of the sticky stuff, a 53% jump from 2021, when warmer-than-ideal spring temperatures meant a shorter maple season. In 2020, the industry’s second-most prosperous year, the gross value of that year’s 14.3M-gallon yield was $413M. To meet demand, with Canada responsible for 75% of the world’s maple syrup production, the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers tapped into its strategic reserve. The warehouse, north of Montreal, holds up to 94K barrels of maple syrup, or ~5.1M gallons – almost enough to fill eight Olympic-size pools.

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Audit Rates Of Individual Tax Returns

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Populations Ages 65 And Older

The Data Examiner – (Notable) Remarks:

** Today is Ball Point Pen Day and I will not be celebrating. I effing hate ball point pens. It’s one of the few things I’m really picky about. I mean, a crappy pen that dries out in two days and ends up in landfill forever? Pass. —- April Davila

** In short, I think that without a pandemic, and an ensuing year-plus when a good deal of our interactions were virtual, America would not have entered an extended racial reckoning. It wasn’t that Black Americans were, two years ago, at some unique tipping point, nor was it that white Americans opened in an unprecedented way to hearing out Black America’s concerns from the sheer goodness of their hearts. —- John McWhorter

** There are three [things] that are happening in the U.S. right now: First, the creation of enormous amounts of debt and the printing of a lot of money. This results in inflation, which takes buying power away from people. Second, internal conflicts. Political conflict between the left and the right, the haves and the have-nots, and people with different values. And third, a great power conflict on a global stage. In 1945, the U.S. had 80% of the world’s gold, and we [accounted for] 50% of the world’s economy. And we had a monopoly on military power. And now that gap has narrowed. —- Ray Dalio is the founder and co-chief investment officer of Bridgewater, the largest hedge fund in the world, one of the 100 richest people on Earth, and a best-selling author

“Intel for Influencers” – Who Reads The Data Examiner?

Singer-songwriter Haley Williams, along with 12 members of the White House staff, 3 Nobel Prize winners, over 100 Academy Award winners, 6 U.S. Senators, and over 300 Grammy Award winners.

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The Data Examiner – Facts:

** Lowe’s successfully tested a mechanism to track and lock items with low-cost radio frequency identification chips such that power tools and other equipment will not function if they are stolen. Thefts executed by packs of robbers have garnered public attention during the crime wave of the past three years, with some retailers and convenience chains spending millions on new security measures or closing locations in dangerous cities.

** Trader Joe’s 14th annual survey crowned Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Tortilla Chips as its top product. Previous repeated winners – lookin’ at you, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups – were omitted from voting.

** Impossible Foods is reportedly planning to lay off 20% of its ~700 staff just weeks after reporting record sales in 2022.

** Ford is ramping up production and cutting the prices of its electric Mustang Mach-E, following price cuts by Tesla. Meanwhile, UK-based EV startup Arrival is laying off 50% of its staff.

** ChatGPT is apparently great at writing real estate listings. Plus, it can calculate mortgage payments.

The Data Examiner – Readers Have Spoken:

ARE RECENT DISCOVERIES OF CLASSIFIED DOCS IN OFFICIALS’ PRIVATE RESIDENCES CONCERNING?

We asked Examiner readers in all 50 of the United States and in 26 foreign countries for their thoughts. The Data Examiner readers have spoken.

The Data Examiner:

How Does A Pet Get Rich?

Like any of us, through hard work or wealthy parents. 1. Appearances: Humans and pets alike appear at fan conventions. This year’s CatCon featured meet-and-greets with “Adventure Cat Leo,” among others. 2. Merchandise: The late Grumpy Cat’s worth is unknown, but it’s estimated she brought in up to $100M through appearances and merch. 3. Sponsored social posts: Loni Edwards, founder of The Dog Agency, told Vox that pets with 100K+ followers can net a few hundred bucks per post, but those with millions can score $15K per post. 4. Inheritance: Gunther VI’s wealth is supposedly via a trust left to his ancestor, Gunther III. However, when Gunther VI sold a mansion, it was but a “brilliant stunt” by Italy’s Gunther Corporation, per Forbes. In fact, the entire thing may be a hoax … but some celebs, including Oprah Winfrey and late designer Karl Lagerfeld, have placed hefty sums in trusts to ensure their pets will be cared for after their deaths.

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The Data Examiner – Reader Comment:
by Alan Ascher

As a long-time reader of the Examiner, I would like to call your attention to a new “discovery” I made of the Mark Cuban Drug Company, costplusdrugs.com. He features many prescribed drugs at very low prices. For example, I take a popular Parkinson’s medication called Ropinirole-HCL-ex Requip 4mg. Its retail is $428. With my supplemental insurance, the price lowers to $160. Going through Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus, I now pay only $37. This is for a 90-day supply. Readers may want to check this out!

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The Data Examiner Disclaimer: 1.) The Data Examiner accepts no liability for the content of this email, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. The Data Examiner is not associated with any commercial or political organization and is transmitted via the web for the sole benefit of its subscribers. 2.) Unfortunately, computer viruses can be transmitted via email. The recipient should check this mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses.

The Data Examiner 02/19/2023

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Job Scams By Quarter

Job fraudsters are luring laid-off workers into offering up money or sensitive personal information with phony companies, job postings, websites, and interviews, per The Wall Street Journal. Many of those being targeted are unemployed tech workers. The broader tech industry experienced a jump in layoffs throughout 2022, totaling ~154K, and has already seen 21K+ layoffs this year, according to Layoffs.fyi. LinkedIn claims it blocked 20M+ fake accounts in the first half of 2022, up 33% from 2021. The volume and economic impact of these scams have skyrocketed. In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission reported U.S. workers lost more than $209M from job opportunity fraud, up from $118M in 2018. In just the first three quarters of 2022, workers lost $250M.

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Starbucks Just Passed 30M U.S. Users

Free drinks, queue-skipping privileges, bonus days and even a birthday treat have kept the Starbucks Rewards members engaged, as it’s grown into one of the largest loyalty programs in the country. Indeed, since Starbucks started rewarding dollars spent in 2016 (rather than visits accrued) membership for the Starbucks Rewards program has rocketed. The coffee giant now counts some 30.4 million active members for the program in the U.S., meaning that ~12%, or nearly one-in-eight, American adults are loyal members of the club.

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Wikipedia Fundraising By Year

“Please don’t scroll past this one-minute read.” If you go to Wikipedia this month, you may be served a mildly urgent-sounding appeal for money that begins something like that. With 16B monthly visits, most people scroll past these notes without blinking twice. Yet, interestingly, their wording was recently the subject of intense debate among Wikipedia’s volunteer contributors. Many felt the message’s original language, which supposedly gave off the impression that Wikipedia was on the verge of utter financial doom, was unethical given the reality of Wikipedia’s strong financial situation, per Slate. The messages are crafted by the nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation, which, in the fiscal year 2022 alone, has raised $165.2M across ~13M+ donations. Between 2004 and 2020, the assets on its balance sheet grew from $57K to $180M. In the end, the foundation and contributors were able to find common ground. In part, one of the notes now reads, “If you can comfortably afford it this year, please join the readers who donate.”

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General Electric Rose And Then Fell In Three Stages

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Terrorism As A Share Of Total Deaths

The Data Examiner – (Notable) Remarks:

** I would rather have questions that can’t be answered than answers that can’t be questioned. —- Richard Feynman, theoretical physicist and recipient of the Nobel Prize in physics in 1965

** What would it have been like to live in Babel in the days after its destruction? In the Book of Genesis, we are told that the descendants of Noah built a great city in the land of Shinar. They built a tower “with its top in the heavens” to “make a name” for themselves. God was offended by the hubris of humanity and said: Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another’s speech. The text does not say that God destroyed the tower, but in many popular renderings of the story he does, so let’s hold that dramatic image in our minds: people wandering amid the ruins, unable to communicate, condemned to mutual incomprehension. The story of Babel is the best metaphor I have found for what happened to America in the 2010s, and for the fractured country we now inhabit. Something went terribly wrong, very suddenly. We are disoriented, unable to speak the same language or recognize the same truth. We are cut off from one another and from the past. It’s been clear for quite a while now that red America and blue America are becoming like two different countries claiming the same territory, with two different versions of the Constitution, economics, and American history. But Babel is not a story about tribalism; it’s a story about the fragmentation of everything. It’s about the shattering of all that had seemed solid, the scattering of people who had been a community. It’s a metaphor for what is happening not only between red and blue, but within the left and within the right, as well as within universities, companies, professional associations, museums, and even families. —- Jonathan Haidt

“Intel for Influencers” – Who Reads The Data Examiner?

Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes, along with 12 members of the White House staff, 3 Nobel Prize winners, over 100 Academy Award winners, 6 U.S. Senators, and over 300 Grammy Award winners.

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The Data Examiner – Facts:

** Mattress review site Sleep Junkie is hiring five “dairy dreamers” to record the impact of eating various cheeses before bed on sleep quality and dreams. The three-month assignment pays $1K and, of course, cheese.

** The average paperback costs about $18 and takes about five hours to read. That’s $3.60 per hour.

** Tesla reported record Q4 earnings of ~$3.7B, up 59% YoY, despite flagging delivery growth. READ

** The Washington Post, owned by Jeff Bezos, laid off 20 journalists and shuttered its gaming vertical. READ

Bertha Mae’s Brownies:

100 years after Bertha Mae’s birth, we decided to share this recipe with the world and Bertha Mae’s Brownie Co. was born.

www.berthamaesbrownies.com

Examiner – Readers Have Spoken:

DO YOU EXPECT THE U.S. AND CHINA TO GO TO WAR WITHIN THIS DECADE?

We asked Examiner readers in all 50 of the United States and in 26 foreign countries for their thoughts. The Data Examiner readers have spoken.

The Data Examiner:

Drivers Crash Into 7-Elevens Daily

This isn’t strictly a 7-Eleven problem. The Storefront Safety Council, a group of volunteers who raise awareness about vehicle-in-building crashes, maintains a database of them. It found: Each day, 100+ drivers crash into storefronts nationwide. Every year, 16K people are injured and 2.6K are killed. 9% were “ram raids” – when someone crashes into a store on purpose to rob it. Some stores, including the Bensenville 7-Eleven, have been hit multiple times. A Portland, Oregon, 7-Eleven has been hit 13 times.

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The Data Examiner – A Different View:…

The Data Examiner Disclaimer: 1.) The Data Examiner accepts no liability for the content of this email, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. The Data Examiner is not associated with any commercial or political organization and is transmitted via the web for the sole benefit of its subscribers. 2.) Unfortunately, computer viruses can be transmitted via email. The recipient should check this mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses.