Numlock News: September 2, 2021 • Skunks, Shoplifting, McFlurries
By Walt HickeyThe annual back-to-school sale on paid subscriptions to Numlock is back, it’s the best deal of the year, 30 percent off your first year, but you must redeem it by September 5. PurdueThe Sackler family, the owners of Purdue Pharma which pushed OxyContin on to Americans and fueled a devastating opioid crisis across the country, will be absolved of any opioid-related liability after a bankruptcy filing that will dissolve the company. For the cheap price of $4.5 billion paid out over nine years, the Sacklers will dodge future threats on their $11 billion fortune from any number of cases lodged against them. States will get money from a national opioid abatement trust, Native American tribes will get their own fund, and 130,485 individuals and families who lost people to addiction will get amounts of $3,500 to $48,000. Jan Hoffman, The New York Times Spotted SkunksSpotted skunks are a neat little spin-off of your traditional skunks, notorious not only for their spots, but also because when they are about to blast a target with stink juice they do a handstand, and it’s objectively funny. For a while scientists had no idea how many species of spotted skunks there were, and estimates ranged from two to 14 with a consensus of four. New research published in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution based on over 200 DNA samples settled it: there are seven species of spotted skunk, the beginning of a promising tongue twister if there ever was one. Jason Bittel, The New York Times SpywareThe Federal Trade Commission released a complaint Wednesday seeking a ban of SpyFone, an app marketed as a tool to monitor the internet activity of a loved one. The “stalkerware” has been cited by critics as a technological aide for stalkers and domestic abusers. In 2018, a data breach led to the exposure of personal data for 2,200 customers, and the FTC alleges further that the company didn’t do anything to boost security following that incident. The FTC is seeking a ban on future sales, the deletion of illegally harvested information and the notification of people who had their devices tracked. AuthorshipA new study published in Science Advances looked into the frequency and impact of disagreements over authorship on research papers, such as when participants disagree over ordering or who did enough to merit inclusion in the work. The survey — 5,575 researchers participated — found that 53.2 percent had encountered a disagreement over authorship. Over 23 percent of the women scientists who participated said they received less credit than they deserved compared to 18 percent of men, and men were more likely than women to say they got more credit than they thought they should have. Dalmeet Singh Chawla, Physics Today, and Chaoqun Ni, Elise Smith, Haimiao Yuan, Vincent Lariviere and Cassidy R. Sugimoto, Science Advances Ice CreamMcDonald’s ice cream machines are notoriously buggy, despite accounting for 60 percent of the chain’s dessert sales in the United States, and are sophisticated and overengineered behemoths that are remarkably difficult and expensive to repair. This has drawn the attention of the Federal Trade Commission, which has cast its gaze on manufacturers of equipment that make it difficult for consumers to repair devices on their own. The FTC has reached out to McDonald’s franchisees about their experiences with the devices, which are primarily manufactured by Taylor Commercial Foodservice. The FTC investigation is still in its preliminary phases, but right-to-repair is a target for the new administration. Heather Haddon, The Wall Street Journal ShopliftingWith the rise of ecommerce and, more specifically, the third-party retailer being able to sell items through Amazon or Walmart’s websites, sophisticated theft rings have cropped up across the country to target brick-and-mortar stores. These aren’t your basic shoplifters, but rather what experts describe as an organized criminal syndicate that coordinates the theft of retail goods only to fence them on Amazon later. The Coalition of Law Enforcement and Retail estimated that organized retail theft cost $45 billion in annual losses, up from $30 billion ten years ago. Home Depot said its investigations into organized criminal networks was up 86 percent since 2016, and CVS hopes to close 73 cases where $104 million worth of stolen goods were hawked on Amazon. Rebecca Ballhaus and Shalini Ramachandran, The Wall Street Journal MouthfeelThe hottest new food ingredient on the block is locust bean gum, which can be derived from the carob tree. You may know carob as that weird chocolate-esque stuff beloved by the Dr. Bronner’s crowd, but now it’s big business as high demand for an all-natural plant-based thickener, stabilizer, emulsifier or gelling agent from consumer packaged goods companies has led to a run on the stuff. It’s used to make a fatty mouthfeel in stuff like ice cream, plant-based food, cream cheese and bakery items, and carob trees are mostly grown around the Mediterranean. Suppliers weren’t expecting this much growth — about 12,000 to 15,000 kilograms are harvested annually — which has prompted a shortage and steep price hikes: usually a kilogram goes for around $14, but by the second quarter of last year, it averaged $24 per kilogram, and on the spot market now it’s going for as much as $85 per kilogram. Suppliers are working to increase the amount available over the next few years given how many consumer boxes are checked by locust bean gum. Thanks to everyone who’s subscribed over the past two weeks! This is the most popular sale I do, and it’s so great to see so many folks take the dive in and become full subscribers. The deal is done in just two days, now’s the best time to upgrade: Thanks to the paid subscribers to Numlock News who make this possible. Subscribers guarantee this stays ad-free, and get a special Sunday edition. Consider becoming a full subscriber today. The best way to reach new readers is word of mouth. If you click THIS LINK in your inbox, it’ll create an easy-to-send pre-written email you can just fire off to some friends. Send links to me on Twitter at @WaltHickey or email me with numbers, tips, or feedback at walt@numlock.news. Send corrections or typos to the copy desk at copy@numlock.news. Check out the Numlock Book Club and Numlock award season supplement. 2021 Sunday subscriber editions: Jeopardy! · Mangoes · BBLs · Summer Box Office · Time Use · Shampoo Bars · Wikipedia · Thriving · Comic Rebound · Return of Travel · Sticky Stuff · For-profit Med School · A Good Day · Press Reset · Perverse Incentives · Demon Slayer · Carbon Credits · Money in Politics · Local News · Oscar Upsets · Sneakers · Post-pandemic Cities ·Facebook AI · Fireflies · Vehicle Safety · Climate Codes · Figure Skating · True Believer · Apprentices · Sports Polls · Pipeline · Wattpad · The Nib · Driven2020 Sunday Edition Archive2019 Sunday Edition Archive2018 Sunday Edition ArchiveYou’re on the free list for Numlock News. For the full experience, become a paying subscriber. |
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Numlock News: September 1, 2021 • Cougars, Hornets, Ha'penny
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
By Walt Hickey The annual back-to-school sale on paid subscriptions to Numlock is back, it's the best deal of the year, 30 percent off your first year, only three days left! Assimilated A ballot
Numlock News: August 31, 2021 • Match Fixing, Mission Impossible, Maine
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
By Walt Hickey The annual back-to-school sale on paid subscriptions to Numlock is back, it's the best deal of the year, 30 percent off your first year, must redeem it by September 5. Mission
Numlock News: August 30, 2021 • Earthworms, Haunted Houses, Collection
Monday, August 30, 2021
By Walt Hickey The annual back-to-school sale on paid subscriptions to Numlock is back, it's the best deal of the year. An annual subscription is now less than $3 per month, the deal ends Friday!
Numlock News: August 27, 2021 • Fake Antiquities, Ducks, Cinnamon Toast Cereal
Friday, August 27, 2021
By Walt Hickey Have a great weekend! Antiquities Earlier this month the Manhattan District Attorney's office charged an antiques dealer with scheming to defraud, grand larceny, criminal possession
Numlock News: August 26, 2021 • Seismometers, Cane Toads, Robocalls
Thursday, August 26, 2021
By Walt Hickey The annual back-to-school sale on paid subscriptions to Numlock is back, it's the best deal of the year, 30 percent off your first year, and you need to redeem it by September 5.
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