What I Wrote Last Week
Business
Three big reasons Americans haven’t rapidly adopted EVs. How fast Americans buy EVs depends much on how much the federal and state governements can offer in incentives. The interest is established, but there needs to be a nudge before such interest can turn into demand and before such demand reaches the tipping point.
Amazon’s New Approach to Selling Enterprise Software? In-Person Demos. “This fall, Amazon.com’s cloud-computing business Amazon Web Services opened a New York City “Builder Studio,” designed to showcase cloud-based tech and provide a space where companies can build prototypes alongside AWS engineers. CIOs walking through the space can experience prototypes of technologies such as a digital twin—a virtual, real-time rendering of a sensor-studded physical space or other asset. It also boasts a virtual try-on demo where visitors can see renderings of what some shoes sold on Amazon.com would look like on their feet and an advertising mood board creator fueled by generative AI. The in-person aspect of the experience is critical for CIOs to really understand what they can do on the AWS cloud, said Shaown Nandi, director of technology, strategic industries, at AWS and a former CIO of The Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones. “The tangible aspect makes everything go from seeming sort of theoretical and I read about it to like, ‘Oh, this is real, and there are other customers doing it.’”
An incredible interview with Reece Duca, the founder of Investment Group of Santa Barbara. It’s interesting to read about this investment firm which never has outside money, as well as Reece Duca, who has really solid advice on how to enjoy work and life.
ALDI Named Retailer of the Year. I expressed my admiration and love for Aldi on this blog in the past so I am happy to see them grow and more people notice the brand and shop at its stores. I didn’t know that Aldi only got into fresh fish in the last six years and salmon is now one of the highest-selling SKUs.
Why Xi Can No Longer Brag About the Chinese Economy. “China’s economy is beset by multiple challenges, from a deflating property bubble and unmanageable local government debts to slumping confidence and deflation. The U.S., meanwhile, has just recorded its strongest quarter in nearly two years while inflation subsides. China’s gross domestic product, which was 75% the size of the U.S.’s in 2021, had slipped to 64% in the third quarter, roughly where it was in 2017.”
The Estée Lauder Family Built a Beauty Empire. A Succession Rift Threatens It. My country has a saying: no family stays rich or poor for three generations. The implied meaning is that if your family started out poor, the next generations would work hard to generate wealth. If your family started out rich, there would be problems in the future that endanger such wealth. What has happened to the Estee Lauder family seems to fall into the second category.
Other Stuff I Find Interesting
Buying a House Isn’t Happening, So They’re Spending and Saving Differently. Buying a house is a major investment and requires great consideration. If home ownership is meant to increase life quality and happiness, then it’s a good investment. However, if it’s treated as a financial vehicle to earn return in the future, then I think people should seriously consider looking elsewhere. Historically, real estate cannot beat equities in terms of return over a long period of time. In this environment, it is even less likely. If folks can overcome the perception that they are SUPPOSED to own a home because that’s what previous generations did, they won’t be forced into making a financially unfavorable decision.
Inside the Places Where America Makes Its Goods, From Rockets to Felted Hats. Some astonishing photos of manufacturing made right here in the US
Batteries of the future: How cotton and seawater might power our devices. It’s seriously cool that cotton can be used in batteries.
As Chinese Tastes Change, Farmers Everywhere Rip Up and Replant. The extent to which China imports foreign produce is astonishing. Food security is going to be critical to China; which is surprising because the country is vast and has a lot of resources. For my country Vietnam, having a big customer like China next door has its pros and cons. On one hand, it is a boost to the economy. On the other hand, if we rely too much on them, it will be hard to avoid their influence.
Strip Clubs, Lewd Photos and a Boozy Hotel: The Toxic Atmosphere at Bank Regulator FDIC. Victims spoke on the record and the perpetrators are still employed at the agency. If there is no formal investigation and disciplined measure handed out to culprits at the FDIC, then where is the courage to hold people accountable?
Stats
US online shopping sales reached $76.8 billion in October 2023, up $4.3 billion from last year
15% of the complaints that CFPB received in 2022 were related to harassments by debt collectors
As of November 2023, Instagram Subscriptions exceeded 1 million
Minh Quang Duong 
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