Business

Bird flu takes a big bite out of egg farmers’ wallets. Egg industry has one big advantage: everyone loves eggs and the demand slowly yet consistently increases. However, it’s a tough industry. They have to deal with major retailers like Walmart or Costco; which will demand competitive prices, and they have to deal with bird flu. As the article shows, farmers must spend a significant portion of revenue on preventive measures. The outcome of such measures is not always guaranteed. But farmers have no choice, because losing the entire flock is even worse.

Malaysia is betting on data centers to boost its economy. But experts warn they come at a price. I didn’t know that data center was a booming industry in Malaysia. The article highlights the downsides of such an in-demand market, including the thirst for power. It will be interesting to see how developing countries around the world deal with an exponential increase in the demand for power.

Satya Nadella – Microsoft’s AGI Plan & Quantum Breakthrough. A great interview with Satya Nadella. It is striking to me that he sets the bar for AGI so high that I am not sure if we’ll ever get to that point. On the other hand, it makes sense. If the bar is not high, any other definition of AGI is just not worth discussing.

Starbucks’ new CEO’s plan to turn the company around. What Brian Niccol talked about in this interview makes sense, but the challenge for him and Starbucks is whether all of that is enough. Consumers are being pinched by inflation and Starbucks is expensive. It is not clear what the company is trying to do to tackle that. Understandably, it takes time to turn around a company that size, but investors are not patient. Will they give the new CEO time to even take that next step?

Universal’s Theme Parks, Long in Disney’s Shadow, Expand at Dizzying Pace. “Universal’s parks had already become a surprise growth engine for NBCUniversal, but Mr. Woodbury saw an even bigger opportunity to lift the business firmly out of Disney’s shadow. This week, Universal unveiled theming for a new park in Texas aimed at families and an opening date for an attraction in Nevada focused on horror fans. Those come on top of an expansion in Los Angeles and a massive theme park development in Orlando, Fla., that will open this spring. It’s considering “Wicked” attractions and a major park for Britain, too. As businesses, theme parks come with numerous risks. They are vulnerable to swings in the economy. Visitor safety is a constant battle. Attractions require costly upkeep. Escalating labor costs threaten margins.“

Other Stuff I Find Interesting

50 years of travel tips. Some tips are unconventional and surprising, but with time comes wisdom. Worth a read.

Meta plans globe-spanning sub-sea internet cable. A marvel of engineering and imagination.

Inside North Korea’s ‘Hotel of Doom’, the abandoned 330m tower which has never welcomed a single guest. A look inside the tallest abandoned building in the world and the tallest one in North Korea. It is crazy to me that they had to design it as a pyramid because they had no access to steel.

How Biden Traded Transformers for Heat Pumps. It never ceases to amaze and frustrate me that lobbyists can influence our policies so much in this country.

Madagascar’s isolation from other lands makes its wildlife unique and pristine

Stats

OpenAI reaches 400 million weekly active users

The 4 Nations Final between the US and Canada attracted 9.3 million viewers, the most watched NHL game in the last 30 years

245 million people visited the top 25 theme parks in the world in 2023, up from 199 million in 2022