How can I make money?: July 2020

Friday, 31 July 2020

Seven People, Including Regional Lawmaker Dead as Two Small Planes Collide in Alaska

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Seven people died as a result of the collision of two small planes in the US northernmost state of Alaska, the regional Department of Public Safety said.

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Are your deposits quietly funding fossil fuels? Not with this new type of account.

Most of us have a love-hate relationship with banks. Okay, it’s actually probably more like a tolerate-hate relationship. We understand their role in holding and securing our money so we don’t have to stuff it in a mattress somewhere. But we don’t trust the bank not to gouge us on fees whenever they can. And we certainly don’t trust MegaCorp X to be a responsible steward of our funds to make the world a better place.

For example, the four biggest global backers of fossil fuels are all U.S banks^1.. So if you have money with any of those institutions, you’re tacitly endorsing those practices, whether you agree with them or not.

If that doesn’t sit well with you, you may want to consider an alternative, like Aspiration's Spend and Save account.

Aspiration isn’t a bank. They’re a hybrid check and save cash management account that offers you an alternative to traditional banking services and protections of one of those institutions, but with a conscience you can feel good about backing.

When you open an Aspiration Spend and Save account and deposit money, you get a debit card linked to your new FDIC-insured² cash accounts with all the buying power of a financial/cash account -- but you decide how much their services should cost you. Their policy is that they trust customers to “Pay What is Fair,” even if that means zero on their basic monthly banking services.

Of course, if fair to you is $7 a month for their Aspiration Plus service, you get features like up to 1.00% APY interest³ on your savings and no fees at over 55,000+ free in-network Allpoint ATMs, and carbon offsets for when you drive.

But Aspiration’s greatest selling point is their dedication to socially-conscious green services. As part of your app account, you’ll get access to your own Personal Impact Score, which shows you how the companies you spend with score for their treatment of their workers and the environment. With those stats, you can start spending with companies that best match your personal values.

Meanwhile, when you use your Aspiration card, you’ll earn up to 10% cashback at mission-focused merchants like TOMS, Warby Parker, and more⁴. You even have the option to have a tree planted for every purchase you make. And Aspiration promises your deposits will never go towards funding fossil fuel projects or firearm manufacturers.

You can sign up for an Aspiration account, name your own price and help save the planet, all at the same time.

¹ https://www.ran.org/bankingonclimatechange2020/

²Deposits are FDIC-insured up to $2.46 million per depositor by being swept to FDIC Member Institutions. Visit fdic.gov. Aspiration’s Program Banks.

³The Aspiration Save Account’s up to 1.00% Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) is variable, subject to change, and is only available to customers enrolled in Aspiration Plus after conditions are met. Terms & FAQ.

⁴Aspiration’s Cash Back program is subject to change at any time and without notice, including reversal of rewards for abuse, fraud, and other illicit activity. Cash Back rewards are generally credited on the first day of each calendar month. For additional Cash Back details, click here & here.

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WATCH: Astronauts prepare for rare splashdown in SpaceX capsule, target is 7:34 p.m. EDT on Saturday, August 1

WATCH THE SPLASHDOWN EVENT LIVE HERE, the SpaceX video embed in this post will go live with pre-event content sometime before 7pm EDT on Saturday August 1.

NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are about to make the first splashdown return in 45 years.

“SpaceX and NASA are targeting 7:34 p.m. EDT on Saturday, August 1 for Crew Dragon and the two astronauts to depart the orbiting laboratory and return to Earth,” tweeted SpaceX late Friday evening.

From SpaceX, here is the timeline for NASA and SpaceX to return Crew Dragon Endeavour this weekend.

From the SpaceX announcement about the highly anticipated space event:

On Saturday, May 30, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launched Crew Dragon’s second demonstration (Demo-2) mission from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and the next day Crew Dragon autonomously docked to the International Space Station. This test flight with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley on board the Dragon spacecraft returned human spaceflight to the United States.

SpaceX and NASA are now targeting 7:34 p.m. EDT on Saturday, August 1 for Crew Dragon to autonomously undock from the Space Station, with the two astronauts aboard the spacecraft, and return to Earth.

Approximately 19 hours later, after jettisoning its trunk and re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, Dragon will splash down at one of seven targeted water landing sites off the coast of Florida at 2:42 p.m. EDT on Sunday, August 2.

The Demo-2 mission is the final major milestone for SpaceX’s human spaceflight system to be certified by NASA for operational crew missions to and from the International Space Station. Once the Demo-2 mission is complete, and the SpaceX and NASA teams have reviewed all the data for certification, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Mike Hopkins, Shannon Walker, and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi will fly on Dragon’s first six-month operational mission (Crew-1) targeted for late September.

And don't miss the AP story about the two U.S. astronauts who are about to make the first splashdown return in 45 years. These heroes say they’ll absolutely have barf bags at hand, water landings can be nausea-inducing.

SpaceX and NASA plan to bring Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken back Sunday afternoon in the company’s Dragon capsule, aiming for the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida Panhandle. Flight controllers are keeping close watch on Hurricane Isaias, expected to stick to Florida’s east coast.

Hurley said if he and Behnken get sick while bobbing in the waves awaiting recovery, it won’t be the first time for a crew. Astronauts returning in the early 1970s from Skylab, NASA’s first space station, did not feel well following splashdown, Hurley noted. Feeling sick “is the way it is with a water landing,” he said during the crew’s final news conference from the International Space Station.

This will be SpaceX’s first splashdown with astronauts on board, ending a two-month test flight that began May 30 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center — the first launch of a crew from the U.S. in nearly a decade. The capsule has been docked at the space station since May 31, allowing Hurley and Behnken to chip in with spacewalks and experiments.

Read the rest of the piece by Marcia Dunn at AP:US astronauts pack up for rare splashdown in SpaceX capsule

SpaceX and @NASA are targeting 7:34 p.m. EDT on Saturday, August 1 for Crew Dragon and the two astronauts to depart the orbiting laboratory and return to Earth →https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK pic.twitter.com/9udiNyZpQM

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 1, 2020

IMAGE COURTESY SPACEX

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Black Michigan teen detained for not doing homework to be released 'IMMEDIATELY'

“Grace,” the Black teen girl in Michigan who was detained because the school said she was not doing her online coursework, is to be released from detention “IMMEDIATELY.”

The Michigan Court of Appeals issued the order late on Friday, and mom picked Grace up shortly thereafter.

“We are elated. We are so happy for Grace to be going home. It is amazing that she is going to be able to sleep at home tonight.”

-- Grace's attorney, commenting on the Court of Appeals decision today.

BREAKING: “Grace,” the Michigan teen who was detained for not doing her online coursework, is to be released from detention “IMMEDIATELY,” according to an order from the Michigan Court of Appeals that I just received. pic.twitter.com/R3WdkK1tVp

— Jodi Cohen (@Jodiscohen) July 31, 2020

Wow, that was fast! Within two hours of the court order, Grace's mother arrived at Children's Village to get Grace. The teenager had her bags packed and was ready to go. They quickly left and were emotional and happy, according to her lawyers.

— Jodi Cohen (@Jodiscohen) July 31, 2020

Go read the full story at ProPublica by Jodi S. Cohen.

And here's her original report at ProPublica: A Teenager Didn’t Do Her Online Schoolwork. So a Judge Sent Her to Juvenile Detention.

Michigan mom sentenced to 7 days in jail for not following court order to vaccinate her children

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Tennessee Pastor Tests Positive for COVID-19 Shortly After Attending White House Meeting With Trump

A week before testing positive for COVID-19, pastor Perry Cleek attended a meeting at the White House with US President Donald Trump and members of law enforcement, testing negative prior to the event.

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US DoJ Schedules Sixth, Seventh Federal Executions Since High Court Green Light

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States has scheduled its sixth and seventh federal executions in 2020 to take place in September, the Justice Department said in a press release.

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Trump Tune-Out

US President Donald Trump has fired off yet another controversial tweet. This time, it is about possibly delaying the 2020 election, something that has never happened in American history - and that he doesn’t even have the power to do.

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First 'Murder Hornet' Captured in Washington State

The Asian Giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), known popularly as "murder hornets", joins the list of nightmares offered by 2020, alongside the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown. Famous for their size, poisonous stings and vicious attacks on mice pictured in graphic viral videos, the wasps were said to have arrived to the US in early May.

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Vietnam’s Quick Reaction to Fresh Wave of COVID-19 Contrasts Sharply With Ongoing US ‘Calamity’

Vietnam’s quick response to a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, including contact tracing, limiting large crowds and stopping non-essential flights, has shed light on the US’ inept response, human rights and labor lawyer Dan Kovalik told Sputnik on Friday.

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'Sovereign citizen' tenant decapitated landlord with sword over rent dispute, say Hartford, CT police

Well, this is both grim and bizarre.

A man in Connecticut is charged with having decapitated his landlord with a sword after the man was told he had to move out because he owed back rent, say Hartford police.

After they got a search warrant was obtained, police found papers showing Thompson believes he is a "sovereign citizen," meaning he is not subject to any statutes and interprets the laws in their own way, the detectives wrote.

CNN:

The Hartford Police Department responded to a 911 call Saturday morning from the landlord, Victor King, who said that his roommate Jerry Thompson, 42, had been "waving a sword at him in a threatening and terrorizing manner" amid a rent dispute, according to an arrest warrant filed by Hartford detectives.

King gave officers Thompson's cell phone number, according to the warrant. It did not say if police spoke to Thompson Saturday. The next day, police received calls from a neighbor and then a separate friend of King's who were concerned about his safety, the warrant said.

Police entered the residence Sunday afternoon to find a grisly crime scene and King's body "covered by numerous articles of bedding" on the floor, according to the warrant.

A medical examiner investigator's preliminary observations suggested King's injuries were consistent with a large edged weapon, noting "lacerations to the landlord's right arm, upper chest and across the neck causing decapitation."

Surveillance video also caught a male exiting a white Jeep, carrying a "long skinny white object in his right hand," walking into the residence Saturday afternoon, and exiting about 30 minutes later with the same object, the warrant said.

More at the Hartford Courant:
Roommate arrested in deadly Hartford attack on Travelers retiree, a top-ranked bridge player

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Boston Marathon bomber’s death sentence overturned

On Friday, July 31, 2020, a federal appeals court overturned 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s death sentence.

The court today ruled that the judge who oversaw the case did not adequately screen jurors for potential biases.

From the Associated Press:

A three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a new penalty-phase trial on whether the 27-year-old Tsarnaev should be executed for the attack that killed three people and wounded more than 260 others.

“But make no mistake: Dzhokhar will spend his remaining days locked up in prison, with the only matter remaining being whether he will die by execution,” Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson wrote in the ruling, more than six months after arguments were heard in the case.

An attorney for Tsarnaev said they are grateful for the court’s “straightforward and fair decision: if the government wishes to put someone to death, it must make its case to a fairly selected jury that is provided all relevant information.”

“It is now up to the government to determine whether to put the victims and Boston through a second trial, or to allow closure to this terrible tragedy by permitting a sentence of life without the possibility of release,” David Patton said in an email.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston said they were reviewing the opinion and had no immediate comment. Prosecutors could ask the full appeals court to hear the case or go straight to the U.S. Supreme Court.

James Murdoch resigns from News Corp board, 'editorial differences' cited

This is a big one.

Former 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch has resigned from the board of News Corp., the parent company of the Wall Street Journal.

In a letter of resignation filed Friday afternoon, Murdoch wrote: "My resignation is due to disagreements over certain editorial content published by the Company’s news outlets and certain other strategic decisions."

James Murdoch Steps Down from News Corp Board Over 'Disagreements' - Variety. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TRY TO GET THEIR SOULS BACK NOW- WHICH IS EASIER WHEN YOU HAVE ALREADY TAKEN YOUR BILLIONS OUT OF THE FOX POT. https://t.co/bHNhf1Xeg0

— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) July 31, 2020

Source indicates to @brianstelter that James Murdoch's resignation letter was not the result of any abrupt action, but that tensions had been building for months. https://t.co/s5KXXHKiWf

— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) July 31, 2020

From Alex Weprin at the Hollywood Reporter:

James Murdoch had been on News Corp.'s board of directors since 2013.

News Corp. is one of two media companies controlled by James' father Rupert Murdoch and the Murdoch family. The other is Fox Corp., the parent company of Fox News and the Fox broadcast network, which was created after 21st Century Fox sold its entertainment assets to The Walt Disney Company.

Murdoch stepped down as Fox CEO following the sale, with his brother Lachlan Murdoch becoming CEO, and father Rupert becoming co-chairman. News Corp., which owns the Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, New York Post, News U.K. and newspaper and TV assets in Australia, is run by CEO Robert Thomson.

After leaving the Fox fold, Murdoch started his own company, Lupa Systems, which has invested in technology companies and other firms. Lupa Systems has acquired stakes in Vice Media, tech startup Betalab, and is pursuing a stake in MCH Group, the parent company of the Art Basel fair. Lupa Systems and Joe Marchese's Attention Capital also acquired a majority stake in Tribeca Enterprises last year, the parent organization of the Tribeca Film Festival.

Doesn’t want to be associated with white nationalism and spreading death. Understandable. https://t.co/8XyeWc8tBO

— Kim Masters (@kimmasters) July 31, 2020

More:
James Murdoch Resigns From News Corp. Board, Citing "Disagreements" Over Editorial Content

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PokimaneBoyfriend and the Scandalous Reign of Drama YouTube

This week, Twitch streamer Pokimane demonstrated how to expertly handle the internet drama industrial complex.

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How the Alleged Twitter Hackers Got Caught

Bitcoin payments and IP addresses led investigators to two of the alleged perpetrators in just over two weeks.

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How to clean your sex toys, according to three experts

Whether you've just purchased your first vibrator or are a seasoned dildo user, it's important to learn how to properly care for it. One major safety precaution you need to take — before both solo and partner play — is to clean your sex toy.

While it may not sound sexy, cleaning your toys is essential. "Pleasure products can help you embrace confidence, help navigate intimate desires and boundaries and boost self-love," said Kristin Fretz, co-founder and CMO of Emojibator. "But having an experience like getting a UTI from a vibrator is not just uncomfortable and can be extremely painful if left untreated, but it perpetuates the shame around masturbation and can create individual resistance to self-pleasure." Read more...

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PokimaneBoyfriend and the Scandalous Reign of Drama YouTube

This week, Twitch streamer Pokimane demonstrated how to expertly handle the internet drama industrial complex.

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Anti-Trump PAC Video With 'Impotus Americanus', 'Molestus Epstein' Fires Up Twitter

The Lincoln Project is a political action committee created by current and former Republicans in 2019 to prevent US President Donald Trump from being reelected in November and defeat his supporters in the Senate.

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US Supreme Court Declines to Halt Construction of Border Wall With Pentagon Funds

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Supreme Court has declined to stop construction of the wall on the southern border that is being funded with $2.5 billion diverted from the Defense Department, a court filing revealed.

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How the Alleged Twitter Hackers Got Caught

Bitcoin payments and IP addresses led investigators to two of the alleged perpetrators in just over two weeks.

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Making arrowheads, knives, and stone tools out of slate

I found this video absolutely mesmerizing. It in, a primitive tech enthusiast from the Pacific Northwest fashions some beautiful and lethal- and effective-looking arrowheads, knives, and tools using ground and polished slate.

As he points out in the lengthy video description, he doesn't have access to the more superior, knappable flint in his area, so he learned the technique for grinding and polishing slate which has been used by indigenous people in that area and around the world for ages. It is astounding what you can make with a piece of slate, water and grinding sand, and a world of patience and time.

Trigger warning: A skinned chicken was shot through with arrows and cut up with slate knives in the making of this video.

Image: YouTube

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Alanis Morissette's daughter adorably interrupts her 'Fallon' performance

Alanis, I feel ya, mama. You're trying to get some work done and your kiddo wants your attention. Though trying to hold your cutie while performing a song from your new album on the Fallon show maybe wasn't the greatest idea... or was it?!

(Digg)

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Cosplay at a 1966 Science Fiction Convention

What's not to love about this gallery of images from the 1966 World Science Fiction Convention in Cleveland, OH? The cameras may have acquired color and the cosplay may have become a bit more sophisticated, but the spirit of the players seems to have remained unchanged.

These images were taken by the late photographer, and sci-fi mega-fan, Jay Kay Klein. You can see the massive collection of Klein's photos and papers of science fiction fandom on the Calisphere website.

Image: Composite of images from the Jay Kay Klein collection, via Cosplay Central

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Disrupt 2020 early-bird savings extended until next week

Even the hard-charging world of early-stage startups has its share of procrastinators, lollygaggers, slow-pokes, wafflers and last-minute decision makers. If that’s your demographic, today is your lucky day.

You now have an extra week (courtesy of Saint Expeditus, the patron saint of procrastinators), to score early-bird savings to Disrupt 2020, which takes place September 14-18. Buy your pass before the new and final deadline — August 7 at 11:59 p.m. (PT) — and save up to $300. Who says prayers (or secular entreaties) go unanswered?

Your pass opens the door to five days of Disrupt — the biggest, longest TechCrunch conference ever. Drawing thousands of attendees and hundreds of innovative early-stage startups from around the world, you won’t find a better time, place or opportunity to accelerate the speed of your business.

Here are four world-class reasons to attend Disrupt 2020.

World-class speakers. Hear and engage with leading voices in tech, business and investment across the Disrupt stages. Folks like Sequoia Capital’s Roelof Botha, Ureeka’s Melissa Bradley and Slack’s Tamar Yehoshua — to name just a few. Here’s what you can see onstage so far.

World-class startups. Explore hundreds of innovative startups exhibiting in Digital Startup Alley — including the TC Top Picks. This elite cadre made it through our stringent screening process to earn the coveted designation, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more varied and interesting set of startups.

World-class networking. CrunchMatch, our AI-powered networking platform, simplifies connecting with founders, potential customers, R&D teams, engineers or investors. Schedule 1:1 video meetings and hold recruitment or extended pitch sessions. CrunchMatch launches weeks before Disrupt to give you more time to scout, vet and schedule.

World-class pitching. Don’t miss Startup Battlefield, the always-epic pitch competition that’s launched more than 900 startups, including big-time names like TripIt, Mint, Dropbox and many others. This year’s crop of startups promises to throw down hard for bragging rights and the $100,000 cash prize.

Need another reason to go? Take a page out of SIMBA Chain founder Joel Neidig’s playbook:

Our primary goal was to make people aware of the SIMBA Chain platform capabilities. Attending Disrupt is great way to get your name out there and build your customer base.

It’s time for all you last-minute lollygaggers to get moving and take advantage of this second, final chance to save up to $300. Buy your pass before August 7 at 11:59 p.m. (PT).

Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at Disrupt 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.

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Thursday, 30 July 2020

Become a better writer with lifetime access to this online course

TL;DR: The Writing With Impact course is on sale for £7.69 as of July 31, saving you 95% on list price.

Prolific writers make writing look easy, but it's really not the case.

Between finding a unique, zippy opener to decoding a jumble of thoughts and emotions into clean, concise prose, the whole process can be grueling. Yes, even for professional writers. And when it comes to writing persuasively? Forget about it.

As a writing tutor at Cambridge University, Clare Lynch knows a thing or two about good writing and has developed an online course dedicated to making you a better writer. The Writing With Impact course features 5.5 hours of on-demand videos and 30 articles, and will teach you the nuts and bolts of persuasive writing. Read more...

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Road Accident Leaves 7 People Dead, 8 More Injured in Russia's Crimea – Emergency Services

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A minibus collided with a truck on Friday in Russia's Crimea, with seven people having died and eight more having been injured in the accident, a spokesperson for regional emergencies services said.

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Is This My New Toy? Golden Retriever Puppy Discovers Dishwasher

Many of us know what it feels like being obsessed with a new smartphone or some gadget for the kitchen or other parts of the home: as soon as we have bought it, we may spend hours testing it.

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Can West Achieve Rare Earth Independence From China?

The US, Australia and the EU are working on a supply chain of rare earth metals independent of China. To date, Beijing controls the majority of the rare-earth minerals extraction and processing market. Using economies of scale, China can keep prices low, so it is extremely difficult for new players to enter this industry.

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Video: First NBA Game Since COVID-19 Shutdown Sees Lakers, Clippers Kneel in Support of BLM

The National Basketball Association (NBA) resumed its season after it was shut down by coronavirus pandemic lockdowns four months ago. The 22 teams are currently based in a so-called 'secure bubble' at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

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FBI Hid Secret Documents on Russia Investigation to Protect Them From 'Trump Interference' - Report

The report by CNN went noted that neither the investigators on Russia or Trump's lawyer grabbed the chance to "aggressively" dig into cases and make use of the preserved documents.

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Master digital marketing with this stacked set of classes

TL;DR: The Digital Marketing 22-Course Masterclass is on sale for £11.55 as of July 31, saving you 92% on list price.

It’s never been easier to start your own business. On the flip side, it’s also never been harder to start your own business. Everyone and their mother is doing it and there are so many different digital ways to reach customers that it can seriously make your head spin.

Fortunately, you can learn how to master the digital marketing world with the Digital Marketing 22-Course Masterclass.

This massive educational bundle contains 22 individual courses that will teach you how to become a digital marketing rock star. You’ll get lifetime access to 298 lectures and some 28 hours of content covering everything from social media and content marketing to email marketing and paid marketing. Whether you’re looking to grow your own business, land a marketing job, or help a client increase their business, this masterclass will get you where you need to go and take your skills to the next level. Read more...

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Twitter reveals exactly how bitcoin scammers hacked Elon Musk's, Kim Kardashian's accounts

Twitter just released an update on the massive hack that prompted the Great Blue Tick Silence of 2020, letting us know exactly how many accounts were actually impacted.

On July 15, hackers posted tweets from several prominent, verified Twitter users' accounts, falsely claiming that any bitcoin sent to a certain address would be paid back in double. The scam netted the hackers 400 payments with a total value of $121,000 — a tidy sum for a handful of tweets.

Now, Twitter has revealed what it's learned about how this hack took place, stating that it "relied on a significant and concerted attempt to mislead certain employees and exploit human vulnerabilities to gain access to [Twitter's] internal systems." Read more...

More about Twitter, Bitcoin, Hack, Tech, and Big Tech Companies

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UK to Implement EU 'Cyber Sanctions Regime' After End of Transition Period

LONDON (Sputnik) - The UK authorities welcome the introduction by the EU of sanctions against citizens and companies of Russia, China and North Korea over alleged cyberattacks and intend to further implement them after the end of the transition period, the Foreign Office said in a press release on Thursday.

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Prosecutor Completes Review of Michael Brown Case, Says No Charges Will Be Filed

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - St. Louis county prosecutor Wesley Bell said he conducted a new review of the investigation into slain black teenager Michael Brown and has decided not to charge the officer involved in the shooting.

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From tree tents to headlamps, these 10 camping essentials will improve your summer

It’s summer. And this year, Europe and Disney World just aren’t really all that feasible as part of your travel plans.

Yet especially with the last few months we’ve all endured, the need to get away and experience something new is like a raging fire in many of us. So if you can’t be around too many people these days, how about going where people ain’t?

Camping in the great — and vast — outdoors might be just what you need to decompress a bit, so stock up on these 10 tents, hammock and camping essentials, all at savings up to 60 percent, to make your time away as fulfilling as you need it to be.

Nylon Mesh Hammock - $17.99; originally $29

Sleeping on the ground is never comfortable, so this premium nylon and mesh hammock is ideal for sleeping under the stars without grimacing your way through the whole night. Portable and lightweight at less than 8 ounces, it holds up to 220 pounds comfortably for a relaxing afternoon swing or a full night’s slumber.

Foldable Nylon Hammock - $34.99; originally $49

With durable nylon construction and anchored by twin metal carabiners, this beast can support up to 485 pounds of weight. It’s also extremely versatile, foldable into a carrying back that even includes a strap for improved portability when you’re hiking to your campsite.

Natural Cotton Rope Hammock - $79.99; originally $199

Hand-dyed and woven from 100 percent natural cotton with soft to the touch materials, the Yellow Leaf hammock comes from a thicker weaving yarn, so you can hang with no flipping or even those waffle print markings all over your body. And each Yellow Leaf hammock is signed by its weaver, with a unique pattern and color sequence all its own.

Tentsile UNA 1-Person Tree Tent - $199; originally $250

Speaking of life off the ground, the Tentsile is like having an entire campsite off the ground. With a patented 3-point anchor system, waterproof rainfly, insect mesh, and more, you can raise your completely protected and secure sleeping zone up over steep, uneven terrain, or even water in about 10 minutes.

nCamp Camp Coffee Kit - $62.99; originally $82

Since coffee and camping go hand-in-hand, this water bottle-sized brewer can turn out 12 ounces of espresso-style coffee. With its compact design, accompanying 24-ounce water bottle, and four insulated cups all inside the easy drawstring carrying bag, you’ll enjoy your morning with ease and convenience.

Outdoor Collapsible Cooler & Camp Table Set - $64.99; originally $89

This 18x18-inch cooler to store and chill drinks, as well as a 34-inch table for four, are like bringing a kitchen with you while you camp. It’s all super portable and foldable, so you can set up camp, eat a meal, and relax in comfort.

QuickFire 50-Piece Canister - $27.99; originally $34

You don’t want to be without a campfire, so this 50-pack of all-purpose fire starters can get your blaze going quickly and reliably. Pop a pouch under your wood, light the pouch and you’ll get 10 minutes of robust flames to get your logs burning fast. These QuickFire pouches are not only waterproof, but they’re also good for up to 30 years.

FLÎKR Fire2 Personal Fireplace - $79.99; originally $95

In case you don’t need a big bonfire, the FLIKR Fire2 can give you almost an hour of burn from just 5 ounces of rubbing alcohol. And it’s small enough to fit into your hand. The open flame will help you cook s’mores, tell scary stories and enjoy the night, all without the hassle of a true campfire.

Vega 200 COB LED Ultralight Headlamps 3-Pack - $10.99; originally $14

A strong, dependable light while camping is vital. So the Vega’s ultra-bright 200-lumen lamp can light the way for up to 50 feet ahead of you, all hands-free. With its adjustable elastic headband and full water and weather-resistance, it’s ideal for the great outdoors.

Stinger 1000 Lumen Tactical Flashlight - $25.99; originally $29

Pumping out a blistering 1,000 lumens of light, this tactical security flashlight is practically half flamethrower. With a beam that can be seen up to two miles and three illumination settings inside its virtually indestructible aircraft aluminum casing, the Stinger can be a virtual lifesaver when you need it most.

Prices are subject to change.

Do you have your stay-at-home essentials? Here are some you may have missed.

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Facebook boasts that ad boycott won't make a dent

Boycott, schmoycott.

Despite over 1,000 major advertisers participating in a July advertising boycott over the way Facebook handles hateful content, the company said in its Q2 2020 earnings report that its advertising business is doing fine and dandy.

Last quarter, Facebook made $18.3 billion in advertising revenue, which blew past investor expectations. While the company didn't give numbers for July (when the boycott began), it said its ad revenue growth rate for the first three weeks of July tracked with the rest of its 2020 year-over-year ad revenue growth rate of 10%. Meaning, despite companies from Ben & Jerry's to Unilever pulling their advertising dollars, things are basically the same for Facebook's bottom line, and Facebook expects it to stay that way. Read more...

More about Facebook, Advertising, Tech, Social Media Companies, and Mark Zuckerberg

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The pandemic has been very good business for Apple

Apple has pandemic work-from-home orders and stimulus checks to thank for setting new all-time sales records across a number of its product categories.

Starting with the iPhone, which saw a decrease in sales last quarter, Apple revealed revenue for that product category grew by two percent during the third quarter.

"In April, we expected year-over-year performance to worsen, but we saw better than expected demand in May and June," said CEO Tim Cook during the company's earnings call. "We attribute this increase in demand to several interactive causes, including a strong iPhone SE launch, continued economic stimulus, and potentially some benefit from shelter-in-place restrictions lifting around the world," he explained. Read more...

More about Apple, Iphone Se, Tech, and Consumer Tech

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US VP Mike Pence in Minor Campaign Bus Accident in Pennsylvania

Despite a second campaign caravan crash that followed an earlier mishap, no casualties were reported after a minor collision, and the vice president continued his journey in a limousine in a motorcade.

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Videos: California Firefighters Scramble to Contain 240-Acre ‘Dam Fire’ in Los Angeles County

Evacuation orders were issued in California Thursday afternoon as firefighters worked to contain the “Dam Fire,” which broke out several hours earlier in the Angeles National Forest near the Morris Dam in Azusa, a city at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County.

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Feds in Portland Target Reporters Who ‘Challenge’ Their Power By Documenting Abuses - Sputnik Journo

Federal agents in downtown Portland, Oregon, are reportedly being withdrawn after violent clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators. Sputnik journalist Wyatt Reed, who has been covering the Oregon protests, reported that federal police have also been targeting journalists.

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2nd Stimulus Check Update: Larger Stimulus Checks | $2,000 Unemployment
Are you wondering what is going on with the second stimulus check and unemployment benefits? Well, let's address what is going on with the 2nd stimulus check and unemployment in this video... 5 Best Online Businesses To Start In 2020 For Beginners: - https://youtu.be/oXSAjtbmeko Make Money Online Without Money (Beginner Friendly Business): - https://youtu.be/TkiTouUb3JE How To Turn $1 Into $300 Today: - https://youtu.be/dmoW1JLrIl0 #secondstimuluscheck #stimuluspackage #stimulus There has been a lot of talks about what is going on with the second stimulus check, so hopefully in this 2nd stimulus check update I can explain what people are currently talking about. Donald Trump wants the second round of stimulus payments to be larger. Many Republicans don't want this to be larger at all. When it comes to the Federal unemployment bonus, more and more Senators are starting to speak out on this issue because they see how this will effect people moving forward. In this video I explain what we can expect moving forward with this next stimulus package and how stimulus payments might be distributed. If you have any questions on the second stimulus check or the next stimulus package then please comment below and I will do my best to help you out. Thanks for watching this 2nd stimulus check update and stimulus package update. Be sure to LIKE, SHARE, AND SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss a new stimulus check or package update. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▼ ▽ WHAT TO WATCH NEXT ▼ ▽ 👇🏼WORK FROM HOME VIDS👇🏼 🔲5 Ways To Make Money While You Sleep: https://youtu.be/5daFlGgLLVs 🔲Earn Money On Fiverr Without Doing The Work: https://youtu.be/lvx0lV8808c 🔲Earn Money Typing Names Online: https://youtu.be/nk_I--v08Tw 👇🏼 Profitable Online Businesses 👇🏼 🔲Make $100 Per Day On YouTube Without Filming: https://youtu.be/MkMY8CG_hYY 🔲How To Easily Make Money Typing: https://youtu.be/hENwULEOIwc 🔲Upload Images Online And Earn: https://youtu.be/SDo5SOxdUoQ ✅ Subscribe To The Homemade Entrepreneur Channel ➡️ https://goo.gl/ln3yeU

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Ford Bronco reservations surpass 150,000

The reception to Bronco 2021 — Ford’s flagship series of 4×4 vehicles that were revealed earlier this month — surpassed expectations of the company’s most optimistic initial projections, CEO Jim Hackett said in an earnings call Thursday.

More than 150,000 customers have plunked down $100 to reserve a spot to order one of the vehicles, according to Ford.

“We think this family of vehicles has big upside potential in the growing off-road category and this is a category with a leading OEM has not been seriously challenged until now,” Hackett said.

These are, of course, mere reservations, not actual orders. The deposits are refundable. Now, Ford is focused on the due diligence required to determine how many of these reservations will be converted to orders as it lay outs its manufacturing strategy for the brand.

The Ford Bronco 2 and Bronco 4 will be built at Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan. The Bronco Sport will be assembled at plant in Mexico. The company is now determining how many shifts to staff at each factory in order to match actual orders.

“There’s still a lot of work to do,” Ford COO Jim Farley said in a call with analysts Thursday. “But the mix is great.”

The Bronco is a brand that leans heavily on nostalgia, customization, functional design and technology, such as the automaker’s next-generation infotainment system and a digital trail mapping feature that lets owners plan, record and share their experiences via an app.

While the response to the Bronco has been palatable, there are a number of competitors also aiming to win over customers. GM released a video this week teasing its all-electric GMC Hummer. While the video was a promotional mashup of buzzwords, it also showed that GM had clearly identified Ford Bronco and Tesla Cybertruck as its main competitors. Then there’s electric upstart Rivian, which plans to start production of its EV pickup and SUV in 2021.

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Self-driving startup Argo AI hits $7.5 billion valuation

Autonomous vehicle technology startup Argo AI is valued at $7.5 billion, just a little more than three years after the company burst on the scene with a $1 billion investment from Ford.

The official valuation was confirmed Thursday nearly two months after VW Group finalized its $2.6 billion investment in Argo AI. Under that deal, Ford and VW have equal ownership stakes, which will be roughly 40% each over time. The remaining equity sits with Argo’s co-founders as well as employees. Argo’s board is comprised of two VW seats, two Ford seats and three Argo seats.

Ford’s announcement in February 2017 that it was investing in Argo AI surprised many. The startup was barely six months old when it was thrust into the spotlight. Its founders, Bryan Salesky and Peter Rander, were known in the tight knit and often overlapping autonomous vehicle industry; prior to forming Argo, Salesky was director of hardware development at the Google self-driving project (now Waymo) and Rander was the engineering lead at Uber Advanced Technologies Group. But even those insiders who knew Salesky and Rander wondered what to make of the deal.

Since then, Argo has focused on developing the virtual driver system — all of the sensors, software and compute platform — as well as high-definition maps designed for Ford’s self-driving vehicles.

That mission now extends to VW Group as well. Ford and VW will share the cost of developing Argo AI’s self-driving vehicle technology under the terms of the deal. The Pittsburgh-based company also has offices in Detroit, Palo Alto and Cranbury, N.J. It has fleets of autonomous vehicles mapping and testing on public roads in Austin, Miami, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

The investment by VW expands its workforce and operations to Europe. Autonomous Intelligent Driving (AID), the self-driving subsidiary that was launched in 2017 to develop autonomous vehicle technology for the VW Group, is being absorbed into Argo AI. AID’s Munich offices will become Argo’s European headquarters. In all, Argo now employs more than 1,000 people.

While the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles will be a long journey — a remark shared Thursday by Ford CEO Jim Hackett — the Argo investment has already provided the automaker with a short-term and timely gain.

The automaker said Thursday it netted $3.5 billion in the second quarter from selling some of its Argo equity to Volkswagen. That gain gave the automaker a one-time boost in its second-quarter earnings.

Ford posted a $1.1 billion profit in the second quarter, if the Argo transaction is counted. Ford lost $1.9 billion in the quarter before interest and taxes and one-time items. Ford reported a revenue of $19.4 billion, a 50% decrease from the same period in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic which caused the company to idle its factories for weeks.

Still, the result could have been far worse. Ford had previously warned that it could post as much as a $5 billion net loss in the second quarter.

Despite these COVID-19 headwinds, Hackett said Ford is still committed to the long-term pursuit of AVs, a point reiterated by CFO Tim Stone, who said the automaker continues to make investments to commercialize its autonomous vehicle business, including product development, engineering and testing.

“The AV journey will be a long one, but Ford is now well positioned to run this race and compete like few others can,” Hackett added.

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Google Marks First Revenue Decline in Company History

As the coronavirus pandemic challenges the global economy, different spheres have suffered losses, from air travel to oil markets. Now, as advertisers appear to pull back spending, one of the world's biggest tech companies, Google, has been affected.

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Upcoming UN 75th Anniversary Offers Chance to Expand Security Council, German Envoy Suggests

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - Celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the United Nations scheduled for late September present an opportunity to revive long-stalled efforts to enlarge the UN Security Council with permanent members from Africa, Latin America, and elsewhere, Germany’s Ambassador to the world body Christoph Heusgen said on Thursday.

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Rakuten is shuttering the online shop formerly known as Buy.com

Japanese conglomerate Rakuten has pulled the plug on its U.S. online retail store, originally known as Buy.com, and will wind down its operations over the next two months, the company confirmed to TechCrunch. The shutdown means that the US headquarters will lay off its staff as well, meaning 87 people will lose their jobs, according a source familiar with the developments.

“We have decided to sunset the U.S. Rakuten Marketplace,” a company representative said in an email to TechCrunch. They clarified, however, that the “cash back rewards” referral business the company operates at Rakuten.com (formely Ebates, which it bought for $1B in 2014) “is definitely not shutting down and is stronger than ever.”

Rakuten bought Buy.com for $250M back in 2010 in an attempt to expand its retail business out of its stronghold of Japan. Unfortunately the evolving market, aggressive growth (and targeting of rivals) at Amazon, and likely the choice to rebrand the once well-known site under the Rakuten name, all led to declining business. The original CEO and COO left in 2012.

Customers of the Rakuten US store will be able to place orders for the next two months, after which the site will shutter completely. Users of the rewards and commission business shouldn’t see any major changes, and other businesses (like the Kobo e-reading division) aren’t affected either.

It’s a blow to Rakuten, but hardly one that can have taken them by surprise. The company has diversified and invested in a large number of businesses and verticals around the world (even launching a cryptocoin), so the failure of a marketplace like this, while unfortunate (especially for those laid off), won’t be affecting their bottom line much at this point.

Rakuten has SoftBank in its sights

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Wednesday, 29 July 2020

The Big Tech Hearing Proved Congress Isn't Messing Around

Partisan antics aside, lawmakers on the antitrust subcommittee dished out some serious, probing questions to the CEOs of Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Apple.

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The Facebook and Amazon Documents That Captivated the Hearing

Here's a look at how Mark Zuckerberg plotted the Instagram acquisition. Plus: Inside Amazon's plan to take down Diapers.com.

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Apple’s App Store commission structure called into question in antitrust hearing

Apple CEO Tim Cook defended the company’s App Store commission structure in his sworn testimony before the House Antitrust Subcommittee on Wednesday. He claimed the majority of the apps pay no commission at all, with others paying either 15 or 30 percent, based on the specifics of their particular situation. He said developers were all treated equally and that Apple wouldn’t raise commissions, because it had to compete for developer interest in its platform as well.

But the documents shared by the House subcommittee as part of their investigation indicate that exceptions to Apple’s rules have been made — notably, with Amazon’s Prime Video app. In addition, Apple may have never raised commissions, but discussions weren’t off the table. It had once even considered raising commissions to 40% in particular situations.

The lawmakers had come to the hearing armed with internal Apple emails and interviews from App Store developers who argued that Apple doesn’t uniformly enforce its rules and plays favorites. But their questioning of Cook over App Store fees, combined with a format that limited execs’ ability to respond at length, initially seemed to reveal little in terms of new information about Apple’s practices.

For instance, when asked directly about how the App Store worked, Cook simply restated the store’s published rules — that is, for app developers who have to pay commissions, they pay only 15 or 30 percent. The current guidelines require 30% for apps selling digital goods or services, with a drop to 15% in year two for subscription apps. The rules also document a carve-out for “reader” apps like audiobook apps, streaming services, news publications, and other competitive products which have the option of forgoing in-app purchases.

Cook also squeezed in a mention about how the vast majority of App Store apps, 84%, pay nothing to Apple in commissions. It’s the remaining 16% that pay, he noted.

And when asked if Apple was the sole gatekeeper as to what gets published on the App Store, Cook agreed that it was — given that the App Store was a “feature of the iPhone, much like the Camera and the chip is.” He clarified that Apple’s control over apps only extended to native software applications, not web apps, but denied Apple treated developers unfairly.

“We treat every developer the same. We have open and transparent rules,” Cook said, in his testimony. “It’s a rigorous process, because we care so deeply about privacy and security and quality. We do look at every app before it goes on,” he added.

But emails in 2016 between Apple SVP Eddy Cue and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, shared here on the House Judiciary Committee’s website, indicate that Apple, in fact, appears to have negotiated a special deal with Amazon over its Amazon Prime Video app for iOS and Apple TV. In an email dated Nov. 2016 — before the 2017 launch of the Prime Video tvOS app — Apple agreed to take only a 15% revenue share for customers that signed up in the app using Apple’s payment mechanism. (Typically, subscription apps don’t drop from 30% to 15% until year two.)

Apple this April confirmed it had a special program for Prime Video and a small handful of other apps, which were subscription video entertainment providers. The program allowed those companies to rent or sell movies and TV shows to customers using the payment methods the companies already had on file, as well as more deeply integrate with Siri. But Apple hadn’t said that this special program would include a reduced commission on subscriptions or any other in-app upsells, as these emails confirm were points of discussion.

This wouldn’t be the first time Apple saw its commission structure as having some room to flex.

When Cook was questioned as to whether there was anything that could stop Apple from raising commissions to, say, 50%, the CEO responded that Apple had never increased commissions since day one. He also argued, when asked if anything could stop it from doing so, that competition for developer interest would stop it from raising its cut.

“There is a competition for developers, just like there’s a competition for customers. And so the competition for developers — they write their apps for Android or Windows or Xbox or Playstation,” said Cook. “We have fierce competition on the developer side and the customer side which is essentially — it’s so competitive, I would describe it as a street fight for market share in the smartphone business,” he added.

But in internal emails from 2011, Apple did discuss raising commissions — all the way to 40% for the first year of recurring subscriptions. “I think we may be leaving money on the table if we just asked for about 30% of the first year of sub,” Cue had written at the time.

Documents from the Hearing on “Online Platforms and Market Power: Examining the Dominance of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google” pic.twitter.com/42o2Ye13jI

— House Judiciary Dems (@HouseJudiciary) July 29, 2020

Of course, Apple didn’t go so far as to actually make that change in the years that passed. But these emails indicate there’s more to Apple’s thinking — and its discussions around the commission structure — than the even playing field Cook testified to.

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Amazon’s hardware business doesn’t escape Congressional scrutiny

While much of today’s Congressional grilling into the anticompetitive practices of the big tech giants focused on their core businesses, Amazon’s hardware also came in for close inspection during the hours-long interrogation.

It was a small but significant exchange, because it touched on the breadth of the company’s services and how dominance in one area can mean potentially anti-competitive behavior in another part of the tech giant’s business.

Lawmakers argue that big tech stands to benefit from the pandemic and must be regulated

For Maryland’s Representative Jamie Raskin, both Amazon’s best-selling Echo and the Fire TV devices became targets thanks to recent reporting on the company’s business practices and negotiations regarding both devices.

The Echo is the company’s foray into the smart home market that’s widely seen as the next major battleground in consumer technology. It’s one of the most widely adopted pieces of Amazon’s technology and has captured about 60% of the smart home market, according to Raskin.

The congressman hammered Bezos on two points about the Echo. The first was the company’s pricing scheme which had the Echo priced well below the cost to produce the device making it all but impossible for other tech companies to compete.

The Echo’s wide adoption has also led Amazon to engage in other anti-competitive behavior, Raskin asserted — some of which was outlined in previous questioning from Colorado Rep. Ken Buck citing a Wall Street Journal report that Amazon had used its investment unit focused on its Echo product and Alexa voice assistant to copy technology coming from small startup companies.

But beyond its appropriation of another company’s intellectual property, Amazon also used the Echo platform to promote its own products over competitors when customers used its voice services.

“Is Alexa trained to favor Amazon products?” Raskin asked.

Bezos responded that he wasn’t sure if Amazon had specifically trained the Alexa to default to Amazon services or to promote the company’s own brand of products, but that he wouldn’t be surprised. “It wouldn’t surprise me if Alexa sometimes does promote our own products,” the Amazon chief executive said.

Raskin also took Bezos to task for the company’s recent negotiations with WarnerMedia, the production studio, streaming service, and network giant. Specifically, he was concerned with how negotiations around the distribution of WarnerMedia’s HBO Max service on the company’s Fire TV devices included discussions around Amazon’s access to WarnerMedia productions.

“You’re not only asking for financial terms but also for content from Warner Media,” Raskin said. “Is it fair to use your gatekeeper status role in the streaming device market to promote your position as a competitor in the video streaming market with respect to content?”

Bezos responded that the negotiations were “normal commerce,” but Raskin tried to make the case that the negotiations over access to the Fire was yet another way in which the company’s leverage in one market impacted its ability to exercise unfair advantage against a competitor in a different industry.

“You’re using your control over access to people’s living rooms essentially,” Raskin said. “You’re using that to obtain leverage in terms of getting creative content that you want. Are you essentially converting power in one domain into power in another domain where it doesn’t belong?”

The comments and line of inquiry from Raskin were part of an intense bout of questioning that seemed to hone in on the purported topic of the hearings — the anti-competitive and potentially monopolistic power wielded by four of the nation’s largest tech companies. Facebook, Apple and Alphabet were all raked over the Congressional coals in bouts of questioning, but it seemed that the most sustained criticism on anti-competitive behavior was reserved for Bezos and Amazon.

Bezos ‘can’t guarantee’ no anti-competitive activity as Congress catches him flat-footed

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The Facebook and Amazon Documents That Captivated the Hearing

Here's a look at how Mark Zuckerberg plotted the Instagram acquisition. Plus: Inside Amazon's plan to take down Diapers.com.

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Everything that happened at the Big Tech anti-trust virtual hearing

There was yelling. There was butt-kissing. There was Jeff Bezos forgetting to take himself off mute. Another congressional hearing where members of congress get to blast tech CEOs with questions - some crucial, some nonsense - is in the books.

As a hearing on anti-trust law, it was a historic moment of reckoning with the most powerful companies and people the modern world has ever known. It was also at times ridiculous and awkward, thanks to political theatrics, and the fact that all the CEOs appeared virtually via video conference because of coronavirus precautions.

Jeff Bezos hasn't been asked a single question by Congress yet, so the world's richest man is having a snack..pic.twitter.com/zMZ4iEuHyY

— Claire Reilly (@reillystyley) July 29, 2020 Read more...

More about Facebook, Google, Apple, Amazon, and Tech

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'She Handled This Very Well': 105-Year-Old Indian Woman Recovers From COVID-19 in 9 Days

COVID-19 is considered to be particularly dangerous for the elderly, who are seen as one of the high-risk groups and are advised to be particularly cautious, sticking to enhanced social distancing guidelines and even self-imposed quarantines.

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The Roots Announce Passing of Founding Member Malik B.

Rapper and singer Malik Abdul Basit, a founding member of the hip hop band The Roots, has died at the age of 47, according to a July 29 announcement.

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‘Harm is Already Done’: Trump Flouts DACA Court Ruling to ‘Bully’ Immigrants, Appeal to Base

The Trump administration on Tuesday announced that it will continue to reject new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a move that is most likely an attempt to appeal to the president’s nativist base, Juan Carlos Ruiz, co-founder of the New Sanctuary Movement, told Radio Sputnik’s Loud & Clear Wednesday.

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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized for ‘minimally invasive’ non-surgical procedure: Supreme Court

The U.S Supreme Court announced late Wednesday that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been hospitalized for a ‘minimally invasive’ non-surgical procedure.

From the Washington Post:

Ginsburg was treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, where she received a bile duct stent a year ago.

“According to her doctors, stent revisions are common occurrences and the procedure, performed using endoscopy and medical imaging guidance, was done to minimize the risk of future infection,” court spokewoman Kathleen Arberg said in a statement. “The justice is resting comfortably and expects to be released from the hospital by the end of the week.”

More: Ginsburg back in hospital for a nonsurgical procedure

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Amazing 2-day online conference

Amazon UK

Friday, 31 July 2020

Thursday, 30 July 2020

Wednesday, 29 July 2020

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