Midwest Chicken Farmers Struggle to Feed Flocks after Supplier Shuts Down | Fast Company

October 18, 2024 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS 2 MINUTE READ Dozens of farmers in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin are scrambling to feed their flocks after a struggling organic broiler chicken producer abruptly closed a year after getting a $39 million federal loan.

Pure Prairie Poultry shuttered its Charles City, Iowa, plant after filing for bankruptcy last month. The Minnesota company provided farmers with chicks and feed to raise until the birds were ready to be slaughtered and prepared for sale at the northeastern Iowa processing center.

“We know that our difficulties are causing real hardship for our growers and for others,” Pure Prairie spokesperson Jon Austin said in an email. “And for that we apologize without reservation.”

SBA Exhausts Funds for New Disaster Loans, Urges Continued Applications as Agency Awaits Additional Funding | Small Business Trends

October 16, 2024 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that it has exhausted available funds for its disaster loan program due to the high demand for financial relief following Hurricane Helene.

As a result, the SBA is pausing new loan offers for its low-interest, long-term disaster loans until Congress appropriates additional funding.

However, the SBA is encouraging disaster survivors, including individuals and small businesses, to continue submitting loan applications, with assurances from congressional leaders that more funds will be allocated once Congress reconvenes in November.

SpaceX’s Starship landing shown in stunning close-up videos | Digital Trends

October 14, 2024 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

SpaceX has shared footage, which you can watch below, showing a spectacular close-up view of the Starship’s launch and landing on Sunday.

The mission involved the fifth test flight of the Starship, comprising the first-stage Super Heavy booster and upper-stage Starship spacecraft.

The first video shows the 120-meter-tall vehicle roaring skyward from SpaceX’s facility in Boca Chica, Texas, creating 17 million pounds of thrust at launch as it goes.

Samsung brings 27 artworks from MoMA to The Frame television | Digital Trends

October 14, 2024 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Samsung today announced that it’s making more than two dozen well-known pieces of art from the Museum of Modern Art available in the Samsung Art Store, and by extension to its Frame televisions.

The works currently collected by MoMA in New York city total 27 in all, including pairings by Frida Kahlo, Henri Matisse, Georgia O’Keefe, Vincent Van Gogh, Piet Mondrian, Claude Monet, and more. Somewhat ironically — though perhaps less so if you’ve seen the paintings in person — is that by putting them on a large-screen television, the art will end up literally being larger than life. And you won’t have to fight the crowds for a closer look.

The art included in the Samsung/MoMA collab includes the likes of Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, Mondrian’s Trafalgar Square, and Monet’s Water Lilies.

Boeing withdraws 30% pay rise offer to striking workers | BBC

October 10, 2024October 9, 2024 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Boeing says it has withdrawn its pay rise offer to striking workers after negotiations with union representatives reached a stalemate.

The aviation giant accused the union of not giving its proposals serious consideration.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union (IAM) said Boeing was “hell-bent on standing on the non-negotiated offer” which it says was rejected by its members.

Last month, Boeing announced what it called its “best and final” offer to workers, which proposed a 30% rise over four years – lower than the 40% being demanded by the union.

Google threatened with break-up by US | BBC

October 10, 2024October 9, 2024 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The US government says it is considering whether to ask a judge to break up search engine giant Google, in a move that could reshape how technology giants do business.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) says the measures may include “structural requirements” to prevent Google from maintaining its internet search “monopoly”.

In response, Google warned that the proposed changes could have unintended consequences for US businesses and consumers.

The DoJ’s announcement comes after a landmark court ruling in August that found Google had maintained its dominance of online search through illegal practices.

The White House joins Reddit and shares hurricane information | TechCrunch

October 9, 2024October 8, 2024 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

On Tuesday, a White House official announced that the Biden-Harris administration has launched a White House account on Reddit, where it will release information about the work the federal government is doing. The decision was also driven by a need to meet “more people where they are,” noted White House Deputy Platforms Director Megan Coyne in a post on X.

The account, u/whitehouse, is now sharing critical information about the administration’s response to Hurricane Helene, including the over $37 million in assistance already approved for over 28,000 households. The account also noted there are more than 1,000 FEMA officials on the ground and over 1,200 Urban Search and Rescue personnel in the field who have now rescued or supported over 3,200 survivors.

Tesla Robotaxi reveal: What to expect | TechCrunch

October 9, 2024October 8, 2024 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Tesla is gearing up to reveal its Robotaxi this Thursday, and everyone wants to know what it will look like, whether Tesla will unveil a commercialization strategy, and what outrageous timelines Elon Musk might announce to bump Tesla’s stock.

The “We, Robot” event will take place at 7 p.m. PT at Warner Bros. Discovery’s movie studio in Burbank, California, and we’ve got details on how to watch it here.

Musk had originally planned to reveal the Robotaxi – which he has also referred to as a Cybercab – on August 8. That’s a deadline Musk set for himself and Tesla a few hours after a Reuters report found that the automaker shelved its plan to build a lower-cost EV and would instead focus its resources on a robotaxi.

Now Texas is suing TikTok over children’s safety concerns, too | Mashable

October 7, 2024October 6, 2024 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

TikTok’s legal troubles in the United States continue.

Reuters reported that the state of Texas sued TikTok on Thursday. According to state Attorney General Ken Paxton, TikTok has allegedly violated Texas state law and jeopardized children’s safety with the popular video-sharing app’s policies.

Paxton accused TikTok of not providing proper privacy settings for accounts belonging to children, as well as targeting advertising at children. He wants civil penalties of as much as $10,000 per violation of Texas’s Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act.

McDonald’s is finally selling the Chicken Big Mac in the US | CNN Business

October 4, 2024October 3, 2024 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

When McDonald’s rolled out the Chicken Big Mac in the United Kingdom, it sold out within 10 days. Now, it’s likely hoping for similar success in the United States.

Beginning October 10, the highly anticipated sandwich will be sold for a limited time at McDonald’s US locations. The Chicken Big Mac is similar to its beefy sibling; however, it replaces the two burgers with two tempura chicken patties. It also includes the signature Big Mac sauce, pickles, shredded lettuce and a slice of American cheese.

McDonald’s has been vocal about adding more chicken to its menu, which is generally cheaper than beef. CEO Chris Kempczinski said in its most recent earnings call that it’s focused on adding “growth drivers like chicken” in an attempt to reverse slumping sales. Chicken is now on par with beef sales at its restaurants, he added.