| Good afternoon! The Rio Olympics are finally upon us. Much of the leadup to the Games has been about the security and Zika challenges, reports of troubling living conditions for some of the world's best athletes, and the water sport venues full of bacteria. But now it's time to focus on the compelling story lines and dramatic competition. Each day should offer something that people around the world can take interest in, so after you leave work early on this summer Friday, take a mental break from this wild election cycle and enjoy the opening ceremony. Not even Trump and Clinton deserve your undivided attention these next few weeks. —Amrith Ramkumar |
| | Professional Snoops | | | The data-fusion company IDI combines public records with purchasing, demographic, and behavioral data to provide as much information on every American adult as possible. But before you freak out: The CEO of the Boca Raton, Fla.-based company says that data is only used to locate missing people or track down fraud or terrorism suspects. The year-old IDI also runs two coupon websites to collect info; it's the first to centralize and weaponize all that data for its customers. "We're like bugs in amber, completely trapped in the web of our own data," says the president of one consulting firm. |
| Here are today's top stories... | | The U.S. Olympic Committee allocates about $50 million to more than 40 American sports federations vying for medals. So how do they divvy it up? Bloomberg News looked at the past 17 years of its tax filings to shed light on the answer: a pay-for-performance model. The sports that have won the most medals since 2004—such as swimming and gymnastics—have received the most funding. Others that have been less successful, like synchronized swimming and weightlifting, need strong performances in Rio to give the USOC reason to keep the money flowing to those sports. The good news for them: It sometimes takes just one young phenom to turn things around. | | Nike will stop manufacturing golf clubs and Golfsmith International is considering filing for bankruptcy. And although golf is back in the Olympics for the first time since 1904, the top four men's golfers in the world are skipping the Games. All of these events illustrate a shift in the once lucrative sport driven by the fall of Tiger Woods and decreasing interest among young people. The number of U.S. golfers dropped from a peak of 30.6 million in 2003 to 24.1 million in 2015, with the participation rate among young people falling 30 percent over the past 20 years. Consumer spending on golf equipment in the U.S. hasn't changed much in the past eight years, forcing sportswear companies to give up on areas that simply aren't generating enough revenue. | | You've probably heard of Hampton Creek's vegan mayo, called Just Mayo. What you might not know is that the food startup bought back hundreds of jars of the product across the U.S. to boost sales and make it seem more popular than it was. In addition, contractors were told to call store managers pretending they were customers and ask about Just Mayo. Hampton Creek CEO Josh Tetrick said the purchases were made to check the quality of Just Mayo, but a database detailing the quality check purchases doesn't account for the undercover buyback assignments. | | Move over, BMW and Tesla: Mercedes-Benz is planning its own distinct line of four electric vehicles. In a bet that alternative-fuel cars will eventually become profitable, the company will create a new sub-brand for the new lineup of cars. Tesla's success with the Model S sedan has put pressure on other luxury-car makers, but customers in Mercedes's home market of Germany have been skeptical of electric vehicles. Will the company's risk pay off? That's yet to be seen. | | You've seen DJ Khaled raving about Ciroc vodka on Snapchat. But it's unclear whether he, and other celebs like him, have been paid to do so. As a result, the Federal Trade Commission is planning to get tougher. Users will need to be clear when they're getting paid to promote something, but the agency is putting the real pressure on advertisers to make sure they comply. It's a move that could make the posts seem less authentic and reduce their impact. But for most companies, following the rules is probably preferable to a lawsuit over deceptive advertising, like the one Warner Bros. Home Entertainment recently settled with the FTC. | |
| | From the Côte d'Azur to the California Coast | | | Nine-figure property deals used to be unthinkable, but now there are 23 homes on the market priced over $100 million. From the $455 million bubble palace in Paris to a duplex at 834 Fifth Avenue, we give you some of the offerings and explain why some might consider them "irreplaceable." | | |
|
If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Keep a civil tongue.