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How delivery tech transformed the way we spend & live

PLENTY OF PITFALLS AWAIT ZUCKERBERG'S ‘METAVERSE' PLAN

When Mark Zuckerberg announced ambitious plans to build the “metaverse” — a virtual reality construct intended to supplant the internet, merge virtual life with real life and create endless new playgrounds for everyone — he promised that “you’re going to able to do almost anything you can imagine.”

TIKTOK MADE YOU BUY IT: A SELECTION OF VIRAL, GIFTY FINDS

Look no further than TikTok and its pandemic-expanded ranks for unique holiday gifts, from the hot Halara athleisure dress to a miracle cleaning paste called The Pink Stuff, worthy of any neat freak’s Christmas stocking.

FROM CRYPTOCURRENCY TO CASH: WAYS TO BANK YOUR DIGITAL COIN

Cryptocurrency, the blockchain-based digital currency that has captured the interest of investors and financial service firms alike, has a challenging problem. It can be hard to actually spend this currency like you would regular money. But there are new services on the horizon that could help people use bitcoin and other digital coins in more mainstream ways for their day-to-day finances.

ROADS, TRANSIT, INTERNET: WHAT'S IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL

The $1 trillion infrastructure plan that now goes to President Joe Biden to sign into law has money for roads, bridges, ports, rail transit, safe water, the power grid, broadband internet and more.

TOM HANKS, A ROBOT AND A DOG IN ‘FINCH'

Tom Hanks doesn’t need a human or even a sentient acting partner to make a film or a scene sing. Think Wilson the volleyball, Hooch and even that laptop from “You’ve Got Mail.” So it’s not at all surprising if he’s the first guy on the list for your post-apocalyptic film about a man, a robot and a dog.

Air-Scrubbing Machines Gain Momentum, But Long Way to Go

On a field ringed by rolling green hills in Iceland, fans attached to metal structures that look like an industrial-sized Lego project are spinning. Their mission is to scrub the atmosphere by sucking carbon dioxide from the air and storing it safely underground.

After Twitter Poll, CEO Musk Sells Off $5b in Tesla Shares

After making a promise on Twitter, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has sold about 4.5 million shares of the electric car maker’s stock, raising over $5 billion.

YAHOO PULLS OUT OF CHINA, CITING ‘CHALLENGING' ENVIRONMENT

Yahoo Inc. said this week it has pulled out of China, citing an increasingly challenging operating environment.

US TRADE DEFICIT HITS RECORD OF $80.9 BILLION IN SEPTEMBER

The U.S. trade deficit hit an all-time high of $80.9 billion in September as American exports fell sharply while imports, even with supply chain problems at American ports, continue to climb.

NINTENDO'S PROFIT DROPS FROM LAST YEAR'S PANDEMIC BOOM

Japanese video game maker Nintendo’s profit dropped 19% in the first half of its fiscal year from the previous year when it received a big lift as people stuck at home by the coronavirus pandemic turned to its products.

E-WALLETS: WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR CRYPTO IF YOU DIE?

If you’re merely dipping your toe in cryptocurrency, it can be hard to imagine your crypto as something worth talking to an estate attorney about.

CARE ABOUT YOUR CREDIT SCORE? GET STRATEGIC WITH CARD LIMITS

If you have credit cards in your wallet, you might track your balances to keep your budget in check, but knowing each card’s credit limit off the top of your head is another story.

TESLA SOFTWARE RECALL MAY HEAD OFF FIGHT WITH US REGULATORS

Tesla has issued a recall that automatically sent a software update fixing a safety problem in its electric vehicles, apparently heading offa looming confrontation with U.S. safety regulators.

NEW ZEALAND STRAIT CROSSED FOR FIRST TIME BY ELECTRIC PLANE

As he made history by becoming the first person to fly across New Zealand’s Cook Strait in an electric plane, Gary Freedman thought it only fitting that the first thing he saw when approaching the Wellington coastline was the rotating blade of a wind turbine producing renewable energy.

ARE COVID-19 BOOSTERS THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL VACCINES?

Are COVID-19 boosters the same as the original vaccines?

DOORDASH ADDS SAFETY FEATURES TO HELP PROTECT DRIVERS

DoorDash is adding security features to its app to help protect drivers.

HOTELS RETHINK THE CONCIERGE: FROM SELFIES TO SUSTAINABILITY

Looking to increase your vacation selfie game? Don’t worry, Eduardo Vallin has you covered.

Machines Don't Blink

The Perils of Military Brinkmanship in the Age of AI

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE MAKER NURO SECURES $600M FOR EXPANSION

Electric vehicle maker Nuro said it had secured $600 million in funding from Google, Kroger and others to continue the development of its autonomous delivery vehicle service.

NEW ZEALAND STRAIT CROSSED FOR FIRST TIME BY ELECTRIC PLANE

As he made history by becoming the first person to fly across New Zealand’s Cook Strait in an electric plane, Gary Freedman thought it only fitting that the first thing he saw when approaching the Wellington coastline was the rotating blade of a wind turbine producing renewable energy.

SOLAR WING JAMMED ON NASA SPACECRAFT CHASING ASTEROIDS

NASA is debating whether to try to fix a jammed solar panel on its newly launched Lucy spacecraft, en route to explore an unprecedented number of asteroids.

ODDBALL SAFECRACKER CHARMS IN ‘ARMY OF THIEVES'

One of the unlikeliest heroes to emerge from Zack Snyder’s horror-action flick “Army of the Dead” earlier this year was an oddball safecracker named Dieter.

M1 Powered

Macs back in the game with new processors

YAHOO PULLS OUT OF CHINA, CITING ‘CHALLENGING' ENVIRONMENT

Yahoo Inc. said this week it has pulled out of China, citing an increasingly challenging operating environment.

China Tightens Control Over Company Data With Transfer Rules

Companies in China would need government approval to transfer important data abroad under proposed rules announced last weekend that would tighten Beijing’s control over information and might disrupt operations for international corporations.

Facebook to Shut Down Face-Recognition System, Delete Data

Facebook said it will shut down its face-recognition system and delete the faceprints of more than 1 billion people amid growing concerns about the technology and its misuse by governments, police and others.

Hot Stuff

What we're raving about this month

‘THE BIG DELETE:' INSIDE FACEBOOK'S CRACKDOWN IN GERMANY

Days before Germany’s federal elections, Facebook took what it called an unprecedented step: the removal of a series of accounts that worked together to spread COVID-19 misinformation and encourage violent responses to COVID restrictions.

EARTH-MONITORING LANDSAT 9 LAUNCHES IN CALIFORNIA SATELLITE

The latest in a series of U.S. satellites that has recorded human and natural impacts on Earth’s surface for decades was launched into orbit from California on Monday to ensure continued observations in the era of climate change.