Daily

Dakota access work stalls, Trump tweets, Italy and Austria get new leaders, Meet Baby Groot!, Pokes return (to playoffs)

by dave · Dec 5, 2016

Well, well, well…how YOU doin’? (Yeah, we know, it’s been a while.) Here’s today’s edition of Morning Social.

Headlines

Victory – for now – for #DAPL protesters. In an announcement on Sunday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wouldn’t let the Dakota Access Pipleline work continue as was planned. USA Today covers it here.

Another day, another Twitter-fueled Trump imbroglio. What’s funny is that we wrote that bolded text last week and it served as a placeholder for whatever he did over the weekend on Twitter. Like this, as reported on Mediaite, promising “retribution” for companies bolting overseas.

Italy goes right, Austria goes left. Split decision in weekend elections. Italy’s referendum leads to the resignation of its prime minister – and likely spells the end of its left-leaning government. However, Austria heads the other direction; The Guardian covers both stories in depth: Italy and Austria votes.

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Meme of the Day

Baby Groot! If you haven’t seen the preview yet for Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (the official name), then get to it. And fall in love with Baby Groot!

Business

Italy referendum could kinda be bad for Italian banks; and what will that mean throughout Europe? We mentioned the referendum in Italy above; and lo and behold markets didn’t like the news, then sorta like the news. Sky News discusses the ramifications throughout Europe, and odds are they don’t use “kinda” and “sorta” in their writing. But they do use “knock-on” and Sky’s in Britain, so here’s a photo of a five-pound note.

Five pound note — What happens to the Pound and other currencies after the Italy vote?

Oil back up over $55. Now what? Good news for oil stocks, not good news for drivers. Or is it? Reuters covers that story at this link.

Social-ism

Want to raise a lot of money for your startup? Good luck! But, if you want some inspiration from those who have successfully raised tons o’ moolah, take a look at this: Pitch Decks from Startups.

The Rando

Krausening! Each region of the U.S. of A. seems to have its own random brew that, for some reason (other than taste), is popular. The Midwest? Old Style, which will be brewed in LaCrosse, Wisconsin once again.

Sportsing

Only one team is in the NFL playoffs already. How ’bout them Cowboys? All the scores on the NFL webpage.

Tiger’s back. While he didn’t perform like the Tiger of old, the big thing here is that Tiger Woods actually played in a golf tournament after a long layoff. Golf Channel covers the news.

Tip of the Day

Got a sketchy LinkedIn request from someone? Save the photo onto your desktop and visit TinEye. If it’s someone famous or a stock photo, it’s likely not them. Even better: in Chrome, “S” + “Right-click.”

Style and Whatnot

All Hail the SCOTTeVEST: Amazon’s selling their Qzip and it looks beyond cool. We ran a link before, we’ll run it again, and it’s not even an affiliate link because we heart you so much.

See you Tomorrow!

We’re on Twitter and Facebook. And coming soon to other channels near you.

Cheers,

Dave (Your Friendly Editor)

Not Chaos in Laos, but close; HRC says no to Mexico trip; When to buy that plane ticket (really); A photo of a girl playing a ukulele for no reason

by dave · Sep 6, 2016

We return with the hope that you missed us terribly. It’s the September 6 edition of Morning Social.

Headlines

Obama cancels meet and greet with Philippines president. Well, he was insulted. It’s been an interesting stop in Asia for 44, first some Chinese protocol issues, now this. Reuters covers the President’s tension-filled visit to Laos.

Clinton turns down Mexico invite. Since Trump went there and most pundits think it didn’t go all that well, Clinton has decided she’ll stay back, thanks. Again, here’s Reuters with the breakdown.

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Meme of the Day

Dogs, religion, church signs. Might be an oldie, might be photoshopped, but good nonetheless. Dog Meme.

Business

More than aspirin, more than GMOs. And they could be more together, or so thinks Bayer, which has just upped its offer for Monsanto. MarketWatch studies the pluses and minuses.

(ICYMI) It’s business, it’s sports, it’s everywhere. Or so it seemed last year. Read ESPN’s in-depth study of “daily fantasy” here, and realize why you saw these ads EVERYWHERE. “Rise and Fall of Daily Fantasy.”

Social-ism

It’s easy: run a startup, get investment from a VC, become rich. Unless you can’t get one of these investment folks to buy in. Want to know why you didn’t get the cash? Read this from TechCrunch.

The Rando

Stupidest. Idea. Ever. Don’t try this at home…actually, don’t try this anywhere. Japan Saran Wrap People.

girl on ukulele — We hope this summarizes today’s mood.

Sportsing

Golfer wins tournament, responds to critics that he’s obsessed with going to the gym. Rory McIlroy is one of the top five golfers in the world, but he takes a lot of flak for…being in shape? Sounds like BS to us, and to him. Golf Channel shares his response.

Tip of the Day

Ever hear that thing about buying plane tickets on Tuesdays at 2 in the morning? Well that may not necessarily be the case. We share this piece from January from Conde Nast – which is actually the first thing that pops up in a Google search.

Style and Whatnot

Why cry? Nye ties tie! (Sigh.) Link to greatest 82 seconds ever (for fans of sartorial splendor). (This is too good for us to not share again, so we are.)

See you Tomorrow!

We’re back at it on a regular basis, so check us out on Twitter and/or visit us on Facebook.

Cheers,

Dave (Your Friendly Editor)

There’s No “I” in “Team” – But There Is One in “Kaine”; I Got Your Emails Right Here; Verizon-Hoooooo!

by dave · Jul 25, 2016

Time for the July 25, 2016 edition of Morning Social.

Headlines

Is Kaine Able? Time for the Democrats to take center stage, and that starts with Hillary’s running mate: Virginia Senator Tim Kaine. His Wikipedia entry is rather interesting, in that he’s Minnesota-born, Kansas City-bred, Missouri- and Harvard-educated, and has spent his political life in Virginia.

But then there’s Wikileaks, and “Hillaryleaks…” Depending on who you ask and which side of the fence you’re on, this is either business as usual or a really bad thing. Or somewhere in between. The Zerohedge breakdown is fun to read.

Drew Carey throws party for Gary Johnson. (This is a Trump-free edition of Morning Social.) The LA Times was there; if you don’t know either names, one hosts The Price is Right and the other is the Libertarian candidate for President.

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Meme of the Day

Peter Jennings on the $1 Bill? Think American money is boring and needs a reboot? You can see the late ABC News Anchor (who was, in fact, an American citizen) and other ideas for people on currency – including Ice Cube – over here on a site called “Designzzz.”

Business

A “Womp, Womp” for Yahoo! and Verizon! Wins. A $4.8 Billion sale price appears to have been agreed to, and Yahoo(!)(?) joins AOL as one of the businesses in the Verizon portfolio. Forbes thinks it’s sad.

Tesla and SolarCity Near a Tie-Up. Reuters is reporting that the sides are closer to making it official – perhaps this week.

Social-ism

Et tu, Snapchat? While we were all paying attention to Pokemon Go, Snapchat has also passed Twitter in daily users.

The Rando

You Want to Ride from WHERE to WHERE? Biking from Maine to Florida on an uninterrupted greenway used to be the stuff of (someone else’s rather psychotic) dreams. But yes, it’s soon possible.

Sportsing

City vs. United in Beijing is Canceled. That game – between soccer’s two Manchester-based powerhouses and part of an International Champions Cup – needs a playable field. Rain in China means it’s a no-go.

Don’t Like the Jersey? Cut Them All! In weird baseball news, Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale reportedly took a knife to a bunch of throwback jerseys because he didn’t want to wear them. He was suspended by the team.

Chris Sale Jersey — I think it’s kinda cool. (Photo from MLB.com)

Tip of the Day

We feel like we’ve been mean to Twitter lately. The search function is still pretty cool – you don’t even need to be logged in to use it. Advanced search is nifty, too.

Style and Whatnot

We’re on an Olympic Clothing Kick. Because nothing says “Brasil” like Brazilian Flag Leggings.

See you Tomorrow!

We’re still on Twitter and Facebook. We’re working on Snapchat, too. Give us time.

Cheers,

Dave

A Conventional Day Two of the GOP Confab; 16 Days to Rio; Insurance Mergers Might Wait; Rickrolling Nirvana

by dave · Jul 20, 2016

Yesterday? We. Couldn’t. Even. So here’s today’s Morning Social – Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

Headlines

Conventional Wisdom. Day Two of the GOP Convention was tame by comparison to Day One. Donald J. Trump is the GOP nominee, so time to look at what might actually happen in November – which is anyone’s guess, actually. Even Nate Silver is just guessing.

The Rio Countdown is at 16. As per usual, any time a city hosts the Olympics, its preparations are scrutinized, and its country goes under the microscope. No different here, and Reuters breaks it down.

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Meme of the Day

We’re no strangers to love. Thus, Never Gonna Give Your Teen Spirit Up is today’s Meme of the Day.

Business

You saw this coming. Health insurers are trying to consolidate, but the FTC is ready for a fight. Nasdaq looks at what’s next for Anthem and Cigna, Aetna and Humana.

Netflix stumbles with its globalization. Subscriber numbers are the big thing, and they missed…big. Motley Fool checks it out.

Social-ism

Start your day with some social media tips. If you run a business, you know all about social media and its potential to make things happen for your cash register. Here, then, some tips from Wordstream.

The Rando

Using cauliflower as bread dates back to… You know, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen this. Here’s video from Spoon University.

Sportsing

USA! USA! The Basketball Teams are ready to go to Rio. Here’s a link to the Women’s Roster, and the Men’s Roster.

There’s still an Arena Football League? Yes, there is. Eight teams, and only three of them currently have a winning record. Here are the standings.

Tip of the Day

If you want to put yourself in a productive mood, start with background music. Best to try something without lyrics, lest you find yourself singing along. Suggestion: The Most Relaxing Song in the World.

Style and Whatnot

Panama Hats are from Ecuador. Where better to learn more than Wikipedia?

See you Tomorrow!

Remember to check us out on Twitter and Facebook. Someday soon, other places, too.

Cheers,

Dave

Baton Rouge Shootings; A ‘Staged’ Coup?; That Golfing, Tho; Nice Pants

by dave · Jul 18, 2016

Another awful weekend in the news. Let’s try to make it a peaceful week, please? Here’s the July 18 edition of Morning Social.

Headlines

Shootings in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Three policemen were killed yesterday in what appeared to be the actions of a lone shooter. USA Today has more.

Did Erdogan stage the coup attempt? That’s the question from a few in Europe; the attempt failed, but the claims begin. Reuters takes a look at the events from this weekend.

Oh, and the GOP Convention. Starts today (in case you haven’t heard) in Cleveland. If you want to brush up on the latest polls, try this four-way poll from Real Clear Politics.

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Meme of the Day

Tired of all the negatives in the world? Blogger and all-around good guy Danny Brown has launched something new, a website called “Unfucd.” Here’s the first post.

Business

A post-Brexit confidence tumble. From the “well, duh” department, CFOs in the UK aren’t feeling that great about their prospects after the Brexit vote, according to consultancy Deloitte (as reported in Bloomberg).

Bank of America beats estimates. Earnings season continues apace; BoA grows revenues. Here’s the WSJ story (subscription required).

Social-ism

BIG DATA. Everyone is talking about it, but is there a developer fallout? TechCrunch post here: Big Data and the Developer Fallout.

The Rando

Did you know that Zimbabwe has a new currency? Yes, the country that started the “lots of zeros” craze a few years back now has something new to spend. Bloomberg’s story from a couple months ago is right here.

One Hundred Trillion Dollars — This is the old stuff. New stuff circulating, less zeros.

Sportsing

The golf was amazing, but needs a nickname. Sunday’s final round of The Open was one of the best two-man duels in history. Henrik Stenson won, and here he is with the Claret Jug. The last time there was a final round like this, Watson over Nicklaus in 1977, it was called the “Duel in the Sun” and someone wrote a book about it.

Take me to your leaders. In baseball, that means Giants, Cubs, Nationals, Indians, Rangers, Orioles. Those six teams lead their divisions, and are automagically ranked in that sentence in order of record.

Tip of the Day

Style and Whatnot

Prepare for the Olympics with these patriotic pants. Because nothing says “America” like the Stars and Stripes in pant form.

See you Tomorrow!

Remember to check us out on Twitter and Facebook. Someday soon, other places, too.

Cheers,

Dave

Terror Attacks in Nice – Death Toll at 84; Buffett’s a Good Guy; They Have a Theme Song?

by dave · Jul 15, 2016

A somber Friday throughout the world; here’s the July 15, 2016 edition of Morning Social.

Headlines

Terror attacks in Nice, France claim 84 lives. President Francois Hollande is enforcing a “state of emergency” in the country after a truck-driver plowed through streets of Bastille Day revelers. Reuters has the latest.

Where to find more coverage of the France attacks. Two sites had particularly good breaking news coverage yesterday: RT – a site that originates in Moscow and is funded by the Russian government – and TV5, which is French and broadcasts in French.

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Meme of the Day

It’s been a couple weeks since this Vine took the internet by storm. So, ICYMI, here’s Auctioneer Beats.

Business

Lifestyles of the Rich and Generous. Another year, another massive donation from Warren Buffett.

China keeps growing. Reuters has the info on China’s GDP growth of 6.9%.

Social-ism

Solid advice on “Freedom of Speech” and what happens when the lines get blurred between where you work, what you do, and what you say online. Read more from social media strategist Jason Falls.

The Rando

Huy Fong Theme Song. It’s user-generated, appears to use some images that might be subject to copyright, so we’re guessing that its days on the front page of the website are numbered. Watch now.

Nice, France at night — Thanks to flickr user Mike, used with CC license.

Sportsing

Lefty ties a record. By the time you read this, Phil Mickelson has finished his second round at the Open Championship. His first round score of 63 yesterday tied a record for the lowest score in a major championship.

Tip of the Day

You knew it would happen: “How to turn your bike into a Pokemon Go machine.” (Leave it to Lifehacker to break this story.)

Style and Whatnot

Honestly, this cocktail looks refreshing, and it’s from a place called the “Blind Tiger” in Winnipeg. (The “Mata Hari.” Well, okay then.)

See you Tomorrow!

We’re on Twitter and Facebook. And coming soon to other channels near you.

Cheers,

Dave (Your Friendly Editor)

A Couple of Politicians Argue; A Stunning Speech; Bastille Day; Athletes Call for Action; The Open Opens

by dave · Jul 14, 2016

Can we get a what what? No? Oh, well, it’s the July 14, 2016 edition of Morning Social.

Headlines

Notorious RBG isn’t going anywhere. Despite calls from Donald Trump for Ruth Bader Ginsburg to resign her post in the Supreme Court, she won’t. Even Slate thinks they’re a bit much, which is saying something.

Black GOP Senators get pulled over, too. Stunning speech on race relations from the lone African American Republican Senator, South Carolina’s Tim Scott.

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Meme of the Day

Everyone else is sharing video of George W. Bush dancing. Not you, though. You share video of George W. Bush having Pokemon balls thrown at him. (Note: may not have actually happened.)

Business

Land of Lincoln Health to shut down. It might be a blow to Obamacare, or might be an opportunity for the free market to work its magic. Or something else, from this Forbes commentator.

Bank of England says…your move, world. Reuters breaks down what it means to the markets.

Social-ism

PokemonGo has more daily users than Twitter. Good analysis of the app and the numbers from TechCrunch.

The Rando

It being Bastille Day, be the first on your block to share this video snippet from the early-80s movie “Victory.” They sing La Marseillaise.

French Flag — Photo credit: James Rhodes, Used with Creative Commons Attribution.

Sportsing

No Games in the Bigs, but…Four powerful athletes stood together to open the ESPYs to ask for an end to violence. Here’s the clip and story from ESPN.

Call it “The Open.” Or…”the Open Championship.” And the winner is “the Champion Golfer of the Year.” Yet, for 100-plus years, it was “the British Open.” To some of the world, but not all of the world. Enter Wikipedia, to tell you how to say the name of the tournament that started already.

Tip of the Day

Style and Whatnot

Maybe the headline of the year: Theresa May’s hubby steals the show in sexy navy suit as he starts new life as First Man.

See you Tomorrow!

We’re on Twitter and Facebook. And coming soon to other channels near you.

Cheers,

Dave (Your Friendly Editor)