🐤 Waste not, want not

Markets: Will last week’s winning streak continue? Wall Street investors will be focusing on a few factors to help determine the market’s short-term direction, including remarks from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell ahead of an expected interest rate reduction.

Additional economic data will surface this week in the form of reports about retail sales, housing starts, and existing home sales. And earnings season continues with companies including FedEx and General Mills slated to publish their quarterly numbers.

Collision course: The NFL has long been on the receiving end of criticism regarding the long-term health impacts of on-field collisions and concussions. In light of a recent hit involving Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, which resulted in his third concussion in as many years, the league is facing new demands to take further action. Specifically, an ongoing debate over helmets has reignited in recent days. New advancements in head protection have been introduced over the past several years, but some wonder just how safe they really are.

Brewing up change: Starbucks made plenty of headlines last month when it selected former Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol to take on the same position at the global coffee chain. Niccol has a track record of revitalizing brands, and now he’s describing what plans he has in store for Starbucks. Starting with locations in the U.S., he said he wants to spend the next three months providing baristas with the resources they need, simplifying the ordering experience for customers, and giving guests a reason to stay in the cafe instead of placing a to-go order.

Shipping out: The U.S. Navy’s newest vessel was added to the branch’s fleet during a ceremony held over the weekend in New Jersey’s Sandy Hook Bay. The aptly named USS New Jersey is a submarine that is making news for the fact that it is the U.S. military’s first to house male and female sailors. While gender won’t dictate who serves on the USS New Jersey, the submarine itself appears to be classified in the female category, given its nickname “Jersey Girl.” Thousands of people showed up to take part in Saturday’s event.

Unhappy Flappy: The simple mobile game Flappy Bird became very popular before it was taken down in 2014, and fans might be excited to know that the title is being relaunched. One person who isn’t too thrilled with the idea, however, is Dong Nguyen. In response to a social media post announcing the new venture, the game’s creator stressed that he wasn’t involved with the project, clarifying that he “did not sell anything” and noting for good measure that he doesn’t “support crypto.” The company behind the revival says it obtained the rights fair and square.

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Last week, we brought you a story about how ordering from food delivery services is better for the environment because it helps reduce the amount of food that ends up in the garbage. But there are plenty of other ways that you can cut down on food waste.

Maybe some of these examples will help inspire those in your community to tackle this issue together.

• Starting young: One school in California got its students involved in an event that gave them some hands-on experience. The state has a law mandating that food waste must be recycled, but it wasn’t just school staff members who dumped the leftovers into the green receptacles provided by the city. Students were involved at every stage, including when they created a massive banner declaring that 5,220 pounds of food waste had been “saved from landfills.”
• Get your hands dirty: Along the border between New Hampshire and Massachusetts sits Kimball Fruit Farms, where a group of volunteers recently took the time to collect produce that had been left behind so they could give it to locals in need. Not only did this community service prevent the fruit from spoiling and being wasted, it gave volunteers firsthand knowledge about how hard farmers work every day.
• Giving it away: For nearly a decade, a farmer in Tacoma, Washington, has been busy expanding the reach of his “Food is Free” initiative. Along with a volunteer crew, David Thompson helps deliver farm-fresh foods to individuals across the region who are experiencing food insecurity. The organization has established dozens of “Food Independence Gardens” in the area and has distributed tons of fruits and vegetables since 2015.

There’s probably a local organization you can join if you’re interested in making a difference. And if not, you can always start one yourself!

Finding the right place to stay for a vacation or business trip can be a crapshoot. Big chain hotels might be consistent, but they often lack any original atmosphere. Boutique hotels can be kitschy and fun, but you never quite know what you’re going to get. And then there’s Airbnb, which has left more than a few guests frustrated by the additional fees and chores that often come along with the stay.

But there’s another option

For those who have discovered the appeal of so-called “aparthotels,” this form of accommodation seems to take the best of all other options and combine them into one experience.

The term itself is a portmanteau of the words “apartment” and “hotel,” which pretty well sums up what you can expect if you book one. According to a traveler who recently wrote about the joys of staying at an aparthotel, there’s plenty to love, including:

• The security and safety of a major hotel chain
• The unique amenities of a boutique resort
• The large, fully furnished space of an Airbnb

And as Aparthotels become more popular, there are new ones popping up in cities around the world.

Perfect for solo travelers

Although couples, groups, and families could easily feel right at home in an aparthotel, some say it’s particularly well suited for those who are traveling alone.

It provides all of the household necessities — from a comfy living room to a full kitchen — that a person would need while away from home. And the prices are generally within the same ballpark as hotels and other rentals in the same area.

They also generally include common areas where travelers (if they’re so inclined) can hang out and meet other travelers. With solo travel on the rise, it seems likely that the aparthotel industry will continue to grow.

When was the last time you flipped through a magazine? If you’re like most folks, it’s probably been a while. Even in waiting rooms and other areas where magazines were typically found, we’re all pretty much scrolling social media or playing games on our phones these days.

But somehow a few magazines continue to churn out issues on a regular basis. But how long can this dying industry continue to operate on such an antiquated business model?

Taking a closer look

All industries, and the leading companies within them, go through tough times every now and then. But businesses that have a strong foundation weather the storm and even come out on the other side bigger and stronger.

The magazine biz, however, continues to decline over time as once-respected sources of information and entertainment have either gone out of business or drastically reduced their print circulation.

One major reason for this trend is the fact that journalism is much different now than it was a few decades ago. These days, everything is online immediately, meaning that magazines are essentially old news by the time they hit the newsstand.

And readers who enjoy a particular writer’s work don’t need to buy a magazine to see it in print anymore; they can simply subscribe to his or her newsletter and cut out the middleman.

Digital isn’t the answer

Some print magazine companies have been able to rebrand as a digital-only outlet, but it’s just not the same. There’s far less ad revenue and far more competition, which means even some formerly beloved brands get lost in the shuffle.

Instead of trying to fit into the digital media mold, experts say magazines that hope to survive need to create a niche for themselves by prioritizing quality (talented writers, visionary editors, etc.) over quantity.