In Jan 2020, I started to write to Newsletter which I hoped to continue on a bi-weekly basis*. Unfortunately, my attempt at newsletters failed miserably. BUT I have decided to give it another try. Quoting from my favorite Whitesnake song - Here I go again.
*BTW bi-weekly is a word that always confuses me, Is it once in two weeks or twice a week. If anyone is a language expert/knows more than me please reach out.
Issue #1
Russia against the world
Russia continues to scare the shit out of everyone by positioning a lot of military on the borders of Ukraine. All the western nations are scrambling to put together a draft of sanctions against Russia in case Mr. Putin decides to move ahead.
The border tensions are playing havoc in the electricity market. Electricity prices are going crazy in the EU with the spot market price for electricity touching 190!!
Only Mr. Putin knows the agenda behind this massive military campaign but I hope they are good enough to justify the economic sanctions, possible cancellation of Nord Stream 2, and further decline of Rubble.
Modernization Fund
Germany has a lot of things going for it as a country Engineering, stability, low crime rate, work-life balance, socialism, beer but bureaucracy is not one of them. However Germany's new govt (traffic light coalition they are called) today approved a BIG, 60 with a big B Billion euros, fund for climate change and modernization of German bureaucracy. While this may not sound newsworthy, it definitely is for the people suffering the painfully slow and outdated processes of the German bureaucracy. They say Germany is slowly waking up to the digital revolution - hello 2022.
Elon Musk the God or troll?
Elon Musk continues to have fun on Twitter even though SEC has opened a new investigation against Tesla.
according to documents viewed by The Wall Street Journal. The person alleged in the complaint to the regulator back in 2019 that Tesla and SolarCity, the solar-cell business it acquired, failed to properly notify shareholders and the public of fire risks associated with its equipment, according to one of the documents.
Let see how our modern-day hero gets out of this one. Anyway, besides being the richest man in the world, he seems too bored with his life and posts his brain farts on Twitter. I think I will feature a section of my newsletter called Last Week on Elon Twitter?
Exhibit A:
Oouch…Peleton
It has been a disastrous week for Peleton. After the much-awaited and watched premiere of Sex and the City, spoiler alert, where Mr. Big dies on a Peleton bike. Peleton shares crashed 11% and the company had to issue a statement saying that Peleton helps people to avoid heart attacks.
Peloton issued a statement to various media organizations from Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, a cardiologist and member of the company’s health and wellness advisory council, that said she was saddened by the news of Mr. Big’s heart attack. Yet she chalked it up to his unhealthy habits.
“Mr. Big lived what many would call an extravagant lifestyle — including cocktails, cigars, and big steaks — and was at serious risk as he had a previous cardiac event in Season 6,” she said in a statement. These lifestyle choices and perhaps even his family history, which often is a significant factor, were the likely cause of his death. Riding his Peloton Bike may have even helped delay his cardiac event.”
This case is so interesting and begs the question, do filmmakers have an ethical responsibility to not misrepresent a product on screen? Let’s imagine, if James Bond was driving a BMW and in the film, the car break down and Bond says “this is the worst car ever”. Can BMW sue the movie producers? Or should the movie producers call up BMW beforehand and say “ hey, listen we have shot in the movie where Bond says that you’re cars are shit”
I would be interested if Peleton decides to sue Sex and the City producers. This episode has caused, quite literally, material damage to the brand and the shareholders.
That’s it folks for the first edition.
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