Author: natixis-ezine

Less boo for your buck: For the second Halloween in a row, US candy inflation hits double digits

natixis-ezine

Read time : 3 mins

Level : Intermediate

An assortment of Halloween candy is shown in this photo taken on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 in New York. For the second year in a row, U.S. shoppers are seeing double-digit inflation in the candy aisle. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)

By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer

Spooked by the high price of Halloween candy? There’s not much relief in sight.

For the second year in a row, U.S. shoppers are seeing double-digit inflation in the candy aisle. Candy and gum prices are up an average of 13% this month compared to last October, more than double the 6% increase in all grocery prices, according to Datasembly, a retail price tracker. That’s on top of a 14% increase in candy and gum prices in October 2022.

“The price of candy has gotten to be outrageous,” said Jessica Weathers, a small business owner in Shiloh, Illinois. “It doesn’t make sense to me to spend $100 on candy.” Continue reading

In early 2029, Earth will likely lock into breaching key warming threshold, scientists calculate

natixis-ezine

Read time : 4 mins

Level : Advanced

Steam rises from the AES Indiana Petersburg Generating Station, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, in Petersburg, Ind. In a little more than five years – sometime in early 2029 – the world will likely be unable to stay below the internationally agreed temperature limit for global warming if it continues to burn fossil fuels at its current rate, a new study says. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer

In a little more than five years – sometime in early 2029 – the world will likely be unable to stay below the internationally agreed temperature limit for global warming if it continues to burn fossil fuels at its current rate, a new study says.

The study moves three years closer the date when the world will eventually hit a critical climate threshold, which is an increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since the 1800s.

Beyond that temperature increase, the risks of catastrophes increase, as the world will likely lose most of its coral reefs, a key ice sheet could kick into irreversible melt, and water shortages, heat waves and death from extreme weather dramatically increase, according to an earlier United Nations scientific report. Continue reading

Pics or It Didn’t Happen: The Rise of the Photo-Obsessed American

natixis-ezine

Read time : 3 mins

Level : Intermediate

By Michael Dinich | Wealth of Geeks undefined

The average American whips out their phone to take a photo six times each day.

A survey of 2,000 U.S. adults revealed that camera rolls are flooded with group photos with friends (66%) and family (69%), as well as photos of friends (63%) and family (58%) without them in it.

Selfies (58%), pet pics (52%), and scenery (43%) also topped the list of frequent photos.

Events to Remember

Respondents are likely to take photos at events such as graduations (45%), weddings (44%), on vacation (40%), and at sporting events (37%) — with the average person taking nearly 23 pics per event.

Following the event, respondents will look back on those photos a little more than once per month, or 13 times per year. Continue reading

Exhibits and collectors editions mark 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio

natixis-ezine

Read time : 2 mins

Level : Advanced

This cover image released by Rizzoli shows “Shakespeare’s First Folio: 400th Anniversary Facsimile Edition: Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies, Published According to the Originall Copies.” (Rizzoli via AP)

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — On the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio, rare originals are being displayed and publishers are offering collectors editions of Shakespeare’s plays, including one that sells for $1,500.

Scholars believe that between 200-300 copies still survive from the late 1623 release of “Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies.” Presided over by two friends and former colleagues of Shakespeare, who had died in 1616, the Folio ensured that lasting texts existed for “Macbeth,” “Twelfth Night” and other cornerstones of Western literature. In Shakespeare’s lifetime, many of his works were unpublished or available only in cheap paperback editions. Continue reading

Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown reels in subscribers as it raises prices for its premium plan

natixis-ezine

Read time : 4 mins

Level : Intermediate

FILE – A Netflix sign is photographed outside its office building in Los Angeles, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Netflix reports earnings on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Netflix on Wednesday disclosed summertime subscriber gains that surpassed industry analysts’ projections, signaling the video streaming service’s crackdown on password sharing is converting former freeloaders into paying customers.

In an effort to bring in even more revenue, Netflix also announced it’s raising the price for its most expensive streaming service by $2 to $23 per month in the U.S. — a 10% increase — and its lowest-priced, ad-free streaming plan to $12 — another $2 bump. The $15.50 per month price for Netflix’s most popular streaming option in the U.S. will remain unchanged, as will a $7 monthly plan that includes intermittent commercials.

It also raised its prices for subscribers in the U.K. and France. Continue reading