A blog about societal, cultural, and civilizational collapse, and how to stave it off or survive it. Named after the legendary character "Crazy Eddie" in Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle's "The Mote in God's Eye." Expect news and views about culture, politics, economics, technology, and science fiction.
Kohl's rose to its peak as a department store in the 2000s, with a focus on a strong in-store experience, coupons and rewards. Now, after years of stagnant sales and a rough patch on Wall Street, Kohl's is trying to get back to what made it a household name.
In 2022, Retail Archaeology asked Kohl's: Who Would Want To Buy This? In that same post, I embedded a CNBC video from 2020 asking "Can Kohl's survive?" Last year, Company Man asked Kohl's - The Rise and Fall? Now CNBC has answered that question in the affirmative. If nothing else, Kohl's stock price, which is what CNBC really cares about, has fallen. The chain is also shrinking, as evidenced by my wife going to the closest store and finding that it has closed, apparently one of 27 stores that closed last year. Kohl's also has no plans to expand.
In addition to the identity and management issues both CNBC and Company Man reported, The Street article I linked to above cited competition.
Like many traditional department stores, Kohl’s is navigating intensifying competition from both digital and value-focused retailers. E-commerce rivals such as Amazon, Temu, and Shein continue to capture online shopping demand, while off-price chains including Ross Stores and TJMaxx attract budget-conscious consumers with lower pricing.
At the same time, macroeconomic uncertainty has reshaped consumer behavior, with shoppers increasingly prioritizing value and limiting discretionary spending.
If private equity doesn't appear in the story, Amazon probably will.
We probably won't be Kohl's shoppers in the future, as the nearest store is now nearly seven miles away instead of two. We'll go that far for Costco, but not for a department store. If so, there are better stores that distance, like a Macy's, and a Target closer.
That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for a climate post tomorrow.
Americans are back at the movies. Summer blockbusters like Michael, The Devil Wears Prada 2, Obsession, and Backrooms have all contributed to the best first half of the year since 2019. CNBC’s Sarah Whitten breaks down the data.
Movie theaters are enjoying a post-pandemic resurgence, with Gen Z driving ticket sales and helping fuel one of Hollywood's strongest summer seasons in years.
After all the "Millennials are killing" some institution, cultural activity, food or other product I've been reading since before the pandemic, I shouldn't be surprised that news media and popular culture would discover a contrasting feature about Gen Z to report. Gen Z reversing the trend by saving malls certainly fits.
So does Gen Z saving movie theaters. While I'm planning to retire this year, it's not because of my students. I like them and think they're good people (I'm tempted to write kids, but they're adults and deserve to be treated as such).
Tomorrow is the sixth anniversary of COVID-19 being declared a global pandemic and the fifteenth anniversary of the Fukushima triple disaster. Stay tuned to see which one I write about.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to discuss further investment and energy cooperation when she meets with U.S. President Trump this month — with nuclear power and related technology likely to remain a key theme. On the 15th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, CNBC's Kaori Enjoji examines how this deepening economic and energy engagement could draw Japan further into a geopolitical tug-of-war and weigh on its companies.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is a lot like Donald "Hoover Harding Cleveland" Trump in choosing an old technology over a newer one. In her case, it's nuclear energy over renewables. In his case, it's coal and other fossil fuels. I think she's maker the smarter choice. I really don't like coal and would pick nuclear energy over it, although I really prefer renewables.
Takuma Hashimoto was just three when the 2011 tsunami triggered a nuclear meltdown near his home in Japan’s Fukushima prefecture. Now, the 18-year-old student is training to become a nuclear engineer. His journey mirrors a national shift; 15 years after the Fukushima disaster, Japan is choosing energy security over its nuclear trauma. As the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East squeeze global supplies, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is leading a pivot back to nuclear power. With public support at record highs, Japan is waking up to a stark reality: for the most resource-poor G7 nation, nuclear energy is no longer a risk, but a lifeline.
The world's biggest nuclear power plant is back on line in Japan. Engineers flipped the switch to power up the plant 15 years after the Fukushima disaster, which killed an estimated 20,000 people. Tokyo Electric Power Company is responsible for Fukushima, and is also in charge of this plant. That fact alone has residents near the facility opposed to the plan.
Al Jazeera’s Patrick Fok reports from Kashiwazaki in western Japan.
Two things. First, the tsunami killed the overwhelming majority of victims, not the meltdown. Second, the Fukushima plant performed as designed; it was the failure of the backup generators, which the tsunami drowned, that led to the meltdowns. The higher seawalls help protect against both of those reoccurring, so I'm relieved to see them.
That's a wrap for today's anniversary. Stay tuned to see if I cover COVID-19 tomorrow.
Americans drive much more than in any other country – twice as much as the average German, for example. And the actual experience of driving isn’t quite as romantic as the image. Drivers are often stuck in traffic. Cars pump out pollution. Less walking means less exercise. Cars also can kill people. Some skeptics say, indeed–cars are awesome. But they got a lot of help from favorable policies and strong lobbies. CNBC spoke with some researchers and looked at numbers to get the full picture of why Americans became so dependent on cars.
Investors have known Saks was struggling for years— it’s now reached its breaking point. Late payments to vendors, a failed turnaround attempt, declining sales and a missed interest payment to bondholders for its Neiman Marcus acquisition ultimately led to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy at the start of 2026. CNBC’s Gabrielle Fonrouge breaks down how one of America’s most beloved department stores landed itself here. Watch the video to learn more.
Erik concentrated on the vendors and Amazon's objections to the bankruptcy, but glossed over any difficulties in securing debtor in possession financing. CNBC’s Gabrielle Fonrouge made it quite clear obtaining the line of credit was not easy, although it did happen.
Today, Sammi breaks down the unraveling of Saks Fifth Avenue — a luxury icon that survived wars, recessions, and cultural shifts, but couldn’t survive its own merger math. Through stalled vendor payments, junk-bond debt, leadership shake-ups, and a failed $2.7B Neiman Marcus merger, Saks entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy and set off a ripple effect far beyond Fifth Avenue. This isn’t a “department stores are dying” story — it’s a case study in how private equity, financial engineering, and legacy retail models collide. And why the belief that Saks was “too iconic to fail” turned out to be so wrong.
As I wrote about The Bay's failure, "If anything could kill something this venerable, private equity could" and "the owners, responding to incentives that are indifferent to the success of the business, just like they were indifferent to the cultural and historical significance of the company, were most at fault."
I'm glad I found Cohen's channel. I expect to use more of her videos in the future. I also expect to see videos about Saks Global's bankruptcy from Company Man and Bright Sun Films. When they upload them, I'll embed them. In the meantime, stay tuned for a post about the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes won by KPop Demon Hunters.
Spirit Halloween occupies more than 1,500 storefronts and hires around 50,000 seasonal workers for just a few months of business. Spencer Spirit Holdings, which includes Spirit Halloween and long-time mall retailer Spencer's, brings in $1.87b of annual revenue, according to Moody’s Ratings. The company often targets struggling real estate to execute its niche retail operation. Watch the video to find out how Spirit Halloween became the ultimate pop-up store.
That had to be the most fun CNBC video I remember watching. In particular, I was looking for the Saturday Night Live Spirit Halloween skit and CNBC clipped exactly the part I wanted. Nothing like both CNBC and NBC having the same corporate ownership to make that convenient. As I last wrote in Closer looks at the Trump-Musk feud from Colbert, Kosta, Kimmel, and Meyers, "It's not just news value that's driving it."
CNBC's history essentially began in 1999, when Spencer's bought Spirit Halloween. Company Man Mike went back to the actual founding during the 1980s in Spirit Halloween - Why They're Successful.
Spirit Halloween is the popular Halloween store that pops up in empty buildings each year. This video outlines the main reasons behind its success.
It's a Company Man video, so there's a list. Here it is:
Company Man Mike uploaded this video just over a year ago, so he was too early to include PartyCityclosing in the United States when he described Spirit Halloween's failing competitors, so it has one fewer competitor. Other than that, this is a comprehensive compilation of reasons for the chain's success.
The government may fire thousands of unionized federal workers during the shutdown that began in October. This effort was foreshadowed in Project 2025, what some consider a blueprint for conservative governance. Several authors from the document are now senior-level members of the Trump administration. CNBC spoke with one who believes the federal workforce needs to change. Their efforts could reshape the federal bureaucracy, but do little to alter the country’s financial outlook.
The shutdown looks like another opportunity for Russell Vought to implement more of Project 2025 regarding the federal workforce. Vought did say he wanted to traumatize federal employees and the threat of firing them instead of merely furloughing them would certainly do that, to say nothing of following through and laying them off.
I decided to share something serious about the federal government shutdown today instead of something funny. I'll probably get to the comedy on Sunday, when Saturday Night Live returns. I begin with CNBC explaining Why This Government Shutdown Is Different.
The federal government shuts down when lawmakers in Congress cannot agree on a budget. This has occurred at least 20 times over the past 50 years according to the investment team at Truist. The historical record suggests that there will be minimal impact on markets or the broader economy, barring a prolonged shutdown. But this time could leave a mark on thousands of federal workers who may be permanently fired if a shutdown were to occur.
The shutdown looks like another opportunity for Russell Vought to implement more of Project 2025 regarding the federal workforce. Vought did say he wanted to traumatize federal employees and the threat of firing them instead of merely furloughing them would certainly do that, to say nothing of following through and laying them off.
If Congress doesn't extend some Affordable Care Act tax credits, health-care premiums are expected to rise at the end of the year for some Americans. Lawmakers could not agree on extending the credits, partially leading to the current government shutdown.
Unlike most of the unpleasant provisions of the BigBrutal Bill, which won't take effect until after the 2026 midterm elections, ending the ACA subsidies would be felt before the midterms. That would not be good for Congressional Republicans, so enough of them might join the Democrats in voting to restore them. Let's hope.
Paramount Skydance is preparing to make a bid for Warner Brothers Discovery. NBC News' Tom Llamas talks to media and sports reporter Alex Sherman about what this potential merger could mean for film and television.
This could have major effects on entertainment production and consumption, although the resulting company would still not be as big as Amazon and Apple, which are primarily technology companies, or Disney, which definitely is still a media company. CNBC Television was thinking of a different media company when it uploaded Combining Paramount and Warner Bros. could create real competition to Netflix: Puck's Matt Belloni.
Matt Belloni, Puck founding partner, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss reports of Paramount Skydance preparing an all-cash takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, impact on the media industry, and more.
I was wondering if/when Joe Kernan would say something that would annoy me and he lived down to my expectations by speculating on what this merger would do to CNN's personnel. CBS News and CNN merging would likely result in a more conservative news outlet, which would make Donald "Hoover Cleveland" Trump get out of the deal's way. It's a legitimate topic that I'm concerned about, but Kernan's attitude rubbed me the wrong way. Good thing Andrew Ross Sorkin stepped in to change the tone.
Rich Greenfield, LightShed Partners co-founder, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss reports of Paramount Skydance preparing an all-cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, impact on the rest of the media industry, prospect of Comcast making a competing bid, and more.
When I first heard about a potential buyer for Warner Bros., it was NBCUniversal, which would make sense for Universal Studios theme parks; Harry Potter's movie and theme park IP would under the same umbrella instead of being split. That was under the Biden Administration. As Greenfield pointed out, this won't happen with Hoover Cleveland in charge. Besides, the Ellisons can outbid NBCUniversal, so it won't happen from a business perspective, either.
There was a lot of talk about a potential purchase of TikTok, but I'm going to save that for a future post. Speaking of which, stay tuned for a post about tonight's Emmy winners tomorrow.
China dominates the world‘s production and processing of rare earth elements, which are used in all kinds of things: sports equipment, national defense, and each of the roughly 16 million cars sold in the US every year. Over the last few years, the Asian country has been tightening access and suddenly restricted exports in early April 2025. The move sent shockwaves through the auto industry which can’t build cars without these minerals. CNBC Dove in to see how we got here, and how the auto industry might find its way out.
I point out that the U.S. is 100% dependent on imports of 21 minerals, chief among them rare earths, and that many of the countries that we import them from are not our friends, especially China and Russia. Not only do I tell my students this, but I say that China in particular could cut off exports of rare earths, which would cripple our ability to make many products.
Thanks to Donald "Hoover Cleveland" Trump'stariffs, it looks like the day I've been warning my students about for more than a decade has arrived. Sometimes, I wish I weren't right.
That's the general driving situation. Follow over the jump for my personal driving update.
Claire’s has filed for its second bankruptcy in seven years. Despite attempts to modernize, the company has not been able to overcome challenges including stiff competition from players like Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop and increased costs related to tariffs. Watch the video to learn about the rise and fall of long-time American mall favorite Claire’s.
Competition with Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop and tariffs — the first formed a major reason behind Forever 21filing for bankruptcy and closing all U.S. stores while the second contributed to Joann and At Home filing for bankruptcy. They may have been the first chains that blamed those factors, but they won't be the last. Of course, private equity played a part in the story, but CNBC didn't identify them as the cause of the debt Claire's couldn't pay. I may have to wait until Company Man or Bright Sun Films cover the chain to confirm that. Retail Archaeology? Erik examined the first bankruptcy seven years ago. I'll get to that.
As for what the future holds, the following graphic shows that Claire's is in bad company.
I already mentioned Joann and Forever 21. Add in PartyCity, Rite Aid, Tuesday Morning, Rue21, and Z Gallerie, and the list becomes a who's who of chains that no longer have physical locations in the U.S. or, in the case of Rite Aid, will soon close them. At least David's Bridal and True Religion Apparel still have stores open, but 20% odds are not good.
In this episode we take a look at Claire's, a retailer that operates in 95% of malls in the United States. In March of 2018 Claire's filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
That was fun, if not all that informative. Still, better late than never.
I expect to see more about Claire's from the usual sources. When I do, I'll post it here. In the meantime, stay tuned for the next installment about EmmyAwardsnominees.
Birthrates are falling fast—and the impact could reshape the future of economies, families, and entire nations.
In this episode of Blind Spots, we explore the global fertility crisis, from Japan and South Korea to the United States. Why are fewer people having children? How do economic pressure, changing cultural norms, and government policy play a role? And what happens when aging populations outnumber the young?
Singles Pandemic breaks down one of the most urgent demographic trends of our time.
It was time to put the world back in World Population Day after concentrating on U.S. trends since 2020. Japan and especially South Korea have it worse than the U.S., while the French seem to have it better.
Speaking of focusing on the U.S., I'm looking at the other side of American population equation before examining birth rates with TODAY reporting U.S. life expectancy rose to 78.4 years in 2023 early this year.
U.S. life expectancy rose to 78.4 years in 2023, hitting its highest level since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Well, that's good news, although U.S. life expectancy still hasn't risen to its 2014 value of 78.9 years. It sank most of the years since, which I started blogging about in 2016, before collapsing during the pandemic and recovering afterwards. If U.S. life expectancy reaches 80 years, I might post Professor Farnsworth. That might be awhile.
Follow over the jump for videos about the situation in the U.S., including what, if anything, can be done about it, plus a video about National Mojito Day.
Thousands of employees at the Internal Revenue Service have lost their jobs in recent months as part of widespread cuts to federal spending by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The layoffs could impact essential functions at the agency during the height of tax season, from audits and collection enforcement to processing tax returns and refunds.
I'm repeating what I wrote two years ago.
Why am I not surprised that the "Satan Sandwich" budget sequestration deal and 2017 tax bill both played major parts in the shrinking of the IRS, that the InflationReductionAct is restoring that lost funding and staffing, and that the Republicans in Congress are seeking to reverse the IRA's increased funding of the IRS as part of raising thedebtceiling? Because I've been watching Washington long enough to see history rhyme, if not repeat.
So far, as CNBC pointed out, the cuts have not affected service for middle-class Americans. My wife filed our taxes last week and we should get our refund tomorrow, for example. They will reduce enforcement on the weathiest 1%, resulting in non-collection of $1 billion. Way for Hoover Cleveland and Elon Musk to look after themselves and their fellow billionaires. That's not the kind of class solidarity we need.
Enough about taxes. Stay tuned for Wayback Wednesday tomorrow. I have something fun planned.
A couple of the videos mentioned the bankruptcies of Red Lobster and TGI Fridays. Those were the subjects of two of the most read entries of last year. Expect me to cover them on Wayback Wednesday. Stay tuned.
Between 2014 and 2024, private equity firms invested more than $90 billion into U.S. restaurants and bars. Red Lobster and TGI Fridays were two of the most notable. The two casual dining giants were acquired through a transaction type called a leveraged buyout that ultimately contributed to their bankruptcies in 2024. Watch the video above to learn more about the most commonly used strategies by private equity firms, including sale-leasebacks and roll-ups, to try to turn a company around.
Speaking of lists, one of the biggest surprises was the roster of restaurant chains Roark Capital owns.
I've eaten at a majority of them and I had no idea they were under the same ownership! I know I write that it's a good day when I learn something new, but I wonder if I learned something good from this. I will say I learned something useful, that Roark Capital helped defeat raising the federal minimum wage to $15/hour. That makes me like them even less than their name.
It is named for Howard Roark, the protagonist in Ayn Rand's novel The Fountainhead. The firm claims that its name is not meant to connote any particular political philosophy but instead signify the firm's admiration for the iconoclastic qualities of independence and self-assurance embodied by the central figure in The Fountainhead.
Based on the continued interest private equity has in restaurant chains, I expect to see more bankruptcies and write more Retail Apocalypse entries about them. Now follow over the jump for the most popular entries about the Retail Apocalypse posted between March 21, 2024 and March 20, 2025.
Retail sales are holding up, but consumer confidence is slipping. A rising share of Americans are making purchases not out of want, but out of worry. This trend, called "doom spending," is driven by fears of higher prices and supply disruptions. While it may offer a short-term sense of control, it's happening alongside rising debt and financial strain and could set the stage for a sharper slowdown ahead. Watch the video above to learn more about why Americans are spending more amid growing economic concerns.
CNBC shows it's also on recession watch with this video, so I'm in good company. It also points out that the current round of "doom spending" will shore up the economy in the short run, holding off a recession, but could result in a recession when it abates. If so, I'll blame Hoover Cleveland.
If the U.S. does go into recession this year, it won't be because of internal economic forces, but because of government interference, which normally tries to cushion against economic downturns. Biden piloted the U.S. economy to a soft landing, then Hoover Cleveland tries to crash the plane anyway!
Among other things, the threat of tariffs prompted my wife and me to buy a new Volkswagen Tiguan before the price went up. That's a major purchase. Just the same, we're very happy with it; it's providing good experiences in addition to being a material object.
That concludes today's episode of recession watch. Stay tuned for the highlights of tonight's Saturday Night Live.
Genetic testing company 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to initiate the process of selling off its assets, while the troubled firm’s co-founder Anne Wojcicki—who was attempting to take 23andMe private—stepped down from her role with the intent to become an outside bidder for the asset sale.
23andMe was one of the hottest startups of the 2000s, once valued at $6 billion. The company’s DNA test kits became a viral sensation and powerful research tool for those hoping to learn more about their ancestry and health. But today, it has lost 98% of its value and is on the verge of being delisted from the Nasdaq after all independent board members resigned, citing frustration with founder Anne Wojcicki’s “strategic differences” in her vision for the company. Meanwhile, 23andMe is sitting on the world’s largest genetic database that it once hoped to leverage for drug development. So what will happen to all that DNA data, and can Wojcicki save the company from collapse by taking it private? Watch the video to find out more.
On the one hand, the situation went from bad to worse since CNBC uploaded the video on October 20, 2024; they didn't even mention bankruptcy as a possibility five months ago. On the other, 23andMe's data apparently became more useful since 2013, the only other time I've mentioned the company, when I quoted an article about a lawsuit claiming the test results were "meaningless."
Forbes and CNBC emphasized the parts of the story important to their readers and viewers, who are investors and others interested in business and the economy. For news more important to consumers, including 23andMe's customers, I turn to NewsNation asking 23andMe files for bankruptcy: What are customers' rights?
23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and CEO Anne Wojcicki, whose takeover bid failed, has stepped down. The genetic testing company has more than 15 million customers' genetic data — and California Attorney General Rob Bonta is warning users to purge their data sooner rather than later.
Laura Coordes, a law professor at Arizona State University, joins “NewsNation Now” to discuss what customers should do with their data.
My wife and I bought a pair of test kits before the pandemic, but never turned in our samples and paid the rest of the fee. On the one hand, I'm annoyed that we wasted our money. On the other, we don't have to worry about protecting our data; 23andMe doesn't have it!
At this point, I would write that I would wait for Company Man and Bright Sun Films to cover the company, but I don't have to, as Company Man already asked The Decline of 23andMe...What Happened?
23andMe was once considered one of the most promising companies, but today, it is falling apart. This video attempts to explain the reasons behind the decline.
Here's Company Man Mike's list:
Company Man Mike added the difference in motivations between 23andMe and its customers as a factor to the other four reasons, which Forbes, CNBC, and NewsNation all covered. The company wanted the results to be used to improve their customers' health, while most of the customers were interested in the entertainment value of the results, including learning more about their ancestry. Procrastinating over deciding to pay the premium for the health results was what led to my wife and I not paying for the test at all; we were more interested in our ancestry. Maybe we'll pay for an Ancestry.com test and actually take it.
Now all I have to do is wait to see if Jake Williams of Bright Sun Films covers 23andMe. In the meantime, stay tuned for the first retrospective of the 14th year of Crazy Eddie's Motie News, stats.
Twenty years ago Hurricane Katrina flooded hundreds of thousands of homes in New Orleans and killed over 1,800 people. In the aftermath, a quarter of the city's housing stock was left vacant or abandoned. The U.S. government has spent billions to rebuild homes, restore infrastructure, and fortify the levee system. But more may be needed to counteract the city’s slow decline into the sea. On top of that, parts of the federal response have been criticized for their complexity and impact on low-income homeowners. Today, the city is facing a housing crisis as homeowner insurance premiums and property taxes rise.
It's a land of fun that has been forgotten. Six Flags New Orleans has been abandoned for nearly 20 years since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Inside Edition's Steven Fabian toured the theme park back in 2017. "From this view you can really see it's like a wasteland up here," he said from the top of stairs that led to a roller coaster. Now it's finally being demolished and turned into something new. Inside Edition Digital has more.
Here's to the site becoming something more than just a filming location for post-apocalyptic movies and TV shows, although that's still part of its future, as one of the projects will be a movie studio.
I'll probably return to this topic for the actual 20th anniversary of Katrina this August. In the meantime, stay tuned for comic takes on America's slide into autocracy tomorrow. The late-night talk-show hosts have a lot of material for tonight!
As for who benefits from the departure of Party City from the market, in addition to the usual suspects of Amazon and Walmart, Company Man Mike mentioned Walgreens, which is having its own issues and could use the boost, and SpiritHalloween. CNBC and Company Man have videos about both chains, which I plan on using in future Retail Apocalypse posts.
In its fiscal third-quarter report, Walgreens announced its plans to close a ‘significant’ amount of stores, acknowledging only 75% of its 8,600 stores were profitable. While no specific stores were tapped for closure yet, more than 2,000 locations could face the chopping block by 2027. This just the latest sign of trouble for the struggling retail pharmacy sector as CVS and Rite Aid both announced large closures in the past year. Watch the video above to learn why U.S. pharmacy chains are fighting for survival.
I'm a diabeticandasthmatic, so I am in my local Walgreens a lot to pick up my prescriptions. I also go there to pick up other supplies, but no longer my blood glucose test strips. I found out CVS had cheaper test strips, so I bought them there until my wife found them on Amazon for even cheaper. We now have them delivered on a regular schedule — price and convenience! That makes us examples of customers shifting their front-of-store shopping to Amazon. If that's the trend with party supplies and seasonal items, then Amazon and Walmart will benefit more from the closing of Party City than Walgreens or CVS.
As I'm fond of writing, it's always a good day when I learn something new, and I learned a lot about the importance of the pharmacy to Walgreens and CVS — 76% of Walgreens in-store sales and 60% of the company's total revenue! Also, CVS is the leading Pharmacy Benefit Manager with CVS Health/Caremark having 34% market share. Since CVS also owns Aetna Insurance, it looks like they profit both coming and going. Near vertical integration, anyone?
Speaking of learning something new, while I blogged about fooddeserts when I began this blog, this is the first I've heard about pharmacy deserts. Same story, different market segment. One of the solutions is the return of mom-and-pop pharmacies. Since I support Small Business Saturday, I approve.
CNBC concentrated on Walgreens, so I'm switching to CVS with Retail Archaeology asking What Is Going On At CVS?
In this episode we take a look at two CVS Pharmacy locations.
YouTube has an AI summary of this video.
This video explores the current state of CVS Pharmacy, examining two locations and their changing role in the retail landscape. The creator discusses the decline of traditional drugstore offerings and the impact of CVS's acquisition of Aetna on its overall business.
Let's take a look at what's going on at Walgreens.
This video also has an AI summary.
This video explores the current state of Walgreens stores, examining their recent struggles and changes. The creator visits two locations, one updated and one not, highlighting issues like declining sales, high prices, and a shift towards healthcare services. They also discuss the impact of these changes on the overall shopping experience.
I'm glad Erik mentioned Target instead of Walmart. As I wrote most recently in Company Man explains 'Walmart - Why They're Hated' for Black Friday/Buy Nothing Day, "I'm one of those who call Target "Tar-zhay" and shop there regularly, helping contribute the demise of both Sears and KMart. As I wrote once on my Facebook page, 'between Walmart and KMart, I shop at Target.'"
Both CNBC and Erik of Retail Archaeology think that Walgreens is in worse shape than CVS. This contradicts the comments I've been getting on the CVS video at Dreamwidth. A new follower of mine there seems to have it in for CVS.
Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest automakers. It houses brands such as Audi, Porsche, and Bentley. But perhaps its best-known vehicle is the Volkswagen Beetle. Over its entire lifespan, Volkswagen sold over 22.5 million of all three versions of the Beetle. But in July of 2019, production one of the most iconic and important cars of all time came to an end.
That was a cool history of an iconic car, the New Beetle version of which my middle sister drove and my ex-girlfriend's daughter tried to convince me to buy. I didn't because I lived in the country and required a higher ground clearance just to get into my own driveway. My son got farther with his suggestion I buy an Aztek. I didn't, but my wife's vehicles have been sporty SUVs, so we went along with the trend anyway.
Ahead of the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show, Volkswagen has unveiled the 2025 Tiguan. This utility is their best-selling model in the U.S., and it has been redesigned in a bid to retain that status and better compete in such a hot segment. Jessica Ray has the details.
I had no idea the Tiguan was so popular, but then again, the new car, which my wife hasn't named yet, is our third, so I shouldn't be surprised.
Not many people had heard of Bluesky when the Twitter side project made its debut as a separate company in 2021. The decentralized social media platform initially flew under the radar, but user numbers skyrocketed after the U.S. election in November. This was largely because many of X’s users fled to Bluesky, as they were unhappy with some of the changes that Elon Musk made to Twitter after he acquired it in 2022 and later renamed it X. Bluesky now has over 27 million users, but whether it can continue its rapid growth and compete with the likes of Musk’s X and Meta and Mark Zuckerberg’s Threads remains to be seen.
I'm one of Bluesky's new users since the election, although Katharine Hayhoe recommended that I join her on the service when it no longer required an invite code. That happened when my wife created an account on November 16, 2024 and I created mine later that same day. The first person I followed was my wife. The second was Dr. Hayhoe, who followed me back, which I don't think she ever did on Twitter/X.
Speaking of following me back, I've grown my followers faster on Bluesky than I ever did on any other platform. It took me 13 years to get to 1,000 followers on Twitter/X. It took me one month on Bluesky. I now have nearly 3,000 followers two-and-one-half months after I joined. That's almost triple the 1,075 friends and 174 followers I have on Facebook, the next largest audience I have on social media, and that took 17 years to achieve. I'm also getting more engagement in the form of likes, reposts, and replies on Bluesky than X, although Facebook still beats both, but not enough link clicks from Bluesky to register, while X ranks in the top five. I'm not deactivating my X account for just that reason; it's still useful.
That's it for today's post worth sharing in February. Stay tuned for another evergreen entry tomorrow.
