Sept. 28--Whole Foods plans to eliminate approximately 1,500 jobs over the next eight weeks. Sounds awful, but expect management to mollify the elite grocery chain's clientele with promises the cuts will be organic, all-natural and artisanal.
Gambling tax revenue in Illinois is down almost 6 percent overall this year, according to a bipartisan state report. Probably because simply living in Illinois is as risky a bet as most here can afford.
Wednesday's Powerball drawing jackpot has reached an estimated $301 million. But if the state wants to dangle the possibility of a big payout amid impossible odds, we'd prefer a solution to its financial mess.
The Waldorf Astoria, for the first time in decades, wasn't selected as the U.S. president's Manhattan home away from the White House this week. President Barack Obama chose the Lotte New York Palace Hotel for his United Nations visit. Bet he's collecting Lotte reward points.
While Obama picked the South Korean-owned Lotte, China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin opted for the Waldorf, now under Chinese ownership. So perhaps Obama's team was concerned about Wi-Fi connections. Connections to Beijing. Connections to Moscow. Connections to...
Pepper, a robot that can move autonomously, sense emotions and converse, apparently has hard limits. Japan's SoftBank, the $1,650 humanoid's maker, tells owners they "must not perform any sexual act" or engage in "other indecent behavior" with Pepper. Even creepier is the necessity of including this in user agreements.
Scientists say they have found signs of water on present-day Mars. They're still looking in present-day California.
Diesel is dead, but questions remain. Rudolf Diesel, who invented the eponymous internal-combustion engine, apparently went overboard while crossing the English Channel 102 years ago Tuesday. Many believe he committed suicide. Others allege murder. Either way, he didn't drive past 55.
philrosenthal@tribpub.com
