Jesse J. Piekman, autor en E Baito

Sep

25

2023

Microsoft-Activision Blizzard Deal: U.K. Agency Signals Approval

Technology

Microsoft came one step closer on Friday to completing its $69 billion purchase of the video game maker Activision Blizzard, in a deal that has become an example of how a company can successfully ride out stricter regulatory scrutiny of the power of tech giants.Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority, the last remaining agency that must sign off before Microsoft can complete the acquisition, said the companies had taken action that “substantially addresses” remaining antitrust concerns. The regulator initially tried to block the deal, saying it would undercut competition, but reversed course after Microsoft agreed not to buy a part of…

Sep

25

2023

By Jesse J. Piekman

Why a backup QB who flamed out as a starter is having so much fun

Sports

The Athletic has live coverage of NFL Week 3 featuring Chiefs vs BearsIt is Blaine Gabbert’s first OTA practice with the Kansas City Chiefs after joining the team in April. Coach Andy Reid is empowering Patrick Mahomes, telling him to push limits and see what he can get away with on this day. Mahomes is smiling, laughing and talking smack.Seeing Mahomes having a blast is making Gabbert have a blast.Now Gabbert is smiling and laughing.“Super fun,” Gabbert says. “Super fun for me to be out there and for me to be in that room. This great game gives us a…

Sep

25

2023

By Jesse J. Piekman

Canadian Labor Union Votes to Ratify Contract With Ford

Economy

The Canadian labor union Unifor said on Sunday that its members had voted to ratify a new contract with Ford Motor, a relief for the Detroit automaker, which is locked in a separate battle with its U.S. union over demands for better pay and benefits.Unifor, which represents about 5,600 Canadian autoworkers, said its members at Ford ratified a new three-year collective agreement.Ford has offered the union members wage increases of up to 25 percent in its new contract. The agreement provides a 10 percent wage increase for the first year followed by increases of 2 percent and 3 percent through…

Sep

24

2023

By Jesse J. Piekman

Sufjan Stevens Says He Lost Ability to Walk From Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Health

Sufjan Stevens, the indie-rock singer-songwriter, said in a statement on his website on Wednesday that he was in recovery from a rare neurological condition called Guillain-Barré syndrome that had taken away his ability to walk, saying he had been hospitalized for several weeks but was expected to recover.“Last month I woke up one morning and couldn’t walk,” Stevens said on his website. “My hands, arms and legs were numb and tingling and I had no strength, no feeling, no mobility.”The musician said that his brother drove him to an emergency room and that neurologists diagnosed him with the autoimmune disorder,…

Sep

24

2023

By Jesse J. Piekman

Nearly 400 Ethnic Armenians Flee Nagorno-Karabakh

Sep

24

2023

By Jesse J. Piekman

Reddit Communities Go Dark to Protest New App Policy

Technology

The moderators of hundreds of Reddit forums, known as subreddits, closed off access to their groups on Monday to protest the company’s plan to charge for access to the data that outside developers need to run apps on the site.Many said the new pricing scheme could kill off some of the most popular third-party apps that many users rely on to browse and comment on the site. Others said the charges had sowed uncertainty about the tools that moderators use to manage discussions. An estimated 57 million people a day visit the platform.Reddit announced in April that it would begin…

Sep

24

2023

By Jesse J. Piekman

Luis Rubiales, Spain’s Top Soccer Official, Resigns Over World Cup Kiss

Sports

The head of the Spanish soccer federation, Luis Rubiales, resigned on Sunday, weeks after kissing a member of Spain’s women’s team on the lips after the team won the World Cup last month, setting off a national scandal and drawing accusations of abusing his power and perpetuating sexism in the sport.In a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday, Mr. Rubiales said he had submitted his resignation as the federation’s president and as vice president of UEFA, European soccer’s governing body.“After the rapid suspension carried out by FIFA, plus the rest of proceedings open against me, it…

Sep

24

2023

By Jesse J. Piekman

U.A.W. Expands Strikes at GM and Stellantis. Here’s What to Know.

Economy

The United Automobile Workers union expanded its strike Friday at two large U.S. automakers — General Motors and Stellantis, the parent of Chrysler, Jeep and Ram — as negotiators remained far apart on key issues a week into the walkout.The strike is not a full-scale walkout by the union’s roughly 150,000 members but a “limited and targeted” work stoppage, which began on Sept. 15 after workers’ four-year contracts expired. On Friday, the union cranked up the labor action to include 38 parts distribution centers at G.M. and Stellantis, but it did not include Ford in the expansion, citing progress in…

Sep

24

2023

By Jesse J. Piekman

My Running Club, My Everything

Health

On a Thursday evening in early September, the Upper West Side Run Club met on the steps of the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. It was 6:30 p.m., and temperatures were hovering in the low 90s. But despite the extreme heat, over 25 people, ranging in age from teens to late 60s, showed up to run a four-mile loop around Central Park.They made frequent stops at the water fountains. They also played a game called “Liars” to keep their minds off the brutal conditions.Usually the group heads somewhere after to wind down with a coffee or beer. It…

Sep

24

2023

By Jesse J. Piekman

Columbia to Dissolve Lucy Calkins’ Reading and Writing Project