In today’s issue we discuss Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson may merge his XFL with the USFL, Jeff Bezos launches 2 Project Kuiper internet satellites into space to take on Elon Musk’s Starlink, Meta/FB/Instagram’s Threads to launch Trends to further compete with X/Twitter and every other microblogging service out there, Crocs is launching a “classic cowboy boot” (no that’s not a typo), and Kevin Smith is selling Ben Affleck’s old house for $6 million.

Business

This seems like a no-brainer, but leave it to the government to just think of it now. If you buy an EV going forward you’ll get the $7,500 tax credit at time of purchase, instead of getting the credit when you file your taxes. Americans love instant gratification, and our tax credits shouldn’t be any different.

EV buyers can soon get the $7,500 tax credit at time of purchase

Tech

In the battle to further copy X/Twitter, Instagram’s Threads may finally be introducing Trends. It seems like every new social network from Mastadon to BlueSky is trying to out-feature each other in the race to be the biggest X clone out there.

What I’d love to see is some innovation in the microblogging app industry. Is that too much to ask for? I mean, Twitter was launched 17 years ago. The most recent innovation has been increasing the character limit from 140 to 280 characters which they did in 2017. Are there honestly no other features these companies can think of adding?!?!

Instagram Threads preps a Trending Topics feature in battle with X

Space

Jeff Bezos never ending race to try and be more like Elon Musk just got a little closer with the launch of their 1st two prototypes for its Project Kuiper satellite internet system. It’s been a long, strange trip for Bezos Amazon Project Kuiper since they first launched the effort 4 years ago. In that time SpaceX has launched 112 rockets carrying over 5,000 satellites.

It’s estimated that SpaceX will have spent $10 billion from design-through-launch of their ultimate 12,000 satellite constellation by the time they are done. Amazon’s Project Kuiper is estimated to cost the same, but they obviously don't have the same escape velocity as SpaceX does.

Amazon launches first internet satellite prototypes

Entertainment

I came across this article and struggled for a minute on where to include it in this issue, then it struck me this story is downright hysterical, so obviously it should go under Entertainment. You remember Crocs, those shoes everyone loves to hate but secretly own a pair because they’re so damn comfortable. Well the company Crocs has been riding one heck of a wave since Covid, and even coined the term “Croctober” with the launch of their limited-edition “classic cowboy boot”. Sadly, even I’m not joking. The company even shared that the idea to launch this new Croc only “took us about 12 minutes” before being approved, which is exactly how long I’m guessing these Crocs cowboy boots will be popular for.

Crocs Unveils $120 Cowboy Boots — And They're Not Cute

Real Estate

I didn’t think Kevin Smith even knew what thruway to take to escape New Jersey, but turns out he’s owned a home in LA’s Outpost Estates neighborhood for the last 2 decades. Now he’s putting the home up for sale, but don’t fret because he’s only moving down the road to a “recently renovated home in nearby Studio City.”.

Kevin Smith bought the home from Ben Affleck in 2003 for $1.62 million; the same price Affleck bought the house for in 1998 before outgrowing it due to the house’s proximity to the street and paparazzi. The home is now listed for just under $6 million (which will give him a nice return on his money.

‘Clerks’ Filmmaker Kevin Smith Lists Ben Affleck’s Former Hollywood Hills Home

Sports

What do you get when you merge 2 unsuccessful Spring Football leagues, but mix in the ultimate hype-man Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson? You get the proposed merger of the USFL and XFL, that is if regulators approve the merger. Why wouldn’t they? It’s not like there’s any other competition from other Spring Football leagues who aren’t named the NFL.

The one thing the merged USFL/XFL would have going for it would be the non-stop promotional machine that is The Rock. I mean the guy is like the Troy Aumua Polamalu of promoting - he’s never not working!

To refresh your memory Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his ex-wife business partner Dany Garcia bought the XFL for $15 million from former WWE chairman Vince McMahon in 2020.

XFL and USFL announce intent to merge beginning in 2024 season, unifying spring football leagues

So much news, so little time. Until tomorrow we’re signing out.

— Chris