Linked List: February 28, 2022

Monday, 28 February 2022

The Amazon-ification of Whole Foods ★

Cecilia Kang, writing for The New York Times:

More than four years ago, Amazon bought Whole Foods for $13 billion. Now the Amazon-ification of the grocery chain is physically complete, as showcased by the revamped Whole Foods store in Glover Park.

For a long time, Amazon made only small steps toward putting its mark on the more than 500 Whole Foods stores in the United States and Britain. The main evidence of change were the discounts and free home delivery for Amazon Prime members. But this 21,000-square-foot Whole Foods just north of Georgetown has catapulted Amazon’s involvement forward. Along with another prototype Whole Foods store, which will open in Los Angeles this year, Amazon designed my local grocer to be almost completely run by tracking and robotic tools for the first time.

Ukrainian Soldiers Told Russian Officer ‘Go Fuck Yourself’ After Demand for Surrender ★

Elias Visontay, reporting Friday for The Guardian:

Ukrainian soldiers who died defending an island in the Black Sea from an air and sea bombardment reportedly told an officer on board a Russian navy warship to “go fuck yourself” when asked to surrender.

There were 13 border guards stationed on Snake Island, a roughly 16-hectare (40-acre) rocky island owned by Ukraine that sits about 186 miles (300km) west of Crimea, when Russian troops bombed the island on Thursday. All 13 soldiers died after refusing to surrender, Ukrainian officials announced.

Jim Acosta, this morning:

CNN: Ukraine’s defenders of “Snake Island” who were initially feared dead after telling the Russians to go “F” themselves are “alive and well” according to the Ukrainian Navy.

Jim Dalrymple Is Retiring ★

Jim Dalrymple:

This is the most difficult, but at the same time, the most exciting story I have ever written. After almost 30 years of reporting on Apple, I am retiring.

Nothing but warm congratulations to my friend.