As the United States slowly inches toward ending its ill-fated War on Drugs, first decriminalizing marijuana, we have begun to see the first attempts to build legitimate businesses around pot. With the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington, the growth of medical marijuana in several states (including California), and the diffuse relaxation of penalties for pot-related crimes, many have recognized the enormous potential market for legal weed, especially if current trends continue.
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World Cup Fever
In what has been one of the most exciting sporting events in recent memory, the 2014 FIFA World Cup has captivated audiences around the world. Even in the United States, where soccer is vastly overshadowed by most other professional sports, the World Cup has become the second most-watched televised sporting event, behind only the Super Bowl.
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Dirty Dov: The American Apparel Scandal
After accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct, the American Apparel (APP) Board of Directors has fired long time CEO and founder Dov Charney. The highly anticipated announcement was released two weeks ago. However, the outspoken and flamboyant Charney has made it clear that he will not go down without a fight, vehemently defending himself from the company he established.
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Amazon's Newest Threat
Google (GOOG) Express Shopping has taken a giant leap to become a stronger competitor to Amazon (AMZN) with its newly implemented same-day shipping service. Although Google Express Shopping is still inferior, in some aspects, to other online retailers (i.e. its currently small distribution infrastructure), it has many components that make it a strong alternative to the online shopping overlord known as Amazon (read more about superior E-Commerce investments here).
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Google's Android Watch
For two days in June (June 25-26, 2014), San Francisco hosts Google’s (GOOG) largest developer conference of the year, Google I/O. This is where Google unveils its newest technology and developer tools. Today, Google started the festivities with a 2.5-hour keynote address. Here are the highlights and possible game-changing technologies that Google plans to release in the coming months.
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Buds, Barley, & Bills
There is no denying that Americans love beer, especially during warm summers. From barbeques to camping, beer is an indispensable component of most warm-weather activities. Thus, it should come as no surprise that two of the largest beer companies, Anheuser-Busch (BUD) and Molson Coors (TAP), are currently the driving force behind the recent success of the economy’s consumer goods sector.
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Amazon Fires Back
In a highly anticipated move, Amazon (AMZN) announced the release of its Fire smartphone on Wednesday. With a platform customized around Google’s (GOOG) Android operating system, Fire is a competitive high-end market offering. However, without features that truly differentiate it from other smartphones, it is doubtful that Fire will initially gain the traction necessary to be competitive in an already crowded smartphone market.
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