Forget those mean tweets, tech friends. Trump's just here to help
Industry leaders don't pass up face-time with The Donald.
After a year of tweet-bashing the likes of Apple and Amazon, disparaging their off-shoring of jobs, stances on encryption and tax contributions, Donald Trump invited tech industry leaders to a powwow in NYC. About a dozen tech A-listers — Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Tesla CEO Elon Musk among them — sat down Wednesday with the president-elect to discuss jobs, immigration policy, free trade, cybersecurity and taxes. (Yes, Ivanka and her bros were there. Obviously.) One area where Trump and tech agree: revising the tax code. Trump says he plans to slash the corporate tax rate to 15% from 35%, which could prompt tech giants to repatriate money kept overseas. "This is truly an amazing group of people," Trump said. "I want to add that I’m here to help you folks do well." Notably absent, however, was Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who invented what possibly is Trump's favorite app.
The economy is looking up — and so are interest rates
The Federal Reserve raised a key interest rate Wednesday for the first time in 2016 and signaled that more hikes are likely for 2017 (depending largely on Trump’s fiscal policy). Whether the quarter-percentage-point hike is an early Christmas present or a lump a coal in your stocking depends on your point of view. The good news: The Fed raised the rate for only second time since 2006 because it believes the economy and the labor market are improving. And the hike will likely lead to slight increases in earnings from your savings account and CDs. The bad news: You’ll see increases in the interest rates on auto loans, credit cards and home equity lines of credit rates. And further hikes in 2017 could spell higher mortgage payments.
Amazon's first drone delivery was 13 minutes of awesome
When Amazon said it would use drones for delivery, no one was really sure what to make of it. But when testing started last week, the first delivery sounded pretty sweet (or maybe, salty?). A British man who lives near Cambridge in the United Kingdom ordered a bag of popcorn and a Fire TV from Amazon. Thirteen minutes later, an Amazon drone delivered the package to his house. The test of Prime Air, Amazon’s would-be service to deliver packages up to 5 pounds in 30 minutes or less, took place on Dec. 7, the company said. It plans to bring drone delivery to rural customers first, then to suburbs and later to cities and towns. So why all the U.K. love? Amazon's been working with regulators to test the service, and Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority approved it. Amazon wants to bring drone delivery to the U.S., too, and secured FAA approval to do drone-testing here.
Donald Trump picks Rick Perry to head the department he forgot existed
Maybe we forgot that Rick Perry, who President-elect Donald Trump nominated for Energy secretary Wednesday, ran for president in 2016 and in 2012. But the former Texas governor did forget the Energy Department during a 2011 Republican presidential debate. He totally blanked on the agency — which he said he wanted to abolish, followed by saying his famous "oops." Trump and Perry strongly criticized each other during the 2016 GOP primary campaign. Even so, energy industry organizations welcomed the nomination. Perry has close ties to the Texas oil industry and has corporate roles in two petroleum companies pushing for approval of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Here's everyone Trump has picked for his Cabinet so far.
What Alan Thicke's sons had to say about the loss of one of America's favorite TV dads
Alan Thicke died Tuesday after a heart attack. He was 69. Thicke was a TV dad to so many through his role as Dr. Jason Seaver, and his death hit close to home for friends, colleagues and fans of the Growing Pains star. TV son Kirk Cameron said on Instagram: "Alan was a generous, kind and loving man. I am so blessed to have grown up with him." But the most heartfelt tributes came from his real sons. Robin Thicke, the singer, wrote on Instagram: "He was the best man I ever knew." His statement echoed that of his half-brother, Carter, who said he'd lost his "best friend" and "idol." Here are five surprising things you might not have known about Dr. Seaver.
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