🐤 Risky whiskey

🏦 Markets: All three major indexes rebounded on Thursday after losing ground since the beginning of the year. The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite led the charge, adding about 1.4% to its value on the strength of major gains by Apple.

Artificial intelligence and the semiconductor sector have also pushed the tech industry into positive territory this week.

🐶 Food for thought: Social media rumors can target almost any group of people and are frequently spread far and wide if they can spark fear. That’s exactly what Purina said has happened with recent claims that its “Pro Plan” pet food resulted in illness and even death in a number of dogs and cats. In a statement this week, the company addressed the “understandably scared” pet owners who read the claims, reassuring them that the “rumor is false, and we are saddened to see the confusion and fear that it has caused.”

🔊 Alexa Plus: Would you pay Amazon for the privilege of using an upgraded version of its digital assistant? Well, the company seems to be hoping you will. Alexa doesn’t really make any money, so Amazon is unsurprisingly looking for ways to change that. And the best idea it has come up with so far is to integrate AI into the system and make people pay for the resulting service. But there’s some internal concerns that Alexa Plus doesn’t really work all that well and people aren’t going to pay for a platform they’re accustomed to getting for free.

⌚ Watch out: Actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is in hot water following a flight he took to Munich this week. Upon arriving at the airport, officers reportedly searched his bags and found a luxury Audemars Piguet watch that the “Terminator” star said he planned to sell at auction to benefit a climate charity. But authorities say he didn’t declare the imported item and a customs spokesperson confirmed that the office has “initiated criminal tax proceedings” as a result.

🪙 Budget deal: It left lawmakers on both sides of the aisle disappointed, but in a divided Congress, that’s often the price of doing business. In any case, the Democratic-led Senate voted 77-18 on Thursday to pass a stopgap spending bill that would forestall a looming government shutdown and maintain funding for crucial services at least until early March. The measure then went to the GOP-led House of Representatives, which was expected to pass it and send it on to President Joe Biden to sign.

We recently brought you some stats that show how popular Mexican restaurants are across the United States, but Americans are also starting to catch on to another export from their southern neighbor: whiskey.

It’s all about the rooster corn

You might think of Scotland as the source of excellent whiskey — and then there’s the iconic Kentucky bourbon. But Mexico is making a play to become a major source of flavorful spirits, and it relies on one key ingredient.

Dozens of types of corn grow naturally across Mexico, and among the oldest of the bunch is nal t’eel, which has been around for roughly 4,000 years. It’s commonly known among indigenous groups as “rooster corn” and it can survive in even the harshest climate conditions.

Nevertheless, it was on the verge of being eradicated and replaced with more modern varieties until Gran Maizal, a Yucatan-based distillery, began using it just a few short years ago to make its whiskey. The trend caught on, and a growing number of companies are using rooster corn (as well as other native varieties) to make whiskey and export it to the U.S.

Battling bourbon

Many American whiskey connoisseurs already have their favorites, and bourbon brands are among the most popular. But Gran Maizal says it believes bourbon drinkers will be receptive to the unique flavor of its spirits.

“Bourbon has been the center of the popularity and growth of whiskey in the U.S. for the last 20 years,” explained co-founder Gonzalo de la Pezuela. “So why not invite people to try a high-end whiskey from the birthplace of corn?”

The small-scale, old-world distillation process results in a less smoky, more corn-forward flavor that might not be what purists expect, but Gonzalo encourages skeptical Americans to give it a shot (no pun intended).

Elon Musk’s Twitter/X takeover has gotten a lot of attention lately, but it’s clear that the billionaire has a lot more on his plate than a social media platform. For example, SpaceX — one of several companies he owns — is currently in the process of launching satellites aimed at delivering high-speed internet to some of the world’s most remote locations.

And to that end, Musk says he sees an opportunity to partner with another company with a major footprint in rural areas.

Down on the farm

SpaceX reportedly entered into an agreement with John Deere under which the former would provide satellite internet service to the latter, thus allowing tractors and other agricultural equipment to operate more efficiently and connecting farmers who might otherwise only have access to spotty or low-speed internet.

The tractors identified as part of the fledgling deal include newer models that contain a modem providing direct connections to the John Deere Operations Center. So what will this accomplish? John Deere indicates it will:

• Allow tractors to share data with the company and other equipment
• Enhance diagnostics and self-repair options
• Provide a network for machines to operate autonomously

As company executive Aaron Wetzel explained: “The value of connectivity to farmers is broader than any single task or action. Connectivity unlocks vast opportunities that were previously limited or unavailable.”

The tip of the iceberg

SpaceX has its sights set on a lot more than just farmland across America and around the world. In addition to providing more reliable internet to citizens living in remote locations, the company has reached a number of intriguing partnerships.

Some notable examples include work with satellite service SES to establish internet connection on cruise ships and a collaboration with multiple airlines to provide in-flight Wi-Fi service.

Whether your travel plans for the year are already finalized or you prefer to put things off until the last minute, chances are you’ve spent a little time daydreaming about that perfect getaway. And if you’re like many people around the world, your mind has gravitated toward one of a handful of vacation destinations.

A pair of travel sites — Kayak and Hopper — have compiled a list of places they believe will be among the year’s hottest attractions. In no particular order, they include:

• Perennial favorites: Some places are popular year after year, and many spots that were flooded with tourists in 2023 will likely remain that way throughout this year. A few examples include Tokyo, Rome, London, and Las Vegas.
• Beaches are in: Who doesn’t love a relaxing beachside vacation? In addition to Cancun (which could have been in the previous category), some of the trending destinations for 2024 include French Polynesia and the Cayman Islands.
• Keeping it cool: You might not believe it given the cold front still moving across much of the U.S., but many tourists are expected to beat the heat this year with trips to cooler climates across Scandinavia, most notably Denmark and Norway.
• Astronomers’ paradise: Folks who want to get an unforgettable glimpse of a total solar eclipse in April are starting to plot their trips to places with the best views, which include areas in New York, Missouri, Texas, and Mexico’s Mazatlan coast.

But perhaps you’re looking for a place that isn’t on everybody's short list. If so, Global Citizen Journeys founder Joshua Smith has a recommendation: Malta.

“From its history and architecture to the food, Malta maintains the comfort of Europe with solid tourism infrastructure, but without the crowds.”