Amazon has had a boss with big ideas and incredible persistence. That hasnât always been helpful. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P4QzAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0xNTgmZW1jPWVkaXRfb3RfMjAyMTA1MTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MzA2Njcmbmw9b24tdGVjaC13aXRoLXNoaXJhLW92aWRlJnByb2R1Y3RDb2RlPU9UJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD01Nzg1MCZ0ZT0xJnVyaT1ueXQlM0ElMkYlMkZuZXdzbGV0dGVyJTJGNTg3M2VhYzUtZGQzZS01M2I0LThhN2ItNDQ4MWJmZTI1NzBmJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYJs1CZxg-UyFEFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0S7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTE1OCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9vdF8yMDIxMDUxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0zMDY2NyZubD1vbi10ZWNoLXdpdGgtc2hpcmEtb3ZpZGUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTU3ODUwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpgmzUJnGD5TIUQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee)
~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzQwMTIzJmxpPU9UJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1PVF8yMDIxMDUxMlcDbnl0QgpgmzUJnGD5TIUQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ [Technology](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0TNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VjdGlvbi90ZWNobm9sb2d5P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTE1OCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9vdF8yMDIxMDUxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0zMDY2NyZubD1vbi10ZWNoLXdpdGgtc2hpcmEtb3ZpZGUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTU3ODUwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpgmzUJnGD5TIUQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) May 12, 2021 Inside Jeff Bezosâs obsessions Alvaro Dominguez [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0TJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvc2hpcmEtb3ZpZGU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MTU4JmVtYz1lZGl0X290XzIwMjEwNTEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTMwNjY3Jm5sPW9uLXRlY2gtd2l0aC1zaGlyYS1vdmlkZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NTc4NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmCbNQmcYPlMhRBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) By [Shira Ovide](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0TJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvc2hpcmEtb3ZpZGU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MTU4JmVtYz1lZGl0X290XzIwMjEwNTEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTMwNjY3Jm5sPW9uLXRlY2gtd2l0aC1zaGlyYS1vdmlkZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NTc4NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmCbNQmcYPlMhRBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) How can you tell when the bullheaded and micromanaging boss who trusts his intuition is just nuts, and when heâs nuts but right? Thatâs a question I had after reading â[Amazon Unbound](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2ltb25hbmRzY2h1c3Rlci5jb20vYm9va3MvQW1hem9uLVVuYm91bmQvQnJhZC1TdG9uZS85NzgxOTgyMTMyNjEzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTE1OCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9vdF8yMDIxMDUxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0zMDY2NyZubD1vbi10ZWNoLXdpdGgtc2hpcmEtb3ZpZGUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTU3ODUwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpgmzUJnGD5TIUQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~),â a new book about Jeff Bezos and the last decade or so at Amazon by Brad Stone, a journalist and a former colleague of mine. In Stoneâs telling, Bezos is a font of big ideas, and he badgers staff, nitpicks over details and is willing to devote gobs of time and money to make his visions a reality. That has often paid off with novel and effective technologies like the voice-recognition assistant Alexa and the companyâs cashier-less Go convenience stores. But other things at Amazon have failed or floundered because of Bezosâs relentless pursuit of his ideas. That tendency plagued Amazonâs now dead [Fire smartphone](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P4QKAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMTQvMDYvMTkvdGVjaG5vbG9neS9wZXJzb25hbHRlY2gvYW1hem9uLWZpcmUtcGhvbmVzLW1pc3NlZC1vcHBvcnR1bml0aWVzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MTU4JmVtYz1lZGl0X290XzIwMjEwNTEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTMwNjY3Jm5sPW9uLXRlY2gtd2l0aC1zaGlyYS1vdmlkZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NTc4NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmCbNQmcYPlMhRBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), and it was a shadow over its Prime Video streaming service and its ground beef made from just one cow. (Donât worry, I will come back to this.) The company likes to say that everything at Amazon begins with what the customer wants and works backward. But one inescapable conclusion from reading âAmazon Unboundâ is how much [Amazon is a product of Bezosâs](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNy8yOC90ZWNobm9sb2d5L2FtYXpvbi1qZWZmLWJlem9zLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MTU4JmVtYz1lZGl0X290XzIwMjEwNTEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTMwNjY3Jm5sPW9uLXRlY2gtd2l0aC1zaGlyYS1vdmlkZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NTc4NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmCbNQmcYPlMhRBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) will and his responses to competitive challenges or criticisms. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-0) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzQwMTI3JmxpPU9UJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1PVF8yMDIxMDUxMlcDbnl0QgpgmzUJnGD5TIUQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ And it isnât necessarily easy to diagnose at what point that was good for Amazon, its customers, its employees and the world â and when Bezosâs belief in himself seemingly got in the way. It will be interesting to see what happens now that Bezos is scheduled to[leave his chief executive post](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8wMi8wMi90ZWNobm9sb2d5L2plZmYtYmV6b3MtYW1hem9uLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MTU4JmVtYz1lZGl0X290XzIwMjEwNTEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTMwNjY3Jm5sPW9uLXRlY2gtd2l0aC1zaGlyYS1vdmlkZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NTc4NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmCbNQmcYPlMhRBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Stone digs deep into the origins of Alexa and the companyâs Echo speakers. In an email 10 years ago, Bezos told his lieutenants that Amazon âshould build a $20 device with its brains in the cloud thatâs completely controlled by your voice.â He refused to let his vision for this product go, even when the development cost a fortune and the voice technology was badly flawed for years. Apart from that $20 price, Echo and Alexa are just how Bezos imagined. At other times Bezosâs visions led Amazon down the wrong path. The Fire phone was a bad idea at the wrong time, and its failure was largely Bezosâs fault. In one detail, Stone writes that a staff member had to assure Bezos that, yes, people used digital calendars on their phones. He also insisted on 3-D cameras for the device that were glitch-prone and gimmicky. The same thing happened with that ground beef. After reading a 2015 [Washington Post article](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P4QbAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9uZXdzL3dvbmsvd3AvMjAxNS8wOC8wNS90aGVyZS1hcmUtYS1sb3QtbW9yZS1jb3dzLWluLWEtc2luZ2xlLWhhbWJ1cmdlci10aGFuLXlvdS1yZWFsaXplLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0xNTgmZW1jPWVkaXRfb3RfMjAyMTA1MTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MzA2Njcmbmw9b24tdGVjaC13aXRoLXNoaXJhLW92aWRlJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD01Nzg1MCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYJs1CZxg-UyFEFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) about why hamburger patties are often made from tissues mixed from as many as a hundred cows or more, Bezos became obsessed with making a single cow burger that people could buy only from the Amazon Fresh grocery service. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-1) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzQwMTMxJmxpPU9UJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1PVF8yMDIxMDUxMlcDbnl0QgpgmzUJnGD5TIUQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ Amazon Fresh did sell single cow burgers â theyâre [out of stock now](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0TmaHR0cHM6Ly91cy5hbWF6b24uY29tL1dhZ3l1LVNpbmdsZS1Db3ctQnVyZ2VyLVBhdHRpZXMvZHAvQjAxR0tKRzU1ST9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0xNTgmZW1jPWVkaXRfb3RfMjAyMTA1MTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MzA2Njcmbmw9b24tdGVjaC13aXRoLXNoaXJhLW92aWRlJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD01Nzg1MCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYJs1CZxg-UyFEFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) â but it wasnât a world-changing idea as Bezos had hoped. Like the Fire phone, it might have just been a waste of time and energy. I posed two questions to Stone: When have Bezosâs ideas and his relentlessness to pull them off been helpful, and when have those same qualities led Amazon astray? And has it been good or bad for Amazon to be guided by one person and his obsessions? Stone told me that Bezos believes Amazon is in a unique position to do difficult, expensive and big things, and he wants to push against employeesâ natural resistance to hard changes. His instincts arenât infallible, but Bezos[has been right a lot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8wMi8wMy90ZWNobm9sb2d5L2FtYXpvbi13aXRob3V0LWplZmYtYmV6b3MuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0xNTgmZW1jPWVkaXRfb3RfMjAyMTA1MTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MzA2Njcmbmw9b24tdGVjaC13aXRoLXNoaXJhLW92aWRlJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD01Nzg1MCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYJs1CZxg-UyFEFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), he said. âThe countervailing force,â Stone said, is that [the worldâs richest person](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmxvb21iZXJnLmNvbS9iaWxsaW9uYWlyZXMvP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTE1OCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9vdF8yMDIxMDUxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0zMDY2NyZubD1vbi10ZWNoLXdpdGgtc2hpcmEtb3ZpZGUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTU3ODUwJnNyZWY9UWs5MWN6QWMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmCbNQmcYPlMhRBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) âdoesnât really live among us anymore. His personal taste in burgers and technology donât always represent the common taste.â [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-2) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzQwMTM1JmxpPU9UJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1PVF8yMDIxMDUxMlcDbnl0QgpgmzUJnGD5TIUQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ Bezos has often said that failures are inevitable and even welcome. They show that Amazon isnât afraid to try bold things. But while reading Stoneâs book, I wondered if Amazonâs failures werenât always the result of noble swings at big ideas but sometimes because of blind spots: a lack of self-reflection and a corporate culture that resists standing up to Bezos. Stone writes that many employees who worked on the Fire phone had serious doubts about it, but it seemed that no one was willing to fight the boss. Stoneâs book recounts numerous executives who were driven out of Amazon, including some who challenged Bezos or ways in which the company operated. There may be an alternative version of Amazon that is less reliant on Bezosâs vision and self assurance. It might be worse, or it might be an even more successful company thatâs better for customers, its employees and the world. And with a new chief executive, maybe weâll get to find out. But I suspect Amazon will continue to be the Bezos show. If you donât already get this newsletter in your inbox, [please sign up here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0TQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvc2lnbnVwL09UP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTE1OCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9vdF8yMDIxMDUxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0zMDY2NyZubD1vbi10ZWNoLXdpdGgtc2hpcmEtb3ZpZGUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTU3ODUwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpgmzUJnGD5TIUQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). SUBSCRIBE TODAY If youâve found this newsletter helpful, [please consider subscribing to The New York Times â with this special offer](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uP2NhbXBhaWduSWQ9OVVRRkomY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MTU4JmVtYz1lZGl0X290XzIwMjEwNTEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTMwNjY3Jm5sPW9uLXRlY2gtd2l0aC1zaGlyYS1vdmlkZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NTc4NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmCbNQmcYPlMhRBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Your support makes our work possible. Before we go ⦠- The government might help pay your internet bill. To help get more Americans online, the Federal Communications Commission is now offering people with lower incomes or those who lost their jobs in the coronavirus pandemic a [temporary subsidy of $50 a month for internet access](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8wNS8xMi90ZWNobm9sb2d5L2ludGVybmV0LXN1YnNpZHktLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MTU4JmVtYz1lZGl0X290XzIwMjEwNTEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTMwNjY3Jm5sPW9uLXRlY2gtd2l0aC1zaGlyYS1vdmlkZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NTc4NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmCbNQmcYPlMhRBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), my colleague Cecilia Kang reported. The Washington Post also has [details on how to sign up](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0T4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3RlY2hub2xvZ3kvMjAyMS8wNS8xMi9lbWVyZ2VuY3ktYnJvYWRiYW5kLWJlbmVmaXQtZmFxLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0xNTgmZW1jPWVkaXRfb3RfMjAyMTA1MTImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MzA2Njcmbmw9b24tdGVjaC13aXRoLXNoaXJhLW92aWRlJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD01Nzg1MCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYJs1CZxg-UyFEFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA).
- A con or playing with identity and authenticity? A young woman had tens of thousands of people on Twitter following her travels on motorcycles. Then the person behind the account confessed that he was a 50-year-old man using an app to alter his face, The Washington Post [wrote](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3RlY2hub2xvZ3kvMjAyMS8wNS8xMS9qYXBhbi1iaWtlci1mYWNlYXBwLXNveWEtYXp1c2FnYWt1eXVraS8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MTU4JmVtYz1lZGl0X290XzIwMjEwNTEyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTMwNjY3Jm5sPW9uLXRlY2gtd2l0aC1zaGlyYS1vdmlkZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NTc4NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmCbNQmcYPlMhRBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). His followers (and his children) loved him even more.
- Have you seen online videos of gross food like [toilet ice cream punch](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0TcaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9jdXJseWl4aW5nL3N0YXR1cy8xMzg1MjQ0NTA3NzEzNzc3NjY3P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTE1OCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9vdF8yMDIxMDUxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0zMDY2NyZubD1vbi10ZWNoLXdpdGgtc2hpcmEtb3ZpZGUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTU3ODUwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpgmzUJnGD5TIUQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)? Eater wrote that many of them are carefully crafted pranks by a [group of people affiliated with a Las Vegas magician](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P4QLAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmVhdGVyLmNvbS8yMDIxLzUvMTEvMjI0MzAzODMvd2h5LWFyZS1ncm9zcy12aXJhbC1mb29kLXZpZGVvcy1wb3B1bGFyLXJpY2stbGF4LWZhY2Vib29rLXdhdGNoP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTE1OCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9vdF8yMDIxMDUxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0zMDY2NyZubD1vbi10ZWNoLXdpdGgtc2hpcmEtb3ZpZGUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTU3ODUwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpgmzUJnGD5TIUQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) named Rick Lax. Hugs to this Spend a minute with [Keith the lamb perched on a snoring pig](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRifo41P0ThaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9jYWVuaGlsbGNjL3N0YXR1cy8xMzkyMDU3MTk0NDI2ODY3NzEyP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTE1OCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9vdF8yMDIxMDUxMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0zMDY2NyZubD1vbi10ZWNoLXdpdGgtc2hpcmEtb3ZpZGUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzPTE5JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NTc4NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmCbNQmcYPlMhRBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think of this newsletter and what else youâd like us to explore. 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