As governments around the world race to build out 5G — superfast next-generation wireless technology — the United States has been campaigning to ban the use of telecom equipment made by the world’s largest supplier, China-based Huawei. U.S. officials cite concerns that the Chinese government could use Huawei equipment for spying.
This week, to the dismay of the White House, the United Kingdom granted permission to Huawei to provide some components for parts of its 5G network. And that decision could lead Germany, Canada and other countries to follow suit.
Given the promise of 5G — which could one day connect all of our cars, factory equipment, toys, heart-rate monitors and an endless array of other devices to the cloud — leaders around the world are concerned about security. That said, the infrastructure to support 5G has a long way to go and the true “internet of things” is probably years off.
Courtesy of Atari Hotels
Smart In a Shot
In the early 1970s, Atari’s Pong was a groundbreaking video game often credited with helping launch the video game industry. Nearly 50 years later, Atari is breaking ground in an entirely new way: developing a chain of hotels that will cater to avid gamers and play host to esports events.
That’s right. This week, Atari Hotels announced its first eight locations in the U.S. — part of a strategy to revive the retro video game company after it filed for bankruptcy in 2013. The company has focused much of that effort on brand licensing, and the Atari name today adorns everything from casino games to wearable electronics and now … hotels.
Atari isn’t the first brand to check into the hospitality business. Fitness chain Equinox, watchmaker Shinola and Richard Branson’s Virgin all have branded hotels. And last spring, reservations for Taco Bell’s popup hotel in Palm Springs sold out in two minutes.
The Numbers
The Super Bowl is Sunday at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. Let’s kick off championship weekend with some numbers.
0
That’s how many times in the Super Bowl’s 54-year history both teams’ primary uniform color has been red. That’s about to change. The San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs both wear red and gold (for this game, the 49ers are going with their white jerseys).
0
That’s how many women have coached in a Super Bowl game — another statistic that’ll have to be revised this weekend. On Sunday, 49ers’ offensive assistant coach Katie Sowers will become the first female coach on the sidelines of the world’s biggest football game.
0
That’s how many times two Latina performers have headlined the Super Bowl halftime show. J.Lo and Shakira will make history Sunday when they take the stage in Miami. How much will they get paid for their big show? Also $0.
153 million
That’s how many pounds of avocados are expected to be consumed on Sunday, mostly in guacamole. Beware the dangers of “avocado hand.”
Axel Schmidt / Getty Images
This week on the podcast
Episode 147: We have enough (vegan) food for everyone on the planet
Food expert and activist Frances Moore Lappé says we just have to change our habits. (Listening time, 34:01)
Tell us what’s making you smarter at smarter@marketplace.org. We'd love to include your recommendation in a future newsletter.
So … who did Veganuary?
Inspired by this week’s podcast episode, listener Jessie C. recommends this article from The Washington Post on how the Wu-Tang Clan and other hip-hop artists have encouraged people to go vegan. “Pop culture really does have a huge influence on these things,” she says.
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From China’s most beloved sci-fi author
Listener Joshua M. recommends the science-fiction trilogy “Remembrance of Earth’s Past” by Liu Cixin, starting with “The Three-Body Problem.” Joshua says the books were “perspective changing” and fun — just as getting smart should be.
•••
The emotional side of money
The “Make Me Smart” team recommends subscribing to the “This Is Uncomfortable” newsletter, produced by the team behind the eponymous podcast — which we also recommend! “This Is Uncomfortable,” which launched its second season this week, tells real stories about how money can mess with life.
This Make Me Smart newsletter is written by Erica Phillips.
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