Stanford's Inner Sanctum Had Bar, Bathroom Exit

A Costco shareholder proposal brought by a conservative activist asked the company to probe its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, with an eye toward eliminating them. The Washington state-based company’s board wasn’t amused with the pitch. The National Center for Public Policy Research, a Washington, D. C.-based conservative think tank, wants the company to evaluate its DEI policies.

Life is change, they say, and many of us will be seeing that in 2025. With nearly 300 new state laws to take effect in the new year, there will be change galore. Including for the aging jalopy, one of the new sleek E-ZPass “sticker tags” replacing its bulky windshield transponder.

Amazon.com Inc. is asking online shoppers to provide information about product testimonials they’ve posted on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, suggesting the e-commerce giant is more aggressively targeting paid reviews that merchants can use to gain a competitive edge. In a questionnaire sent to a reviewer and seen by Bloomberg, a member of the company’s product review team wrote: “We are researching reviews and would like to talk to you about the interaction you had with the seller on this product.” Eleven questions followed, including one that asked: “Can you describe the work you’ve done for this seller as an influencer (eg posted videos on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram etc.)?” Amazon’s campaign coincides with a government clampdown on paid product reviews.

A new cafe has opened in Aurora that offers something fresh in a historic spot in the city. Atrevete Cafe 1888 opened on Dec. 23 at the site of the old City Hospital of Aurora which was built in 1888. The cafe at 504 Lincoln Ave. is part of the restoration of the entire former Copley Hospital campus that sat vacant for years on the East Side of the city. The name Atrevete comes from a Spanish phrase that means “dares you” – in this case, to try something new and different. The cafe, which is open from 8 a.m.

Behold the frogfish. This bizarre creature really is a fish, despite its bullfrog face, pectoral fins that look like webbed feet, and a froglike mouth that snaps up unsuspecting prey. But the way it lures its prey is even weirder. Frogfish belong to the anglerfish family known as Antennariidae. Like their anglerfish cousins who lurk in the ocean’s depths, these ambush predators attract their next meal via an appendage on their heads that they use like a fishing lure.

In the weeks before Donald Trump takes office, he has moved to delay a nationwide TikTok ban from taking effect until he has a chance to make a deal on his own terms that he believes could allow TikTok to continue operating in the US without posing a national security threat. On Friday, Trump's lawyer filed a brief, urging the Supreme Court to stay enforcement of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act that would either ban TikTok on January 19 or force TikTok to sell the company to prevent China's alleged covert control of content on the app. The Supreme Court had previously denied TikTok's request for an injunction that would have delayed enforcement until Trump takes office, instead planning to rush a decision on whether the Act violates the First Amendment before the deadline hits.