Amazon Is Shutting Down Its Grocery Stores

Amazon is pulling the plug on its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh brick-and-mortar stores. In a company announcement, Amazon said the decision followed a review of its Amazon-branded grocery stores, noting that while  the stores worked in theory, they didn't work in a way that made sense long term. Some of the closing locations will be converted into Whole Foods Market stores. Amazon Fresh will continue operating online in markets where delivery is available. The move doesn’t, however, signal Amazon stepping away from groceries. The company now delivers groceries in more than 5,000 U.S. cities, and since adding fresh and frozen foods to same-day delivery in 2025, it says sales of perishables through that service have grown sharply. At the same time, Amazon is doubling down on Whole Foods Market, the grocery brand it acquired in 2017. Whole Foods Market now operates more than 550 locations and has seen notable gains in both sales and foot traffic. Amazon said it's working to place employees affected by the closures into other roles within the company, reinforcing that this is a reallocation of resources, not a shutdown. In the end, Amazon isn’t abandoning groceries, it's accepting the truth that people want Amazon for convenience, and they want Whole Foods Market for food.

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Do You Really Need to Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them?

There’s been a long-term debate over the years about whether or not you need to wash new clothes before wearing them. Now there’s a definitive answer about whether pre-washing new clothes is the right thing to do or just a waste of water and detergent. The answer is yes — you should wash new clothes before wearing them. Even if your new shirt or a pair of leggings is fresh out of the package, they could be contaminated with germs, toxic chemicals, dirt and more. Processing textiles is a multi-step process that frequently takes place in several countries. They’ve been touched by many hands, gone through storage and transportation, and may have residual chemicals and dyes left on them from processing. These bad-news bugs hitch a ride from contact with dirty hands and surfaces along the way. Germs on new clothes can cause health problems, including staph, skin infections, and respiratory issues. Simply washing your clothes before wearing them can remove the toxic chemicals, dirt, germs, and anything else that might be on them. Just toss them in the washer and don’t skip the dryer, which will ensure that all hitchhikers are dead.

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Owner of a Spanish Beach Tells Selfie-Hunters the Beach is Closed

Caló des Moro, once a secluded cove in Mallorca, Spain, has been turned into a tourist-choked destination after Instagrammers posted striking shots of its crystal clear waters and beautiful scenery. An estimated 4,000 people visit the tiny beach every day during peak tourism season, prompting owners Maren and Hans-Peter Oehm to shut down public access to their property by erecting a fence. The Oehms complain that they have had to spend time and money cleaning up the beach after selfie-hunters descend on it, trying to capture the perfect photo. Footage has shown sun-seekers lining up just to access the beach, while piles of trash litter the once-pristine shoreline. In some photos, the beach is so packed that the ground is barely visible. The impact of mass tourism on Caló des Moro currently sees six tons of sand disappear from the cove every three months, with 150 pounds disappearing in towels and on footwear every day. Locals say the cove — accessible by traversing down rocks and navigating 120 steep steps — is used as a dumping ground by tourists who are too lazy to make the return journey with their possessions. 

 

 

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Medical Experts Poke Holes in New Trend Encouraging Drinking a Cup of Hot Water in the Morning

According to those "in the know", cold water is out and sipping on hot water is in. The movement has exploded in popularity thanks to social media, with health fanatics adopting traditional Chinese wellness habits specifically to aid digestion. Fans are swearing that it has helped them to flush their bodies, remove toxins and lose weight. Now, medical experts have debunked the myth……to an extent. They explained that drinking water is important to the body, regardless of temperature. One of the many benefits of warm water is that it might be easier for your stomach to digest. However, they say the rumored benefits — such as boosting immunity or detoxing the body — are simply not true and have never been proven by any scientific studies. Warm water does have benefits, such as helping with symptoms of a dry sore throat, steam from warm water alleviating nasal congestion, relieving constipation, and promoting relaxation before bed, but it’s not, as social media claims, a cure-all.

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