🌶️ Hot Fudge Sunday for 2025-08-24

Last week

I was fortunate to contribute a few comments for NexusTek, in an article on CNBC regarding recent Microsoft licensing changes. We also published more details on NexusTek Insights.

Microsoft's Licensing Evolution and What it Means for Customers

Microsoft's Licensing Evolution and What it Means for Customers

Microsoft's 2025 licensing changes shift from volume-based to value-based pricing, prompting enterprises to focus on strategic technology planning and business outcomes.

Also, Jason Pullo of ESP, a NexusTek company shared his thoughts on how technology is making dining experiences smarter than ever before.

Eat. Tech. Repeat: Why Smart Restaurants Run on Smart Systems

Eat. Tech. Repeat: Why Smart Restaurants Run on Smart Systems

Discover how modern restaurants are leveraging integrated, AI-powered, and cloud-based systems to improve efficiency, enhance guest experiences, reduce staff burnout, and ensure secure, scalable growth with NexusTek ESP.

Finally, Jason Thatcher of NexusTek joined NexusTek Winners Circle to share perspectives on why managed detection and response (MDR) gives back time to busy security teams.

https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/20887/650826

This week

No travel! I’m looking forward to refinements on automation.

Hot Fudge Daily Digest

📈 Markets Monday for 2025-08-18

Another week of iteration on my screener shows progress.

Of course. Here is the enriched markdown table with clickable Google Finance links for each symbol.

SymbolCompany Name% Change
APLDApplied Digital Corp13.77%
DUOLDuolingo Inc11.45%
RIOTRiot Platforms Inc8.04%
BTDRBitdeer Technologies Group6.75%
LQDALiquidia Corp6.39%
TEMTempus AI Inc5.95%
TTDTrade Desk Inc5.15%
UUUUEnergy Fuels Inc5.14%

Comparison…

Yahoo Screener

🔥 Hot Takes Tuesday for 2025-08-19

💰 + 🤖 Funding for AI-anything companies continues

🤪 Wacky Wednesday for 2025-08-20

And the random video of the week goes to…

🔙 Throwback Thursday for 2025-08-21

A look back at a decade of Apple App Store vs. Epic Games

2025

Y Combinator filed an amicus brief in support of Epic Games in their antitrust lawsuit against Apple, calling App Store fees “a punitive tax on innovation”

Y Combinator filed an amicus brief in support of Epic Games in their antitrust lawsuit against Apple, calling App Store fees “a punitive tax on innovation”

By Marcus Mendes / 9to5Mac. View the full context on Techmeme.

2020

In a legal filing, Apple accuses Epic Games of anticompetitive behavior, producing three emails from Tim Sweeney to show that Epic asked for a special deal

In a legal filing, Apple accuses Epic Games of anticompetitive behavior, producing three emails from Tim Sweeney to show that Epic asked for a special deal

By Kif Leswing / CNBC. View the full context on Techmeme.

2015

Apple has removed Epic Games' Fortnite from the App Store after the developer implemented its own in-app payment system, bypassing Apple's standard 30% fee

Apple has removed Epic Games' Fortnite from the App Store after the developer implemented its own in-app payment system, bypassing Apple's standard 30% fee

By Nick Statt / The Verge. View the full context on Techmeme.

✅ Final Thoughts Friday for 2025-08-22

The biggest story of the week is Intel and the U.S. government.

The US government takes a 10% stake in Intel; Howard Lutnick said earlier the US won't be on the board or play a role in Intel's governance; INTC closes up 5.5%

The US government takes a 10% stake in Intel; Howard Lutnick said earlier the US won't be on the board or play a role in Intel's governance; INTC closes up 5.5%

From Wall Street Journal. View the full context on Techmeme.

The second biggest story is the market reaction.

INTC was up 5%

🔮 Sneak Peak Saturday for 2025-08-23

In case you missed this one in the Friday news dump:

Bluesky blocks access to its service in Mississippi, saying it doesn't have the resources to comply with the state's broad new law requiring age verification

Bluesky blocks access to its service in Mississippi, saying it doesn't have the resources to comply with the state's broad new law requiring age verification

By Sarah Perez / TechCrunch. View the full context on Techmeme.

Balkanization of Internet has been a recurring dystopian theme since at least as far back as the 1990s. A “403 Forbidden” due to political power is still possible in the United States even in the year 205.

Splinternet - Wikipedia

Splinternet - Wikipedia

OpenToWork Weekly

I participated in a #NeverSearchAlone #JSC after rebooting Cuthrell Consulting and joining NexusTek.

I added those #OpenToWork from my LinkedIn network to this newsletter. Over time, we’ve grown an Alumni 🎉 section for those that transitioned to their next career adventure.

Alumni 🎉

Those in my network that are #OpenToWork:

View this page on GitHub.

NexusTekThanks to NexusTek for sponsoring the free version of this newsletter post 🤓