DoorDash will acquire Chowbotics
1946-2021
DoorDash is buying automated food prep company Chowbotics to expand its fresh meal offerings.
San Francisco-based DoorDash announced the acquisition Monday.
Chowbotics, which was founded seven years ago in California, makes a refrigerator-sized robot called Sally that can store up to 22 prepared ingredients. Sally uses those ingredients to make up to 65 salads, bowls and other meals at a time.
Prior to this year, Chowbotics had sold around 125 of its $35,000 robots, mostly to universities, medical centers and grocery stores. But the company said sales jumped during the pandemic as customers looked for touchfree ways to dispense food.
DoorDash said Chowbotics’ robots could allow its restaurant partners to offer more varieties of meals without having to expand their kitchen space. Other DoorDash merchants, such as convenience stores, could use it to expand into fresh food.
DoorDash offers delivery from 390,000 merchants in the U.S., Canada and Australia and is the food delivery market leader in the U.S.
Chowbotics will continue to operate independently.
AIRLINES Seat blocking policy at Delta to continue
Delta Air Lines is extending its middle seat blocking policy for another month, through April 30, amid continued travel concerns during the pandemic.
Atlanta-based Delta, the only U.S. airline with such a seat blocking policy to limit capacity on all flights, started blocking middle seats last April.
The airline says its customers feel the extra space “provides more peace of mind,” according to chief customer experience officer Bill Lentsch. The company hopes the strategy will help it gain customers, particularly for spring travel.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend people avoid travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those booking flights can see blocked seats on seat maps on Delta’s website and app.
GROCERY INDUSTRY Workers’ suit against Whole Foods tossed
A federal judge has dismissed most of the claims in a lawsuit filed by Whole Foods Market employees who alleged the supermarket chain discriminated and retaliated against them when it barred them from wearing Black Lives Matter face coverings on the job.
More than two dozen current and former workers from 11 stores around the country accused Whole Foods of violating Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination based on race and other factors, in a lawsuit filed in Boston in July.
In a decision released Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs wrote that Whole Foods did not single out the workers based on race.
Whole Foods said the workers were disciplined for violating the company’s dress code, which prohibits slogans or logos not affiliated with the company.
The judge did allow the retaliation claims of one former worker to move forward.
CREDIT CARD INDUSTRY Citigroup customers to get $4.2M refund
Citigroup Inc. will refund an additional $4.2 million to some credit card customers who were overcharged years ago.
The bank Monday reached an agreement with attorneys general from Pennsylvania, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey and North Carolina to refund the money to customers in those states. The refunds follow a 2018 settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in which Citigroup agreed to repay $335 million after discovering it had improperly increased interest rates for some customers.
SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook to target virus misinformation
Facebook Inc. said it will take stronger steps to eliminate false information about COVID-19 and vaccines on its social network, a move that could remove major groups, accounts and Instagram pages for repeatedly spreading misinformation.
The company is acting on advice from the World Health Organization and other groups to expand its list of false claims that are harmful, according to a blog post Monday. Facebook will ask administrators of user groups to moderate such misinformation.
Facebook-owned Instagram will also make it harder to find accounts that discourage vaccination and remove them if they continuously violate the rules. The company this week will also include in its COVID-19 information center details from local health departments about when and where people can get vaccinated.
The changes on the sites, which start this week, will roll out globally in more than 50 languages, Facebook said.
MUSIC N.Y. Philharmonic streaming concerts
The New York Philharmonic launched an on-demand video and audio streaming service Monday called NYPhil+ that is available for $50 annually or $4.99 monthly.
Initial selections include David Lang’s “Prisoner of the State” and Julia Wolfe’s “Fire in My Mouth,” along with five decades of “Live From Lincoln Center” broadcasts.
The Philharmonic stopped large-scale live concerts last March because of the pandemic.
Houston Clay Dahlberg, renowned western art sculptor, passed away on February 3, 2021 in Kerrville, Texas at the age of 74.
Clay was born on June 29, 1946 in San Antonio, Texas. His parents were Houston Clay Willson and Dorothy Compton Willson. After his father’s death at an early age, his mother remarried and both Clay and his sister were adopted by their new father, Gunnard Alvin Dahlberg. Clay grew up in Houston but spent much of his time with great-grandparents and uncles who were ranchers. He developed a strong passion for everything cowboy, enjoying horses and rodeos in his youth.
Clay loved people and people loved him. His quick wit and caring personality brought many friendships, and his vision, creativity and entrepreneurship were evident throughout his life. As a child, he was the leader and organizer of neighborhood activities such as a club called Mountain Men, and initiated a connection with the Texas Rangers which led them to honor him on a visit to their museum in Waco. As a teenager, he started both a leather tooling business and horseshoeing business, and served as president of his high school’s FFA Chapter. His home was always full of friends who gathered there after horseback riding or just to visit. Clay could tell good stories but was an excellent listener to others.
Clay’s artistic skills were obvious even as a child when he was constantly doodling and drawing on his schoolwork. While attending Stephen F. Austin State University, he enrolled in a sculpture class and found his true medium. Through sculpture, he was able to begin creating the images of the cowboy life he loved with campfires, longhorns, Native Americans, and breaking horses.
On July 24, 1970, Clay married Mary Patricia (Pat) MacKinnon and a beautiful partnership began which lasted over 50 years. They moved to Hunt, Texas where Clay built a large studio and his career success continued.
Clay’s work is in private and public collections throughout the United States and Europe. He was chosen to exhibit in the first all-sculpture show held at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center. His work was among that of ten artists used to illustrate the book XIT, The American Cowboy. His sculpture In a Storm was awarded the Best of Show award at the Texas Cowboy Artists Association Annual Award Exhibition in 1974 and he was invited by the American Revolution Bicentennial Committee to represent the state of Texas in Philadelphia in 1976. Multiple galleries across the nation, including New York City, have featured exhibits of his work.
He was commissioned for many sculptures including: Life size portrait bust Courthouse Square - Georgetown, Texas; 7’ tall sculpture entitled Rough Men and Tough Times, Y.O. Ranch Hotel, Kerrville, Texas; Life size standing figure, portrait of Col. E.S.C. Robertson, Salado, Texas; and Life size portrait bust of Homer Bryce, Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, Texas. The story of Clay’s life and artwork is found in Memories of Horses and Wars, The Sculpture of Clay Dahlberg written by Don Hedgpeth.
Clay and Pat both developed a zeal for fly fishing and had many wonderful trips to fish the rivers and streams in Colorado and Montana. This interest influenced his artwork and resulted in several later sculptures of fly fishermen. Clay also had a great appreciation of fine things, and collected rare antique items of interest from both the old Western days and fly fishing.
As a Type 1 diabetic from the age of 9, Clay faced lifelong battles with his health. He never let this stop his enjoyment of his work, his family, and his friends. He is survived by his loving wife, Pat, who dedicated her life to his care. Pat would like to thank the many doctors, healthcare workers, and friends who helped Clay through the years.
Clay is also survived by his sister Rheta Carol Reid; nephew Jason Matthew Griffith, wife Vanessa, and son Ansel; niece Jamie Elizabeth Reid; step-father Robert C Norman; brotherin-law Joe MacKinnon, wife Sherry and family: brotherin-law Jack MacKinnon, wife Cynthia, and family; and brother-in-law Jim MacKinnon, wife Joyce, and family.
The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (JDRF) presented The Living and Giving Award to Clay in 1986. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Clay’s honor to this research organization at https://www. jdrf.org, or another charity of your choice. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date when it is safe for people to gather.
Condolences may be sent at www.grimesfuneralchapels.com by selecting the “Send Condolences” link.
Arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville.