AMAZON

What will Jeff Bezos and his team do next? Help with ocean shipping logistics and setup shop on college campuses of course. The company’s China division is looking to gain more control over shipping products from Chinese factories to U.S. shoppers, a move that may cut costs for its retail business and potentially provide third-party logistics services to other industries. As a freight forwarder, or “non-vessel operating common carrier,” Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, is getting a foothold in the $350 billion/year ocean freight business. It will not operate ships but subcontract that work.. 

GOP DEBATE RECAP

Last night’s first GOP Presidential debate of 2016 should be called, “I see your true colors shining through.”  Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, who have been friendly to each other so far came out swinging at each other last night with Trump telling Cruz “Who the hell knows if you can even serve in office? Marco Rubio who is trailing behind Cruz and Trump in early polls declared Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton ‘wouldn’t just be a disaster’ she is disqualified from being commander-in-chief of the United States because “someone who can not handle intelligence material appropriately cannot be commander-in-chief.” Jeb positioned himself once again as the Trump wrangler/voice of reason. NJ Gov Chris Christie called POTUS’s SOTU speech ‘Story Time with Barack Obama,’ and called Obama a petulant child.

CHICAGO

The autopsy for Northern Illinois student Quintonio LeGrier who was killed by Chicago police along with his neighbor Bettie Jones, showed that he was struck by six bullets and Ms. Jones one bullet. Also video of an unharmed teenager, 17-year-old Cedrick Chatman, who was shot by plain clothes CPD officer Kevin Fry in 2013, has been released though the city fought for three years to keep the video from the public. At the time of the shooting, official police accounts claimed that Chatman was armed and pointed a gun at police, causing at least one of the two pursuing officers to “fear for his life.” Chatman was later found to be unarmed and holding a black iPhone box.

SNIPPETS

Yesterday WHO declared that all of West Africa was Ebola free, but then someone died in Freetown, Sierra Leone and the body tested positive for the virus, sooo. WHO warned that small flare-ups of the disease are likely because the virus can persist in the bodily fluids of survivors for up to a year…France is launching an investigation into a Phase 1 clinical trial that has gone seriously wrong. One volunteer is now brain dead and five others have been hospitalized…Saw someone eating Chipotle earlier this week and had to send a prayer up for the brave soul. The company announced it will close for a few hours on Feb. 8 to consumers to hold a nationwide employee meeting to discuss its response to issues with E. coli and food safety…The Oregon standoff is going on day 13 and in what has since gone viral, after requesting for supplies they have been inundated with sex toys and bags of d!@ks, ha!

ENTERTAINMENT

Toastmeetsworld, the instafamous pooch and pet of insta-comedic celeb Thefatjewish got married yesterday. The sponsored affair which included a custom marchesa gown for the bride and diamonds had guests including some Real Housewives and was officiated by Pagesix’s Cindy Adams…His first interview since the headline making interview of El Chapo, Sean Penn sits down with Charlie Rose; excerpt will be on CBS This Morning Friday and the full interview will premiere on 60 Minutes Sunday night…Amal Alamuddin is an accomplished human rights attorney who married actor George Clooney and she making her first interview appearance sans the hollywood star with Cynthia McFadden on Nightly News With Lester Holt, to discuss the current human rights issues in the Maldives saying that ‘Democracy is dead in the Maldives.’ She is in Washington D.CD.C this week to to lobby Congress to level sanctions against the Maldives unless they release political prisoners…Celine Dion’s husband Rene Angelil has died following his long battle with throat cancer…The nominations for this year’s Academy Awards were announced yesterday morning and with it came the discussion of the lack of diversity in nominees…Because it’s Friday and Adele is bae watch this HERE

FASHION

Nice try Dov is what the American Apparel board of directors are basically saying said after rejecting a $300million bid from three investment funds aligned with former founder Dov Charney; on Jan. 20, the company will be in court seeking approval of its reorganization plan, which would cut about $200 million of debt….The Birkin is worth the investment, or at least according to a recent study that shows the ultra luxury item did not dip in value over time and over economic changes.

LOOK OF THE DAY

Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy @ The Revenant London premiere