Anonymous Protests Amazon, E. Coli Cases Linked to Chipotle

Anonymous is protesting Amazon. The hacktivist group, Anonymous, is partaking in their “Million Mask March,” a global day of action to protest corruption and injustice. This year, their target is Amazon. The company has advised employees to refrain from wearing clothing with Amazon logos and to keep badges out of sight, while Anonymous activists will be easily identifiable in Guy Fawkes masks, the infamous symbol of the hacker group. It is unknown how many people will partake in the march, but more than 600 people have expressed interest on Facebook. The protest will begin in Westlake Park at 2:00 p.m. Activists will then march to the Federal Courthouse at 3:00 and onto Amazon later in the afternoon. Expect traffic delays and potential disruptions.

Chipotle burrito lovers, beware. Thirty-nine cases of E. coli food poisoning linked to Chipotle have been reported in the Pacific Northwest. Twenty-nine of these cases occurred in Washington state with two locations in the Seattle area connected to the outbreak: Capitol Hill (1404 Broadway Avenue) and U-District (4229 University Way NE). Tests from eight affected individuals show that they were all infected with the same DNA fingerprint, and health officials suspect that fresh produce may be responsible, although tests are still inconclusive. The company has taken specific actions since hearing news of the outbreak. Although only eight restaurants are cause for concern, the chain immediately closed 42 restaurants in a state of caution. Chipotles in the area are also undergoing deep cleaning, full sanitation, and environmental and food testing to ensure safe ingredients and work spaces. Chipotle CEO, Steve Ells, stated, “Our deepest sympathies go out to those who have been affected by this situation and it is our greatest priority to ensure the safety of all of the food we serve.”

Seattle is wealthy. According to a Bloomberg analysis of U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data of the 100 largest metropolitan areas, Seattle is the fourth richest city in America. This is mostly due to our the recent tech boom, as other tech-forward cities have also experienced an increase in productivity and wealth. Geekwire reported that the tech boom is shifting economic power to the west coast: “Three out of the top five land here with San Jose topping the charts.” As we are already witnessing, an expanding tech hub also means increasing population, traffic, and living expenses. 

Cheap flights to arrive in Seattle. Budget Airline, Spirit Airlines, is coming to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Twice-daily services between Seattle and Los Angeles will begin in March, and flights to and from Las Vegas will be introduced April. The cost of flights varies depending on the time, route, and passenger’s luggage (small bags, like purses, are included in the “bare fare,” but larger items vary with the flight). The reason that Spirit is comparatively cheap is because there are many hidden fees. For example, booking a carry-on bag may be $35 online, but paying for it at the gate would cost $100. These flights will be a relief on your wallet, but only if you thoroughly read the fine print.