Things I learned lately - 15 October

• The Montreal Metro just turned 50 years old.
• Safeway made about $2.5 billion just from placement and display fees. New entrants into the food industry have to pay anywhere from $25,000 to $150,000 or more to get a new product into shelves. That doesn't include fees to keep them there and prevent them from being moved to shelf space fewer people can easily see.
• One new billionaire pops up in Asia every 3 days. China accounts for 71% of Asia's new billionaires.
• Germany hopes to ban vehicles with gas and diesel engines by 2030
• Samsung is sending fire-resistant packaging to customers who bought the Galaxy Note 7 online and want to return it.
• Apparently Amazon is planning to open physical grocery stores in the US. The stores will be small, stocked only with fresh items such as produce, milk, and meats. Only Amazon Fresh subscribers will initially be able to shop at them. Customers will be able to order items that have longer shelf lives, such as cereal and peanut butter, through a mobile app or from touch screens around the stores. There will also be drive-in locations, where customers can pick up groceries that they ordered online. Employees will bring the groceries to cars using technology that can read license plates.
• In 1948 the president of Costa Rica abolished its military. The nation's military budget was redirected toward healthcare, education and environmental protection. When visiting dignitaries arrive in San Jose, they are met by schoolchildren wearing the visitor's national colours.
• A steamroller won't crush a golf ball. It retains its shape and doesn't burst.