DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ After getting hired, I started dating a man from the interview panel. It put targets on our backs and made promotions difficult.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Amanda Garland | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewI smoothed down the pink fabric of my blazer as I slid into the office chair for my job interview. The serious-looking man with dark hair slicked back led the questioning while the blonde-haired one made witty cracks. We started datingWe kept our budding romance secret for the first few weeks but were outed at the company Christmas party. My old boss and new boss didn't get along, which meant Jason was fussed at when he was caught at my desk.

Persons: —, khakis, I'd, Jason, Amanda Garland, didn't Organizations: Service, Business

☆ Spotify employees question lavish spending on events while the company lays off thousands
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Some employees criticize lavish spending on events, while Spotify is trying to cut costs. Some employees think Spotify is spending too much on parties and events, especially when the company is laying off thousands of people and looking to cut more costs. However, these employees said event spending has gone too far, given the company's broader efforts at frugality. One former employee described it as the company "spending tons of money flying people to Sweden to drink the Kool-Aid." Noam Galai/Getty ImagesSome of this lavish event spending is focused on solving a problem that's loomed over Spotify for years.

Persons: —, Sam Smith, Charli XCX, Gunna, Daniel Ek, Ek, Daniel Ek Dave Benett, Diplo, Spotifest, Melanie Stetson Freeman, it's, Alicia Keys, Noam Galai, Gustav Söderström Organizations: Spotify, Service, Ikea, Business, Brooklyn, Spotifest, Christian Science, Getty, company's, Apple, YouTube Locations: Drumsheds, Houston, Stockholm, New York, Sweden, New York City, York

I ended up loading all the luggage I had – and he had a bunch of boxes,” Butler said of Nauta. But I also have a bad feeling that what I’m saying is getting him into trouble,” Butler told CNN. Given his long history at Trump’s club, Butler shed light on potentially critical instances related to the disclosure of classified information. De Oliveira hung up the phone, happily, and told Butler that Trump would provide him an attorney, Butler says. I think we went to sit down,” Butler told CNN.

Persons: Kaitlan Collins, CNN —, Donald Trump’s, Brian Butler, “, Jack Smith, Butler, Trump, Walt Nauta, Carlos De Oliveira, Lago, Donald Trump, CNN Butler, Nauta, De Oliveira, didn’t, ‘, ” Butler, Department’s, he’s, John Irving, Florida Butler, MAGA, Trump’s, ’, I’m, De Oliveria, Brian Butler's, Jeffrey Sloman, De Oliveira nudging, Anthony Pratt, Pratt, there’s, There’s De Oliveira, Melania Trump, putts De Oliveira, Taylor Swift, De, “ Carlos, pats, Butler “, Carlos, ‘ He’s, ’ ” Butler Organizations: CNN, “ Trump, Trump, Mar, Justice Department, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, CNN The Florida, FBI, Southern, Southern District of, Smith’s, Prosecutors Locations: Mar, Palm Beach , Florida, Trump, New Jersey, Nauta, Palm Beach, Lago, West Palm, Florida, Palm, South Florida, Southern District, Southern District of Florida, Russian, Butler

☆ Want an A-lister like Rihanna to perform at your wedding? Here's how much it could cost you.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Advertisement"If you can afford it, why wouldn't you fly in your favorite artist to perform your favorite songs rather than simply listening to covers?" He had Beyoncé perform at a celebration for his daughter's 2018 wedding, and the next year had The Chainsmokers and Chris Martin at his elder son's wedding festivities. "Generally speaking, you will never beat the thrill of having a major artist perform at your wedding. That means stars may be more amenable to playing at a wedding or corporate party than previously.

Persons: Rihanna, Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant, —, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Ivanka Trump, India's, Mukesh Ambani, hasn't, Stuart McNeill, Craig David, Elton John, Nile Rodgers, Lady Gaga, Flo Rida, Sting, Andrea Bocelli, Kardashian, Chris Martin, it's, Ambani, Beyoncé, Alison Laesser, Alison Bryan, Keck, Usher, you'd, McNeill Organizations: Service, Business, Knightsbridge, Davos, Keck, Spotify, Apple, Forbes Locations: Gujarat, India, Baden, Chicago, New York, Dubai

☆ The War in Gaza Turned This Longtime Michigan Democrat Against Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Jennifer Medina | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Tucked down in Terry Ahwal’s basement is her personal wall of fame: Here she is at the Obama White House Christmas party. There she is grinning alongside Jennifer Granholm, the former governor of Michigan. President Biden, Ms. Ahwal says, will not appear on her wall. She does not even have a better candidate in mind, but she vows there is nothing Mr. Biden can do to get her back now. “Everything Israel wants, they get.”

Persons: Terry, Bill Clinton, Jennifer Granholm, Biden, Ahwal, ”, Israel Organizations: Obama, Democrat, Palestinian, West Bank, Hamas Locations: Terry Ahwal’s, Michigan, Palestinian American, Israel, Gaza, Farmington Hills, Detroit, Jordan, Peru

☆ Duke's 3-year fraud investigation into Dan Ariely has ended, and the star professor still has a job. Does he want it?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Kate Taylor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

For years, the Duke professor Dan Ariely was at the top of his game. Three professors behind the blog Data Colada reported evidence of fake data in a 2012 paper Ariely coauthored on honesty pledges. "When people do take a risk and they succeed, everybody enjoys it," Ariely told BI. In 2010, Ariely told NPR that two dentists examining the same teeth for cavities would agree only 50% of the time, citing research from Delta Dental. While the board originally said it would "unanimously stand in support of President Gay," Gay stepped down in early January in response to the backlash.

Persons: Dan Ariely, Dan Ariely's, Jesse L, Martin, Ariely, Duke, sniffed, they'd, James B, —, they're, Francesca Gino, Ariely's, Marc Tessier Lavigne, Claudine Gay, Prince Andrew ., he's, Brad Swain, He's, Gordon Pennycook, Sean Gallup, Nick Brown, who's, Michael Sanders, who'd, Sanders, Gino, Aimee Drolet Rossi, Rossi, she'd, Amir, wasn't, hasn't, I've, haven't, isn't, would've, Claudine Gay's, Andrew Lichtenstein, Bill Ackman, Gay, Harvard, doesn't, Gay should've, Brown, Cornell Watson, who've, wouldn't Organizations: Google, NBC, UCLA, Duke, Business, Harvard Business, TED, Irrational, Cornell, Getty, Burda, King's College London, New York Times, NPR, Delta Dental, Higher Education, Hartford, Ariely, Harvard, University, Universities, BI, Colorado's, King's College Locations: Buckingham Palace, British, Hartford, Gaza, Montana

☆ My boyfriend is 27 years older than me. I kept our age-gap relationship a secret at first, but I regret not being open about it sooner.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Julia Pugachevsky | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I was never someone who was attracted to older men or thought about dating someone with a significant age gap . That all changed when I met my boyfriend at our brokerage’s 2022 Christmas party — one neither of us wanted to go to. He’s also felt more mature than the men I’ve dated who were my age. Our relationship feels both secure and excitingJess LewisAs we were easing into the relationship, we started out with simple drinks and dinner dates. I kept the relationship a secret more than he didAt first, we both kept the relationship under wraps as we saw each other.

Persons: Jess Lewis, He’s, I’ve, we’ve, It’s, could’ve Organizations: realtors Locations: Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, New York

☆ How my family of 4 spent nearly $10,000 on a Disney World vacation — and what we'll be cutting next time
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Matt Cabral | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

My family of four recently spent nearly $10,000 on our eight-night trip to Disney World. Since we spent more than a day in each of our favorite parks, we didn't splurge on Genie+. AdvertisementWhen it comes to making magical memories at Disney World, my family of four has been there, done that, and gotten the T-shirt — and the collectible popcorn buckets. We spent our Epcot days sampling smaller bites around the World Showcase, which served as budget-friendly breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Overall, if we return to Disney this year, we're going to rethink our dining budgetWe haven't decided whether we'll make it back to Disney World in 2024.

Persons: —, we've, Matt Cabral, Yehaa Bob Jackson —, Genie, We'd, Mickey isn't, it's, could've, Sally, we're, haven't, Heck Organizations: Disney, Service, Disney's Port, Christmas Party . Transportation, Port, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Wine, Epcot, Christmas Party, Mad Tea Party, Tomorrowland Locations: Rhode Island, Orlando, Disney's Port Orleans, Providence , Rhode Island, Orleans, Riverside, Louisiana, Matt Cabral Port, Disney Springs, Kingdom, Epcot, USA

His sentence includes a 10-day suspended jail sentence, a mandatory evaluation and a victim impact panel. Rios' sentence is consistent with others for similar offenses, said criminal defense attorney Mark Friese, a long-time practitioner in DUI cases. He noted that Rios' driving privileges will be suspended automatically for 91 days. The House-Senate panel meets between legislative sessions for studies of topics related to law enforcement and the legal system for future or potential legislation. He also previously said he takes responsibility for his “disgusting actions," and apologized “to those I have hurt and disappointed," including law enforcement officers.

Persons: Nico Rios, Rios, Mark Friese, Friese, Mike Lefor, “ Organizations: N.D, North, Republican, Police, Republican Party, Committee, Representatives Locations: BISMARCK, North Dakota, Williston

☆ The rumors are false: New York isn't forcing Chick-fil-A to open on Sundays
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-28 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rumors are spreading that New York state is forcing Chick-fil-A to remain open on seven days a week. Despite what Sen. Lindsey Graham and other Republican lawmakers have suggested, New York is not forcing Chick-fil-A to open on Sundays. If the bill is passed, it could mean Chick-fil-A restaurants that wanted to open new locations at highway rest areas would have to agree to open on Sundays. AdvertisementA state highway official told PIX11 News affiliate WTEN that Chick-fil-A already has a 33-year contract with the state highway system. But proponents of the bill note that no one is forcing Chick-fil-A to open restaurants at state-run highway rest stops.

Persons: Chick, —, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Truett Cathy, God, Cathy, Tony Simone, Graham Organizations: Service, New, Publicly, Democratic, Associated Press, PIX11 News Locations: New York, York, Manhattan

☆ Broadcom CEO tells VMware employees that it doesn't do company-wide parties or employee-resource groups: 'That's an alien concept to me'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Rosalie Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

On Tuesday, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan addressed questions from VMware employees in an all-hands meeting. Some employees asked about company culture perks such as employee-resource groups and company-wide parties – both of which Tan said Broadcom doesn't do, according to a recording of the meeting viewed by Business Insider. Tan added that Broadcom doesn't have those groups although it doesn't mean the company shouldn't and that it could learn from them. He said Broadcom doesn't do celebrations on a company-wide basis, but each division can choose to have celebratory or team-building events if they want. Broadcom laid off VMware employees on Monday.

Persons: Hock Tan, Tan Organizations: Broadcom, VMware, Business, Broadcom doesn't

Cher, “Christmas”Political Cartoons View All 1260 ImagesSomehow, “Christmas" is Cher's first holiday album — not that she hasn't been asked to do one in the past. “I didn’t know how I was going to make it a ‘Cher Christmas album.’” The secret, it turns out, was to get a bunch of A-list collaborators on her album, something she's never done before. Brandy, “Christmas with Brandy”For those looking for a seductive holiday album: the search is over. Like on “Christmas Gift,” which features her daughter Sy’Rai, and “Feels Different.”Elsewhere, Brandy offers a PG-13 holiday special. Humor abounds, like in the pop-rocking comedic additions of “You Made Me Believe in Christmas,” “Feels Like Christmas,” “Mean Christmas."

Persons: Maria Sherman, Ella Fitzgerald, “ Ella, hasn't, “, ”, she's, There’s Cyndi Lauper, ” Stevie Wonder, ” Darlene Love, ” Michael Bublé, Tyga, Brandy ”, Brandy, Sy’Rai, I’m askin, Andrea, Matteo, Virginia Bocelli, Andrea Bocelli, ” Andrea, Virginia, ’ Natale, levity —, David Foster, Katharine McPhee, Grace, Foster, Luther Vandross, “ Luther Vandross, ” “, Ally Brooke, Brooke Organizations: ANGELES, Associated Press, AP, Party, Chicago, Tabernacle Choir, Fifth Harmony Locations: Chicago, Italian, “

☆ Jenna Ellis' testimony about 'the boss' not wanting to leave office could be 'game over' for Trump, legal analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Hannah Getahun | Katherine Tangalakis Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis said an advisor told her the president would not leave his post. AdvertisementAdvertisementA recent testimony from former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis could prove fatal to Donald Trump's defense, a legal analyst told CNN . Per Ellis, during the December 19 Christmas party, she had told Scavino that their cause was "essentially over." And he said 'Well, the boss', meaning President Trump — and everyone understood 'the boss,' that's what we all called him — he said, 'The boss is not going to leave under any circumstances. AdvertisementAdvertisementRepresentatives for Powell, Scavino, Trump, and Ellis did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

Persons: Jenna Ellis, CNN Ellis, Trump, —, Donald Trump's, Ellis, Sidney Powell, Dan Scavino, Per Ellis, Scavino, we're, Trump —, Ryan Goodman, Powell Organizations: Trump, CNN, Service, ABC News, Fulton, White, Department of Defense, Just Locations: Georgia

☆ An ad showing Christmas party hats burning in a fire was taken down after people compared it to the Palestinian flag
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

UK retailer M&S deleted an Instagram post of an outtake from its 2023 Christmas ad after backlash. The image, showing Christmas party hats on fire, was compared online to the Palestinian flag. AdvertisementAdvertisementBritish retailer Marks & Spencer deleted an Instagram post of an outtake from its 2023 Christmas ad showing party hats with the same colors as the Palestinian flag on fire, after facing intense backlash on social media. The image was captioned: "This Christmas, do only what you love … like saying no to paper hats (although if we're honest, we're partial.)" The theme of the video appeared to be about saying no to Christmas traditions people don't love anymore.

Persons: —, Spencer, could've, Hannah Waddingham, Zawe Ashton, Tan Organizations: Service, Marks, Palestinian, BBC, The Times, Hamas Locations: London, Israel, Gaza, Tan France

☆ Holiday horror films, like ‘Gremlins’ and ‘Thanksgiving,’ turn jolly tropes on their heads
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —“Gremlins” turned a benign Christmas holiday into a snowy backdrop for cartoonish murders. Holiday horror films work for the same reason holiday tearjerkers do: There’s already an “emotional foundation” with holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, DuPée said. Holiday horror is especially taboo because so many of its tropes are sacred — innocent children in footie pajamas! “It can be exhausting to be constantly faced with scenes of happiness, togetherness and love,” said Alexandra West, an author of several books on horror films and co-host of the “Faculty of Horror” podcast. “Putting a horror spin on these holidays offers an antidote and, in some cases, a reprieve.”Olivia Hussey in "Black Christmas," 1974.

Persons: ”, “, Valentine ”, Eli Roth, Pilgrim finery, Nell Verlaque, ” George Mihalka, ” Mihalka, Matthew DuPée, DuPée, Krampus, Emjay Anthony, ” DuPée, Claus, Malcolm McDowell, Alexandra West, ” Olivia Hussey, ” West Organizations: CNN, Tristar Pictures, Universal, Hollywood, “, Horror Locations: Canadian, tinsel

☆ 'It's like watching a snuff film': Media elites shocked by The Atlantic's surgical dismantling of CNN boss Chris Licht
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Nicholas Carlson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

("I'm a fucking machine," Licht told me one day, when I asked why he was skipping a meal.) A clear-the-air town hall where he gets irritated with the CNN journalist interviewing him. Licht told Alberta. The big blunder Alberta returns to over and over in the story is the May 10 Trump town hall. Another media big wig, but one not at the conference, told me he thinks Licht is "done" at CNN.

Persons: moly, Chris Licht, Tim Alberta, Matt Dornic, Licht, Joe Maysonet, chirping, Zucker, Jeff Zucker, Here's Licht, Whatsapp, —, isn't, it's, Nikki Haley, Lago Organizations: CNN, Facebook, Alberta, Trump, Capitol, cnn, Cnn, Mar Locations: Alberta, Hudson, COVID, Puck, Trump, American

☆ New Zealander without college degree couldn't talk his way into NASA or Boeing—so he built a $1.8 billion rocket company
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Beck launched the company, Rocket Lab, later that same year. Running a rocket company is kind of like that scene in "Indiana Jones," where he's getting chased by that giant ball. What do you wish you'd known when you decided to start your own rocket company? At that time, that was an absurd amount of money for a rocket startup. A rocket startup from someone living in New Zealand was even more absurd.

☆ A 24-year-old entrepreneur says working fewer hours and capping her revenue was the key to increasing her profits
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Jessica Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Benham told Insider she launched her first online course in September 2020 and made £15,000, or about $18,400, on the first day, which was double her average monthly income at the time. More revenue doesn't guarantee more profitDespite growing revenue, Benham was taking home less each month because of increased costs. Benham told Insider she said yes to every opportunity, regardless of the personal and professional costs. In 2020, if a task or role was too time-consuming, she would outsource it, Benham told Insider. Benham told Insider she now had fun brainstorming how to reach her monthly target earnings of £7,500, or about $9,163.

☆ A cruise passenger said she had 'the worst Christmas Day of my life' after waiting until 10.15 p.m. to have dinner with 7 children
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A cruise passenger had "the worst Christmas Day" of her life on board P&O Cruises' Iona. Another Iona passenger said the "Christmas party spirit" had gone when she was eventually seated. Margaret Hardcastle, another passenger on the Iona, told Insider that restaurant reservations "played no bearing in what we were given." By the time Hardcastle was seated, she said "the Christmas party spirit had gone for everybody. The problems come after passengers on another P&O cruise ship, the Arvia, said Christmas Day was an "absolute disaster," with some waiting until 11 p.m. to have dinner.

☆ I plan parties for the ultrawealthy. We get multimillion-dollar budgets to source real reindeer, fire-breathing dragons, and gift bags filled with Dior jewelry.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

But we're also asked to organize their holiday parties. We take our holiday parties to the next levelIt's not unusual for us to be given a multimillion-dollar budget to arrange a festive party. Our holiday parties take place all year roundAs we have offices across the globe, we organize holiday parties all year round. A private client event around Chinese New Year featuring a smoke-breathing dragon. Party guests could board the train and walk through the carriages.

Fractured teams lose,” GOP Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, co-chair of the centrist-leaning Main Street Caucus, told CNN, pointing to McCarthy’s broad support among the conference. During the meeting, they told McCarthy they would have his back and were committed to voting for him on multiple ballots if it comes to that. But one member told CNN they also conveyed concern to McCarthy about restoring the motion to vacate the speaker’s chair. “He’s open to a lot of things,” Norman told CNN, including adopting the motion to vacate the chair rule. “I’ve said this over and over again: there is not this, like, enormous amount of drama,” Moore told CNN.

☆ Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh went to CPAC boss Matt Schlapp's holiday party, which Trump ally Stephen Miller and Rep. Matt Gaetz also attended: report
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh went to a holiday party at the home of Matt Schlapp Friday night. Schlapp is the chairman of the influential right-wing group Conservative Political Action Coalition. The appearance has sparked questions about possible conflicts of interest with a sitting Supreme Court justice attending a private party of right-wing leaders. Miller's conservative group, America First Legal, has filed briefs on cases that are pending before the Supreme Court, according to Bloomberg. Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation to establish an enforceable code of conduct for the Supreme Court justices.

German-style Christmas markets crop up all over the world this time of year. For me, a visit to a Christmas market is an essential part of the festive season. Whether with family, friends, or colleagues, a Christmas market and a few glasses of mulled wine always hit the spot. I visited the "Weihnachten an der Spree," or Christmas on the Spree, all-inclusive Christmas market in Berlin, Germany, to see if it was worth it. So if, like me, you like to stroll through Christmas markets and look at stalls full of handcrafted objects, decorations, and other knickknacks, you'll be disappointed.

The answer is simple, according to more than a dozen Washington insiders, FTX employees, and crypto industry observers who spoke with Insider. I don't think anyone believed that he was going to fund candidates who were, quote unquote, committed to ending pandemics who were also hostile to the crypto industry." Alex Wong/Getty ImagesRebuffed by the SEC, Bankman-Fried turned his attention to Congress. "It's not that he was welcoming regulation," says the senior figure in the crypto industry who attended meetings with Bankman-Fried. But while Bankman-Fried was busy wooing Washington, FTX was about to become Exhibit A in the case for more effective oversight of the crypto industry.

☆ Casey DeSantis, Florida's 'co-governor': Rivals, friends, and former colleagues say she's the secret behind husband Ron DeSantis' meteoric rise
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Lyz Lenz | Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +29 min

Florida's first lady, Casey DeSantis, is a close confidant to her powerful husband, several people told Insider. He added, "We would not see Ron DeSantis outside of press conferences if he did not have a wife and kids." Ron DeSantis began clawing his way into the national spotlight in 2017 as a member of the US House of Representatives. She smiled wryly and said: "Everyone knows my husband, Ron DeSantis, is endorsed by President Trump, but he's also an amazing dad. "Ron DeSantis would be a very good candidate for the St. Johns county commission if he did not have Casey DeSantis in his life," Schorsch said.

Search resuls for: "Christmas Party"

25 mentions found