DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Mississippi Tornado Kills 25 and Injures Dozens
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A powerful tornado killed at least 25 people as a storm ripped across Mississippi on Friday night, injuring dozens and destroying buildings across the state. Search and rescue teams from local and state agencies spread out across affected areas and helped locate some residents who were initially unaccounted for, said the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

☆ Utah to Require Parental Consent for Children to Use Social Media
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Talal Ansari | Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

At least one civil-liberties group had written to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox to oppose the new regulations. Spencer Cox signed two bills on Thursday aimed at regulating how and when children and teens use social media. 152, will require social-media companies to verify that users are at least 18 years old to open an account as of March 1, 2024. Those under age 18 will need the consent of a parent or guardian to open an account.

WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday is set to hear a trademark clash between Jack Daniel's and a dog accessory company behind a parody chew toy resembling the distiller's widely recognized black-label whiskey bottle. The dispute pits the whiskey brand's trademark rights against legal protections for creative expression - in this case a send-up by Phoenix-based VIP Products LLC of Jack Daniel's Old No. A 2,300-strong group of authors took the opposite view, saying a win for Jack Daniel's could lead to a "catastrophic chilling effect" over worries that creative expression might spark litigation. The 9th Circuit said the Bad Spaniels toy was an "expressive work" and thus potentially shielded under the First Amendment from Jack Daniel's trademark infringement claim. President Joe Biden's administration supports Jack Daniel's appeal.

☆ Cheerwine, Vernors Ginger Ale, and 10 other regional soda brands with cult followings
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Topo ChicoBottles of Topo Chico water. Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for GBK Brand BarTopo Chico became a nationally recognized brand after Coca-Cola acquired the company for $220 million in 2017. Its sparkling water got national distribution, and Coke rolled out a Topo Chico hard seltzer through a partnership with Molson Coors. But before all that, the brand was a favorite among consumers in Northern Mexico and, in the early 2000s, with Texans. The brand got its US start in Hispanic grocery stores, according to Gerardo Galván, a Topo Chico executive who helped with the brand's expansion.

Jack Daniel's Properties Inc is owned by Louisville, Kentucky-based Brown-Forman Corp (BFb.N). "I'm concerned about the First Amendment implications of your position," conservative Justice Samuel Alito told an attorney for Jack Daniel's, referring to the constitutional provision enshrining free-speech protections. "Could any reasonable person think that Jack Daniel's had approved this use of the mark?" Jack Daniel's also contested a finding by the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. "This is a standard commercial product," Kagan told a lawyer for VIP Products, Bennett Cooper.

Some companies have expressed concern that a ruling against Jack Daniel's would weaken their control over their brands and reputations. The toy mimics Lynchburg, Tennessee-based Jack Daniel's famous whiskey bottles with humorous dog-themed alterations - replacing "Old No. "Jack Daniel's loves dogs and appreciates a good joke as much as anyone," the company told the justices in a brief. "But Jack Daniel's likes its customers even more, and doesn't want them confused or associating its fine whiskey with dog poop." VIP Products has said a ruling favoring Jack Daniel's would make it easier for trademark owners to stifle free speech.

A lot has changed since then, and today, the best cocktail bars are instead concentrated in Taipei’s financial district. These bars embrace the flavors of locally abundant flowers and fruits like roselle, guava and white ginger lily, which they infuse in syrups and liquors. For a sleek lounge experience, try Fridge Bar (cocktails from 380 Taiwan dollars), a cocktail lounge hidden behind a steel door in a sandwich shop. For a bit more novelty, consider Placebo , whose decor is reminiscent of an old Chinese medicine shop and where drinks (around 400 Taiwan dollars) may be served out of antique-looking teapots. Both bars encourage going off-menu; feel free to request a flavor profile (sour, sweet, herbaceous, spicy) or a quirky ingredient (basil, sesame oil, chile pepper) and let the bartender surprise you.

☆ 9 healthy habits that helped me create a happier and more productive WFH routine
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Betsy Ramser Jaime | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Adopting the right habits can make a big difference to your happiness and productivity levels. Whether you love your work tasks or dread getting out of bed each morning, you might be surprised about what a difference the right habits can make. When I've had tricky clients or work, adding habits and activities to my day that I could look forward to made all the difference. Listen to uplifting audiobooks or YouTube videos during your breaks or while you're working out. If you struggle with this, consider a specific ritual for ending your work day.

☆ Rain and Snow to Pound California Again
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Workers made repairs after a road was washed out in Soquel, Calif., this week. Northern California residents are bracing on Saturday for another wet weekend amid flooding concerns and snow predictions in parts of the storm-weary state. Isolated thunderstorms and showers are expected to produce lightning, hail, gusty winds and funnel clouds on Saturday and continuing into Sunday, according to the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office. Parts of Monterey County had to evacuate in the morning after a levee was breached.

☆ Rain and Snow to Pound California Again Over Weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Northern California residents were bracing Saturday for another wet weekend in the midst of flooding concerns and snow predictions for parts of the storm-weary state. Isolated thunderstorms and showers were expected to produce lightning, hail, gusts and funnel clouds on Saturday and continuing into Sunday, according to the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office. Parts of Monterey County had to evacuate after a levee was breached.

☆ Vinyl Records Outsell CDs for the First Time Since 1987
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/vinyl-records-outsell-cds-for-the-first-time-since-1987-49deeef0

☆ ‘Baretta’ Actor Robert Blake Dies at Age 89
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | Suryatapa Bhattacharya | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Robert Blake, an Emmy award-winning performer who was tried and acquitted of killing his wife more than 20 years ago, died Thursday, his family said. Mr. Blake died of complications from heart disease in his Los Angeles home, according to his niece, Noreen Austin.

☆ Japanese police arrest diners accused of 'sushi terrorism,' after videos of pranksters licking soy sauce bottles and rubbing saliva on conveyor-belt food goes viral
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Japanese police arrested three diners accused of "sushi terrorism." Unhygienic pranks in Japan's conveyor belt sushi restaurants have become a viral sensation. In recent weeks, videos have spread on social media of diners in Japan's famed Kaiten-sushi restaurants performing unhygenic stunts. Japanese Police said they arrested a 21-year-old, a 19-year-old, and a 15-year-old after they allegedly performed "sushi terrorism" stunts at a restaurant in Nagoya, central Japan, on February 3. Kura Sushi is installing AI cameras in its restaurants to monitor for sushi terrorism, while Sushiro, another popular chain, is shuttering its conveyor belts system for unordered food.

☆ Judith Heumann, Disability-Rights Activist, Dies at 75
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Judith Heumann served as a special adviser for international disability rights in the U.S. State Department during her career. Judith Heumann, a renowned activist who helped secure legislation protecting the rights of people with disabilities, has died. She was 75 years old. Ms. Heumann died Saturday in Washington, D.C., according to a statement from her family.

☆ Norfolk Southern’s Second Ohio Derailment Is Investigated
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | Costas Paris | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Officials on Sunday were investigating what caused a Norfolk Southern Corp. train to leave a track near Springfield, Ohio, in the company’s second derailment in the state in recent weeks. Unlike the Feb. 3 derailment near East Palestine, Ohio, which spilled toxic chemicals, no hazardous materials were aboard the train that went off track on Saturday, officials said.

☆ Fierce Storms in South, Midwest Leave at Least 11 Dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A powerful storm system that battered the South and Midwest with heavy winds caused at least 11 deaths and left thousands without power over the weekend. Kentucky had four storm-related deaths as wind gusts of 60-to-80 miles an hour rolled through the state Friday, prompting Gov. Andy Beshear to declare a state of emergency.

☆ 500-year-old spices, including saffron and peppercorns, discovered in the king of Denmark's shipwreck
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Archaeologists have found a collection of well-preserved 500-year-old spices in a shipwreck. The ship belonged to King John of Denmark and sank off the coast of Sweden in 1495. The spices, which include saffron, peppercorns, and ginger, would have been a symbol of high status. The royal ship, called Gribshunden, belonged to King John of Denmark, and it caught fire and sank off the coast of Sweden in 1495. King John traveled to Sweden on the ship as part of a mission to unify Denmark, Norway, and Sweden under his rule, according to ABC News.

☆ Fierce Storms in South and Midwest Leave at Least Nine Dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Storms felled trees and created life-threatening conditions in the South, including in Jackson, Miss., where a crew cleared branches at the governor’s mansion near the state Capitol. A powerful storm system that battered the South and Midwest with heavy winds caused at least nine deaths and left thousands without power Saturday. Kentucky had four storm-related deaths as wind gusts of 60-to-80 miles per hour rolled through the state Friday, prompting Gov. Andy Beshear to declare a state of emergency.

☆ Fierce Storms in South, Midwest Leave at Least 10 Dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Storms felled trees and created life-threatening conditions in the South, including in Jackson, Miss., where a crew cleared branches at the governor’s mansion near the state Capitol. A powerful storm system that battered the South and Midwest with heavy winds caused at least 10 deaths and left thousands without power Saturday. Kentucky had four storm-related deaths as wind gusts of 60-to-80 miles an hour rolled through the state Friday, prompting Gov. Andy Beshear to declare a state of emergency.

☆ Walgreens Won’t Sell Abortion Pill in Some States
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Photo: Taylor Glascock for The Wall Street JournalMedication abortions accounted for 54% of abortions in the U.S. in 2020, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. said it won’t dispense the abortion pill in several states, including four where abortion is legal, as the company navigates the complicated landscape created after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The pharmacy chain said it intends to move forward with a federal certification process that will allow it to dispense mifepristone to customers from its bricks-and-mortar locations with a doctor’s prescription.

☆ Archaeologists find well-preserved 500-year-old spices on Baltic shipwreck
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Tom Little | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Tom LittleLUND, Sweden, March 3 (Reuters) - Archaeologists say they have uncovered a "unique" cache of well-preserved spices, from strands of saffron to peppercorns and ginger, on the wreck of a royal ship that sunk off Sweden's Baltic coast more than 500 years ago. Rediscovered by sports divers in the 1960s, sporadic excavations of the ship have taken place in recent years. Now an excavation led by Brendan Foley, an archaeological scientist at Lund University, has found the spices buried in the silt of the boat. "The Baltic is strange - it's low oxygen, low temperature, low salinity, so many organic things are well preserved in the Baltic where they wouldn't be well preserved elsewhere in the world ocean system," said Foley. Lund University researcher Mikael Larsson, who has been studying the finds, said: "This is the only archaeological context where we've found saffron.

☆ ‘True Lies’ Review: A Counterintelligence Couple Comes Back
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The old James Cameron / Arnold Schwarzenegger collaboration “True Lies” has needed a reboot since, oh, about the time it was released. Its premise was close to preposterous: A long-married woman wouldn’t know her husband was a globe-trotting, veteran counterterrorism agent? Linguistics professor, yoga enthusiast and mother of two Helen Tasker (Ms. Gonzaga) has been married to Harry Tasker (Mr. Howey) for 17 years. Yet she has no idea that all his business travel for that job in “computer sales” really involves him and his cohort saving the world. This doesn’t earn her a lot of our respect, but the show wisely dispenses with the whole façade in the first episode: Helen becomes an agent, too.

☆ David Solomon says Goldman Sachs is exploring 'strategic alternatives' for its struggling consumer business
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Carter Johnson | Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Goldman Sachs is exploring "strategic alternatives" for its nascent consumer banking business. Goldman Sachs is exploring "strategic alternatives" for its nascent consumer banking business, CEO David Solomon and executives revealed on Tuesday at the Wall Street bank's second ever investor day. The phrase "strategic alternatives" is often used as company jargon for a sale or merger. Beyond a sale, strategic alternatives can also involve a spinoff, or other restructuring or alliance to drive value for shareholders. Screenshot of Stephanie Cohen speaking at Goldman Sachs' investor day ScreenshotSolomon held the bank's first ever investor day in 2020 just before the pandemic.

☆ ‘Take It Down’ Tool Helps Young People Remove Explicit Online Images
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Meta’s Facebook and Instagram platforms are among the initiative’s participating apps. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children launched a tool Monday that allows young people to remove explicit images of themselves that appear online, or block such photos from being shared. The platform, known as Take It Down, allows young adults from anywhere in the world to submit an anonymous report about explicit or intimate images of themselves posted on certain online spaces. Young adults who are over 18 but appear in imagery taken when they were underage can also submit a report to have the images removed from certain platforms, according to the center, a nonprofit.

☆ California Battered by Rain, Floods and Blizzards
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

California was hit with rain, floods, blizzards and colder-than-average temperatures Saturday as the remnants of a powerful winter storm swept across the state. Heavy snow and winds closed several roads in the California mountains, with some areas in the Sierra Nevada recording storm totals of up 4 to 5 feet of snow, according to the National Weather Service. Blizzard warnings remain in effect for the higher altitudes.

Search resuls for: "Ginger"

25 mentions found