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☆ How Merve Emre became the hottest — and most divisive — name in literary criticism
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Anna Silman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +40 min

Last winter, the 37-year-old literary critic and Wesleyan professor Merve Emre stood in front of a microphone in Rachel Comey's Soho boutique. While the others had largely opted to pull boldfaced names from the Review's archives — like a 1985 Gore Vidal piece about Tennessee Williams — Merve Emre would be reading Merve Emre. Emre has penned so many introductions for new anthologies and reissues that one fan joked on Twitter: "every new baby in 2024 comes with an introduction by merve emre." Courtesy of Merve Emre. Over her cocktail, Merve Emre told me what my profile on Merve Emre should be about.

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☆ How Merve Emre became the hottest — and most reviled — name in literary criticism
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Anna Silman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +40 min

☆ Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis put California beach house on Airbnb
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —If you’re in desperate need of some R&R, then Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis might just have the answer. The celebrity couple are listing their Santa Barbara County beach house with its views of the ocean and the Santa Ynez mountains on Airbnb for one night only, offering up to four guests an “unforgettable summer stay” for free. Kutcher told Kunis his “really dumb idea” in an Instagram video recorded outside their beach house, persuading his wife that they “should have complete strangers come and stay with us at the beach.”The beach house is in Santa Barbara, California. Guests will be greeted by the couple and “leave like we’re old buds,” Kutcher added in his Instagram caption. The listing on Airbnb features a series of pictures of the beach house.

Persons: Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Kutcher, Kunis, ”, ” Kutcher, “ Ashton, Mila’s, Gwyneth Paltrow Organizations: CNN, Santa, Hollywood Locations: Santa Barbara County, Santa Ynez, Airbnb, Santa Barbara , California, California, Montecito

☆ 18 pitch decks that helped media and tech startups nab millions in funding to disrupt entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Tech is disrupting all areas of media and entertainment, and investors are rushing to cash in. Startups are attracting millions in investments to change how content is made, distributed, and more. Here are 18 pitch decks that startups used to fundraise for Seed and Series A rounds and beyond. New startups are raising capital to jump on audiences' shift to streaming, change hidebound production practices, and more. Insider talked with founders about the pitches they used to raise millions and innovate in content creation and distribution.

Persons: Isabel Rafferty, Mila Kunis, John Attanasio Organizations: Morning, Canela, Latina

☆ Jimmy Carter's legacy: How he welcomed refugees
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

These steps Carter took during his presidency are still shaping the United States, decades after he left office. Because of Carter’s actions, hundreds of thousands of people fleeing persecution had a chance to come to the United States when he was commander-in-chief. A crisis that began before Carter took office was becoming increasingly dire by the day. That respect, Nguyen says, was earned by actions that Carter took that changed the course of her parents’ lives. “They were only able to do so because of the political courage exercised by President Carter,” she says.

Persons: Jimmy Carter’s, hasn’t, Carter, ”, Kai Bird, Jimmy Carter, Bird, Carter didn’t, Fred Ihrt, ” Carter, Bee Nguyen, it’s, Nguyen, ’, “, ” Nguyen, President Carter, AAPIHeritageMonth, –, ♥️, ince, ives, K unis,, inger, egina, sia, ould, ong, ake, ariel, haring, J, ross Organizations: CNN, CBS, The New York Times, White, ust, ashington Locations: United States, Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Saigon, Georgia, Thailand, Iowa, America, ife

☆ Danny Masterson, ‘That ’70s Show’ actor, found guilty of rape
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A Los Angeles jury has found actor Danny Masterson guilty on two of the three counts of rape in a retrial on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney. Actor Danny Masterson arrested on rape charges 00:52 - Source: CNNThe trial started on April 24 and the case went to the jury on May 17. “I am experiencing a complex array of emotions – relief, exhaustion, strength, sadness – knowing that my abuser, Danny Masterson, will face accountability for his criminal behavior,” Jane Doe 2 said to CNN in a statement through their representative. Kutcher and Masterson also starred in Netflix’s “The Ranch” beginning in 2016, but Netflix and the producers wrote Masterson off the show amid the rape allegations. At the time, Masterson said he was “obviously very disappointed” by the decision, in a statement to CNN.

Persons: Danny Masterson, “, Gascón, Masterson, Shawn Holley, Philip Cohen, D.A, Ariel Anson, Reinhold Mueller, ” Jane Doe, Steven Hyde, costarred Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Laura Prepon, Topher Grace, Wilmer Valderrama, Kutcher, Netflix’s, Tony Ortega Organizations: CNN, Angeles, Los Angeles County, Fox, Netflix, Village, Los Angeles Police Department Locations: Los Angeles, Angeles County, ”

☆ Jeffrey Epstein reportedly threatened Bill Gates with knowledge of the Microsoft billionaire's affair with a Russian bridge player
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Bill Gates had an affair with a Russian bridge player around 2010, The Wall Street Journal reports. The woman later met Jeffrey Epstein in 2013 and he paid for her to attend a coding camp, per WSJ. Epstein reportedly asked Gates to repay him for the camp in 2017, implying he would expose the affair. Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates had an affair around 2010, The Wall Street Journal reports, and knowledge of the relationship was used by Jeffrey Epstein in a seemingly threatening email to Gates in 2017. "Mr. Gates met with Epstein solely for philanthropic purposes," a spokeswoman for Gates told the Journal.

☆ Read 14 pitch decks that helped media and tech startups nab millions in funding to disrupt entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Tech is disrupting all parts of media and entertainment, and investors are rushing to cash in. These pitch decks show how their founders sold their vision to raise outside capital from VCs. Technology is upending all facets of media and entertainment. Insider talked with founders about the pitches they used to raise millions and innovate in content creation and distribution. Check out the examples below to learn more about how these and other founders have sold their vision.

☆ Read 12 pitch decks that helped media and tech startups nab millions in funding to disrupt entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Business Insider | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

☆ U.S. Supreme Court's 'major questions' test may doom Biden student debt plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( John Kruzel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

She did not realize she was setting off on a path toward another, less-welcome family first - racking up more than $150,000 in student debt. The major questions doctrine is an outgrowth of an approach favored by many conservatives and business groups to curb what they call the excesses of the "administrative state." Beginning in 2020, the administrations of President Donald Trump, a Republican, and Biden, a Democrat, repeatedly paused federal student loan payments and halted interest from accruing. Two lawsuits - one by six conservative-leaning states and the other by two student loan borrowers who opposed the plan's eligibility requirements - prompted lower courts to block it. 'INSUFFICIENT FUNDS'The major questions doctrine gives judges broad discretion to invalidate executive agency actions unless Congress clearly authorized them in legislation.

☆ Read the 15-page pitch deck that raised $6 million for StoryCo, a blockchain-based platform that links Hollywood creatives directly with fans
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

StoryCo founders Justin and J.P. Alanis are part of a wave of entrepreneurs building blockchain-based storytelling platforms. StoryCo raised a $6 million seed round from Web3-focused VC firms and Hollywood insiders. In other words, Hollywood studios have been gatekeepers to content — and profits — for far too long. StoryCo is one of several startups that see blockchain and Web3 technology creating big new opportunities for TV and film creatives. Passholders will have access to a project's treasury, which will include NFT sales, IP licensing revenue, and royalties.

☆ Google staff sent each other memes about layoffs to console each other and created spreadsheets to track firings, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Google employees created spreadsheets to keep track of who was laid off, CNBC reported. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google, told staff in a memo he took "full responsibility for the decisions that led us here." Following the announcement, Google employees demanded answers from executives about how the layoffs were determined, CNBC reported. It included the caption: "The sad thing is, I actually thought you were different," next to Google's logo, CNBC reported. Google staff have submitted questions on the company's Q&A system called Dory, CNBC reported.

☆ Google employees scramble for answers after layoffs hit long-tenured and recently promoted employees
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Jennifer Elias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Google employees are scrambling for answers from leadership and from colleagues as the company undergoes a massive layoff. On Friday, Alphabet -owned Google announced it was cutting 12,000 employees, roughly 6% of the full-time workforce. Some of the laid-off employees had been long-tenured or recently promoted, raising questions about the criteria used to decide whose jobs were cut. The company provided an FAQ for the layoffs, which CNBC has seen, but employees have complained that it doesn’t give much detail on many answers. The scramble highlights the challenges Google could face in maintaining a supportive and productive company culture for its restive workforce of more than 160,000 full-time employees.

"That '90s Show" is a spinoff and continuation of the hit sitcom "That '70s Show." You can watch "That '90s Show" exclusively on Netflix; plans start at $7 a month with ads. Where to watch 'That '90s Show'You can now watch "That '90s Show" on Netflix. The show is a Netflix original, so it won't be available to stream on any other services. FoxIf you want to catch up on all eight seasons of "That '70s Show" before you watch "That '90s Show," you can find the original series on Peacock.

☆ ‘That ’90s Show’ Review: Hello Again, Wisconsin!
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Call it a remake, a reboot or an update, but “That ’90s Show” is definitely triple-dipping its Dunkaroos in the Crystal Pepsi of TV nostalgia. Fans of “That ’70s Show” will likely want to see what 20 years have done to the series’ characters. Millennials may be intrigued to see what it means to be a ’90s comedy. Archaeologists of television trivia will want to see how many period references have been shoehorned into the new show. “That ’70s Show” (1998-2006) was an almost-alternative comedy that broke with the sitcom mold in its treatment of drugs, sex and intergenerational dynamics.

"That '90s Show" is a spinoff and continuation of the hit sitcom "That '70s Show." "That '90s Show" will be available to stream exclusively on Netflix starting January 19. Where to watch 'That '90s Show'You can watch "That '90s Show" on Netflix starting January 19. Yes, Topher Grace and Laura Prepon will reprise their roles as Eric and Donna from "That '70s Show" in the new sequel series "That '90s Show." FoxIf you want to catch up on all eight seasons of "That '70s Show" before you watch "That '90s Show," you can find the original series on Peacock.

☆ Make the yuletide gay: Inside the making of this year's LGBTQ holiday movies
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Max Gao | Max Gao Is A Freelance Entertainment | Sports Journalist Based In Toronto. He Has Written For Nbc News | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

Premiering Sunday on Hallmark, “The Holiday Sitter” follows Sam (Jonathan Bennett), a workaholic bachelor who reluctantly agrees to babysit his niece and nephew before his solo vacation. Jonathan Bennett, left, George Krissa and Mila Morgan in "The Holiday Sitter." Bennett, as an executive producer, originally came up with the idea of a “gay ‘Uncle Buck’ for Hallmark” on the set of another holiday movie three years ago. “We both love the Christmas holiday. After watching “The Holiday Sitter," people are “going to feel that the Hallmark holiday table is bigger than ever,” Bennett added, "and that no matter who you are, there is a seat for you."

☆ Amazon CEO responds to antisemitic content promoted by Kyrie Irving being available to purchase on the platform: 'We have hundreds of millions of customers with lots of different viewpoints'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving recently tweeted a link to an antisemitic film, which led to his suspension. The film is available on Amazon, but CEO Andy Jassy seemed to imply the company wouldn't pull it. "We have hundreds of millions of customers with lots of different viewpoints," he said. But it doesn't seem like Amazon will budge on removing the film and book from its platform. "We have hundreds of millions of customers with lots of different viewpoints.

☆ Mistrial declared after jurors deadlocked in Danny Masterson rape trial
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Taylor Romine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge declared a mistrial in the rape trial of actor Danny Masterson on Wednesday after jurors remained deadlocked, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said. Masterson was charged in 2020 with forcibly raping three women in separate incidents occurring between 2001 and 2003, CNN previously reported. “While we are disappointed with the outcome in this trial, we thank the jurors for their service,” the district attorney’s office said in a statement. In 2017, Netflix and producers of “The Ranch” wrote Masterson off the show amid rape allegations. At the time, Masterson said he was “obviously very disappointed” by the decision, in a statement to CNN.

☆ Netflix updates the laughs for a new decade in teaser for ‘That ’70s Show’ sequel series
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Same old basement, same old Formans but a brand new decade. Instead, “That ’90s Show” features Callie Haverda as granddaughter Leia Forman, along with other up-and-coming stars Ashley Aufderheide, Maxwell Donovan, Mace Coronel, Reyn Doi, Sam Morelos and Andrea Anders. The teaser features the gallivanting kids being told not to dance by Red, before they zone out in a smoky haze (some things never change) and are later kicked out of the house – but not without getting delicious brownies from Kitty. The new show was created by “‘70s Show” creators Bonnie and Terry Turner, this time with their daughter Lindsey Turner, along with showrunner/executive producer Gregg Mettler. “That ’90s Show” will premiere on Netflix on January 19, 2023.

☆ Trial begins for Danny Masterson, 'That '70s Show' actor charged with rape
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

LOS ANGELES — A prosecutor described rape allegations by three women Tuesday against “That ’70s Show” actor Danny Masterson from two decades ago that contained some of the same disturbing elements. One of them said he dragged her to his bed where she regained consciousness to find him having sex with her. Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo sternly reminded the lawyers that Scientology would not dominate the trial. The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they were victims of sexual abuse unless they come forward publicly. Weinstein’s second rape and sexual assault trial — he’s already been convicted in New York — is happening simultaneously, just down the hall from Masterson’s.

☆ Analysis: 'Bling Empire' is still shining in its third season
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-08 | by ( Analysis Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Three things to watch‘Bling Empire’ Season 3(From left) Feuding "Bling Empire" cast members Christine Chiu and Anna Shay are pictured in happier times, during an episode from the reality show's second season. So, color me thrilled that the new season of “Bling Empire” picks up right where last season’s high-stakes drama ended. “The Problem With Jon Stewart” Season 2Jon Stewart is pictured during an episode of "The Problem With Jon Stewart" on Apple TV+. Something to sip onStanley Tucci in pictured in a scene from the second season of "Searching for Italy." “That they appreciate the effort that people go through to grow good food, to raise good food,” he said.

☆ 'Luckiest Girl Alive' review: Mila Kunis in a messy adaptation of Jessica Knoll's #MeToo novel
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —“Luckiest Girl Alive” has a lot going on, in a way that undermines the movie’s translation from book to screen. Mila Kunis produces and stars in this #MeToo-tinged story, which awkwardly incorporates a mass school shooting as well as gender and class politics into what becomes an ungainly mix of hot-button issues in one dramatic package. As the handsomely clueless Luke puts it, why address “this thing that happened to you so long ago.”Mila Kunis in the Netflix movie 'Luckiest Girl Alive.' But “Luckiest Girl Alive” falls short of its promise, a reminder that, however ironic the title is intended to be, fortune tends to favor the bold. “Luckiest Girl Alive” premieres October 7 on Netflix.

☆ Mila Kunis opens up about how she dealt with husband Ashton Kutcher’s health scare
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Marianne Garvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Mila Kunis is sharing more about her husband Ashton Kutcher’s recent battle with a rare autoimmune disorder called vasculitis. “I don’t think you have time to sit down and talk, you kinda just power through,” she said. You gotta do.”Kutcher had said on the nature show that the disease, “knocked out my vision, knocked out my hearing, knocked out like all my equilibrium. I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to hear again, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to walk again,” Kutcher said. “I’m lucky to be alive.”Kunis and Kutcher met while filming “That ’70s Show” together in 1998 but didn’t begin dating until 2012.

☆ Preschool Punks and Dancing Mommies at the Linda Lindas Show
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Melena Ryzik | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The children were exhilarated by the same things that made Delaney misty: the fact that the bandmates (sisters Mila and Lucia de la Garza, their cousin Eloise Wong, and their friend Bela Salazar) are all young girls, that they’re Asian American and Latinx, that they’re fierce. “They stand up for a lot of things,” said Lucy Potenza, 12. Her mom smoothed her hair.

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