DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Opinion: From Woody Woodpecker to Mickey Mouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. The term is credited to animator Walter Lantz, the creator of Woody Woodpecker. “While I would love to see a progressive in the White House, I am terrified of another Donald Trump presidency. Mickey Mouse warBill Bramhall/Tribune Content Agency“President Franklin Roosevelt launched a war against the Great Depression,” noted Julian Zelizer. “Women still have less access to the internet, with men being 21% more likely to be online than women globally.

☆ Vegan food blogger Nisha Vora tried ChatGPT for recipes. She says they're edible — but not exactly great.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Nisha Vora is a vegan recipe developer and the creator of the popular food blog Rainbow Plant Life. She tested a cauliflower curry recipe written by ChatGPT to evaluate the bot's recipe-writing skills. Vora is the creator of Rainbow Plant Life, a vegan food blog that she updates with new recipes weekly. She also has her own recipe for a vegan curry with cauliflower and tofu that is well-liked by her readers. Chat GPT's 'cauliflower curry' recipe Prompt: I have tomatoes and onions and cauliflower.

☆ This Week’s Tiniest Social Media Drama Is About Olive Oil
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Madison Malone Kircher | Anna Grace Lee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

There was drama this week in the olive oil business — and it unfolded on LinkedIn, the online haven of start-up feuds, oversharing and self-mythologizing odes to #founder culture. An angry post by the olive oil entrepreneur Andrew Benin caused a stir in a small corner of the internet food world, in part because it raised a slippery question: Who owns the squeeze bottle? Mr. Benin is the chief executive and co-founder of Graza, a direct-to-consumer start-up launched in 2022 that sells olive oil in squeezable, forest-green plastic bottles designed for optimal drizzling and Instagramming. Whole Foods sells it, Bon Appétit gave it a rave, and Food & Wine magazine called it a “cool kid olive oil.” As The Wall Street Journal noted this year, Graza struck a “sweet spot” in the market with its two extra-virgin olive oil bottles, the Drizzle ($20) and the Sizzle ($15). That gesture, along with posts on Graza’s blog (the “Glog,” as the company calls it), painted a picture of an enthusiastic founder.

☆ Inside Disney it's 'Revenge of the Creatives' and 'Shields Up!' against outside foes as returned CEO Bob Iger is taking no prisoners
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Since returning as Disney CEO, Bob Iger has vanquished foes and dumped many of predecessor Bob Chapek's hires. But it's a supercharged Bob Iger who is really taking command. "If I'm inside Bob's head coming back, after the downfall of Bob Chapek, this is all about taking no prisoners," said Will Schutte, a high-level executive coach. Disney World is scheduled to host a major conference on gay rights in September, according to the Miami Herald. Even if he wants to be the Bob Iger of old he can't be.

☆ Oumuamua Was a Comet After All, a Study Suggests
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Dennis Overbye | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ever since 2017, when astronomers in Hawaii discovered an object they called Oumuamua (Hawaiian for “scout”) zipping through the solar system, they have been arguing about what it was. To date, all the comets observed in our solar system have ranged from around a half-mile to hundreds of miles across. Initially Oumuamua was pegged as an asteroid, as it exhibited none of the sizzle and flash typical of comets. There was no evidence of gas or dust around the object, and radio telescopes heard nothing when pointed at it. But further analysis revealed that something was making Oumuamua speed up as it exited the solar system, leaving scientists with a delicious puzzle.

☆ Stocks making the biggest premarket moves: Tapestry, Credit Suisse, Disney and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Check out the companies making the biggest moves in premarket trading:Tapestry — The company reported adjusted fiscal second-quarter earnings before the bell of $1.33, beating StreetAccount's estimate of $1.27, and raised its fiscal 2023 earnings outlook. Hilton Worldwide — The hotel operator reported adjusted fourth-quarter earnings of $1.59 per share before the bell, topping estimates of $1.22, per StreetAccount. PepsiCo -- The beverage giant reported adjusted fourth-quarter earnings and revenue before the bell that beat expectations, thanks to price hikes that boosted sales. The company reported $380 million in revenue, below the $397 million expected from analysts, according to Refinitiv. However, the company posted a wider-than-expected loss of $1.53 per share, versus the $1.36 loss per share predicted by analysts.

☆ Movie theaters get creative with food and drink as they struggle to fill seats
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

At many movie theaters, popcorn and soda appear alongside flatbreads, lobster grilled cheese and elaborate cocktails. "It is things like concessions and how that fits into a broader movie theater experience that really are things that movie theaters need to focus on and hammer in," Gallinari said. AMC Entertainment , the world's largest movie theater chain, exited its third quarter with more than $5.3 billion in debt. According to data from research firm EntTelligence, the average medium popcorn at domestic movie theaters is $8.14, while a medium drink runs for $6.20. "With movie theaters and concessions already having a reputation for being overpriced, being subject to the wills of the market in that way can really work against the movie theater's favor," Gallinari said.

Between '97 and '02, HBO released TV series like "Sex and the City," "The Wire," and "The Sopranos." Counterprogram, counterprogram, counterprogramFrom its very inception in the early 1970s, HBO executives came to believe that if HBO was to thrive in the long-run, it would have to focus on doing things differently than the big three commercial TV networks: ABC, CBS, and NBC. When HBO executives sent the first episode of "The Sopranos" to a focus group, it scored horribly. The screening was attended by the film's cast, HBO executives, and a collection of Russian dignitaries. Anybody could watch a new TV series from the comfort of their home, and the actors starring in new TV shows were rarely famous.

☆ The private-equity firm behind Italian soccer champs AC Milan is quietly building a financial services powerhouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | Dakin Campbell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

RedBird Capital is best known as the private-equity owner of soccer club AC Milan. But the sports dealmaker is quietly building a financial services arm to rival its flashier bets. RedBird Capital is one of the buzziest names in dealmaking when it comes to sports and Hollywood. In August, the New York City-based private equity firm bought soccer club AC Milan for $1.2 billion. The firm's philosophies for financial services and sports are one and the same: taking advantage of fragmented environments with firms that have long-term recurring cash flow.

☆ How Gerry Cardinale became the go-to dealmaker for the likes of the Yankees, AC Milan, and Ben Affleck
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | Dakin Campbell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

He bought the soccer club AC Milan in August, earning the attention of the Italian press. This past spring, AC Milan won its first national title in 11 years. Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images Show less Cardinale at a training session for AC Milan. For instance, the teams sell each other's merchandise in their stadiums, and the YES Network airs AC Milan games. "Now we have a new phase of expansion and internationalization of AC Milan with Gerry."

☆ 'Top Gun' and 'Avatar' nab Golden Globe nominations, pointing the way for the Oscars
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The cliché about award shows is that it’s an honor just to be nominated. Having endeavored to address those issues on both fronts, the Globes are here again, although not everyone has embraced the event or the HFPA with open arms. "Avatar: The Way of Water" debuts Dec. 16. The steep decline in award-show viewing, exacerbated by the pandemic, hasn’t made studios or talent any less enthusiastic about earning such recognition. In that sense, however tarnished the Golden Globes might be, its example could be another factor that helps point the way for the Oscars when those nominations are unveiled in January.

☆ The best-performing large-cap fund manager of 2022 shares what he got right as high inflation and interest rates tanked the market this year — and where he's investing heading into 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Daniel Peris of Federated Hermes is the top-performing large-cap fund manager of 2022. Historian-turned-mutual fund manager Daniel Peris is making some history of his own this year. Nearly as unconventional as Peris' background is his approach to running his dividend fund. Absolute and relative performance matter little compared to dividend growth and yields, Peris told Insider in a recent interview. However, the fund manager said that as inflation starts to settle down, stocks in the aforementioned food, beverage and tobacco, household products, and pharmaceuticals industries are his favorites.

☆ A real estate investor with a 178-unit portfolio worth $50 million explains why he expects housing prices to fall within the next 6 months — and says higher interest rates won't eviscerate new homebuy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Higher interest rates aren't that big a deal, Ahmed Seirafi, a real-estate investor, said. Seirafi said he believed housing prices would fall in the next six months. Rising interest rates have spooked would-be real-estate investors, bringing down home prices and cooling the red-hot housing market. Even though decades-high inflation is finally showing signs of moderation, the Federal Reserve is unlikely to start cutting interest rates in the immediate future. Housing prices are due for a correctionBecause Seirafi doesn't take rising interest rates into too much consideration, he's not that worried about a dearth of investment opportunities.

☆ Thanksgiving leftovers: What to do with all the food
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Casey Barber | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But it’s just as easy to chop up leftover Thanksgiving turkey and sneak it into non-holiday comfort food. Use leftover Thanksgiving turkey to make turkey black bean enchiladas. A lemony Dijon dressing can brighten a grain bowl made with holiday leftovers. Leftover stuffing mixed with eggs and a touch of broth or gravy are all you need to turn Thanksgiving stuffing into a savory next-day breakfast. If that kind of post-holiday meal suits you, make this Thanksgiving leftover pizza and savor the classic flavors on a slice rather than between bread.

☆ "There's more opportunity now than in the last 10 years": A real estate investor with a 178-unit portfolio shares why it's crucial to get in within the next 6 months — and offers his 4 best pieces of
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Ahmed Seirafi is a real estate investor with over 20 years of experience and a 178-unit portfolio. Shortly thereafter, he began to pursue real estate investing full time. Now's the time to begin investing in real estateFor those interested in real estate investing, Seirafi believes that it's crucial to start sooner rather than later. But with more opportunities for real estate investors comes more potential pitfalls. "There's a million different ways of making money in real estate — there really is, and everybody makes money in real estate when they focus and stick to a lane," he said, explaining that this is the reason he's offloading his office retail buildings in favor of more multifamily and industrial developments.

☆ After blistering summer, France and Spain bathe in unseasonably warm autumn
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NICE, France, Oct 27 (Reuters) - France and Spain experienced unusually warm temperatures on Thursday, bringing some bathers out to beaches but also adding to mounting concerns about changing weather patterns in Europe. Western Europe's unusually balmy October follows a summer during which blistering temperatures parched farmlands and rivers and wildfires ran amok. [1/2] People enjoy a warm and sunny autumn day on the beach of the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France, France October 27, 2022. Beach resorts across France have extended their season as the unusually hot weather keeps tourists coming. "This is a summer season that is not ending," said Rene Colomban, head of the Nice beach operators association.

☆ Stock market continues to sizzle this month
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Paul R. La Monica | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN Business —October may be famous for historically horrifying stock market crashes like the ones in 1929, 1987 and 2008. Stocks enjoyed another solid rally Monday, continuing a hot streak for the markets this month. The S&P and Nasdaq are each still down more than 20% in 2022, though, which means they are in a bear market. American companies with significant exposure to the Chinese market were also hit hard and sat out the broader market rally. Brands (YUM) was down 2% while Yum China (YUMC), which franchises the KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell brands in China, plunged 14%.

☆ I'm a 'dad for hire.' I've assembled furniture, given car-loan advice, and even attended a parent-teacher conference.
▼ + stars: | 2022-06-18 | by ( Jenny Powers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

As the dad of three now-grown sons, being a parent is one of the things that has always made me happy. Over the nearly 4 years I've been in business, I've pretty much seen and done it allHowever, the most common job I'm tasked with is assembling or rebuilding furniture. There's also one particular Ikea bed I've been tasked with rebuilding so many times for so many different people, I've nicknamed it "Frankenbed." As a dad, I'm not just going to walk into your apartment and just do the task and leave. It's also one of the reasons I haven't scaled my business and remain the sole dad for hire at the moment.

Search resuls for: "sizzle"

18 mentions found