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☆ TGI Friday's files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-02 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

TGI Friday's Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on November 2. Manocha said the "primary driver" of TGI Friday's financial struggles "resulted from COVID-19 and our capital structure." Few customers want to spend time and money at a casual dining restaurant, and many of them are dated." AdvertisementAhead of Saturday's announcement, TGI Friday's had faced a string of location closures as pressure on the business mounted. Business Insider has contacted TGI Friday's for comment.

Persons: —, Rohit Manocha, Manocha, Tim Powell, Powell, Friday's, TGI Friday's Organizations: Friday's Inc, Service, Inc, Northern District of Texas Locations: Northern District, COVID, sameness

☆ Cure for America's High Real Estate Prices: Build More Weird Homes
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-23 | by ( Ned Resnikoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Take Los Angeles, where about three-quarters of residential-zoned land in 2021 was zoned exclusively for developing single-family housing. This country needs to build more homes, but there's no reason all those new homes need to look the same. Tokyo has homes in all shapes and sizes: detached single-family homes, attached row houses, small apartment buildings, midsize apartment buildings, and colossal residential high-rises. Allow apartment buildings with one staircase: Making it legal to build more apartment buildings with only one staircase would substantially reduce construction costs and allow for apartment buildings to be built on smaller lots. People who really like single-family homes should still have access to single-family homes.

Persons: —, we'll, homebuilders, Stephen Smith Organizations: sameness, Center for, The New York Times Locations: United States, Levittown , New York, Los Angeles, Connecticut, Levittown, Tokyo, American, Japan, North America

☆ Wall Street thinks the US economy is getting back to normal. The election could change that
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

New York CNN —New data shows weakening in the US economy – Friday’s jobs report showed that unemployment ticked up to 4.1% in June. Inflation is easing, and so is economic growth – that combination means interest rate cuts could be on their way. Before the Bell spoke with Michael Reynolds, vice president of investment strategy at Glenmede, about investors, the economy and political landscape. We recognize that to have a thesis on the economy is to have a thesis on the consumer. The global market value for adult diapers was pegged at $12.8 billion in 2023, according to market research provider Euromonitor International.

Persons: Joe Biden, Bell, Michael Reynolds, we’ve, there’s, That’s, We’ve, Fumio Kishida, Read, Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Nasdaq, Federal, DC, Traders, Fed, Federal Reserve, United Nations, UN, Euromonitor, Oji Holdings, Flags Locations: New York, Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, United States

☆ These two amusement park giants just merged. Rollercoaster fans are nervous
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Six Flags this week completed an $8 billion merger with rival Cedar Fair to create the largest amusement park operator in the United States. The success of the deal will determine the future of these amusement parks, and diehard rollercoaster fans are watching carefully. Many amusement park fans are passionate about the parks’ design and history and notice the smallest of changes. He also worries the “beautiful” Cedar Fair parks will lose their distinct identities and become more like Six Flags. Halloween has become a primary visiting time for theme park fans, and there could be changes to these events.

Persons: Knott's Berry, Allen J, ”, Bill Kneass, Kneass, they’re, Chris Miller, Stan, Gary Rhodes, Richard Zimmerman ., Selim Bassoul, Berry, Matt Kaiser, “, There’s, Dennis Speigel, Chris Woronka, Looney, Michael Musil Organizations: New, New York CNN, Flags, Cedar Fair, Los Angeles Times, Six Flags Entertainment Corp, Disney, Universal, Six, Fair, Six Flags, Kmart, Walmart, Facebook, Park, Deutsche Bank, Warner Bros, Discovery, DC Comics, CNN, Warner Bros . Locations: New York, United States, California, New Jersey, Sandusky , Ohio, Buena Park , California, Bay Village , Ohio

☆ Omegle was a relic of the old internet. I'm not sad it's gone.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Gen-Z beloved site Omegle has shut down. The headline: "Omegle: Children expose themselves on video chat site." As K-Brooks' message said, all platforms are susceptible to bad actors — and child predators certainly exist on other social sites, too. According to K-Brooks's post, Omegle had worked with law enforcement and "there was a great deal of moderation behind the scenes, including state-of-the-art AI operating in concert with a wonderful team of human moderators. Omegle punched above its weight in content moderation, and I'm proud of what we accomplished," he said in his statement Thursday.

Persons: Omegle, —, Leif K, Brooks, you'd, Brooks didn't, hank y, ake, ault, lear, ince, ike, ong — Organizations: Service, BBC, AP, ust Locations: Oregon, uman

☆ Can anyone save the internet? Neal Agarwal is trying, one Hampster Dance at a time.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Brian Barrett | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Internet Artifacts is the latest project from Neal Agarwal, the creative 25-year-old coder who launched neal.fun six years ago today. "I grew up at the tail end of that era of the internet," Agarwal said. Internet Artifacts has taken closer to three months. Internet Artifacts takes several touchstones of the anteplatformian internet and places them on literal digital pedestals. As delightful as Internet Artifacts is to click through, it also provides valuable context for Agarwal's larger ambition.

Persons: Neal Agarwal, Agarwal, antic, Steve Jobs, Jamie Cohen, It's, coders, he'd, —, Bill Gates, Josh Wardle, Neal, neal.fun, Brandon Chilcutt's, Jessa Lingel, Nicole He, Matthew Rayfield, Brian Moore, Wardle, what's, There's, Brian Barrett Organizations: today's, Adobe, Apple, Developers, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, CUNY, Virginia Tech, Ripley's, The New York Times, Napster, University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication, Immaculate Grid, MacWorld, Wired, Yorker Locations: Queens, Fairfax , Virginia, MSCHF, New York

☆ Opinion: Uncomfortable reality for Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. He didn’t live to see the allies’ victory in World War II that year or the conference in San Francisco that month that established the United Nations. But his diplomatic efforts to meet with Arab leaders came undone after a devastating explosion at a hospital in Gaza. Biden himself initially supported the US 2003 war in Iraq only to end up as the president who ordered the US pullout of Afghanistan. “This is the politics that Donald Trump’s rhetoric has wrought among his supporters in the Republican Party,” wrote Avlon.

Persons: Franklin D, Roosevelt, Joe Biden, FDR, “, ” Biden, Steve Breen, GoComics.com Biden, Seth Moulton, ”, David Petraeus, ‘, Petraeus, Moulton, Shmuel Rosner, “ Israel, Biden, David Mark, Donald Trump, Gaza Hani Almadhoun, ” Yasmine Mohammed, Will Heath, Pete Davidson, Dean Obeidallah, Davidson, ” Obeidallah, ” Wadea, Khaled, Wadea’s, Mukesh Kapila, Frida Ghitis, Nicole Hemmer, Michael, Peter Bergen, Israel, ” Bergen, “ Khaled Hroub, ’, ” Hroub, what’s, ” Jim Jordan flunks, Nick Anderson, Jim Jordan, Julian Zelizer, “ Jordan, MAGA, Trump, shutdowns, Jordan, —, ” Zelizer, ” John Avlon, Jake Tapper, Donald Trump’s, Utah Sen, Mitt Romney, Cupp, Bill Bramhall, Trump Sidney Powell, Powell “, Jennifer Rodgers, ” Clay Jones, Kenneth Chesebro, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Jack Smith, Trump’s, Jill Filipovic, “ It’s, …, Don’t, Scott Stantis, David Goldblatt, Amy Bass, Mary Lou Retton, Amy Klein, Glock, homebuyers Holly Thomas, Frasier ’, Richie Hofmann, Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Niro, DiCaprio, Scorsese, David Grann’s, White, Noah Berlatsky, “ Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Arab, Marine Corps, Democratic, Twitter, Facebook, Republican, Capitol, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, “, NBC, New York City, World Trade, Chicago, Hamas, Tribune, Trump, Tea Party, Republican Party, GOP, Utah, Republicans, Agency, White Locations: Warm Springs , Georgia, San Francisco, United, United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, China, Ukraine, Israel, America, Gaza, What’s, Massachusetts, Iraq, “ Israel, Afghanistan, Iraqi, Najaf, Iran, Lebanon, ”, New, Geneva, Palestinian, Fulton County , Georgia, Hollywood, Oklahoma

LOS ANGELES (AP) — This week the United States’ biggest newspaper chain posted to its site two unusual job listings: a Taylor Swift reporter and a Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter. Political Cartoons View All 1157 ImagesSome journalists criticized the listings for presenting superfan behavior as a full-time journalism job, especially as job opportunities shrink and music journalists are paid low wages. “If there wasn’t that component to it, there wouldn’t be a Beyoncé reporter,” Tinsley said. “It is a bit odd, but Taylor Swift Inc., I guess you would call it, is a big economic driver right now,” said Eric Grode, director of the Goldring Arts Journalism and Communications program at Syracuse University. Representatives for Swift and Beyoncé did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Knowles, Carter, it'll, Beyoncé Knowles, Omise’eke Tinsley, “, ”, ” Tinsley, Amy Chozick, Hilary Clinton, Suzy Exposito, ” Exposito, Eric Grode, “ Taylor Swift, Grode, ” Rick Edmonds, Taylor, Exposito, Soraya Roberts, Tinsley, Swift, Beyoncé, David Bauder Organizations: ANGELES, States ’, Gannett, USA, Swift, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Taylor Swift Inc, Goldring Arts Journalism, Communications, Syracuse University, Poynter Institute, AP Locations: Nashville, Beyoncé, New York

☆ Get Ready for the New Gucci, and Other Surprises of the Fashion Season
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Vanessa Friedman | More About Vanessa Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

After seasons of relative calm and predictability (some might say stultifying sameness), Milan has become the city to watch, with the two debuts of the season. First up: Sabato De Sarno at Gucci. Then there’s Peter Hawkings, another longtime deputy, who became the creative director of Tom Ford in April after the brand was sold to Estée Lauder and Mr. Ford stepped down. Mr. Hawkings worked beside Mr. Ford for decades, and judging by his official portrait, is very much in the mold of his mentor (down to the tinted aviators). The result is pretty much guaranteed to remind of us what we lost when we lost the very talented Mr. Moschino at only 44 in 1994 and why brand founders really matter.

Persons: Sabato De Sarno, Gucci, Valentino, Alessandro Michele, Peter Hawkings, Tom Ford, Estée Lauder, Ford, Hawkings, Jeremy Scott, — Katie Grand, Carlyne Cerf, Dudzeele, Gabriella Karefa, Johnson, Lucia Liu —, Moschino Organizations: Mr Locations: Milan

☆ iPhone 14 Pro Max tops global smartphone shipments as people shun budget phones for top-end devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In the January-to-June period, Apple's iPhone 14 Pro Max shipped 26.5 million units — the most out of any model from any manufacturer — compared with 21 million unit shipments for the iPhone 14 Pro. That's according to Omdia's "Smartphone Model Market Tracker - 2Q23" report, which tracks sales of different models of phone. Apple accounted for all four of the top-shipping models, with the iPhone 14 coming in third on 16.5 million units, and the iPhone 13 selling 15.5 million units. This year, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the most expensive of the Cupertino, California, tech giant's smartphone array, has taken the crown. Sky-high prices north of $1,000 attached to the top-end phones from companies like Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi have also put people off buying flagship phones more generally.

Persons: Max, That's Organizations: Max, Apple, Samsung Locations: Cupertino , California

☆ Samsung launches two new folding smartphones to fend off competition from rivals
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The Samsung Galaxy Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. Galaxy Z Flip 5The star of the show in Samsung's new folding phone portfolio is its new Galaxy Z Flip 5. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5's standout feature is a much larger cover display. Galaxy Fold 5The Samsung Galaxy Fold 5. Galaxy Tab S9(From left) The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Fold 5, Galaxy Watch 6, and Galaxy Tab S9.

Persons: Ryan Browne, phonemakers, Oppo, who've, Ben Wood, It's, Paolo Pescatore, Le Xuan Chiew, There's Organizations: Samsung, CNBC Samsung, Wednesday, CNBC, CNBC Foldables, Huawei, Motorola, Lenovo, IDC, CCS Insight, Google, Android, PP Foresight, Apple, Global, Galaxy, Windows Locations: Korean, foldables

☆ 3 ways financial services companies can attract and retain new customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Think With Google With Insider Studios | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Financial services providers can take several steps today to attract and retain new generations of consumers. Before financial services went digital, it was difficult to seamlessly transition from one institution to another. According to Google's report, 52% of adult consumers – and 71% of millennials – expect their financial services brands to coach their customers. To attract and retain more customers, financial services companies should:Position their brands as providers of personalized support and care. At a time when consumer behavior is rapidly changing, financial services companies cannot afford to remain static.

Persons: John Dokes, it's, There's, Z Organizations: Financial, Google, Consumers, YouTube, Brands, Insider Studios, Financial Services Locations: U.S

☆ Most consumers believe financial services companies all offer the same thing. The right differentiation strategy can help you win them over.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Think With Google With Insider Studios | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Consumers, especially Gen Z and millennials, want a financial services partner that offers personalization, interactive learning opportunities, and virtual customer service. The financial services industry is in the midst of an identity crisis. "We have seen an explosion of options within the finance services industry in recent years," said Seth van der Swaagh, managing director of financial services at Google. Fast Facts 63% of consumers believe all car insurance companies offer the same thing. Support at every stage of the financial services journeyMore than half of consumers (52%) expect financial services brands to coach their customers.

Persons: Seth van der, they're, van der, wasn't, van der Swaagh Organizations: Google, Financial, YouTube, Insider Studios, Financial Services, Kantar Monitor Locations: Kantar, U.S

☆ $5 billion fintech Zepz looks to take on rivals like PayPal with digital wallet, M&A plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

With a $5 billion valuation, Zepz is one of the largest fintech companies in Europe, backed by leading investors including Accel, TCV and Leapfrog. The company enables users to send money from a smartphone or computer to people abroad, who can receive it in their bank account, mobile wallet, or as a mobile airtime top-up. Lenhard didn't identify which companies Zepz was looking to buy, but said the sharp slump in private fintech valuations made it an attractive time to kick off M&A exploration. A particular focus for Zepz product-wise in the near term is digital wallets, Lenhard said, with the company planning to launch its first digital wallet "imminently." He added that he hopes the company's upcoming digital wallet product will convince customers to rely more on Zepz, rather than using competing digital banks and other financial apps which have grown their services to offer a much wider range of products.

Persons: Mark Lenhard, Zepz, It's, Lenhard, Sendwave Organizations: Getty, CNBC, Accel, Bank of England, Sky News, PayPal Locations: Europe, Western Union

☆ 'Sea of sameness': Are smartphone makers out of ideas?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

From bulky phones with antennas and handsets that flip open, to modern devices connected to the internet, the mobile phone market has evolved dramatically since its creation in 1973. In a lot of ways, they're core to how we live our lives, and we've developed a dependence on them. Beyond flashy cameras and more efficient chips, phone makers are struggling to find ways to entice consumers the same way they did years ago. "We now live in this kind of sea of smartphone sameness," said Ben Wood, chief analyst at tech research firm CCS Insight. "I think we have moved to a point now with mobile phones where people aren't kind of rushing out saying, 'I really want to get that new phone,'" Wood said.

☆ The New Rule of Black-Tie Dressing for Men? Don’t Be Boring
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Todd Plummer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

WHEN LUKE VACHON attended a formal wedding in Hudson, N.Y., a few months ago, he jilted the blah black tux. Instead of wearing a predictable 007-style ensemble like most male guests, the Montreal marketing director, 32, shrugged a relaxed-fit, desert-brown suit over a black linen polo. “It wasn’t my wedding, it wasn’t my moment, but I wanted to be a little different without making a scene,” he said. If you’ve attended a dressy event lately, chances are you’ve spotted guys like Mr. Vachon, who are challenging the tedium of formal attire without going OTT. But starved of dress-up opportunities during Covid, and uninspired by before-times conformity, more guys are thinking outside the tux.

☆ A style expert said Kyrsten Sinema's yellow dress at the State of the Union 'reflects her independent spirit,' but that it 'missed the mark'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A style expert said Kyrsten Sinema's yellow State of the Union dress "missed the mark." She said the dress could have been "jarring" to members of Congress who are used to "sameness." "Her dress missed the mark and appeared ill-fitting," Lauren Rothberg, an image consultant, author of "Style Bible," and founder of fashion firm Styleauteur, said. Rothberg told Insider she thinks Sinema's dress made the Senator — who recently stepped away from the Democratic party and now identifies as an Independent — feel "unstoppable," adding that she was "definitely seen last night." Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images"The bright, saturated yellow reflects her independent spirit — and party," Rothberg said, adding that she admires Sinema for making a "bold statement."

☆ Netflix insiders applaud new co-CEO Greg Peters, 'the only real visionary' in the C-suite, but scratch their heads over what other exec changes mean for the company
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Elaine Low | Lucia Moses | Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Netflix's elevation of Greg Peters to co-CEO shows the importance of its advertising sales effort. But Bela Bajaria's rise to content chief has caused some confusion about the future of the TV and film organization. The Netflix veteran now shares the role with current co-CEO Ted Sarandos, as company cofounder Reed Hastings steps down and settles into an executive chairman position. The move made a lot of sense to industry insiders, and even publicly, Netflix had been signaling the ascension for some time. Netflix insiders said Bajaria's new title underscored the importance of TV versus film in the streaming wars.

☆ Ford unveils 2023 Escape to sell alongside Bronco Sport in highly competitive compact SUV segment
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

DETROIT — Ford Motor is updating its popular Escape as part of a two-pronged sales strategy alongside the newer, more rugged Bronco Sport in the highly competitive compact SUV segment. The starting price for the 2023 Escape ranges from roughly $29,000 for an entry-level model to $40,000 for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The 2023 Escape is expected to begin arriving in dealer showrooms early next year. U.S. sales of the Escape outsold the Bronco Sport by roughly 30,000 units through the third quarter of this year. The Escape retains its powertrain options, including a traditional hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

☆ 'House of the Dragon' creator knows that one scene was too dark, says he's learned 'we are making the show for people's television sets'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"House of the Dragon" showrunner Ryan Condal acknowledged how dark scenes in episode seven were. He said he has to take more into account that "we are making the show for people's television sets." Episode seven in particular, titled "Driftmark," was criticized for scenes that many viewers said were too dark to see on their TV screens. "The unique challenge of making television post-production is that you're making it in this highly calibrated facility with millions of dollars' worth of equipment and high-end professionals," Condal said. Sapochnik also directed a "Game of Thrones" episode that received some backlash for being too dim, the season eight episode "The Long Night."

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