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☆ This Town Made Tina Turner. She Made It Famous.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Rick Rojas | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ms. Ewing lost touch, but she admired Ms. Turner’s resilience, particularly as she clawed her way back from her abusive relationship with Ike Turner. “Knowing you can have calamities but if you’re strong enough, strong-minded and have a strong will, you can make it to the top of the hill,” she said. Pam Stephens, a resident who attended the memorial, often cautions outsiders who know of the community only from “Nutbush City Limits” to temper their expectations. “There’s not even a stop sign,” she said, “unless you pull off the main road.”But the Tina Turner Museum, at her childhood schoolhouse, has given visitors another reason to exit the interstate. The refurbished white wooden building is filled with artifacts that Ms. Turner personally sent for display.

☆ Alan Ruck Is Ready to Leave the Roy Family
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Finn Cohen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The article includes spoilers for the most recent episode of “Succession.”One of the most impressive tricks HBO’s “Succession” has played on viewers over the course of four seasons is generating sympathy for reprehensible people. Sunday’s episode, in which democracy is discarded, apparently because Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) had to eat too much chicken as a child, puts most of that sympathy to rest. It was perhaps the darkest moment for a character who has largely been relegated to buffoon status, but Ruck sees Connor’s ignorance as his main political tool. “He’ll believe whatever sounds good to him that day,” Ruck said in a recent video call full of vivid anecdotes and laughter. “He’ll read something online or he’ll hear something on television, then that’ll become, like, the central plank of his platform for that day.

☆ Cuervo tequila maker Becle narrows sales guidance after profit slump
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Isabel Woodford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Becle, which produces the popular Jose Cuervo tequilas, now forecasts annual growth in the high single digits, down from a February guidance for "high single digits to low teens." Becle posted a nearly 10% slump in first-quarter net profit this week as price increases failed to cushion negative currency exchange effects, high inflation and supply chain issues in Latin America. Executives on Friday added it was too early to assess the impact of recent price increases in places like Mexico. In afternoon trading, Becle's share price was down nearly 5%. While the industry has struggled with extended shortages of glass, used to bottle spirits, Becle executives said these appeared to be easing and should have limited performance impact for the remainder of 2023.

☆ A Litany of Clichés - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Michael Massing | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Ramped up, amped up, ratchet up, gin up, up the ante, double down, jump-start, be behind the curve, swim against the tide, go south, go belly up, level the playing field, open the floodgates, think outside the box, push the edge of the envelope, pull out all the stops, take the foot off the pedal, pump the brakes, grease the wheel, circle the wagons, charge full steam ahead, pass with flying colors, move the goal posts, pour gasoline on, add fuel to the fire, fly under the radar, add insult to injury, grow by leaps and bounds, only time will tell, go to hell in a handbasket, put the genie back in the bottle, throw the baby out with the bathwater, rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic, have your cake and eat it too, a taste of one’s own medicine, stick to one’s guns, above one’s pay grade, punch above one’s weight, lick one’s wounds, pack a punch, roll with the punches, come apart at the seams, throw a wrench into, caught in the cross hairs, cross the Rubicon, tempt fate, go ballistic, on tenterhooks, hit the nail on the head, a nail in the coffin, joined at the hip, welcome with open arms, rub shoulders with, shoot oneself in the foot, dip one’s toes into, have a leg up, dance to the tune of, the next shoe to drop, in the DNA of, the gold standard, a gold mine, land mines, a run for the money, money to burn, penny-wise and pound-foolish, lap of luxury, off the charts, over a barrel, late to the party, it takes two to tango, behind the eight ball, pride of place, final straw, full throttle, no holds barred, red flag, silver lining, on a silver platter, in the rearview mirror, bargain basement, silos, morph, meme, trope, mind meld, warp speed, inner demons, have skin in the game, game changer, change agent, strong suit, ground game, ground zero, inflection point, tipping point, playbook, page turner, singing from the same hymnal, singing a new tune, straight out of central casting, the devil’s in the details, take the bull by the horns, the canary in the coal mine, chickens coming home to roost, beat a dead horse, pony up, the straw that broke the camel’s back, open a can of worms, buy a pig in a poke, cash cow, rabbit hole, dog days, dog whistle, bells and whistles, tool kit, third rail, the tip of the iceberg, the light at the end of the tunnel, the arc of history, speak truth to power, break the glass ceiling, the writing’s on the wall, between a rock and a hard place, beyond the pale, take the wind out of the sails of, that ship has sailed, sinking ship, tidal wave, roller-coaster ride, gravy train, tanked, cratered, Rubik’s Cube, Rosetta Stone, Rolodex, poster child, problem child, rock star, pundit, national treasure, charter member, heavy hitter, heavy lifting, political football, throw a Hail Mary, full-court press, hit a home run, play with house money, laser-focused, secret sauce, red meat, piece of cake, bread and butter, cherry-pick, low-hanging fruit, sticker shock, kick-start, kick into overdrive, kick the tires, kick the can down the road, where the rubber meets the road, an albatross around the neck, a feather in the cap, long in the tooth, armed to the teeth, cut one’s teeth, rib tickler, spine tingling, pull the wool over the eyes of, pull the plug on, pull the trigger, loosen the reins, sweep under the carpet, throw under the bus, throw for a loop, read the riot act, lead the pack, the short end of the stick, at the drop of a hat, the jury is still out, hung out to dry, as if that weren’t enough, it would be an understatement to say, it would be no exaggeration to say, despite or perhaps because of, what goes around comes around, for all intents and purposes, make a long story short, the fact of the matter, to be sure, truth be told, a who’s who, famously, arguably, literally, zeitgeist, mantra, optics, granular, narrative, interrogate, paradigm, venue, robust, compelling, fever pitch, pitch perfect, picture perfect, perfect storm, take by storm, eye of the storm, back burner, petri dish, echo chamber, hot button, hard wire, go viral, bingeable, blockbuster, on steroids, testosterone-laced, metastasize, contextualize, preternaturally, outsize, gobsmacked, turbocharged, weaponized, apocalyptic, existential …

☆ Bartenders Are Giving Blue Cocktails the Green Light
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Robert Simonson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

At Rolo’s, a restaurant in Ridgewood, Queens, the bar director Tony Milici recently flirted with the idea of putting a blue drink on the cocktail menu. The result was Sacrebleu, a blue riff on the gin fizz, made with rum, velvet falernum and blue curaçao. “I slept just fine knowing I made the Ramos gin fizz blue,” he said. Craft cocktail bartenders have seemingly gotten over any high-minded reservations about blue drinks, as they’ve begun slowly appearing across menus in the past few years. They have even produced a few quasi-famous new drinks, such as the Gun Metal Blue, at Porchlight in Manhattan, made with the citrus-based liqueur blue curaçao, like most blue drinks.

A Fox victory — after it limped into trial amid a series of legal setbacks — would be a major triumph for the network. “In the coming weeks, we will prove Fox spread lies causing enormous damage to Dominion. We look forward to trial,” a Dominion spokesperson said in a statement on the eve of trial. Pretrial dramaThus far, Fox News has faced an uphill battle in court, as the case careened toward trial. The outcome of the trial, however, is not likely to dramatically change the dishonest way in which Fox News operates.

☆ Morning Bid: Markets hope China chooses to surprise on the upside
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 17 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Wayne Cole. It's been a careful start to the week in Asia with stocks and bonds little changed and the dollar holding most of Friday's bounce. The caution is understandable given the week holds updates on Chinese economic growth and global PMIs, along with the Fed's Beige book and at least eight Fed speakers. Analysts are generally optimistic for the China data given the stunning strength of recent trade figures. Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and Morgan Stanley (MS.N) had both been expected to report a drop in profit, though that might not be inevitable given last Friday's upside surprises on earnings.

☆ Fox News defamation trial will begin Tuesday, judge says, without explaining one-day delay
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis said Monday that the delay in the Fox-Dominion defamation trial “is not unusual” and told the parties that he expects them back on Tuesday to finish jury selection and start the trial. “I made the decision to delay the start of the trial until tomorrow,” Davis said in court, later adding that “it’s a six-week trial. The high-stakes defamation trial against Fox News, initially set to begin with opening statements on Monday, was abruptly delayed on Sunday evening, in an eleventh-hour twist. What to know about the high-stakes trialThe historic defamation lawsuit brought against Fox News by Dominion Voting Systems could have significant ramifications for the right-wing cable channel. But in a major blow to the right-wing network last month, the judge overseeing the case allowed it to go to trial.

☆ Why Is Chartreuse Hard to Find Right Now? Ask the Monks Who Make It.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Becky Cooper | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

According to Chartreuse Diffusion, the business arm of the monks’ operation, it took more than 150 years for the Carthusians to “unravel the secret of the manuscript.”Chartreuse became “a mixologist’s ace in the hole,” said Joe Kakos, an owner of Kakos Market, a liquor store in Birmingham, Mich. Many credit Murray Stenson, a bartender at the Zig Zag Café in Seattle, with repopularizing the liqueur in 2003 when he resurrected the century-old Last Word cocktail, a mixture of gin, Chartreuse, lime juice and maraschino liqueur. “I almost feel a little bit guilty,” said Ben Dougherty, the cafe’s owner. In 2020, as the pandemic turned many people into at-home mixologists, sales of Chartreuse in the United States doubled, a pattern that held true worldwide, according to Chartreuse Diffusion. Global sales topped $30 million in 2022.

☆ Hacker Stole My Phone, Credit Card, Identity. I Set Out to Find Them.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

They left the Verizon store and went to a nearby Apple store, where they used my Chase credit card to spend $6,370. And two, because a physical credit card had been used to make the purchases, even though I was still in possession of my card. Typically, when your credit card is about to expire, as mine was, the bank sends you a new card a few weeks ahead of time. All told, the gang allegedly stole hundreds of identities and defrauded retailers and credit card companies of $1.3 million. Whoever hacked my identity, it makes sense that they started with my credit card.

☆ A Bee’s Knees Mocktail Recipe for Your Next Night In
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Sarah Karnasiewicz | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SPRING CLEANING can be rewarding in any event. But recently, a pantry purge yielded an unexpected dividend: cocktail-hour inspiration. Taking a cue from a Prohibition-era classic called the Bee’s Knees, I simmered the dregs of various honey jars with water and a sprig of rosemary, producing a syrup with a delicious bite. Shaken with lemon juice and—continuing the clean theme—a zero-proof gin alternative, the resulting tipple satisfies just like the real thing.

Atlanta/Hong Kong CNN —Britain has reached an agreement to join a major trans-Pacific partnership, calling it its biggest trade deal since Brexit. The CPTPP is a free trade agreement with 11 members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam. The UK agreement comes almost two years after it began talks to join the pact. In the year through September 2022, the United Kingdom exported £60.5 billion ($75 billion) worth of goods to CPTPP countries, Sunak’s office said in a statement. Services made up a huge chunk — 43% — of overall UK trade with CPTPP members last year, according to Sunak’s office.

The CPTPP is a free trade agreement with 11 members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam. The UK agreement comes almost two years after it began talks to join the pact. The UK Office for Budget Responsibility, which produces economic forecasts for the government, expects Brexit to reduce Britain’s output by 4% over 15 years compared with remaining in the bloc. Becoming a CPTPP member means that more than 99% of UK exports to the 11 other countries will now be eligible for tariff-free trade. Services made up a huge chunk — 43% — of overall UK trade with CPTPP members last year, according to Sunak’s office.

☆ Explainer: Why is Britain joining a trans-Pacific trade pact?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here are some details of the agreement as Britain seeks post-Brexit trade wins in geographically distant but faster growing economies. HOW MUCH DOES BRITAIN TRADE WITH CPTPP? Britain says that exports to CPTPP countries were worth 60.5 billion pounds in the twelve months to end-Sept. 2022. David Henig, Director, the UK Trade Policy Project, said that only Malaysia and Brunei weren't covered by existing FTAs, and they only account for 0.33% of UK trade. GEOPOLITICAL FACTORSWhile the long-term benefit for Britain's economy is set to be modest, Britain has other reasons for joining the bloc.

☆ Johnnie Walker maker Diageo appoints Debra Crew CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —One of the world’s largest alcoholic drinks companies has appointed its first female CEO. Diageo, which makes Guinness beer and Johnnie Walker whisky, said Tuesday that chief operating officer Debra Crew would succeed Ivan Menezes, who will retire from the company after 10 years at the helm. Diageo is the seventh-largest member of the FTSE 100 (UKX) index and will now become the largest UK-listed company led by a woman. There are just nine other FTSE 100 (UKX) companies led by women, including pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GLAXF) and bank NatWest. Diageo is the world’s fourth biggest alcoholic drinks company by market value, after AB InBev (BUD) and China’s Wuliangye Yibin and Kweichow Moutai.

☆ Prince Harry and Elton John are going to court in a high-profile fight against the Daily Mail
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Both Prince Harry and Elton John were in court on Monday as proceedings commenced in an explosive lawsuit brought against Daily Mail publisher, Associated Newspapers. Even the Daily Mail published an article on their arrival in court. A spokesperson for Prince Harry told Reuters that the Duke of Sussex wanted to be present to signal public support for the case. It’s no surprise that Prince Harry would use his celebrity to gin up attention about the lawsuit. But if it does go to trial, it is safe to say that it will be precisely the type of trial that an outlet like the Daily Mail relishes in covering.

☆ Ryan Reynolds flexes as corporate convert
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, March 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - For Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds, dealmaking may be more lucrative than Deadpool. One more transaction like this, and Reynolds could find that he has a real future outside of the acting biz. For Mint, Reynolds has described the marketing strategy as “scrappy”, and he has done some catchy things, like appearing alongside T-Mobile’s chief executive in a video announcing the deal and leaving voicemails for customers. Showing success outside of the lifestyle category – in mobile – is validation for the actor, but a differentiating factor might have been Reynolds’ ownership stake in Mint. Converting that stake into a lucrative deal, twice, suggests that Reynolds could be more than just a pretty face.

☆ T-Mobile scoops up owner of Ryan Reynolds-backed Mint Mobile for $1.35 bln
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 15 (Reuters) - T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS.O) said on Wednesday it would buy Ka'ena Corp, the owner of Ryan Reynolds-backed budget service provider Mint Mobile, for up to $1.35 billion, as the telecom operator looks to maintain growth in a competitive market. The deal will allow T-Mobile to tap a larger share of the pay-as-you-go customer base, whose numbers are expected to swell as credit-challenged people shy away from hefty monthly bills. The purchase will add slightly to T-Mobile's core adjusted earnings, but is not expected to affect its outlook for the year. "Over the long term, we'll also benefit from applying the marketing formula Mint has become famous for across more parts of T-Mobile," said Mike Sievert, Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile. Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Uttaresh VenkateshwaranOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ T-Mobile to buy Ryan Reynolds’ Mint Mobile in a $1.35 billion deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

T-Mobile announced Wednesday that it’s buying budget wireless provider Mint Mobile in a larger deal for up to $1.35 billion. “I never dreamt I’d own a wireless company and I certainly never dreamt I’d sell it to T-Mobile,” Reynolds wrote on Twitter Wednesday. Mint Mobile was created in 2016 with the goal of delivering an “affordable, premium wireless” service direct to consumers, according to its website. In his 2019 statement, Reynolds said he was “excited to champion a more practical approach to the most essential technology.”T-Mobile hopes to boost its own prepaid services with the acquisition of Mint Mobile. “Over the long-term, we’ll also benefit from applying the marketing formula Mint has become famous for across more parts of T-Mobile.” wrote Sievert.

[1/5] A general view of Highclere Castle, the stately home known around the world as the venue for "Downton Abbey", in Highclere, Britain, March 10, 2023. Highclere Castle in southern England, where the early 20th century period drama about the lives of aristocrats and their servants was filmed, is facing a serious staffing crunch. "We have stopped being able to offer any weddings of any substantial size because of Brexit," Carnarvon, a countess who owns Highclere with her husband, the eighth Earl of Carnarvon, said. Since leaving the European Union, Britain has faced worker shortages at various stages in areas such as manufacturing, construction and logistics. 'WRAPPED IN RED TAPE'Just outside Highclere Castle, in the grounds designed by 18th century landscape architect Capability Brown, dozens of chairs and a few tables lie stacked and unused.

European demand is deepening a shortage of agave, the prickly plant native to Mexico's Jalisco region that's used to make tequila. Tequila prices have leapt. Compounding matters, the flow to Europe of high-quality 100% agave tequila - which has to be bottled in Mexico - has also been constrained by the supply-chain chaos from COVID-19. Michael Merolli, head of Pernod Ricard's tequila business, which includes Olmeca, said there were far fewer tequila brands in Europe than the United States, where the market was more mature and competitive, with new brands emerging every week. U.S. A-listers like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kendall Jenner and Kevin Hart have all launched tequila brands in recent years.

☆ DeSantis signs bill into law to expand a controversial program that would ship migrants to 'sanctuary cities'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"I can't have people all across the border coming into Florida," DeSantis said Wednesday. Ron DeSantis of Florida signed a bill into law Wednesday to expand the state's ability to move migrants to Democratic-led states. Under the expanded law, Florida could move migrants from any state and keep the details of the transportation companies secret. DeSantis' Martha's Vineyard move was viewed by critics as a cruel stunt that misled vulnerable migrants. So-called "sanctuary cities" limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities by refusing to report or hand over certain undocumented immigrants for deportation.

☆ Cheers! Spirits like gin, vodka, overtake beer's U.S. market share
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Jessica Dinapoli | Thomson Reuters | New York-Based Reporter Covering U.S. Consumer Products Spanning Paper Towels To Packaged Food | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Spirits like whiskey, cognac and tequila, a celebrity favorite, have surpassed beer's U.S. market share for the first time due to price hikes and high-end cocktail trends, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. U.S. sales for spirits totaled $37.58 billion last year, while beers like Anheuser-Busch inbev SA's (ABI.BR) Bud Lite tallied $37.46 billion, according to data compiled by the Distilled Spirits Council. Spirits' market share was 42.1%, while beer's was 41.9%, according to the data. Tequila and ready-to-drink canned cocktails including Constellation Brands Inc's (STZ.N) Fresca vodka spritz were among the fastest-growing types of spirits, the Distilled Spirits Council said. "The 'premiumization' trend, where people look at distilled spirits as an affordable luxury, is affirmed by these numbers," said Chris Swonger, CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council.

OVER THE LAST decade, backbars across the U.S. have filled up with colorful, ornately labeled bottles of amaro, an Italian liqueur infused with herbs, roots and/or spices. The bitter option pulls from the often more than 15 amari (including Italian and domestic options) in stock. In fall and winter, amari mingle with aged spirits, like whiskey, often on the rocks. In the spring, they find their way into spritzes or drinks made with clear spirits like gin or tequila. There’s only one rule, said general manager Brittany Tinelli, who selects the spirits at Roman’s: “The bitter needs to be the star.”

Since the pandemic, Diageo has benefited from people splurging on more expensive types of alcohol while staying home under lockdown. But Diageo's North America business, which accounts for nearly 30% of overall sales, reported organic sales growth of 3% in the six months ended Dec. 31 versus analyst estimates of over 6%. The company said it expected North American organic net sales growth to "continue to normalise through the second half of fiscal '23, compared to the double-digit growth in the prior period". OCCASIONAL TREATSStill, overall organic net sales rose 9.4% in the six months to Dec. 31, beating analyst forecasts for a 7.9% rise. Diageo's "premium-plus" brands - which are more expensive than brands such as Smirnoff vodka but under about 50 pounds ($61.92), drove 65% of its organic net sales growth, the company said.

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