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☆ ‘California is meant to burn': Experts teach landowners art of prescribed burns
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Nathan Frandino | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Volunteer David Palmer takes part in a broadcast burn in advance of wildfire season near Blodgett Forest Research Station in Georgetown, California, U.S., May 20, 2023. Teaching locals is exactly what Susie Kocher is hoping to accomplish through the El Dorado Amador Prescribed Burn Association. Founded in 2021, the association teaches private landowners about prescribed burns, including how to plan and carry them out safely. California last year launched a strategic plan for wildfire and forest resilience with the aim of expanding prescribed burns to 400,000 acres annually by 2025. The Saturday class for two dozen volunteers – mostly college students and a few private landowners - at the Blodgett Forest Research Station west of Lake Tahoe turned out just as the experts had hoped.

Persons: David Palmer, Loren Elliott GEORGETOWN, Susie Kocher, Amador, it's, Kocher, Sarah Fischbach, haven't, ” Fischbach, we're, ”, Ariel Roughton, Cathy Mueller, we've, ” Mueller, Nathan Frandino, Mary Milliken, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Research, REUTERS, El, Burn, “, Blodgett, Thomson Locations: Blodgett, Georgetown , California, U.S, Loren Elliott GEORGETOWN , California, California, Sierra Nevada, Lake, “ California

☆ Photos show what King Charles' reign has been like so far, from ascending the throne to a cancer diagnosis
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Samantha Grindell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Charles also greeted well-wishers on Easter 2024 after a tumultuous March for the royals. King Charles and Queen Camilla shake hands with people at Windsor Castle on Easter 2024. Hollie Adams - WPA Pool/Getty ImagesThe king and Camilla attended an Easter service at Windsor Castle on March 31, speaking to members of the public outside of St George's Chapel. Charles and Camilla were joined by his siblings and their spouses, as well as Sarah Ferguson and Charles' nephew, James, Earl of Wessex. According to royal reporter Rebecca English, the king said he was "so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did'.

Persons: Charles, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Hollie Adams, Camilla, Sarah Ferguson, James, Earl of Wessex, Prince, Princess, Kate, Wales, Buckingham, Rebecca English, Catherine Organizations: Windsor Castle Locations: Windsor, St George's, Wales, Kensington

☆ King Charles' brother Prince Andrew still casts a cloud over monarchy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Angus Macswan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Rapid fall from grace over links to EpsteinBarred from wearing uniformStill eighth in the line of succession to throneLONDON, May 5 (Reuters) - As the British monarchy celebrates King Charles' coronation this Saturday with pomp and pageantry, a cloud still hangs over his younger brother Prince Andrew. Andrew had reputedly been the late Queen Elizabeth's favourite son, but the scandal was too much for her. But royal observers think a return to favour is highly unlikely, not least as Charles has spoken of having a slimmed-down monarchy with fewer working royals. According to British media, the king also wants his brother to move out of the mansion he has occupied for years in the royal estate in Windsor and reside in a smaller home. Additional reporting by Humza Jilani Editing by Estelle Shirbon, Andrew Heavens and Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Marc Benioff says he has a successor. A leaked Salesforce org chart identifies the likely candidates.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Ashley Stewart | Ellen Thomas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Marc Benioff's succession plan appeared to fall apart when co-CEO Bret Taylor resigned on Nov. 30. "I always have a succession plan," Benioff told Insider. A leaked Salesforce organizational chart identifies the likely candidates who are next in line. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says he has a successor in mind and a leaked Salesforce organizational chart identifies the likely candidates who are next in line. "I always have a succession plan," Benioff told Insider in an interview.

☆ From US to London, royal super fan makes 'once-in-a-lifetime' coronation pilgrimage
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Jeevan Ravindran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Royals super fan Donna Werner from the U.S. and fellow royals fan show their outfits ahead of the Coronation of King Charles, in London, Britain, May 2, 2023. Now she is ecstatic to be in London for her first coronation. Next to her tent, Werner has hung an American flag and a sign reading "US loves King Charles." She has also painstakingly created a hat covered with flags, photos and cut-out figures of King Charles. It really does, it really, really does."

LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) - After waiting longer than any British heir to become monarch, King Charles has quietly settled into his new role with little of the drama some commentators had expected, but with family divisions and some fundamental issues still looming. "I think we are all quite surprised at how well King Charles has begun," royal author Tina Brown told Reuters. Charles does not enjoy same support as his widely admired mother, but his public approval ratings are generally positive. For Charles, the most prominent issue remains the ongoing conflict with his younger son Prince Harry. "I think the public are thinking we've kind of heard all that, but normal life continues."

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff gave executives lavish gifts including Cartier watches. Its marketing chief was given an Aston Martin, while another executive got an electric BMW. Marc Benioff pulls out all the stops when it comes to buying gifts for some executives. Insider revealed last week that the Salesforce CEO has generously given some watches costing five figures and cars costing well into six figures. Benioff is known for handing out $10,000 Cartier watches at Salesforce executive meetings.

☆ Benioff vs. Benioff
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Ashley Stewart | Ellen Thomas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +29 min

Within Salesforce, Benioff riffs are at times met with backlash from an angry workforce. "You're not going to fire your family during times of need," a former Salesforce executive told Insider. "I don't think they understand Ohana," Benioff told Insider. "Look, we have to be the example of stakeholder capitalism," Benioff told Insider. A 'New Day' at Salesforce"I use the Japanese principle of shoshin, beginner's mind," Benioff told Insider in a phone interview in March.

CNN —Harry Belafonte, the dashing singer, actor and activist who became an indispensable supporter of the civil rights movement, has died, his publicist Ken Sunshine told CNN. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Belafonte, left, plays a school principal in a scene from the film "See How They Run" in 1952. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Belafonte poses with the Emmy Award he won in 1960 for the musical special "Tonight With Belafonte." Fred Sabine/NBCU/Getty Images Belafonte and other recipients of Albert Einstein Commemorative Awards display their medallions after being honored in 1972. He is survived by his wife Pamela, his children Adrienne Belafonte Biesemeyer, Shari Belafonte, Gina Belafonte, David Belafonte, two stepchildren Sarah Frank and Lindsey Frank and eight grandchildren.

☆ Fact Check-Video of Australian news interview featuring Bill Gates edited using AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The version of the clip with altered dialogue being shared was created using deepfake technology, which manipulates audio and visuals to make it appear that an individual is saying something (here). There are signs of several techniques used to create the fake video, according to Dominic Lees, an associate professor of filmmaking at the University of Reading. “Voice cloning has been used to create the fake voices of Gates and his interviewer…The fake audio has been applied to a re-edited version of the interview,” Lees told Reuters. So, this analysis suggests the video is likely to be manipulated.”A spokesperson for ABC News told Reuters, “The video is clearly fake. The video shared on social media has been manipulated using deepfake technology and does not show an authentic interaction between ABC News journalist Sarah Ferguson and Bill Gates.

☆ Bosses think in-office work 3 times a week is 'the magical number.' 'It's not,' says CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Jennifer Liu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Corporate bosses are getting return-to-office requirements all wrong, global work experts and remote leaders said during a panel conversation at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas, recently. Many bosses land on three days a week as if it's "the magical number. As far as best practices go, Bush says "every leader should listen better" and understand how teams work best based on one-on-one conversations, surveys, focus groups or 90-day trial runs. Sarah Fern, chief people officer at Velocity Global, says listening is the biggest challenge for remote leaders — and most importantly, understanding what you're not hearing. 'There are not good remote work policies in place'

☆ LGBT Brazilians compete in country's first drag king contest
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Steven Grattan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Egon Maurice LaSand poses with a crown after winning the King of Kings contest, a drag king competition that reunites 15 artists from all over the country, in Sao Paulo, Brazil February 5, 2023. King is taking part in Brazil's King of Kings competition, the first of its kind where 15 drag kings from around the country compete to win the title. Drag kings are mostly female or transgender performers playing exaggerated male characters, but the contest is open to anyone. "It's historic, because we don't have a contest or an event dedicated to drag kings in Brazil," said 43-year-old drag king Lorde Lazzarus, who organized the event. Many of the acts carried messages about social issues affecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community through artistic performances.

☆ The largest hedge fund in the world just named a 37-year-old woman as a co-CIO. Meet the top 11 execs leading Bridgewater into its new era.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Alyson Velati | Michelle Abrego | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Karen Karniol-Tambour will join co-CIOs Greg Jensen and Bob Prince to oversee the hedge fund's investment strategy. Despite a breakout year for many multi-strategy and macro hedge funds, Bridgewater lagged behind its peers. Nir Bar Dea, co-CEOBar Dea. Bridgewater AssociatesAs cochief investment officer, Jensen oversees Bridgewater's investment strategies and research efforts as well as its investment talent. Since joining Bridgewater in 1986, he has been a partner in building the hedge fund's investment process and products.

☆ Bill Gates says he shouldn’t have had dinners with Jeffrey Epstein
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Microsoft founder Bill Gates said he “shouldn’t have had dinners” with Jeffrey Epstein during an interview with Australia’s ABC 7 .30. But Gates had told CNN he only had dinners with him for potential philanthropic opportunities. Presenter Sarah Ferguson grilled Gates, asking if he “regrets the relationship he maintained” with Epstein, going against his ex-wife Melinda Gates’ advice. “You’re going way back in time,” Gates said, adding he’s said this “over the hundredth time.”“I shouldn’t have had dinners with him,” Gates responded. “It’s a time of reflection, and at this point, I need to go forward,” Gates told CNN in 2021.

On other pages, they said he memorialized in writing some of his experiences or thoughts as vice president at the time. The number of notebooks Biden kept is large, according to the person familiar with the investigation, but they did not know the precise number. Trump and Biden’s possession of classified documents is the subject of separate special counsel investigations. Attorney General Merrick Garland has so far not named a special counsel to investigate Pence’s handling of classified documents. On Friday, Pence apologized for having classified documents in his possession and said he takes full responsibility for it.

☆ From PayPal to Facebook, Silicon Valley has long been obsessed with the idea of company "mafias." Take a look at ex-Square staffers who have created more than $40 billion of startup value.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Samantha Stokes | Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The idea of Silicon Valley "mafias" first emerged with the Oracle, Facebook, and PayPal mafias. Former Square staffers have gone on to launch startups worth nearly $40 billion cumulatively. Silicon Valley insiders have long been obsessed with the idea of startup "mafias." The "PayPal mafia" was perhaps the most infamous company that spawned the founders of tech giants like YouTube, Yelp, Tesla, and LinkedIn. Facebook and Oracle also have their own mafias of former employees that have produced iconic tech companies like Salesforce, Asana, and GoodRx.

☆ Lisa Marie Presley remembered at Graceland memorial service
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Some mourners held flowers as they waited for the service to begin under the tall trees on the lawn of Graceland, the home in Memphis where Lisa Marie lived as a child with her father. She was delicate, but was filled with life,” Priscilla Presley read. She then grew a family of her own.”After reading the poem, Priscilla Presley said: “Our heart is broken. After her father died, she became the sole heir of the Elvis Presley Trust, which — along with Elvis Presley Enterprises — managed Graceland and other assets until she sold her majority interest in 2005. A representative from Elvis Presley Enterprises has told The Associated Press that the mansion is in a trust that will go to the benefit of her children.

☆ Nearly $40 billion of startup value later, here's what the members of the Square mafia have been up to since leaving the fintech giant
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Samantha Stokes | Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former Square staffers have gone on to launch startups worth nearly $40 billion cumulatively. Insider tracked 15 members of the "Square mafia" to see what they're up to these days. The "PayPal mafia" was perhaps the most infamous company that spawned the founders of tech giants like YouTube, Yelp, Tesla, and LinkedIn. Facebook and Oracle also have their own mafias of former employees that have produced iconic tech companies like Salesforce, Asana, and GoodRx. Insider tracked 15 ex-Square employees in their current ventures, ranging from launching multibillion-dollar public companies to running high-profile VC firms.

☆ More than 1 in 4 checking account holders are paying fees. Here's how to avoid them
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

sturtiEven with broad availability of free checking services, more than a quarter of checking account holders — 27% — are paying fees every month. The personal finance site conducted its online survey Dec. 7-12 and included 3,657 adults, of whom 3,069 have a checking account. Gen Z, who range in age from 18 to 26, comes in at the top of the list, with 46% of that generation's checking account holders paying monthly fees. Millennials, who are ages 27 to 42, come in next, with 42% of account holders paying monthly checking fees, Bankrate.com found. Older cohorts — Gen Xers, who are between 43 and 58, and baby boomers, ages 59 to 77 — are less likely to pay checking account fees.

☆ A US federal agency is considering a ban on gas stoves
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —A federal agency is considering a ban on gas stoves as concerns about indoor pollution linked to childhood asthma rise, Bloomberg first reported. A US Consumer Product Safety commissioner told Bloomberg gas stove usage is a “hidden hazard.”“Any option is on the table. The CPSC has been considering action on gas stoves for months.Trumka recommended in October that the CPSC seek public comment on the hazards associated with gas stoves. The study found that almost 13% of current childhood asthma in the US is attributable to gas stove use. Trumka told Bloomberg the agency plans to open public comment on gas stove hazards.

☆ 8 top business leaders—from Yelp, Zillow, Dell, and more—on the habits they want to cultivate in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Dell TechnologiesJen Felch, Chief Digital Officer and CIO"Going into 2023, I'm focused on cultivating a habit of asking better questions. In 2023, I'm resolving to tackle my own executive burnout, and to be more authentic about it. In 2023, I'm committing to meditating 10 minutes per day, five days a week. Ultimately, entrepreneurial employees have the passion to make the 'new' happen, powering through hurdles, and inspiring real innovation around them." NextdoorSarah Friar, CEO"In 2023 there are several important habits that I will cultivate to help me and the Nextdoor team succeed.

☆ Hunter Biden hires attorney Abbe Lowell to beef up legal team
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Sarah Fitzpatrick | Sarah Fitzpatrick Is A Senior Investigative Producer | Story Editor For Nbc News. She Previously Worked For Cbs News | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Hunter Biden has added a high-powered attorney to his legal team amid an ongoing federal probe and plans by Republicans to make him a key focus of investigations when they take control of the House next month. Abbe Lowell, of the firm Winston and Strawn, will be primarily responsible for coordinating Hunter Biden’s response to anticipated congressional oversight investigations, as well advising on other legal issues and overall strategy, an attorney for Hunter Biden told NBC News on Wednesday. "Hunter Biden has retained Abbe Lowell to help advise him and be part of his legal team to address the challenges he is facing,” the attorney, Kevin Morris, said. "Lowell is a well-known Washington based attorney has represented numerous public officials and high profile people in DOJ investigations and trials as well as Congressional Investigations. Mr. Lowell will handle congressional investigations and general strategic advice."

☆ ‘Shame on you’: Club Q survivors blame GOP rhetoric for mass violence
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Sarah Fortinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Survivors of the Club Q mass shooting directly tied Republicans’ rhetoric to the massacre at the Colorado LGBTQ nightclub and detailed their experiences on the night of the shooting, in prepared testimony read before the House Oversight and Reform committee Wednesday. He also placed direct blame on lawmakers’ hateful rhetoric, saying it was “the direct cause” of the Club Q massacre. “Hate rhetoric from politicians, religious leaders, and media outlets is at the root of the attacks like at Club Q, and it needs to stop now. When Club Q owner and survivor Matthew Haynes read his prepared remarks, he seemed to push back directly at Comer, saying, “I know that we, our Club Q community, are in the thoughts and prayers of so many of you. They’re not changing the rhetoric of hate.”“We need safe places like Club Q more than ever.

CNN —The House Republican Conference is still entrenched in an internal war over whether to reinstate an arcane rule that would empower any member to bring up a vote to oust a speaker at any time. The bitter divide is only heating up and has emerged center stage in House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy’s quest for 218 votes to win the position. “There’s a reason [the motion to vacate] already got debated. It’s a healthy process.”For now, leadership is keeping their options open on the motion to vacate with Republican Whip Steve Scalise telling reporters Tuesday, “There are continuing negotiations going on. Video Ad Feedback GOP lawmaker explains why he won't vote for McCarthy to become House Speaker 03:08 - Source: CNNThe House is scheduled to hold another rules meeting on Wednesday where they will debate the issue.

☆ The 25 big companies with the best CEOs
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

1 on Comparably's 2022 list of the top CEOs from big companies. 1 on Comparably's Best Company Culture list that was published on Monday. The CEOs of ADP, Nextdoor, and Google also made this year's top 10 CEOs. Several CEOs of companies in tech made the top of the list. The following are the CEOs that made the top of the large company list this year.

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