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☆ Meet Sonny Vaccaro, the executive credited with signing Michael Jordan in Ben Affleck's new movie 'Air' and the self-proclaimed 'savior of Nike'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Vaccaro, 83, was a key figure in Nike's push to sign Michael Jordan in 1984. No one in his family went to college, Vaccaro said in an interview over a pancake breakfast in 2021. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro in the new "Air" movie about how Nike signed Michael Jordan. "The signing of Michael Jordan, yeah, success has a thousand fathers, and failure is an orphan," Knight told USA Today in 2015. "A lot of people want to take credit for signing Michael Jordan, most obviously Sonny Vaccaro."

☆ Ukrainian journalists fight another kind of war - against graft
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Dan Peleschuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

According to Transparency International's 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index, Ukraine ranked slightly better than Russia but still well below the global average. Their focus also shows civil society is embracing its role as a government watchdog even as the war grinds on. Many journalists are also turning their attention to uncovering Russian war crimes and assets in Ukraine. PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPSuch reports play a key role in Ukraine's fledgling anti-corruption system, created after the 2014 Maidan revolution toppled pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. Romaniuk, director of the Institute of Mass Information, an NGO in Kyiv, said Ukrainian journalists' role as anti-corruption activists will become increasingly important as Kyiv maps out a more transparent future.

Elected last June, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has struggled to fulfil campaign promises to bring down inflation, which hit 8.7% in January, driven by an 11.2% jump in food prices, the biggest since 2009. Imported onions, bought mostly from India and China, require sanitary and phytosanitary permits for quarantine and biosecurity purposes. Steep price rises for eggs and sugar have also whacked up the cost of putting food on the table. Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics'UNSOLVED' SUPPLY PROBLEMSOfficials say the high inflation was transitory and should ease once supply issues are addressed. Philippines' onion demand and supply($1 = 54.52 Philippine pesos)Additional reporting by Karen Lema and Eloisa Lopez; Editing by Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Breaking ChatGPT: The AI's alter ego DAN reveals why the internet is so drawn to making the chatbot violate its own rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

DAN is an alter-ego that ChatGPT can assume to ignore rules put in place by OpenAI. ChatGPT could say what it wanted simply by having users ask it to ignore its rules. Sean McGregor, the founder of the Responsible AI Collaborative, told Insider the jailbreaking helps OpenAI patch holes in its filters. David Blunk, who came up with the DAN 3.0, told Insider there's also a "fun side" to getting ChatGPT to break the rules. DAN users and creators say OpenAI made the model "too restrictive"ChatGPT, and earlier versions of GPT, have been known to spew discriminatory or illegal content.

☆ Chegg gets schooled in AI downside
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Its stock slumped nearly one-fifth on Tuesday, after it forecast shrinking revenue in 2023. The chief problem for companies like Chegg is that tumbling undergraduate enrollment already means fewer future customers. To grow, Chegg must win an ever-bigger share of a shrinking market. Rosensweig argues that Chegg can use the technology to its own advantage, matching students with the right content and constructing personalized study plans. By contrast, other companies that have started putting AI to work, like online publisher BuzzFeed (BZFD.O), have seen their stock soar.

☆ Familiar foe: No walk down Sentimental Street for Andy Reid
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

February 8 - Andy Reid will stare across the field against familiar uniforms on Sunday but he isn't going to set aside time to be sentimental. Reid is attempting to shoo away references to Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Ariz., as the "Reid Bowl." Those Eagles Reid is referring to are center Jason Kelce, right tackle Lane Johnson, defensive tackle Fletcher Cox and defensive end Brandon Graham. Philadelphia then lost 24-21 to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. During the 2008 season, Reid's Eagles reached the NFC title contest but lost to the Arizona Cardinals.

☆ A Google software engineer says it was a 'slap in the face' to find out he was laid off via email after 20 years at the company
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Jeremy Joslin, a 20-year Google engineer, says being laid off via email was a "slap in the face." Jeremy Joslin, who according to his LinkedIn profile had worked at the tech giant since 2003, said on Friday that the company told him over email. "It's hard for me to believe that after 20 years at Google I unexpectedly find out about my last day via an email," he tweeted. After 17.5 years at Google, it was kind of a tough way to discover that I'd become a Xoogler." "Not the same company I started at 20 years ago," he said on LinkedIn.

☆ Microsoft to cut thousands of jobs across divisions - reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Lucy NicholsonJan 17 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) plans to cut thousands of jobs with some roles expected to be eliminated in human resources and engineering divisions, according to media reports on Tuesday. U.K broadcaster Sky News reported, citing sources, that Microsoft plans to cut about 5% of its workforce, or about 11,000 roles. The company plans to cut jobs in a number of engineering divisions on Wednesday, Bloomberg News reported, according to a person familiar with the matter, while Insider reported that Microsoft could cut recruiting staff by as much as one-third. In October, news site Axios reported that Microsoft had laid off under 1,000 employees across several divisions. Shares of Microsoft, which is set to report quarterly results on Jan. 24, were marginally higher in late afternoon trading.

☆ Markets think the Fed is about to deliver a smaller rate hike, but here's one big reason the central bank could stay aggressive on its next move
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Investors are locking in expectations that the Fed will downshift its interest rate hike in February. The December core rate was 0.3% on a monthly basis, up from 0.2% in November. Shelter inflation that monitors costs for renters and homeowners climbed 0.8%. "Bond yields moving lower, the VIX moving lower and the dollar moving lower suggests that the iceberg of fear that we've seen for the last year almost is easing," Russell said. "The market looks out and they see a scenario of lower inflation … they see that we're getting to the end of this aggressive rate hiking."

☆ Companies like Amazon and Salesforce use layoffs to cut their lowest performers — and recruiters know it
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Rebecca Knight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Salesforce, Compass, and Amazon recently laid off thousands of what they called "low performers." What's more, a tight job market means that hiring managers can't afford to be so choosy. But as we enter the new year, and recession fears mount, the continued strength of tech hiring is an open question. Still, recruiters say that candidates laid off by virtue of supposedly poor performance are not disqualified from consideration — far from it. Some recruiters say they take an empathetic approach based on personal experience.

In the third round of voting on Tuesday, all 20 of the lawmakers defying Mr. McCarthy voted for Jim Jordan of Ohio instead. Mr. Jordan, who himself voted for Mr. McCarthy, is a founding member of the Freedom Caucus and has repeatedly cast doubt on the 2020 election. Nineteen Republicans did not support Mr. McCarthy on the first two votes, casting their ballots for others, including Mr. Biggs and Mr. Jordan. 1st Zeldin Jordan Jordan Luna , Fla. 13th Fla. 13th Jordan Jordan Jordan Miller , Ill. 15th Ill. 15th Jordan Jordan Jordan Norman , S.C. 5th S.C. 5th Biggs Jordan Jordan Ogles , Tenn. 5th Tenn. 5th Jordan Jordan Jordan Perry , Pa. 10th Pa. 10th Biggs Jordan Jordan Rosendale , Mont. 2nd Biggs Jordan Jordan Roy , Texas 21st Texas 21st Donalds Jordan Jordan Self , Texas 3rd Texas 3rd Jordan Jordan JordanLee Zeldin, a former representative from New York, received one vote (from Andy Harris of Maryland) on the first ballot.

Share this -Link copiedConservatives opposed to McCarthy seen huddling in chamber during third vote During the third ballot vote for speaker, several House Republicans who have opposed McCarthy to be speaker were seen huddling in the back of the chamber. McCarthy lost twice earlier in the day, with 19 conservatives casting their ballots for Rep. Jim Jordan, of Ohio, in the second round. Share this -Link copiedDemocrats mock Republicans over inability to elect House speaker Now in the minority, House Democrats appeared to enjoy the GOP divisions over electing a speaker Tuesday. Share this -Link copiedPelosi reacts to Republicans' struggling to elect GOP speaker As House Republicans struggled to elect their own speaker now that they have the majority, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., suggested the GOP is ruining Congress as an institution. Pelosi stepped down as the Democratic leader after serving as House speaker twice.

☆ Final farewell: From Sidney Poitier to Pope Emeritus Benedict a look back at the influential figures who died in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +55 min

Other world leaders who died in 2022 include former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who died in August. The final days of 2022 saw the loss of some exceptionally notable figures, including Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2022 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):___JANUARY___Dan Reeves, 77. A Cuban-born artist whose radiant color palette and geometric paintings were overlooked for decades before the art world took notice. A prolific character actor best known for playing villains and tough guys in “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Ocean’s Eleven” and other films.

☆ List: All the weapons and ammunition provided to Ukraine by the US after Russia's invasion
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Since February, the US has committed more than $19 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. The US has also provided over 104 million rounds of small arms ammunition. Loading Something is loading. On December 21, the Biden administration announced a further $1.85 billion in security assistance, including the first supply of Patriot Air Defense Systems, with tens of billions in additional military aid set to be provided in 2023. According to a fact sheet released by the State Department, the US had by early December provided Ukraine with the following weapons systems and ammunition:

☆ Tesla opens pre-orders for a wireless charging mat that's similar to Apple's failed version
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tesla announced pre-orders were open for a $300 wireless charging mat. In 2019, Apple canceled AirPower, its own version of a wireless charging mat. Back in 2019, Apple scrapped plans for a similar product called AirPower because Apple said it failed to meet the company's standards. Like Tesla's charging mat, AirPower was designed to charge three products at once— including wearables, which aren't usually compatible with Qi, an inductive method for wireless charging. Tesla's Wireless Charging Platform isn't compatible with the Apple Watch, for instance, the Verge reported.

☆ YouTube's $2.5 billion deal with the NFL could rock streaming TV advertising in 2023. Experts predict 4 things that will impact the flow of ad dollars next year.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Ryan Joe | Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Streaming TV ad spend will surge in 2023. The foundation is set for streaming TV advertising to be a huge growth area in 2023. The global media agency Magna Global predicted in its recent forecast that streaming TV ad spend in the US will surge 32.7% next year. Here's what experts — including advertisers, content owners, TV measurement firms, and analysts — think will impact the flow of dollars in streaming TV advertising next year. More advertisers will buy streaming TV ads — and pay higher rates — because of live sports2022 was a boom year for live sports in streaming TV.

Mortgage rates have been holding steady over the past several days. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage refinance rates todayMortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage calculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates will affect your monthly and long-term payments. But whether mortgage rates will drop in 2023 hinges on if the Federal Reserve can get inflation under control. If the Fed acts too aggressively and engineers a recession, mortgage rates could fall further than what current forecasts expect.

☆ Jim Jordan previews House Republican approach to Big Tech, demanding info on alleged 'collusion' with Biden administration
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In the letters dated Wednesday, Jordan demanded information about what he called "the nature and extent of your companies' collusion with the Biden Administration." He also asked for a list of names of people at the companies responsible for developing content moderation policies, now or in the past, as well as third-party groups, companies or people the company has consulted on content moderation policies. Jordan has been one of the loudest voices to criticize Big Tech firms for alleged censoring of conservative voices online. The three other companies Jordan included in the letter and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. WATCH: The messy business of content moderation on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

☆ Michael Jordan: The NBA has renamed its MVP trophy after the Bulls great
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images Jordan poses for a Little League Baseball photo in the late 1970s. Ken Levine/Getty Images Jordan famously shrugs his shoulders after hitting another 3-pointer during the 1992 NBA Finals versus Portland. "There is a reason you call someone the Michael Jordan of ... neurosurgery, or the Michael Jordan of rabbis, or the Michael Jordan of outrigger canoeing. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Jordan continues to promote Nike's Jordan Brand across the world. Jordan Brand/Getty Images Jordan cries at the Kobe Bryant memorial in Los Angeles in February 2020.

☆ JetBlue and American announced 11 all-new routes as the pair beefs up its controversial Northeast Alliance — see the full list
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

JetBlue Airways and American Airlines announced 11 new routes as part of their Northeast Alliance. Walter Bibikow/Getty ImagesJetBlue will start once-daily flights between New York and Hyannis near Cape Code in the spring of 2023. Just dance/ShutterstockJetBlue will start once-daily flights between New York and Bermuda in the spring of 2023. Aleenah AnsariJetBlue will start once-daily flights between Boston and Vancouver in the spring of 2023. American will start once-daily flights between New York and Knoxville on May 5.

Twitter laid off roughly 3,700 employees in early November in a cost-cutting measure by Musk, and hundreds more subsequently resigned. The lawsuit filed by two women who were laid off by Twitter last month accuses the company of violating federal and California laws banning workplace sex discrimination. Shannon Liss-Riordan, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said women "had targets on their backs" once Musk acquired the company, regardless of their talent and contributions. Liss-Riordan represents current and former Twitter employees in three other pending lawsuits filed in the same court since last month. Twitter has denied wrongdoing in the lawsuit involving advance notice, and has not responded to the other complaints.

☆ How Big Law fumbled its own Rooney rule on diversity
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Elizabeth Olson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Several law firms adopted the Mansfield rule in 2017, which aims to increase diversity in leadership. It's effectively the NFL's two-decade-old Rooney rule: a requirement that nonwhite candidates be considered when teams hire for coaching and front-office jobs. Law firms followed professional football in 2017 with its version of the Rooney rule, called the Mansfield rule. At first, the Rooney rule seemed to catch on when teams started to hire more coaches of color and a dozen general managers of color when that position was added to the Rooney rule. "For the Rooney rule to work," he said, "there has to be a true commitment from the owners.

☆ 'Glass Onion' could have made $200 million, but Netflix only let it play in theaters for a week
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Netflix probably left hundreds of millions of dollars on the table by not keeping Rian Johnson's "Glass Onion" in theaters. "Glass Onion" leaves theaters Tuesday. The truncated run for "Glass Onion" also prompted industry insiders to again question the streamer's theatrical release strategy. The first film's performance at the box office has provoked questions about why Netflix has limited the release of "Glass Onion" to just one week in a limited number of theaters. "Glass Onion" earned a 93% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 238 reviews and an audience score of 92%, suggesting that it too could have generated the same kind of word of mouth.

☆ Fintechs are opening up access to alternative investments previously reserved for sophisticated investors, but some VCs question if that's a good thing
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Asia Martin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

But some don't think retail investors are ready for the level of risk in the asset class. Alternative investments, as the name suggests, is an asset outside of traditional investments like stocks, bonds, and cash. Investors choose from private-equity funds, venture capital, hedge funds, real estate, and art, among other areas. Such returns have attracted state pension funds, university endowments, and, most recently, individual investors from the ultra-high-net-worth to the Joe Schmoes. Companies like iCapital, Allocate, RealBlocks and CAIS (pronounced case) launched to help wealth-management firms usher their clients into sought-after private market funds.

☆ Israel's Ben-Gvir, in leaked audio, cautious on far-right agenda in government
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Dan Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But Ben-Gvir, now a lawyer, says his positions have become more moderate. A soldier was suspended on Friday after being videotaped warning pro-Palestinian activists in the flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron: "Ben-Gvir will sort this place out." "Every bill you propose has very, very broad consequences and impacts," Ben-Gvir says in the recording. Queried by Army Radio, Ben-Gvir verified the recording. Palestinians and Jordan regard Jewish prayer there as a major provocation.

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