Cracker Barrel ‘suspends’ restaurant renovations following logo flop | CNN Business

September 10, 2025September 9, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Cracker Barrel announced that it’s suspending the renovations of its restaurants following a disastrous logo rollout that sent shares lower.

“You’ve shared your voices in recent weeks not just on our logo, but also on our restaurants,” the chain said on X. “If your restaurant hasn’t been remodeled, you don’t need to worry, it won’t be.”

Cracker Barrel said that its minimalist and lighter design, which removed its dark woods and many of the trademark tchotchkes that lined the walls, was tested at only four out of 660 restaurants.

Everything Apple announced at its big event: iPhone Air, iPhone 17, new Apple Watches and more | CNN Business

September 10, 2025September 9, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Apple announced the first major redesign of the iPhone in years on Tuesday when it confirmed the launch of a new, thinner model called the iPhone Air. CEO Tim Cook called it the “biggest leap ever for iPhone.”

That was one of a number of product upgrades that came during Apple’s annual hardware event at its Cupertino, California, headquarters, which also included improvements to the Apple Watch and AirPods Pro.

Ann Arbor is reinventing the power company | Fast Company

September 5, 2025September 3, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Most new renewable energy projects take the form of massive wind or solar farms. Ann Arbor, Michigan, is trying something different: a new city-owned utility is building a local power network within city limits, made up of solar microgrids and geothermal energy installed at homes and businesses.

“They’re creating a whole new model of energy delivery for a city,” says Mike Shriberg, a professor at University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability who lives in Ann Arbor.

The new utility won’t replace the area’s existing power company, DTE Energy. But it will help the city move much faster toward zero-carbon power.

Texas banned cultivated meat. Now, cultivated meat companies are suing | Fast Company

September 5, 2025September 3, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Cultivated meat—meat grown from cells, not from whole animals—isn’t yet a widespread option in grocery stores or restaurants. The innovation, which involves growing meat from real animal cells without raising or slaughtering any animals, is still relatively rare. But already, Texas lawmakers have decided to ban it.

Now, two cultivated meat companies are fighting back with a federal lawsuit that challenges the ban. The Institute for Justice, a nonprofit public interest law firm, along with cultivated meat startups Wildtype and Upside Foods, argue that the Texas law is an unconstitutional move to protect the agriculture industry from competition.

Shopify Simplifies Fulfillment with Unified Tools and Global Partnerships

September 3, 2025September 2, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Small business owners know that the journey begins with a sale, but it doesn’t end there. The real challenge often lies in fulfillment—an area that can consume countless hours if managed inefficiently. In a recent announcement, Shopify has unveiled significant enhancements to its built-in fulfillment capabilities, aiming to simplify the shipping process for merchants. This shift is particularly beneficial for small businesses looking to streamline operations and enhance customer satisfaction.

Shopify is addressing a common frustration: the need to juggle multiple systems for fulfillment. According to Vibhor Chhabra, Director of Product at Shopify, “Shipping used to be a necessary evil that pulled focus from running your business. Now you get a unified system that streamlines fulfillment workflows, so you can deliver fast and earn customer loyalty at any stage of growth.” This new model promises to make fulfillment more efficient, freeing up time for small business owners to focus on growth and customer engagement.

The revamped fulfillment features come with a host of key benefits designed for small businesses:

Ridley Scott gives update on Gladiator 3 and next Alien movie | Digital Trends

August 29, 2025August 28, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Director Ridley Scott revealed several promising updates about two very intriguing films.

In an interview with The Guardian, Scott revealed that Gladiator 3 is “in process right now.” He also claimed that a third Alien prequel will come if he “gets an idea for it.”

Scott’s most recent film, Gladiator II, was well-received in theaters in 2024 and was listed in the National Board of Review Awards Top Ten Films of the Year. This threequel could premiere to much more fanfare in the near future as it continues the story set in Gladiator II, most likely following Lucius (Paul Mescal) as the new leader of Rome.

Scott told The New York Times that he plans to film Gladiator 3 after completing both The Dog Stars and his Bee Gees biopic, the latter of which has yet to begin filming. Since Scott hasn’t come up with a story for another Alien prequel, it is now likely that Gladiator 3 will hit theaters sooner.

Star Wars: Starfighter cast revealed. Who will star alongside Ryan Gosling? | Digital Trends

August 29, 2025August 28, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

We’ve long known that Star Wars: Starfighter would star Ryan Gosling, but as production gets underway, Lucasfilm has announced the full cast.

The film, which is directed by Shawn Levy, will star Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams, in addition to Gosling. Recommended Videos

Some of those names were already public knowledge, but Adams is a major revelation. As has been the case with all Star Wars projects over the last decade, Starfighter is shrouded in secrecy. It’s difficult to predict what role any of these actors, including Adams, might be playing.

Donald Trump: Inside the Indian factories hit hard by US’s 50% tariffs | BBC News

August 27, 2025August 26, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

An eerie silence hangs over N Krishnamurthy’s garment manufacturing unit in Tiruppur, one of India’s largest textile export hubs.

Only a fraction of some 200 industrial sewing machines on the floor are in operation, as workers make the last of the season’s children’s garment orders for some of the biggest US retailers.

At one end of the room, piles of fabric samples for new designs are gathering dust – casualties of US President Donald Trump’s steep 50% tariffs on India, set to kick in from Wednesday.

India is a major exporter of goods, including garments, shrimp and gems, and jewellery, to the US. Trade experts say the high tariffs – including a 25% penalty for buying Russian oil and weapons – are akin to an embargo on Indian goods.

BBC correspondents visited key export hubs across India to assess how the trade uncertainties are impacting business owners and livelihoods.

Donald Trump orders removal of Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook | BBC News

August 27, 2025August 26, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook will file a lawsuit challenging her removal by President Donald Trump, setting up a potential standoff between the president and the US central bank.

“President Trump has no authority to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook,” her lawyer Abbe David Lowell said in a statement.

The president has said there was “sufficient reason” to believe Cook had made false statements on her mortgage, and cited constitutional powers which he said allowed him to remove her.

The unprecedented move comes as Trump has put increasing pressure on the Fed – especially its chair Jerome Powell – over what he sees as an unwillingness to lower interest rates.

SpaceX slams state broadband funding, wants satellite internet everywhere | Mashable

August 21, 2025August 20, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

SpaceX is again battling states over internet funding, as the company pushes a satellite-first agenda amid a growing need for direct internet connections.

In a filing submitted to the Louisiana Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity on August 15, the company accused the state of wasting taxpayer money and succumbing to pressure from so-called “fiber lobbyists” by dedicating $400 million to state fiber installations and only $$7.7 million to Starlink deployment. SpaceX argues that it can connect “virtually all” in-need households for less than $100 million. Last week, SpaceX levied the same accusations against a Virginia funding proposal, which only gave $3.2 million to the telecom company.