Psychedillic, as we all know, is a goat's milk cheese made by Cypress Grove Chevre in Humboldt County, California. The fragrant and rare dill pollen in the fresh cheese take your palate on a culinary adventure of intense aromas and distinctive flavor. Meanwhile, The Psychedelic Furs are an English post-punk band founded in London in February 1977. Led by lead vocalist Richard Butler, you may know them for the 1981 hit, "Pretty in Pink," and if you don't? You do now! The point is: I took acid once and got into a London Black Cab. I thought the meter was a roulette wheel, and the experience was still a lot less exciting than checking out today's hallucinogenic cheddlines: Pretty in pink, isn't she? —Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor P.S. we're all over this Jaguar concept car on our 'gram. |
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1. Musk Loses Bid to Get $56B Pay Package Reinstated |
A Delaware judge has denied Elon Musk's bid to get his $56 billion compensation package from 2018 reinstated.
The compensation plan in question was aimed at rewarding Musk for potentially driving massive growth at Tesla; however, a judge ruled this January that the compensation was improperly granted. She highlighted that Musk had substantial control over Tesla's board during the negotiation of his pay, critiquing the board's negotiation process as "deeply flawed." Tesla attempted to overturn the decision based on a shareholder vote conducted during Tesla's annual meeting in June, which was seen as an effort to ratify Musk's original pay plan. The judge again stood firm on her previous judgment yesterday, pointing out the futility of allowing defeated parties to "create new facts" to revise judgments, which would lead to "interminable" lawsuits.
With the judge's decision to deny the reinstatement of Musk's pay, there also came an approval for a hefty $345 million attorney fee awarded to the lawyers who successfully represented Tesla shareholders.
Musk lashed out and advised against incorporating companies in Delaware. Since 2018, Tesla has shifted its incorporation to Texas, a move mirrored by Musk's other venture, SpaceX.
Tesla's stock has seen remarkable growth recently, surging by 42% in the weeks following the presidential election. As a result, Musk's net worth has significantly increased, proving that there's more than one way to skin a Muskrat. Read More |
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2. Jaguar's New Woke Barbie Car Polarizes Critics |
Jaguar is taking a bold leap into the future with the unveiling of its "Type 00" concept car on the heels of a controversial rebrand that has got people talking.
With its long bonnet — or hood, as you Americans say (I'm British by birth, even if I do have American citizenship) — the Type 00 pays homage to classic Jaguar design principles, yet it's undeniably a nod to the future with a fastback profile and monstrous 23-inch alloy wheels. Available in eye-catching Miami Pink (people are calling it a "Woke Barbie Car") and sophisticated London Blue, the Type 00 captures the essence of its international flair — vibrant American art deco paired with British sophistication.
Some adore its sleek design, while others remain critical. Jaguar's recent rebranding efforts have been drastic. They've eschewed their traditional all-caps logo for a "powerful celebration of modernism." This extends to a redesigned pouncing cat logo (aptly named the "Leaper") and a fresh monogram.
All I know is that my first boss, a photographer, drove a Jaguar, and when we showed up in that car, the clients would fall at our feet. I loved that thing, and the recent Jaguars have been appalling by comparison. I'm glad the brand has found a sense of confidence again even if it is likely to be reversed depending on the revenues reaped as a result. Read More |
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| Jaguar has unveiled its Type 00 concept car, showcasing a bold new electric vision after a divisive rebrand.
Described as an "unmistakable and dramatic" representation of the brand, the reveal took place at Miami Art Week. While the Type 00 is just a concept and won't go into production, reactions online are mixed. |
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3. Revelation: You can now Unlock Your Tesla With Your Apple Watch |
For years, Tesla owners and tech enthusiasts speculated about the potential for Tesla's smart features to be accessible directly from their wrists.
The firm's 2024 Holiday Update makes this halcyon dream a reality, delivering a digital phone key for the Apple Watch. This feature marks a significant step forward in convenience, allowing Tesla owners to perform a variety of car-related tasks without needing to have their smartphone on them. From popping the trunk to checking the charge status and even warming up the car remotely, the Apple Watch now serves as a bridge to your Tesla. I don't know about you, but this is the sort of innovation that makes me feel the firm's chief executive should probably be paid $56 billion a year. Read More |
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4. The Wicked Success of "Culture Jacking" |
The recent release of the movie Wicked has taken the world by storm, surpassing Grease as the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation ever. This success isn't just due to the movie's quality; it's also a result of a marketing strategy called "culture jacking." Vulture's culture contributor Fran Hoepfner defines culture jacking as "a marketing strategy that involves taking over every facet of consumer life."
We saw this with the Barbie movie, and now Wicked has followed suit. From Target to Starbucks, plus iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building, Wicked's presence has been inescapable. Hoepfner points out that the success of Wicked's brand partnerships has been varied. While collaborations with Target and the creation of children's toys have been hits, other partnerships have raised eyebrows. Hoepfner questioned the collaboration with Lexus, for example: "I don't think we have cars in the Land of Oz," she said.
While Barbie and Wicked are recent examples of culture jacking, Hoepfner argues that the strategy has been used to some extent with kids' movies for a while. Movies like Moana and Frozen have seen a surge in merchandise and consumer goods after their release. However, Hoepfner believes the scale and intensity of culture jacking have increased in the post-COVID era, as studios seek to bring audiences back to theaters.
Culture jacking is a high-stakes game. With Wicked having a reported marketing budget of $150 million, the financial risk for the studio was significant. However, Hoepfner argues that for a film like Wicked with a dedicated built-in audience from its long-running Broadway success the risk is mitigated. As we anticipate the release of Wicked 2 in November 2025, we can expect a similar marketing blitz. I just wish they'd do the same thing for movies I have any interest in seeing, like anything that came out in the 1970s. Read More |
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5. It's Time for First Class on Frontier Air |
Frontier Airlines, a name synonymous with budget-friendly travel, is setting its sights higher with an unexpected leap into the premium seat market. Breaking from its no-frills model, Frontier is set to introduce what it calls "first class-style" seats by late 2025.
The airline is replacing the first two rows of its aircraft with "luxurious, spacious seats." Frontier is not alone in its shift towards premium seating options. The airline is following in the footsteps of its competitor, Spirit Airlines, which introduced premium "Go Big" bundles over the summer, featuring perks like snacks, drinks, free bags, and priority check-in in addition to wider seats. Spirit declared bankruptcy just before Thanksgiving, of course, indicating that it decided both to "Go Big" and go home, simultaneously.
The introduction of premium seats is part of a broader initiative Frontier calls "The New Frontier." According to Frontier's CEO Barry L. Biffle, who really is called that: "We've listened to customers, and they want more — more premium options, like first class-style seating, attainable seat upgrades, more free travel for their companions, and the ability to use miles on more than just airfare."
In other words, they want a luxury airline at a budget price. Alongside the new seating, Frontier announced enhanced benefits for its Elite loyalty members. These perks include free seat upgrades, complimentary travel for companions at certain status levels, and the flexibility to redeem miles for bags and seat bundles. A recent survey of Gen Z'ers said they need to earn $580k a year to be seen as "successful," incidentally. One has a sense they have unrealistic expectations, especially if they're about to get their pay packet signed off by a judge in Delaware. Read More |
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