Author: Chris Gorrie

Denny’s, the popular diner chain, has closed its sole restaurant in Oakland, California, citing concerns about customer and staff safety.  The decision, although difficult, prioritizes the well-being of team members and guests, according to a company spokesperson.  Denny’s Has Yet to Respond to Inquiries About Safety Basil D Soufi/Wikimedia Commons The 24-hour diner, in operation for 54 years, was situated near Oakland International Airport and Oakland Arena. Denny’s has not provided details about the safety measures taken or responded to inquiries regarding them. The closure follows the announcement by In-N-Out Burger, a cult West Coast burger chain, about the impending…

In today’s ever-evolving tech landscape, even the giants are not immune to the winds of change. Google, with its vast workforce and immense influence, recently made headlines with its massive layoff expenditure.  This article aims to delve deeper into this significant event and analyze its impact on Google’s financials, its reasons, the public response, and the strategies employed by the tech giant to handle the layoffs. The Google Layoffs CIPHR Connect/Wikimedia Commons Google’s layoffs sent shockwaves through the industry, with thousands of employees losing their jobs.  The scale of this downsizing initiative was unprecedented, leaving many wondering about the implications…

Elon Musk, despite relinquishing the CEO title to Linda Yaccarino at X, still holds a significant influence on the hiring process within the company.  An insider, sharing insights anonymously with Fortune, provided details on the hiring dynamics at X, shedding light on Musk’s preferences and red flags when considering potential candidates. Elon Musk Views Candidates With Layoff History Negatively Bench Accounting/Unsplash While Musk is no longer directly involved in interviewing candidates, he actively engages in reviewing applications and providing yes or no answers for potential hires. This involvement extends beyond X, as Musk is known to approve new hires at…

In recent years, the concentration of wealth has become an increasingly pressing issue. The existence of billionaires has sparked intense debates about the ethics of extreme wealth and its impact on society.  From a political philosophy standpoint, Ingrid Robeyns argues that the existence of billionaires is a policy failure and that measures should be taken to address wealth inequality. In this article, we will explore Robeyns’ and others’ arguments surrounding billionaires and delve into the political philosophy behind the call for their eradication. The Phenomenon of Billionaires Daniel Oberhaus/Wikimedia Commons Billionaires, individuals with a net worth exceeding $1 billion, have…

Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the parent company of Burger King, has made a bold move by shelling out $1 billion to acquire Carrols Restaurant Group, its largest franchisee.  This strategic acquisition is a hefty investment aimed at expediting Burger King’s modernization plan, a critical step in keeping pace with its formidable rival, McDonald’s, which embarked on a $6 billion modernization spree for over 8,700 restaurants in 2018. Why Does RBI Want to Buy Carrols Restaurant Group? RBI/Wikimedia Commons The motivation behind this significant gamble becomes clearer when examining Burger King U.S.’s historical standing in terms of guest experience and the…

This past holiday season, a very heated and yet quizzically trivial online debate was raging amongst American progressives. Is being angry at the rise in McDonalds’ prices a subtle attack on the working poor? The debate arose when Doug Henwood, a left-leaning newsletter writer and journalist, lamented the high prices he paid for a three-person McDonalds lunch on social media in late December. What Doug Henwood Actually Said @DougHenwood/X Doug Henwood took to social media platform X after finishing what he felt was an incredibly overpriced fast-food meal: “Can’t imagine why people think this isn’t a great economy. Lunch for…

Archaeologists working in the ancient town of Spello, Italy uncovered a remarkable discovery during their recent excavation efforts. What they unearthed was an ancient pagan temple dating to the Roman period. They believe that the building was constructed during the reign of Emperor Constantine, Rome’s ruler from 306 to 337 C.E. Who Was Constantine? Dosseman/Wikimedia Commons Constantine I, or Constantine the Great, was a Roman Emperor who ruled in the first third of the 4th century C.E. He is remembered for his leadership during a major time of transition in the Roman Empire, as well as for moving the capital…

In October of 2023, a man named Dennis Brown died after drinking 3 of Panera’s charged lemonades. The internet is now buzzing about this “lemonade that kills.” His family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the corporation. This is now the second person dead from drinking charged lemonade (and the second lawsuit). The first was a 21-year-old woman named Sarah Katz, who passed away in September 2022. Let’s take a look at the drink and the lawsuits. What is Charged Lemonade? Gado/Getty Images Charged lemonade was released to the public in April 2022. Early ads by Panera touted the…

X, formerly Twitter, finds itself in a sorry state as of late. Some commentators have gone so far as to claim the platform has been so radically altered under Elon Musk’s leadership that it is now “a shadow of its former self.” Spam runs rampant, verification badges have lost their meaning, and privacy and security have taken a nosedive. In the post-Elon Musk era, X grapples with notable privacy issues, shedding privacy and security-focused employees and, consequently, witnessing the erosion of crucial features.  What Happened to Twitter Circles? Alexander Shatov/Unsplash X’s decline is not mere conjecture; it’s evident in the…

Progressive political changes in California have a tendency to creep across the nation to a federal level. This is especially true under President Biden, as he elected a handful of Californians to top government positions. Biden elected not only the state’s attorney general, Xavier Becerra, to run the US health department. He also elected another six to various top government positions. That’s why it’s key to pay attention to important tax bills rolling out of California. They could go federal. What Is the California Wealth Tax? Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash New legislation in Sacramento moves to create a wealth tax for the…