Tuesday, October 22, 2024
A new CEO at disney in … 2026?
The saga between Iger stepping down in 2020, and then resuming his duties in 2022 is already two years in the rear view mirror.
The plan was to come up with a succession plan in "the near future." Which apparently meant nearly 5 years.
There has been some turnover on the board after the attempted takeover by Nelson Peltz, and James Gorman (who will be the new chairman next year) said:
"A critical priority before us is to appoint a new C.E.O., which we now expect to announce in early 2026. This timing reflects the progress the succession planning committee and the board are making and will allow ample time for a successful transition."
In other words, 'we totally screwed the pooch with the decision to move to chapek as the ceo. We know we have to get it right the next time.'
Monday, October 21, 2024
Sunday, October 20, 2024
Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball
This happened in Miami (of course). Ohtani hit the ball into the stands. And people fought over it. And now the ball is up for auction, but the ownership is headed to a jury.
While this one is actually about money, let's be honest here. I've seen people fight about balls that get hit in the stands - even a foul ball in a meaningless at bat.
But I prefer this story to any of the general stupidity and hate we have in the world today.
https://www.npr.org/2024/10/19/g-s1-29064/dodgers-baseball-shohei-ohtani-auction
https://www.npr.org/2024/10/19/g-s1-29064/dodgers-baseball-shohei-ohtani-auction
Disney’s new money making schemes are annoying
Disney announced that DVC members can purchase additional perks through a program called Membership Magic Beyond. This is a "yearly enhanced benefits package" offered for the low price of $99 in addition to the annual dues to DVC.
The program allows for purchasers to have access to som discounted tickets, entry into a special lounge, and some other assorted activities.
It feels like the things that used to be included are all now add-ons.
Oh but that's not all!
The company announced a new special lighting lane add on that has a variable price point starting at $400 per day, per person that allows you to have lighting lane / priority access to all attractions in that park for the day. So you pay the $150 or so for park entry and then you pay more to be able to do what the free fastpass used to give you.
That just sticks in my craw.
It's sad that it's become a rich persons park and it's all about squeezing as much money from you as possible.
Can you go in and not pay the extras and still enjoy yourself? Yes. But it's unlikely you'll be able to get to everything you want to do in a day. As Bob Chapek said at one point, the system is designed for you to get to one or maybe two headliner attractions in a day.
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Its money being (probably) illegally spent
I've seen two different clips of Trump walking into a grocery store for some stupid photo op, and then walking over to the register and handing a customer a $100 bill and saying "vote for me" - which may seem folksy to some, but is, in fact, illegal.
Of course no one wants to hold him to account for BREAKING THE LAW again. Because why would they?
Then there's the stories about Elon Musk being a big donor to his campaign. And make no mistake the man who is close to being the worlds first trillionaire - that's just unconscionable when we have people working two jobs to meet ends meet, or living in their cars - will get there with ease if Trump wins. He will get every single advantage to run amok and not have to worry about pesky rules holding him back.
The stories are that he has a sort of ground operation where his donations are being used to pay campaign workers to canvas. That is you can make a quick buck by working for the Trump campaign by asking people to vote for Trump.
But the kicker *appears to be* that in at least some cases, these workers are offering cash (on the order of around $100) to voters who pledge to vote for Trump.
Again, let me state that this is 100% illegal. And for the moment, it remains unverified and unsubstantiated. But there are people telling us they either got or gave the money, so there must be a little something to it.
But again, who's going to do anything about it? If he wins, then they all get away with it and democracy is essentially dead. And if he doesn't, will anyone follow up and prosecute him? Probably not. He is teflon man after all.
This is what "we the people" who see the shadowy things he is doing and overt things he surely will do if he gets back into office can thwart by simply voting Kamala.
The grift is real!
Donald Trump's campaign seems to be all about the grift. He pleads for donations, then spends that money on himself for only marginally campaign-related things (or not at all in some cases). like gifts and items for staffers, and of course his own legal bills. He has staff stay at Trump-related properties while on the campaign trail, and has them billing the rooms to the campaign.
And of course he goes into states he won't win and talks about how terrible they are! And the reason for holding a rally there? It appeases his big donors in those states. They give him money for simply showing up.
But the most egregious acts are selling items, as a part of the campaign, but pocketing 100% of the proceeds.
The two most odious examples are his limited-edition, "swiss made," $100,000 watches that are actually made in Wyoming and its unclear who owns the company that makes them. Because of course it has to be a big secret.
And his bibles. With his name emblazoned on the front (because he was sent from god, apparently?) that were made in China. Because its cheaper there, in spite of his insistence that they are ripping us off!
And yet the christian right eats this up. I believe there is a commandment about "not putting false gods before me' - but its possible he left that line out of course.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)