John arensmeyer

Directors Jennifer Lee (Frozen) and Pete Docter (Up, Inside Out) have been named as the chief creative officers for both Disney Animation and Pixar, succeeding John Lasseter who stepped down after admitting to improper conduct in the workplace. Insiders debated on whether or not Lasseter would return to his role, but Disney has wisely taken the path of least resistance. Last year, stories surfaced of Lasseter “grabbing, kissing, making comments about physical attributes” of Disney/Pixar employees. Lasseter admitted to making “missteps” and took a leave of absence to “reflect on how to move forward from here.” That move has resulted in Lee’s and Docter’s appointment as the studios’ new creative leads. advertisement advertisement advertisement … [Read more...] about Jennifer Lee and Pete Docter replace John Lasseter at Disney/Pixar

Saudi Aramco is now the world's most valuable listed firm after its initial public offering (IPO) raised $25.6 billion and took its market valuation to $1.7 trillion, comfortably overtaking Apple.Aramco priced its IPO at 32 riyals ($8.53) per share, the top of its indicative range, raising $25.6 billion and beating Alibaba's record $25 billion-listing in 2014.Notably, while the biggest IPO in history and is expected later this month on the Riyadh stock exchange, it still falls short of the towering $2 trillion valuations long sought by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.Close Saudi Arabia relied on domestic and regional investors to sell a 1.5 percent stake after lukewarm interest from abroad, even at the reduced valuation of $1.7 trillion. related news No apology to Elon Musk from British diver at 'pedo guy' defamation trial US likely to hit China over human rights despite trade talks John Kerry endorses Joe Biden for president Sources told Reuters earlier … [Read more...] about Saudi Aramco beats Apple to take most valuable company spot after blockbuster IPO

Just as the Donald Trump administration turned one, the US government was plunged into a historic shutdown – the third in a quarter of a century – after Democrats stalled a spending bill in order to oppose the government’s decision to rescind the Obama-era DACA policy.The DACA protects undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children. But by forcing a US government shutdown, the Democratic Party just doubled down on a bet it has lost badly recently -- that it is willing to stare down Trump on the cornerstone subject of his politics, race. Even at the risk of angering traditional white, “the real”, Americans. The US President, of course, did not waste any time rubbing this in.Not looking good for our great Military or Safety & Security on the very dangerous Southern Border. Dems want a Shutdown in order to help diminish the great success of the Tax Cuts, and what they are doing for our booming economy.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) … [Read more...] about Year one in office: Donald Trump rides economic boom, xenophia wave

If you’re struggling to come up with winter holiday presents for everyone on your list, home gifts are a good place to start. During the colder, winter months, many people spend more time nesting and doing cozy things at home, which means that a functional home gift will get a lot of use this time of year. And while it can be hard to figure out someone’s taste in fashion or entertainment, there are plenty of well-designed products that will fit into any decor. Over the course of this past year, designers have created many innovative products that make everyday life at home easier and more beautiful. We’ve culled the very best home goods at every price point, so there’s bound to be something here for everyone on your list. advertisement advertisement Blueland Plastic-Free Cleaning Kit $38 from Blueland Cleaning products are a dirty business: While they keep your house sparkling, they contribute to the 300 million tons of plastic every year, 150 million … [Read more...] about Skip pointless presents and give the gift of useful design

When designers Monica Zwirner and Lucy Wallace Eustice launched their women’s handbag startup, MZ Wallace, in 2000, they spent a lot of time pondering what they should call their new brand. They considered following the path of many other American designers—Kate Spade, Tory Burch, Rebecca Minkoff—and simply using their own names. But they were worried that approach would make their brand sound overly feminine, something they wanted to avoid. “Neither of us has a particularly feminine sensibility,” Zwirner says. “We think of ourselves first as a design company, and we think really good design isn’t gender-specific. We wanted to leave open the possibility of making men’s products in the future.” advertisement advertisement Transitioning from a women’s brand to a unisex brand can be a smart business move, one that potentially doubles the size of your market. But it’s also tricky, thanks to deeply … [Read more...] about As gender norms shift, ‘women’s brands’ are going after a new demo: men