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Bosses say nearly half of meetings should disappear

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:02 GMT

By Matthew Boyle, BloombergTired of attending useless meetings? Turns out, your boss is probably sick of them, too.Executives spend an average of 25 hours a week in meetings, yet nearly half of those Zoom calls and project updates could disappear without any negative impact, according to a survey of more than 10,000 desk workers by Future Forum, a research consortium backed by Salesforce Inc.-owned Slack Technologies. The top reason why business leaders go to unproductive meetings is that they thought it would be a good use of time, but ultimately wasn’t. They also attend because they’re afraid to miss something important, and to show their own manager they’re working, the survey found. For those lower down the corporate ladder, the most common reason for showing up is obvious: They don’t have a choice.The findings come as many organizations try to assess which meetings really matter, and which ones could be jettisoned in an increasingly hybrid workplace where staffers aren’t typica...

City Park Jazz 2023 reveals full lineup, dates for outdoor summer concerts

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:02 GMT

Denver’s longest-running free concert series returns June 4 with a blast of saxophone and continues Sundays through Aug. 6 in Denver’s City Park, organizers announced Tuesday.The poster for the 2023 City Park Jazz series. (Provided by City Park Jazz)The 37th season of the all-volunteer City Park Jazz kicks off with a performance from Sarah Mount and the Rushmores the first week in June, led by Mount’s muscular and versatile saxophone playing, and wraps up with the sultry, self-described “gypsy jazz” of La Pompe Jazz.The 11 concerts — down 1 from last year’s schedule — draw between 8,000 and 12,000 per show, or about 100,000 total attendees over the summer, said board member and director of marketing David Flomberg.The popular series, which presents free summer concerts on Sundays at the City Park Pavilion, is a nonprofit venture supported by volunteers and sponsorships, organizers said. Its 10-week run brings food trucks, vendors and t...

Biden issues order to strengthen gun background checks ahead of Monterey Park visit

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:02 GMT

President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Tuesday aiming to increase the number of background checks to buy guns, promote more secure firearms storage and ensure U.S. law enforcement agencies are getting the most out of a bipartisan gun control law enacted last summer. The Democratic president was set to address his latest efforts to curb gun violence in a speech from Monterey Park. In January, a gunman stormed a dance hall in the community and shot 20 people, killing 11, following a Lunar New Year celebration. He's also scheduled to meet with families of the victims and first responders from that day. Biden’s rhetoric has only grown stronger around guns — he routinely calls for banning so-called assault weapons in his speeches — and Democrats didn’t push such a vocal gun-control platform even during the Obama administration, when Biden was vice president. But Biden has been emboldened by the midterms after his regular talk of gun control didn't result in massive losses, and ...

Chipotle unveils new item to menus worldwide

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:02 GMT

Chipotle customers can now customize their tacos, burritos, salads and quesadillas with a new protein option.The company announced Tuesday that it’s adding chicken al pastor to its menus worldwide for a limited time. The debut of chicken al pastor marks the first time Chipotle launched a new menu innovation globally, a news release said. Chipotle to open spinoff restaurant in Santa Monica Chicken al pastor is a new, craveable protein at Chipotle featuring the savory, satisfying flavor of adobo, Morita peppers and ground achiote with a splash of pineapple and fresh lime. (Chipotle) The company didn’t announce how long chicken al pastor would be available.“Guests are looking to restaurants for unique menu items they cannot make at home, and al pastor has been gaining mass appeal in recent years,” Chris Brandt, Chipotle's chief marketing officer, said in a statement. "We've put our own spicy spin on al pastor with our freshly grilled chicken and have created a truly delicious me...

L.A. prosecutors won't retry Harvey Weinstein on sexual assault charges

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:02 GMT

Los Angeles prosecutors told a judge Tuesday that they will not retry Harvey Weinstein on rape and sexual assault charges involving two women.Deputy District Attorney Paul Thompson announced the decision to Superior Court Judge Lisa B. Lench at a hearing in downtown Los Angeles. The judge dismissed the charges that a jury failed to reach an agreement on in December and said Weinstein would be returned to New York, where he was convicted in a similar case.The Los Angeles jury convicted Weinstein, 70, of the rape and sexual assault of an Italian model and actor.He was sentenced to 16 years in prison. That’s in addition to the 23-year sentence he is already serving for a similar conviction in New York.Jurors could not reach unanimous verdicts on charges involving two accusers, a rape count and a sexual assault count involving Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker and the wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and a sexual battery count agains...

That Cheating Bitch: Different Dads in One Litter of Pups

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:02 GMT

Superfecundation is a fascinating phenomenon observed in various animal species, where a female can produce a litter with offspring sired by multiple males. This unique reproductive strategy allows for increased genetic diversity within the offspring and can also provide benefits such as increased protection and resources for the litter. While this may seem like a rare occurrence, superfecundation has been observed in a range of species including cats, dogs, rodents, and even primates. Read the full article on our sister site, the Fort Bend Star, here.Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.The post That Cheating Bitch: Different Dads in One Litter of Pups appeared first on LA Weekly.

This year’s Oscars Were Everything

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:02 GMT

Is it just us or did Sunday’s Oscar show fly by for once? Like many, we grew up watching the Academy Awards on TV as a kid, buying into the the pop culture hoopla surrounding the celebration of exemplary filmmaking (and fierce fashion critique). We’ve never enjoyed the aggrandization of rich and famous people just doing their jobs, but it comes with the territory.But on Sunday’s telecast there was a sense of humility that we haven’t seen in some time. Was it COVID? The slap? The fact that our world feels like it’s on the brink of impending doom? We actually got teary during a couple of the speeches, especially Ke Huy Quan’s, which was the kind of joyful full circle moment that makes Hollywood the place of dreams, still.Jimmy Kimmel did a fine job as host, maintaining the delicate balance between reverence for and ribbing of the diamond encrusted movie stars in the audience. His slow-drip of Will Smith jokes throughout the show was, we gotta say it...

Russian jet forces down US drone over Black Sea

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:02 GMT

By Oren Liebermann | CNNA Russian fighter jet forced down a US Air Force drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday after damaging the propeller of the American MQ-9 Reaper drone, according to a US official familiar with the incident.The Reaper drone and two SU-27 Flanker jets were operating over international waters over the Black Sea when one of the Russian jets intentionally flew in front of and dumped fuel in front of the unmanned drone, according to the official. One of the jets then damaged the propeller of the Reaper, which is mounted on the rear of the drone, the official said. The damage to the propeller forced the US to bring down the Reaper in international waters in the Black Sea.The US Air Force issued a statement accusing the Russian aircraft of acting in a “reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner.”“At approximately 7:03 AM (CET), one of the Russian Su-27 aircraft struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the ...

Resume-embellishing Rep. Santos files for re-election

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:02 GMT

By Fredreka Schouten | CNNScandal-plagued Rep. George Santos filed paperwork Tuesday with federal regulators formally declaring his 2024 candidacy.The formal declaration does not mean that the embattled congressman has to pursue reelection. His action follows a demand last month from the Federal Election Commission that he declare his intentions after the Long Island Republican crossed a fundraising threshold that required him to file a statement of candidacy.Last week, when asked by CNN’s Melanie Zanona whether he’d run for office again, Santos answered, “Maybe,” and acknowledged that some of his fellow Republicans had urged him not to seek reelection. But he said he was focused on his current job in Congress.Santos, who has lied extensively about his resume, education and family background, faces federal and local investigations into his finances and a House ethics committee probe into whether he may have engaged in unlawful activity in his 2022 campaign.Tu...

Single-family residence sells in Los Gatos for $2.3 million

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:02 GMT

185 Smith Ranch Court – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the 100 block of Smith Ranch Court in Los Gatos was sold on March 2, 2023 for $2,330,000, or $1,082 per square foot. The house built in 2004 has an interior space of 2,153 square feet. The property features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a garage, and two parking spaces. There’s also a pool in the backyard. The unit sits on a 3,803-square-foot lot.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:In November 2022, a 2,467-square-foot home on Newell Court in Los Gatos sold for $2,750,000, a price per square foot of $1,115. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Capri Drive, Los Gatos, in September 2022, a 1,060-square-foot home was sold for $1,480,000, a price per square foot of $1,396. The home has 3 bedrooms and 1 bathrooms.A 3,583-square-foot home on the 14700 block of Eastview Drive in Los Gatos sold in October 2022 for $3,750,000, a price per square foot of $1,047. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 ba...