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Being the children of Francis Ford Coppola had a profound impact on the filmmaking sensibilities of Sofia and Roman Coppola. But their mother, Eleanor Coppola, may have played a larger role in nurturing their creative pursuits. She taught me how to be in charge without being loud, and the importance of being real, Sofia writes in her introduction to Two of Me: Notes on Living and Leaving, Eleanor Coppolas posthumous memoir, published by A24 on November 11. [Cover Image: A24] Sofia and Roman convened in New York City last week for a conversation about the book and their mother, who died in April 2024 at the age of 87. One of Eleanors last wishes was to have Two of Me, which she wrote over the course of a decade using material from the diaries she kept for 50 years, published as a book. Eleanors other last wish was to have the 100 hours of video footage she shot on the set of Sofias 2006 film Marie Antoinette edited into a documentary, which is expected to be included in a 20th-anniversary edition of the film to be released next year. An artist and filmmaker whose mediums ranged from sculpture and conceptual art to photography and dance, Eleanor made her first documentary, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, after her husband asked her to shoot behind-the-scenes footage on Apocalypse Now. In 2016, at the age of 80, she became the oldest American woman to direct a debut feature film when she released the comedy Paris Can Wait. At an event last week, moderated by Vogue editor Keaton Bell and held at Barnes & Noble Union Square, Sofia and Roman shared some of the ways in which their mother influenced them, both as artists and as people. Here are the five biggest lessons they learned from her. 1. Stories are made of details Whether its the neon lights of Tokyos Shinjuku district in Lost in Translation or the elaborate floral arrangements in Marie Antoinette, Sofia Coppola is known for her filmmaking style that focuses on small details. She credits her mother with teaching her the importance of paying attention to such details. I got a lot from her just being this quiet observer, Sofia said. I notice details and I think thats in my films, which comes from her eye. 2. Everything is art Shortly after Sofia was born, Eleanor presented a gift to husband Francis in the form of one of Sofias dirty diapers, as it was the only work of art that Sofia could create at the time. Eleanor also once turned her home into a performance art space where she welcomed friends to observe a young Sofia watching a video of her own birth on a TV. What inspired me in my work is, she was very interested in conceptual art, specifically, and conceptual films, Roman said. She dabbled in that in the ’70s. And so the notion that anything can be a work of art, and that sense of play and idea art is something Ive brought into my work. 3. Film is not the only visual art form An avid appreciator of many different forms of art, Eleanor often brought her children to museums all over the world. One of Sofias most memorable experiences with her mother was being taken to see a performance by the German dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch. I was, like, Oh, we have to go to some weird modern dance with Mom. And it was one of the most incredible, most beautiful things Ive ever seen, Sofia said. Im really glad she brought us to see a lot of really interesting contemporary art that she was excited about. 4. Challenges are opportunities As an adult dealing with some personal issues and financial issues, Roman Coppola learned how his mother valued the experience of struggling in life. I was sort of moping a little bit, and she was, like, Wow, this is really great. There are a lot of things you have to figure out now in your life, and youre really going to take that on, Roman said. Some of the lessons werent just average things, but how to sort of embrace difficulty. It spoke to her confidence, but also just instilled that push to strive to pull yourself out of things and to work hard and be committed. 5. Mothers can also be filmmakers Eleanor didnt let her role as a mother prevent her from pursuing creative and artistic endeavors. She stressed to Sofia that it was important to make time to be both a mother and an artist. I learned from my mom that it was okay to do both, Sofia said. I think every mom that works feels guilty about it, so youre always torn. But she really encouraged me, and I was excited that I could do both.
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E-Commerce
Looking for some holiday cheer? Customers who want to try Starbucks’ new holiday treat, the Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate drink, will have to go to Target, where it will be exclusively available throughout the holiday season at all in-store Starbucks cafes. The drink is a creme Frappuccino with a blend of mocha sauce, milk, and ice, poured over a layer of peppermint-flavored whipped cream and red and green sprinkles, finished with another layer of that same whipped cream and sprinkles. Starbucks is hoping to capitalize on the holiday season and the holiday craze around its special drinks and limited-edition cups. And customer enthusiasm is high, as evidenced by this year’s limited-run Bearista cupswhich have customers literally fighting and lining up at 3 a.m. to shell out $30 a pop. “Last Thursdays Holiday launch was our biggest sales day ever in North America,” Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said in a recent note. And according to the company, millennials and Gen Z customers are driving Q3 improvements in customer value perception. The new Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate appears to be an attempt to keep that momentum going. The collaboration between the coffee chain and the big-box retailer debuts Monday for Target Circle 360 loyalty members, just in time for the busiest and most profitable time of the year: the run up to Christmas Day. The rest of us will have to wait till tomorrow, Tuesday, November 18. Both Starbucks and Target have been hit hard by consumer backlash and boycotts respectively, at a time when Americans are buying less due to increased inflation and higher living costs. Starbucks, which recently announced a wave of store closings, is under pressure to increase profits. At the same time, management is facing baristas striking for higher pay and better hours. (Last week, unionized workers went on strike at more than 65 Starbucks locations across 42 cities.) Meanwhile, Target is facing its own problems as customers boycott the stores due to its rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion programs (DEI). It’s also contending with lower in-store foot traffic. Starbucks financials Starbucks reported fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday, October 29, with quarterly same-store sales growing for the first time in nearly two years and global same-store sales rising 1%, but same-store sales in the U.S. staying flat for the quarter (which turned positive in September). The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of 52 cents adjusted versus 56 cents expected, and revenue of $9.57 billion, beating expectations of $9.35 billion. Target is set to report its third-quarter earnings results this week.
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E-Commerce
Novo Nordisk, the Danish drug company that makes Ozempic and Wegovy, is now offering the drugs at lower prices for self-pay patients. On Monday, the company announced it would offer both medications, Ozempic (the weight-loss version of the drug) and Wegovy (the version that addresses diabetes), at a discounted rate of $199 per month for a limited time. The introductory offer goes from now until March 31, 2026. The announcement noted that the pricing is only good for the first two months of treatment, and at the lowest doses of the medications. After the initial months of treatment, the cost will move to the new monthly self-pay rate of $349 per month, down from $499. “As pioneers of the GLP-1 class, we are committed to ensuring that real, FDA-approved Wegovy and Ozempic are affordable and accessible to those who need them,” Dave Moore, executive vice president of U.S. operations at Novo Nordisk, said in a press release. Moore continued: “The U.S. healthcare system is complex, with different types of insurance and various ways for patients to obtain their medicines. Our new savings offers provide immediate impact, bringing forward greater cost savings for those who are currently without coverage or choose to self-pay.” Per the announcement, patients can access the new offers in three different ways: through Wegovy.com or Ozempic.com; through NovoCare Pharmacy; or through participating organizations and select telehealth providers that work directly with Novo Nordisk, such as Costco, GoodRx, WeightWatchers, Ro, LifeMD, and eMed.The offer comes amid the Trump administration’s call for the companies that manufacture weight-loss drugs to lower prices. Earlier this month while speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said that, after months of negotiation, a deal had been reached that would impact prices on the drugs for those who receive Medicaid and Medicare, and for users of the TrumpRx website, which is expected to launch by the end of the year.“Today, I’m thrilled to announce that the two world’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, have agreed to offer their most popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugI call it the fat drug, rememberat drastic discounts,” Trump said.The competitive pricing comes as the obesity rate is trending down, as a result of reliance on weight-loss drugs. While in 2022, 39.9% of Americans met the criteria for obesity, that number today is down to 37%with 7.6 million Americans no longer meeting the threshold.
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E-Commerce
Last week, the baby nutrition company ByHeart recalled all of its infant formula over concerns that it may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes infant botulism. Now the company is facing increasing legal drama and backlash from customers for potentially exposing babies to the dangerous illness. According to a November 14 update from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a total of 23 infants in 13 states who were exposed to the formula have developed suspected or confirmed infant botulism. All of the infants have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported to date. ByHeart had voluntarily recalled two batches of its infant formula on November 8. Just three days later, it expanded that recall to encompass all of its products, including any unexpired lots of formula cans and single-serve anywhere pack sticks. Per the FDA, most babies with infant botulism will initially develop constipation, poor feeding, loss of head control, and difficulty swallowing, which can progress to difficulty breathing and respiratory arrest. Symptoms of infant botulism, which is diagnosed clinically, can take as long as several weeks to develop following formula ingestion. Parents are advised to stop using any ByHeart infant formula products immediately. As new botulism cases potentially related to ByHearts products continue to emerge, the companywhich positions itself as dedicated to making the best formula in the worldis facing backlash both through multiple lawsuits and a social media firestorm led by its own customers. Legal backlash against ByHeart ramps up As of this writing, at least five different lawsuits have been filed against ByHeart related to the infant botulism outbreak, according to federal court records. All of the plaintiffs are identified in the complaints as buyers of ByHearts products. Three of the complaints are proposed class actions. In at least two cases, the plaintiffs have infant children whom they believe contracted infant botulism through the contaminated formula, the court filings show. According to a November 12 legal complaint, plaintiffs Stephen and Yurany Dexter of Flagstaff, Arizona, decided to introduce formula three days after the birth of their child (referred to as E.D.) to supplement breast milk. Looking at the available choices, they chose the ByHeart brand because of the healthy-looking labeling, top shelf placement, and higher price, the filing reads. But over a month later, the child began to exhibit symptoms of infant botulism, it says, resulting in multiple hospital stays and hundreds of thousands in medical expenses. In a second complaint filed on that same day, plaintiffs Michael and Hanna Everett of Richmond, Kentucky, detail a similar experience with their child, referred to as P.E. This case arises from a parents worst nightmare: infant formula laced with dangerous Bacteria, the suit reads. It goes on to explain that the Everetts purchased ByHearts products due to its promises to be a “healthier alternative to traditional formula, only for their four-month-old daughter to contract infant botulism. Soon after consuming the formula, she developed constipation and alarming neurological symptoms, it reads. Plaintiffs brought their first-born daughter to the emergency department where doctors diagnosed P.E. with infant botulism. Public health investigators later confirmed that she was part of a multistate outbreak caused by ByHeart formula. Reached for comment by Fast Company, ByHeart emailed a statement from cofounder and president Mia Funt. Our number one priority is infant health,” Funt says. “We express our deepest sympathy to the families currently impacted by the cases of infant botulism. We are working with the FDA and independent experts to implement the recall quickly while the factual investigation continues. We are committed to getting answersincluding partnering with the FDA and independent expertsand will share updates as soon as we can. Disappointed customers take to social media Throughout the new lawsuits against ByHeart, a recurring theme is the idea that parents chose the companys products due to its positioning as a healthy, science-backed alternative to traditional formula. And under an Instagram post from ByHeart apologizing for the recalls, hundreds of commenters have echoed those sentiments, expressing their disappointment in the brand. I’m a sitting duck waiting around to see if my baby is okay because she consumed contaminated formula from you,” one commenter wrote, added that “we trusted you with nourishing our baby and you failed us. Another added, From the bottom of my heart I hope your company goes bankrupt and that no retailer will ever carry your products again.” New York-based ByHeart was founded in 2016 and most recently raised $72 million in a Series C round from undisclosed investors, according to PitchBook, for a post-valuation of $908 million. In the wake of the recalls, ByHeart has updated its website to spotlight information about the situation, including a link to its customer support line (866-201-9069). Fast Company reached out to the FDA for the latest details. The agency says it is continuing to investigate the outbreak along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state-level public health officials.
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E-Commerce
Blue Origins New Glenn rocket successfully made its way to orbit for the second time on Nov. 13, 2025. Although the second launch is never as flashy as the first, this mission is still significant in several ways. For one, it launched a pair of NASA spacecraft named ESCAPADE, which are headed to Mars orbit to study that planets magnetic environment and atmosphere. The twin spacecraft will first travel to a Lagrange point, a place where the gravity between Earth, the Moon, and the Sun balances. The ESCAPADE spacecraft will remain there until Mars is in better alignment to travel to. And two, importantly for Blue Origin, New Glenns first stage booster successfully returned to Earth and landed on a barge at sea. This landing allows the booster to be reused, substantially reducing the cost to get to space. Blue Origin launched its New Glenn rocket and landed the booster on a barge at sea on Nov. 13, 2025. As a space policy expert, I see this launch as a positive development for the commercial space industry. Even though SpaceX has pioneered this form of launch and reuse, New Glenns capabilities are just as important. New Glenn in context Although Blue Origin would seem to be following in SpaceXs footsteps with New Glenn, there are significant differences between the two companies and their rockets. For most launches today, the rocket consists of several parts. The first stage helps propel the rocket and its spacecraft toward space and then drops away when its fuel is used up. A second stage then takes over, propelling the payload all the way to orbit. While both New Glenn and Falcon Heavy, SpaceXs most powerful rocket currently available, are partially reusable, New Glenn is taller, more powerful, and can carry a greater amount of payload to orbit. Blue Origin plans to use New Glenn for a variety of missions for customers such as NASA, Amazon, and others. These will include missions to Earths orbit and eventually to the Moon to support Blue Origins own lunar and space exploration goals, as well as NASAs. NASAs Artemis program, which endeavors to return humans to the Moon, is where New Glenn may become important. In the past several months, several space policy leaders, as well as NASA officials, have expressed concern that Artemis is progressing too slowly. If Artemis stagnates, China may have the opportunity to leap ahead and beat NASA and its partners to the lunar South Pole. These concerns stem from problems with two rockets that could potentially bring Americans back to the Moon: the space launch system and SpaceXs Starship. NASAs space launch system, which will launch astronauts on its Orion crew vehicle, has been criticized as too complex and costly. SpaceXs Starship is important because NASA plans to use it to land humans on the Moon during the Artemis III mission. But its development has been much slower than anticipated. In response, Blue Origin has detailed some of its lunar exploration plans. They will begin with the launch of its uncrewed lunar lander, Blue Moon, early next year. The company is also developing a crewed version of Blue Moon that it will use on the Artemis V mission, the planned third lunar landing of humans. Blue Origin officials have said they are in discussions with NASA over how they might help accelerate the Artemis program. [Photo: Blue Origin] New Glenns significance New Glenns booster landing makes this most recent launch quite significant for the company. While it took SpaceX several tries to land its first booster, Blue Origin has achieved this feat on only the second try. Landing the boosters and, more importantly, reusing them has been key to reducing the cost to get to space for SpaceX, as well as others such as Rocket Lab. That two commercial space companies now have orbital rockets that can be partially reused shows that SpaceXs success was no fluke. With this accomplishment, Blue Origin has been able to build on its previous experience and success with its suborbital rocket, New Shepard. Launching from Blue Origin facilities in Texas since 2015, New Shepard has taken people and cargo to the edge of space, before returning to itslaunch site under its own power. New Glenn is also significant for the larger commercial space industry and U.S. space capabilities. It represents real competition for SpaceX, especially its Starship rocket. It also provides more launch options for NASA, the U.S. government, and other commercial customers, reducing reliance on SpaceX or any other launch company. In the meantime, Blue Origin is looking to build on the success of New Glenns launch and its booster landing. New Glenn will next launch Blue Origins Blue Moon uncrewed lander in early 2026. This second successful New Glenn launch will also contribute to the rockets certification for national security space launches. This accomplishment will allow the company to compete for contracts to launch sensitive reconnaissance and defense satellites for the U.S. government. Blue Origin will also need to increase its number of launches and reduce the time between them to compete with SpaceX. SpaceX is on pace for between 165 and 170 launches in 2025 alone. While Blue Origin may not be able to achieve that remarkable cadence, to truly build on New Glenns success it will need to show it can scale up its launch operations. Wendy Whitman Cobb is a professor of strategy and security studies at Air University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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E-Commerce
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