Critics deride Cracker Barrel's new logo as ‘sterile,' ‘soulless' and ‘woke'
What's 'wrong with @CrackerBarrel??!' Donald Trump, Jr. wrote on the social media site, X, on Wednesday evening, quoting another account that accused the company of scrapping a 'beloved American aesthetic and replaced it with sterile, soulless branding.'
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The Hill
a few seconds ago
- The Hill
Cracker Barrel unveils a new logo as part of wider rebrand efforts, sparking ire among some online
NEW YORK (AP) — Cracker Barrel is marching forward with an ongoing makeover. And to the dismay of some fans, the chain's new logo now ditches the barrel itself. Or rather, the drawing many have associated with Cracker Barrel over the years. The man leaning on that barrel is also gone, as are the words 'Old Country Store.' Instead, the new emblem features a simpler design with just 'Cracker Barrel' written on a gold background, which also has a semi-updated shape. 'Anchored in Cracker Barrel's signature gold and brown tones, the updated visuals will appear across menus and marketing collateral,' the Tennessee-based company wrote in a Tuesday announcement. Cracker Barrel added that its logo is 'now rooted even more closely to the iconic barrel shape and word mark that started it all.' According to Cracker Barrel, this latest look marks the brand's 'fifth evolution' of its logo to date. It was unveiled as part of a campaign from the company called 'All the More,' which also advertises some new fall menu items. Cracker Barrel has been working on a wider rebrand for some time. Beyond a new logo, that's included remodeling its country-style restaurants and retail stores. The company began ramping up this overhaul last year by swapping out older, more antique-filled designs with lighter paint and modern furniture. Founded in 1969, Cracker Barrel operates nearly 660 locations across the U.S. today. Those attached to the chain's previous look have been quick to express ire about both the new logo and restaurant remodels online. 'Our values haven't changed, and the heart and soul of Cracker Barrel haven't changed,' Cracker Barrel said in a statement sent to The Associated Press on Thursday. The company added that the man on its former logo, known as Uncle Herschel, 'remains front and center in our restaurants and on our menu,' as he represents 'The Herschel Way,' which is 'the foundation of how our 70,000 plus employees provide the country hospitality for which we are known.'
The Drive
a few seconds ago
- The Drive
This $199 Hacking Device Will Probably Let Thieves Steal Your Car
The latest car news, reviews, and features. We live in a timeline where one viral car theft trend is sure to be displaced by the next—and soon. The most dominant carjacking movement of the last few years has undeniably been the Kia Boys, whose members target Hyundai and Kia models with weak and easily tricked security systems. Thefts were so frequent and widespread for a while that recurring cable news segments warned the entire country about them. It now seems like another trend could be brewing as bad actors abuse a device called Flipper Zero to break into cars made by more than a dozen manufacturers. Investigative tech journalism site 404 Media published an in-depth report on the development Thursday morning. The story highlights how hackers are abusing the $199 Flipper Zero—a device defined by its creators as 'a versatile tool for hardware exploration, firmware flashing, debugging, and fuzzing'—to unlock vehicles without a key fob. We've written about these little white-and-orange gadgets before, first when nerds were using them to remotely open Teslas' charging doors, and then again later when someone found out how to use them to turn traffic lights green. The device in action. Flipper This new use for the Flipper Zero is far more nefarious. 404 Media spoke with a Russia-based hacker named Daniel, who says he developed the 'Unleashed' firmware that enables devices to execute more RFID and USB attacks. 'Maybe someone is using it to steal from cars or steal cars,' Daniel said, after alleging that the firmware is 'in demand' with locksmiths and car shop owners. He sells the Flipper Zero patches for either $600 or $1,000, depending on whether customers simply want the latest version or updates with further support. Daniel told 404 Media that he's sold the firmware to 150 or so customers in the past two years, and he works alongside a hacker who goes by Derrow. 'Kia Boys will be Flipper Boys by 2026,' explained Cody Kociemba, a reverse engineer otherwise known as Trikk, to 404 Media. It has such potential to scale because the tech can help thieves infiltrate a large list of vehicles. From Kias and Hyundais to Fords, Hondas, Subarus, VWs, and more, many of today's most popular makes and models are vulnerable. Nearly 200 specific examples are listed in this chart that Daniel uploaded at the beginning of a recent YouTube video. DjonixTV via YouTube Daniel claims it creates a 'shadow copy of the original key.' From what I can tell, however, it's only able to unlock the car—not start it. Still, that poses obvious security risks, even if someone can't drive away with your ride (yet). 'Some cars like Kia are not using any protection at all, which makes it easy to open them,' Derrow wrote in an email. 'For other vendors you must know the source code, then you can open them too.' If you want a more technical breakdown of how the Flipper Zero hacks work, you should check out the full 404 Media report. Really, if you're interested at all, you ought to read it. The most important takeaway is that many, many of the world's most popular cars are largely defenseless against these hacks, and it's seemingly a matter of time before thieves can do more than break into them. Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@
TechCrunch
a few seconds ago
- TechCrunch
Gas power plants approved for Meta's $10B data center, and not everyone is happy
When Meta selected a site in Louisiana for its largest data center to date, it signed a deal with Entergy to power the site with three massive natural gas power plants. Yesterday evening, a state regulator approved Entergy's plans. The power plants are expected to come online in 2028 and 2029, and at full strength, they'll generate 2.25 gigawatts of electricity. Ultimately, the AI data center could draw 5 gigawatts of power as its expanded. The power plant project has been controversial among Louisianans. One industry-affiliated group is concerned that Meta and Entergy will receive special treatment for a second part of the data center project, which involves building 1.5 gigawatts of solar power across the state, the Louisiana Illuminator reports. The group was formed by large companies, including Dow Chemical, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and others after they struggled to procure renewable power for their own operations. The other issue is that Meta's deal with Entergy lasts for 15 years, and at least one Louisiana Public Service Commission member expressed concern that ratepayers will take on the cost after the contract expires. Natural gas power plants typically operate for 30 years or more. Plus, power projects of this size tend to run over budget, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, and ratepayers are often left with the bill. Ratepayers will also pay for a $550 million transmission line running to the data center, the organization said. Meta has been on a renewable power-buying spree, including a 100-megawatt purchase announced this week. However, these natural gas generators will make the company's 2030 net zero pledge significantly harder to achieve, locking in carbon dioxide emissions for decades to come. To offset the pollution on its balance sheet, Meta will have to buy credits from carbon removal projects.
