| | | | | |  Liam Eisenberg | | IN THIS ISSUE | Mythbusting cannabis drinks | An illuminating work discovery | Dua Lipa's legal trouble | | | | Good morning. Today is the vernal equinox, one of two moments of the year when the Sun is exactly above the Equator. You probably know it better as the first day of spring. If there's one thing global humanity can agree upon, it's that when spring arrives, it's time to party. This itch to celebrate is almost certainly tied to our ancient ancestors' relief that winter was fading and plant life would bloom once again. Many spring festivals around the world are tied to that concept of renewal. Nowruz, or the Persian New Year, has been held on the first day of spring for more than 3,000 years. In one of the quirkier traditions, locals in the Bosnian city of Zenica mark the vernal equinox by scrambling 1,500 eggs (eggs symbolizing the renewal of life). In other cultures, the arrival of spring is an opportunity to ditch your inhibitions and let loose. A main feature of Holi, the ancient Hindu festival that was celebrated last week, is getting covered head-to-toe in paint. Thailand marks the Thai New Year in April by staging a massive water fight. And so, if you're headed out on Spring Break right now, know that you're playing your part in sustaining one of humanity's longest-standing rituals. Just keep it classy. —Neal Freyman | | | | | | | | | Cann Cann is shelved at the intersection of two booming trends: sober-curiosity and seltzer. The beverage startup's flagship product is a low-dose cannabis seltzer that "gets you a little bit high—a very mild sort of light, floaty head feeling that's engaging and social," co-founder Jake Bullock told us. Its second beverage, Unspiked, is alcohol-free, intended for anyone who wants to skip the buzz altogether. We spoke with Bullock and co-founder Luke Anderson about their buzzy drinks. Are there any myths about cannabis that bug you? Luke: There are two that really bother me. One is that it's just for stoners. Despite more states legalizing cannabis and it being more socially accepted, there's still this difficult first step of going to actually purchase it and incorporate it in your routine that people report makes them feel like they're doing something illicit. We are trying to package up the product and use flavors and ingredients that are more aligned with what you see in a traditional retail beverage to try to break that down. And unfortunately, I think hemp rebranding itself as CBD, and then a huge wave of CBD beverages getting sold in grocery stores a few years ago, created this bizarre stereotype that hemp drinks are cannabis beverages. We're still battling that consumer education burden on both the cannabis and the non-cannabis side, because so many people bought CBD drinks and then subsequently became tired of them. So, in short, cannabis: It's not just for stoners, and no, it's not CBD either. Do CBD products do something? Luke: It's the "something" that is really up for debate. Like spirulina smoothies do "something," goji berries do "something." But it's like, "Will you feel a palpable impact from consuming a CBD beverage?" And Jake and I say no. But also if you take a sugar pill, sometimes you do get a little better, and we have to remember that the placebo effect does work. The power of positive thinking and consuming something often impacts how good you feel. Do you guys foresee a future where cannabis beverages are sold in bars, sports stadiums, etc.? Luke: Yes, yes! We want to build that future. We think that there are over-the-counter versions of alcohol, like beer and wine, that are more accessible because they are less strong. And for some reason, cannabis, it's all the same. If it's 100 milligrams or a concentrated dab, you have the same access to it as you do a two-milligram THC beverage, which is so much less harmful than a beer. We believe that right next to hard kombucha one day, you'll see Canns. That's like the quintessential story where someone's first and only cannabis experience is when they eat an entire brownie. Luke: We also talk about the bad pot brownie experience so much, and it is that thing that makes somebody say, "Never again." But if Everclear were the only way to get alcohol, we would all have bad Everclear experiences and we'd probably be done with alcohol. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. | | | | | | This is not a drill. With Apple Card's Daily Cash, you get real cash back—up to 3%—on any purchase you make no matter what you buy, every day. No need to redeem points or wonder where your money's at. Anyone you call family age 13 and up can benefit from Daily Cash, and everyone on the account gets their own cash back on their own spending. So you and your crew can rack  it up . Skeptical about such a great deal? Don't be. There are zero fees with Apple Card—no annual, foreign transaction, late, over-the-limit, or jump-out-from-the-bushes fees. It even makes it easy to understand your interest and encourages you to pay less of it, so more money stays in your pocket. So go ahead and reboot your credit card. Apply now without impacting your credit score. Terms apply. | | | | Each week, our workplace whisperer Shane Loughnane answers a reader-submitted question about problems at work. I came across a spreadsheet that had the annual raises and salaries for some of my co-workers. While I'm genuinely happy for them, I noticed that I am $20k–30k behind everyone on the list. I am younger, and I know that my salary won't be quite as high as some of my more experienced colleagues. However, I am debating bringing this up in a performance review, as I honestly feel that I do a good job for my company. Thoughts?—G. in OKC As I brood in the afterglow of a March Madness bracket set ablaze, it's nice to see a potentially distressing situation handled with some grace and perspective. And, if you'll allow me to further encourage your pragmatic outlook, who needs another $20k–30k of taxable income to deal with this time of year? Without knowing how exactly you came across this data, it's difficult to gauge whether addressing your discovery (in a performance review or sooner) is a good idea. If there is risk in others happening upon it, for example, your boss or HR may appreciate knowing that it's public. Doing this (now) also quietly signals that you're likely aware of your pay relative to your peers, which may benefit you (later) during salary discussions. On the other hand, if you have reservations about how the news might be received, I'd probably just keep it under my hat—after all, the real power in this information is simply that you possess it. Which brings us to your performance review, where you should always be proactively discussing your salary goals. Pay discrepancies happen for a variety of reasons—one of the most common is that certain folks advocate for themselves more consistently. While you don't have to divulge all of your secrets, your knowing your company's apparent ceiling allows you to set your expectations more confidently. Bring those performance stats and research your fair market value; if it's more in line with what you know your co-workers are making, that's reason enough to ask to be compensated closer to their level, regardless of age or experience. And if it's not…I'd ask anyway. The only thing you have to lose is more tax dollars. If you have an issue at your workplace, share your concerns and maybe we'll reply to you in a future Brew. | | | Jason Koerner/Getty Images Dua Lipa may currently be selling out stadiums on a 28-country tour, but her biggest song—2020's "Levitating"—runs the risk of ruining her summer. The pop star was hit with two high-profile lawsuits this month from artists who claim "Levitating" ripped off their songs. While copyright infringement in music is a contentious issue that's often difficult to prove, allegations are more common than you'd think. Accusations of song theft have been levied against dozens of major artists and hit songs throughout the years. Plus, it's why Chili's had to create a bizarre clap chant for all the waiters to soullessly perform for you on your tenth birthday instead of singing the actual song. Who's suing who: The first lawsuit against Lipa, from Florida reggae group Artikal Sound System, alleges that she copied a portion of their 2017 song, "Live Your Life." The second complaint, from songwriters L. Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer, takes things back a bit further by accusing Lipa of ripping off their '70s disco track "Wiggle and Giggle All Night." Dua Lipa's not the only major artist being sued at the moment, either. Ed Sheeran is in a legal battle with songwriters Sami Chokri and Ross O'Donoghue, who allege that Sheeran's "Shape of You" ripped off Chokri's "Oh Why." - These issues don't always end in court, though. In August, Olivia Rodrigo retroactively added members of the band Paramore to the credits of her chart-topping hit "Good 4 U" after its similarities to Paramore's 2007 song "Misery Business" were highlighted online.
Lipa's case may not end so peacefully. In the case of "Levitating" and "Live Your Life," both songs are in the key of B minor and share essentially the same chord progression. Several viral videos have highlighted just how similar the songs are at some points. But two songs sounding alike—even exceptionally alike—is only a fraction of the evidence required to prove a copyright violation in music. How to build a copyright case To prove copyright infringement, claimants have to prove that the defendant could reasonably have listened to their song—it'd be hard to copy it otherwise. "Live Your Life" isn't on Spotify and, as of March 2, only had 34,000 plays on SoundCloud (it now has about 10x that). But, it did reach No. 2 on Billboard's reggae charts. The writers behind "Wiggle and Giggle All Night" point to interviews in which Lipa makes vague statements about emulating prior eras and taking inspiration from the past. After all, she named the album Future Nostalgia. Claimants also have to demonstrate that the song they're accusing someone of copying is itself original. Experts say the rhythm of all the songs involved in the Dua Lipa lawsuits can be found in music by Jackson 5 and Outkast, among others. In other words, it may just be too common to prove deliberate, specific infringement. Zoom out: Given the heat in this debate, with musicology experts winding up on both sides, it's clear that the line between inspiration and plagiarism is somewhat blurred and subjective. It'll be up to the jury to determine what the sincerest form of flattery is.—MK | | | | | | Protect your furry friend and your wallet. Your pet is a treasured family member. But when sickness or injury strikes, the cost of treatment can quickly become overwhelming. With coverage from the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance program, you can have peace of mind knowing you can seek high-quality vet care whenever your four-legged pal needs it. Learn more today. | | | | Welcome to Open House, the only newsletter section that wants you to have a crystal-studded SXSW afterparty. We'll give you a few facts about a listing and you try to guess the price.  ZillowToday's mansion in the suburbs of Austin, TX, has 30-foot tall ceilings and way too many fountains. But surprisingly for the Lone Star State, this mansion is less "yeehaw" and more "ye-s, I am lost in this 13,037 square-foot compound." Amenities include: - 6 beds, 8 baths
- 2 bars and a service entrance so you can have your martini and never worry about how it got there
- A pool area with "romanesque balustrade" (talk about Wikipedia words)
- 650-pound Swarovski chandelier
How much to be the ultimate entertainer? | | | - The people who draw rocks. (New York Times)
- Ukrainian influencers bring the frontlines to TikTok. (The Verge)
- History's soundtrack: America's swinging musical diplomacy. (Engelsberg Ideas)
- A deep dive into the morality of Harry Potter. (Shaun)
- There is no such thing as countries. (The Philosopher's Beard)
- AMC bought a gold mine. (Bloomberg Opinion)
- Why birth control side effects have eluded science. (Undark)
- On rap's linguistic twists and turns. (Literary Hub)
- What Russia's war in Ukraine means for the world economy. (Foreign Affairs)
- Six months in, El Salvador's bitcoin gamble is crumbling. (Rest of World)
Say no to filling oceans and yes to filling your closet with comfortable, stylish, and sustainably made clothes from State of Matter. And while you're at it, say yes to 15% off your first purchase with code brew15.* *This is sponsored advertising content. | | | Welcome back to Morning Brew's Meme Competition, where we crown a single memelord every Sunday. Today's winner: Alex from Lansing, MI, wins for making us cry.  This week's challenge: You can find the new template here for next Sunday. Once you're done making your meme, submit it at this link for consideration. | | | | | | | ✳︎ A Note From ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Waiting periods, annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit limits and exclusions may apply. For all terms and conditions visit www.aspcapetinsurance.com/terms. Products, schedules, discounts, and rates may vary and are subject to change. More information available at checkout. The ASPCA® is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance. Products are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company (NAIC #21113. Morristown, NJ), produced and administered by C&F Insurance Agency, Inc. (NPN # 3974227), a Crum & Forster company. Through a licensing agreement, the ASPCA receives a royalty fee that is in exchange for use of the ASPCA's marks and is not a charitable contribution. |  | Written by Neal Freyman, Matty Merritt, Max Knoblauch, and Shane Loughnane Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here WANT MORE BREW? Industry news, with a sense of humor → - Emerging Tech Brew: AI, crypto, space, autonomous vehicles, and more
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