CEO Margo Georgiadis is definitely intent on remaking Mattel into an agile, digital / physical company. Ms. Georgiadis, who was formerly President, Google Americas, has recently made two hires that reflect her digital background.
The new CFO will be Joseph J. Euteneuer. Mr. Euteneuer was formerly Chief Financial Officer with Sprint Nextel and Qwest. The new Chief Technology Officer is Sven Gerjets. Mr. Gerjets, was previously with tech companies like Symantec, AT&T, DirectTV and Time Warner Cable.
As CTO, Gerjets will create and execute a plan to transform Mattel's into more data-driven company. He will be responsible for all aspects of technology implementation, including shared technology platforms, analytics, software, and hardware development and connected products.
In addition to Mr. Gerjets and Mr. Euteneuer, Ms. Georgiadis has gone outside of the toy industry for two other high level positions. Amy Thompson has been hired to become Chief People Officer. Prior to Mattel, Ms. Thompson was with TOMS Shoes and with Starbucks. Nancy Elder has been hired to become Chief Communication Officer. Ms. Elder was formerly head of communications for JetBlue.
"Successful global companies...research, understand, and design products geared to fulfill unmet local needs."
David Siegel is Co-Chairman of the hedge fund, Two Sigma Investments. He recently wrote an op-ed piece,"Innovation, Not Protectionism, Will Help Save U.S. Manufacturing", that I found to be thought provoking. It largely blames neither foreign competition nor automation but rather American business leaders for the loss of manufacturing jobs. Below are some quotes that I particularly found interesting. What do you think of his point of view?
"We will never increase our exports of manufactured goods—and support American employment—unless companies truly commit to making products that customers at home and abroad actually want."
"The qualities that have driven US economic growth and job creation in the past–creativity, risk taking, and innovation–are what will actually help rekindle demand for US-made products overseas..."
The game could be changing for those who manufacture outside of the U.S. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, and republished in Morningstar, by Paul Ziobro and Richard Rubin, "Toy Makers Gird for Tax-Code Change": "A proposal to apply a border adjustment to the U.S. corporate tax would strip toy makers of the ability to deduct the cost of imported goods from their profits, potentially forcing major price increases."
If a company imports $1 million of foreign-made toys, spends $500,000 on domestic costs and sells the products for $2 million, it would only be able to deduct the $500,000 in local costs under the proposal. Thus, it would pay taxes -- at the proposed lower corporate tax rate of 20% -- on $1.5 million. A similarly situated company now would deduct all the costs and pay 35% in taxes on just the $500,000.
Why is this happening? Because Congress is feeling the heat to keep jobs in the U.S. According to the article, the toy industry is particularly vulnerable because it generates the majority of its revenue in the U.S. while making little or none of its products domestically. This is of course not new. The industry has always produced in low cost of labour countries. In the case of China, the massive and interconnected toy industry infrastructure in that country makes it hard to imagine manufacturing anywhere else.
As we prepare for a new President of the United States, we have to ponder the potential consequences of Mr. Trump's tough line on China. Trump has called China a "currency manipulator" and threatened the country with tariffs.
It is doubtful that tariffs will be imposed but it might be a good time to think about what the toy industry, dependent upon China for 80+% of its manufacturing, would have to do should it find a sudden increase in costs due to the imposition of duties on Chinese manufactured goods.
The first reaction would be to keep production right where it is. You don't just move 80% of the world production to another country or countries overnight and, after all, nobody wins in a food fight over commerce so it might be wise to wait for the dust to clear and for reality to set in.
But should push come to shove, where would US toy companies go should the worst happen? Americans would more than likely look at bringing production back to North America and that would mean Mexico. A NAFTA member, close in proximity and having low labor rates, Mexico would benefit depending, of course, that Mexico can ramp up its production and that Mr. Trump does not continue his war of words with that country.
Thailand, Vietnam and India would also be alternatives. They provide low labor rates but they lack in sufficient infrastructure to immediately take on any significant increase in production.
I am always impressed by the passion of new toy entrepreneurs who desperately want to make their products in the United States. When you try to explain to them that their product simply cannot be made cheaply enough to be competitive they can become adamant and even angry.
So what is a person or company to do when the very center of their ethos is "Made in America". I found an interesting answer in a New York Times article by Gregory Schmidt. The article, "Challenges of Getting a Product Made in the U.S.A." makes the case that reshoring (moving production back to America) is currently taking place small increments and primarily in the luxury good market.
At this point in time, mass produced goods that are driven by price rather than quality are just not going to find domestic sources of production that can compete with foreign made goods. US labor rates are still too high compared not just with China but with Viet Nam and Indonesia.
Mr. Schmidt provides us with an example in a company named Pad & Quill that makes its leather goods in the US. The company owner, Brian Holmes, said his goal was that whatever he made it "...had to be beautiful... " To make that happen he needed a bookbindery that did high quality work. He looked in China but could not find it. He chose to make that beautiful line of products in the US because "I've never seen bookbindery quality better than in the United States."
"Keeping production in the United States was not only possible, but that it offered added benefits to a seller. It improved the turnaround time, he said, and customers were willing to pay more for American-made goods (his iPhone cases range from $50 to $110 — about twice as much as a typical case). Plus, it gave him a sense of pride knowing that he was creating jobs and helping the economy.
Another made in America company is Shinola. No, not the shoe polish company that is no longer in existence. This Shinola makes its products in Detroit and they include beautiful hand made watches, bicycles, leather goods, turntables and more. The company used to say its product were "Made in America" but the FTC said that because they used Swiss parts in their watches that they assembled in Detroit they could not make the statement.
So, what about toy companies? Is there a market for high end luxury toys? I think so. Hasbro used to make its Scrabble tiles in Fairfax, Vermont out of Vermont Maple. They had a heft and texture to them that simply is not there in today's sets.
The Unemployed Chinese Worker; What Does it Mean For the Toy Industry?
"In a 2015 study, the Boston Consulting Group said the costs of manufacturing in China's major export-producing zone were now almost the same as in the United States..."
Is China Stealing Jobs? It May Be Losing Them, Instead,"
It seems like just yesterday that we were hearing about a lack of sufficient labor for China's toy and play factories. Now, according to a New York Times article by Michael Schuman, we learn that unemployment is becoming an issue for China's work force.
Why are their fewer jobs? According to the article, "Is China Stealing Jobs? It May Be Losing Them, Instead," we learn that: "They are losing their jobs because of a slowing domestic economy, rising costs and stiffer foreign competition — including from the United States."
What is ironic, however, is that afore mention under supply of labor is a primary cause of the undersupply of jobs today. It seems that, in order to secure whatever labor supply was available, factories (toy manufacturing center Shenzhen is mentioned in particular) raised wages to attract talent. According to the article, wages for factory workers in China are now 29% higher than they were three years ago.
Because of that: "Factory workers in Vietnam earn less than half the salary of a Chinese worker, while those in Bangladesh get paid under a quarter as much." Is it any wonder that India, Indonesia, Viet Nam and other Asian countries are now effectively vying for business that used to go to China by default.
So what does this mean for the United States and toy manufacturers?
A Different "Toys to Life" Business Model: "Infinite Arms"
Activision's Skylanders, Lego Dimensions, the late Disney Infinity and Nintendo's Amiibo are all based upon tying a digital gaming experience to physical toys, in other words "Toys to Life." There is a new player in town, however, and that is Jumo Inc. whose Infinite Arms is to be released this summer.
Jumo Inc. is a new company that is loaded with talent. They have Microsoft Studio's former creative director and the director of narrative design worked on Halo. The company has an exclusive agreement with Amazon and oh yes, the action figure designers worked on Transformers. As talented as they are and as good looking as it all is, what interests me is the business model.
The current Toys to Life products feature for purchase video games that only work with a physical action figure. With Infinite Arms, however, you don't have to purchase the game because it is free. The game can be played without the physical figures and weapons but purchasing them puts the player in a more powerful and enjoyable position.
Those who work in the toy and play industry have to keep their eye on the world and its future. That was why I want to recommend an important new report from global consulting firm, A.T. Kearney. The article is ominously entitled, "Is Your Luck Running Out? Managing Supply Risk in Uncertain Times," and it should be mandatory reading for any industry that manufactures as much of its product off shore as the toy and play industry.
The article lists 12 trends that could have an impact on global business in the coming years. It contains an extensive explanation of each so I suggest that, if you have time, you read the article rather than depending upon my summary. In my next article, I am going to focus on those issues in the report that would appear to impact the toy economy in particular.
A New Resource Slump Cycle (The reduced cost of natural resources like oil will continue to stay low through 2020).
Accelerating Global Climate Change (Whether it is the costs from flooding or availaility of new sealanes in the Arctic, climate changes is going to cause havoc).
"Hey! I had one of those growing up!" is a frequent statement we hear from guests roaming through The Strong. With such a large and diverse collection on display, everyone young and old can discover personal treasures behind the glass cases. The nostalgia of smiling childhood memories brings joy, as toy companies have discovered.
Although children are the key demographic for most toys, adults often make the purchasing decisions. So toys must also appeal to the grownups. And toy companies have learned that there is no better way to market to parents (or grandparents) than to produce toys that evoke nostalgic emotions and make them remember their own childhoods. One example from past few years is Fisher-Price's line of "classics" toys, modern replicas of favorite toys in the past such as the Chatter Telephone. First introduced in 1961, the Chatter Telephone is a rotary phone and pull-toy, with interactive eyes and a distinct ring when pulled. It has gone through many makeovers over the years, but the new "classics" version brings back the original and timeless look of the toy—despite the dominance of smartphones in the real world.
Simplicity seems to be a winning solution in a progressively complex world.
There is probably no single entity in the world that is more important to the toy industry than Hong Kong based Li & Fung. As their website puts it, they are: "...a leading consumer goods design, development, sourcing, and logistics company serving major retailers and brands around the world." The company drives revenue of $18 plus billion US, are in 40 countries and 60% of their business is driven by the U.S.
Li & Fung is more than likely responsible for funneling consumer goods to just about any retailer you can imagine and that includes WalMart and Target. And they are by no means only involved in toys. Li & Fung may be an even bigger factor in clothing along with home furnishings and just about anything else you can imagine.
It is for that reason that I paid attention when I saw this Forbes headline: "Billionaire Brothers See No Turnaround For The Global Economy." The Fung brothers have seen their company go into a slight decline since a peek in 2011. As the article by Robert Olsen puts it: The supplier of apparel and toys to retailers like Wal-Mart and Kohl's KSS -0.17% said its net profit fell 4.6% to $421 million in 2015, after reporting a drop of 11.8% the year before. The Hong Kong-based company said its revenue fell 2.4% to $18.8 billion."
Why is Li & Fung struggling and why are the concerned about global markets? Well, for one thing, they say the global economy is going to continue to struggle in 2016. In addition, the Fungs describe a retail environment that is undergoing major changes due to the rise of a Millennial generation that has different purchasing habits and the rise of cloud based shopping and mobile devices.
We don't have to worry about Li & Fung.
The wait is finally over. After three years of patient anticipation since the film was announced, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is finally upon us. Expectations were high, and fans who felt disappointed with the last trilogy were afraid that they will be disappointed again. You see, for many Star Wars fans, it is more than a movie—it is way of life, a philosophy, nearly a religion. Although that sounds like hyperbole, the movies had profound effects on our childhood and the way we conduct our lives.
My own history with Star Wars provides one example of the movie's impact. When my parents started dating in the summer of 1977, Star Wars dominated the box office. My father, a dedicated filmgoer, thought it was a no-brainer to take the woman he worked with—my mother—on a first date to see the popular movie, despite the fact that he had seen it several times already. And, as the tale goes, seeing the iconic movie was not only a first date, but also a second and third date. By the time I was born six years later, the third Star Wars movie, Return of the Jedi, had debuted and my parents were, along with millions of others, fully captivated with the battle of good against evil. As I grew up, our family devoted several movie nights to the series, and the films were often followed with intense light saber battles between my siblings. Truly, Star Wars was a family affair.
Other Star Wars merchandise was—and remains—popular as well. Whether T-shirts, lunch boxes, board games, books, video games, or breakfast cereal, consumers bought all the latest products from their favorite movie. (Spaceballs, the Mel Brooks spoof on Star Wars, famously mocked this in a scene where Yogurt, the film's version of Yoda, remarks, "Moichandising! Where the real money from the movie is made. Spaceballs: the T-shirt, Spaceballs: the Coloring Book, Spaceballs: the Lunchbox, Spaceballs: the Breakfast Cereal, Spaceballs: the Flame Thrower!") The Strong has dutifully collected the majority of this Star Wars merchandise because it shows how we interact with popular culture and incorporate it into our daily lives.
The Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play has also collected items based on the Star Wars franchise. The library recently acquired the original press kit that the movie studio sent out to publicize the original film. The press kit includes photo stills, cast and crew bios, and production notes. It provides an exciting look into the making of the movie, and will be made available in the library. Additionally, in my first blog post, I discussed the Star Wars game documentation that I discovered in the Atari Coin-op Collection. The game documentation chronicles the development of the iconic arcade game, and provides unprecedented insights into how it was made. Moreover, we recently digitized rare promo video footage for the game, which was previously held on 3/4" U-matic tape. A small clip of the promo may be viewed at the museum's Facebook page.
Now that Episode VII is here, does it disappoint? If the joy and cheers that my children exhibited immediately after the movie is any indication (and not to mention the critical acclaim and record-breaking box office receipts), it does not. With new intriguing characters; former characters that seem like old friends; a soaring John Williams' score; good old-fashioned filmmaking; and a mix of adventure, comedy, and drama, the movie is thoroughly ready for a new generation. And if some of us can't make it to the theater right away or we find that the most convenient showings of The Force Awakens are all sold out, we at least have the toys and games to allow our imaginations continue to soar to a galaxy far, far away.
It is rare that those who make toys get to play with those who consume them. The Chicago Toy and Game Fair (ChiTAG) is a major opportunity for that to happen. The event, taking place this weekend at Navy Pier, was surprisingly busy yesterday. I say, "surprisingly", because those who attended had to make their way from the Chicago suburbs through a surprisingly heavy snowstorm.
How heavy was it? Well, to give you a sense of that, I am writing this as I unhappily sit in a hotel room near O'Hare Airport, having had my flight home last night cancelled. So, it says a lot about the vigor of Chicago's denizens and the strong appeal of ChiTAG that so many would fight through so many snowflakes.
Suzy Y. Chang-Smucker has 14+ year of experience in toy and product design and is a graduate of Otis College of Art and Design, class 2001. She grew up in Chatsworth, CA, graduated from US San Diego, lived in Chicago, and now resides in Columbus, OH. She has worked for toy companies like Pleasant Company (now American Girl), Processed Plastics, Corgi Classics, MGA Entertainment and Creata. Suzy is now a Creative Girl Wonder at Tantrum Baby Designs and has been working on a variety of freelance creative projects. She has been married for over 8 years and has 3 beautiful children, ages 5, 3 and 1. She is kept very busy managing her business as well as being a mother and wife. Her children are her inspiration to so many things in her life, especially in the design field.
Happy Meal…McDonald's Happy Meal..What can I say about this icon of my childhood? One of the best memories of being a kid…the surprise toy that you get in a box. Imagine my excitement when I was able to work on Happy Meal Toys. And when I say work on, I mean brainstorm, draw, work with amazing designers, sculptors, engineers, and account managers, create artwork, presentations and be a part of the presentations, was a dream come true.
To a child, the toy is magical and amazing. To me it was that and more. The process in which these magical toys are created is unbelievable. The quick turn around time from art board to production to the stores is unthinkable. All within a year's time (or less), these magical wonders make their appearances in stores to be treasured in little kids hands and in collector's treasure troves.
It all begins with a meeting. We started by getting a brief from our Chief Creative Officer who would give us the low down of which movie or property was on the calendar. There were licenses that would be evergreen properties, like Barbie and Hotwheels, or Littlest Pet Shop, and then there were the blockbuster movies hits like Transformers and The Lego Movie, and of course, there are the toy big hits like Skylanders that have become a huge niche and success.
Once our Creative team got the download on what program we were working on then we were sent out to brainstorm. Brainstorm consisted of doing retail research, online and in the bricks and mortar retail shops, as well as in some of the most interesting shops that were not deemed toy shops. I used to spend days or hours in these stores simply perusing the aisles for creative inspiration. A few of my colleagues used to call it "Suzy-Shopping".
When I would walk through these stores, I would take photos, although it was frowned upon by the employees, and have in my very distant past, escorted out since it was "not-permitted" to take photos of products in store. This was back in the day were I had to tote my digital camera around. These days, it is much easier to be incognito when taking these "illegal" photos in the stores since the awesome invention of great quality cameras on smart phones.
I would take copious notes via voice recorder and take down the price points, features of toys and products that stood out and could be relevant in my brainstorming process. And of course take a ton of photos. I would not just limit myself to the toy aisles because my process was to walk down ever aisle so that I could think and soak in what is on shelf, and the price points. Sometimes I would walk through the housewares/kitchen aisle and find inspiration. Other times I would find weird toys, like a 6" Sumo Wrestler wind up toy that was holding a ball tethered on a string. Once this guy was wound up he would spin around and with the spinning force, it would cause the ball to then lift up and spin around. This toy was inspiration not only for myself, but for other creative on my team. Plus, it was horribly sculpted and painted, but was effective nonetheless.
A lot of the times, notes and photos would not do justice, which then led me to purchasing a ton of different toys. (I HAD to buy that Sumo Guy…too good not to) I would then unload my bags full of goodies on my desk and review my notes and photos.
The Playmobil Pirate Ship, pictured above, seems pleasant enough. It contains 176 pieces including 4 pirate characters. One of the pirates, however, is distinctive. He is Black and he has a shackle around his neck. Not only does he have a shackle around his neck but the instructions actually direct you to place it there (see image below).
1. Depicting a Black character as a prisoner will be seen, particularly in America with our history of slavery, as an enslaved person.
2. The concern on the part of that mother is fully understandable. By showing the only Black character as enslaved, it provides her child with a subliminal if not overt negative message.
3. Certainly, no one at Playmobil saw this coming. If they had it would never have left the design department.
4. So, how did it get out the door? Possibly it was because the designer was a European (Playmobil is a German company) and lacked an American's sensitivity to our country's racial and slave history. Maybe because whomever was in charge of designing the directions was not talking to whomever was designing the ship. Maybe because they just screwed up.
So, what can we learn from this incident? Well for one thing, Americans are not the only ones who make cultural errors when dealing in foreign markets. European companies may want to check in with their American compatriots about potential, unintended cultural implications.
Ironically, another lesson is that being racially inclusive calls for designers and manufacturers to have an enhanced sensitivity about race and ethnicity.
Greyson MacLean is sixteen years old and the inventor of BrickStix. He lives in Hartland, Wisconsin with his parents and two sisters. He is an Honor Student at Arrowhead High School where he is a member of the Lacrosse Team, Robotics Team, Spanish Club, Officer of the Chinese Club and a Tutor. He enjoys reading, especially about Physics and History, researching brick trends, listening to music, finding new comedians, and hanging out with friends.
We do from time to time have some child entrepreneurs come along in the toy industry but I am not sure I have seen a child produce anything so polished. Can you tell me how the idea for adding stickers to construction blocks came into being? In fact, who came up with the name BrickStix?
I came up with the idea for reusable stix when I was nine. I had been playing with LEGO® bricks for years at that point, and often used tape and marker to "make" the brick something it wasn't. I never used the stickers that came with sets because once that sticker went on; it was near impossible to take off. The tape didn't work great either. I am the type of builder who builds something once, and then I tend to salvage it for parts. One brick plays many roles. I wanted a sticker that could be used, removed, and used again. Something that would NOT ruin my bricks. I told my mom about my problem and my solution. The joke is, she was only half listening, but I kept talking. I named my solution BrickStix right then and there. She encouraged me to look into it and do some research. Neither of us thought I was "inventing" something, we figured it had already been done. To our surprise, nothing like it existed.
Though it sounds like you were the motivating factor behind BrickStix, it sounds like it was a family affair. Can you tell me about who contributed what to bringing BrickStix to market?
BrickStix was absolutely built by a team. My mom was the first to motivate me to start doing some research. She manages the day-to-day activities while I am in school. Her business card reads "Go-To-Gal." She called her college roommate who happens to be in the Toy Business, and we get a lot of advice from her. My dad worked on the provisional patent and set up the business. He deals with making deals. We call him "Business Guy". My uncle is "Chief Stix Maker," he takes all of my ideas and research and brings them to life on the sheets. If we need something designed-he designs it. My Aunt developed the website and handles Social Media, she is rightly called "Web Spinner" and "Social Butterfly." As we grew, I asked another Aunt to join the fun and she helps my Uncle with graphics. I need every single one of them to keep moving forward. I could not do it alone.
I understand that you are making Brickstix in China and the US and that you did most of the sourcing on your own. That is no easy task. Can you tell us about your adventure in doing so?
When I came up the idea for BrickStix, I can say with complete honesty, I had no idea what it would take to actually make it happen. I had watched my mom develop an idea, but I wasn't paying attention to her daily struggles. The first material I used for BrickStix was cling. I figured out the static created between the cling and the plastic worked on my LEGO bricks. It made perfect sense to source a material and print the designs on it. However, finding that perfect material and partner to work with, was not easy. Most companies we called were not interested in working with a startup that was asking for a very small run to test the market. They were willing to run tens of thousands, but we were not willing to store a lifetime supply of BrickStix in our basement if the idea didn't take off. Not to mention, the cost. I started calling companies, but as a pre-teen, I wasn't taken seriously. I researched different companies, and my mom would make the calls. We focused on companies in the Midwest so we could easily visit. We found a source close to home and we worked for weeks and weeks getting the art just right. Finally, the files were sent. I went to the press check and everything looked awesome. I learned about proofs, printing and kiss-cuts. We all celebrated our first run…and then…the bad news. The ink didn't adhere to the material properly, and it could be scratched off. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. We scrapped that run and found another source. Finally, the first set of BrickStix was ready to bring to Toy Fair. That all happened back in 2010-2011. Since then we have added Reusable Stickers to our portfolio, as well as a Stix Storage Book. We also started printing in China to make shipping overseas easier to manage. Our source in China came through contacts in the business. The sales team we work with had worked with them before, everyone met for a meeting, and now we have a source in China. A lot of our growth has happened because we met the right people at the right time.
What are your plans for Brickstix? Greyson, do you have more ideas for toys and do you intend to be a permanent player in the toy industry?
President Xi of China and President Obama held a joint press conference on Friday. Whatever is gleaned from press conferences of this nature is, for many, refracted through what the press deems to be important. But how do the results of their meetings directly impact the toy and play industry? Yes, reducing greenhouse gases and attempts to decrease cyber attacks are hugely important but what will have the most direct impact on how we do business?
So, I thought it would be interesting to look at what was said at the press conference through our own lens. What did they have to say that would have the biggest impact on those of us who engage in the business of play.
Its important because China produces 86% of the world's toys, is a major market for American movies and a growing market for western toys. What happens in China does not stay in China but impacts the health, wealth and prosperity of the world's merchants of play.
It is a good thing for the toy and play industry that this issue has been addressed by both leaders, a first. President Xi's mention of it in his remarks plus the Xinhua article should give us hope that there will be more stringently applied legal protections. What we will have to watch closely is what practical steps will be taken.
President Xi: "...there is no basis for the renminbi to have a devaluation in the long run. At present, the exchange rate between renminbi and U.S. dollars is moving toward stability."
Western companies and Chinese manufacturers desire, above all, stable currency exchange rates. A Chinese currency that is strong in relation to the US dollar can cause the price of goods to go up and for western consumer resistance to kick in. A weak Chinese currency can cause western goods to be out of reach of many Chinese consumers and similarly depress sales. It can also create problems for Chinese manufacturers who suddenly find themselves to have quoted prices that are no longer financially rational. It is therefore important for the toy and play industries that President Xi supports a stable currency.
President Xi: We have decided to make 2016 a year of tourism for China and the United States. In the next three years, we will fund a total of 50,000 students to study in each other's countries. We also welcome the United States' decision to extend the 100,000 Strong initiative from universities to elementary and secondary schools, and by 2020, 1 million American students will learn Mandarin.
I am going to step out today and make some predictions on the future of manufacturing based upon the collapse in direct to consumer delivery times. In my last article, "Speed to Market and the Future of Manufacturing," I made the point that direct to consumer shipping times are now beginning to be calculated in hours and even segments of hours rather than in days (Amazon proposes to get your order in one-half hour by drone). According to some, the demand for quickest is beginning to replace cheapest in how consumers calculate their purchase decisions.
I propose that the collapse in consumer time expectations may mimic the collapse in cost expectations that occurred in the 1980's. Then it was Wal-Mart who figured out how to dramatically reduce costs, which had an enormous impact on how manufacturers rethought everything from package size to product size and more. Now it is Amazon with its goal to get products in consumers hands in as little as a half an hour.
Shouldn't we expect a similar impact throughout the supply chain? Aren't retailers going to eventually mimic consumers in their expectation for far faster shipping times? Will suppliers and retailers continue to be willing to wait 30 to 60 days to receive an order from Asia?
As far as the world's play industry is concerned, China is one big factory. Initially based upon lowest price and now equally linked to its huge scale, the world's toy makers and sellers have long seen China as an integral part of the supply chain.
If the companies and retailers are no longer willing to accept months to market, they are going to have to dramatically rethink their use of containers and ships. Therefore, I would not be surprised to see a Chinese company open if not a factory, an assembly point, in the U.S. After all, Japanese companies successfully moved automobile production to the US; why shouldn't Chinese companies try a similar tack.
In 2013 I wrote two articles ("Hong Kong + Shenzhen = San Diego + Tijuana?" and "Tijuana Wakes Up") on the rise of the San Diego / Tijuana region as a rising assembly manufacturing center. Among the reasons cited were a shorter supply chain and just in time manufacturing, reduced risks due to the nearness of American management and better comparable labor costs. When you add the need for speed, I think you may well see this area boom.
The wild card in all of this is 3-D printing. Whether through 3-D printing facilities in retail stores; specialized printing facilities like Shapeways and Kraftwurx or in people's family rooms we could see a change that not only adds speed to market but challenges the very need for manufacturing, logistics and retailing. With in home printers now under $500 it's becoming less science fiction and more reality.
Do you agree, disagree, have a different vision; what do you think?
Is it possible that Amazon is going to do to delivery time what Walmart did to prices in the 20th century: Smash it? That was a thought that went through my mind when I considered how dramatically the time between placing and receiving an order has dropped.
Ed Yruma of KeyBanc, in his CNBC article, "Same-day delivery wars; The need for speed" puts it this way: "Clearly there's been a race to get it faster and cheaper to the consumer, [who] is going to expect that they know when the package is going to arrive and ... to arrive fairly quickly." In fact, the article's author, Courtney Reagen, predicts that getting it there quickly is going to replace getting it there cheaply as the key consumer demand.
More interesting to me than the efficiencies in time to consumer is the inevitable change in the consumer's and therefore society's expectations. When one's needs can be satisfied so quickly, there is often a resulting rise in expectations.
For example: Before air conditioning, during the summer months, people expected to be hot. The only hope was an occasional breeze or a shady spot. The average person today would consider the right to be cool or even cold rather than hot to be practically enshrined in the Constitution. Similarly, before the invention of the airplane, travelers expected to take days or weeks to reach a destination that would today take hours. Watch what happens when an airplane is delayed even for a few hours and you will see how much that expectation has changed.


Our Boat Fishing Light Model all feature high quality Leds designed to maximize light output and energy efficiency. The design of these lights make using them simple and effective. The Leds are placed on three sides to give a solid 360 degree area of light. The lights are heavy enough to submerge on their on so you just tie the cord to the boat when it is submerged to the desired depth. We coat the Leds with a hard coat of epoxy to protect them from those accidental bumps, drops and rolling around in the boat. This hard coating makes your Boat Fishing Light virtually unbreakable.
We offer 3 sizes of our Off The Boat Models, a one foot long model HG354 a two foot model HG3108 and a four foot model HG3216. All models utilize the same high output leds. The only difference is the length and the number of leds per light. Generally, the HG354 1' model, is used for smaller boats, kayaks and for shallow water fishing. The other two models are preferred for larger boats and deeper water fishing. The HG3108 ( 2') model is perfect for lakes, streams and even saltwater fishing. The longer HG3216 4' model is preferred for deep water fishing and ocean. Below are some specifications on each model so you can select the best model suited for your technique, species and water depth. Contact Us for more information.


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Horrific picture emerges of Oz flash floods
Published Thursday, January 13, 2011
The full horror of Australia's deadly flash floods emerged Thursday as rescuers found more bodies in wrecked towns and survivors told heart-rending tales of death and tragedy.
As Brisbane reeled from its worst floods in decades, emergency services sifted communities around Toowoomba, about 125 kilometres (80 miles) west in the Great Dividing Range, which bore the brunt of Monday's disaster.
Queensland state premier Anna Bligh said staff were reporting unimaginable scenes from the brief but devastating inundation which tore houses off their foundations and left some areas isolated.
"In the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley region, while the water has receded the kind of devastation that it has left is only now becoming clear to everybody in that valley," she said.
"This is a valley that has been completely and utterly devastated. There are now whole towns that are completely unrecognisable."
Rescuers engaged in the gruesome hunt for bodies found two more victims, taking this week's toll to 15, including one man killed in Brisbane. However, dozens are unaccounted for and officials hold grave concerns for 12.
One of those feared dead was James Perry, who was pictured on top of his floating car with his wife and son in one of the disaster's defining images.
Perry's wife and son were rescued, but when the helicopter returned there was no sign of the racing steward or his white four-wheel drive.
In Toowoomba, it emerged that schoolboy Jordan Rice, 13, who was scared of water and could not swim, told bystanders to save his 10-year-old brother, Blake, as fast-running waters engulfed the family car.
Seconds later Jordan and his mother, Donna, were sucked to their deaths, according to widespread media reports.
"He loved his family and would do anything for them," the boys' elder brother Kyle, 16, told The Australian newspaper.
Nearby in Grantham, among the worst-hit towns, some 30 cars lay crumpled beneath a bridge after being swept away by the waters, described as an "inland tsunami", though a search of the cars did not turn up any more bodies.
Earlier reports described how a couple hoisted their two children into a ceiling cavity in their flooded home before the waters dragged them away, while a "miracle" baby was also born during the disaster.
Images of the stricken district showed shattered homes and streets strewn with debris in scenes reminiscent of a cyclone or bomb attack. In Grantham, a rail line was suspended in mid-air after the earth beneath it was washed away.
Damaged reservoirs have also left the district perilously low on drinking water, Bligh said, with the military now aiding a round-the-clock mission to truck in supplies from other areas.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Carlos Pío de Habsburgo-Lorena y Borbón (Viena, 4 de diciembre de 1909 - Barcelona, 24 de diciembre de 1953) fue un noble español, pretendiente carlista al trono de España con el nombre de Carlos VIII, de acuerdo con una interpretación de la ley semisálica, que los carlistas consideraban en vigor.

Juventud
Carlos nació en Viena, Austria. Hijo menor del archiduque Leopoldo Salvador de Austria-Toscana (1863-1931), quien era hijo del archiduque Carlos Salvador de Austria-Toscana y de la Princesa María Inmaculada de Borbón-Dos Sicilias; y de la esposa de éste, la infanta Blanca de Borbón (1868-1949), hija del duque de Madrid Carlos María de Borbón y Austria-Este, pretendiente carlista al trono de España como Carlos VII, es descendiente directo de Leopoldo II del Sacro Imperio Romano Germánico y de Carlos IV de España. Sus padrinos de bautizo fueron el Papa Pío X y la condesa de Bardi.

Carlos Creció en el Palacio Toscana en Viena. En 1919 el gobierno republicano de Austria confiscó todas las propiedades de los Habsburgos. Carlos emigró con su familia a Tenuta Reale, propiedad de la familia materna en Viareggio en Italia. Luego se trasladaron a Barcelona. En 1926 Carlos recibió la nacionalidad española.

Pretendiente al trono de España
En 1932 un sector del carlismo, conocido como cruzadismo por su vinculación al semanario El Cruzado Español, comenzó a depositar sus esperanzas en los hijos de doña Blanca de Borbón, al considerar que no existía ninguna otra rama que fuera heredera ideológica del tradicionalismo monárquico y que por lo tanto la sucesión debía buscarse entre los descendientes de la mujer más cercana a Alfonso Carlos. Este movimiento consideraba que el liberalismo de Alfonso XIII lo excluía de la sucesión.

El 29 de junio de 1943 Carlos publica un manifiesto en el que se proclama legítimo heredero del trono. En ese tiempo él tenía tres hermanos mayores, pero ninguno de ellos se había mostrado interesado en reclamar esos derechos dinásticos. En 1947 dos de sus hermanos, Leopoldo y Francisco José, renuncian a sus derechos. En 1948 Antonio María lo hace verbalmente en Barcelona.

Carlos fue denominado entre sus seguidores como Carlos VIII, y su movimiento político fue conocido como el carloctavismo. A la muerte de Carlos en 1953, sus hermanos Antonio María y Francisco José reclamaron la sucesión del trono español.

Matrimonio y familia
El 8 de mayo de 1938 Carlos contrajo matrimonio en la catedral de San Esteban de Viena con Christa Satzger de Bálványos (1914-2001). Al tratarse de un matrimonio morganático, la descendencia fue excluida de la sucesión:
 Alejandra Blanca de Habsburgo-Lorena y Borbón (1941-2023), casada en 1960 con José María Riera Leyva.
 Alejandra Riera y Habsburgo-Lorena (4 de noviembre de 1960) casada con Baldo Montaner Casanella.
 Mar Montaner Riera (9 de junio de 1994).
 Violeta Montaner Riera (1 de abril de 2001).
 Carlos Pío Riera y de Habsburgo-Lorena (16 de julio de 1963) casado en 1992 con Mireia Mateu Martínez.
 Laura Riera Mateu (17 de abril de 1998).
 Blanca Riera Mateu (6 de agosto de 2000).
 Pedro Riera y de Habsburgo-Lorena (1 de diciembre de 1965) casado con Leonor Benoist (sin descendencia).

 María Inmaculada Pía de Habsburgo-Lorena y Borbón (1945-), casada en 1969 con John Howard Dobkin (divorciados):
 Carlos Eduardo Dobkin (11 de octubre de 1970) casado con Angela Gengler en Felton, California el 23 de octubre de 2004.
 Abigail Rowan Gengler Dobkin (30 de enero de 2006).
 Hadley Pía Gengler Dobkin (27 de mayo de 2007).
 Finley Ruth Dobkin (19 de diciembre de 2008).
 Juan Leopoldo Dobkin (18 de enero de 1972) casado con Estefanía Francisca Lempert en Nueva York el 13 de octubre de 2007. (sin descendencia)
 Antonio Cortés Pío Dobkin (12 de mayo de 1979) (soltero).

El 30 de noviembre de 1990 Alejandra y María Inmaculada recibieron el título de Condesas de Habsburgo (Gräfin von Habsburg) de parte del archiduque Otto, jefe de la Casa imperial.

Muerte
Carlos murió de una hemorragia cerebral el 24 de diciembre de 1953 en Barcelona y está enterrado en el Monasterio de Poblet.

Ancestros

Bibliografía

Referencias

Enlaces externos
 Vídeo del traslado de los restos mortales de Don Carlos Pío

Nacidos en Viena
Fallecidos en Barcelona
Alumnado del Colegio La Salle Bonanova
Nobles de Austria del siglo XX
Pretendientes carlistas al trono español
Carloctavismo
Sepultados en el Monasterio de Poblet

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Five Syrians trying to make their way to the United States using stolen Greek passports were arrested in Honduras, police there said Wednesday.
The men were arrested after they flew into the airport in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa late Tuesday night and were questioned by immigration officials, according to La Prensa. They were trying to make their way to northern Honduras to complete their journey to the U.S. by land, crossing Guatemala and Mexico to reach the southwest border of the U.S.
Aníbal Baca, a police spokesman, said the Hondurans were already on alert following the terrorist attack in Paris and were tipped off by Greek law enforcement about the men's voyage. Baca told the newspaper that Greek diplomats visited the airport and confirmed that none of the men spoke a word of Greek.
"The passports were stolen (in Greece), those are not their real names, we are confirming their identities," Baca told La Prensa.
In a video from CNN, the men are seen being escorted out of the airport and loaded onto a pickup. Baca said they were being transferred to police custody to continue their investigation. He gave no indication if the men had any terrorist ties but said Honduran officials were working closely with INTERPOL, the international organization that facilitates communication between law enforcement agencies around the world, to figure out who they are and what they were doing.
The arrests come as the U.S. government has braced for possible follow-up attacks to the Paris bombings. One of the terrorists killed by French police was found to have entered Europe through a Greek island that is a popular entry point for Syrian and other refugees.
Congressional leaders are considering a "pause" in the Syrian refugee program until the vetting process is changed out of fears that terrorists will try to use that program to sneak into the country. Many governors also are balking at resettling Syrian refugees in their states.
Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., said the arrests served as a reminder of how difficult it is to track so many refugees that easily get their hands on stolen or forged identification documents.
"While the intent of these five men is still unknown, it is yet another warning that we must take the vetting and screening process for Syrian refugees extremely seriously," Duncan said in a statement. "That is why we must press pause on the refugee resettlement program for Syria and other nations containing known terror cells until we have fully reviewed and reformed our system for vetting refugees, and made substantial progress in combating Islamic State."
The State Department says it has a very stringent vetting process and that half of the Syrian refugees admitted are children. Only 2% are young men of combat age, it says.
Honduras has been on high alert ever since the Paris bombings, since so many illegal immigrants travel through the country on their way to the U.S. Border agents there have arrested more than 12,000 foreigners so far in 2015 from countries including Iran, Ghana, Somalia, Ethiopia and Pakistan, according to El Heraldo, a Honduran newspaper.
Col. Santos Nolasco, a Honduran law enforcement official, told the newspaper that the country added more security to air and land ports following the Paris attacks because the threats have become so "multinational."


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'I love you, China': North Korea woos Xi in lavish state visit
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with China's President Xi Jinping during Xi's visit in Pyongyang, North Korea on Thursday. Reuters
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed that strengthening bilateral ties, at a time of "serious and complicated" international affairs, was good for regional peace, North Korean state media KCNA said on Friday.
Xi arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday for a two-day visit, the first by a Chinese leader in 14 years, and was greeted with a lavish welcome which included a performance of the song "I love you, China" and thousands of people holding up placards that formed a picture of Xi's face and the Chinese flag.
China is the North's only major ally and Xi's visit is aimed at bolstering an ally under pressure from UN sanctions over its nuclear and missile programmes and a breakdown in denuclearisation talks with the United States.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Thursday. Reuters
The visit also comes a week before Xi and US President Donald Trump meet at the G20 summit in Osaka amid an ongoing trade dispute.
Video footage and photos released by North Korean state media highlighted Kim and Xi with wide smiles as they met at the airport, drove through Pyongyang's streets in an open top limousine, and attended the "Mass Games" propaganda show.
KCNA said the Mass Games performance - titled "Undefeated Socialism" - was specially prepared for the Chinese goodwill visit and included songs such as "Without the Communist Party, there is no new China" and "I love you, China."
A photo released by KCNA showed thousands of people holding placards to form a giant picture of Xi's face and the Chinese flag at the mass gymnastics and arts performance.
Other KCNA photos showed Xi and Kim smiling and laughing at the airport, on the red carpet, gazing at cheering children and sitting with their wives.
The ruling party's main newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, ran a special expanded edition on Friday, with eight out of 10 pages devoted to photos and text about Xi's visit.
CRUCIAL RELATIONSHIP
Kim said Xi's visit, which may see China bring fresh support for North Korea's floundering, sanctions-bound economy, was "crucial" to show the world the unchanging friendship between the two countries, KCNA said.
While major allies, the two countries have often had strained relations.
Xi said Beijing and Pyongyang agreed that a political settlement of the Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue has been "an inevitable trend," and that they need to continue to stick to peace talks, according to China's Xinhua.
The two leaders agreed to have close strategic communication and deepen cooperation in various fields, KCNA said.
On Thursday, Xi praised Pyongyang's efforts towards denuclearisation and said the world hopes North Korea and the United States can talk to each other and for those talks to be successful.
Since a failed summit between Trump and Kim in Hanoi earlier this year, Pyongyang has conducted some weapons tests and warned of "truly undesired consequences" if the United States is not more flexible.
At a dinner banquet on Thursday, Xi said China firmly supported Kim seeking a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue and the establishment of a great environment for self-development via "a new strategic route", according to KCNA.
China Xi Jinping North Korea Kim Jong Un Ties
Xi supports North Korea's direction on issues ahead of visit
Chinese President Xi Jinping said North Korea is taking the "right direction" by politically resolving issues on the Korean Peninsula in a rare op-ed published by a North Korean state newspaper on Wednesday,
Xi arrives in North Korea to meet Kim ahead of Trump talks
President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday on a historic trip to reboot a troubled alliance, as he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un face their own challenges with US President Donald Trump.
Xi urged Trump to ease North Korea sanctions in 'timely' fashion
Xi "pushed for the US to show flexibility and meet the DPRK (North Korea) halfway, including the timely easing of sanctions against the DPRK and finding a solution to each other's concerns through dialogue," Wang Yi told reporters.
Kim and Xi in Pyongyang talks as both face standoffs with Trump
Xi is the first Chinese president to visit North Korea in 14 years, after relations between the Cold War era allies deteriorated over Pyongyang's nuclear provocations and Beijing's subsequent backing of UN sanctions.
Ruler of Sharjah, CP sign last piece of Hope Probe
His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in the presence of Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, received on Sunday Sarah Bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, responsible for the file of the scientific team to explore Mars, and a number of members of "Hope Probe" project team, at the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST).
First Fringe fest enthrals audience in Sharjah
Sharjah has burst onto the global Fringe scene with the launch of its first Fringe festival on Jan.16, transforming the city into a vibrant family entertainment canvas painted with a diversity of acts spanning the genres of theatre, comedy, circus, dance and children's entertainment.
Khalifa University study on UAE genetics pool concludes
A three-year Khalifa University (Abu Dhabi) study has revealed that the genetics pool of the Emirati population is highly complex and highly diversified.
UAE aims at sustainability in all areas
Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the minister for climate change and environment of the UAE, emphasised cooperation in environmental sustainability among countries.


One PDF File download pattern to make your own Oven Mitts. Complete instructions and a template is included.
An original Maine Quilt Company sewing pattern by Julie M. Watkins in PDF format (320kb) for immediate download to make your own Oven Mitts.
Save money and make your own oven mitts. Make them as gifts for friends and family. Have fun and match your mitts to your kitchen decor.
The finished mitt measures approximately 11 3/4 x 7 inches. Each one requires a double layer of cotton batting.
The pattern and instructions are for personal use only. Their sale and distribution are prohibited. The pattern is Copyright 2015 by Julie M. Watkins, All Rights Reserved. You are free to do whatever you like with your completed oven mitts. Only the pattern is copyright protected.


This entry was posted on Friday, July 6th, 2018 at 12:24 am	and tagged with cardmaking, copics, die cuts, fauna, lawn fawn, stamping and posted in Challenges, Coloring, Lawn Fawnatics, Thank You, Uncategorized.	You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Wow what an awesome card! I love the secret reveal into your ocean scene! Thank you so much for playing the Lawn Fawnatics Challenge!


Welcome to the Rolls Royce league of Luxury and Style. This is the league where only Rolls Royce products compete with Rolls Royce products and each new entrant compliments the previous blockbuster success to take it to a new level. With the Rolls Royce Ghost series, Rolls Royce Motor Cars repeated the same history all over again.
1907 is a special milestone year in the history of Rolls Royce Motor Cars; it was the year when their ahead of the time car "Silver Ghost" was given the title of the Best Car of the World by Autocar.
It was a new beginning in the journey of Rolls Royce. The Ghost and the Ghost Extended are two tributes to that golden era of this premium brand and both these variants have heralded a new era of Timeless Elegance all over again.
Imagine a staff of 60 individuals taking care of your car's aesthetic needs and designing a car where they are preparing the final print in accordance with your family emblem. This is what you can expect while you are looking for a Rolls-Royce Ghost extended. The brand has assigned a bespoke team to take care of all your design needs. It is not a run-of-the-mill job like it is done in other factories.
Whatever the car is being designed as, the maker is doing it for you according to your requirements. If owning a Rolls Royce is a concurring dream for you then this bespoke team is here to make it a reality and that too, with the finest of the details.
Coming out of a Rolls Royce is a Photo-finish victory because nobody can resist this car. When we talk about the sheer power of this simplistic technical wonder then we find that a twin turbo 6.6-litre V12 engine waiting to be maneuvered by four wheel designs.
You can touch the gigantic speedy heights of 250Kmph while riding on this magic carpet supported by an intelligent suspension system to keep you rock-steady on the cushions of comforts.
Mirror finish of Rolls Royce is a trademark that Rolls Royce Dawn too has gone through. Seven coats of primary finishes, and then the bespoke team picks the color of your choice before the final delivery. And not to forget the long wheelbase that gives you ample space so much that all other cars might start feeling way too small. But then again, they are not a Rolls Royce at the end of the day.
Be ready to drive into the world of ultimate comfort – Choose the massage seat and the massage type while you are riding. Focus on the fruits of comfort and recharge yourself between two hectic points of business schedule with Rolls Royce Ghost Extended. This silent surge of power and intelligent navigation system comforts you and guards you during those long drives.
Vehicles become a partner of life and times, and the Ghost series has already become a harbinger of adventure with comfort in the life of many enthusiastic people. In the year 1912, parent model "Silver Ghost" traveled 1820 miles in mountain terrines flawlessly.
To mark the centenary of this great feat in the year 2013, Rolls Royce launched "Ghost Alpine Trial Centenary Collection." This edition is special; it is a business class Luxury Saloon that will ignite the spark of adventure in you.
Roll-Royce Ghost is not a car; it is a concept of life. It is aristocracy, simplicity and adventure going hand in hand. It is an "art in science" machine with science of soothing art creating the comfy and cozy ambiance of a personal luxury cabin that is taking you to the world.


Contain a small flock of sheep or a small herd of goats with this complete fence system. When properly electrified, ElectroStop® is effective for controlling the movement of meat and dairy goats, flighty breeds of sheep or to enclose rams and bucks. Add rolls (up to 4 more) to create a larger enclosure. 42" tall installed. 100' long.


I'm going! After all it's 15 minutes walk from where I live!
I've just watched up to episode 7.
In some ways it reminds of the Pertwee Dr Who story: The Frontier in Space.
I was given Season 1 for Xmas on DVD. So far I've only watched episode 1 but it looks promising.
I've got one or two Gerry Anderson ones. Including both the UFO Interceptor and a SHADO Mobile.
Topic: So how many B7 episodes do you think you watch in a year?
Forum: Blakes 7 Polls Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 8:49 pm Subject: So how many B7 episodes do you think you watch in a year?
I tend to watch about 1 per week. Which would make it about 52 per annum.
One or two nods to B7 in there.
I've watched the first 3 seasons on DVD. Very good. It's done a lot to boost the tourist trade in Northern Ireland where it's filmed.
No, this thred was about Episode VII: The Force Awakens.
Thanks for the heads up, Sharp Blue. I must find it on iplayer.
For a number of reasons it's been decided to put this back to September. We've settled on the above date. The usual venue, ie The Knight's Templar, 1 The Square, Bristol BS1 6DG.
Apparrently the upcoming season is going to be Peter Capaldi's last. How do people feel about this? It only seems like yesterday that he took the role on.


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We Switched Domains! TheMovie123.Com is WatchSeries New Site Domain. Please Update Your Bookmarks for Latest Movies Daily.
Watch The Witches (2020) Online
In 1960s Alabama, an orphaned young boy staying with his grandmother at a hotel, stumbles across a conference of witches and gets transformed into a mouse by the Grand High Witch.
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Actors: Anne Hathaway, Chris Rock, Codie-Lei Eastick, Jahzir Bruno, Kristin Chenoweth, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci
Tags:123Movies Added Today FMovies Movies 2020 PutLocker
Rock Dog (2016)
When a radio falls from the sky into the hands of a wide-eyed Tibetan Mastiff, he leaves home to fulfill his dream of becoming a musician, setting into motion a…
Genre: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Music
Stargate: Continuum (2008)
Ba'al travels back in time and prevents the Stargate program from being started. SG-1 must somehow restore history.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Family, Science Fiction
Two friends named Gerry become lost in the desert after taking a wrong turn. Their attempts to find their way home only lead them into further trouble.
Country: Argentina, Jordan, USA
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Mystery
Castle in the Sky (1986)
A young boy and a girl with a magic crystal must race against pirates and foreign agents in a search for a legendary floating castle.
Genre: Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction
Brave (2012)
Brave is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Mérida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus and Queen Elinor. An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer,…
With a reputation for seducing members of the opposite sex, regardless of their marital status, a notorious womanizer discovers a beauty who seems impervious to his charms. However, as he…
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Hopscotch (1980)
When CIA operative Miles Kendig deliberately lets KGB agent Yaskov get away, his boss threatens to retire him. Kendig beats him to it, however, destroying his own records and traveling…
Genre: Adventure, Comedy
A deranged media mogul is staging international incidents to pit the world's superpowers against each other. Now 007 must take on this evil mastermind in an adrenaline-charged battle to end…
Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
Manny, Diego, and Sid embark upon another adventure after their continent is set adrift. Using an iceberg as a ship, they encounter sea creatures and battle pirates as they explore…
Genre: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
A young elephant, whose oversized ears enable him to fly, helps save a struggling circus, but when the circus plans a new venture, Dumbo and his friends discover dark secrets…
Country: Australia, Canada, UK, USA
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
Mad Max becomes a pawn in a decadent oasis of a technological society, and when exiled, becomes the deliverer of a colony of children.
My One and Only (2009)
A mother takes her two sons on an unusual road trip from New York. Pittsburgh, St. Louis and eventually Hollywood in her quest to find a man to take care…
Genre: Adventure, Biography, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Trailer: The Witches (2020)


This book has no pictures. Literally none. Even though libraries and bookstores have it in their picture book section. What gives? What genius decided to market something like that to kids? The Book With No Pictures is exactly as its title suggests. What the title doesn't tell you, though, is that kids won't be able to get enough of it. In a madcap celebration of language and reading aloud, B.J. Novak shows youngsters the power and humor of words. As he writes, "You might think a book with no pictures seems boring and serious. Except . . . here's how books work. Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. Even if the words say . . . BLORK. Or BLUURF." From there, the games have begun and the lucky soul reading the book aloud will find themselves having to say and do all sorts of silly things. Luckily for them, they'll probably be happy to oblige a child's requests to read it again. And again. And again. Parents will likely know Mr. Novak from his TV and film roles, but their kiddos will know him as one of the funniest authors around. Highly recommended, especially for reading out loud.
Highly recommended. Molly Crumbley, Librarian, Maryland, USA.


THE COUNCIL of the Slovak Antitrust Office (PMÚ) confirmed a record high Sk885 million (€23.5 million) fine for fixed-line operator Slovak Telecom (ST) for misusing its dominant market position, the Hospodárske noviny business daily wrote.
The fine was imposed last year but ST appealed the verdict.
ST insists, however, that the PMÚ verdict is not correct and that it will take the case to court.
ST president Miroslav Majoroš said that after taking all legal steps in Slovakia, it is also determined to take the case to European institutions.
According to the PMÚ ST failed to provide access to local loops to its competitors, thus hindering competition.


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Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta: Real Madrid won't let Sergio Ramos leave
By Duncan DayJul 5, 2015, 4:03 PM EDT
Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta plays against his squad's rival, Real Madrid, often several times per season, domestically and sometimes abroad in the Champions League.
And knowing Sergio Ramos–one of the biggest talents circulating the European soccer transfer market–the 31-year-old can't see an exit from the Bernabeu as realistic.
Ramos has been heavily linked to Premier League club Manchester United, a side that tried to win over Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels and failed to do so.
The Red Devils switched their sights to La Liga, nonetheless, and followed up speculation from early in the transfer window with a $45 million offer for the defender.
Then, the ex-Sevilla man, who has spent 10 seasons with Los Blancos and made over 440 gameday appearances, requested to leave Madrid to find a different challenge elsewhere.
Although many signs point to a dissatisfied Ramos hitting the road, Iniesta praised the ability of his teammate on the Spanish national team and offered his view on the subject.
From Sky Sports:
"I've always said that Sergio is one of the best centre-backs around," he is quoted as saying in AS.
"He's already in a great team and, to be honest, I can't see Madrid letting him leave."
Former Real Madrid goalie Jesus Fernandez echoed a comparable perspective.
"It's hard to imagine [Ramos not being there]," he said. "He's a symbol of Real Madrid, and has given the club a lot. He has lots of character and is an important part of the club."
Getting a highly skilled goalkeeper (David De Gea) as a part of the deal provides an excellent incentive for Real to go through with this.
Real will also have the funding to replace Ramos, and his absence–though it might be noticeable at the beginning of next year–would eventually fade into obscurity if new manager Rafa Benitez can find the right combination in the back line.


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Vickers named managing director of performing arts center
Jon Vickers, previously director of the Browning Cinema in the University of Notre Dame's DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts, has been promoted to the new position of managing director of the center.
"Jon has excellent operational experience to bring to the position, is dedicated to making connections across the academy, and is a valued member of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center team," said Anna M. Thompson, the Judd and Mary Lou Leighton Director of Performing Arts.
As managing director, Vickers will oversee the daily operational activities of the center, ensuring that its academic, business, guest and technical services, as well as external relations, are aligned with the center's overall mission. Additionally, Vickers will be responsible for building partnerships with colleges, departments, institutes and other centers on campus in an effort to further the arts as a critically important part of the University.
Vickers will continue to serve as curator of the film series at the Browning Cinema and will collaborate with Thompson on programming themes for each season between the cinematic and performing arts.
Vickers and his wife, Jennifer, have for 12 years owned and operated the Vickers Theatre, an independent, art house theater located in Three Oaks, Mich. His education includes a degree in civil engineering from Michigan State University.
In Three Oaks, he is a founding member of Harbor Arts, Harbor Country Forum, the Sound of Silence Film Festival and Radio Harbor Country, of which he is the current chair. He also is chair of the Village of Three Oaks Downtown Development Authority.
The DeBartolo Center is presenting its fourth season of world-renowned performances, art film screenings, University department and faculty performances, and other programming. The facility includes five separate venues, including the Leighton Concert Hall, Decio Mainstage Theatre, Philbin Studio Theatre, THX-certified Browning Cinema, and the Reyes Organ and Choral Hall.
Contact: Kyle Fitzenreiter, marketing manager, performing arts center, 574-631-1873, fitzenreiter.1@nd.edu
Originally published by Julie Hail Flory and Kyle Fitzenreiter at newsinfo.nd.edu on February 21, 2008.


Prices follow CBOT +/- local basis with daily changes.
-Free from poisonous seeds / husks but tolerance 1 particle of treated vegetable seeds with unknown level of toxicity for each 1 kg sample at each lot of 5,000 metric tons loaded and max 0.005% castorseed and/or castorseed husks.
To be final at time and place of shipment per certificate/s issued by Independent Surveyor, cost being for Seller's account. Other quality/ condition in accordance with Brazilian Legislation ruling at time and place of shipment.


Water Conditioning is used to control the issue of calcium and magnesium in water that can cause scale problems.
Water treatment, filtration, and conditioning can extend the life of your pipes, sinks, dishware, and more. Water treatment and filtration is also essential to your health.
Chemicals used in municipal water treatment, and their by-products, are not desirable for you to consume. When you schedule us to go to your home ask one of our technicians about some in-home water testing that can be done.


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Remembering Aniah
by: Elizabeth White and Chuck Williams
LEE COUNTY, Ala. (WRBL) — The second suspect in the kidnapping of 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard appeared in a Lee County courtroom Monday morning as our sister station, WRBL News 3, obtained court documents that say why he was arrested in the Aniah Blanchard case.
An affidavit on file with the Lee County clerk's office shows the probable cause for the arrest of 35-year-old Antwon Fisher, known as "Squirmy." Fisher was arrested overnight Friday by the Auburn Police Department and U.S. Marshals. Fisher is charged with first-degree kidnapping.
The first suspect identified and arrested was 29-year-old Ibraheem Yazeed. He was arrested on Nov. 7 and charged with first-degree kidnapping.
As he was walking into court, the affidavit for his arrest shows the following:
"Further investigation revealed that Antwain (sic) Shamar Fisher, alias 'Squirmy,' provided material assistance to Yazeed by providing transportation to Yazeed, and disposing of evidence."
Watch: The latest on the court hearings from our sister station reporter Elizabeth White
During Fisher's appearance Monday, News 3 learned The Lee County District Attorney's Office believes Antwon Fisher has an extensive criminal history, including a capital murder charge. News reports indicate Fisher and another man were charged with killing Amy Rawls of Millbrook during an apparent drug deal in 2004.
District Attorney Brandon Hughes said Fisher pleaded guilty to murder in 2005 and was given a 20/3 split sentence, where he served three years for murder and was put on probation.
Fisher's court appointed attorney indicated Fisher is employed and a married father of four kids and is not flight risk. Fisher's attorney stated Fisher needed a bond to be out of jail and support his family until his kidnapping case went to trial.
Second suspect in death of Clark Atlanta student denied bond; suspect smothered victim with plastic bag
Homewood community reacts to 2nd arrest in Aniah Blanchard case
District Judge Steve Speakman decided to not issue a bond based on Fisher's criminal history. The judge also cited multiple arrest warrants for Fisher based on unpaid traffic tickets and Fisher's failure to show up to court to address them.
A preliminary hearing has been set for Dec. 18. Judge Speakman also implemented a gag order in the case.
The search continues for Blanchard, who has not been seen or heard from since Oct. 23 when she was recorded on security camera footage making a purchase in an Auburn convenience store. Yazeed was also seen on security footage in that same store.
Blanchard's SUV was later discovered damaged at a Montgomery apartment complex. A significant amount of her blood was found on the passenger side of the vehicle.
Investigators have maintained their belief that more than one person is involved with Blanchard's disappearance and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
There is a gag order in effect for the case, barring lawyers, witnesses and Blanchard's family members from speaking on the case. That order is currently being challenged by multiple news outlets.
Anyone with information regarding Aniah's whereabouts or other knowledge about the case is asked to call the Auburn Police Division Detective Section at 334-501-3140, the anonymous tip line at 334-246-1391 or the 24 hour non-emergency number at 334-501-3100.
Alabama educator, wife charged with faking child's illness


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