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☆ Christmas vacations: 15 of the best places to go
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

The Bath Christmas Market has a multitude of wooden chalets selling distinctively British handmade crafts in a quaint Georgian setting. Bogotá, ColombiaA woman dressed as Santa Claus sits next to a Christmas tree and a Christmas star at Bolivar Square in Bogota. Salzburg and Oberndorf, AustriaThe Christmas Market and associated festivities in Salzburg are really something to sing about. Dating back to 1570, Strasbourg claims to be the oldest Christmas market in France and one of the oldest in Europe. damianalmua/Adobe StockThe traditional Christmas colors of red, green and white take on an entirely new meaning in New Zealand.

Persons: CNN —, Santa Claus, Claus, ”, Allan Baxter, Jesus, Jane Austen, Jane Austen Centre –, Austen, Melchior, Gaspar, Balthazar, Roy Rochlin, Bergdorf Goodman, Wangari Maathai, Fernando Vergara, “ Ruta, John’s, Miguel de Allende, Mary, Joseph, “ posada ”, Mozart, White Organizations: CNN, Bath Abbey, Jane Austen Centre, The, Royal, Catholic, Rockefeller, Getty Images Rockefeller, New York, Radio City, Columbus Circle, Fashion’s, Saks Fifth, Macy’s Herald Square, Kenyan, Park, Nuremberg, Toy Museum, Bolivar, Downtown, Malta Toy Museum, Quebec City, Adobe, Nord Expe, Mexico Piñatas, UNESCO, ”, Santa Locations: England, Philippines, Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland, Santa, Bethlehem , Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, New York City, Bethlehem, Moravian, Bath, “, Fernando , Philippines, Asia, San Fernando, Catholic Philippines, Manila, of Bethlehem, Barcelona, Spain, Santa Eulalia, New York City New York, Central Park, Macy’s, Nairobi, Kenya, Nuremberg, Germany, German, Bogotá, Colombia, Bogota, Christmastime, Malta, Downtown Valletta, Quebec City, Canada, Petit Champlain, Quebec, Old Quebec, Sentier, Nord, Miguel, Mexico, posadas, ponche, Piñatas, Salzburg, Oberndorf, Austria, ” Salzburg, Bavaria, Strasbourg, France, Europe, Queenstown , New Zealand, New Zealand, Queenstown, Wakatipu

☆ Fact Check-Photograph shows model, not former Balenciaga stylist Lotta Volkova holding two dolls covered in fake blood
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A photograph shared by social media users does not show former Balenciaga stylist Lotta Volkova holding two dolls covered in what appears to be fake blood, but an unnamed model during China Fashion Week 2016. Posts on social media making this claim can be seen (here) and (here). The photograph shared online does not show Volkova, but an unnamed model showcasing designs by Sheguang Hu during the Mercedes-Benz China Fashion Week 2016. The images do not show Lotta Volkova, but a model showcasing designs by Sheguang Hu during the Mercedes-Benz China Fashion Week 2016. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team.

Consumers took advantage of heavy discounting by online retailers to kick off the holiday shopping season in high gear. According to Adobe Analytics, record online spending on Thanksgiving and Black Friday drove Cyber Week — Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday — to $35 billion in total sales. Even with inflation looming in the background, consumers were motivated by the hunt for deals, Adobe Analytics said. While the company's figures are not adjusted for inflation, even if online inflation were factored in, there would still be growth in underlying consumer demand, it said. Consumers have shown their willingness to keep shopping, thanks in part to the resilience of their pandemic savings.

Others, like Target (TGT.N) and Barnes & Noble, sealed merchandise behind plexiglass or tethered it with steel cables to store shelves. One survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF) cited a 26.5% jump last year in "organized retail crime" carried out by groups of people. But it is unclear whether overall U.S. retail crime is on the rise, with little data available on the problem. Retailers rarely openly acknowledge the threat of theft or crime because they generally don't want to spook shoppers. "Along with other retailers, we've seen a significant increase in theft and organized retail crime across our business," Target CEO Brian Cornell told investors on a November 16 conference call.

☆ In final White House briefing, Fauci urges Americans to get updated Covid booster
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Lauren-Egan-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Lauren Egan | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared Tuesday at his final White House press briefing, as he prepares to leave government next month following a half-century on the front lines of the world's gravest public health crises. “The idea that this may be very likely the last time I’m in that press briefing room is kind of sad. Things can’t go on forever," Fauci said in an interview earlier in the day with NBC News. Before he announced his plans to leave government, Fauci said he would not serve under another Trump administration. "What I would like to do is encourage and perhaps inspire younger people to get involved in science, medicine and public health," Fauci said.

WASHINGTON, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. health official celebrated and vilified as the face of the country's COVID-19 pandemic response, used his final White House briefing on Tuesday to denounce division and promote vaccines. True to form, Fauci used his final press briefing to strongly encourage Americans to get COVID vaccines and booster shots, and touted the effectiveness of masks, all of which became partisan totems in the United States. NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci joins White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S. November 22, 2022. He made his first appearance at the White House press briefing in 2001, according to the broadcaster C-SPAN. Democrats accused Trump of presiding over a disjointed response to the pandemic and of disregarding advice from public health experts including Fauci.

Jell-O GirlEarly Jell-O advertising depicted women as inept, needing the help of a simple recipe like Jell-O. Jell-O released flavors such as seasoned tomato, celery, mixed vegetable and Italian salad, and Jell-O salads were a colorful way to use leftovers in side dishes. In 1955, the company introduced the slogan “A Jell-O salad makes the meal.”“The Jell-O salad really hits the American sensibility and palate perfectly. Constance Bannister Corp/Getty ImagesBut as more Americans traveled and global cuisines entered the mainstream, the simplicity of Jell-O salads became a downside. “Upscale becomes the new mainstream and Jell-O salads moves into a niche,” Shapiro said.

☆ What Makes a Good Olympic Mascot? Cuteness Helps
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Suryatapa Bhattacharya | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The first bear mascot was Misha, for Moscow 1980, and its mass branding set a trend for Games to come. Sold as stuffed toys and porcelain dolls during the Games, Misha later appeared in cartoon programs. The mascot was even sent to space in 1978. Sergei Kivrin/Reuters

☆ Joy Harjo Found a ‘Portal to Grace’ in Poetry
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Emily Bobrow | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Joy Harjo, the first Native Poet Laureate of the U.S., didn’t plan to become a poet. As a Muscogee Creek girl in Tulsa, Okla., she didn’t know anyone who wrote poetry and never imagined it was something she could do. “Poetry wasn’t offered as a vocation.”When Ms. Harjo, 71, began to write poetry, the timing was inconvenient. “Poetry found a most unlikely companion in me,” she writes in her new book “Catching the Light,” a reflection on her 50 years as a poet. “Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light,” a new selection of 50 poems written over the course of her career, is also out this month.

☆ NASA's Artemis I moon rocket is flying through space for the first time. Meet the mannequins, Snoopy, and 'Shaun the Sheep' dolls along for the ride.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Paola Rosa-Aquino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Mannequins and mementos are hitching a ride aboard NASA's Orion capsule — without people. Fitted with more than 5600 sensors, Zohar and Helga will measure the amount of radiation astronauts could be exposed to in future missions. "When it comes to biological effects, different organs have different susceptibility to space radiation. Shaun, of British TV show "Shaun the Sheep" fame, is flying aboard the Artemis I mission in plush doll form. Snoopy will ride in the Orion capsule and serve as a zero gravity indicator.

☆ Disneyland adds dolls in wheelchairs to ‘It’s a Small World’
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Disneyland on Friday added two new characters in wheelchairs to its iconic “It’s a Small World” attraction, saying it wanted a “more accurate representation of diversity around the world.”The animatronic dolls are among some 300 costumed dolls representing singing children from many nations featured in the attraction. Erin Quintanilla, manager of accessibility for the Disneyland Resort, said the designs sought to combine authenticity with the colorful, cheerful style of the original standing dolls. “I teared up when I saw them in the attraction.”Similar dolls will be added next year to “It’s a Small World” rides at Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Paris. Disney has added characters to “It’s a Small World” in the past. A new “Spirit of America” scene added in 2009 included Woody and other “Toy Story” characters along with dolls in Native American dress.

☆ I make up to $800 in tips a day as a bikini barista. Customers can be scary, but I love my job and its perks.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Dorothy Cucci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Grace Morris is a 20-year-old bikini barista in Lacey, Washington. That was something that really surprised me about the job: Customers have paid for my groceries, furniture, and even my rent. There's a false perception that being a bikini barista is a "gateway job" into dancing or sex work. Being a bikini barista has given me a kind of confidence that I've never had before. But for now, I'm a bikini barista for the foreseeable future, and I'm perfectly happy about that.

☆ Disney+ subscribers are getting early access to exclusive merchandise, and it's already selling out
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The company launched a limited test Tuesday to see if its streaming subscribers will buy up exclusive merchandise themed to Disney+ shows and films. Until Nov. 8, subscribers have access to a handful of products from Star Wars, "Black Panther," "Lightyear" and "Frozen" before the general public is given access. Disney's test comes just before the busy holiday season and as the streaming wars continue to intensify. But with growth slowing, offering perks such as early access to exclusive merchandise could lure in new subscribers or keep current ones from leaving. Customers can make purchases on the ShopDisney website or by scanning a QR code within Disney+ with their smartphones.

☆ Chinese authorities ask: Dear newlywed, when's the baby arriving?
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Farah Master | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Students at Ayi University, a training program for domestic helpers, practice on baby dolls during a course teaching childcare in Beijing, China December 5, 2018. The Nanjing municipal government and the National Health Commission did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. The post was taken down a few hours after it was posted along with all the comments. The first time she was asked if she was taking folic acid and if she was preparing to conceive. Take the time to have a baby," she said she was told.

☆ From Apple AirPods and Squishmallows to 'Encanto' toys, here are some of the most anticipated gifts this holiday season, according to Adobe
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

"The shape of the holiday season will look different this year, with early discounting in October," Patrick Brown, Adobe vice president of growth marketing and insights, said in a statement. Here are the toys, gaming devices, games, and other gifts that Adobe predicts will be the most popular items this holiday season. SquishmallowsThe stuffed animals come in all sizes, shapes, and colors and are expected to once again be popular this holiday season. Xbox Series XThe Xbox Series X is the fastest, most powerful Xbox yet, per Microsoft. Apple Watch Series 8/UltraThe new Apple Watch Series 8 comes in eight different colors, with either a 41-millimeter or 45-millimeter case.

[1/3] The logo for Google LLC is seen at the Google Store Chelsea in Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S., November 17, 2021. A strong dollar has hurt the overseas profits of large firms, while soaring inflation has prompted interest rate hikes and companies to raise product prices, even as consumers have been forced to cut spending. Google's results bode ill for Facebook parent Meta Platforms (META.O), which is especially reliant on advertising and reports results on Wednesday. Last week, its smaller rival Snap Inc (SNAP.N) forecast no revenue growth for the holiday quarter, setting off warning bells in the social media industry. Shares in Spotify (SPOT.N), which also warned on slow advertising growth, slid 4%.

[1/3] The logo for Google LLC is seen at the Google Store Chelsea in Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S., November 17, 2021. Google's results bode ill for Facebook parent Meta Platforms (META.O), which is especially reliant on advertising and reports results on Wednesday. Microsoft fell 2% and chipmaker Texas Instruments , which forecast quarterly revenue and profit below estimates, was down 5%. Shares in Spotify (SPOT.N), which also warned on slow advertising growth, slid 4%. "During the quarter we experienced expected weakness in personal electronics and expanding weakness across industrial," said TI boss Rich Templeton.

Shares of the California-based toymaker fell about 4% in extended trade, after it also missed quarterly sales estimates for the first time since March 2020. Earlier this month, Hasbro Inc (HAS.O) tempered its full-year revenue outlook and warned that demand was starting to slip ahead of the festive season. Mattel, meanwhile, expects demand to accelerate during the crucial holiday shopping season, but said it would conduct more promotions to remain competitive. Kreiz said in an earnings call Mattel has not seen any "meaningful impact" on consumer demand for its toys from the price increases it has undertaken. Reporting by Uday Sampath and Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Shares of the California-based toymaker fell about 4% in extended trade, after it also missed quarterly sales estimates for the first time since March 2020. Earlier this month, Hasbro Inc (HAS.O) tempered its full-year revenue outlook and warned that demand was starting to slip ahead of the festive season. Mattel, meanwhile, expects demand to accelerate during the crucial holiday shopping season, but said it would conduct more promotions to remain competitive. However, excluding items, the company earned 82 cents per share, beating estimates of 74 cents. Reporting by Uday Sampath and Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Toymaker Mattel cuts annual profit forecast as inflation drags demand
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Mattel sign is pictured at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair, Jan. 29, 2014, in Nuremberg, Germany. Mattel Inc cut its annual profit forecast on Tuesday and said it would ramp up promotions heading into the busy holiday season, as price hikes discourage inflation-hit Americans from spending on its Barbie dolls and action figures. Mattel, meanwhile, expects demand to accelerate during the crucial holiday shopping season, but said it would conduct more promotions to remain competitive. Mattel reduced its 2022 adjusted profit forecast to between $1.32 and $1.42 per share from $1.42 to $1.48 earlier, but its raised prices helped the toymaker post adjusted gross margin of 48.3% in the third quarter, compared with last year's 47.8%. The Fisher-Price toys maker reiterated its forecast for full-year sales.

☆ ‘M3GAN,’ the next generation of creepy doll movies, is not playing around
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“M3GAN” doesn’t hit theaters until January, but the movie’s quick, zeitgeist-piercing creepiness as seen in the teaser is something to behold. “I was always thinking of her as real,” “M3GAN” director Gerard Johnston told CNN of his approach. Universal PicturesJohnstone set out to make Megan (short for “Model 3 generative android,” Williams explains in the trailer) more than just a creepy inanimate doll. “Because she is a living doll… [‘M3GAN’ is a] cautionary tale about A.I. Like creepy doll movies, stories that explore evil and/or self-aware technology call to mind the troublesome and blurry line where the inanimate object ends, and where something akin to humanity – but somehow different – begins.

☆ Mattel to Pay $3.5 Million to Settle SEC Allegations Over Misstatements
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Mark Maurer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

The Securities and Exchange Commission said Mattel Inc. agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle claims over misstatements the toy maker made in its 2017 financial statements. Mr. Abrahams, the lead auditor on the PwC account at the time of the alleged misstatements, failed to verify the uncorrected $109 million error was documented even though he knew about it, the SEC said. Mr. Abrahams worked at PwC from 2004 until 2019, when he resigned. Mattel didn’t admit to or deny the SEC’s claims when it agreed to pay the fine. Mr. Abrahams and Mr. Euteneuer didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

☆ Toymaker Mattel agrees to pay $3.5 million SEC fine for misstatements in 2017 earnings
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Toymaker Mattel has agreed to pay a $3.5 million fine to settle charges related to misstatements in two quarters of earnings in 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced Friday. The SEC said Mattel "violated numerous professional standards" by understating its tax-related valuation for the third quarter of 2017 by $109 million. Mattel's $109 million tax expense error went uncorrected until its November 2019 restatement. The SEC said Mattel did not admit or deny the findings of its probe. While we're not going to comment on the underlying facts, we appreciate the SEC's recognition of the company's remedial measures," a Mattel company spokesperson said Friday.

☆ Lin-Manuel Miranda's first songbook is out, from 'In the Heights' to 'Hamilton' and 'Encanto'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

So even for Grammy, Emmy, Tony and Pulitzer winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, his first songbook, containing 27 songs from “Hamilton,” “Encanto,” “In the Heights” and more, was a big deal. At the event, his nephew Alejandro performed “Dos Oruguitas” (from “Encanto”) on the piano, and was joined by his own teacher for “You’ll Be Back” (from “Hamilton”). You grew up with musical theater and piano lessons — how does it feel to have your own songbook? And it really was a teacher who brought me out of just writing songs about girls in the back of the classroom. That’s a really fun thing about the whole process: When you’re there early enough, your songs can really be a part of a give-and-take.

☆ I was obsessed with Barbie growing up so my dad helped me invest in Mattel, and I'm still building wealth today using the lessons he taught me
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Danielle Cappolla | Read More | Read Less | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

When I was a child, my father used Barbie to help me learn about finances. I chose Mattel; my father then bought shares in a mutual fund that contained Mattel. I had Barbie dolls, Barbie Dream Houses, Barbie campers, and countless Barbie accessories. I used money I accrued through savings and investments to pay for graduate school independently, without taking out a loan. My dad's real-world application of the financial market helped me understand money in relevant ways.

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