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☆ Uvalde school massacre: Mothers wanted to watch horrific footage of their children escaping. Here's why we showed them. And why they want others to see.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Shimon Prokupecz Matthew J. Friedman Rachel Clarke | Shimon Prokupecz | Matthew J. Friedman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Uvalde, Texas CNN —Editor’s note: This story contains graphic images and descriptions of the Uvalde school massacre. We really do,” Kassandra Chavez told CNN. Miguel Cerrillo, father of Miah, came into the room and said he wanted to watch, too. Credit: Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Department of Public SafetyJamie Torres, who watched separately, told CNN she wanted to see the video of her daughter. “Thank you for doing that,” Chavez told CNN.

☆ An Auction of Prosthetics, Mermaids and Creepy Dolls to Benefit Sea Turtles
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Remy Tumin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

When Jace Tunnell spotted what appeared to be a leg on the Gulf of Mexico shoreline in Texas, he thought that his greatest fear — a body washing up on the beach — was coming true. It’s happening,’” said Mr. Tunnell, who is director of the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve in Port Aransas, Texas. The leg, after all, was wearing pants. But when Mr. Tunnell went to lift it up, the leg turned out to be a prosthetic, one of the many items of flotsam and jetsam that come ashore along the Texas coastline each year. The prosthetic leg will be up for auction on Saturday, along with other curious pieces salvaged from among the more than 500 tons of marine debris that, according to the reserve, wash up on the beaches of Texas every year.

☆ Why Do Cats Hold Such Mythic Power in Japan?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Hanya Yanagihara | Kyoko Hamada | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Now the sun was fading, and Mihoko and I went to a coffeehouse to discuss the lack of cats. (Later, I also thought that the cats’ relative scarcity made them more precious; at one number, they were curiosities. Or maybe, even, it was possible to believe that the cats knew something we didn’t. Although Tokyo, with its 14 million residents, remains one of the largest cities in the world, other parts of Japan are emptying of humans. But although the humans hadn’t been able to replace themselves after a certain point, the cats had had no such problems.

People at the See's Candies display at the Berkshire Hathaway Shopping Day event, May 5, 2023. Berkshire Hathaway 's annual shareholder meeting this weekend is kicking off with a shopping extravaganza. Called the "Berkshire Bazaar of Bargains," the shopping event is a tradition at the yearly convention. This year, shareholders can snap up Warren Buffett-themed plush dolls from Squishmallows for the first time. CNBC and CNBC.com will exclusively cover the annual meeting starting Saturday at 10 a.m.

☆ Bebe Buell, Rock ’n’ Roll Muse, Sings Her Own Song
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( George Gurley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Bebe Buell was back in town. The neighborhood was familiar to Ms. Buell. Soon after she arrived in New York from Camp Lejeune, N.C., in 1972, she became a regular at Max’s Kansas City, the famed night spot just a few blocks away. At the time she was an 18-year-old model signed to the Eileen Ford Agency who lived at the St. Mary’s Residence on the Upper East Side. She went from It Girl of Manhattan to Miss November in Playboy magazine.

☆ Hasbro, Mattel shares rise as toymakers announce multiyear licensing agreement, increased IP focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Barbie maker Mattel posted first-quarter results after markets closed on Wednesday that beat revenue expectations but fell short of expectations on the bottom line. Other toy stocks, including Hasbro competitor Mattel and pop culture consumer company Funko , also jumped on Thursday. Toymaker stocks rallied Thursday after rivals Hasbro and Mattel posted quarterly results and offered optimistic comments about how their intellectual property will boost their businesses. Amid the challenging toy and game market, both Hasbro and Mattel are eyeing a future increasingly focused on intellectual property. Hasbro's "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" from Paramount is slated for a June 9 release, while Mattel's much-hyped "Barbie" movie from Warner Bros. is scheduled for a July 21 release.

April 26 (Reuters) - Mattel Inc (MAT.O) reported a bigger-than-expected loss for the first quarter on Wednesday as the toymaker grappled with higher costs and retailers cutting back on orders. "Retailers are working through this inventory and expect that to be corrected by the end of the first half." Price increases have also discouraged consumers from spending more on its products, leading to a 21% drop in net sales for Mattel to $815 million after adjusting for currency fluctuations. Worldwide gross billings for Barbie, which represents amounts invoiced to customers, fell 41%, while Hot Wheels' billings rose only 1%. The company, however, stuck to its full-year net sales and adjusted profit forecasts and said it expects inflation to moderate in 2023.

☆ Mattel introduces first Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Mattel on Tuesday introduced its first-ever version of the Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome. The new doll is part of Mattel Barbie Fashionistas line, which aims to offer kids more diverse representations of beauty and fight the stigma around physical disabilities. Mattel introduced its first Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome. The new Barbie is part of Mattel's Barbie Fashionista line of dolls which champions diverse representations of beauty and appearance. We are proud to introduce a Barbie doll with Down syndrome to better reflect the world around us and further our commitment to celebrating inclusion through play,” she said.

☆ Mattel introduces Barbie doll with Down's syndrome
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, April 25 (Reuters) - Toy maker Mattel (MAT.O) has introduced its first Barbie with Down's syndrome in a bid to make its famous doll range more inclusive. [1/3] French City Counsellor & Author Eleonore Laloux holds the new Barbie doll with Down's syndrome, in Paris, France April 19, 2023. Mattel/Matthieu Suprin/Handout via REUTERS 1 2 3"The doll’s palms even include a single line, a characteristic often associated with those with Down’s syndrome," Mattel said. The doll is dressed is a puff sleeved frock adorned with butterflies and flowers in yellow and blue - colours associated with Down’s syndrome awareness. “Our goal is to enable all children to see themselves in Barbie, while also encouraging children to play with dolls who do not look like themselves," Lisa McKnight, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Barbie & Dolls, Mattel, said in the statement.

☆ Beyond Kyoto: Japan recommends 11 lesser-known spots to visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Rob Goss | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Japan wants travelers to go beyond the country's iconic tourist sites — and consider spending their yen in lesser-known locations. CNBC Travel takes a look at what each of the 11 spots has to offer travelers — whether or not they're wealthy. Koichi Kamoshida | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesIse-shima is arguably the "model destination" most ready to welcome the JTA's wealthy targets. Kagoshima, Aso and UnzenThe island of Kyushu in western Japan feature everything from active volcanoes to glimpses of samurai culture. Okinawa and AmamiIn 2021, Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, the northern part of Okinawa's main island, and Iriomote Island were given joint UNESCO Natural World Heritage status for their biodiversity and endemic wildlife.

☆ From one of Britain's most popular toys to the target of police raids: how a children's doll became a symbol of racism
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A police raid on a bar just outside of London renewed a debate over racist dolls. But despite the long history of the racist trope, the debate over the doll's place in British culture continues. Revellers take part in the Children's Parade at Notting Hill Carnival in London, Britain, August 28, 2022. But it does appear that there is some gradual shift in public opinion happening with the dolls. Nevertheless, the enduring popularity of the blackface doll creates the impression "that we live in a post-racial society," Scott said.

LOS ANGELES, April 14 (Reuters) - From the first blonde haired Barbie created by Mattel in 1959 to the upcoming "Barbie" film, the iconic doll with small feet continues to make a large impression on generations of fans at the new "World of Barbie" immersive experience in Los Angeles. This trip is not just for young girls, said Lucy Treadway, producer for Kilburn Live, which built the life-sized version of Barbie's Dreamhouse. Fans are encouraged to express their own style at the "World of Barbie" through the viral "Barbiecore" fashion trend of girly pink outfits and accessories. Fans can also buy Barbies and Barbiecore accessories at the "World of Barbie," with plenty of options for customers to embrace their love for the Barbie world. Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Jorge Garcia; Editing by Mary Milliken and Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The Broadway Star Phillipa Soo Sings Her Favorite Pop Song
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Nancy Coleman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Phillipa Soo enjoys fantasy stories: “Lord of the Rings,” “House of the Dragon,” anything magical with kings and queens involved. That’s partly why, she says, she was drawn to this season’s Broadway revival of “Camelot,” based on the Arthurian legend and opening April 13 at Lincoln Center Theater. Soo, 32, stars opposite Andrew Burnap as Guenevere, King Arthur’s wife and ally — a role that’s long been associated with Julie Andrews, who originated the role onstage in 1960. Soo’s goal, then, is to make Guenevere “a real person,” someone driven above all by a desire to be loved. But this past year, she joined the “Into the Woods” Broadway revival as Cinderella, and then did a brief run as Sarah in “Guys and Dolls” at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

☆ Russian travelers say they fear one question: ‘Where are you from?’
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Another Russian traveler, Lana, also asked that we not use her full name over fears of retaliation from Russian authorities. "Back then, when you say 'I'm from Russia,' the first thing people say is vodka, bears, Matryoshka [dolls], and all that innocent stuff," she said. Anna said telling new people she's Russian has "always been tricky, to be honest, even before the war." Source: Julia AzarovaSince leaving Russia, Azarova said she's not had any confrontations over her nationality. Now she's now no longer afraid to say she's Russian, she said, namely because she can't do anything about it.

☆ Silicon Valley Bank became the go-to bank for startups with a network of top-tier VCs. Underrepresented founders say that created barriers to access for them.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( April Joyner | Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But some early-stage founders told Insider they had trouble getting access to SVB's services. SVB's reliance on VC networks made it less accessible to some underrepresented founders, they said. With its focus on venture-backed startups, Silicon Valley Bank provided loans and lines of credit to businesses that often wouldn't qualify for such services at a larger bank. But the earliest-stage companies — those without significant venture funding or a notable VC backer — were still sometimes shut out, founders told Insider. Jean-Charles and Alvarez-Bailey said they didn't believe bias or discrimination was at play in SVB's decisions — they simply didn't meet the bank's VC funding threshold.

☆ How these 3 sisters grew up to become highly successful CEOs and a doctor: 'It's helpful to realize the world is often wrong'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Believing in yourself has immeasurable value, says Anne Wojcicki. "It's helpful for people to realize the world is often wrong," she tells CNBC Make It. "When you're swimming upstream, it's hard and you're going to have people telling you it's a bad idea or you're not capable," Anne says. Many of those close relationships remain: Anne says she and her two sisters all still "have the same friends from early elementary school." 1 best piece of advice for regular investors, do's and don'ts, and three key investing principles into a clear and simple guidebook.

☆ Think your house is haunted and want out? Author Grady Hendrix has ideas on how to sell it
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Grady Hendrix, the author of "How to Sell a Haunted House," said his idea for the novel began during the pandemic, when many of us were becoming more aware of our parents' mortality. I talked to Hendrix about his new novel and the subject of haunted houses and trying to sell them. Grady Hendrix author, "How to Sell a Haunted House"AN: What are some of the things that people told you about living in a haunted house? When real estate is getting fraught and the economy is doing funny things, haunted houses appear. If you feel like your house is haunted, then your house is haunted, you know?

In U.S. federal court, SHEIN has accused Temu of contracting social-media influencers to make "false and deceptive statements" against SHEIN in their promotions of Temu.com. If Temu loses, Temu could be forced to curtail what so far has been a key marketing strategy. SHEIN seeks to block Temu from using SHEIN's name for marketing, and it wants damages from sales that SHEIN can show came through deceptive or infringing marketing. Social media influencers on TikTok often mention SHEIN in posts about Temu, comparing the companies and their merchandise. In the U.S., Temu is paying social media influencers $100 to $1,000 an hour for content plugging the Temu marketplace on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

☆ Need a nanny? Chinese school trains women to take care of newborns
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Casey Hall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Confinement care is not new in China, where the practice of one month confinement post-birth, which traditionally included strict rules around bathing, hair washing and teeth brushing for mothers, has long been the norm. What is different today is the professionalism and expectations of those doing the caring, says Jiang Lei, a teacher at the centre. "We need professionals to do professional things for professional people," Jiang added, explaining that the centre teaches "scientific feeding knowledge, sleep cultivation and other knowledge such as early childhood education". The experience of caring for her own child made the idea of a career in childcare attractive, she said. ($1 = 6.9045 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Casey Hall; Editing by Shounak DasguptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Cruise ships have named celebrity 'godmothers' including Oprah Winfrey, Queen Elizabeth, and Nicole Scherzinger. Here's what the role involves.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Being a cruise ship godmother is a long-standing tradition. Here's where a cruise ship's godmother is and what the role includes. A cruise ship godmother is a long-standing tradition. Several cruise companies, including Norwegian, have a mixture of ship godmothers and godfathers. Naming a cruise ship godmother is also a marketing initiative, celebrities sponsoring ships brings more publicity and build excitement for the launch of a new ship.

☆ $30 million of Funko Pop! toys get thrown in the trash
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Thirty million dollars worth of Funko (FNKO) Pop! figures – those big-headed, vinyl pop-culture dolls – will soon make their way into the hands of a new collector: The garbage collector. Funko said in its fourth quarter earnings report that a combination of waning demand for the toys and a surplus of inventory is creating financial trouble for the company. Funko was holding onto about $246.4 million worth of dolls at the end of 2022. The company reported a total loss of $47 million in the fourth quarter of 2022.

☆ $30 million worth of Funko Pop figurines are headed to the dump, as the company looks to purge excess inventory
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Aidan Pollard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Funko will throw away $30 million worth of its plastic figurines, the company said this week. The move comes after Funko Pop inventory ballooned nearly 50% in the last year. According to the company, by the end of 2022 its inventory was valued at $246.4 million, an increase of 48% from the same period last year. The way forward, according to the company, is to throw away much of that inventory, as its button-eyed dolls clutter warehouses and store shelves. Still, Funko executives said the company is working hard to course correct and keep its brand top-of-mind for consumers across the globe.

☆ U.S. retailers' ocean shipping price woes ending as new delays threaten
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Lisa Baertlein | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONG BEACH, Calif., Feb 27 (Reuters) - Collapsing ocean shipping rates are not all good news for U.S. retailers, who paid as much as $20,000 to move a container of goods during the worst pandemic disruptions, as they now are bracing for delays due to plummeting demand. dolls to the short-term spot market from the long-term contract market. Volatile spot rates were the first to plummet when pandemic-weary consumers shifted spending from goods to travel and entertainment. Previously loyal customers are aggressively comparison- shopping, spreading their business around and gambling on the spot market, experts said. This time around, importer and exporter shipping managers, whose costs exploded when they were unexpectedly forced into the sky-high spot market, have the upper hand.

☆ Is the Art Market Ready to Declare a New Frida Kahlo?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Kelly Crow | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Surrealism got its start as a boys’ club in 1920s Paris, but lately the art world has started paying more attention to several surrealist women based in Mexico. Global sensation Frida Kahlo continues to lead this pack, with an auction record of $34.8 million reset two years ago and museums selling merchandise festooned with her signature unibrow, from tote bags to dolls. Collectors have also started scouting for alternatives in part because Kahlo only created around 150 pieces, and Mexico can now also claim anything by her that comes up for sale within its borders as cultural patrimony.

☆ American Girl enters the 1990s with a new set of 'historical' dolls from the not-so-distant past
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

American Girl announced its first set of twin dolls since the company's founding in 1986. The sisters are historical characters from the year 1999, and their accessories are a blast from the past. American Girl has produced historical characters from each decade of the 20th century. The latest additions to the historical characters have people speculating what a doll from the 2000s will eventually look like. American Girl has had a historical character for each decade of the 20th century, and a few dolls from the 19th century.

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