In her new memoir, Angela Merkel writes about the many dilemmas she had to navigate as Chancellor of Germany. Dilemmas her male colleagues never had to sweat. Like, can you wear a pantsuit instead of a skirt in the Bundestag, Germany's parliament? She decided the answer was, yes. Merkel is the only woman ever to rise to the most powerful political post in Germany. She served as chancellor from 2005 to 2021. Angela Merkel has gone toe-to-toe with world leaders like Vladimir Putin, led Germany through times of turmoil and become a role model for other women aspiring to positions of leadership. But her legacy is complex. She gets into all of this in her new memoir, "Freedom." For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for C onsider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Email us at considerthis@npr.org . This episode was produced by Erika Ryan and Esme Nicholson, with audio engineering by Andie Huether.It was edited by Courtney Dorning.Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich: Gunners close gap at the top and move up to second in the Premier League thanks to Kai Havertz's first half strike Kai Havertz close-range finish after 23 minutes proved to be the difference Arsenal have leapfrogged Arsenal into second and are six points off the top LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! New formation, some new faces, but the optimism has gone at Old Trafford By OLIVER HOLT Published: 22:07, 27 December 2024 | Updated: 22:25, 27 December 2024 e-mail 230 shares View comments This match between challengers and strugglers felt like the comfy sofa where you retreat to rest after you have eaten one too many slices of turkey and two too many mince pies. As post-prandial entertainment, it wasn’t as good as the Gavin and Stacey finale but the three points it brought Arsenal did lift them above Nottingham Forest and Chelsea and into prime position to give chase to Liverpool . This was a job done by Mikel Arteta ’s side and nothing more. It was the bare minimum requirement that marked the start of their attempt to close the gap on Arne Slot ’s side. The sketchy 1-0 win moved them to within six points of the leaders although Liverpool do also have a game in hand and the wind in their sails. It also proved to Arsenal that they can win without Bukayo Saka , their best player, who will be out for several more weeks with a hamstring injury sustained at Crystal Palace before Christmas . Arsenal looked shorn of attacking inspiration without Saka but Ipswich , who are one off the bottom of the Premier League, were not good enough to expose their uncertainties. Ipswich did cause some nervous flutters among the home crowd in the second half as they began to exhibit a modicum of attacking ambition but Arsenal were never really threatened. Even so, the final whistle was greeted with a roar of relief in north London. They were grateful to Leandro Trossard for the game’s one moment of attacking flair when he beat his man in the Ipswich area and crossed for Havertz to tap home from close range. But Arsenal’s unconvincing showing against Kieran McKenna’s side will increase worries among their supporters that, without Saka, they will find it hard to sustain a challenge to Liverpool. The rest of Arsenal’s attacking band – Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli – played only fitfully. Sterner tests than this, away at Brentford and Brighton, await Arsenal and they will have to step up a gear if they are to keep up the pressure on Liverpool. The absence of Saka had been on everyone’s mind in the build-up to the game and as the teams waited in the tunnel, the television cameras zoomed in on Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz locked in intense conversation about their roles as Martinelli looked on. Martinelli, as expected, occupied Saka’s role on the right flank but before he had even touched the ball, Ipswich nearly scored. The game was a few seconds old when the ball was swung over from the visitors’ left. Sam Szmodics was in space a few yards from goal and prodded a foot at it. If he had made contact, he would have scored. Gabriel Martinelli, as expected, occupied Bukayo Saka’s role on the right flank Thereafter, the first half turned into a game of attack versus defence with Arsenal frustrated by the massed ranks of blue shirts behind the ball. A series of patient build-ups foundered. The first time there was a glimpse of a chance was when Jurrien Timber burst forward from defence and unleashed a drive that thudded into the midriff of Arijanet Muric. But then, midway through the half, Arsenal broke the deadlock. A Martinelli cross was only half-cleared to Leandro Trossard on the edge of the Ipswich box. Trossard ran at Ben Johnson and fizzed in a cross and Havertz stole in behind Jacob Greaves to lift it high into the net. If there was an expectation that a goal might raise the tempo of the game, it was a false expectation. It settled back into a state of post-Christmas torpor, as woolly as the light fog that wisped around the floodlight glare at the stadium. The main interest was in the cameos, in the collision between Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips, two of England’s great success stories from Euro2020, two players whose fortunes have diverged in the years that have elapsed since that tournament. Rice is at the heart of this Arsenal team of title challengers now after his move from West Ham, whereas Phillips is still trying to rebuild his career after his move from Leeds to Manchester City stalled his progress and led to him being criticised by Pep Guardiola. Phillips did his best to compete and to disrupt Arsenal’s possession but he saw precious little of the ball. It feels like an awfully long time since he was one of the stars of the wonderful Leeds side fashioned by Marcelo Bielsa. Arsenal began the second half with greater urgency and when Phillips tripped Rice on the edge of the Ipswich box a few minutes after the interval, the home fans sensed opportunity. Martin Odegaard could only clip the free kick into the wall. Emboldened by Arsenal’s toothlessness, Ipswich actually began to venture into the opposition half and swung crosses in from both flanks. Their fans, behind the goal their team was now attacking, responded by raising the volume of their support. Ipswich nearly paid for their new spirit of adventure immediately. Arsenal won a corner and when Rice curled it to the back post, Gabriel ran on to it. He met it unmarked three yards out but somehow contrived to direct it an inch wide of the post. The Arsenal centre half turned away in disbelief. Arsenal had other chances to extend their lead. Rice aimed a thunderous volley goalwards only to see it blocked by an Ipswich defender and Havertz missed his kick when he had the goal at his mercy. Odegaard became more and more influential as the game wore on and his prompting freed substitute Mikel Merino to unleash a stinging shot that Muric did well to push aside as it arrowed towards the corner of the net. Arsenal’s dominance had been such that the game should have been out of reach but their lack of an attacking edge meant that a sense of dread accompanied each late Ipswich foray into the Arsenal half. A better team might have been able to expose that nervousness but even though Ipswich were willing, they were not that team. Arsenal saw the game out. They got the job done. But it was not the kind of display that will have Mo Salah, ,Virgil van Dijk and co looking over their shoulders just yet. Ipswich Town Arsenal Premier League Share or comment on this article: Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich: Gunners close gap at the top and move up to second in the Premier League thanks to Kai Havertz's first half strike e-mail 230 shares Add comment
Ludhiana: Gates outside colonies have often become a bone of contention between residents and the civic body. In the case of the two private colonies, civic officials claimed to have demolished the gates to facilitate public movement. On the other hand, free public movement is exactly what residents of colonies, who install the gates, want curtailed. Sometimes, they go to great lengths to prevent it. In a few areas, residents do not open the gates at any time of the day, stopping commuters from entering the premises on the grounds of safety. Most gates were closed in 2020 to prevent unnecessary movement during the Covid lockdown. However, they were not opened even when public movement was restored. According to civic officials, gates cannot be closed during the day as they are located on public roads and people’s movement cannot be restricted. However, members of residents’ welfare associations argue that they keep the gates closed for safety reasons. Gates of several residential colonies, including Model Town, Tagore Nagar, Kitchlu Nagar, Pakhowal Road, Haibowal, Rajguru Nagar and SBS Nagar etc have locked gates. A resident of Kitchlu Nagar, who wished to remain anonymous, said that he had to struggle to get a few gates opened in the area. However, he said that other residents pressurised him to discontinue his efforts. He claimed that authorities initially allowed the gates to be closed at night due to concerns about car theft but now, some residents keep them closed during the day to restrict movement. An MC official claimed that they have served notices to residents welfare associations against which they received complaints and action was taken in the past but they could not act due to political pressure. He added that another factor which deterred them from taking stern action is safety concerns of residents, who feel that having the gates closed at night would prevent thefts. He also said that very few RWAs have taken permission from the MC to install gates. What the rules say ? Punjab Municipal Corporation Act 1976 says that the MC can develop only those streets/roads that are declared “public streets” and nobody has the right to stop any person from using a public street at any point of time. According to a resolution passed by the MC general house in 2014, installation of gates could be allowed for security. However, the resolution made it clear that RWAs need to apply for permission after taking consent from all area residents. It added that the colony would designate three persons to sign an agreement with the MC, which would allow gates only in colonies recommended by the police department. The association of the area is to ensure that gates remain open from 5am to 11pm. When gates are closed from 11pm to 5am, gate keepers are supposed to be there to open the gates in emergency conditions. The house approved the resolution and specified that gates can be installed only on outer roads not in inner lanes. However, gates are commonly seen in internal lanes of the city.Dame Prue Leith throws her support behind Gregg Wallace and insists he 'shouldn't be sacked' amid misconduct allegations - admitting she's often warned over her own 'offensive' languageOttawa Senators could be without star goalie Linus Ullmark for rest of road trip
Analysis: Protecting QBs from violent late hits like the one that leveled Trevor Lawrence isn't easySnoop Dogg has nearly as many ties to football as he does to rap music. The entertainer coached youth football for years and created the Snoop League, an after-school program for inner city Los Angeles youths. Snoop has been a guest analyst on football broadcasts and his son, Cordell Broadus, played Division I football. When Snoop took his latest step, becoming the sponsor of a bowl game, he had a demand: Find a way for all players in the game to receive name, image and likeness (NIL) money. “This was Snoop's idea,” said Kym Adair, executive director of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice . “He was having conversations with people he knows in the college football world and I got a call that said he wants us to be the first bowl to make this commitment and that's what we did.” The beneficiaries are Colorado State and Miami (Ohio), who will conclude their seasons Saturday at Arizona Stadium in the Arizona Bowl. The bowl is classified as a 501(c)(3), so all revenue goes to charity. And, being one of the few bowls not tied to ESPN, it opens the door for unique sponsorship opportunities. The bowl was previously sponsored by Barstool Sports and the digital media company used its own cast of characters on the broadcast, which was streamed on its digital platforms. Snoop Dogg takes over this year. The rapper/entertainer is the latest celebrity to sponsor a bowl, following the footsteps of Jimmy Kimmel and Rob Gronkowski at the LA Bowl. And, Snoop being Snoop, he wanted to put his own spin on his own bowl. “College football fans are exhausted by the constant talk around NIL, conference realignment, coach movement, transfer portal and super conferences,” Snoop said in a video posted on social media. “So it’s time that we get back to the roots of college football — when it was focused on the colleges, the players and the competition, the community, the fan experience and the pageantry.” With that will be an NIL component. The bowl can't pay players just for playing in the bowl, but both teams participated in football clinics on Friday and will get paid for their services. Other bowls have given single players NIL opportunities, but this is believed to be the first to offer it to every player on both teams. “I love the fact that the Arizona Bowl is unique and tries new things, and obviously having Snoop here is unique,” Colorado State coach Jay Norvell said. “The NIL component, it’s the future. It’s what football has become now. We think it’s fantastic for our kids and then the interaction with the kids is the hidden gem of the whole thing.” The NIL component of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl comes a month after a similar effort in The Players Era Festival basketball tournament in Las Vegas. The eight-team tournament said it paid out $9 million in NIL money to participating players for activities outside the competition. It also offered $50 million in NIL opportunities over the next three years for services and activities compliant with NCAA regulations. Are the Players Era Festival and Arizona Bowl the start of a new future? It is not out of the question in big-time college athletics, where schools are already preparing for the era of revenue sharing with players next year. “Revenue sharing between the players and the athletic departments is already on the horizon, so whether that takes the place of these types of arrangements or they're completely separate has yet to be determined," Adair said. "We're just trying to be flexible, ahead of the curve and make an impact any way we can.” Just the way Snoop wants it. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Dear Prime Minister and Ministers, We will be straightforward. We had believed that, beneath the realities of political life, you were principled people, with a deep respect for your office and for the law, including international law. We had assumed that you valued Australia’s international standing enough to ensure our adherence to these laws. We had hoped that you, as representatives of the Australian people, would take Australia’s responsibilities as a member of the international community of nations very seriously. As Australia has signed and ratified the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Conventions (specifically the Genocide Convention, the Children’s Rights Convention and the Refugee Rights Convention), we had expected ethically coherent and legally appropriate actions from you in response to the unspeakable harm Israel has unleashed on Palestine. We have been hoping and waiting in vain. Nothing in the past twelve months has propelled you into meaningful action. No number of Palestinian children killed or maimed and traumatised for life; no number of Palestinians, including minors, tortured and raped in Israeli prisons and detention camps; no number of civilians driven from place to desolate place in forced evacuations. No amount of wanton destruction of Palestinian towns, villages, schools, hospitals, farmland, universities, homes, markets, libraries, museums, cultural and religious sites, refugee camps, trees, animals, or essential civilian infrastructure (such as water purification plants, solar energy panels, and sewerage systems); No level of deliberate starvation inflicted; no amount of humanitarian aid blocked; no type of illegal or experimental weapon used on a captive population, inflicting previously-unknown injuries impossible to treat due to the catastrophic conditions. None of these egregious crimes has awoken any humanitarian impulse. No number of UN and other aid workers murdered; no number of doctors and nurses killed or kidnapped; no number of journalists shot dead; no amount of indiscriminate or AI targeted bombing; No number of petitions and open letters by medical professionals, by legal experts, by journalists, by trauma specialists, by holocaust historians, by academics and students, by human rights groups, by dismayed and horrified citizens both young and old of every faith and background; no number of impassioned speeches in the UN assembly; not even the measured and explicit rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) calling for an immediate and unconditional stop to Israel's illegal onslaught, its unlawful occupation and apartheid regime; None of it has prompted any recourse to appropriate diplomatic response. You must be aware of the ongoing horror. It is your duty to remain up to date about events of such momentous nature. Therefore, you know, or should know, of the many credible reports debunking Israel’s lies and propaganda, including those about what happened on October 7th. You know, or should know, that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) acknowledges activating the Hannibal Directive, thus deliberately killing many Israelis lest they become hostages; that no babies were beheaded; and that there is no verifiable evidence of systematic rape. Furthermore, that Israel refuses to cooperate with the UN body attempting to report on the horrific events of that day. Likewise, it would be irresponsible of you not to have familiarised yourselves with the historical context of current events. You know, or should know, that Israel’s genocidal war on the Palestinian people did not begin on October 8th 2023; and that the Gaza Ghetto uprising was the logical and full-blown outcome of decades-long incremental ethnic cleansing, ruthless siege, brutal military occupation, and cruel apartheid. Does it not worry you that Australia, through trading with Israel, including with weapons and surveillance companies, and providing diplomatic cover in the UN, entailing subservience to the US and to our own Israel lobby, is complicit in Israel’s crimes? Israel has made it abundantly clear that it does not want a ceasefire, not even at the cost of its own citizens’ lives. Nor will it countenance a Palestinian State. On the contrary, it is expanding its lethal attacks on the illegally occupied West Bank, with the obvious objective of de facto annexation. It aims to annihilate the Palestinian people and their identity by brute force, while provoking surrounding countries and risking escalation to regional war. Israel has become a rogue state, operating with impunity and blaming its victims. The UN long ago concluded that Israel’s control over the Gaza Strip constitutes occupation, thus denying Israel any right to “defend” itself. The ICJ has left the world in no doubt that this occupation and siege are unlawful, along with Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank, and its annexation of the Golan Heights. The ICJ has also concluded that Israel practices apartheid. Its ruling calls on all countries to withdraw support for Israel while it continues to act unlawfully, and has clearly spelled out that whoever insists on enabling these crimes is complicit. Are you therefore not only defying the highest court in the world, but even justifying Israel’s genocidal onslaught in Gaza, its occupation and apartheid? Could it be that you cannot find the courage to deviate from the “ironclad commitment” of the US and take a sovereign decision? Does your ambition to propel Australia into the top ten players in the global armaments industry outweigh your obligation to restore our country’s increasingly damaged international reputation? Maybe you are being bullied by the Israel lobby, including the right-wing Christian Zionist movement in this country? It is no longer plausible to claim that criticism of the State of Israel, condemnation of its barbarity, and the demand for Israel to respect international law are antisemitic. Perhaps it is convenient for you to have cover for your apparent inhumanity and your own contempt for international law. However, after more than a year of prevarication and appalling inaction, do you deserve the benefit of the doubt? Australians sickened by Israel’s shocking violence and outraged by its impunity are reeling. We want to know why you have not implemented the most peaceful and effective way of bringing this hellish catastrophe to an end: a complete boycott, sanctions and divestment policy on Israel? Surely that would be the least Australia could, and should, do. We are asking these blunt questions because we demand accountability from our government. We expect a substantive, comprehensive, and timely response. History will not absolve Israel, nor its allies, be they willfully blind or not. Sincerely, [Click to see the endorsements so far. To sign on and provide your name and organisation, title and/or position if any).]A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says
Icy conditions weathered Thanksgiving travelers and Mizzou Tiger fans as the first snowfall of the year landed in Columbia on Saturday. Roughly 3.2 inches of snow fell in Columbia from roughly 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service . A 17-person crew was on call from the Columbia Public Works Department during the snowfall to address the buildup, John Ogan, a spokesperson for the Public Works Department, said in an email to the Missourian. Crews continued cleanup through the weekend. Ogan said that as of Monday, all roads were in passable condition. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 362 crashes and four fatalities across the state between 6 p.m. Wednesday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday. One fatal crash occurred in the westbound lane of Interstate 70 in Columbia on Saturday morning, according to the Highway Patrol, which temporarily blocked both westbound lanes. Ogan also said that increased traffic from the Mizzou football game likely contributed to road congestion in Columbia on Saturday, and noted that the Public Works Department encouraged attendees to use the free Go COMO shuttles to reach the stadium. The conditions over the weekend met the city's expectations, Ogan said. "We don't control Mother Nature, but what we do control is how we plan for it and how we respond to it with the personnel and resources available to address the situation by adopted policy," Ogan said. Some Mizzou football fans took to social media to share their experience with the ice and snow at the stadium. Douglas Edgar commented under Mizzou Athletics' Facebook post that he saw several people slip on the stairs during the Saturday game. Photos were posted by Edgar that showcased the stairs coated in ice and snow. Eric Maze, public relations manager at MU Health Care, wrote in an email that at least one patient was treated at University Hospital on Saturday night related to a weather-related fall at the football game.
Consumers in the United States scoured the internet for online deals as they looked to take advantage of the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon with Cyber Monday. Even though e-commerce is now part and parcel of many people's regular routines and the holiday shopping season, Cyber Monday — a term coined in 2005 by the National Retail Federation — has become the biggest online shopping day of the year, thanks to the deals and the hype the industry has created to fuel it. Adobe Analytics, which tracks online shopping, expected consumers to spend $13.2 billion Monday — a record, and 6.1% more than last year. That would make it the biggest shopping day for e-commerce for the season — and the year. Online spending was expected to peak between the hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Monday night, per Adobe — reaching an estimated $15.7 million spent every minute. For several major retailers, a Cyber Monday sale is a dayslong event that began over the Thanksgiving weekend. An Amazon Prime delivery person lifts packages while making a stop Nov. 28, 2023, in Denver. Amazon kicked off its sales event right after midnight Pacific time on Saturday. Target's two days of discount offers on its website and app began overnight Sunday. Walmart rolled out its Cyber Monday offers for Walmart+ members Sunday afternoon and opened it up to all customers three hours later, at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Consumer spending for Cyber Week — the five major shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday — provides a strong indication of how much shoppers are willing to spend for the holidays. Many U.S. consumers continue to experience sticker shock after the period of post-pandemic inflation, which left prices for many goods and services higher than they were three years ago. But retail sales nonetheless remain strong, and the economy kept growing at a healthy pace. At the same time, credit card debt and delinquencies are rising. More shoppers than ever are also on track to use "buy now, pay later" plans this holiday season, which allows them to delay payments on holiday decor, gifts and other items. Many economists also warned that President-elect Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs next year on foreign goods coming into the United States would lead to higher prices on everything from food to clothing to automobiles. A FedEx delivery person carries a package from a truck Nov. 17, 2022, in Denver. The National Retail Federation expects holiday shoppers to spend more this year both in stores and online than last year. But the pace of spending growth will slow slightly, the trade group said, growing 2.5% to 3.5% — compared to 3.9% in 2023. A clear sense of consumer spending patterns during the holiday season won't emerge until the government releases sales data for the period, but some preliminary data from other sources shows some encouraging signs for retailers. Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, noted that discounts from Thanksgiving onward "exceeded expectations" and online spending throughout Cyber Week is on track to cross a record $40 billion mark combined. U.S. shoppers spent $10.8 billion online on Black Friday, a 10.2% increase over last year, according to Adobe Analytics. That's also more than double what consumers spent in 2017, when Black Friday pulled in about $5 billion in online sales. Consumers also spent a record $6.1 billion online on Thanksgiving Day, Adobe said. Meanwhile, software company Salesforce, which also tracks online shopping, estimated that Black Friday online sales totaled $17.5 billion in the U.S. and $74.4 billion globally. Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks in-person and online spending, reported that overall Black Friday sales excluding automotive rose 3.4% from a year ago. A United Parcel Service driver sorts deliveries July 15, 2023, on New York's Upper West Side. E-commerce platform Shopify said its merchants raked in a record $5 billion in sales worldwide on Black Friday. At its peak, sales reached $4.6 million per minute — with top categories by volume including clothing, cosmetics and fitness products, according to the Canadian company. Toys, electronics, home goods, self-care and beauty categories were among the key drivers of holiday spending on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, according to Adobe. "Hot products" included Lego sets, espresso machines, fitness trackers, makeup and skin care. Other data showed physical stores saw fewer customers on Black Friday, underscoring how the huge crowds that were once synonymous with the day after Thanksgiving are now more than happy to shop from the comfort of their homes. RetailNext, which measures real-time foot traffic in stores, said its early data showed store traffic on Friday was down 3.2% in the U.S. compared to last year, with the biggest dip happening in the Midwest. Sensormatic Solutions, which also tracks store traffic, said its preliminary analysis showed retail store traffic on Black Friday was down 8.2% compared to 2023. Grant Gustafson, head of retail consulting and analytics at Sensormatic Solutions, noted that in-store traffic was getting spread across multiple days since many retailers offered generous discounts before and after Black Friday. "Some of the extended Black Friday promotions really ended up leading to a little bit of a softer day-of traffic than expected," Gustafson said. In 2024, staying small on purpose seems to be paying off big for small businesses. They're keeping operations small and targeting niche, highly specialized customers. And some business owners find this strategy results in more time, energy, and money to intentionally capitalize on unique, small cap opportunities. The data tells the story of growth in small businesses for the year. According to NEXT , the Small Business Administration (SBA) reports awarding 38,000 SBA 7(a) loans under $150,000: double the amount they awarded in 2020. Here are the related small-business trends paying off in 2024. Commercial real estate agent Ryan Beckenhauer of Market Real Estate in Boulder, Colorado, has noticed that small businesses are growing smaller, and that their office and warehouse spaces are starting to reflect that as they shop for business space. In commercial real estate, many small business owners gravitate toward industrial condos and other flexible spaces. These are small-scale industrial spaces with a 90:10 or 80:20 split of warehouse to office. "More individuals are leveraging skills acquired at larger organizations to venture out on their own," explains Beckenhauer. And he goes on to say that they don't need a large commercial space as they make that leap to start a business. His clients include engineers, consultants, builders and other tradespeople. Beckenhauer's clients like the flexibility of being out of an office and being close to their inventory and workshop space. "The clients want to see and touch the finishes," he says. Small business owners both rent or buy these spaces. But he's seeing his clients opt to own industrial condos to stabilize costs due to rent increases in Boulder. And because these spaces are smaller, it can be easier for new buyers to qualify for financing. Mariana Alvarez, owner of Controller Works , an online bookkeeping and advisory firm, has noticed that small business owners outsource financial support services because they don't want to increase headcount. "Outsourcing gives them the possibility of having access to the knowledge and the skills of a CFO without having to pay for the salary," she says. "They don't have to manage or deal with the workload, employment taxes , and all that comes with it," says Alvarez. Additionally, many small business owners in fields like construction are family-owned, and this makes it easier for business owners to hand off delicate financial work to a trusted person with financial experience. Every small business has recurring tasks that can benefit from some level of artificial intelligence automation . And Alvarez sees a lot of value in using AI for small business bookkeeping. She explains that you can automate the data entry on Quickbooks. "When you create rules, as long as you create the rules correctly, it pretty much does itself," says Alvarez. From there, you can lean on financial experts to help you analyze the data and make more informed decisions. She uses AI as a background resource when guiding her accounting clients. "I believe that we still need the human-to-human interaction that comes with more perspective for financial analysis," she explains. According to the SBA , 77% of consumers feel that human interaction is still required for a positive customer experience. People turn to small businesses every day for a human experience. According to Arvind Rongala, CEO of Edstellar , small business workers can show up for their customers but still use AI for routine tasks like customer queries. "This balance allows companies to scale their operations without losing the personal touch that makes them unique. It's important to remember that AI isn't there to replace the human element—it's there to enhance it," he says. "By really focusing on one very small weakness that Amazon has, I've been able to carve out a successful business by offering something different," says Lou Harvey owner of Tank Retailer , a retailer of commercial water and fuel tanks. "When you read our customer reviews, many of them actually mention me by name because of how much we focus on customer service and go the extra mile." One of Harvey's most successful business strategies this year has been to lean into his small, niche market and offer the kind of customer experience that large retailers like Amazon don't. "Any small weaknesses that Amazon has (however small those weaknesses may be) needs to become a strength of a smaller business focusing on a niche market," says Harvey. Harvey has his company's customer service phone number front and center on the website to help earn customer trust. "I prominently feature our phone number, and a real person always answers the phone (usually it's me)," says Harvey. Lucie Voves, CEO and founder of Church Hill Classics , an online, woman-owned diploma framing company that uses sustainable materials, has noticed an uptick in customers seeking services from a business on a mission. "This year, we've seen a growing inclination for consumers to actively seek out and support small businesses owned by women and minorities," says Voves. When consumers shop small, they choose to make their dollars count. "Customers are fueled by a desire to promote social impact through purchasing power," says Voves. Long gone are the days of online retailers "building it and they will come." In 2024 we've seen more small businesses than ever turn to social commerce to sell directly on social media platforms like Instagram Shopping , Facebook Marketplace , and TikTok . Small business owners are turning toward influencers, social media ads, and organic content to target their customers. Mike Vannelli of Envy Creative creates online ads for businesses, and he has seen his clients succeed on TikTok of late. "I've seen businesses, especially in retail, use TikTok's short-form video format to make their products go viral. Think of it as word-of-mouth marketing on steroids," says Vannelli. He uses the platform's algorithm to push a company's content to the right audiences, and it works because TikTok loves storytelling. "I know small brands that use behind-the-scenes videos, customer testimonials, and even playful challenges that tap into trends to humanize their products and build trust," explains Vannelli. To stand out on TikTok, he says, smaller brands need to embrace authenticity and emotional connection. Show your team, share your journey, and involve your community in content creation. This story was produced by NEXT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
21 dead as Mozambique erupts in violence after election court rulingStar Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh looks to be under a level of doubt for the second Test in Adelaide, as selectors ponder the thought of another curveball. Watch every ball of Australia v India LIVE & ad-break free during play in 4K on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. Meanwhile, a former Australian gun has gone into bat for his old side amid a wave of criticism after their 295-run loss in Perth. Keep up with all the latest news ahead of the second match in Adelaide with Test Daily! INJURY CLOUDS HOVERS OVER MARSH Another potential selection headache has appeared over the heads of Australian selectors, with question marks on the fitness of star all-rounder Mitchell Marsh after the first Test. After bowling 17 overs in Perth for his three wickets, Marsh looks to be under a level of doubt for the second Test in Adelaide; granted the extent of his soreness is not fully known. “The same people in that changeroom are the same people that will be in Adelaide,” McDonald said post-match in Perth. “Has he (Marsh) pulled up okay? We’ll wait and see. “We knew that Mitch was slightly underdone coming in, but I thought the performance in the first innings was satisfactory.” Marsh has regularly been a golden arm option for Australia since his re-inclusion back in the Test side in Leeds last year, but an injury to Western Australia teammate Cameron Green has forced captain Pat Cummins to turn to Marsh more than he would otherwise. The nation’s bowling stocks were severely tested in India’s second innings in Perth, with the Aussies using seven bowlers across 134.3 overs before India’s declaration. Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head are viable options for part-time spin, however the former’s turn towards seam-up tactics were criticised heavily by the Australian public; emphasising the importance that Marsh brings with the ball. Should Marsh not be considered fit for Adelaide, uncapped wicketkeeper-bat Josh Inglis looks would almost certainly be his replacement; given he is he only batter in the 13-man squad that did not play in Perth. Seamer Scott Boland is the other reserve player in the squad. STAR GOES INTO BAT FOR FORMER TEAMMATES Former Australian spinner Steve O’Keefe has strongly defended his nation’s Test side amid a wave of criticism, labelling the influx as “tall poppy syndrome”. “It frustrates me ... I think the pile on is unjustified,” the retired left-arm orthodox told SEN on Tuesday. “The pile on is just indicative of a lot of people wanting to come out, (express) tall poppy syndrome in Australia, and latch onto this team. “I think the pile on has been rough... we do expect a high standard of that team, so there’s some frustrations out there — but they’re not coming from my end.” “We’re looking at a team that is number one in the world; this is a champion team for a reason. You put these guys in a corner, and they’ll respond — and they have done it time, and time again. “I’m backing this Australian team to turn it around.” O’Keefe played nine Test matches for Australia, taking 35 wickets at an average of just 29.40.Key Takeaways They say great minds think alike — or maybe they land on similar ideas because they are observing the same world all around them. Every year, as my team and I curate the absolute best books of the year, we discover some themes across the 1000-plus submissions we consider. We call them themes — and they reflect a combination of the cultural zeitgeist of what's happening in business today and the hot topics on the minds of entrepreneurs and business professionals right now. Among books published this year, we read about the importance of calm and overcoming anxiety, climate solutions, putting generosity first, reevaluating the human condition in an age of AI, the power of quiet leadership and many more. Read on to see the trends we spotted and some of our thoughts on how they might be relevant for you as we head into 2025 and beyond. Related: 6 Books to Help You Keep Your New Years Resolution 1. Calming anxiety and burnout After a divisive election year, a rise in anxiety and growing awareness of mental health at work, this year, there has been a slate of books focused on what to do about burnout at work. Some advocated working less, while others focused on productivity hacks . From destressing to conquering anxiety, the idea of calm in work and life became an urgent topic, and this reality was reflected through books aiming to offer desperately needed help. 2. Math mindedness Can math explain the world? This year, math minds took center stage to offer perspectives on everything from how AI actually works to how it powers the most popular games in the world. Geography, geometry, statistics and even models of thinking got the numbers treatment as this group of books put math back into the spotlight and argued that understanding the world, making new friends and shifting our perspective all come down to better understanding math. 3. Good aging If longevity exploded in 2023, then this year offers a correction to books focusing on how we live instead of just techniques for living longer . Alongside the longevity topic, many new books this year shifted to offering insights on how to be old successfully. From loving mid-life to living a wonderous life of purpose, the new theme around aging seems to be enjoying the time you have, whether it lasts a century or less. 4. Rethinking higher education As the workplace shifts and the costs of higher education continue to spark debate, a range of books this year offered either a commentary on the higher education experience or a suggestion for a compelling alternative to the traditional four-year college experience. As more young people consider alternative paths to success, the college question is accelerating and will likely spark much more continuing dissent and conversation over the coming year and beyond. 5. Generosity first Perhaps in response to a world that feels as though it rewards toxicity, several books this year put generosity and the idea of generous leadership front and center. Fostering a friendly team dynamic, maintaining hope instead of becoming cynical and living life by giving more back were all key themes that stood out this year as authors offered a more optimistic prescription for how to live and work that reminded us about the too easily forgotten power of actually caring for one another and why doing it may be the key to prosperity and happiness. 6. Saving humanity Last year, the big theme with AI-focused books was all about designing AI in more human ways and reducing bias or other potential issues with the technology as it gains widespread adoption. This year, that trend continued, but many books took a decidedly more philosophical turn as they pondered human existence in a world ruled by AI. Will we exist or be necessary? Is our demise inevitable? As we live through a new technology age, these questions have received a renewed sense of urgency and attention as many books have helped reimagine what it will mean to be human in an increasingly automated future. Related: 5 Books That Paved My Path to Entrepreneurial Success 7. The female lens For the past several years, there has been a growing number of writers turning their attention to the previously neglected female perspective on many different topics. This year, that feminine lens focused on the history of women on Wall Street, memoirs from female trailblazers like Connie Chung, female-first branding techniques, and the exploration of women's role in creating the crossword puzzle. Along with offering a gendered correction to decades of male-centered perspectives on history, this new range of books provides the stories of previously neglected female heroines from history who deserve to be remembered. 8. Finding purpose T his year, a big topic for many books focused on finding your passion and purpose. Rather than living a rudderless life, people of all ages are seeing reminders of living a life with purpose and leaving a legacy they can be proud of. Whether it was finding your passion or avoiding despair (seasonal, political, environmental or otherwise), these hopeful books offered to help you rediscover your purpose and to live it more intentionally every day. 9. Climate solutionism In past years, many books about global warming and climate change both chronicled the problem as well as aimed to offer legislative or advocacy solutions. This year, a new perspective emerged regarding "solutionism." In other words, many books provided the prescription for us actually to fix some of the human-created global environmental problems. At least this positivity focuses on what to do next instead of dissecting and assigning blame for how we got here. 10. The citizenship imperative After a contentious election season , several books this past year aimed to help Americans rediscover their democracy and what it means to be citizens. From teaching young people about the latter to explaining topics like migration or free speech to more controversial calls to overhaul and rethink the Constitution itself, the idea that we all need to better understand and perhaps reimagine the fundamental beliefs of our government was a timely and urgent focus of many titles this past year. 11. Quiet leadership In what might seem like the ultimate irony, several counterintuitive books this year focused on the quieter side of leadership. From embracing silence to increasing cultural intelligence and focusing on the softer side of management, the conclusion seemed to be that the noisier the world gets, the more effective leaders who buck this trend and embrace their quiet side might actually be. 12. The friendship antidote A year ago, a range of books explored the loneliness epidemic and offered a dire warning of the negative health and emotional effects of isolation. This year, the antidote took the main stage in the form of encouraging people to forge and solidify more friendships. These books offered encouragement, tactics and perhaps most importantly, a reminder that having strong friendships requires investing the time to make them work.
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-- Shares Facebook Twitter Reddit Email “Why do you draw?” A seemingly innocuous question that in truth carries immense weight. It’s the kind of question that you can brush off with a casual wave of the hand, or it can leave you speechless, unable to even find the words. Art isn’t numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s life itself. In “Look Back,” the film based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s one-shot manga, two teenage girls bond over their love of creating manga. Fujino handles the characters and story, while Kyomoto takes care of the background art. They make a powerful team. When Kyomoto asks Fujino why she draws, we don’t get an explanation. We don’t need it. We’ve seen it. Every moment the pair shares with each other is why. Seasons change outside Fujino’s window as she and Kyomoto work on their first manga together. The duo quietly scribbles away, creating in the presence of one another, as pages of manuscript pile up. We see that life and art are intimately linked. That creation is born out of the wonder, the mystery and of course, the tragedy of life. This is not a review of “Look Back.” Enough beautiful words have already been said about the film, and it is most certainly one that any fan of anime, manga, cinema or art in general should see. But it is that simple-but-not question, “Why do you draw?” asked by Kyomoto to Fujino, that echoed in my head, clanging and clattering in the space between my ears in the days and weeks after I saw “Look Back.” I think it struck a chord because it increasingly feels like the creative process, and deeper and more troubling than that, humanity itself, is under attack . Related The 12 biggest moments in animation in 2023 There is a contingent of craven capitalists who have slowly turned the entertainment industry into just another financial market. Moving into senior positions at major studios in film, television and video games, these ghouls seek only to maximize profit. The art at the center of these industries is, to many of these bigwigs, a means to an end. That end being stock prices and shareholder satisfaction. It’s why we got “ Inside Out 2” and “ Moana 2” this year. Unnecessary sequels that a bunch of suits knew would rake in the dough. Although talented people worked on both, when art is kept within the confines of a giant, soulless corporation, art (and the people creating it) is held captive by the profit motive. Money becomes the mantra. When someone’s life’s work, their passion, their expression of creativity, is diminished to merely being seen as content, as numbers on an earnings report, it is an attack on art. This year, “Coyote vs. Acme” was shelved and seems destined to become lost media , buried before even being given a chance for audiences to see it. The hard work of hundreds of people, a mere tax write-off under the mighty pen of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav . One of my favorite shows from last year , “Scavengers Reign,” was unable to avoid the axe. Despite winning an Emmy (for background design) and being nominated for outstanding animated program, the show didn’t bring in the viewer hours so it was unceremoniously thrown on the heap. Critical acclaim or simply letting art exist in the world and be received by the people (with no concern for the size of the audience) aren’t things that Zaslav and his ilk consider. Imagine if “Mad Men” or "The Sopranos" was cut after its first season because target demos, algorithm data and KPIs just didn’t support renewal. In 2024, the only concern is that the numbers look good, so that CEOs can line their pockets with millions in compensation. And if recent reaction to UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder is anything to go by, the people are getting a little fed up with the unfettered greed of the C-suite. Art isn’t numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s life itself. We need your help to stay independent Subscribe today to support Salon's progressive journalism “Look Back” implores the viewer to see how art and life are intertwined. Every adventure that Fujino and Kyomoto go on becomes the inspiration for another manga. They visit the ocean, and that leads to the duo writing “The Sea Cities.” Looking for bugs in summer turns into “The Cicada Humans.” A trip to the aquarium yields “The Man Who Ate the Crab.” The pair experiences life, and their art echoes those experiences. Reverberating through the creative process, those echoes twist and distort just enough to give the art they produce a fantastical fiction, but at its core, their art is quite literally their lives. The works of Dickens capture Victorian London so well because he lived it; he worked in the warehouses, and his worldview was shaped by these formative experiences. Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto explored forests and hunted for bugs as a child, and wanted to recreate that feeling in a video game, eventually leading to the creation of “The Legend of Zelda.” Hayao Miyazaki ’s works are tinged with autobiographical moments, such as his mother’s hospitalization with tuberculosis — an element of both “My Neighbor Totoro” and “The Wind Rises” — or his father building rudders for fighter planes during World War II, a piece of his own history we see alluded to in the Oscar-winning “The Boy and The Heron.” And for Miyazaki in particular, art and life are nearly one and the same as we come to learn in this year’s documentary that sneakily landed on Max this summer, “Hayao Miyazaki and The Heron.” The documentary chronicles the entire production timeline for “The Boy and The Heron,” starting with Miyazaki announcing his retirement in 2013 through to the film’s Oscar win this year. The iconic director has been the subject of a few documentaries in the past, but in those, Miyazaki always remained guarded, never really letting the viewer understand the man we have so endlessly mythologized. His politics are evident in the films he has made over the past 40 years, but what motivates this man, now nearly 84 years old, to create the worlds of “Nausicaa,” “Castle in the Sky” or the Great Uncle’s tower in “The Boy and The Heron”? Much like Fujino in “Look Back,” the answer seems to be human connection. Throughout “Hayao Miyazaki and The Heron” there is an urgency to Miyazaki’s work. People close to him are passing away; there is guilt and there is sadness. “Why am I still here? Why am I the one that lived?” he wonders aloud. Miyazaki “reeks of death” like Mahito the titular boy of the film. But he storyboards furiously, creating characters based on the people he has lost. Michiyo Yasuda, the color designer on Miyazaki’s films at Studio Ghibli, passed away in 2016, but she appears in the documentary’s footage like a ghost, a vision of the past that haunts the present day Miyazaki. She was the one who told him to make another film, and he felt a sense of obligation to do it. He creates Kiriko in “The Boy and The Heron” based on Yasuda. But no one looms larger than Isao Takahata, Studio Ghibli co-founder and director, who passed away in 2018. And it's in their relationship where it becomes clear that nearly everything Miyazaki has ever made has been driven by the man he affectionately calls Pak-san. Pak-san, Pak-san, Pak-san. A clap of thunder rumbles in the distance while on a walk. “That’s Pak-san.” When Miyazaki is asked if he ever dreams, he responds “Only about Pak-san.” A missing eraser is Pak-san playing a trick on him. Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki says that “Miyazaki idolized Takahata, but it was always one-sided.” The Boy and the Heron (Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli) Miyazaki agonizes over the character of the Great Uncle who has built the fantastical world of the tower in “The Boy and The Heron.” The character is Pak-san. In this one-sided relationship, made even more so by the divide between the living and the dead, Miyazaki is determined to show the world who Takahata was. He wants people to know what this man meant to him. The man who was his idol, his rival, his friend. The documentary cuts to a particularly powerful quote from Takahata back in the ‘80s, talking about Miyazaki, where he says, “I’d like to see him make all kinds of films. There are things he hasn’t shown me. I hope to see them one day.” The interview cuts to a wide shot showing Miyazaki beside him with a beaming smile, “Really?” he asks Takahata gleefully. This is how art comes to be. For Miyazaki. For Fujino in “Look Back.” It is driven by the desire for human connection, by wanting to express one’s self to someone, to honor someone who has passed to ensure that they are remembered. Which is why when AI software is used to generate an image , or write a story, it is so revolting . You can’t tell AI to create the Great Uncle. You can’t tell it to create an old man who kinda looks like a wizard who was the whole world to me and everything I did was for him and all I wanted was for him to see my films and enjoy them and I want people to know that. It can’t convey that level of emotional depth, or any emotional depth. AI is mere facsimile (and poorly done at that), and yet, it has been integrated into nearly every piece of technology creating nothing but slop. Related "It's going to destroy jobs": When an AI image won a photo contest, its human refused the award AI is a threat to art, a threat to culture, a threat to humanity itself. How far are we willing to go to utterly dehumanize ourselves? Late capitalism is already turning us away from one another, with the convenience of technology isolating us, keeping us from making a connection to someone. Companies like Disney are fully on board with AI , where acting in a “responsible way” means, “How much can we get away with and not pay people for?” So don’t be surprised when a round of layoffs is announced, so more money can be funneled up to executives at the top. Companies like X are training their AI by using (read: stealing) art uploaded to the platform by artists. And it would be easy to write a whole thesis on how the demands of AI usage and development is causing emissions at companies like Microsoft to rise at a staggering rate, decimating any plans of reaching previously set carbon-neutrality goals. This AI slop, this soulless mimicry of human life, is accelerating the planet’s demise. AI is anti-human in all facets. How far are we willing to go to utterly dehumanize ourselves? 2024 felt like a year where, more than ever before, art was under attack. From corporate fat cats cutting jobs to AI software to humanities programs getting slashed in higher education, the assault on engaging with our world, and on engaging with art is in full effect. It is deeply distressing. But 2024 also produced a film that tells us why art needs to exist, why it is so special, and what it means to be human. “Look Back” yells from the rooftops that art is tough, it is work, but the reward is it connects us like nothing else can. Look Back (Tatsuki Fujimoto/Shueisha Art is beautiful because of the humanity it contains within it. There is energy in a work of art that cannot be quantified, cannot be calculated, cannot be replicated by a machine. It reflects us, it connects us, it bears all of our tragedy, all of our joy. I’m hardly the best writer out here. There are people who write much more eloquently than I do. I admire these writers greatly. But I just want to connect. I want someone to read my words. Someone. Anyone. Even if it just ends up being my family or friends. I have entire worlds inside my head that I want others to experience the way I see them in my mind’s eye. No AI program can scrape these worlds accurately out of my head. There are so many thoughts and ideas in here that I want to share. I hope that my words make someone feel something. I just have to do the work to get them onto the page. That, to me, is something very worth the effort. Art is what makes us human, so why would we want a robot to do it for us? I just want to connect. To prove that I’m alive. I’m not a machine. Read more about this topic The ethics of eating monsters "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" is another barrel-scraping twist on Tolkien "Blue Eye Samurai" addresses multiracial shame, "to be ostracized from both sides," in Edo-era Japan "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" is beyond subtitles — and the white gaze By Michael Lee Michael Lee is a writer who might take anime and video games a little too seriously. For more musings on animation, fandom and game worlds, follow him on X @kousatender . MORE FROM Michael Lee Related Topics ------------------------------------------ Ai Animation Anime Artificial Intelligence Best Of 2024 Commentary Hayao Miyazaki Look Back The Bird And The Heron Related Articles Advertisement: