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Humacyte (NASDAQ:HUMA) Shares Up 6% – What’s Next?The stock market crashed on Black Friday in October 1929. All the way through college, instructors repeated this fact. Black Friday evoked the aura of gloom and doom. Then, during the past 40 years, overzealous marketers decided to goose holiday sales by creating a new meaning for Black Friday. This one crashes your credit card while supposedly boosting the stock market. Every year at this time, people inexplicably stand in line at big-box stores waiting to save $20 to $100 on a TV, smartphone, tablet or new pair of snowshoes. It’s almost as if merchants slipped something into the water supply that turns consumers into shopaholics. This column explains technology, so what does that have to do with Black Friday (or more recently, Cyber Monday)? Many of the products offered at discounts on Black Friday are discontinued models that manufacturers and merchants eagerly desire to clear from the stock room to make space for the new models arriving in January. There’s nothing wrong with buying the current product rather than the forthcoming one. New models generally offer nominal improvements over the existing models. Most people won’t notice if the TV screen is 5 percent brighter or the laptop is 5 percent faster. You probably won’t see any improvements in snowshoes or bicycles. Most stores offer a limited number of Black Friday “door busters.” If they only have half a dozen in stock, and you’re the seventh person in line, then you’re out of luck. No snowchecks! Beware of “house brands.” These may be a good bargain all year round depending on what company actually manufactures them. Stores benefit from greater markups on house brands so they can afford to advertise them as teasers for Black Friday. Also be aware of custom models from major brands. When you try to compare the Samsung on sale at the big-box store with what looks like the identical model at a local retailer, you may not notice the model number is a digit or two different. This may mean nothing, or it may mean a lot. You are not privy to what is behind the screen. When a company such as Best Buy orders 50,000 of a certain custom TV, you can bet LG and Samsung will jump to keep the contents and price precisely where the jumbo retailer specifies. Even if you snare a real bargain at the big-box store, the onus is on you to transport it home, set it up and learn how to operate it. Obviously, this is easier with a laptop or food processor than a 65-inch TV. Most local merchants attempt matching the prices of big-box stores on standard model numbers. When you buy from locally owned merchants, they usually go the literal extra mile to deliver. They also often set up the product (and offer to haul the box away) and frequently provide brief tutorials on how to use the product. Should there be a problem with the gear, you won’t have to stand in line at a customer service counter for half an hour to have a rude person tell you it’s your problem. Depending on the equipment, manufacturers insist on directly servicing it, but at least the local shop will provide initial advice and, if necessary, advocacy with the manufacturer. Local Champaign-Urbana electronics retailers include, in alphabetical order: Glenn Poor’s Audio-Video, Good Vibes, Picture Perfect Technologies and Premier Sound & Design. There also are a few independent computer stores such as EP Computer, Illini Tech Center, Micro Systems, Ramjet and Simplified Computers. So, when Black Friday rolls around, relax. Savor your coffee or tea at the usual hour at home rather than shivering in a long line at a faceless national chain. Think about what your time is worth verses what you might save. Your best bargain is time to yourself and/or with your family at home, a true Thanksgiving.These Vanguard ETFs Could Be Smart Picks If Trump Gets His Way on TariffsElias Cato scores 23 as Central Arkansas tops UNC Asheville 92-83 in double OT
The Transportation Security Administration has some reminders for those heading to airports during the holidays. “People seem to forget some of the more common and routine steps that they need to take when packing for a flight or when they are going through a checkpoint, perhaps because they’re focused on being at their destination and not focusing on what needs to happen before getting there,” said TSA officer Christopher Kirchein of John F. Kennedy International Airport. “Travelers sometimes ignore the advice that we give them,” said TeaNeisha Barker, a TSA uniformed adviser. “We are providing guidance so that they get through the checkpoint as simply and conveniently as possible. Not every airport has the same technology, so listen to the guidance we are offering.” “Passengers forget that knives and other weapons are not allowed through our checkpoints. It’s shocking to see so many people with knives,” said TSA officer Aisha Hicks of Philadelphia International Airport. “Weapons of any kind are prohibited through a TSA checkpoint.” TSA officers shared this list of the common things that travelers forget and should remember when coming to a security checkpoint. Ten things that travelers need to remember when preparing to go through the security screening process: • Remember that you cannot bring bottles of water, energy drinks, juice, coffee, soda or any filled insulated reusable container through a security checkpoint. However, they can finish their beverage and bring the empty bottle or container with them. • Remember to bring your ID to the checkpoint. • Remember when TSA officers remind you to remove everything from your pockets that it does not only mean metallic items such as keys and mobile phones, but it means everything, including non-metallic items such as tissues, lip balm, breath mints, etc. • Remember that you cannot bring a firearm through a checkpoint. Instead, pack your unloaded firearm in a locked hard-sided case and declare it at your airline check-in counter and the airline will ensure it is transported in the belly of the plane where nobody has access to it. • Remember that you need to remove your shoes when getting screened and then end up barefoot on the floor. It’s probably a good idea to wear socks. • Remember that children 12 and under are allowed to travel through a TSA PreCheck screening lane with a parent who has TSA PreCheck on their boarding pass. In addition, don’t forget that children up to the age of 18 can also come into the TSA PreCheck lane with their parent if they are on the same airline reservation as their parent. • Remember that passengers that appear 12 and under or 75 and older do not need to remove their shoes and light jacket. • Remember, if you are putting a lock on your luggage, make sure it is a TSA compatible lock so that if TSA officers need to open your luggage, they can unlock it and relock it. If the lock is not TSA compliant, TSA officers who need to open your luggage will cut off the lock, rendering it useless. • Remember that you can bring medications through a security checkpoint, even liquid medication. Just let the TSA officer know that you have liquid medication with you so it can be screened separately. • Remember to get a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license sooner rather than later because REAL ID goes into effect on May 7.AGCO Co. (NYSE:AGCO) Shares Sold by Swiss National Bank