#American share market

[rightnewshindi]

शेयर बाजार में मचा हाहाकार, अमेरिका, जापान समेत कई देशों में गिरा बाजार; ताइवान में टूटा 57 साल का रिकॉर्ड

Share Market News: शेयर बाजार (Share Market) का क्या होगा? रिटेल निवेशकों के मन में ये सवाल तेजी से उठ रहा है. क्योंकि लगातार दूसरे दिन भारतीय शेयर बाजार में भारी गिरावट देखी जा रही है. सबसे ज्यादा मिडकैप और स्मॉलकैप शेयरों की पिटाई हो रही है. सरकारी कंपनियों के शेयर सबसे ज्यादा टूटे हैं. दरअसल, इस गिरावट के पीछे ग्लोबल कारण हैं, भारत की इकोनॉमी मजबूत है और बाजार को ये पता है. लेकिन दूसरे देशों…

[asleepinawell]

i know book sales pitches that follow the pattern "it's X meets Y" (like it's the mcu meets game of thrones) have been shown as being a successful way to increase sales by some suspect data points but the visceral hatred this gimmick evokes in me every time does the opposite of make me click the purchase button. not only are X and Y usually things I don't want more of, but they also usually have nothing in common with the book

[todays-just-a-daydream]

Oasis And Their Stupid Rock Star Tricks

For some reason, we think success may have gone to the heads of certain members of Oasis.

By MTV News Staff

December 18, 1995 12:00 AM

Oasis arrived at their Aspen radio shows in style. The irascible quintet from Manchester donned their snowsuits and drove snowmobiles to the show. But other than this necessary mode of transport, they didn't avail themselves of any of the winter sports that Aspen offers. Instead they logged a lot of time bellying up to the bar, as well as filming a segment for MTV a la the Beatles in A Hard Day's Night . In Aspen, as in other cities on this radio promotion tour, Noel Gallagher sang both "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back In Anger" as Liam sat on the side of the stage looking pissed off, according to one report.

In Berkeley, California, where they played the Live 105 Green Christmas shows, Oasis really put the DJ who was interviewing them through his paces. At one juncture one of the brother's Gallagher (Liam we think) told the listening audience that "I'm the fucking son of God." Very derivative we might add (especially so soon after the Beatles TV shows in which Lennon's "Jesus" quote was featured).

Perhaps this bit of arrogance was due to the gallon of Jack Daniels the group had in their Berkeley dressing room. Jack Daniels, we might mention, they refused to share with Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, when she knocked on the door of Liam's dressing room and asked if she might have a cup. Unbelievable as it may seem, the younger Gallagher refused, saying to no one in particular, "No she can't have any." And he meant it. Wanted to make sure there was enough for him no doubt.

The beauteous lead singer was sporting a new hair cut which looked like a Louise Brooks flapper wig, with little spit curls over his ears. He and the new haircut were keeping company with Lars Ulrich from Metallica, who had flown up from Los Angels, where he was still recovering from Motorhead mainman Lemmy's 50th birthday party to see Oasis.

Onlookers later saw Ulrich standing on the side of the stage when Oasis played, singing along at the top of this lungs. A friend of ATN was standing next to Ulrich and noticed that he kept looking at her. Finally she said "What?" He said he liked to watch people digging Oasis. To break the odd mood, she said "I like your medallion." His reply was, "Yeah, I know, I'm rich." He was also overheard telling people, without any irony, that he was a rock star.

He certainly acted like it when he ordered everyone out of Oasis' dressing room so he and Liam could have some private time together. Oh yeah, and at the end of the night, the Jack Daniels bottle remained half full, so they certainly could have given Gordon a cup.

(as copied from mtv.com before the paramount deletion)

[alientitty]

american economists will do anything to call as many people as possible middle class. ive seen some measures go straight from "poor" to "lower middle class" so they can avoiding even saying the word "worker." it's a great way to try and convince everyone that they're a potential business owner so that they side with policies that benefit million-dollar megacorps and real estate cartels because it's "good for business"

[raziraphale]

can't find it rn but I'm thinking about that post that was going around recently that pointed out that claiming anime is uniquely sexist or sexual and attributing that to japanese culture is racist as hell. that post is correct -- this isn't to dispute that but to add onto it -- and I think a part of that perception is how "anime" has been shaped into this weird consumer category by corporations, where it gets treated more like a genre than a medium (animation) of a particular style and context.

what comes to mind when we think of "anime" in the english-speaking world largely depends on what shows get licensed, translated, dubbed, and merchandised outside of japan. fan translations and bootlegs have always existed, but sanctioned releases from large companies bring larger audiences, so companies dictate to a certain extent what gets popular, and therefore the popular perception of "anime" as a category.

a lot of cool and unique things make their way over here, but do you know what a lot of it is? shounen. light novel adaptations about increasingly specific male power fantasies. action series. a lot of it is stuff made with teenage boys as the target demographic in mind. again, a lot of other anime exist, but when you think of the "blockbuster" series every season, it definitely skews more towards one gender.

if my exposure to american media was mostly limited to its most juvenile action movies and the lobbies of popular online shooters, I would also conclude that america is uniquely horny and has an issue with women. the only difference between america and japan in this respect is that, for whatever reason, the U.S. has largely relegated mainstream 2D animation to the kids' table outside of specific adult cartoons. there just really isn't a good american equivalent to the kind of shows people are most likely to think of when they think of "anime"

like this doesn't mean that popular anime don't have these issues with them -- you can (and should) critique media no matter where they come from. it also doesn't mean that attitudes and beliefs don't vary between countries and cultures. but the instinct to attribute the issues with (your idea of) anime to the country it came from first rather than considering the target audience of the specific show you're watching and comparing it to similar media in other parts of the world is definitely rooted in racism

you are sitting on your laptop watching the shounen anime du jour and thinking "wow, this is a country with no respect for women" while your younger brother is in the other room running over hookers in gta. maybe broaden your perspective of the issue beyond national borders

[serpentinegraphite]

Okay, I'm having trouble matching sources for all of OP's claims.

I'm certainly not calling OP a liar or claiming that American Education Is Good, Actually, because I'm pretty familiar with the commonly cited statistic that American adults can't read above a 5th grade level (here's a snopes article sourcing some Gallup data and the linked PIAAC data that's a little more readable especially if you're on mobile), but it's worth emphasizing here that:

The PIAAC skills results (i.e., proficiency levels) do not specifically correspond to measures such as grade levels at school. The PIAAC proficiency levels have a use-oriented conception of competency and focus on describing what types of tasks adults at each level can typically do and their ability to apply information from the task to accomplish goals they may encounter in everyday life; for example, identifying a job search result that meets certain criteria.

The PIAAC does test comprehension and proficiency for interpreting data (not just vocab, as many of the replies and reblogs first expected), and while the US is decently behind the top two countries measured this way (Japan and Finland), it's ahead of the international average for this metric.

The second source link also suggests some heavy deficits in how US education teaches children to read (and makes what seem to me compelling arguments for improvements, though I don't specialize in early childhood education and am not familiar enough to judge their relevance), but does not contextualize this or compare it to any kind of international average.

I understand the initial distress of OP's claim that Americans can't read above an elementary school level, but journalists and publications are fully aware of this, and many have guidelines and standards for writing that take that into account (e.g. in my journalism classes, I was told to aim for a 6th grade reading level or lower and shown specific guidelines for how to make information accessible and minimize jargon. The US government and CDC aim specifically for 3rd–5th grade reading levels. The NYT aims higher, and your local publications may vary, but news is meant to be accessible, so the range could be closer to a 5th—9th grade reading level on average). Therefore, it's not at all accurate that people below a 6th grade reading level only have access to TV and video.

More accurately to the PIAAC data, 18% or so might have trouble with being able to read simple articles or web pages, but once again the US meets the PIAAC international average here (23% at literacy level 1 or below).

I've done my best to review the PIAAC data, but I'm simply not finding any backing for the claim that 55% of US adults cannot read long texts at all.

This appears to be a pretty clear misinterpretation of the data.

Quick question, genuine question:

Why on earth does "more than half of US adults under 30 cannot read above an elementary school level" not strike horror into the heart of everyone who hears it?

Are the implications of it unclear????

I'm serious, people keep reacting with a sort of vague dismissal when I point this out, and I want to know why!

If adults in the US cannot read, then the only information they have access to is TV and video, the spaces with the most egregious and horrific misinformation!

If they cannot read, they cannot escape that misinformation.

This obscene lack of literacy should strike fear into every heart! US TV is notoriously horrific propaganda!

Is that???? Not??? Obvious???????

I know this sounds sarcastic, I know it does, but I'm completely serious here. I do not understand where the disconnect is.

[mordormr]

The Latin America E-commerce Logistics Industry: An In-Depth Market Analysis

The Latin America e-commerce logistics market is projected to be valued at USD 5.75 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to grow to USD 9.38 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.30% over the forecast period from 2024 to 2029

The Latin American e-commerce logistics industry has seen an exponential surge in growth over the last few years, propelled by a rapidly expanding digital ecosystem, increasing internet penetration, and shifts in consumer behavior. The demand for streamlined logistics solutions is at an all-time high, as online shopping becomes the norm across the region. In this blog, we will explore the key drivers, trends, challenges, and opportunities in the Latin American e-commerce logistics market, backed by market research insights.

Market Overview: A Growing Landscape

The Latin American e-commerce market has grown to become one of the most promising regions in the world for digital commerce. According to industry reports, e-commerce sales in the region are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 30% between 2021 and 2025. Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina stand out as the largest markets, with Brazil being the clear leader, accounting for over 30% of total e-commerce sales in Latin America.

This e-commerce boom has triggered a significant need for efficient logistics services that can meet the demands of fast, reliable, and cost-effective delivery. Latin America's e-commerce logistics industry is now experiencing rapid expansion to address these needs.

Key Drivers of Growth in E-commerce Logistics

Several factors are driving the growth of e-commerce logistics in Latin America, including:

Digital Transformation and Internet Penetration: Increased internet access is a major contributor to the e-commerce surge in Latin America. In 2023, more than 70% of Latin Americans had internet access, which has fueled the growth of online shopping. With the rapid expansion of mobile commerce, especially in countries like Brazil and Mexico, consumers are adopting online shopping more frequently, putting pressure on logistics providers to enhance their delivery capabilities.

Demand for Faster Delivery: Consumer expectations have shifted dramatically over the years, with more customers expecting quick or even same-day delivery. In response, companies are investing heavily in last-mile delivery solutions to shorten delivery times and improve customer satisfaction.

Growth of Digital Payment Systems: A once significant hurdle for e-commerce in Latin America was the lack of reliable digital payment infrastructure. However, this has changed with the rise of fintech innovations and payment solutions like Mercado Pago and Pix in Brazil, which have made it easier for consumers to pay online. This shift has encouraged more businesses to engage in e-commerce, increasing demand for logistics services.

Cross-Border E-commerce: Latin American consumers are increasingly shopping from international retailers, particularly in North America and Asia. Cross-border e-commerce has created new opportunities for logistics companies to expand their services, offering customs clearance, warehousing, and international shipping solutions tailored to this growing segment.

Trends Shaping the E-commerce Logistics Market

Several emerging trends are reshaping the logistics industry across Latin America. These trends are crucial for understanding the direction of the market and the innovations that will define the future of e-commerce logistics in the region.

Last-Mile Delivery Innovations: As last-mile delivery accounts for a significant portion of logistics costs, businesses are exploring various ways to optimize this critical stage. Solutions such as electric vehicles, urban micro-warehousing, and autonomous delivery systems are being tested. Companies are also leveraging technology such as AI and route optimization software to reduce delivery times and improve cost-efficiency.

Warehouse Automation and Fulfillment Centers: Warehouse and fulfillment center automation is becoming increasingly important. Large players like Amazon, MercadoLibre, and DHL are investing heavily in smart warehouses that use robotics, AI, and IoT to streamline sorting, picking, and packaging operations. This increased efficiency is critical to handling the massive volume of e-commerce orders.

Sustainability Initiatives: Sustainability is gaining prominence in Latin American e-commerce logistics, with both consumers and businesses seeking eco-friendly delivery options. Logistics providers are beginning to adopt green practices such as electric vehicles, recyclable packaging, and carbon-neutral shipping options to meet this demand.

Omni-Channel Strategies: Many retailers are adopting omni-channel strategies, integrating their physical and online stores. This trend has led to the rise of buy-online, pick-up-in-store (BOPIS) services and click-and-collect models, which require advanced logistics capabilities to ensure seamless coordination between online orders and physical store inventory.

3PL (Third-Party Logistics) Partnerships: Many businesses are turning to third-party logistics providers to handle their e-commerce operations. 3PL companies are offering comprehensive services such as order fulfillment, warehousing, packaging, and last-mile delivery, allowing e-commerce companies to focus on their core operations.

Challenges Facing the Latin American E-commerce Logistics Industry

Despite its promising growth, the Latin American e-commerce logistics market faces several challenges:

Infrastructure Limitations: The region’s infrastructure, especially in rural and remote areas, remains underdeveloped compared to more mature markets. Poor road conditions, inefficient transportation networks, and limited access to air and seaports can create bottlenecks in delivery and lead to higher operational costs.

Regulatory Complexities: Cross-border logistics in Latin America can be hampered by regulatory hurdles, such as inconsistent customs regulations, high tariffs, and complex tax systems. These factors increase the cost and complexity of international shipping, especially for smaller businesses.

High Logistics Costs: Compared to other regions, logistics costs in Latin America are disproportionately high. This is due in part to the region's fragmented transportation networks and the lack of scale in logistics operations, especially in smaller markets. Additionally, last-mile delivery remains expensive, particularly in urban areas with dense traffic or in less accessible rural regions.

Security Concerns: Security issues such as theft and vandalism are prevalent in some parts of Latin America, especially during last-mile delivery. Logistics providers need to invest in tracking systems, security infrastructure, and reliable insurance solutions to mitigate these risks.

Opportunities for Growth

Despite the challenges, there are ample opportunities for growth in Latin America's e-commerce logistics industry. Key areas include:

Investment in Infrastructure: Governments and private investors are increasingly focusing on improving infrastructure across Latin America, with major projects in road, rail, and port development. As these efforts progress, logistics operations will become more efficient, reducing costs and improving delivery times.

Emerging Markets within Latin America: While Brazil and Mexico dominate the market, there are significant growth opportunities in smaller markets like Colombia, Chile, and Peru. As internet access and digital payment systems expand, these countries are expected to become key players in the region’s e-commerce ecosystem.

Technological Innovation: Advances in technology, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain, offer enormous potential to improve supply chain transparency, optimize routes, and reduce costs. Logistics companies that invest in these technologies are likely to gain a competitive edge.

Increased Focus on Customer Experience: As competition intensifies, companies that offer superior customer experiences, such as faster delivery times, real-time tracking, and easy returns, will stand out. Personalization and flexible delivery options will be key differentiators moving forward.

Conclusion: The Road Ahead for E-commerce Logistics in Latin America

The Latin American e-commerce logistics market is on a promising trajectory, with immense growth potential driven by consumer demand and technological advancements. However, challenges such as infrastructure limitations, high costs, and regulatory complexities remain. Companies that can overcome these obstacles by embracing innovation, forming strategic partnerships, and expanding their operational networks are poised to succeed in this dynamic and fast-evolving market.

As the e-commerce boom continues, logistics will play an increasingly central role in shaping the future of retail in Latin America.

[californianewsin]

Five Small Tips You Can Save Thousends Of Dollars

[benjaminallhope-fulltimemind]

Elon should be getting nervous, that investor frenzy has died down and he's been marred by failures. Remember that car tunnel he built in Las Vegas that was supposed to revolutionise transportation, dead in the water! The cybertruck which was suppose to reinvigorate Tesla EV sales, a overpriced mess that can barely function. Twitter which he was forced to buy and promised to turn into the "public square" of the internet, infested with the Alt-right who have turned it another version of 4Chan! Musk is a business man and not the best one at that, when push comes to shove and the hype dies down he can't perform well. It doesn't help he surrounds himself with yes-men who all greenlight his reckless and unprofitable ideas. I have little hope for the robo taxis or humanoid robots Elon has promised, Tesla is headed for stagnation at best and the sad thing is people worship Elon Musk and act as if he'll herald the future when he won't. Only we can if we all work together and bring it forward with us, no billionaire is going to do it for us.

[brewscoop]

Check out the resilience and innovation of the top American craft breweries in 2023! Find out how they are navigating challenges and growing their market share. Discover the top performers and key statistics that highlight the craft beer market's strength. Cheers to the unstoppable spirit of craft brewers! #CraftBeer #BrewScoop

[sramfact]

Packaging tape printing involves the customization of adhesive tapes with logos, branding, or messages. This practice enhances brand visibility, improves security, and provides tamper-evidence for shipments. It's widely used across industries like logistics, retail, and e-commerce to promote brands and ensure the integrity and authenticity of packaged goods, reflecting a trend toward personalized and secure packaging solutions.

The report "North American Packaging Tape Printing Market by Product Type (Hot Melt, Acrylic Based), Material (Polypropylene, PVC), Printing Ink (Water Based, UV-Curable), Mechanism (Digital, Flexography), End-user (Food & Beverages, Consumer Durables) - Forecast ", the packaging tape printing market size was estimated to grow from USD 5.4 Billion in 2015 to reach USD 7.0 Billion by 2020, at an estimated CAGR of 5.4% from 2015 to 2020.

[fatliberation]

they have a point though. you wouldn't need everyone to accommodate you if you just lost weight, but you're too lazy to stick to a healthy diet and exercise. it's that simple. I'd like to see you back up your claims, but you have no proof. you have got to stop lying to yourselves and face the facts

Must I go through this again? Fine. FINE. You guys are working my nerves today. You want to talk about facing the facts? Let's face the fucking facts.

In 2022, the US market cap of the weight loss industry was $75 billion [1, 3]. In 2021, the global market cap of the weight loss industry was estimated at $224.27 billion [2]. 

In 2020, the market shrunk by about 25%, but rebounded and then some since then [1, 3] By 2030, the global weight loss industry is expected to be valued at $405.4 billion [2]. If diets really worked, this industry would fall overnight. 

1. LaRosa, J. March 10, 2022. "U.S. Weight Loss Market Shrinks by 25% in 2020 with Pandemic, but Rebounds in 2021." Market Research Blog. 2. Staff. February 09, 2023. "[Latest] Global Weight Loss and Weight Management Market Size/Share Worth." Facts and Factors Research. 3. LaRosa, J. March 27, 2023. "U.S. Weight Loss Market Partially Recovers from the Pandemic." Market Research Blog.

Over 50 years of research conclusively demonstrates that virtually everyone who intentionally loses weight by manipulating their eating and exercise habits will regain the weight they lost within 3-5 years. And 75% will actually regain more weight than they lost [4].

4. Mann, T., Tomiyama, A.J., Westling, E., Lew, A.M., Samuels, B., Chatman, J. (2007). "Medicare’s Search For Effective Obesity Treatments: Diets Are Not The Answer." The American Psychologist, 62, 220-233. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Apr. 2007.

The annual odds of a fat person attaining a so-called “normal” weight and maintaining that for 5 years is approximately 1 in 1000 [5].

5. Fildes, A., Charlton, J., Rudisill, C., Littlejohns, P., Prevost, A.T., & Gulliford, M.C. (2015). “Probability of an Obese Person Attaining Normal Body Weight: Cohort Study Using Electronic Health Records.” American Journal of Public Health, July 16, 2015: e1–e6.

Doctors became so desperate that they resorted to amputating parts of the digestive tract (bariatric surgery) in the hopes that it might finally result in long-term weight-loss. Except that doesn’t work either. [6] And it turns out it causes death [7],  addiction [8], malnutrition [9], and suicide [7].

6. Magro, Daniéla Oliviera, et al. “Long-Term Weight Regain after Gastric Bypass: A 5-Year Prospective Study - Obesity Surgery.” SpringerLink, 8 Apr. 2008. 7. Omalu, Bennet I, et al. “Death Rates and Causes of Death After Bariatric Surgery for Pennsylvania Residents, 1995 to 2004.” Jama Network, 1 Oct. 2007.  8. King, Wendy C., et al. “Prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorders Before and After Bariatric Surgery.” Jama Network, 20 June 2012.  9. Gletsu-Miller, Nana, and Breanne N. Wright. “Mineral Malnutrition Following Bariatric Surgery.” Advances In Nutrition: An International Review Journal, Sept. 2013.

Evidence suggests that repeatedly losing and gaining weight is linked to cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and altered immune function [10].

10. Tomiyama, A Janet, et al. “Long‐term Effects of Dieting: Is Weight Loss Related to Health?” Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 6 July 2017.

Prescribed weight loss is the leading predictor of eating disorders [11].

11. Patton, GC, et al. “Onset of Adolescent Eating Disorders: Population Based Cohort Study over 3 Years.” BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), 20 Mar. 1999.

The idea that “obesity” is unhealthy and can cause or exacerbate illnesses is a biased misrepresentation of the scientific literature that is informed more by bigotry than credible science [12]. 

12. Medvedyuk, Stella, et al. “Ideology, Obesity and the Social Determinants of Health: A Critical Analysis of the Obesity and Health Relationship” Taylor & Francis Online, 7 June 2017.

“Obesity” has no proven causative role in the onset of any chronic condition [13, 14] and its appearance may be a protective response to the onset of numerous chronic conditions generated from currently unknown causes [15, 16, 17, 18].

13. Kahn, BB, and JS Flier. “Obesity and Insulin Resistance.” The Journal of Clinical Investigation, Aug. 2000. 14. Cofield, Stacey S, et al. “Use of Causal Language in Observational Studies of Obesity and Nutrition.” Obesity Facts, 3 Dec. 2010.  15. Lavie, Carl J, et al. “Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease: Risk Factor, Paradox, and Impact of Weight Loss.” Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 26 May 2009.  16. Uretsky, Seth, et al. “Obesity Paradox in Patients with Hypertension and Coronary Artery Disease.” The American Journal of Medicine, Oct. 2007.  17. Mullen, John T, et al. “The Obesity Paradox: Body Mass Index and Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Nonbariatric General Surgery.” Annals of Surgery, July 2005. 18. Tseng, Chin-Hsiao. “Obesity Paradox: Differential Effects on Cancer and Noncancer Mortality in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.” Atherosclerosis, Jan. 2013.

Fatness was associated with only 1/3 the associated deaths that previous research estimated and being “overweight” conferred no increased risk at all, and may even be a protective factor against all-causes mortality relative to lower weight categories [19].

19. Flegal, Katherine M. “The Obesity Wars and the Education of a Researcher: A Personal Account.” Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 15 June 2021.

Studies have observed that about 30% of so-called “normal weight” people are “unhealthy” whereas about 50% of so-called “overweight” people are “healthy”. Thus, using the BMI as an indicator of health results in the misclassification of some 75 million people in the United States alone [20]. 

20. Rey-López, JP, et al. “The Prevalence of Metabolically Healthy Obesity: A Systematic Review and Critical Evaluation of the Definitions Used.” Obesity Reviews : An Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 15 Oct. 2014.

While epidemiologists use BMI to calculate national obesity rates (nearly 35% for adults and 18% for kids), the distinctions can be arbitrary. In 1998, the National Institutes of Health lowered the overweight threshold from 27.8 to 25—branding roughly 29 million Americans as fat overnight—to match international guidelines. But critics noted that those guidelines were drafted in part by the International Obesity Task Force, whose two principal funders were companies making weight loss drugs [21].

21. Butler, Kiera. “Why BMI Is a Big Fat Scam.” Mother Jones, 25 Aug. 2014. 

Body size is largely determined by genetics [22].

22. Wardle, J. Carnell, C. Haworth, R. Plomin. “Evidence for a strong genetic influence on childhood adiposity despite the force of the obesogenic environment” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol. 87, No. 2, Pages 398-404, February 2008.

Healthy lifestyle habits are associated with a significant decrease in mortality regardless of baseline body mass index [23].  

23. Matheson, Eric M, et al. “Healthy Lifestyle Habits and Mortality in Overweight and Obese Individuals.” Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 25 Feb. 2012.

Weight stigma itself is deadly. Research shows that weight-based discrimination increases risk of death by 60% [24].

24. Sutin, Angela R., et al. “Weight Discrimination and Risk of Mortality .” Association for Psychological Science, 25 Sept. 2015.

Fat stigma in the medical establishment [25] and society at large arguably [26] kills more fat people than fat does [27, 28, 29].

25. Puhl, Rebecca, and Kelly D. Bronwell. “Bias, Discrimination, and Obesity.” Obesity Research, 6 Sept. 2012. 26. Engber, Daniel. “Glutton Intolerance: What If a War on Obesity Only Makes the Problem Worse?” Slate, 5 Oct. 2009.  27. Teachman, B. A., Gapinski, K. D., Brownell, K. D., Rawlins, M., & Jeyaram, S. (2003). Demonstrations of implicit anti-fat bias: The impact of providing causal information and evoking empathy. Health Psychology, 22(1), 68–78. 28. Chastain, Ragen. “So My Doctor Tried to Kill Me.” Dances With Fat, 15 Dec. 2009. 29. Sutin, Angelina R, Yannick Stephan, and Antonio Terraciano. “Weight Discrimination and Risk of Mortality.” Psychological Science, 26 Nov. 2015.

There's my "proof." Where is yours?

[shiniestcrow]

Having food stuff from other countries is so much fun especially when you notice differences to things you're used to but never questioned before

[reasonsforhope]

Article Link

"Minnetonka first started selling its “Thunderbird” moccasins in 1965. Now, for the first time, they’ve been redesigned by a Native American designer.

It’s one step in the company’s larger work to deal with its history of cultural appropriation. The Minneapolis-based company launched in the 1940s as a small business making souvenirs for roadside gift shops in the region—including Native American-inspired moccasins, though the business wasn’t started or run by Native Americans. The moccasins soon became its biggest seller.

[Photo: Minnetonka]

Adrienne Benjamin, an Anishanaabe artist and community activist who became the company’s “reconciliation advisor,” was initially reluctant when a tribal elder approached her about meeting with the company. Other activists had dismissed the idea that the company would do the work to truly transform. But Benjamin agreed to the meeting, and the conversation convinced her to move forward.

“I sensed a genuine commitment to positive change,” she says. “They had really done their homework as far as understanding and acknowledging the wrong and the appropriation. I think they knew for a long time that things needed to get better, and they just weren’t sure what a first step was.”

Pictured: Lucie Skjefte and son Animikii [Photo: Minnetonka]

In 2020, Minnetonka publicly apologized “for having benefited from selling Native-inspired designs without directly honoring Native culture or communities.” It also said that it was actively recruiting Native Americans to work at the company, reexamining its branding, looking for Native-owned businesses to partner with, continuing to support Native American nonprofits, and that it planned to collaborate with Native American artists and designers.

Benjamin partnered with the company on the first collaboration, a collection of hand-beaded hats, and then recruited the Minneapolis-based designer Lucie Skjefte, a citizen of the Red Lake Nation, who designed the beadwork for another moccasin style and a pair of slippers for the brand. Skjefte says that she felt comfortable working with the company knowing that it had already done work with Benjamin on reconciliation. And she wasn’t a stranger to the brand. “Our grandmothers and our mothers would always look for moccasins in a clutch kind of situation where they didn’t have a pair ready and available to make on their own—then they would buy Minnetonka mocs and walk into a traditional pow wow and wear them,” she says. Her mother, she says, who passed away in 2019, would have been “immensely proud” that Skjefte’s design work was part of the moccasins—and on the new version of the Thunderbird moccasin, one of the company’s top-selling styles.

[Photo: Minnetonka]

“I started thinking about all of those stories, and what resonated with me visually,” Skjefte says. The redesign, she says, is much more detailed and authentic than the previous version. “Through the redesign and beading process, we are actively reclaiming and reconnecting our Animikii or Thunderbird motif with its Indigenous roots,” she says. Skjefte will earn royalties for the design, and Minnetonka will also separately donate a portion of the sale of each shoe to Mni Sota Fund, a nonprofit that helps Native Americans in Minnesota get training and capital for home ownership and entrepreneurship.

Some companies go a step farther—Manitobah Mukluks, based in Canada, has an Indigenous founder and more than half Indigenous staff. (While Minnetonka is actively recruiting more Native American workers, the company says that employees self-report race and it can’t share any data about its current number of Indigenous employees.) Beyond its own line of products, Manitobah also has an online Indigenous Market that features artists who earn 100% of the profit for their work.

White Bear Moccasins, a Native-owned-and-made brand in Montana, makes moccasins from bison hide. Each custom pair can take six to eight hours to make; the shoes cost hundreds of dollars, though they can also be repaired and last as long as a lifetime, says owner Shauna White Bear. In interviews, White Bear has said that she wants “to take our craft back,” from companies like Minnetonka. But she also told Fast Company that she doesn’t think that Minnetonka, as a family-owned business, should have to lose its livelihood now and stop making moccasins.

The situation is arguably different for other fashion brands that might use a Native American symbol—or rip off a Native American design completely—on a single product that could easily be taken off the market. Benjamin says that she has also worked with other companies that have discontinued products.

She sees five steps in the process of reconciliation. First, the person or company who did wrong has to acknowledge the wrong. Then they need to publicly apologize, begin to change behavior, start to rebuild trust, and then, eventually, the wronged party might take the step of forgiveness. Right now, she says, Minnetonka is in the third phase of behavior change. The brand plans to continue to collaborate with Native American designers.

The company can be an example to others on how to listen and build true relationships, Benjamin says. “I think that’s the only way that these relationships are going to get any better—people have to sit down and talk about it,” she says. “People have to be real. People have to apologize. They have to want to reconcile with people.”

The leadership at Minnetonka can also be allies in pushing other companies to do better. “My voice is important at the table as an Indigenous woman,” Benjamin says. “Lucie’s voice is important. But at tables where there’s a majority of people that aren’t Indigenous, sometimes those allies’ voices are more powerful in those spaces, because that means that they’ve signed on to what we’re saying. The power has signed on to moving forward and we agree with ‘Yes, this was wrong.’ That’s the stuff that’s going to change [things] right there.”"

-via FastCompany, February 7, 2024