#conference transcription services

[transcriptioncity]

Comprehensive Guide to Conference Support and Transcription Services for Conferences

Comprehensive Guide to Conference Support and Language Services Conferences have evolved significantly since their inception in ancient times. Initially, they were informal gatherings where leaders discussed critical issues. These meetings have grown into structured events, facilitating knowledge exchange and fostering professional development. For example, the Yalta Conference in 1945 shaped…

[fans4wga]

SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher's strike announcement speech

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Thank you. Thank you everyone for coming to this press conference today. It's really important that this negotiation be covered because the eyes of the world and particularly the eyes of labor are upon us. What happens here is important, because what's happening to us is happening across all fields of labor. By means of when employers make Wall Street and greed their priority and they forget about the essential contributors that make the machine run. We have a problem. And we are experiencing that right at this moment. This is a very seminal hour for us.

I went in, in earnest, thinking that we would be able to avert a strike. The gravity of this move is not lost on me, or our negotiating committee, or our board members, who have voted unanimously to proceed with a strike.

It's a very serious thing that impacts thousands if not millions of people, all across this country and around the world. Not only members of this union, but people who work in other industries that service the people that work in this industry. And so it came with great sadness that we came to this crossroads, but we had no choice. We are the victims here; we are being victimized by a very greedy entity.

I am shocked by the way the people that we have been in business with, are treating us. I cannot believe it, quite frankly. How far apart we are on so many things. How they plead poverty, that they are losing money left and right while giving hundreds of millions of dollars to their CEOs. It is disgusting. Shame on them. They stand on the wrong side of history at this very moment.

We stand in solidarity, in unprecedented unity. Our union and our sister unions and the unions around the world are standing by us, as well as other labor unions. Because at some point the jig is up. You cannot keep being dwindled and marginalized and disrespected and dishonored. The entire business model has been changed. By streaming, digital, AI. This is a moment of history that is a moment of truth. If we don't stand tall right now, we are all going to be in trouble. We are all going to be in jeopardy of being replaced by machines and big business who cares more about Wall Street than you and your family.

Most of Americans don't have more than $500 in an emergency. This is a very big deal, and it weighed heavy on us. But at some point, you have to say no. We’re not going to take this anymore. You people are crazy. What are you doing? Why are you doing this? Privately they all say we’re the center of the wheel. Everybody else tinkers around our artistry, but actions speak louder than words. And there was nothing there. It was insulting.

So we came together in strength and solidarity and unity with the largest strike authorization vote in our union's history. And we made the hard decision that we tell you, as we stand before you today. This is major. It's really serious and it is going to impact every single person that is in labor. We are fortunate enough to be in a country right now that happens to be labor friendly. And yet, we are facing opposition that was so labor unfriendly. So tone deaf to what we are saying. You cannot change the business model as much as it has changed and not expect the contract to change too.

We are not going to keep doing incremental changes on a contract that no longer honors what is happening right now with this business model that was foisted upon us. What are we doing? Moving around furniture on the titanic? It's crazy.

So the jig is up, AMPTP. We stand tall. You have to wake up and smell the coffee. We are labor and we stand tall and we demand respect. And to be honored for our contribution. You share the wealth because you cannot exist without us. Thank you.

[anyab]

via AlJazeera

[Image transcript:

More on the Health Ministry’s press conference in Gaza

A spokesperson for the Health Ministry in Gaza has just held a news conference. Here is what he said:

The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing war with Israel has reached 10,022 people, including 4,104 children and 2,641 women.

The number of those wounded since October 7 has risen to 25,408.

Al-Rantisi Hospital was targeted twice by Israeli air attacks. The Cancer Center and the Specialised Children Center were also targeted. Four people were killed and 70 were injured, some of them children, staff and refugees. The Israeli attacks destroyed the solar panels and the water tanks in al-Rantisi Hospital.

Targeting essential supplies threatens everyone’s lives at the hospital.

Israel conducted 18 attacks in the past hours, killing 252 people.

192 medical staff were killed and 32 ambulances destroyed since October 7, while 16 hospitals are now out of service.

The targeting of bakeries is adding to the food crisis.

Israel is taking the international community’s silence as a green light to continue its massacres

End Transcript]

[umgeorge]

george russell is interviewed during the press conference on media day, las vegas - november 20, 2024 (transcript under the cut)

Interviewer: "George, let's come to you now. Brazil last time out seemed like a missed opportunity for you and Mercedes. What lessons were learned?" George: "Yeah, it definitely felt like a missed opportunity. I think, having reviewed the race, you recognize how quickly things can change, and we made the pit stop, which with the perfect benefit of hindsight, that was incorrect. But had that virtual safety car stayed for ten seconds longer or fifteen seconds longer it would have been absolutely the right thing to do. So it just shows how quickly an external decision can change your race and how you need to be very quick to adapt to that, and we kind of were a little bit too focused on that pit stop and not actually seeing that a car that was beached on the road was being pushed off and the VSC was ending." Interviewer: "And how much encouragement do you take from the pace of the car in Brazil; the front row start? I mean, you've had a stack of points finishes since the summer break, but how close are you to having a race winning car again? George: "I mean, Brazil was definitely a bit of a one-off, I think. When it rains, it presents opportunities, and for ourself it was an opportunity. For everyone at Alpine it was a huge opportunity, which they capitalized. And I think we need to look back to the sprint qualifying and the sprint race for a bit of a fairer picture of where we are, and that was behind the front four teams. Interviewer: "George, final one: When you look at this season as a whole, look at the races you've won, but look at also the frustrations as well, how will you review the season?" George: "I think now we've done almost a full season, we totally understand why the car is so up and down. It has just such a narrow window, and when we can set the car up in a way that we exploit that window, we have a race winning car. But when you go to different circuits and you have to change where you position the set-up, we totally fall outside of our working window. So it's obviously frustrating when you know the car has that potential, but I think for everyone you have these fluctuations in performance. We've done a good job to capitalise on races that we did, had the pole positions when the car was capable of pole positions, and ultimately we just need to make a more consistent car over the course of 24 races." Interviewer: "Alright. Thanks to all three of you. Let's now open this to the floor, to the broadcasters first. David."

Journalist: "David Croft, Sky Sports F1. George, to you and with your GPDA hat on, please. In between the last race and this, the FIA have dispensed with the services of Niels Wittich, the Race Director. Is this something that the GPDA were aware of before it happened? Are you concerned that there are three races to go and we now have a new Race Director, especially coming in to a street race like Las Vegas, which we saw last year can have a whole load of unforeseen problems?" George: "Yeah, we definitely weren't aware. It was a bit of a surprise, I think, for everybody, and it's a hell of a lot of pressure now onto the new Race Director; just three races left. So I think for us… Often, as drivers, we probably feel like we're the last to find out this sort of information, and when it involves us kind of directly it would be nice to sort of be kept in the loop and just have an understanding of what decisions are being made. So yeah, time will tell. I'm sure the new guy will handle the position just fine, but definitely not an easy race for a new race director." Interviewer: "Okay. Thanks George. Yep, next one." Journalist: "Nelson Valkenburg, Viaplay. Also for George, but I'd love for you both to chime in, as well. Last week, a pointed statement from the GPDA towards the FIA and especially towards the President. The tone seemed stronger than I expected. Does that reflect the mood in the field of drivers, as well?" George: "I mean, talking as a fellow driver, as opposed to sort of my role with the GPDA, I think everybody felt, with certain things that have happened over the course of this year, that we wanted to sort of stand united. At the end of the day, we just want to be transparent with the FIA and have this dialogue that is happening, and I think the departure of Niels is also a prime example of not being a part of these conversations.

And, ultimately, we want to work with the FIA to make the best for the sport that we all love, so I think it's kind of us now putting the pressure back on them to work with us and work with everyone, including F1 as well, just to maximize this opportunity which Formula 1 is in at the moment, which is an amazing time to be a part of." [time jump] Journalist: "Diego Mejia, Fox Sports. Question to George: I think that the GPDA created an Instagram account to publish this letter. Is there going to be a different way of… Was there a need to make things more public now from the GPDA side when creating this more public forum?" George: "Yeah, well I think times are changing and the fans are a huge part of this sport, and I think if we're talking about openness and transparency and including everybody in this for the greater good, then having it on a social media platform makes perfect sense." Interviewer: "David?" Journalist: "David Croft, Sky Sports. Sorry, George, GPDA public forum, this one. Did you and the GPDA think that the Race Director needed replacing?" George: "I mean, I can only talk on behalf of myself here, as opposed to any of the other drivers, but… Yeah, I think there's no secret that some were not happy with what was going on, in terms of the decisions that were being made. But, at the end of the day, I think if you worked together with us, that we could have helped improve the matter, and I think sometimes just hiring and firing is not the solution. You kind of need to work together to improve the problem. So let's see what this new sort of era is going to bring, but every time there is a change, you have to take one step back before you make the two steps forwards."

[todaysdocument]

Letter and Summary Report of Incidents of Intimidation of Teachers during the Desegregation of South Boston High School and the Abrahams School

Record Group 21: Records of District Courts of the United StatesSeries: Tallulah Morgan et al v. James W. Hennigan et al Civil Action Case File # 72-0911

Angoff, Goldman, Manning, Pyle & Wanger

Counsellors at Law

Sidney S. Grant (1905-1957) 44 School Street

Samuel E. Angoff Boston, Massachusetts 02108

Albert L. Goldman 723-5500

Robert D. Manning

Warren H. Pyle

E. David Wanger

John F. McMahon

Joseph G. Sandulli

September 6, 1974

Stephen A. Moyhahan, Jr., Esq.

Clerk, U.S. District Court

1525, Post Office Court House

Boston, Massachusetts, 02109

[stamp] DOCKETED

[stamp] FILED [illegible] OFFICE Sep 6 9 23 AM '74 U.S. DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MASS

Dear Mr. Moynahan:

There is enclosed a summary report of serious incidents of intimidation of teachers by members of the community, which the Boston Teachers Union requests be transmitted to Judge Garrity prior to the start of today's hearings.

I regret my inability to provide it earlier.

The Martin and Garret incidents have been reported to Ms. Silke Hansen and I anticipate that the Community Relations Service will report on these developments to the Court.

The Boston Teachers Union will request an in-chambers conference to discuss the contents of the report with the Court and parties.

Very truly yours,

John F. McMahon

/lt

Enclosure

cc John Mirick, Esq.

John Leubsdorf, Esq.

Sandra Lynch, Esq.

K. Maloney

338 [green ink]

18

[Complete document and transcription at link]

[armoricaroyalty]

Between 2016 and 2018, Andre spent more time abroad than he had in the preceding decade. Almost overnight, the infamous recluse had been transformed into a social butterfly and his diary was suddenly full of international engagements: regional conferences, global summits, casual two-day visits to allies and neighbors. He kept a low profile, traveling without fanfare and without media accompaniment. He flew privately and stayed alone in expensive hotels and ordered room service for two. The palace offered no official explanation for the sudden and remarkable shift in the King's priorities, and the veteran royal correspondents knew exactly how to read the silence: say nothing. At a loss, the columnists and commentators and uncredentialed royal "experts" used their platforms in newspapers and morning shows to steer the national conversation toward the upcoming wedding and the frothy controversy of Rosalind's Tatler interview. Vivi's pregnancy had been the last major scandal. They weren't quite ready for another.

Previous | Chapter Start | Beginning | Next

author's note. I hope everyone missed these two as much as @nexility-sims and I did. The Ionian Union is @funkyllama's setting, thank you for letting me use your story as a backdrop for an illicit extramarital hookup.

Transcript under the cut.

Bergstraße, the Ionian Union // February 2018

Andre and Leonor are in bed together, asleep. Her sleep is disturbed by dreams; an empty beach in Armorica, gulls reeling overhead. She awakes with a start. LEONOR | [ gasping ] ANDRE | Leo? What's wrong? LEONOR | ...I had a bad dream. ANDRE | A nightmare? What about? LEONOR | I dreamed I was alone. ANDRE | Leo...it's okay. I'm right here. LEONOR | I know. Just a bad dream. ANDRE | [ yawning ] I dreamed we bought a house in Nakawe. LEONOR | Nakawe? What about the farm in Tartosa? ANDRE | I'll go there first [ yawns ] Just until the press lose interest... LEONOR | But that could take years. ANDRE | ...well, I was hoping you'd come visit? LEONOR | Just to visit? Not to stay? ANDRE | I didn't know if you'd want to. LEONOR | [ laughs disbelievingly ] ANDRE | Don't laugh! I didn't want to presume, you have your work, your family... LEONOR | [ softly ] You could be part of it, someday. ANDRE | ...would they accept me? LEONOR | Of course they will. They might not approve, but- ANDRE | -they won't cast us out. Unlike... LEONOR | ... ANDRE | ... LEONOR | ...anyway, if you're moving to Uspana, you'll have to start dressing better. ANDRE | Really? What's wrong with my clothes? LEONOR | Tsk. You mix neutrals. Our press will eat you alive. ANDRE | Oh? Are you offering to dress me? LEONOR | [ laughs ] No, I'm telling you to hire a better stylist. ANDRE | Romy Anderson has served the House of St. Fleur loyally for over 30 years. LEONOR | His eyesight's clearly failing, perhaps it's time for him to retire- ANDRE | [ laughs ] You're so bad. LEONOR | Only honest. ANDRE | I love you. LEONOR | I love you, too.

[umlewis]

lewis hamilton, p3, is interviewed during the post-qualifying press conference, singapore - september 21, 2024 (transcript under the cut)

Interviewer: "Lewis, let's come to you. You weren't that positive about your car yesterday after practice. Is P3 a bit of a surprise in qualifying?" Lewis: "I'm not saying it's a surprise, but through the weekend so far we were looking… I was looking particularly very poor. I mean, this morning and all of yesterday we were 1.2 seconds off these guys, so… We arrived with a car that was massively understeer-y and we just couldn't dial any in, no matter what we did just nothing changed. And made changes overnight, came here today, pretty much the same thing, and I was really, definitely shocked to see that we were still 1.2 seconds behind [laughs] Lando again. And then we just kept our heads down, kept not giving up, and we made some more changes, and got into this session and it was like night and day. Such a big difference. Car was all of a sudden alive and I was able to go where I wanted to go. So it was looking really strong throughout qualifying. And I think obviously with the crash in Q3 it made it difficult for all of us to put that final lap together. I think my lap was also nothing special. Very difficult to get the tires perfect and not overslide them; I had a lot of snaps. So I think with a better job maybe we could have been front row with this guy, but I don't know whether or not we could have beaten him today. But still really, really happy." Interviewer: "How rewarding is it? Because you've had some struggles with qualifying. You've been very open about that this year. So does that make this that much more satisfying?" Lewis: "Oh yeah. I mean, just to be up here with these guys, great drivers. I've not been up here for a while. And yeah, qualifying has been a nightmare for quite a long time, so it feels great to be up here. I feel very, very grateful and very, very happy. George and I are on the second row, so hopefully from here we can apply pressure to these two. And to even to be ahead of another McLaren and another Red Bull and also the Ferraris is mega, considering how fast the Ferraris, particularly, are here. So yeah, I hope that we can hold on to these guys tomorrow."

[time jump] NOT SHOWN: Journalist: "Andrew Benson, BBC Sport. One for Max and then one for Lando and Lewis. Max, will you talk to us outside the room? Because technically there's not... Yeah, okay. And then Lando and Lewis, what do you think about Max being given community service, effectively, for what he said on Thursday?" Lewis: "Yeah, I think it's a bit of a joke, to be honest. This is the pinnacle of the sport. Mistakes are made. I certainly wouldn't be doing it, and I hope Max doesn't do it." [time jump] Journalist: "Zuhrah Beevi, Vavel.com. Lewis, your car looked much stronger today than it did on Friday. How confident are you that you can get a podium like last year for tomorrow's race?" Lewis: "It's very hard to say, 'cause it was such a nightmare the past day-and-a-half. I think our long run pace was so-so. Nowhere near these guys, or at least the McLarens. But we have now put the car in a much different window, so we have to also anticipate a different balance tomorrow, compared to the past every other session. And yeah, I think here is really about managing tire temps, so that's gonna have to be key tomorrow. So doing absolutely everything we can to keep the temperatures out of the rears, basically. I hope, in our attempt to do that, we're somehow able to hold on to at least one of these guys. But yeah, we'll find out tomorrow. I feel confident, though, that we might be able to do that." [laughs]

[phierecycled]

For anyone who wants to make a dead whizzer/aids joke or argue that it’s fine to do so because he’s not real, read these transcripts which ARE real and see the kind of people you’re aligning yourself with.

White House Press Briefing: October 15th 1982

Press Secretary Larry Speakes takes questions from members of the media. At this point in time, about 1000 people in the US had died as a result of AIDS/AIDS related illness

Q: Larry, does the President have any reaction to the announcement—the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, that AIDS is now an epidemic and have over 600 cases?

MR. SPEAKES: What’s AIDS?

Q: Over a third of them have died. It’s known as “gay plague.” (Laughter.) No, it is. I mean it’s a pretty serious thing that one in every three people that get this have died. And I wondered if the President is aware of it?

MR. SPEAKES: I don’t have it. Do you? (Laughter.)

Q: No, I don’t.

MR. SPEAKES: You didn’t answer my question.

Q: Well, I just wondered, does the President—

MR. SPEAKES: How do you know? (Laughter.)

Q: In other words, the White House looks on this as a great joke?

MR. SPEAKES: No, I don’t know anything about it, Lester.

Q: Does the President, does anybody in the White House know about this epidemic, Larry?

MR. SPEAKES: I don’t think so. I don’t think there’s been any—

Q: Nobody knows?

MR. SPEAKES: There has been no personal experience here, Lester.

Q: No, I mean, I thought you were keeping—

MR. SPEAKES: I checked thoroughly with Dr. Ruge this morning and he’s had no—(laughter)—no patients suffering from AIDS or whatever it is.

Q: The President doesn’t have gay plague, is that what you’re saying or what?

MR. SPEAKES: No, I didn’t say that.

Q: Didn’t say that?

MR. SPEAKES: I thought I heard you on the State Department over there. Why didn’t you stay there? (Laughter.)

Q: Because I love you, Larry, that’s why. (Laughter.)

MR. SPEAKES: Oh, I see. Just don’t put it in those terms, Lester. (Laughter.)

Q: Oh, I retract that.

MR. SPEAKES: I hope so.

Q: It’s too late.

White House Press Briefing: June 13th 1983

The next year, Speakes again conducts a press conference with members of the media. No less than 2000 people have now died in the US.

Q: Larry, does the President think that it might help if he suggested that the gays cut down on their “cruising”? (Laughter.) What? I didn’t hear your answer, Larry.

MR. SPEAKES: I just was acknowledging your interest—

Q: You were acknowledging but—

MR. SPEAKES: —interest in this subject.

Q: —you don’t think that it would help if the gays cut down on their cruising—it would help AIDS?

MR. SPEAKES: We are researching it. If we come up with any research that sheds some light on whether gays should cruise or not cruise, we’ll make it available to you. (Laughter.)

Q: Back to fairy tales

White House Press Briefing: December 11th 1984

Another year later and AIDS related death numbers reach over 4,200.

MR. SPEAKES: Lester’s beginning to circle now. He’s moving in front. (Laughter.) Go ahead.

Q: Since the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta—(laughter)—reports—

MR. SPEAKES: This is going to be an AIDS question.

Q: —that an estimated—

MR. SPEAKES: You were close.

Q: Well, look, could I ask the question, Larry?

MR. SPEAKES: You were close.

Q: An estimated 300,000 people have been exposed to AIDS, which can be transmitted through saliva. Will the President, as Commander-in-Chief, take steps to protect Armed Forces food and medical services from AIDS patients or those who run the risk of spreading AIDS in the same manner that they forbid typhoid fever people from being involved in the health or food services?

MR. SPEAKES: I don’t know.

Q: Could you—Is the President concerned about this subject, Larry—

MR. SPEAKES: I haven’t heard him express—

Q: —that seems to have evoked so much jocular—

MR. SPEAKES:—concern.

Q: —reaction here? I—you know—

Q: It isn’t only the jocks, Lester.

Q: Has he sworn off water faucets—

Q: No, but, I mean, is he going to do anything, Larry?

MR. SPEAKES: Lester, I have not heard him express anything on it. Sorry.

Q: You mean he has no—expressed no opinion about this epidemic?

MR. SPEAKES: No, but I must confess I haven’t asked him about it. (Laughter.)

Q: Would you ask him Larry?

MR. SPEAKES: Have you been checked? (Laughter.)

hear some of these transcripts here

President Reagan would not even mention “AIDS” for the first time publicly until 1985.

when you make jokes about tragedies and works of art in DIRECT response to such tragedies it’s not ‘just a joke’ about a fictional character, it’s a slap in the face to every victim, every person who lost a partner, lost a parent, a sibling, a friend.

these people in the 1980s were joking and laughing about queer people dying, despite having all the possible power to act up and prevent as many people from dying that did.

it’s 2023. do better

[adbros]

30 ways to make real; money from home

Making money online from the comfort of your home has become increasingly accessible with the growth of the internet and digital technologies. In 2023, there are numerous realistic ways to earn money online. Here are 30 ideas to get you started:

1. Freelance Writing: Offer your writing skills on platforms like Upwork or Freelancer to create blog posts, articles, or website content.

2. Content Creation: Start a YouTube channel, podcast, or blog to share your expertise or passion and monetize through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.

3. Online Surveys and Market Research: Participate in online surveys and market research studies with platforms like Swagbucks or Survey Junkie.

4. Remote Customer Service: Work as a remote customer service representative for companies like Amazon or Apple.

5. Online Tutoring: Teach subjects you're knowledgeable in on platforms like VIPKid or Chegg Tutors.

6. E-commerce: Start an online store using platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or eBay to sell products.

7. Affiliate Marketing: Promote products or services on your blog or social media and earn commissions for sales made through your referral links.

8. Online Courses: Create and sell online courses on platforms like Udemy or Teachable.

9. Remote Data Entry: Find remote data entry jobs on websites like Clickworker or Remote.co.

10. Virtual Assistance: Offer administrative support services to businesses as a virtual assistant.

11. Graphic Design: Use your graphic design skills to create logos, graphics, or websites for clients on platforms like Fiverr.

12. Stock Photography: Sell your photos on stock photography websites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock.

13. App Development: Develop and sell mobile apps or offer app development services.

14. Social Media Management: Manage social media accounts for businesses looking to enhance their online presence.

15. Dropshipping: Start an e-commerce business without holding inventory by dropshipping products.

16. Online Consultations: Offer consulting services in your area of expertise through video calls.

17. Online Surplus Sales: Sell unused items or collectibles on platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

18. Online Fitness Coaching: Become an online fitness coach and offer workout plans and guidance.

19. Virtual Events: Host webinars, workshops, or conferences on topics you're knowledgeable about.

20. Podcast Production: Offer podcast editing, production, or consulting services.

21. Remote Transcription: Transcribe audio and video files for clients.

22. Online Translation: Offer translation services if you're proficient in multiple languages.

23. Affiliate Blogging: Create a niche blog with affiliate marketing as the primary revenue source.

24. Online Art Sales: Sell your artwork, crafts, or digital art on platforms like Etsy or Redbubble.

25. Remote Bookkeeping: Offer bookkeeping services for small businesses from home.

26. Digital Marketing: Provide digital marketing services like SEO, PPC, or social media management.

27. Online Gaming: Stream your gaming sessions on platforms like Twitch and monetize through ads and donations.

28. Virtual Assistant Coaching: If you have experience as a VA, offer coaching services to aspiring virtual assistants.

29. Online Research: Conduct research for businesses or individuals in need of specific information.

30. Online Real Estate: Invest in virtual real estate, such as domain names or digital properties, and sell them for a profit.

Remember that success in making money online often requires dedication, patience, and the ability to adapt to changing trends. It's essential to research and choose the opportunities that align with your skills, interests, and long-term goals.

[transcriptioncity]

Translation Services for Clinical Studies and Clinical Reviews

Accurate translation services for clinical studies are crucial for medical research. Precise translations ensure that clinical reviews maintain the integrity and reliability of the original data. Inaccuracies can lead to misinterpretation; compromising patient safety and the efficacy of treatments. Leveraging professional translation services can enhance communication between international…

[cindylouwho-2]

Etsy Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Report: Search Diversity and Listing Quality Are Working As Intended, So Don't Expect Reversals

Slide 7 from Etsy's Q3 2024 Earnings Presentation, © Etsy

Etsy's gross marketplace sales (GMS) were down again in the third quarter of 2024, and are also expected to be lower than 2023 in the all-important fourth quarter holiday season. So essentially, nothing has changed in the past few months.

While the company didn't have any really good news or huge announcements for investors, some of the statements from CEO Josh Silverman are of interest to the site's sellers, including the info on search ranking. In short, they aren't going to be reversing the recent search changes any time soon.

With the details on that and other points of interest, please read on for my summary of this quarterly report! As always, I am mostly just reporting what they tell us, with my own commentary in square brackets until the last section.

First, here are the official sources:

the press release

transcript of the conference call

slides from the conference call

video of the call (click on “Webcast”)

my summaries of the third quarter 2023, and the second quarter 2024 for comparison

And the key numbers (covering July to September 2024, compared to the same period in 2023):

Sales on Etsy were $2.5 billion, down 6% year over year

Total sales for all 3 marketplaces - Etsy, Reverb, and Depop - were $2.9 billion, down 4.1%. [Elo7 was officially sold in mid-August 2023, so its numbers were still included in the comparison totals, making the total drop appear a little worse than it actually was for the remaining 3 sites]

Etsy’s revenue including all 3 sites was $662.4 million, up 4.1%

Seller service revenue was up 6.2% , while marketplace revenue was up 3.3% across all 3 sites

Net income was $57.4 million, down 34.7%

Active buyers on Etsy alone stand at 91.2 million, down slightly

Active sellers on Etsy alone are at 6.2 million, down half a million from the third quarter 2023 and down 400,000 from the second quarter 2024. [Note that “active” means one charge or transaction in the past 12 months; many “active” shops currently have nothing for sale]

49% of sales on Etsy now involve at least one party outside of the US, some both. [based on recent trends, the majority of GMS on Etsy will not be US-domestic very soon]

Search: Etsy Is Happy With the Recent Algorithm Updates

Etsy continues to attempt to demonstrate that the site has a "wide range of items", changing search results through "a three-pronged approach focused on diversity, quality, and agency."

"Diversity" of search results was previously about showing fewer of the same item on the first pages, but the algorithm has now moved to reducing "similar images...We're now seeing an approximately 40% reduction in search results where at least a quarter of the listings look alike." That means that if there used to be 100 search queries where at least 25% of the items on the first page look similar, there would now only be 60 search queries like that. Also, more sellers made at least one sale in the quarter compared to 2023 [which seems to indicate that searchers are seeing more diversity in listings.]

"Quality" is largely about how happy the buyer will be once they receive their order. This includes "...having a shipping charge that aligns with buyer expectations, providing [a] return policy, and the shop's level of customer service." [Yes, I repeat once again, shipping price is a search factor, especially in domestic searches. While I found that the $6 US domestic shipping threshold wasn't a big deal at the moment - meaning that a US seller changing a domestic shipping price from $6.25 to $5.99 wouldn't make any real ranking difference - overall, big changes in shipping prices can affect ranking, and lower shipping prices are ranking better in most large searches. No doubt the fact that lower shipping tends to convert better on average doesn't hurt.]

"Agency" is focussed on better communication with sellers regarding how search works and what listings can be improved. Since the Etsy Search Visibility page was introduced, "sellers have lowered shipping charges on approximately 2.5 million items to better meet buyer expectations", which was more than Etsy expected.

More Focus On The App, Including The Landing Page

Etsy's buyer app is still responsible for less than half of the sales on Etsy, despite app users spending at least 40% more than non-app users. Therefore, Etsy is continuing to push app downloads, including by suggesting them earlier during mobile browser shopping visits than they used to.

The app homepage has also changed, removing some of the "rear-view mirror impressions" (aka showing things you have previously shopped for), and replacing them with listings AI thinks you are likely to want to shop for, based on your history and other data. Silverman gave the example of someone shopping for wedding cake toppers being shown other wedding products on the home page.

[I think this is a good improvement, even if the AI ends up being wrong most of the time. It is particularly annoying to make a one-off purchase then be suggested similar items for months to come. Thanks, Etsy, but I don't need another 50th birthday card right now...]

Gifts

Over a million gift lists have been created, and 1.3 million visits to the site happened through gift teasers. As I reported in my last quarterly report review, physical Etsy gift cards will now be available in many retail outlets in the United States, and Etsy is now selling physical gift cards on the site. Silverman commented that "people who redeem a gift card tend to buy more than the value of the gift card", so the cards have a bonus effect on sales.

The number of orders involving gifts grew compared to 2023, which is encouraging given that overall sales were down.

And Why Are Sales Still Down?

US discretionary spending is still dropping, as the chart below shows. [Note that it is still a higher percentage of the total compared to 2019, though.]

CFO Rachel Glaser also admitted that the company's various changes in search and in pushing the app likely hurt sales a bit; Silverman later concurred. Silverman previously stated that getting rid of problem sellers earlier this year may have cost them 0.5% GMS then. But as Glaser mentions "when we lose a seller, we rarely lose a sale, given the large amount of substitution available."

[While sales were down, the total number of sellers was also down, so the average sales per shop were almost the same as they were in 2023. Etsy's small decrease in sales overall cannot be blamed by shops that have had a large decrease in sales, then - there must be something else going on. See my conclusions for more.]

The fourth quarter is also predicted to be down around the same amount. When asked by an analyst, Silverman refused to give an update on October sales, which is unusual in these calls; they often give a general impression of how things have been going in the new quarter.

Miscellaneous

They are still working on fixing the Creativity Standards labels on listings, and testing ways to show that info to shoppers. [Future changes here could have a large impact; I am not sure when we should expect them, unfortunately. It may not happen until 2025.]

Depop getting rid of some seller fees is credited with at least part of the site's excellent quarter, with good sales in both the United States and Australia.

"Reverb continued to focus on operational efficiencies to drive profitability and value-added services for its community" - which is Silverman-speak for "we laid more people off at Reverb".

99% of GMS now uses Etsy Payments, up from 93% last year. This led to marketplace revenue being up 3.3% YOY.

Sellers affected by recent hurricanes were given extensions on bills and on Star Seller, and some were offered disaster grants. [Since Etsy rarely mentions these things to the community at the time, some shop owners do fall through the cracks and don't realize they can demand accommodations. This is one area where eBay provides better seller support when disasters occur, simply by mentioning that will be adjusting seller metrics for those affected.]

Etsy has over $1 billion in cash sitting around, so they are going to be buying back a lot more stock.

"[W]hen we did our seller research and our buyer research, they both said we'd love free shipping as long as it doesn't mean that sellers have to have lower margins. ... this is one of the wonderful things about Etsy that I think is so different than anywhere else." So yes, many Etsy buyers understand shipping isn't free and they don't want sellers to eat that cost - but they'd still like free shipping. This is one of the key things Etsy is testing through the Etsy Insider program.

My Thoughts: If You Have Had A Very Recent Drop In Sales, Look Carefully At ALL Of The Changes In The Past Year

Overall, there was very little announced this time around, and the refusal to give any idea of how October went was a bit disturbing. It's not a lot to go on when looking to the future.

What we do know is that they are happy with how search is going, so sellers should not expect recent changes to be rolled back any time soon. If your sales suddenly started to drop in the last year, you need to consider all of the new factors carefully, as many of them work together.

First, check the Customer Service Stats page to make sure you are above the minimum levels for each category; the minimums are lower than Star Seller standards and should be considered strict rules you don't want to break. Yes, you need to reply to 80% of your messages within 2 days. Use the weekly autoreply if you are struggling with this factor; you don't have a choice if you want to be seen, and to keep selling well. Shops have already been closed or threatened with closure based on these stats.

Next, make sure everything is ok on the Search Visibility Page. Note that you still may need to make improvements in these areas, even if the page says your shop is fine. In particular, Etsy is only flagging ridiculously low resolution photos as too small, while really every listing image should be at least 2000 px in both directions. Here's my video on how to check your image sizes. And if you don't agree with Etsy's assessment on dark or blurry photos, get a critique, because I have seen some people disagreeing with Etsy's rating when in fact their photos were a bit dark or blurry or too cluttered. Photo quality has been in a least some of Etsy's algorithms for over a year now, as I have been telling everyone repeatedly; it's time to take it seriously.

One of the most difficult new factors to deal with is Etsy's interest in listing diversity. It's hard to guess how far Etsy is going to go with this, or how it might interact with other longer-term plans such as using the Creativity categories more visibly on the site. While this initiative seems to flow from too many shoppers thinking items using the same components or patterns as others must be drop shipped, it seems to be affecting larger shops with all types of merchandise. If more shops are getting at least one sale now, those sales had to be taken from somewhere.

My old advice to not rely on large searches to get the bulk of your sales applies more than ever. Diversifying your own products in search terms, styles, target markets etc. is probably more important now than it used to be. You may also want to consider consolidating similar listings in some cases, if they usually only show up in larger searches and are competing with your other items. (Silverman said last quarter that they were reducing instances of the same shop appearing on the same page.) This works best for items you are offering in different colours, and if at least some of those colours match Etsy's colour attributes, which makes them searchable without wasting title or tag space. You can use the video feature to show all of the colour offerings in a slide show. Keep the ones that already have good quality scores and add the lesser-performing ones to the more popular listings. Since custom attributes aren't searchable, this isn't going to be possible with many types of products, though.

My final bit of advice for shops with recent drops in sales is: don't assume that only one issue could be impacting you. For example, I am seeing people deny that their small photos could be hurting them, because "they've always been fine and my only real issue is with shipping cost/fake views/diversity" etc. It's far more likely that more than one factor is holding your shop back, if your sales have suddenly crashed.

And remember, even if your photos have been the right size for years and you have always offered free shipping, that doesn't mean you will continue to stay on top. If your competition improves in some of these areas, they could overtake you without you doing anything wrong at all. As Etsy narrows what each visitor sees, many shops will not be able to maintain their previous sales levels, at least not without significant pivots. All sellers need to accept that, and make plans accordingly.

[felassan]

Electronic Arts Q1 2024 Earnings Conference Call (August 1st)

This happened today and Dragon Age was mentioned in the opening Prepared Remarks section of the call (emphasis mine):

"To do more extraordinary things for our people, players and communities, our teams are building the strongest pipeline in the history of EA to drive multi-year growth. Over the next few years, we will launch numerous experiences that grow and deepen the fandom of our legendary IP. Our multi-year targeted investments toward our biggest opportunities include global titles like blockbuster storytelling from Dragon Age, incredible skateboarding gameplay and social connection from skate, and a revival of EA SPORTS College Football that celebrates the action, culture and tradition of the sport like never before. We’re also hard at work on a new experience from The Sims that will transform what players can do with creativity, a sprawling action adventure Iron Man game, a reimagination of Battlefield as a truly connected ecosystem, and the expansion of the Apex Legends universe across platforms, geographies, and modalities of play. The most recent reveal of our Black Panther project — set in a massive, explorable universe — marks the latest chapter in EA’s collaboration with The Walt Disney Company and the Marvel Games team."

[source and full Prepared Remarks transcript]

Dragon Age was then mentioned during the Q&A section of the call (emphasis mine):

Q: "Last quarter it was noted that players were concentrating their spend on major franchises. Just wanted to see first if there was any update to that? And then, Andrew, in your commentary you highlighted a goal for Apex as an experience across platforms, I'm assuming that includes mobile as well, so can you speak to how you envision potentially relaunching that title on phones and how the approach could differ to the prior game? Thank you." A: "Yeah, so let me touch on the first part. I do think we continue to see big titles getting bigger, and live services getting bigger, and certainly as a company with a broad portfolio of large-scale IP and large-scale live services, we believe that we will be long-term beneficiaries of that trend. You know, that doesn't mean that we won't build smaller titles over the course of time. There are these incredible stories that we believe should be told in the context of entertainment. We are focusing our investment so that we can build a cost-base around those that's appropriate, but we're also really getting behind our biggest opportunities, and as we've talked about, our strategy and building these experiences that entertain massive online communities. Our expectation is that will be a large scale growth driver for us. But, you know, when thought about the right way, games like, you know, Dragon Age, and Jedi, can tell truly blockbuster stories and really break into that top category of games. I think what we see today is the mid-tier and lower games that, you know, maybe did pretty well through Covid because people had a lot of spare time - they're the part of the industry that really aren't doing and performing as well. And as we think about our future, you should expect that we'll continue to focus our investments and our energy and our resources against these big opportunities because we do believe that is where the industry is trending."

[source: call audio webcast]

There were no further mentions of Dragon Age, Mass Effect or BioWare during the call.

Here is the latest Existing Live Services & FY24 Title Slate (announced titles), from the call's supporting documents -

[source]

The next EA earnings conference call - for Q2 2024 - is on November 1st 2023 at 2pm PT.

[source]

lastly, when the full transcript of this call becomes available I'll post the link/add it to this post. ^^

Edit: Here is a transcript of the full call.

[elspethdixon]

Transcript of an email I just got at work:

“Recently [redacted] personnel attended an Amazon Web Services conference and were gifted lanyards, which, upon examination, were found to contain a low energy RF air tag embedded within the badge reel (picture attached).  Amazon has been using these lanyards for some time to track guests in their buildings and to collect data on attendees at AWS events.”

[skadi-gemini]

MLK was not a Zionist

I've seen Pro-Israel accounts spreading the lie that MLK was a Zionist when this simply isn't factual at all. Zionists continue to appropriate shit that isn't theirs. Below are snippets from a study conducted by Harvard in 2016 disproving this popular theory.

"In the Words of Martin Luther King"

"As the veneration of Martin Luther King, Jr. has deepened in America, he has been recruited posthumously to more causes. This is encouraged by his memorial in Washington. Inscribed on the pedestal of King’s statue, and on the walls of the surrounding enclosure, are quotations attributed to King. Although he spoke all of these words in specific contexts, they are assembled as though they convey eternal verities, much like the biblical passages which King himself quoted." [1]

"Both Israelis and Palestinians (and their supporters) are avid recruiters of King, presuming that something he once said more than half a century ago justifies this claim or that policy today. This appropriation is done piecemeal, perhaps because there is no comprehensive study of King’s views on the Middle East. As a result, not a few errors and omissions of fact mar most efforts to press King’s ghost into service." [2]

He supported Israel's right to exist but not the ongoing war in 1967 occurring. Digging deeper into this document shows that he was mistakenly led to sign a document without fully knowing its contents. Here is the text explaining where it began. [Keep reading]

"Did King support Israel in the 1967 war? The belief that he did rests in part upon his signing a statement by prominent Christian theologians that began to circulate on May 28, 1967, and that eventually appeared as an advertisement in the New York Times on June 4, the day before Israel went to war. At the time the statement was formulated, the Johnson administration seemed to have left Israel to face its enemies alone."

"The statement went on to “call on the United States government steadfastly to honor its commitments to the freedom of international waterways. We call on our fellow Americans of all persuasions and groupings and on the administration to support the independence, integrity, and freedom of Israel. Men of conscience all over the world bear a moral responsibility to support Israel’s right of passage through the Straits of Tiran.” "

The FBI has recorded conversations of MLK and his associates, so we have proof that he was misled. These are his own words. [Read below]

"But did the “Moral Responsibility” statement accurately reflect King’s position? King claimed in private that he never saw the text as published, and would not have signed it if he had. Tis is documented by the FBI wiretaps of Stanley Levison, one of King’s advisers, whose communist past made him a target of government surveillance. The declassified transcripts contain the verbatim record of conference calls conducted among King, Levison, and two other confidants, activist Andrew Young and legal counsel Harry Wachtel. On June 6, 1967, the day after the war began, King said this to his associates:

Did you see the ad in the New York Times Sunday [June 4]? Tis was the ad they got me to sign with [John C.] Bennett, etc. I really hadn’t seen the statement. I felt after seeing it, it was a little unbalanced and it is pro-Israel. It put us in the position almost of setting the turning-hawks on the Middle East while being doves in Vietnam and I wouldn’t have given a statement like that at all.

None of King’s advisers asked him how his name wound up on a statement he “really hadn’t seen,” but they instead looked ahead."

"Two days later, on June 8, King told his advisers he had come under growing pressure to make his own statement on the Middle East.

The statement I signed in the N.Y. Times as you know was agreed with by a lot of people in the Jewish community. But there was those in the negro community [who] have been disappointed. SNCC for one has been very critical. The problem was that the N.Y. Times played it up as a total endorsement of Israel. What they printed up wasn’t the complete text, even the introduction wasn’t the text. I can’t back up on the statement now, my problem is whether I should make another statement, or maybe I could just avoid making a statement. I don’t want to make a statement that backs up on me[;] that wouldn’t be good. Well, what do you think?

King’s confidants went back and forth, suggesting that he say as little as possible, that he urge an end to the fighting and refer to the role of the United Nations. “I don’t think you have to worry too much about losing the support of the Jewish community at this time,” advised Wachtel. “They’re very happy at this point, with their apparent victory. I think you should just stride very lightly and stress the end of violence.” So over the next days, King worked to avoid the subject and keep attention focused on Vietnam."

"It was only on June 18, when King appeared on the ABC Sunday interview program “Issues and Answers,” that he finally answered direct questions on the subject. After giving boilerplate replies about the importance of Israeli security and the need for Arab economic development, one of the interviewers cut to the quick: “Should Israel in your opinion give back the land she has taken in conflict without certain guarantees, such as security?”

King gave this answer: Well, I think these guarantees should all be worked out by the United Nations. I would hope that all of the nations, and particularly the Soviet Union and the United States, and I would say France and Great Britain, these four powers can really determine how that situation is going. I think the Israelis will have to have access to the Gulf of Aqaba. I mean the very survival of Israel may well depend on access to not only the Suez Canal, but the Gulf and the Strait of Tiran. These things are very important. But I think for the ultimate peace and security of the situation it will probably be necessary for Israel to give up this conquered territory because to hold on to it will only exacerbate the tensions and deepen the bitterness of the Arabs."

He eventually goes on to doubt Israel. Ya'll can read it all here in this document I found here. >>

Click this link to read the document

Please do your own research before believing such blatant lies by people appropriating black liberation leaders. It's so gross how they keep doing this. I found this in FIVE SECONDS with a simple Google search!

[todaysdocument]

Address of the President at William and Mary College

Collection FDR-PPF: Papers as President, President's Personal FileSeries: Speeches of President Franklin D. RooseveltFile Unit: First Carbon Files

Address of the President

at William and Mary College

Williamsburg, Virginia

October 20, 1934

Mr. President, Governor Perry, My Fellow Students of William and Mary, My Friends:

I value far beyond the sentiment conveyed by my mere acknowledgement in words the honor that you, in behalf of this historic institution, have conferred upon me today.

I will know the great tradition that the College of William and Mary has carried through the centuries. You have taught, you have inspired and you have honored the great and devoted men who were responsible in such large page for the shaping of the cause of American liberty.

President Bryan, on this occasion of your inauguration as President of this institution, I congratulate you on the opportunity of service that lies before you. In my official capacity, I can bring to you the greetings of the Nation and I think I can take it upon myself, as a son of Harvard, to extend her greetings to the oldest of along line of distinguished sisters.

The first time I (visited) cam to Williamsburg was more than twenty years ago. I shall always remember my arrival. I (arrived) landed at Jamestown from a boat and started to walk to Williamsburg. [complete document and transcription at link]

[beardedmrbean]

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday released a withering report into the hundreds of Texas law enforcement officers’ fumbled response to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting, finding “cascading failures of leadership, decision-making, tactics, policy and training.”

The long-anticipated 575-page report detailed the many failures of the May 24, 2022 response, but concluded the most significant was that officers should have immediately recognized that it was an active shooter situation and confronted the gunman, who was with victims in two adjoining classrooms.

It noted that since the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, American law enforcement officers have been trained to prioritize stopping the shooter while everything else, including officer safety, is secondary.

“These efforts must be undertaken regardless of the equipment and personnel available,” the report found.

Instead, officers wrongly treated the situation as a barricaded suspect, even as children and teachers pleaded for help with 911 operators. It took 77 minutes for officers to confront the shooter. Nineteen students and two teachers died that day and 17 others were injured in one of the country’s worst school shootings.

The federal review by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services was announced just five days after the shooting. It was led by Orange County Sheriff John Mina, the incident commander during the 2016 Pulse Nightclub massacre in Orlando. In that incident, officers waited three hours to take down the shooter who had barricaded himself with victims in a bathroom.

A Justice Department and National Policing Institute review of that Florida law enforcement response was far less critical than the Uvalde report. It found that Florida officers mostly followed best practices, although it stated the law enforcement agencies in Orlando should update their training and policies.

In the Uvalde review, the federal team reviewed more than 14,100 pieces of data and documentation, including policies, training logs, body camera footage, audio recordings, interview transcripts and photographs.

The team visited Uvalde nine times, spending 54 days there, and conducted more than 260 interviews with people from more than 30 organizations and agencies, including law enforcement officers, school staff, medical personnel, survivors and victims’ families.

The Uvalde report’s release comes two months after ProPublica, the Texas Tribune and PBS’ Frontline published an investigation into the response after gaining access to a trove of investigative materials, including more than 150 interviews with officers and dozens of body cameras.

The material showed that the children at Robb Elementary followed active shooter protocols, while many of the officers did not. It detailed how officers treated the situation as a barricaded suspect rather than an active threat even as evidence mounted quickly that children and teachers were injured and with the shooter.

ProPublica and the Tribune have also revealed that some officers were afraid to confront the gunman because he had a deadly AR-15 rifle. With the Washington Post, the news organizations found that the medical response also was flawed and that two children and a teacher were still alive when they were rescued more than an hour later, but then died.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland is expected to discuss the federal report at an 11 a.m. press conference.