Author: knjohn

Adidas Got Women Artists to Design One-of-a-Kind Sneakers for All 50 States | Adweek

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Adidas and Refinery29 get geographical in a fun project for the UltraBOOST X sneaker, getting women artists to design a “BOOST the Nation” collection, featuring one-of-kind sneakers that are being auctioned off for charity.

Refinery29 chose the artists—including Meagan Morrison, Maria “Too Fly” Castillo, Bree Poort, Lizzie Darden, Jenny Kiker, Sophia Chang, Mari Orr, Jen Mussari, Carrie Chan, Jordana Schrager and Refinery29 fashion editor Alyssa Coscarelli. The designs are inspired by state cultures, landscapes and landmarks, and range from subtle (Connecticut) to playfully outlandish (Kentucky).

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Tesla Sales Stopped in Hong Kong After Electric Car Tax Break Scrapped | Business Insider

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The Hong Kong government’s decision to scrap a tax break for electric vehicles has had a dramatic effect on sales of Tesla cars in the city, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Data analysis from The Journal has shown that zero new Tesla Model S sedans and Model X SUVs were registered with the transport department in April, after the vehicle-registration tax waiver for electrics was discontinued at the start of that month.

Following that, just five privately owned electric cars were registered in May.

The Journal reported a sales surge just before the April 1 rule change, with 2,939 Tesla vehicles registered in March and nearly 3,700 entering the department’s books for the first quarter of 2017. The end of the tax break was announced in February.

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A First: Running Shoes Made From ‘Algae Foam’ | Gear Junkie

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A bucket of pond water might not seem like a performance enhancer. But that could change this year with VIVOBAREFOOT’s latest shoe. The VIVOBAREFOOT x Bloom running shoes will be the first made entirely of algae-EVA foam. They offer an alternative to the petroleum-based foam that’s found in almost every other running shoe on the market. U.S.-based bio-material producer Bloom culls algae from freshwater sources like lakes, rivers, and ponds around the world. The brand then mixes it with EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) to make a pliable, cushiony material.

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The Petya Plague Exposes the Threat of Evil Software Updates | WIRED

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ON THE LIST of computer security advice standbys, “update your software” ranks just below with “don’t use the password ‘password.'” But as the cybersecurity research community gets to the bottom of the malware outbreak that exploded out of Ukraine to paralyze thousands of networks around the world last week—shutting down banks, companies, transportation and electric utilities—it’s become clear that software updates themselves were the carrier of that pathogen. Cybersecurity analysts warn that it’s not the only recent incident when hackers have hijacked software’s own immune system to deliver their infections. And it won’t be the last.

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Startups: Don’t Fall Into The Culture-Fit Hiring Trap | Forbes

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I once worked with a startup that wanted to hire a new VP of engineering. When I asked the CEO what he was looking for in a candidate, he said, “Someone who can play the drums.” (This CEO happened to be learning the drums at the time.) He was dead serious.

This may sound like a crazy, off-the-wall request, but it highlights a surprisingly common problem in recruiting. I work with startups all the time who say they need someone with the skills and experience to help them scale their company and take it to the next level, business-wise. But when it actually comes time to interview candidates, they’re completely – and myopically – focused on cultural issues instead.

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This Company Grew to $70 Million When the Kids Took Over for Mom and Dad | Inc.com

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In 2013, Teddy Fong was roaming the showroom of a factory in Shenzhen, China, when a stylish, modern sectional caught his eye. He asked the factory owner how much it cost to make. About $200 to $300, the owner replied. Fong was astonished. It was the kind of sofa that might sell for thousands at a Room & Board. “There are crazy margins in the sofa business,” Teddy thought.

At the time, Teddy was in the crib business–but this was enough to make him think maybe he ought to be in the sofa business, too. Teddy runs Million Dollar Baby, a $70 million children’s furniture wholesaler his parents, Daniel and Maryann Fong, started in 1990. (Since then, MDB has made six appearances on the annual Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies.) It produces six brands of cribs, at nearly every price point and style, and sells them through almost every major online retailer, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target, and at many specialty retailers. Heard of the best-selling $379 minimalist Babyletto Hudson crib? That’s MDB. Beyoncé’s $4,500 translucent acrylic Vetro crib? That’s MDB, too.

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Renting Your First Office? What You Should Know About Leasing | Business News Daily

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There’s a lot to consider when you’re leasing a commercial space for the first time. The process can be complicated, and numerous factors could impact your final decision.

“The tenant has to think through lease location versus cost, lease terms and duration … and whether or not the office space … provides options for growth or expansion of the business,” said Jeb Ory, CEO of Phone2Action.

If you think you’re ready to rent your first office, here are three important tips to follow throughout the leasing process.

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How Do the Chemicals in Sunscreen Protect Your Skin? | Live Science

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Not so long ago, people like my Aunt Muriel thought of sunburn as a necessary evil on the way to a “good base tan.” She used to slather on the baby oil while using a large reflector to bake away. Aunt Muriel’s mantra when the inevitable burn and peel appeared: Beauty has its price.

Was she ever right about that price – but it was a lot higher than any of us at the time recognized. What sun addicts didn’t know then was that we were setting our skin up for damage to its structural proteins and DNA. Hello, wrinkles, liver spots and cancers. No matter where your complexion falls on the Fitzpatrick Skin Type scale, ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun or tanning beds will damage your skin.

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Work Off Summer Flight-Delay Rage Without Leaving the Airport Gym | Bloomberg

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America’s airports are where long lines, crowds, and the TSA combine to make life miserable. But once the metal detectors, explosives-sniffers, and pat-downs are behind you, suddenly all is transformed into boutiques, bars, and restaurants.

Why not gyms, too?

The airport terminal has long been lucrative commercial real estate, thanks to a captive audience. For those who have hours to wait, there’s not much else to do except shop, drink, and eat. So two graduate business students at the University of Oregon started wondering whether an airport gym could thrive in such a setting. After researching the airport and fitness industries, Cynthia Sandall and Ty Manegold concluded that the only obstacle is mainly cost—not because air travelers consider it ridiculous. Thus, a business model was born.

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Sony to produce vinyl records again after 28-year break | CNN Money

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One of the world’s biggest record labels is going retro.

Sony Music Entertainment said this week it will begin pressing vinyl records again, ending an almost three-decade hiatus.

A dramatic increase in demand for vinyl music in recent years prompted the move, a Sony spokeswoman said. Interest is coming from younger customers who have never used records before as well as older fans, she added.

Sony whose artists include Adele, Beyoncé and Daft Punk — ended production of vinyl in 1989 after CDs cornered the market.

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