Jun 13

Ikea Plans To Sell Furniture Through Third Parties Like Amazon

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Ikea plans to test selling its products on websites other than its own, the head of brand and strategy owner Inter Ikea Group said on Wednesday, as the world’s biggest home furnishing retailer targets more online customers.

The move means Ikea customers may soon be able to buy its flat-pack furniture and other home furnishings through the likes of Amazon, which has said it plans to venture into furniture, or Chinese rival Alibaba.

Inter Ikea Group Chief Executive Torbjorn Loof said in an interview the plan is to start testing in 2018.

“On digital platforms, we only sell our products through our own website, and there we also see that the competitive landscape is changing,” Loof said.

Loof would not be drawn on which companies he had in mind to sell through and said no contracts have yet been signed.

“I leave unsaid on which [platforms], but we will test and pilot, to see ‘what does this mean, what does digital shopping look like in future and what do digital shopping centers mean?’,” he said.

Ikea, known for its warehouse-like stores, has recently restructured to give its retail arm more freedom. The Swedish firm has never sold its goods through another company and is also trying new smaller store formats and stepping up integration of stores and online to adapt to new ways of shopping.

In the fiscal year through August 2016, online sales at Ikea Group, which owns most Ikea stores worldwide, jumped 30 percent to $1.6 billion, a small fraction of total sales which were up 7 percent to $38.3 billion dollars.

The web of companies that make up Ikea have in the past couple of years focused ownership of retail operations, which also include shopping centers and food retail, on Ikea Group, the main franchisee to Inter Ikea Group.

Supply chain management and design has transferred to brand owner and franchisor Inter Ikea Group.

Hopes are that with Ikea Group focusing fully on retail, it will be better placed to defend its market-leading position and maintain growth as competition and consumer expectations evolve.

“There is a rapid change in the market where much of what we have learned and what we know of is changing radically,” Loof said, adding that he expects Ikea to keep its leading position.

“We have one great advantage and that is that we design, produce and distribute our own unique range.”

(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)

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Jun 13

5 Father’s Day Tech Gifts To Boost Your Dad’s Favorite Activities

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Dads are awesome. Dads deserve celebrating. But dads can be hard to shop for when it comes to Father’s Day! You want to gift the important dads in your life items that show your appreciation for all they’ve done over the years, but you also want your gift to be something they’ll get excited to use on a daily basis. You can do both! Here’s how: think about the activities your dad already loves doing, whether he’s happiest on a hike, cooking up a great meal, or tackling home improvement projects. Then choose a gift that can enhance his favorite pastimes.

Tech accessories are just the ticket! That’s why we’ve partnered with Verizon to match the right tech-cessory with dad’s favorite activities to make them even more convenient and enjoyable. Even better, these accessories are featured in great Father’s Day promotions running at Verizon. Get ready to score yourself the title of Dad’s favorite gifter this year!

1. For Sporty Dads: A Wearable Fitness Tracker

If your dad is happiest while hiking up a mountain, lining up for a hole in one, or hitting the gym, consider a wearable fitness tracker. The Fitbit Charge 2 is a surefire way to boost your dad’s game. With auto-exercise recognition and multi-sport tracking, the Charge 2 gives dads the gift of personalized feedback and real-time fitness stats.  PurePulse™ technology ensures continuous, automatic heart-rate tracking, going beyond a basic heart rate monitor by providing heart rate zones to gauge different levels of workouts and monitor resting heart rates. And if your dad needs a reminder to slow down once in awhile, the Pulse 2 has him covered with guided breathing sessions and sleep pattern tracking.

2. For Grillmaster Dads: A Durable and Portable Speaker

Give your dad a gift that lets him bring his favorite tunes to the grill station to ensure that every backyard BBQ is paired with the perfect soundtrack. The UE BOOM 2 delivers 360-degree high quality sound in a lightweight and waterproof design, making it ideal for outdoor entertaining. With a 15-hour rechargeable battery and 100-foot connection range, Dad can trust that this rugged speaker will never let the music fade away during those long summer nights. And he can DJ a block party by allowing up to three friends or family members to connect to the same BOOM 2 to create a fun summer playlist. Who wants to grill and chill?

3. For Home Improvement Happy Dads: A Smart Home Assistant

For dads who love home improvement projects, Google Home is a great gift. Any time dad needs help figuring out a detail while in the midst of a project, a simple voice command can pull up helpful answers from Google. Dad can also catch up with the latest sports and weather updates while he tinkers, or turn up his favorite tunes for the perfect DIY soundtrack! With far-field voice recognition and HiFi sound quality that can differentiate between voices, Google Home is sure to hear Dad even if he’s up on a ladder or under the sink.

4. For Travel Happy Dads: A Portable Powerstation

Gift dads who are frequent fliers the power of always being connected—without the bulk that usually comes with carrying multiple cords and chargers around. The mophie powerstation 10000 USB-C charges the latest type C smartphones and tablets at maximum speeds, adding up to 48 hours in battery life. The best part about this powerstation is its portability: mophie fits neatly into the palm of your hand or a pocket. Dads are sure to be impressed with mophie’s small but mighty stature and sleek aluminum finish.

5. For Garage Happy Dads: A Speaker To Amp Up His Workbench

You may not know what Dad is actually doing out there in the garage, but you know it’s his happy place. This year, gift him a rugged and portable wireless speaker for his workbench. The Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker II wirelessly connects up to two devices at a time, and the voice prompt connection allows dad to keep his hands under the hood while he queues up his favorite songs. Featuring a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, the small but mighty SoundLink can play up to 8 hours of uninterrupted music, for even the most thorough of fixer upper sessions in Dad’s beloved garage.

This Father’s Day, show your appreciation for the important dads in your life by gifting them the best accessories to enhance all their favorite activities. Learn more about how Verizon upgrades everyday living with tech accessories that make staying connected, entertained, and informed easier than ever!

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Jun 13

Theater Won't Apologize For 'Julius Caesar.' Hypocrisy Of Ire Proves It Shouldn't

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William Shakespeare is, unexpectedly, at the center of a bizarre political controversy this week, after a newly staged production of “Julius Caesar” angered conservative media with its conspicuously Trump-like interpretation of the Roman ruler. 

But a little digging by intrepid journalists has laid bare the hypocrisy of such ire: Not only has Delta previously sponsored a version of “Julius Caesar” in which an Obama-esque character suffers the same fate as the current Trumped-up Caesar, but President Donald Trump himself has reportedly donated to the storied company behind the production.

On Monday, a Washington Post reporter discovered that his his very first donation from the Trump Foundation fund went toward none other than The Public Theater.

Oskar Eustis’ interpretation of the 1599 play “Julius Caesar,” now running as part of New York’s iconic Shakespeare in the Park festival, stars actor Gregg Henry as Julius Caesar, donning a flaming blonde coif and a dangling red tie to boot. Some people are angry about the depiction because, in the play’s most iconic scene, Caesar’s senators brutally stab him to death. The visceral power of seeing a Trump-like figure on stage, covered in blood, has led incensed critics on the right to ignore the play’s 400 year history as well as its message ― which, for those who slept through 11th grade English, is basically don’t kill your local despotic ruler. 

The play made headlines earlier this week when corporate backers Delta Airlines and Bank of America pulled their sponsorship of the production following a surge of backlash, topped off with a tweet from Donald Trump Jr. Delta released a statement condemning the “graphic” nature of the production, which they said “crossed the line on the standards of good taste.”

Except Delta didn’t seem to have the same hostility toward a 2012 staging of “Julius Caesar” which starred a Caesar with a curious likeness to then President Barack Obama. As reported by The Washington Post, Delta was happy to back the collaboration between the Acting Company and the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Spoiler: It did not feature an alternate ending. Caesar still died. 

Previous stagings of the play have featured other American leaders in the lead role, including George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Abraham Lincoln. Somehow, these interpretations received little concern or pushback. 

Artists have spoken out against the threat of censorship looming over the “Julius Caesar” conversation, advocating for the importance of free speech and political theater. The Public Theater, meanwhile, issued a statement that suggests it won’t be apologizing for its play anytime soon: “We stand completely behind our production.”

Even President Donald Trump himself, at some point, might have agreed. As Washington Post reporter David Fahrenthold tweeted on Monday, Trump’s very first donation from his Trump Foundation fund reportedly went toward none other than The Public Theater in 1987.

As the debate over “Julius Caesar” rages on, confused parties can look to the past for guidance and context. Try, for example, looking back on your old “Julius Caesar” notes from high school, which will no doubt reveal that the play does not in any way advocate for violence, but in fact actively warns against it. Or glance over the history of the play itself, which has featured the stabbing of the previous three U.S. presidents with little fanfare or outrage.

Or, consider the history of Delta’s own support for similar works ― and President Trump’s. 

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Welcome to Battleground, where art and activism meet.

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Jun 13

The Most Fetch Reactions To Lindsay Lohan's Short Red Hair

Posted in: Today's Chili

Lindsay Lohan is back ― and she brought an epic lob hairdo with her. 

We all let out a collective “grool!” upon hearing the news that Lohan will appear alongside Rupert Grint and Nick Frost in the second season of the British comedy “Sick Note.”

But while excitement over her return to acting is palpable, it’s Lohan’s updated look that’s giving everyone feelings ― even people who don’t even go to this school. She posted an Instagram photo from the set showing off a sharp asymmetrical red lob. 

It’s not yet clear if Lohan’s hairstyle is just a wig for the show ― one day prior she posted a photo with longer locks ― but that didn’t stop the internet from blessing us with its best, most fetch reactions. 

From “X-Files” comparisons to some LOL-worthy commentary, check our favorites below. 

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Jun 13

Behold, Nicole Kidman Transfixed By A Pie

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Celebrity photographs are a key component of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, so here is one of Nicole Kidman hypnotized by the luckiest pie in the world. 

Kidman’s finger hovered over that dessert at the after-party for Monday’s Los Angeles premiere of “The Beguiled,” where she is seen surrounded by co-star Elle Fanning, chef Casey Thompson, director Sofia Coppola and co-star Kirsten Dunst. The women in Coppola’s new movie do serve pie to the wounded Civil War soldier (Colin Farrell) they take in at their isolated Louisiana boarding school.

Oscar winners, they’re just like us. The actress touch this confection with abandon, and for that we salute her. It is, after all, the Year of Kidman. 

You might say the “Beguiled” premiere was to pie for. 

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Jun 13

'How Many Reds Does It Take To Catch A Pop Fly?'

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Oops.

Five Cincinnati Reds players gathered under an easy infield fly during their game Monday against the host San Diego Padres.

No one bothered to catch the ball.

Sure, pitcher Bronson Arroyo did some authoritative pointing at the white orb in the sky.

But all for naught.

One broadcaster on Fox Sports saw the gaffe as the beginning of a joke, saying, “How many Reds does it take to catch a pop fly?”

The Reds lost, 9–3. Like the outcome could have been anything else on a night this happened: 

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Jun 13

Skittish Bear Crashes Colorado Footrace, Giving Runners A Jolt

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A bear put some extra spring in runners’ steps after entering a 10-mile race in Colorado on Sunday, to the surprise of its contestants.

The black bear was trying to cross a road in Garden of the Gods, a park near Colorado Springs, when it came face-to-face with the participants.

Photos taken by participant Donald Sanborn show the bear carefully edging out alongside the road, before bolting across. Two male runners approaching a few yards away are seen physically recoiling as the bear hurries to the other side.

”I was actually thinking, would you hurry up and cross the road? I want to get on with my race,” Sanborn told CBS 4 News.

According to the Denver-based news station, the bear took off and wasn’t seen on the course again.

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Jun 13

5 Things To Say In Awkward Situations Instead Of "I'm Sorry"

Posted in: Today's Chili

How many times do you find yourself apologizing throughout the day? Do you say “I’m sorry” when it takes you a few hours to respond to an e-mail? When you start to speak at the same time as someone else? When someone else bumps into you?

You might not even realize when you are doing it. I only realized how frequently I was apologizing after I literally kept a tally for each time I said it in the course of one day. I found, much to my horror, that there were sorrys everywhere. My world-record number: fifty-three. Yes, I said “I’m sorry” fifty-three freaking times. In a day. I was shocked and embarrassed by the number, but the silver lining was that I became aware of my excessive apologizing right then and there—and you better believe I did something about it. I encourage you to count sorrys for yourself, because only once you are mindful of how much you are saying it can you finally stop apologizing for things that aren’t deserving of an apology.

I’m sure you’re not surprised to learn that studies have shown women are more likely to say “I’m sorry” than men. The interesting thing about those studies are that men don’t have a problem apologizing, they just have a higher threshold for the stuff they deem worthy of an apology. Bumping into someone coming out of the elevator or not returning a call right away doesn’t make their sorry benchmark. But for many of us ladies, it does.

So why do we as women say we are sorry so much? Part of it might be out of habit. Part of it might be a desire to seem more likable or express empathy. Some women I speak to tell me that it’s about not looking overly aggressive or not wanting to assert too much authority. I get it: It’s nerve-racking to interrupt your boss or badger someone for something that hasn’t been done. But are you sorry for it? Whatever the core reason, it makes us look like we lack self-confidence. Let’s vow to apologize only when we actually do something wrong.

Aside from interrupting a superior, here are other times we tend to say sorry in the workplace—with a possible alternative to say instead:

1. Being late for a meeting

What you might be inclined to say: “I’m so sorry, I had XYZ to do.”

What you should say instead: “Thank you so much for your patience. I know your time is valuable, so let’s dive in.”

2. Asking a question

What you might be inclined to say: “I’m sorry, can I ask a question?”

What you should say instead: “Here’s my question.”

3. Not liking something

What you might be inclined to say: “I’m sorry, I just didn’t think it was that good.”

What you should say instead: “I personally didn’t care for it, but here’s an idea to improve upon it.”

4. Grabbing something or getting by someone

What you might be inclined to say: “I’m sorry, I’m just going to reach by you to get that. I’m sorry, I’m just going to scooch around you.”

What you should say instead: “Do you mind handing that to me?” or a simple: “Pardon me!”

5. If someone asks you a question to clarify something you said

What you might be inclined to say: “I’m sorry for the confusion. What I meant to say was XYZ.”

What you should say instead: “Let me clarify what I was saying about XYZ.”

Nailing workplace communication isn’t an overnight thing, especially if you’re conditioned to be timid. There’s no shame in writing out phrases like this in advance before you walk into an important meeting or difficult conversation. Or practice with a friend. Chances are, she’ll need the help, too.

This is an adapted excerpt from Boss Bitch, by Nicole Lapin, published by Crown Business. Lapin is also the author of best-selling Rich Bitch and the star of the nationally-syndicated business competition reality show Hatched.

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Jun 13

Drone Shows Great White Sharks Circling California Kayaker In Monterey Bay

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The above video shows great white sharks lurking near a kayaker in California’s Monterey Bay. The animals filmed in the aerial footage last week were swimming close to where a shark attacked a kayak in late May.

But while the fish may seem frighteningly large, they’re just curious “baby great white sharks,” according to the kayaker, Giancarlo Thomae, a marine biologist and boat captain who also introduces the video. This proves that the “greatly misunderstood animals are not the man-eating monsters that they’re made out to be,” Thomae said.

Some 20 of the young sharks — ranging in size from 6 to 12 feet — have been hanging out for about three months close to shore in the bay, midway along the California coast, he said.

“These are juvenile sharks that feed on small fish, not marine mammals,” Thomae told The San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday. “They are not aggressive. They swim off to the deep waters offshore to feed, then come into the warmer shallows in the afternoon to rest.”

However, he did caution that people kayaking in the bay should stay away from sea lions where older, more dangerous sharks feed.

Great white sharks appear to be hanging out along the California coast longer than normal. Some experts believe that’s because of warming water temperatures. “This is the new reality,” Christopher G. Lowe, director of the Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab, told The Mercury News Monday. “People are going to have to learn to share the waves.”

Many of the sharks never left the California coast over the winter to head south because the water never got cold enough to drive them away, experts said. Observers believe their numbers have increased in the area.

The Coast Guard issued a bullhorn warning to paddle boarders last month to calmly but immediately leave the water after officials spotted 15 of the big fish nearby. The creatures were close to the surf line near San Onofre State Beach along the Orange County coast, south of Los Angeles.

Video published this month shows a 14-foot-long great white shark struggling in three feet of water off the coast of Baja California in Mexico. The footage captured in May shows the animal had a large wound behind its dorsal fin likely caused by a propeller. 

Here’s the video of that shark. Warning: The language is explicit.

Earlier incidents this year include in late April, when great white sharks attacked a mother of three while she was wading at San Onofre Beach. Beachgoers applied a surf leash as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding from a massive thigh wound.

In March, a great white shark knocked kayaker Brian Correiar into the water, repeatedly attacking his kayak. The shark was close to the same size as the 14-foot kayak. Correiar managed to swim away and was not injured in the attack.

“Bite marks show that it had the whole girth of the boat in its mouth,” Correiar wrote in a blog post about the encounter. 

But experts say shark attacks are still rare ― and you’re more likely to die from falling into a hole in the sand.

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Jun 13

Twitter Schools Tomi Lahren After She Calls LGBTQ March 'Crybaby Fest Of Bulls**t'

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Tomi Lahren gave her haters another reason to hate her this week.

The rightwing political commentator took to social media on Sunday to slam The Resist March, which replaced this year’s Los Angeles Pride Parade on June 11 in response to forces “gathering in government that intend to take away our hard-won basic human rights.”

In a video posted to Facebook, Lahren offered her trademark “final thoughts” on The Resist March, calling it a “crock of crap” and railing against participants who she claims turned “what has been a celebratory parade into a crybaby fest of bullshit.”

”Your rights are not threatened — are you kidding me?” Lahren incredulously asked. “In fact it’s President Trump and the Republicans who battle big government to protect your rights, to protect all of our rights.”

She added, “We get it — you’re gay and guess what, we don’t care. President Trump doesn’t care. In fact, President Trump, unlike President Obama, stood up for your rights day one. Obama had to evolve, remember that? Or were you too busy waving your rainbows and screaming your profanities about our President?”

But, as many have pointed out in the last year, Trump and his administration have hardly been allies to the LGBTQ community. From rolling back protections for trans students to neglecting to offer an official White House proclamation for Pride Month ― something President Obama did every June during his presidency ― Trump and his cabinet have yet to prove that they are truly “standing up” for queer rights.

Predictably, Twitter users weren’t too pleased with Lahren’s interpretation of the event and were ready to call her out:

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