Construction
Salt Lake City Hopes to Woo Shoppers Back to Sugar House Amid Construction
2024-12-01
Tim Hall always dreamed of opening a business in Sugar House due to its unique energy. In 2004, he co-founded Game Night Games right in the neighborhood's growing business district. It seemed like the perfect place for fun to happen. As the business celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, with gold foil balloons spelling out "20", Hall's enthusiasm remained.

Challenges Faced by Sugar House Businesses

The past few years have been tough. The COVID-19 pandemic shifted business patterns, making it difficult for Hall to host gatherings and events, which were a key feature of his business. This year, construction along 2100 South and 1100 East further changed consumer habits. Many people avoided Sugar House to avoid traffic headaches.Becky Lyttle, co-owner of Tea Zaanti in Sugar House, said all the momentum her business gained since the pandemic "just stopped" during this year's construction. She used grant money to improve signage and online advertising to reach possible customers within the neighborhood.SugarHouse Barbeque Company owners also closed just up the street from Game Night Games due to construction. Their location is now being flipped into a new Chase Bank branch. Erika Wiggins, co-chairwoman of the Sugar House Chamber of Commerce, said construction was more brutal than expected and many businesses were on the edge of collapse.

Overcoming Obstacles

This year was a pivotal time for Sugar House businesses. Many overcame the pandemic and a massive fire in 2022. Plans for road and utility improvements through a 2018 bond were pushed back due to pandemic constraints. With required deadlines, some projects bunched up in 2024, causing major travel headaches and losing customers.The city distributed over $1.9 million in grants and low-interest loans to local businesses to help them through challenges. Tea Zaanti was one of the businesses that applied for aid.

Hope on the Horizon

Crews are still working in the area. Some lane shifts will be in place until Monday, and most of the work east of 900 East will resume in January. The Utah Transit Authority's Route 220 bus detour will end on Dec. 8.December is crucial for Sugar House businesses as the Sugar House Savings Pass was created to draw people in. Some local businesses are hopeful for what's in store beyond 2025. Preliminary data from Highland Drive shows people are returning post-construction.Becky Lyttle said, "What's keeping us going is we made it through this year and that's made us hopeful... that it can't go backward. I'm hopeful the neighborhood will be more inviting for people to explore and wander through."Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall has been promoting small businesses across the city, especially in Sugar House. Small businesses account for about 95% of all businesses in Salt Lake City and employ about 60,000 people. About 60% of money spent on small businesses remains in the local economy. They are the backbone of the economy.
The Death Clock App Predicts Your Death Date and Habit Tips
2024-12-01
Have you ever wondered about the date of your own demise? A new app called Death Clock has emerged, claiming to predict that very thing and offer tips on extending that date. In 2006, TechCrunch reported on an iPod Death Clock app, but now, with an AI trained on over 1,200 life expectancy studies, developer Brett Franson claims a significant improvement over standard life tables. I couldn't resist giving it a try myself.

Unveiling the Process

The questionnaire of the Death Clock app begins with fundamental details such as age, gender, and ethnicity. It goes further by including more in-depth questions about family history, mental health, and chronic conditions. This comprehensive approach provides a more accurate prediction. After answering these questions, it predicted that I will die on February 28, 2074, at the age of 90. However, with better habits, I might live up to 103. It's a sobering thought.

For an annual subscription fee of $40, not only does the Death Clock app suggest ways to improve our habits but also shows a clock counting down to our estimated death. This feature has both online sharing potential and practical implications.

As financial planner Ryan Zabrowski pointed out to Bloomberg, "A huge concern for elderly people and retirees is outliving their money." Accurate mortality estimates can be a valuable tool in helping them manage their finances better.

The Impact on Habits

By analyzing our responses and suggesting improvements, the Death Clock app aims to help us make positive changes to our lifestyles. It might encourage us to exercise more, eat healthier, manage stress better, or seek medical attention for existing conditions. These small changes could potentially add years to our lives.

For example, if we notice a family history of a certain disease, the app can prompt us to take preventive measures. It can also provide resources and support to help us make these changes stick.

Moreover, sharing our estimated death date online can create a sense of accountability and motivation. It might inspire us to live our lives to the fullest and make the most of the time we have.

The Ethical Considerations

While the Death Clock app offers interesting insights and potential benefits, it also raises ethical questions. Some may argue that knowing our estimated death date could lead to anxiety or depression. Others might worry about the potential for discrimination based on these predictions.

It's important to approach the app with a balanced perspective. While it can provide valuable information, it should not be the sole determinant of our lives. We still have the power to make choices and take actions that can influence our health and well-being.

Furthermore, the app's accuracy depends on the quality and completeness of the data it uses. There are many factors that can affect life expectancy, and a single prediction may not be definitive.

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"ANDAM: История премии для молодых дизайнеров"
2024-12-01
ПРЕМИЯ ANDAM - это важное событие в мире моды. Она была учреждена в 1989 году Натали Дюфур (Nathalie Dufour) в рамках совместного проекта Министерства культуры Франции (Ministère de la Culture) и организации Defi Mode. Премия ориентирована на поддержку молодых дизайнеров и новых брендов, и многие из победителей смогли впоследствии дебютировать в Неделе моды в Париже.

История начала

Первоначально награды вручались только европейцам, живущим во Франции. Среди первых победителей были такие дизайнеры как Мартин Маржела (Martin Margiela в 1989 году), Виктор Хорстинг и Рольф Снёрен (Viktor Horsting, Rolf Snoeren в 1994 году), Кристоф Лемэр (Christophe Lemaire в 1995 году), Джереми Скотт (Jeremy Scott в 1998 году), Лутц Хуэлле (Lutz Huelle в 2000 году), Анн-Валери Хэш (Anne-Valérie Hash в 2003 году). Эти дизайнеры успешно построили свою карьеру в модной индустрии.

Развитие премии

В 2005 году ANDAM стала принимать заявки от иностранных кандидатов, не проживающих в Франции. Среди победителей этого периода были Бернхард Вильгельм (Германия), Фелипе Оливейра Баптиста (Португалия), Кэти Пилл (Бельгия) в 2005 году, Йенс Лаугесен (Британия), Кристиан Вийнантс (Бельгия) в 2006 году и Бруно Питерс (Бельгия) в 2007 году.

Интернационализация

В 2008 году ANDAM учреждила единую международную награду в 150 000 евро, первым лауреатом которой стал Гарет Пью (Gareth Pugh). В 2009-м была введена награда Young Fashion Designer Award, и ее получил Лигия Диас (Ligia Diaz).

Разнообразие премий

В 2011-м появился приз за первую коллекцию (60 000 евро) для французского дизайнера Икин Инь (Yiqing Yin). В том же году главный приз (200 000 евро) получил Энтони Ваккарелло (Anthony Vaccarello), и эти средства позволили ему создать свою французскую компанию. Среди других известных победителей премии были Ирис Ван Херпен (Iris Van Herpen в 2014 году), Себастьен Мейер (Sébastien Meyer в 2014 году), Y/Project в 2017 году, Людовик де Сен-Сернен (Ludovic de Saint Sernin в 2018 году).

Повышение призового фонда

В 2018 году ANDAM вручала Гран-при, призы креативному бренду, за аксессуары и за инновации для дизайнеров, предпринимателей или стартапов, желающих развивать проект во Франции - на общую сумму 430 000 евро. В 2022 году ANDAM снова увеличила призовой фонд - до 600 тыс. евро, что стало максимальной суммой с момента учреждения премии. Помимо первой денежной премии в 300 тысяч евро, участники конкурса могли получить стипендию имени Пьера Берже (100 тысяч евро), приз за модные аксессуары (50 тысяч евро), приз за инновации (50 тысяч евро) и другие награды. Уровень поддержки проекта растет за счет привлечения крупных компаний-спонсоров, таких как Kering, LVMH, Google, Instagram*.

Последние победители

В 2023 году победителем премии стал итальянский бренд Sqim, первая биотехнологическая компания, которая создала из мцелия инновационный материал Ephea, альтернативу коже животного происхождения, в промышленном масштабе и без использования вредных для природы химических веществ. В 2024-м - австралийский дизайнер ливанского происхождения Кристофер Эсбер (Christopher Esber).*Instagram принадлежит Meta Platforms Inc., признанной экстремистской организацией, деятельность которой запрещена на территории РФ.
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