Latest news with #Blau
Boston Globe
23-05-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Judith Hope Blau, who turned bagels into art, dies at 87
In the early 1970s, every Thursday was B-Day for the Blaus, a family of four living in Westchester County. That was the day Ms. Blau and a friend with a station wagon picked up 1,000 or so bagels from a bakery in nearby New Rochelle. Back home, the haul was tipped into a bathtub to dry out. Bagels, described by The New York Times in 1960 as 'an unsweetened doughnut with rigor mortis,' turn stale after a single day -- and they made a fine, firm canvas for Ms. Blau. She helped the process along by stirring them with her hand, so the ones on the bottom of the tub wouldn't get moldy. 'Fluffing,' she called it. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Once they were dried, Ms. Blau painted the bagels with smiling faces -- she never painted a cranky bagel, the Times noted -- helped by her daughter, who brushed in the whites of the eyes. Ricky, her son, pitched in by fishing out the rejects -- the mangled or lumpy ones -- and eating them. Her husband, Lawrence Blau, who was a nuclear physicist, kept the books. Advertisement Once painted, the bagels were shellacked, tagged -- 'Don't Eat Me' -- and spread throughout the house to dry again. Lawrence Blau once caught a bagel drying on the bathroom floor with his big toe and fell into an empty shower. Advertisement 'There we were, living in a bagel factory in Eastchester,' Judith Hope Blau told a reporter in 1979. 'My children, Laurie and Ricky, my physicist husband and I, once a serious painter, were totally preoccupied with preserving, painting, packing and selling hundreds of smiling bagel products.' Running a bagel factory had not been among Ms. Blau's career plans. When her children were small, however, she had made them bagel puppets and bagel necklaces. She was inspired by her grandfather, Isidore Korodsky, a Russian-born Bronx bagel baker known as Grandpa Izzy, who liked to entertain children by talking to his bagels and painting faces on them with chalk. After Ms. Blau's daughter brought one of her bagel necklaces to school, where it was a hit, Ms. Blau's husband dared his wife to show a bag of them to a Bloomingdale's buyer. To her dismay, the store ordered 100. Thousands of bagel necklaces were sold in the first few months. They were so popular that knockoffs appeared. Newspapers called Ms. Blau the Bagel Lady. NBC came to film the Blaus' bathtub. Eventually, the family business overwhelmed the family -- and the house -- and Ms. Blau outsourced her bagel work to several companies. The McGraw Hill publishing company learned of her doings and asked her to write a children's book. 'The Bagel Baker of Mulliner Lane,' featuring Grandpa Izzy, was published in 1976. Ms. Blau designed socks printed with bagel characters, as well as bagel bedding for Fieldcrest. She made plush bagel toys called Elephantagel and Pigagel. Advertisement A local newspaper declared that 'Bagelmania was contagious and incurable.' Judith Hope Ravinett was born in the Bronx on April 5, 1938, the oldest of four children of Evalynne (Korodsky) Ravinett, who operated a string of laundromats, and Samuel Ravinett, a dentist. She had been born with clubfoot, and when she was 7, she had surgery to correct the condition, after which she was confined to bed for a year. Then she contracted rheumatic fever and spent another year in bed. To entertain herself, she used crayons to draw on her bedroom walls. She filled shoe-box lids with soil, landscaping them with tiny plants and toothpick buildings. She made up plays and created puppets to act them out. She made yarn dolls and paper-doll clothes. Her mother brought her bed into their side yard, and Judith drew pictures of the oak trees above her. In the afternoons, when the weather was warm, her mother moved her bed to the sidewalk in front of the house, and Judith sold her creations for a nickel each. 'Just because you can't leave your bed does not mean your bed can't leave the house,' she recalled her mother telling her. She went on to study fine art at Cornell University, Hunter College, the University of Rochester and Columbia University. By then, she was dating Lawrence Blau, and they married in 1959. Her first job, pre-bagelmania, was as an animator at Terrytoons, the venerable cartoon studio in New Rochelle best known for Mighty Mouse. She had begun to paint, exhibiting her work in local galleries; in the early 1970s, she also began making hand-painted jeans and caftans that she sold in boutiques. In addition to her daughter, Ms. Blau is survived by her son, Richard; three siblings, Barbara Weingarten, Lawrence Ravinett and Ted Ravinett; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Lawrence Blau died in 2015. Advertisement Ms. Blau's bagel empire was so successful that toymakers came calling, asking her to branch out. She designed Sweetie Pops, which were dolls that preschoolers could dress themselves, with arms and legs that snapped on and off. Hasbro sold 1 million of them in 1985. Hasbro also produced Blau's Baby All Gone (she came with plastic food and utensils to feed her) and Baby Check-Up (she came with a stethoscope and other medical accouterments); more than 10 million of both dolls combined were sold worldwide. Among Ms. Blau's many other creations were playthings that mimicked her childhood creations: Bedside Buddies were knapsacks shaped like animals that could be tucked between a mattress and box spring to hold other toys to play with in bed. She also designed sheets printed with prosceniums and various characters drawn from three storylines -- 'twin bears,' 'ballerinas' and 'icky sticky monsters' -- that also had hand puppets stitched into the hems. An ardent environmentalist, Ms. Blau created an educational program to teach children about nature; it involved characters she called Treetures, who dispensed knowledge about trees. And she was the author of a number of books for young children, including 'Hello! Good-Bye!,' in which a puppy learns an existential truth: Hellos, good-byes Good-byes, hellos. Everybody comes, Everybody goes. This article originally appeared in
Qatar Tribune
21-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Real estate future lies in adapting to AI, data centre sustainability
QNA DOHA Participants in the Qatar Economic Forum 2025, powered by Bloomberg, discussed the future of the real estate sector amid global economic shifts, technological advancements, and changing patterns of investment and residential demand. During a panel discussion titled 'Global Real Estate Horizons: Navigating Growth and Demand,' participants emphasized that real estate will remain a key pillar of global investment. However, its success will depend on investors' ability to adapt to transformations and shift flexibly toward emerging sectors such as healthcare, data centers, and sustainable energy. In this context, CEO of Related Companies Jeff T. Blau said that venture capital is still available but needs to be allocated more selectively. He noted that cross-border investments dropped by 57 percent in Q1 2025, reflecting global caution. However, he also pointed to signs of clear recovery in major markets. Blau added that in the US alone, real estate transactions reached USD 93 billion in Q1 2025, a 37 percent increase compared to the same period last year. In Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), the figure reached USD 55 billion, a 41 percent increase. In Asia, it stood at USD 36 billion, up by 20 percent. He said that investing in data centers and modern office spaces has become a priority driven by the rise of artificial intelligence, but warned that this opportunity is time-sensitive and must be seized wisely. For his part, CapitaLand Investment Group CEO Chee Koon Lee said that regional integration among Arabian Gulf countries is a key attraction, noting that tourists often travel between Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai as a single destination. Lee also stressed that the real estate environment in the Gulf, especially in terms of safety, quality of education, and infrastructure, constitutes a long-term draw. He added that Gulf nations possess advanced digital infrastructure.
Chicago Tribune
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Introducing the many, harmonious members of Family Junket
'There's so much reason, and even desperation at times, for why we're here and why we gather,' said Emma Blau, one-twelfth of the jazz, soul, and R&B collective Family Junket. The mega group (comprised of band members Blau, Hasani Cannon, Rahila Coats, Scott Daniel, Carmani Edwards, Willfred Farquharson, Alejandro Gallardo, Aliyah Jones, Max Lazarus, Jonah Lazarus, Zach Lazarus and Clarence Young) should probably be a little bit more amorphous. But the group's distinct point of view and commitment to each other make their extra-large experiment both unique and successful. The fruits of their labor can be heard on their debut EP 'Did you tell the bees?' out May 9. On May 10, the group will play a release show at Constellation. During our conversation on an unseasonably warm recent Sunday, Family Junket mentioned inspirational touchstones like Sly and the Family Stone, Sault and Stevie Wonder. They also take inspiration from each other. 'In many musical spaces, where you have to make a lot of adjustments with your character, your personality, even your values, sometimes it's very painful,' added Blau. 'So the fact that I have been able to be a part of this family, this mishpacha, has been almost one of the easiest things. It's seamless.' Max Lazarus and Coats cited an Adrienne Maree Brown quote, 'We move at the speed of trust,' as a foundation for the group. 'I do feel like in that process, when we feel something that is good collectively, we're usually on one accord about it,' said Edwards. 'Yeah, yeah,' Daniel added. 'Ideas that I'm maybe not 100% on, I've learned to trust that if other people in the room are really stoked, then that energy will kind of carry and that's fertile enough ground for the idea to grow.' That trust in each other helps fuel a trust within themselves individually. Music is their passion, but the members all lead different lives outside of the group, from jobs in academia to engineering to farming and teaching. But when it comes to the band, it is their choice to lean into each other's instincts (as well as their lack of egos) that has led to a collection of sonic triumphs. This is music as it should be made and creativity in its purest, brightest form. Many of the tracks from 'Did you tell the bees?' were created over the course of more than two years. During that time, band member and mixing engineer Max Lazarus encouraged the others to keep playing. New members joined the group, allowing more room for growth and development with older songs. The eight-song collection is a rich project rooted in the heart of the late '90s and early 2000s neo-soul movement, but it is not a cheap retread. Songs brush against other moments in time as well, like the early murmurings of the psychedelic soul of the late '60s or the funk-laden R&B of the mid-to-late '70s. I immediately thought of Rotary Connection, one of the most underrated Chicago-born groups from that time — not only because of their multicultural past, but also because of their openness to experiment and challenge notions of what they should be making as a group. 'It's really important that we capture the energy in the room and all of the things that we're talking about, like the love that we share for each other and the comfort, but also the rage and the anger,' said Max. 'Life is full of so (many) rich experiences.' They are not focused on the past. Lyrics touch on the lived realities of today, both the strife and the joy. Vocalist Coats said 'Time is What I Need' was written in the emotional aftermath of 2020 activism and examines feelings of grief, sorrow, and rage as the world moves through such moments without time to pause. 'What do I do if I know the system is broken? What am I going to do about it?' Coats asked. 'We were all grasping for time and a moment to just breathe, but the train keeps chugging along. That is exhausting, and it's going to leave people behind.' It is the sort of music that lulls you in, then wallops you over the head with its profound truths. Yet, not all of their music is so heavy. One track, 'Buzz,' is about the experience of flying on a malfunctioning bee. 'It reminds me of funk music like Parliament in the ways that they can tap into the deep belly of pain, but then pull it up with joy and color,' said Coats. Some music fans in Chicago have heard their music at live performances at spaces like the jazz-forward cocktail club Lemon, but this will be a first time for songs off of an album. 'A lot of the music feels so close to home and feels connected to our histories,' Coats said. 'It will feel really special to have people listen to it.' Britt Julious is a freelance critic.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) Faces Leadership Challenge Despite $100 Billion U.S. Investment
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) stands against other AI news and ratings making waves on Wall Street. According to a Fortune Business Insights report, the global data center market, valued at $242.72 billion in 2024, is expected to grow to $585 billion by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate of 11.7%. North America led the market in 2024, holding a nearly 39% share. According to the report, generative AI is significantly impacting the sector, as its deep learning models require substantial computing power, scalable storage, and high-performance infrastructure. The market is also shifting towards hybrid and multi-cloud strategies, enabling organizations to integrate public, private, and on-premise solutions efficiently. Additionally, modular data centers are gaining traction due to their cost-effectiveness, scalability, and faster deployment compared to traditional facilities, the report stated. The expansion of AI infrastructure through large-scale data center investments reflects the growing need for computational power. Companies are securing energy sources and developing specialized facilities to address scalability, sustainability, and efficiency challenges. For example, Related Companies is advancing into AI-driven data center development through its new division, Related Digital, using its expertise in renewable energy to meet rising demand from major tech firms. In an interview at CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street,' CEO Jeff Blau highlighted the company's strategic move to assemble a specialized team to lead these projects. To support the growth, Related has secured sites with over five gigawatts of power across the U.S., investing $500 million of its own capital while planning to raise an additional $8 billion. With firms like Microsoft and Alphabet significantly increasing their capital expenditures, demand from hyperscalers remains strong. To mitigate risk, Related is securing long-term, 15-year commitments from tenants before beginning construction. Given the limited availability of power on the grid, Blau sees the company's early investment in securing capacity as a major competitive advantage in the fast-evolving AI infrastructure landscape. For this article, we selected AI stocks by reviewing news articles, stock analysis, and press releases. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment taken from Insider Monkey's Q4 database of over 1000 hedge funds. At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here). A close-up of a complex network of integrated circuits used in logic semiconductors. Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 186 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) or TSMC manufactures and sells semiconductors, offering advanced wafer fabrication and packaging solutions globally. Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger believes TSMC's $100 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing will not significantly boost the country's semiconductor leadership, as the company's core R&D remains in Taiwan, the Financial Times reported on March 26. While acknowledging that U.S. tariffs under the Trump administration encouraged TSMC (NYSE:TSM) to expand in the U.S., he emphasized that true leadership requires next-generation transistor research within the country. Overall, TSM ranks 1st on our list of AI news and ratings making waves on Wall Street. While we acknowledge the potential of TSM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than TSM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Zebra Technologies (ZBRA) Teams Up with Merck for AI-Driven Product Authentication
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:ZBRA) stands against other AI news and ratings making waves on Wall Street. According to a Fortune Business Insights report, the global data center market, valued at $242.72 billion in 2024, is expected to grow to $585 billion by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate of 11.7%. North America led the market in 2024, holding a nearly 39% share. According to the report, generative AI is significantly impacting the sector, as its deep learning models require substantial computing power, scalable storage, and high-performance infrastructure. The market is also shifting towards hybrid and multi-cloud strategies, enabling organizations to integrate public, private, and on-premise solutions efficiently. Additionally, modular data centers are gaining traction due to their cost-effectiveness, scalability, and faster deployment compared to traditional facilities, the report stated. The expansion of AI infrastructure through large-scale data center investments reflects the growing need for computational power. Companies are securing energy sources and developing specialized facilities to address scalability, sustainability, and efficiency challenges. For example, Related Companies is advancing into AI-driven data center development through its new division, Related Digital, using its expertise in renewable energy to meet rising demand from major tech firms. In an interview at CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street,' CEO Jeff Blau highlighted the company's strategic move to assemble a specialized team to lead these projects. To support the growth, Related has secured sites with over five gigawatts of power across the U.S., investing $500 million of its own capital while planning to raise an additional $8 billion. With firms like Microsoft and Alphabet significantly increasing their capital expenditures, demand from hyperscalers remains strong. To mitigate risk, Related is securing long-term, 15-year commitments from tenants before beginning construction. Given the limited availability of power on the grid, Blau sees the company's early investment in securing capacity as a major competitive advantage in the fast-evolving AI infrastructure landscape. For this article, we selected AI stocks by reviewing news articles, stock analysis, and press releases. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment taken from Insider Monkey's Q4 database of over 1000 hedge funds. At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here). A tech-savvy employee testing a real-time location system in a warehouse. Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 45 Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:ZBRA) provides enterprise asset intelligence solutions, including barcode scanners, RFID systems, mobile computing, printing, and automation for various industries. On March 27, Zebra Technologies and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced that they have formed a partnership to develop solutions that improve product verification, authenticity, and trust. Their collaboration integrates Zebra's expertise in mobile computing and asset visibility with Merck's authentication technologies to strengthen security and traceability in manufacturing. A major result of this effort is a handheld reader that works with Merck's M-Trust platform, a cyber-physical trust solution launched in January. The platform is powered by Web 3.0, which ensures secure digital twins, product quality, and regulatory compliance while supporting AI systems by providing high-quality data for training and analytics. The new handheld device is built on Zebra's TC58 mobile computer and Merck's SEC-Reader, and it verifies products through Wi-Fi 6E or 5G and includes features such as a barcode scanner and two-way communication. A prototype will be presented at Hannover Messe 2025, demonstrating its role in AI-driven data integrity and supply chain automation. Overall, ZBRA ranks 9th on our list of AI news and ratings making waves on Wall Street. While we acknowledge the potential of ZBRA as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ZBRA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
