Current Events in December 2021

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2021

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    Toys ‘R’ Us to open new flagship store after previously suffering bankruptcy

    The company’s deal with Macy’s should pump up the company’s bottom line

    With bankruptcy and liquidation behind it, Toys “R” Us hopes to open up its first comeback store -- a two-level, 20,000-square-foot flagship location at the American Dream megamall in Bergen County, New Jersey. The store is scheduled to open in mid-December, just in time for Christmas.

    The company’s new store was designed to be reminiscent of the brand consumers know and love, complete with Geoffrey the Giraffe, interactive experiences, and product demonstrations. New to the scene are add-ons like Geoffrey's Café and ice cream parlor and a two-story slide.

    "American Dream is a one-of-a-kind unrivaled retail center featuring massive entertainment experiences that make it an ideal destination for families. Debuting our first Toys"R"Us flagship here is a no-brainer," said Yehuda Shmidman, Toys “R” Us’ Chairman and CEO. 

    "The Toy “R” Us brand is big and growing fast. Today we have over 900 stores and e-commerce sites operating across 25 countries outside the USA, and now our USA expansion plans are in high gear, propelling us into the next chapter of growth for our global brand."

    Toys "R" Us’ deal with Macy’s still happening

    WHP Global, Toys ‘R’ Us’ owner, announced earlier this year that the company will open over 400 Toys “R” Us shop-in-shops inside Macy's stores nationwide starting in 2022. One retail expert notes that while those locations will pale in comparison to the company’s previous 700 big-box stores prior to it collapsing, the deal with Macy’s puts it back in the mix for consumers looking for toys.

    “The partnership with Macy's gives the Toys R Us brand more geographic depth yet less direct contact with customers,” wrote Retail Dive’s Ben Unglesbee. “The merchandising and operations for the Toys R Us store-in-stores is mostly driven by Macy's, which is eyeing expanded sales in the toy category through housing an iconic toy retail brand.”

    With bankruptcy and liquidation behind it, Toys “R” Us hopes to open up its first comeback store -- a two-level, 20,000-square-foot flagship location at th...

    Adding artificial sound to electric vehicles may improve pedestrian safety, study finds

    This safety feature is particularly important for people with vision problems

    A new study that was presented at the Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America explored how adding an important feature to electric cars may benefit consumers’ safety. The report explained that because these vehicles are naturally so quiet, adding artificial sound can make them more prominent on the roads and more easily detectable by pedestrians. 

    “Electric vehicles are significantly quieter than standard internal combustion engine vehicles,” the researchers wrote. “Although this is a benefit to the acoustic soundscape, it presents a safety concern, particularly to the vision impaired.” 

    Prioritizing pedestrian safety

    For the study, the team had 16 participants press a button each time they heard an electric vehicle approaching. In some of the trials, the researchers added sounds to the cars to see how this affected the participants’ ability to detect them. 

    Ultimately, the test came back with mixed results. The researchers learned that it was difficult for the participants to detect the electric vehicles based on sound alone in every trial. This was true even when sound was added to the cars for extra safety. 

    “All of the cases had mean detection ranges that exceed the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration minimum detection distances,” said researcher Michael Roan. “However, there were cases where probability of detection, even at close ranges, never reached 100%. While the additive sounds greatly improve detection distances over the no sound condition, there are cases where pedestrians still missed detections.” 

    The researchers noted that countries around the world have different requirements in place regarding the sound of electric vehicles on the road. In the U.S., the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration requirements change depending on the distance and speed of the car; when cars are going faster, they’re required to be detectable from further away. 

    The researchers hope more work continues to be done on this topic as consumers continue to turn to electric vehicles.

    A new study that was presented at the Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America explored how adding an important feature to electric cars may benefit co...

    Eating less meat may benefit consumers’ health and the environment, study finds

    Experts say it’s important to consider how our diets impact more than just our physical health

    The health risks associated with eating meat -- especially red and processed meats -- have been well-documented in several studies. Now, researchers from the University of Bonn explored how different diets affect consumers’ health and the environment. 

    According to their findings, diets that limit meat consumption were linked with better outcomes for animals, the environment, and consumers’ long-term health. 

    Diets impact our health and the environment

    The researchers explained that the study was based on the “One Health” perspective, which states that consumers should consider how their diet affects the environment, their health, and animals. The team wanted to look at different diets and see how consumers can best go about making positive, healthy choices. 

    “To do this, we took a look at examples of which products are on the food basket of people in North Rhine-Westphalia,” said researcher Juliana Paris. “We then compared this reference diet with three different scenarios: a shift according to the recommendations of the German Nutrition Society (DGE), a shift to the Mediterranean diet with more fish and seafood, and a shift to a vegan diet.” 

    For each diet, the researchers relied on extensive databases to understand how the different food and nutrition choices impacted each of the three categories. They looked at levels of greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, risks of cardiovascular disease and cancers, and general animal welfare. 

    Limiting meat is beneficial

    The researchers learned that all three diets had pros and cons. For example, following the Mediterranean diet is beneficial for consumers’ heart health, but it can also be detrimental to animals. Swapping red and processed meats for more fish options is better for our health, but it comes at the expense of the fish and seafood populations. Vegan diets tend to lack a lot of important nutrients and put a strain on water usage, but plant-based foods are healthier. 

    While none of the diets analyzed in this study were perfect in all three categories, the researchers did come to one major conclusion: limiting meat intake led to better overall outcomes. They recommend eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to preserve our long-term health and the environment. 

    “Regardless of the choice of animal-based protein sources, the larger the share of plant-based foods -- such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains -- in a diet, the greater the associated human health benefits,” the researchers said. “Moreover, reducing consumption of ready-to-eat meals and highly processed foods is clearly recommended to improve the health of humans, animals, and the environment at the same time.” 

    The health risks associated with eating meat -- especially red and processed meats -- have been well-documented in several studies. Now, researchers from t...

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      Mercedes-Benz recalls S580s and Maybach S580s

      An engine control unit software error may cause an engine stall

      Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 9,120 model year 2021-2022 S580s and Maybach S580s.

      An engine control unit software error may cause a sudden engine stall that prevents a restart of the vehicle.

      An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

      What to do

      Dealers will update the engine control unit software free of charge.

      Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 28, 2021.

      Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at (800) 367-6372.

      Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 9,120 model year 2021-2022 S580s and Maybach S580s.An engine control unit software error may cause a sudden engi...

      Chrysler recalls model year 2021 Dodge Durangos

      The rear spoiler may detach while the vehicle is being driven

      Chrysler is recalling 4,837 model year 2021 Dodge Durangos.

      The rear spoiler may not be aligned properly with the roof, resulting in damage to the spoiler during liftgate use.

      A damaged rear spoiler could detach and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

      What to do

      Dealers will inspect and replace the rear spoiler -- as necessary -- free of charge.

      Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 17, 2021.

      Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at (800) 853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Y73.

      Chrysler is recalling 4,837 model year 2021 Dodge Durangos.The rear spoiler may not be aligned properly with the roof, resulting in damage to the spoil...