Doha, January 2024 //The Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies announced the results of their public opinion poll regarding the Israeli war on Gaza on Wednesday 10 January 2024. The poll was carried out on a sample of 8000 respondents (men and women) from 16 Arab countries. The survey questions were selected to determine the opinions of citizens in the Arab region on important topics related to the Israeli war on Gaza.
The results of the survey demonstrate the locality of the war as felt by Arab public opinion, with 97% of respondents expressing psychological stress (to varying degrees) as a result of the war on Gaza. 84% expressed a sense of great psychological stress.
Extent of psychological stress felt during the war on Gaza
About 80% of respondents reported that they regularly follow news of the war, compared to 7% who said that they do not follow it, a further indication that the Arab public sees this war as a local event. To access the news 54% of respondents relied on television, compared to 43% who relied on the internet.
Extent of news followship about Israel’s war on Gaza
It is noteworthy that the results highlighted that Arab public opinion does not believe that the military operation carried out by Hamas on 7 October 2023 was in pursuit of a foreign agenda. 35% of respondents considered that the most important reason for the operation was the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, while 24% attributed it mostly to defence against Israel’s targeting of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and 8% saw it as a result of the ongoing siege of the Gaza Strip.
The most important motivations for Hamas to carry out the military operation on 7 October 2023
Most important
Second most important
The ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestinian land
35
13
Defending al-Aqsa Mosque against attacks
24
21
The ongoing blockade of Gaza
8
12
Ongoing and expanding settlement on Palestinian land
6
8
Liberating Palestinian detainees and prisoners in Israeli prisons
6
13
Israel’s rejection of the establishment of a Palestinian state
4
5
The United States’ failure to achieve a just peace
2
3
The international community’s disregard for Palestinian rights and the ongoing occupation
4
5
Halting the normalization process between Arab governments and Israel
2
3
Carrying out the plan or agenda of a foreign power such as Iran
2
2
Other
2
1
Don’t know / Declined to answer
5
0
No second option
0
14
Total
100
100
While 67% of respondents reported that the military operation carried out by Hamas was a legitimate resistance operation, 19% reported that it was a somewhat flawed but legitimate resistance operation, and 3% said that it was a legitimate resistance operation that involved heinous or criminal acts, while 5% said it was an illegitimate operation.
Assessments of Hamas’ military operation on 7 October 2023
The results showed that there is an Arab consensus of 92% expressing solidarity with the citizens of the Arab region with the Palestinian people in Gaza. While 69% of respondents expressed their solidarity with Palestinians and support for Hamas, 23% expressed solidarity with Palestinians despite opposing Hamas, and 1% expressed a lack of solidarity with the Palestinians.
Solidarity with Palestinians and support for Hamas
The majority of respondents rejected comparisons between Hamas and ISIS made by predominately Israeli and Western politicians and media personalities.
Comparisons between Hamas and ISIS
When asked about the responses of regional and international powers to Israel’s war on Gaza, 94% considered the US position negatively, with 82% considering it very bad. In the same context, 79%, 78%, and 75% of respondents viewed positions of France, the UK, and Germany negatively. Opinion was split over the positions of Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China. While (48%, 47%, 41%, 40%, respectively) considered them positively (37%, 40%, 42%, 38%, respectively).
Evaluation of international and regional positions
In the same context, 76% of respondents reported that their position toward the United States following the Israeli war on Gaza had become more negative, indicating that the Arab public has lost confidence in the US. Furthermore, respondents demonstrated a near consensus (81%) in their belief that the US government is not serious about working to establish a Palestinian state in the 1967 occupied territories (The West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza).
About 77% of respondents named the United States and Israel as the biggest threat to the security and stability of the region. While 51% saw the United States as the most threatening, 26% considered the biggest threat to be Israel. While 82% of respondents reported that US media coverage of the war was biased towards Israel, only 7% saw it as neutral.
How opinion on US policy in the Arab region has changed since the war on Gaza
Evaluation of US seriousness in establishing a Palestinian state in the 1967 Occupied Palestinian lands
Biggest threats to the peace and stability of the region
Greatest Threat
Second Greatest Threat
Gaza war
2022
2020
2018
Gaza War
2022
2020
2018
United States
51
39
44
43
25
25
23
28
Israel
26
41
37
37
33
28
38
40
Iran
7
7
10
13
10
13
19
15
Russia
4
6
2
3
8
8
4
7
France
2
2
2
1
10
5
3
1
Turkey
2
2
2
1
3
2
5
2
China
1
2
1
0
2
2
2
0
Other
1
—
—
—
2
—
—
—
Don’t know / Declined to answer
6
1
2
2
0
—
—
—
No second option
0
—
—
—
7
17
6
7
Aggregate
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
Evaluation of US media coverage of the war on Gaza
Arab public opinion sees the Palestinian Cause as an Arab issue, and not exclusively a Palestinian issue. A consensus of 92% believe that the Palestinian question concerns all Arabs and not just the Palestinians. On the other hand, 6% said that it concerns the Palestinians alone and they alone must work to solve it. It is worth noting that this percentage is the highest recorded since polling began in 2011, rising from 76% at the end of 2022, to 92% this year. Some countries recorded significant increases. In Morocco, it rose from 59% in 2022 to 95%, in Egypt from 75% to 94%, in Sudan from 68% to 91%, and in Saudi Arabia from 69% to 95%, a statistically significant increase that represents a fundamental shift in the opinions of the citizens of these countries.
Consideration of the Palestinian Cause as an Arab issue over time
Arab public opinion is almost unanimous in rejecting recognition of Israel, at a rate of 89%, up from 84% in 2022, compared to only 4% who support its recognition. Of particular note is the increase in the percentage of those who rejected recognition of Israel in Saudi Arabia from 38% in the 2022 poll to 68% in this survey. Such a statistically significant increase also applies to other countries such as Morocco, where the percentage rose from 67% to 78%, and Sudan, where it increased from 72% to 81%.
Support/opposition for recognizing Israel over time
When asked about their opinions on what measures Arab governments should take in order to stop the war in Gaza, 36% of respondents stated that Arab governments should suspend all relations or normalization processes with Israel, while 14% of them stated that aid and support should be brought into Gaza without Israeli approval, and 11% said that the Arab governments should use oil as a weapon to assert pressure on Israel and its supporters.
Measures that should be taken by Arab governments to stop the war on Gaza
Most important measure
Second most important measure
Suspend relations or normalization with Israel
36
15
Deliver aid to Gaza without Israeli approval
14
16
Use the oil weapon to pressure Israel and its supporters
11
13
Establish a global alliance to boycott Israel
9
11
Provide military aid to Gaza
8
10
Announce military mobilization
5
6
Reconsider relations with the United States
4
6
Reconsider relations with states that support Israel’s war on Gaza
3
5
Build alliances with states that have taken practical steps against Israel
3
4
Other
3
2
Don’t know / Declined to answer
4
0
No second option
0
12
Total
100
100
There is a near consensus among Palestinian respondents from the West Bank (including Jerusalem), around 95%, that safety and freedom of movement between the governorates and cities of the West Bank and their sense of security and personal safety have been affected negatively since 7 October 2023.
Negative effects experienced in the West Bank since 7 October 2023
A further 60% of Palestinian respondents in the West Bank said that they had been subjected to or were witnesses to raids by the occupation army forces, while 44% said that they were subjected to arrest or interrogation by the Israeli army, and 22% reported that they were subjected to harassment by settlers.
Frequency of witnessing or happening upon incidences of raids, arrests, or settler harassment in the West Bank since 7 October 2023
This survey is the first of its kind to gauge public opinion on the topic across the Arab region. The field work was conducted from 12 December 2023 to 5 January 2024 in Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and the West Bank, Palestine (including Jerusalem). The surveyed communities represent 95% of the population of the Arab region and its far-flung regions. The sample in each of the aforementioned communities was 500 men and women, drawn according to cluster and self-weighted sampling methods to ensure that every individual in each country had an equal probability of appearing in the sample.
For the Silo, Dr Ahmed Hussein, researcher at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies.
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools have far-reaching implications for education and research.
Yet the education sector today is largely unprepared for the ethical and pedagogical integration of these powerful and rapidly evolving technologies.
A recent UNESCO global survey of over 450 schools and universities showed that less than 10% of them had policies or formal guidance on the use of GenAI applications, largely due to the absence of national regulations. And only seven countries have reported that they had developed or were developing training programmes on AI for teachers.
The new guidance, recently launched during UNESCO’s flagship event Digital Learning Week in Paris, calls on countries to implement appropriate regulations, policies, and human capacity development, for ensuring a human-centred vision of GenAI for education and research.
What the guidance is proposing
The guidance presents an assessment of potential risks GenAI could pose to core humanistic values. It offers concrete recommendations for policy-makers and institutions on how the uses of these tools can be designed to protect human agency and genuinely benefit students, teachers and researchers.
The guidance proposes seven key steps for governmental agencies to regulate the use of GenAI in education:
Step 1: Endorse international or regional General Data Protection Regulations or develop national ones. The training of GenAI models has involved collecting and processing online data from citizens across many countries. The use of data and content without consent is further challenging the issue of data protection.
Step 2: Adopt/revise and fund national strategies on AI. Regulating generative AI must be part and parcel of broader national AI strategies that can ensure safe and equitable use of AI across development sectors, including in education.
Step 3: Solidify and implement specific regulations on the ethics of AI. In order to address the ethical dimensions posed by the use of AI, specific regulations are required.
Step 4: Adjust or enforce existing copyright laws to regulate AI-generated content: The increasingly pervasive use of GenAI has introduced new challenges for copyright, both concerning the copyrighted content or work that models are trained on, as well as the status of the ‘non-human’ knowledge outputs they produce.
Step 5: Elaborate regulatory frameworks on generative AI: The rapid pace of development of AI technologies is forcing national and local governance agencies to speed up their renewal of regulations.
Step 6: Build capacity for proper use of GenAI in education and research: Schools and other educational institutions need to develop capacities to understand the potential benefits and risks of GenAI tools.
Step 7: Reflect on the long-term implications of GenAI for education and research: The impact and the implications of GenAI for knowledge creation, transmission and validation – for teaching and learning, for curriculum design and assessment, and for research and copyright.
A human-centered vision for digital learning and AI
UNESCO is committed to steering technology in education, guided by the principles of inclusion, equity, quality and accessibility. The latest Global Education Monitoring Report on technology in education highlighted the lack of appropriate governance and regulation. UNESCO is urging countries to set their own terms for the way technology is designed and used in education so that it never replaces in-person, teacher-led instruction, and supports the shared objective of quality education for all.
Last year, consumer spending on Father’s Day was expected to total $20 billion USD / $27 billion CAD, nearly on par with the previous year’s record-setting figure of $20.1 billion, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual consumer survey. With approximately 76 percent of North American adults expected to celebrate Father’s Day in 2022, this year’s dad-driven holiday will surely be another boon for retailers.
With so many options, what is worth gifting to the guys in your life? Here are some tried and true gift ideas that’ll duly deliver.
Dad can get where he needs to go in style this summer and beyond with the Atomi Alpha electric scooter.
This motorized ride offers impressive performance and is packed with smart technology—enabling users to effectively commute, while avoiding traffic jams and high gas prices. Invented to provide an eco-friendly and flexible mode of transportation, the Atomi Alpha can easily be carried around or securely locked. The minimalistic, yet stylish, e-scooter comes equipped with a powerful 650-watt rear motor that lets riders experience quick acceleration and torque.
With its lightweight, 10Ah 18650-power lithium battery, owners can enjoy the daily commute or a long journey with a range of up to 25 miles on a single charge. In addition, the Atomi Alpha features a nicely hidden rear suspension that maintains the electric scooter’s elegant look, but maintains enough durability to handle potholes and uneven terrain. The Atomi Alpha comes with industry-standard, nine-inch wheels made of puncture-proof tubeless tires, making sure that you will never get a flat. Atomi leads with safety first—featuring an LED front light, blinking brake tail light and indicator lights on both sides. The scooter also has four reflectors that make night riders even more visible. And when you’re ready to park your ride, the Atomi Alpha’s built-in combination lock pairs effortlessly with its app-locking function so you can feel secure that your adult scooter is safe and will be waiting to transport you to wherever life may take you next.
Not sure what to gift that adventurous dad this year?
How about a guaranteed method of communication—no matter where life takes him. SPOT X is a two-way satellite messenger that connects to users’ smartphones via Bluetooth wireless technology when off the grid or beyond reliable cellular coverage.. Through the SPOT X app, users can then access contacts and communicate easily with family, friends or directly with Search and Rescue services in life-threatening situations. It even can be used as a standalone communication device, and has its own dedicated U.S. mobile number so others can message them directly at any time.
From backpacking, camping, fishing and hunting to snowmobiling, off-roading and cycling, SPOT devices support all off-the-grid adventuring, making them the ideal tracking and communications gear for recreational users. The company is a leader in satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies—having helped initiate more than 9,000 rescues worldwide. Its devices provide communication capabilities, even when users are out of cell range, and can initiate search and rescue with a single button. Plus, SPOT is committed to making its products and services affordable to ensure that its life- and money-saving technology is available to all who dare to venture into the unknown.
Keeping your busy household’s floors clean just got easier.
iRobot’s Roomba Combo j7+ Robot Vacuum and Mop is the reportedly world’s most advanced, and the first truly hands-free, two-in-one robot vacuum and mop with a fully retractable pad. While other two-in-one cleaning robots barely lift their mop pads and require users to run two separate mop and vacuum missions, the Roomba Combo j7+ performs both functions simultaneously—vacuuming hard floors and carpets while the automatic mop prevents wet carpet messes.
And, thanks to iRobot OS and the robot’s PrecisionVision Navigation system, customers don’t have to pick up before the cleaning begins. The Roomba Combo j7+ recognizes more than 80 common objects, which enables the robot to clean more specific places on command, such as around kitty litter boxes, toilet bowls, dishwashers and more. Pair the robot with your voice assistant and instruct it to clean specific rooms or by selected objects in your home, as the Roomba Combo j7+ understands approximately 600 voice commands—more than any other two-in-one robot on the market. Users can also customize their device’s cleaning jobs in the iRobot Home app by choosing what rooms should be vacuumed and mopped, vacuumed only or even adjust the amount of cleaning solution the mop should dispense.
Relief, relaxation and recovery have never been so conveniently accessible.
Cubii Revive’s whisper-quiet, portable and battery-operated footplate utilizes therapeutic vibrations to help relieve minor aches and pains while supporting muscle recovery—all from your favorite place to sit. The 14.6-inch by 16.9-inch device features a compact design, built-in handle and is compatible with all foot sizes to accommodate your natural sitting position wherever is most convenient for you. Its 10 levels of passive vibration intensity support lower body muscle recovery and pain relief for fully personalized recovery sessions with every use.
In addition, the ergonomic Cubii Revive also includes a backlit LCD monitor to display battery and intensity levels in any lighting and cordless functionality with a four-hour battery life. Cubii focuses on holistic solutions in its approach—offering customers new and innovative products to serve a diverse community. Whether taking that first step on your path to wellness or beating a personal record, the brand is here to cheer on your every move. And, with wellness at the forefront of Cubii’s vision, the company believes everyone should have an equal opportunity to be healthy. In fact, it reportedly regularly donates Cubii ellipticals to those who would benefit from using one, but might not be able to obtain one by their own means.
Gift them a Dream Controller constructed directly from their wildest imagination. These unique, quality devices are custom-tailored to customers’ preferences—featuring cosmetic and technological upgrades that are also intended to improve their overall performance. Dream Controller’s inventory includes hundreds of trendy, handcrafted designs developed using the hydro-dipping paint process. Even more, each item is professionally designed by graphic artists that carefully create each controller to perfection. Customers can choose from controllers that are compatible with Xbox One, Elite, Nintendo Switch and Oculus Quest 2 as well as themed AirPods and others.
Created by gamers, Dream Controller saw a need for state-of-the-art, modified controllers in the marketplace and wanted to back the company with stellar customer service and technical support. The range of customizable options seems to supersede that of its competitors, with Dream Controller customers having the option to create personalized gadgets designed to their specifications if they’d like to go beyond the many pre-made designs and templates already available. And, whether your old man is an expert or new to the community, a beautiful, distinctive and high-quality device from Dream Controller is sure to level-up their game in all areas.
Want to make that round of golf get even better? Provide an awesome soundtrack to play alongside dad and his pals. The G-ROK Wireless Golf Speaker from ROKFORM instantly mounts to a golf cart or any other metal surface with its super strong, MAGMAX magnetic technology. Its aluminum hook easily attaches to a golf bag and it’s compact enough to slip into one. This rugged iPX7 waterproof and dust-proof wireless speaker is perfect for taking on and off the course, rain or shine. The G-ROK Wireless Golf Speaker features dual eight-watt drivers to deliver a clear, crisp sound and just the right amount of bass for the course.
And, for those who’d like to listen to music without announcements or interruptions, the device’s optional SD card stores up to 5,000 songs, so music can be played with or without a phone. Its 24-hour battery life lasts up to six rounds before needing a charge; because who wants to charge their speaker after only two rounds? For the ultimate on-course experience, users can pair their portable golf speakers to create double the sound, which already amplifies across a resounding 30-foot range. ROKFORM’s user-friendly design allows customers to operate the device from their phone or speaker with easy buttons, so they can play, pause, control the volume, skip, answer calls and power the device on and off with ease.
Who says keeping it classy has to mean discomfort?
The xSuit 4.0 is the newest version of the brand’s highly popular xSuit—the suit known for extreme comfort, stretch and convenience. This recently released iteration is the most comfortable and stylish version yet, taking into account years of research and customer feedback. Among expanded stretch and other upgrades, the updates feature additional sizes and colors, including brand-new light blue and light gray versions. Utilizing advanced R&D and technology, the xSuit 4.0 is wrinkle, stain and odor-resistant—optimizing the convenience for wearers. It’s also fully machine washable, which eliminates the need for frequent dry cleaning and ironing. This makes it the ideal travel suit, whether sporting your xSuit 4.0 for business, weddings or other events. Due to its top quality construction, the garment is highly durable and lasts five times longer than average.
Even more, the men’s clothing brand’s versatile designs enable easy mixing and matching to give you a wide range of choices in outfits and styles. xSuit works with some of the world’s top manufacturing experts in fashion technology in order to make the most comfortable clothing that keeps customers looking their best all day long. The company’s products are engineered with innovative materials—bringing the highest quality and sustainable alternative to fast fashion to men around the globe.
Add some key staple items to Dad’s closet this year with Jachs New York’s blend of classic and modern take on clothing essentials.
Its Blue Reverse Slub Jogger, for instance, delivers effortless style with an upgrade on the brand’s knit piece. Jachs NY’s new reverse jogger features the coziest, softest fabric that feels as great as it looks. It’s designed with 63 percent polyester, 33 percent viscose and four percent spandex and includes a soft-brushed fleece backing—providing just the right amount of added stretch.
Another customer-favorite, Jachs NY’s Navy Striped Tri-blend Short Sleeve Henley, offers the classic, three-button sleeve Henley fit in a super soft and light-weight linen tri-blend fabric that is ideal for summer weather. For a more polished look, the Grey Rayon Blend Stretch Herringbone Blazer features the classic two-button frame, but is half-lined with rayon for extra softness, stretch, comfort and mobility. Jachs NY was founded in 2008 with a mission to make the perfect clothing for those who want to live their own American dream. From classic outerwear to everyday shirting, chinos and sweaters, the menswear company creates essentials needed for your daily life—and your daily adventures. Using time-tested techniques and vintage inspiration, its brand philosophy is simple: great style should be effortless.
PUMA X IGNITE Spikeless Golf Shoes by Volition America
Level up the dad in your life’s game with better golf gear.
A collaboration with PUMA and Volition America, the IGNITE Fasten8 Spikeless Golf Shoes are a cool, America-inspired shoe featuring the stars and stripes on the footwear’s upper and outsole. They’ll provide the performance needed on the course … and the style while off of it. The innovative materials and progressive design include both PWRFrame and TPU overlays to create a breathable and waterproof outer, while the TPU PWRCAGE offers unparalleled support around the midfoot. The laces’ integrated webbing straps wrap the area for a secure fit. Plus, you can’t overlook the shoe’s ignite foam midsole that’s wrapped in SoleShield for added durability, unparalleled comfort and an energy return that can help you feel and play your best all day long. Volition America has made it its mission to disrupt the industry as America’s apparel brand—uniting Americans under a common goal to use the power of choice to affect positive change. With options ranging from shoes to apparel, the company has partnered with high-profile brands like Puma to give back to worthy causes.
As the demand for men’s jewelry booms, Craftd London has become a go-to brand across the globe.
Each piece holds its own story and comes with a lifetime guarantee, no questions asked—making it literally a gift for life. Its best-selling Blue Tennis Chain was recently given the Blue Iced treatment and has leveled up wearers’ styling options with just the right amount of edge. The three-millimeter piece features AAA-grade Blue Cubic Zirconia, 316L stainless steel and rhodium, while also being water, heat and sweat-resistant. The Blue Tennis Chain is available in two sizes: 19.5-inches or 21.5-inches. But why stop at just one of these beauties, when you can gift dad a matching bracelet? Craftd London’s Blue Tennis Bracelet offers the same exceptional quality and specs as its necklace counterpart, including two size options to help customers find the right fit. For those who are looking for a touch of symbolism with their jewelry, Craftd London’s Silver Rose necklace illustrates the beauty and fragility of life in its simple, yet stunning, craftsmanship.
The 316L stainless steel and rhodium pendant comes with a chain that is water, heat and sweat resistant. The brand’s Compass Pendant also holds a message to the wearer, reminding people that a true leader crafts his own path. Give your loved one the gift of discovering new places and living a life of freedom with this 18-karat gold and 316L stainless steel chain and pendant. Like all of Craftd London’s products, the Compass Pendant is sweat proof, waterproof, hypoallergenic and tarnish resistant. Most importantly, it’s designed with its own meaning to make it personal for the wearer. “We all like to feel championed,” cofounder Alex Cannon says. “And with something that tells its own story, you can really give that personal touch.”
Who doesn’t love a new pair of sunglasses, especially from a world renowned designer brand?
The Versace VE2212 Sunglasses from SmartBuyGlassesmake a stylish Father’s Day gift that’s perfect for the summer season. He can look great and feel protected from the sun the next time he’s out and about. Versace’s seasonal collection offers a wide variety of colors to choose from, but these aviator shades are a perennial favorite—made super swaggy with its mix of gunmetal frames and grey-silver mirror lenses. The shades ate available in a variety of lenses to suit your lifestyle and vision needs, including prescriptive for distance, reading, progressive and more as well as blue light blockers and polarized. No matter the lens type, the Versace VE2212 Sunglasses can effortlessly complete any look. Plus, SmartBuyGlasses offers amazing prices and 100-day returns. The online store’s mission is to deliver great-quality, low-cost eyewear to its customers worldwide as fast as possible. Even more, when you shop online with SmartBuyGlasses, you’re shopping an exhaustive catalog of brands, types and designs boasting chic new trends and excellent-quality glasses.
Nolah’s Bamboo Sheet Set is made of a lightweight, satin-smooth and breathable bamboo material that is just as good for the environment as it is for your shut-eye. Bamboo sheets are a great option for hot sleepers and allergy sufferers, as bamboo wicks away excess moisture to help keep you dry and comfortably cool during the night. This material is also naturally antimicrobial and hypoallergenic, so your sheets will remain fresh and clean for much longer.
Independent testing showed a 99 percent E. coli and staph reduction and 90 percent Candida albicans (yeast) reduction on the bamboo fibers after 18 hours of incubation. In addition, the Bamboo Sheet Set is Forest Stewardship Council-certified and Oeko-Tex 100-certified—guaranteeing Nolah’s product contains no harmful chemicals, toxins or dyes. And, when it is time to give them a wash, Nolah’s bamboo sheets are highly durable and washing machine-friendly for a convenient clean every time. The sheets are available in twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king and split king sizes to accommodate more sleepers. Nolah prides itself on being a sleep technology company that is on a mission to improve your sleep and mattress shopping experience, with products ranging from top-notch mattresses to bed frames and bedding.
Help dad lavish his best friend in luxurious comfort with the Kingston Organic Pet Bed.
Taking luxe dog beds to a whole new level, this pet bed is made entirely of a plush mix of three unique shredded foams. This includes Essentia Mattress’ patented Beyond Latex organic foam combined with natural latex foams for maximum pressure relief, breathability and durability. The family pooch will nestle in and enjoy the soft, organic cotton cover that allows them to customize the adhesive-free Kingston to their liking by burrowing in the cozy blend of organic foams—the same natural, healthy and high-quality materials used to construct all Essentia products.
The company’s attention to detail ensures your pet keeps a fresh, comfortable sleep surface. The organic, SoftGrip cotton bottom helps stop the bed from sliding and makes it safe to use on all floors. Even more, the removable and washable Kingston’s organic cotton cover features food-grade waterproofing integrated into the inside backing, which helps protect the bed and facilitate easy cleaning. This product is available in three sizes—accommodating furry pals up to 110 pounds! Essentia Mattress’ options are packed with non-toxic, certified organic vegan technology.
Say goodbye to sweaty, messy coasters and hello to the Terra Stone Coasters by Brightly.
These natural and eco-friendly coasters are made with high-quality, diatomaceous earth—providing maximum moisture absorption and quick-drying action. The unique properties of diatomaceous earth make the Terra Stone Coasters perfect for use with cold drinks, which helps to prevent condensation and keep your home’s surfaces clean and dry. Plus, the natural composition of diatomaceous earth makes them an excellent choice for those looking for a more sustainable option for their decor, and wish to enjoy their purchases with a clear conscience.
Their unique properties and elegant design make them the perfect choice for those who value function and style in their home accessories. The package comes in a set of four. Brightly’s goal is to empower conscious consumers around the world—recognizing that small, daily actions add up to a huge impact on the world around us. Along with its products, the company educates more than three million individuals every day through inspiring short-form videos on social media, an award-winning podcast and thoroughly-researched, myth-busting articles. Brightly holds itself accountable, as well, and is Climate Neutral Certified. To do this, the brand must show that it is working to reduce greenhouse emissions throughout its operation and compensates for all of them every year.
No matter if you’re traveling around the block or around the world for business or pleasure, travel should always be a fabulous experience—never a hassle.
The main culprit for travel angst? Having the wrong gear. One great resolution is the The ULTI Messenger Bag by CONMIGO, which provides the luxury of being comfortable, joy of being organized and peace of mind of being safe—all in one bag. This re-designed carry-on is perfect when a backpack doesn’t meet your needs or style. It has enough panache for the boardroom and is rugged enough to handle whatever the road throws at it. Lightweight so you can stay nimble, the ULTI messenger bag’s crossbody design keeps your hands free, so you can hold on to what matters.
Plus, this functional travel and laptop bag features an abundance of secured pockets and compartments to help keep you organized and on point wherever you may be journeying to. Other ULTI bag highlights include a TSA-compliant, detachable portfolio for electronics, seat cushion and enhanced safety features. CONMIGO designers also crafted the gear with water-resistant, ballistic nylon and ensured its ability to comfortably fit under the seat when traveling in an aircraft. A donation from each sale of the ULTI travel bag is also made to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation.
Is dad embarrassed by the persistent odor in his car or is he tired of that suffocating artificial scent from common fresheners that require constant refills? Or, does it bother everyone else?
Well, if any of the above criteria resonates, the PURGGO’s Car Air Eco-Purifier and Freshener will make the perfect Father’s Day gift this year. It’s made with pure and sustainable natural bamboo charcoal, which absorbs and eliminates odor instead of masking it. Fragrance- and allergen-free, the PURGGO is all-natural, non-toxic and 100 percent asthma, pet- and allergy-friendly. All this product contains is pure, all-natural moso bamboo charcoal: one of the most renewable natural resources in the world. Bamboo charcoal has been used for thousands of years in Asia to purify the air, and PURGGO harvested this power—making it the longest lasting available product of its kind on the market worldwide. Plus, it lasts for more than 365 days and works continuously in the background. PURGGO’s mission is simple: to create an effective, safe and responsible product that the company would want to use itself, and is reflected in the design philosophy of the air freshener—from the materials used to the rounded corners and smooth textures that have its roots in Asian culture.
If dad likes to golf, give him the gift of an indoor putting green this Father’s Day.
Putt-A-Bout provides just that with their USA-made products that are top-sellers on Amazon—offering the perfect solution for short-game practice anywhere and anytime. Ideal for golfers of all skill levels, these portable mats can turn almost any floor space into a fun putting area that lets you hone your game, have some fun and enjoy some low-key competition. The company’s XL215 Putting Mat is large at 15 feet long and two feet wide.
It’s great for practicing both short and long putts with a realistic stimp speed. Its premium back that will eliminate folds and creases in the putting surface. Also portable, it’s easy to roll and store away or transport. Putt-A-Bout’s Par Three Golf Putting Green is another great gift option, as this kidney shaped practice putting green with three practice cup cutouts has a surface that always stays smooth. Built in sand trap cutouts catch missed shots. Putt-A-Bout designed its product to be easy to use, but also handily stored away when not being utilized. With its top-notch and lay-flat backing material, users can conveniently lay out the mat when ready to play and roll it back up for compact storage or transport on-the-go. Customers can also personalize their putting mat, which is available in five different sizes and perfect for both home and office use.
Do you want dad to have the best seat on the beach this summer season?
SUNFLOW’s Beach Bundle Chair offers four different positions and a host of innovative accessories for optimal seaside lounging. This chair is built with the highest quality, rust-resistant frame—necessary for wet environments—and is crafted with water-resistant fabric that can be hosed off without harming the material.
SUNFLOW’s Beach Bundle Chair includes removable straps in its design to help make the versatile recliner easy to carry, while also offering several fashion-forward color options to best meet its owners’ style. But, while the construction is impressive, this product really shines with its attachments. Its sun shade helps protect users from 98 percent of the sun’s rays, while the dry bag keeps valuables just that: dry, safe and sand-free during every beach excursion. Plus, the Beach Bundle’s drink holder provides the perfect spot for everything from a canned beverage, to a wine bottle. The chair’s added towel attachment keeps your towel safely stowed beside you without the fear of it falling down or flying away on a windy day. SUNFLOW’s Beach Bundle is the brainchild of fashion and product designer Leslie Hsu, with the mission of reinventing the beach chair by giving it the functional makeover it deserves. This is all part of the premium beach brand’s goal of filling every day at the water’s edge with smiles—helping to make your happy place even happier.
Give the father figure in your life the gift of high-quality, Australian cuts of meat with Herd & Grace’s Signature Steak Boxes, which will be delivered right to his doorstep.
Herd & Grace is a premium delivery service for steaks sourced from pastures located in Australia and Tasmania. The company’s environmentally-conscious, halal-certified steaks are featured in Michelin and AAA-rated fine dining steakhouses and eateries, and are now available to homes across the globe. Australian beef sets itself apart from the usual type found in the U.S. due to its high marbling scores, delicious taste, unmatched tenderness and unique flavor. For these reasons, Australian beef is a superior pick, thanks in part to the wide open spaces for livestock to roam and the cleanest air in the world—giving the cows a better quality of life and generating singular dining experiences. In an age where factory farming in America confines cattle to over-crowded feedlots, these Australian and Tasmanian farms and ranches offer at least an acre of land per cow. In addition to the elite flavor and silky tenderness, Australian steaks feature ethical, sustainably grazed pastures, which reduce topsoil erosion and decrease emissions of methane and greenhouse gasses—all while removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
These Old World, sustainable processes help in the effort to combat climate change. Choose from a selection of Herd & Grace’s finely curated boxes, or customize your cuts utilizing the brand’s various subscription level options. I sampled the Herd & Grace BBQ Box boasting cuts you won’t find at the market. With highly coveted delicacies are normally reserved for the most upscale restaurants, one bite and you’ll understand why they are in such demand. It features 24-28 ounce Pure Black Tri-Tip Cut; two massive 28-32 ounce Cape Grim Tomahawk Steaks; and one 3-4 Pound Cut of Pure Black Picanha MB5+. This premium collection can be delivered directly to dad’s doorstep lickety split.
Customizable Cheese Boards and Platters from Lynn & Liana Designs (https://lynnliana.com/)
Lynn & Liana Designs offers Customizable Cheese Boards and Platters that will serve as art in your home, while also helping serve up delicious treats to guests.
Not only do the boards come in nine colors, but no two boards are alike. Lynn & Liana Designs uses eco-friendly resin to create stunning pieces that are unique to each board. These one-of-a-kind items are hand-poured and meticulously crafted—making for a beautiful charcuterie spread and great conversation items at dinner parties. Singer Meghan Trainor even shared her love for the cheese boards in her viral TikTok video, which garnered seven million views. The small Manitoba family business has grown tremendously since starting in 2018 from a garage set-up. Lynn & Liana Designs went from producing 100 boards in its first year to well over 100,000 boards in 2022 alone. Now available in 2,000-plus stores, 28-year-old founder Melissa Funk has done more than jump on the charcuterie board craze. She’s reinvented it by crafting elegant boards and platters that stand out and bring a piece of nature into people’s homes. Even more, a portion of the brand’s sales go toward the replanting of trees across North America.
Add to dad’s entertaining collection with The Entertainer’s Tray from Groovy Girl Gifts.
This stunning, charcuterie serving board, which can be personalized, brings a touch of class to the functionality of creating a stellar presentation for guests. Crafted from premium acacia wood, it features a sleek marble insert and is built to withstand regular use. Even more, the Entertainer’s Tray provides ample space for arranging a variety of cheeses, dips, cured meats, fruits, nuts or whatever tasty snacks strike your fancy. This item includes three dipping spoons, three bowls and four charcuterie utensils packaged nicely in a white box to round out the entire piece. Whether hosting a small gathering with friends, or putting together an elaborate spread for a special occasion, the durable board is sure to impress with its smooth, polished surface. Plus, it’s the perfect backdrop for showcasing dad’s personal style. The Entertainer’s Tray is also easy to clean and only requires a wipe down with a damp cloth after each use to maintain its appearance—making it the ultimate versatile, go-to set for all your hosting duties this summer.
A tasty and delightful gift worthy of those food-loving fathers, Cheese Brothers’ “World’s Cheesiest Dad” Gift Basket brings all the cheese, but in the best way possible.
This hand-picked gift collection combines the e-commerce company’s finest Wisconsin cheeses with classic mustard and award-winning artisan salami. Dad will love the smoked Gouda, which is cold-smoked with applewood and hickory at Cheese Brothers’ Wisconsin-based pack house. And, for lovers of the sharp variety, this basket has him covered with its eight-year-aged cheddar that’s sure to hit the spot. Other basket highlights include four, six-ounce blocks of Wisconsin-made cheese; two five-ounce blocks of aged cheddar; a jar of classic mustard or cherry lavender jam; artisan salami; white organic crackers and a “World’s Cheesiest Dad” sticker to tie it all together.
Cheese Brothers proudly honors its roots by following in the cheese-making traditions established by one of the founders’ great grandfathers when he immigrated to the U.S. from Switzerland in 1919. None of the business’s products are ever processed or artificial—sourcing milk from local family farms and utilizing only natural and simple seasonings to enhance its gourmet products. The eight-year-old company ships cheese and gift packages nationwide, so show your pops how much you care through their taste buds with Cheese Brothers’ uniquely cheesy basket. After all, the world’s best dad deserves the best.
The perfect after-dinner sip for dads on Father’s Day.
Bisquit & Dubouché’s X.O. is a silky, sumptuous cognac that’s incredibly rich, full-bodied and stunningly smooth. The X.O. expression is matured in French oak barrels for a minimum of 10 years—offering drinkers a symphony of woody flavors and smoky notes. The initial notes explored on the nose are enriched with aromatic hints of plum, mocha, cedar wood and licorice. Crafted using only the most prestigious Eaux-de-vie from the Grande and Petite Champagne crus, the premium beverage’s lingering finish and incredibly smooth taste are the satisfying results of the brand’s uniquely long distillation time. For the best tasting experience, Bisquit & Dubouché’s X.O. cognac is best enjoyed neat. The company was founded more than 200 years ago by Alexandre Bisquit and Adrien Dubouché, making its formal debut in the U.S. in February 2022 as an official sponsor of Frieze Los Angeles. The avant-garde cognac maison is known for its innovative cognac-making and the rebellious spirits of its founders. The unique distillation method relies on intuition over conventional techniques to create Bisquit & Dubouché’s distinctive taste of nuanced floral and fruity aromas.
Looking to add some flair to dad’s drinks this year?
Look no further than Siligrams’ Customizable Ice Cube Tray Molds. These durable, high-quality silicone molds provide a personal touch to any gift, party or occasion and can be customized with the text, monogram, a graphic or logo of your choice. Whether you’re looking to create ice cubes in the shape of dad’s favorite sports team logos, adding a unique touch to the home bar or giving a gift of monogrammed ice cubes, Siligrams’ molds are the perfect solution. American-made, the ice cube trays are easy to use and maintain, all while being safe for use in the dishwasher, freezer and oven. The Customizable Cylinder Ice Cube Tray can be customized with your unique text, monogram, or graphical design.
The ice cylinders measure 2.3 inches in diameter, making it a great fit in a standard rocks glass for spirit forward cocktails or in tumblers and thermoses for your soda and iced coffee. The Customizable Whiskey Ball Mold makes an iconic cocktail ice ball as a classy companion to your favorite spirits. The spherical shape maximizes the surface area to volume ratio, meaning you’ll get maximum chilling of your drink with minimum watering down. The ice balls are 2.3in diameter spheres, and can also be customized with your text, monogram, or logo! I also like Siligrams non-slip Customizable Silicone Bar Mat that keeps your glasses and bottles steady and collects spills to keep your bar area clean. It’s also easy to clean – just dump it into the sink and run it through the dishwasher. Use it as a drying mat or a coffee bar mat too! Plus, personalize it with your name, logo, or any design to make it truly your own.
Gift the father figure in your life with the ultimate wine-drinking experience: all the delicious flavor of their favorite bottle of vino without the hangover. Üllo’s Original Wine Purifier + Decanter combines the purification power of Selective Sulfite filtration with the time-honored tradition of decanting to create a premier expression of red wine. The hand-blown Decanter, made from ultra-transparent and lead-free crystal, is the perfect fit for the Üllo Wine Purifier and lets your favorite red or white wine’s aromas and flavors come alive.
Üllo is the first and only wine purification brand to target just sulfites in the removal process—and none of the natural compounds that make every wine unique. Along with eliminating hangovers and irritation, sulfite-free wine also allows drinkers to enjoy any bottle without the stuffy nose, headaches or other common side effects of histamines. Plus, the easy-to-use Üllo Wine Purifier works with all Üllo wine filter replacements, rests on any wine glass and fits perfectly with Üllo’s decanters and carafe. Other features of this set include a purifier travel bag, soft-touch display base and six Selective Sulfite full-bottle filters. The kitchen gadget simplifies the clean-up process and disassembles easily, is dishwasher-safe and makes enjoying pure wine a delightful experience.
A bright and savory red wine that dad will love, PEJU Winery’s 2018 Sketches charms the senses with aromas of fig jam, vanilla and a hint of nutmeg. This Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend begins with notes of savory black truffle, honeyed oak and pomegranate and finishes with notes of cocoa powder. PEJU Winery’s 2018 Sketches can be uncorked and enjoyed now, or put away in your wine fridge for another 8-10 years. The blend is harvested from PEJU Winery’s acclaimed Persephone Estate Vineyard in Napa Valley, California at nearly 1,000-feet elevation, producing fruit with rich, focused flavor and a precise sense of place as a strong foundation for its wines.
The story behind the 2018 Sketches bottle stems from owner Herta Peju’s lifelong love for artistic expression. From her early school years through college, she would draw all over her notebook as a tool to remember her lessons. Working closely with winemaker Sara Fowler, the two created a magnificent wine encompassing the beauty that Peju sees in everyday life. Each bottle of Sketches features a label with artwork by Peju, making it an excellent trophy for your cellar.
Cutting back on wine may be good for dad’s health, but that doesn’t mean his beverage selection needs to be limited, too.
The Non-Alcoholic Quartet Pack from Jøyus brings variety, the pleasure of a glass of wine and the non-alcoholic peace of mind together in four delicious bottles. One-hundred percent woman- and sober-owned, the brand’s product doesn’t have that overly sweet or grape-juice taste commonly associated with non-alcoholic wines. These delightfully dry and complex, alcohol-removed selections can have even the snootiest of vino snobs pouring a second and third glass.
Take its Cabernet Sauvignon, for instance. The blend delights the palate with its warmth and complexity, while the well-balanced tannins, notes of ripe dark berries, aged oak and undertones of vanilla will keep you coming back sip after sip. Jøyus’ pack also includes a Rose and Sparkling Rose that feature delicate notes of watermelon and peaches, or hints of blackberries, strawberries and California citrus, respectively. Drinkers can also expect the notes of crisp green apple, fragrant fall pear and ripe melon of the Sparkling White wine to help round out the set. Still unsure? Not only did Jøyus win two awards at The San Francisco International Wine Competition and another at the International Wine and Spirits in London, but there are only 15-30 calories per serving—a perfect, guilt-free treat for everyone, no matter where they are on their sober journey.
Add to his arsenal with La Tourangelle’s Truffle Infused Oils. The company’s White Truffle Infused Oil features complex notes of woods, earth and fruit that are characteristic of the Italian White Alba Truffle, while the Black Truffle Infused Oil highlights complex, earthy notes of damp forests and dried mushrooms that can be found in the French Périgord Truffle. Earthy, robust and distinctive, these truffle-infused oils are a perfect finishing drizzle atop a range of unique culinary creations. La Tourangelle is passionate about making high-quality ingredients that are good for the table, community and planet. Through regenerative farming, artisan production methods and nature-friendly packaging, the company aims to empower people to cook like they care.
Each natural product is crafted locally in California and France using traditional practices. From sourcing the best quality ingredients, to small batch production, La Tourangelle’s products are rooted in artisan know-how. La Tourangelle believes in making staples that are authentic, delicious and sustainable—all while spreading joy and well-being through food. As a family business, La Tourangelle brings expertise and craftsmanship techniques learned from previous generations to modern day oil-making, using traditional French practices to produce delicious artisan oils in California.
Upgrade your ice cream experience and say goodbye to meltdowns. Calicle’s smart and stylish Insulated Ice Cream Bowl Set keeps your favorite frozen treats at the perfect consistency from the first bite to the last, so you can savor every single spoonful. These vacuum, triple-insulated bowls keep your scoops from melting up to 200 percent longer than traditional bowls—even in warm weather. Perfect for barbecues, pool parties, beach days, picnics or at home on the couch, Calicle’s Insulated Ice Cream Bowl Set makes it easy to enjoy ice cream indoors or out, and includes lids for mess-free treats on-the-go while. And, the durable construction and grippy base make them safe for kids and glass-free zones. Not just for cold foods, they’ll keep hot foods hot longer as well.
This set comes with two 12-fluid ounce bowls in white frost or midnight black colors. In addition to providing reusable products to help reduce the waste produced by single-use items, Calicle also uses recyclable packaging materials. Plus, the brand believes it’s important to support organizations whose work is meaningful and donates two percent of its sales to support the Coral Reef Alliance. Whether you’re spoiling yourself or seeking a sweet gift, these bowls are guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s face. Make every spoonful count with the gift that keeps giving—scoop after scoop.
Help dad get a total body workout with a single, convenient fitness tool this summer: the HEROBOARD. This highly-functional, moving exercise platform offers users an incredibly smooth and stable experience, while being able to move evenly on all types of surfaces—forward, back and side to side. Designed for both beginners and advanced athletes, the HEROBOARD allows for a variety of exercises that target every part of the body and is the perfect piece of equipment to use at home, outside or at the gym. The easy-to-use HEROBOARD jumpstarts those that need that extra bit of encouragement and is even utilized by trainers and physical therapists to assist in their work with clients.
The platform ensures stability and doesn’t flip over when operated. It’s also angled by three degrees for a raised heel, which eases your form to protect your knees and helps in bringing the board back for eccentric exercises. Each HEROBOARD comes with a drawstring bag for portability, a poster with QR codes linking to instructional videos, a custom-shaped foam exercise pad and a resistance band that can be easily attached to the board’s hook to take your exercises to the next level. Plus, dad can access new and creative instructional workout videos each week from the company’s website or its various social media platforms.
Give dad the at-home pampering he deserves with Derm Dude’s quality selection of men’s grooming products.
The company’s EVERYTHING Trimmer is the absolute perfect tool for both the beard and body. The three-in-one trimmer includes 17 unique “easy spin” dial settings for beard, mustache and facial hair; stainless steel blades and guide combs with precision trimming for a nick-free beard, body and groin area; and an IPX7 high, waterproof-rating for convenient use in the shower. Derm Dude’s device also includes a 60-minute runtime; rechargeable, built-in battery with compact USB charger; and is small, lightweight and cordless for ease of use and convenience. The EVERYTHING Trimmer does it all—including every length option and style in-between. And, to keep dad’s beard nourished and itch-free, the brand’s Accelerator Beard Oil is formulated to moisturize, soften and condition facial hair in a single application.
The fast-absorbing and non-greasy Nutribeard Complex is formulated with natural Jojoba oil, Argon oil, vitamin E and other natural oils, which promote healthy beard growth when used over time. Derm Dude’s Accelerator Oil 3-Pack offers three scents that are sure to keep the user smelling and feeling good. The Sandalwoody scent has a slight, new leather hint while being warm, spicy, exotic, musky and, most importantly, woody. The Island Rum oil has notes of rum and coconut to create a warm and summery scent, while Morning Woodsy exudes a masculine, outdoorsy scent with notes of evergreen woods, cedarwood and mountain air.
Elevate dad’s oral care routine with MOON Oral Beauty’s LED Teeth Whitening Kit.
Equipped with the brand’s best-sellers, this set includes its LED Teeth Whitening Device, Kendall Jenner Teeth Whitening Pen and Dissolving Whitening Strips to help keep customers’ smiles healthy and bright. In fact, the LED device is reported to rapidly whiten teeth up to 12 shades in just two weeks or less, with just five minutes per use. Its lightweight, wireless design pairs with the Dissolving Whitening Strips to remove tough stains on the teeth’s surface for a no-mess application, with no rinsing required.
The device already comes with a two-week supply of Whitening Strips, a travel-friendly case and a charging base. Plus, this bundle includes an extra pack of strips. MOON’s Dissolving Strips are unique, as they whiten teeth up to seven shades lighter and dissolve completely in your mouth within 15 minutes. They are made with gentle, better-for-you ingredients that are perfect for sensitive teeth. Made with Elixir III, the pen features MOON’s proprietary antioxidant blend of lavender oil, strawberry fruit extract and honeysuckle flower extract, which is proven to instantly brighten and whiten teeth over time. It’s great for touch-ups to keep those pearly whites polished while on-the-go. Now, dad can easily throw it in a bag and have it on hand and ready to use when needed.
The “Kanuda Lumbar Nap” Sacral Still Point Pressure Pillow is a one-of-a-kind product that integrates physical therapy benefits into a pillow—ensuring proper neck alignment while sleeping on one side or the other. Its design mimics a physical therapy session at home by stimulating pressure points of the sacrum, stretching your lower back with its natural bending lumbar spine curvature. A few of the benefits of the Kanuda Lumbar Nap pillow include improvement of the craniosacral system function, tension relief in the lower back muscles, restoration of the spine’s natural lumbar curve to the correct posture and improvement in the range of motion in the hips. All the user needs to do is place the polyurethane foam pillow on the floor and lie down on their back so that the sacrum groove on the Kanuda Lumbar Nap is positioned directly underneath the user’s sacrum. For best results, it’s recommended to stay in this position for anywhere between 10-40 minutes daily. The South Korean company has been perfecting its product through ongoing research and development since 2005—helping to lead the way in customer satisfaction. Reportedly the first-ever pillow to incorporate physical therapy techniques to relieve neck pain and induce proper sleep positions, Kanuda helps keep your neck, spine and shoulders truly aligned in proper resting position.
For the Silo, by Merilee Kern.
Merilee Kern, MBA is an internationally-regarded brand strategist and analyst who reports on cultural shifts and trends as well as noteworthy industry change makers, movers, shakers and innovators across all categories, both B2C and B2B. This includes field experts and thought leaders, brands, products, services, destinations and events. Merilee is Founder, Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List” as well as Host of the “Savvy Living” lifestyle TV show that airs in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Atlanta and other major markets on CBS, FOX and other top networks; as well as the “Savvy Ventures” business TV show that airs nationally on FOX Business TV and Bloomberg TV. As a prolific lifestyle, travel, dining and leisure industry voice of authority and tastemaker, Merilee keeps her finger on the pulse of the marketplace in search of new and innovative must-haves and exemplary experiences at all price points, from the affordable to the extreme. Her work reaches multi-millions worldwide via broadcast TV (her own shows and copious others on which she appears) as well as a myriad of print and online publications. Connect with her at www.TheLuxeList.com and www.SavvyLiving.tv / Instagram www.Instagram.com/MerileeKern / Twitter www.Twitter.com/MerileeKern / Facebook www.Facebook.com/MerileeKernOfficial / LinkedIN www.LinkedIn.com/in/MerileeKern.
***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided at no cost or sponsored to accommodate if this is review editorial, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.***
A study by Compare the Market Australia has analyzed each country around the world on their annual search volume for terms such as ‘relocating to [country]’ and ‘moving to [country]’ to reveal the world’s most desirable countries to relocate to.
The most desired countries to relocate to? Here comes a boring chart!
Rank
Top destination
Favourite in X countries
1
Canada
50
2
Japan
31
3
Spain
19
4
China
15
5
France
11
6
Turkey
9
6
South Africa
9
8
India
7
9
Australia
6
10
Greece
4
10
Fiji
4
Taking the top spot is Canada, with our North American nation being the most desired destination in 50 other countries around the world. Canada is a very welcoming country for expats, which has led to it becoming a very diverse and multicultural destination.
Second place goes to Japan, with 31 countries having it as their number one relocation destination, including Australia. Japan has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, which could explain why so many people are researching to move there.
Spain is another very popular choice, especially amongst those in other European countries, with 19 countries having it as their favourite in total. Known for its warm Mediterranean climate, Spain is also another destination that has excellent healthcare and quality of life.
The least desired countries to relocate to in the world include: Sweden, The Philippines, Bulgaria, Germany, Thailand, Egypt, Singapore, Myanmar, Italy, and Nigeria with only one other country wanting to move to each of these destinations.
Further Study Insights:
Each country’s most desired relocation destination
Check the map below to see where each country in the world wants to relocate to the most.
While the majority seem to prefer somewhere within the same continent, there are some notable exceptions to this.
As the most searched country overall, we can see that people from as far away as India and South Africa have Canada as their most searched destination.
However, there were also some definite regional trends though. For example, many African nations have South Africa as their most searched destination.
Methodology
Using Google Ads Keyword Planner, the annual search volume for each of the following terms was found for each country in the world:
Houses in [country]
[Country] property
Moving to [country]
Relocating to [country]
This process was then repeated for each country in the world, taking a total of the searches across all four search terms, to reveal where each country wants to relocate to the most.
Note that searches within the same country were removed from the results.
In addition, all searches were carried out in English, as results in native languages proved to give inconsistent results.
LOS ANGELES—Automation is no longer an option, automation is the key to surviving the Great Reset.
In 2021, more than 47 million American workers resigned, an annual record. In Canada numbers are harder to determine since accurate resignation numbers are not readily available. However, Statistics Canada has published the results of a survey pitched towards Canadian workers.
With no sense of the number of people surveyed and the accuracy of the data gathering the results should perhaps be best taken at face value: “In January, respondents were asked whether they were planning to leave their current job, and whether quality of employment considerations were among the reasons for doing so. Fewer than 1 in 10 Canadian workers aged 15 to 69 (7.3%) were planning to leave their current job within the next 12 months, compared with 16.1% in 2016, when respondents to the General Social Survey were asked the same question (not seasonally adjusted). When January 2022 LFS respondents were asked to report their main reason for planning to leave their job, preliminary results show that at least 1 in 5 of those planning to leave (22.2%) reported reasons related to quality of employment, including low pay (15.7%), heavy workload (4.3%) and inability to do their current job from home (2.2%). The trend is continuing. Surveys and data show that 6 in 10 young professionals have changed jobs or plan to and that 4.5 million workers quit their jobs in March.”
Businesses face continuously evolving markets and societal pressures that are transforming the way employees and employers put in exchange with each other to provide value to consumers and clients.
Staffing agencies especially have been under pressure during the pandemic and navigating the Great Reset.
Bilflo automates back-office tasks and helps staffing manage hundreds of contractors and direct hires on a single, simple platform. This allows organizations to conserve time and labor while expanding business operations and profits. The ability to pull in live performance metrics makes it easy for businesses and teams to track their progress on goals.
“The pandemic was a catalyst for development and expansion, springing from a strong foundation. We spent the past decade developing Bilflo to provide value to clients, especially during a turbulent time,” said Bilflo CEO Barrett Kuethen. “Bilflo was built by staffing industry experts to specifically serve the industry and address the unique operational pains to bridge process gaps.”
As of 2022, Bilflo has an extensive integration roadmap that has started with ATS platforms: Bullhorn and Jobadder along with accounting systems like Quickbooks. The company is expanding with key offerings such as Importing External Time, which will support staffing companies by eliminating redundancy and manual errors from VMS tools and other client time portals. Bilfo’s developers and leadership update the platform responsively to customers to provide optimized results.
Bilflo is outcome-driven and their case studies with leading companies bring to life their platform and services. Amtec, a 60-year-old staffing company which employs over 1,000 contractors every year, provides talent to industries like health care, IT, aerospace and more. After adopting Bilflo the company reduced back-office labor by 75 percent, doubled capacity and achieved 49 percent annual cost savings. Extension, a 20-year-old full recruitment and staffing company handles up to hundreds of employees per week, and similarly achieved success through Bilflo, saving more than $20,000 usd a year and eliminating 16 hours a week in manual workload.
Bilflo founders held a webinar, in association with Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), to discuss why and how to automate staffing companies’ back-office processes. Bilflo has already seen success after emerging in the market early this year and has received 3rd party validation from industry leaders like G2.com. Bilflo received recognition as a high performer for 2022 including generally, and for small business, mid-market, “easiest to use,” “easiest to do business with” and for “best support.” G2 features Bilflo reviews and case studies here on back office management, and tech stacks.
Bilflo’s APIs (application program interface) communicate with organizations’ ATS to retrieve information. This eliminates the need for someone to spend hours manually entering data.
Bilflo makes it so that companies can store contract job information such as rates, burdens, timecard types, overtime rules, job site addresses, workers’ comp codes and rates, and more.
In the era of remote work and asynchronous collaboration, companies need systems in place to handle timecard and expense management.
Compliance is more difficult to manage than ever. Bilflo solves these problems by calculating overtime in all states and provinces. Payroll integration and automated invoicing rapidly handle complex payment terms, billing addresses, line item information, and real-time reports.
Study: Lots of Canadians use smartphones while on the toilet
A digital privacy expert provides tips on protecting your phone on and off the john:
A recent survey by the cybersecurity company NordVPN revealed that as much as 65.6% of Canadians bring their smartphones with them into the toilet. That’s a bit less than the average of all surveyed countries. While most Canadians (60%) scroll through social media during that time, barely anyone thinks of growing threats online and hackers’ attempts to compromise people’s phones.
“Canadians seem to need smartphones a lot.”
“Our previous survey already showed that Canadians spend a lot of time online- more than 22 years per lifetime which is a third of their lives,” says Daniel Markuson, a digital privacy expert at NordVPN. “Even though the majority (83%) name smartphones as the device that tracks their online behavior the most, Canadians still haven’t developed good cyber habits to protect their online lives,” he says.
Using social media and gaming — top activities for Canadians while on the toilet
The majority of Canadians admit that their time on the toilet is mostly spent scrolling through social media (60%), gaming (40%), and reading or listening to the news (35%). This shows that Canadians like entertaining themselves while in the bathroom.
Among other activities, Canadians also watch videos, movies, or television programs (33%) check work email and other tools, for example, Slack, Microsoft Teams (33%), and call or message other people (31.5%).
“While most of Canadians’ time on the loo is spent on social media, people also feel concerned about Facebook (80%) and Instagram (40%) collecting the biggest amount of their users’ data. Social media networks, ISPs, third-party organizations, websites, and governmental institutions regularly collect users’ personal data and track browsing habits for marketing or other purposes,” says Daniel Markuson.
Cybersecurity refresher for Canadians
Smartphones are evolving at a rate that is beyond belief, making us stay connected even while on the loo. However, Canadians are encouraged to not forget about their online safety, even while immersed in social media, conversations, games, or the news.
Daniel Markuson, a digital privacy expert at NordVPN, shares key tips on protecting your phone on and off the john:
Keep apps and the phone’s operating system (OS) up to date. Don’t skip software updates.
Do your research. Never download unknown apps — read up on them first.
Avoid unofficial app stores. They’re more likely to contain malware-ridden apps.
Avoid using unknown Wi-Fi. And always use a VPN when you do.
Be vigilant. Don’t click on suspicious links, don’t give out your number to strangers, and be wary of unknown numbers.
Methodology: The survey was commissioned by NordVPN and conducted by the external company Cint on January 19-26, 2022. The survey’s target group was residents of France, USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Lithuania aged 18+ (nationally representative), except for Lithuania (18-74) and the sample was taken from national internet users. Quotas were placed on age, gender, and place of residence. 9800 people were surveyed in total, made up of 800 people from Spain and 1000 people from each of the remaining countries.
(Toronto, Ontario) Seven in ten Canadians have given to charity in 2018, and almost half of donors are open to different sorts of giving approaches than just the traditional solicitation letter, according to the 2018 What Canadian Donors Want Survey, conducted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada in partnership with Ipsos.
The survey, which featured 1,500 Canadians age 18 or older, found that the percentage of people giving to charity in 2017 jumped by four points from the 2015 survey, returning to previous giving levels. Even as more Canadians are giving, they are giving less—an average of $772 cdn in 2017 compared to average giving levels of $924 cdn in 2015 and $726 cdn in 2013.
Eighty percent of donors give to more than one cause, with 23 percent giving to 4-5 charities and 13 percent supporting 6 or more causes. The top recipients of donations are social services and health charities—more Canadians (59% and 57%) gave to those causes than any other.
Overall, Canadians are more confident in the charitable sector than ever before, with nearly eight in ten respondents (78%) saying they’re confident in the organizations that comprise the charitable sector. That figure represents a five-point increase from 2015 and is significantly higher than confidence in the private sector (67%) or the public sector (60%).
Roger Ali Foundation for Philanthropy Canada
“Overall, the survey shows a Canadian population that is very supportive of the work of the country’s charities and a good understanding of how charities work to support communities,” said Roger Ali, CFRE, chair of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada. “However, there are signs that donors are changing how they want to give and interact with charities, and the sector needs to understand and adapt to these changes so that we remain relevant to the people who support us and the people we serve.”
Changes in Volunteering, Giving Behavior
One troubling sign is a drop in volunteerism rates. According to the survey, one-third of Canadians volunteered their time to a charity or non-profit in the past 12 months and spent an average of 88 hours—down precipitously from 110 hours in 2015. “We’ll be watching this closely in our next survey to see if this is a one-time drop or a trend,” Ali added.
Canadians continue to change in how they want to be approached for donations. While 44% express a preference for traditional requests, such as mail, one quarter prefer a more personal approach like peer-to-peer contact or crowdfunding. Three in ten (31%) say they’re open to anything, having no specific preference.
Fundraising preferences vary significantly by age. Baby Boomers (54%) are the most likely to prefer being solicited through traditional requests, compared to Gen X’ers (43%) or Millennials (33%). By contrast, Millennials (17%) lead the way on crowdfunding, preferring this option to a greater extent than their Gen X (11%) or Boomer (5%) counterparts.
Perceptions of Charity Roles, Performance
Many underlying views on charities have remained relatively stable over time. Three-quarters of Canadians continue to agree that charities play an important role in society to address the needs not being met by the government, the public sector or the private sector. Majorities also believe that charities are trustworthy (61%) and act responsibly with the donations they receive (63%).
Canadians are more divided on how much charities spend on their programs and services vs. how much they spend on supplies, administration, salaries and fundraising. A growing majority (58%, up six percentage points from 2015) trust charities on how much they say they spend money on programs and overhead.
However, about a third of Canadians (34%, down 4 points) are less trusting, indicating that charities overstate how much they spend on the cause or programs (24%), or that charities are being intentionally misleading (10%). Yet, when presented with factors and asked how important each one is in evaluating a charity’s effectiveness, Canadians placed more emphasis on a charity’s ability to achieve its mission and create impact than managing its operation or its fundraising.
“Donors are looking for charities that create impact to change the world for the better,” said Lorelei Wilkinson, CFRE, chair of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada Research Committee. “But it’s always clear that they keep a careful eye on administrative costs and a charity’s operations. The charitable sector needs to do a better job of explaining that overhead costs are essential for growth and sustainability —for things like equitable salaries, updated computer equipment, etc.— as part of being efficient with their use of donor dollars.”
Looking Ahead
Almost half of Canadians (46%) indicate that they are very likely to give in the next 12 months, while another one-third (34%) are somewhat likely to donate. However, 59% say they are also concerned about the economy, which may force them to reassess their giving plans.
A considerable number of Canadians (42%) proactively seek out information on the cause/charity and contact them to donate, while six in ten (58%) say the charity approaches them and they donate based on the information they receive. When looking for information on charities they support, Canadians continue to rely on online information (75%) as opposed to family, friends or colleagues (39%).
Social Media
The 2018 What Canadian Donors Want Survey also asked general questions about Canadians’ use of social media.
Similar to 2015, eight in 10 Canadians (81%) have a social media account. This applies across every age group, from 91% of Millennials through to 85% of Gen X’ers and 70% of Baby Boomers. Women (84%) are more likely than men (78%) to maintain at least one social media account.
Facebook dominates the Canadian social media landscape: three in four Canadians (75%) say they have a Facebook account, placing it well ahead of Twitter (29%), Instagram (28%), Reddit (5%) or other social media (13%).
Nearly two in ten Canadians on social media (18%) have donated to a charity in response to a request that came through their social media account. Millennials (23%) and Gen X Canadians (19%) are more likely than Baby Boomers (13%) to have made a charitable donation in response to a social media invitation or post.
“As generations age, we expect that email and social media will continue to become more prevalent in fundraising,” said Mary Bowyer, CFRE, member of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada Research Committee. “For now, we’re seeing a blend of different approaches, and the most successful charities will be those who personalize their appeals based on what individual donors want, meaning a mix of mail, email, videos, Tweets and other communications.”
About the Survey
The 2018 What Canadian Donors Want Survey was based on a poll conducted between October 10 and October 17, 2017, on behalf of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada. For this survey, a sample of 1,500 Canadians aged 18+ was interviewed. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample’s composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe.
The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within ±2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadian adults been polled. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is the largest international association of fundraising professionals in the world. AFP has over 33,000 members world-wide, with 3,800 in Canada. AFP promotes the importance and value of philanthropy, and enables people and organizations to practice ethical and effective fundraising. AFP Canada was formally created in 2017.
As the philanthropic arm of AFP, the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada supports many programs and services through its fundraising efforts. Fulfilling the promise of philanthropy by funding programs and services in the areas of research, diversity & inclusion, supporting the profession and leadership. To find out more, please visit www.afpnet.org.
A new study of the dating app Jaumo concludes that superficiality in online dating is just a preconceived prejudice. A survey among North American users shows that the majority of participants do find athleticism attractive but a couple of extra pounds on the hips will not necessarily decrease your chances of finding a date.
What attracts Jaumo users?
What is it, that attracts one person to another? Which body features are most important to most people? To answer these questions, Jaumo carried out a survey among more than 4,400 Jaumo users from the US. Jaumo interviewed them over a period of 4 weeks about their preferences in regards to their own body and personal ideals required of a partner. Users could agree or disagree with the statements outlined in the survey.
Image: whoabooty.com
Jaumo users are not only active flirters.
63 percent of the users find an athletic partner attractive and more than half of the respondents don’t mind a couple of extra pounds on their significant other’s hips. It is noticeable that significantly fewer users, namely 42 percent, consider an athletic body sexy. And the sexes even completely agree on this question!
Raw data from Jaumo Survey.
Hairy is not scary.
On the subject of body hair, the female users are pretty much in total agreement: 76% think chest hair belongs on the male body. The male users see this somewhat differently, but nonetheless, 64 percent of respondents agree. A natural look is also preferred in the downstairs department. 63 percent find a hairy pubic area perfectly acceptable and a total of 70% of the women prefer to see hair when they look down.
The way to someone’s heart is through their stomach.
Vegan, vegetarian, low-carb or meat-eater – with so many varied eating preferences, it may be difficult to find a partner with the same nutritional routine. For 77 percent of the Jaumo users, however, a compatible diet with their partner is seen as a must. For the Silo, Racheal A. Mack.
Jaumo founders Jens Kammerer and Benjamin Roth.
About Jaumo
Jaumo is a dating app founded by Jens Kammerer and Benjamin Roth in 2011. Jaumo has 20 million users in 180 countries around the world, more than 2 million of them in the USA and Canada. The dating app is available for free for iOS at the Apple Store and Android at the Google Play Store. The driving force of the two friends from Germany is to offer an uncomplicated and user-oriented product that binds satisfied customers.
There’s a strong correlation between the growth of a law firm and the strength of its culture, according to a new survey published in February’s ABA Journal.
The most successful mid-sized firms are those that put a high value on their culture – how they do business and the written and unwritten rules for behavior, according to the survey conducted by TAGLaw and the Center for the Study of the Legal Profession.
“Firms in which everyone plays by the rules and values dictated by the leadership are more successful in part because, whether they realize it or not, they’re branding themselves,” says Hillel L. Presser, Esq., MBA, author of a new book, “The Lawyers Law of Attraction: Marketing Outside the Box But Inside the Law,” (www.lawyermarketingllc.com).
Branding – developing a unique, distinctive and consistent image — is vital for any lawyer hoping to stand out from the competition, Presser says.
It’s even more important to distinguish oneself in today’s post-Recession economy. Demand for legal services, revenues and rates have all dropped significantly since the Recession began in December 2007, according to a 2013 advisory by Hildebrandt Consulting and Citi Bank.
“The compound annual growth rate for revenues in the legal market was 9.8 percent leading into the Recession. From 2008 to 2012, it was 0.8 percent,” Presser says. So how does a law firm – or an individual lawyer – develop a brand?
“In a firm, if you have a strong culture, start by giving it a closer look. What values define your culture? What rules govern interactions with clients? Do you have a collaborative team approach or independent individualistic lawyers?” he asks. “All of these answers will help you define your brand.”
If you’re an individual lawyer, you are your brand. Your personality, your look, how you present your practice all contribute to your brand identity. To build a successful, strong brand, you need to be sure these things convey what you want them to – and more important, appeal to your market.
Presser offers these tips for building your brand:
• Identify your personality, your specialty and your target market: These form the basis of your brand and it’s important for all three to work well together. Presser defines his personality as “an innovator and educator who’s very social and very serious about financial protection.” His specialty is asset protection, and his target audience is all individuals with money, property or other assets that are not secured in the best way.
• Decide what will appeal to that target audience: If you already have clients, look for what they have in common – it will say a lot about what they value and, hence, what appeals to them. Everything from the clothes they wear to the cars they drive to the information they share about themselves offer clues to what they value. Maybe it’s reliability. Non-conformity. Social status. Solid quality. Is that who you are? If so, make sure it’s reflected in your brand.
• Think about what makes you different from your competition. From soda companies to athletic apparel manufacturers, every industry includes rivals selling the same products. Through branding, they distinguish themselves to appeal to their target audience – to set themselves apart. What makes you different from other divorce, criminal defense or corporate attorneys? How does that fit in with your personality, specialty and target market?
• Look for ways to incorporate your personality into your practice.Everything from the furnishings in your office to the clothes you wear to your business card and website should incorporate the personality and values you want to convey. If the tone of the copy on your website is casual and light-hearted and you want your brand to say old-fashioned hard work and reliability, you need to have the copy rewritten.
Your brand will be the foundation for your marketing, so take the time necessary to ensure all of the elements work in harmony, Presser says.
“You don’t have to be everything to everyone – you can’t be,” he says. “So focus on your niche audience and what’s important to them as well as what’s important to you. It will make you more successful both in setting yourself apart and attracting the types of clients you want to attract.”
About Hillel L. Presser, Esq., MBA
Hillel L. Presser is the owner of Lawyer Marketing LLC, a company dedicated to helping lawyers effectively market their practices. He’s also the founder of The Presser Law Firm, P.A., representing individuals and businesses in establishing comprehensive asset protection plans. He is a graduate of Syracuse University’s School of Management and Nova Southeastern University’s law school, and serves on Nova’s President’s Advisory Council. He also serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations for his professional athlete clients. He is a former adjunct faculty member of law at Lynn University. For the Silo, Ginny Grimsley.
A new study of the dating app Jaumo concludes that superficiality in online dating is just a preconceived prejudice. A survey among North American users shows that the majority of participants do find athleticism attractive but a couple of extra pounds on the hips will not necessarily decrease your chances of finding a date.
