Modesty please! Cover up those sexy magazine covers...

10 hours ago

Co-operative Group

So-called "lad mags" are currently sold like this on the shelves of Britain's Co-op stores. The chain now threatens to drop sale of the magazines entirely if the publishers do not cover the sexy covers with a "modesty bag"

Come on, lads! Cover up the sexy mag covers, please...

One of Britain's largest magazine retailers has ordered magazines with overt sexual imagery to cover up their front covers with "modesty bags" or risk being withdrawn from sale.

So-called "lads' mags" - publications marketed primarily to men - such as Zoo, FHM, Nuts and Loaded have been a staple on supermarket shelves for years and have become synonymous with the sexual content and glamour model photos displayed on their front covers.

Supermarket chain the Co-operative gave an ultimatum to publishers on Monday, telling them to deliver the magazines in pre-sealed bags designed to obscure the front cover.

(Read More: No porn please, we're British)

If they do not comply by September 9 then the Co-operative has threatened to cease selling the magazine at the 4,000-plus stores it currently operates.

"As a community-based retailer we have listened to the concerns of our customers and members, many of whom say they object to their children being able to see overt sexual images in our stores," Steve Murrells, the chief executive of retail for The Co-operative Group, said in a press release.

"Whilst we have tried to mitigate the likelihood of young children seeing the images with a number of measures in-store, the most effective way of doing this is for these magazines to be put in individual, sealed modesty bags."

(Read more: Web-based challenges for the porn industry)

Several U.S. chains already cover up racy magazine covers. Ten years ago, Wal-Mart, halted sales of Maxim, Stuff and FHM men's magazines.

As an interim measure, the Co-operative has introduced opaque screens on shelves to reinforce its existing policy limiting the display of such material.

Jo Swinson, a junior minister at the government's equalities office, welcomed the move and hoped other retailers will follow suit.

"Many parents aren't comfortable with the way that sexualized imagery has become like wallpaper - everywhere from the bus stop to the corner shop," she said.

"Adults should be left to make their own decisions about what legal sexual images they look at, but the place for these is not next to the sweets at children's eye-level."

The decision by the retailer is in line with recommendations from a parliamentary review two years ago which recommended a clampdown on sexualized "wallpaper" surrounding children. However, the move goes against existing guidelines for retailers which say that men's lifestyle magazines should not be placed next to children's' magazines or be at a child's eye level.

(Read More: UK Bank Co-op Confirms Requires Additional Capital)

A spokesman for Bauer Media, the publisher of Zoo magazine told CNBC that it was aware of the Co-operative's request for sealed modesty bags, but supported the existing best-practice guidelines for the display of men's magazines.

"We are sensitive to the mood of the public, to that end we have responded accordingly and have changed ZOO magazine's cover imagery and phrasing," it said.

"We already have agreements in place with all major retailers, including Co-op, to ensure Zoo magazine is displayed appropriately and we work closely with all our retailers to ensure they are adhered to."

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Starbucks sees big growth in China

Starbucks is selling a lot more coffee in China.

According to its latest quarterly report, Starbucks saw a 30% year-over-year jump in revenues from its Asia-Pacific region, lifted by outstanding sales in China.

"The very strong sales volumes prove that the coffee concept can succeed in traditional tea-drinking countries," said R J Hottovy, director of consumer equity research at Morningstar, Inc. "It's resonating very well with [inland] cities."

Starbucks' solid sales growth in the region was driven by the 500 new stores it opened in China last year, and its Chinese expansion plans aren't slowing down.

The Seattle-based coffee giant said it plans to open its thousandth store in China by the end the year. In addition to already being in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, the company says its stores will have penetrated lesser-known cities. By 2014, Starbucks said China will surpass Canada to become the second largest market, after the United States.

In the last five years, overall retail coffee sales in China climbed by 10%, beating growth in Hong Kong, Japan and the 3% global average, according to data from research company Euromonitor International.

Starbucks said its marketing strategy in China is similar to that of its Western markets. It continues to focus on its core food and beverage products while also offering other locally oriented choices.

"The demographics they are targeting are younger and more affluent groups," Hottovy said.

Starbucks opened its first store in Taipei in 1998, followed by its first mainland China store in Beijing in 1999. But the coffee shop market is beginning to heat up. "Increasing competition will be the most pressing issue as more Western coffee brands enter the Chinese market," he said.

In 2012, an average Chinese person consumed about two cups of coffee per year. That's a far cry from the global average of 134 cups a year, according to Euromonitor. Coffee has less than 1% of the Chinese hot-drink market share. By contrast, tea makes up 54% of the market.

Source: http://www.wdsu.com/news/money/Starbucks-sees-big-growth-in-China/-/9853238/21193114/-/68fu9k/-/index.html?absolute=true

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Khalil Mack 2014 NFL Draft preseason scouting report

Khalil Mack | 6'3, 244 pounds | Outside linebacker | Buffalo

2012 stats: 94 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four forced fumbles

By the time Khalil Mack's season is over, it's likely his name will be next to a couple NCAA records. He enters the season 19 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles away from having the record.

It's also likely Mack leaves Buffalo with a trophy of two. Mack has been added to the watch lists for the Butkus, Lombardi and Bednarik awards. Out of high school, Mack was a lightly regarded prospect. Initially he was headed to Liberty, an FCS school. But when members of the coaching staff went to Buffalo, Mack went with them.

At Buffalo, Mack has developed into one of the nation's best all-around players on defense. Playing outside linebacker in a 3-4, he's at his best when he can rush upfield. But he's proven to be adept at dropping back in coverage. That combination of skills should give the Mid-American Conference its second consecutive first-round pick after Eric Fisher went No. 1 this year.

What he does well:

When it comes to pure aggression and drive, you'll be hard pressed to find a player that tops Mack. He's constantly on the move, whether it's rushing upfield or dropping back into coverage. He can quickly decipher the direction of cutbacks, bootlegs and misdirection plays. Mack also has a penchant for timing his jumps properly when he can't close in on the quarterback.

Mack's tenacity truly goes from whistle to whistle. When he takes down the runner, he often tries to strip out the football. That has led to 11 career forced fumbles for Mack.

Particularly on option plays, Mack's on-field awareness is evident. He knows when to commit to rushing the quarterback and when to stay on the runner. Mack also shows this same awareness when playing in zone coverage. Because of that, he gets a good break on the ball. To state it simply, Mack has explosion and range, a scary combination.

As a pass rusher, Mack knows how to make himself small. He has the flexibility to lower and turn his shoulders square to the quarterback. That leaves the target small for opposing offensive linemen. This also helps negate an offensive lineman's natural length advantage. As important as it is to have actual "moves" as a pass rusher, this technique is just as important.

What he needs to improve on:

Sometimes Mack's aggressiveness will get the best of him. A good offensive tackle will be able to use Mack's speed against him and driving him around and out of a play. It doesn't happen much against MAC competition, but tackles with quick feet can mirror against him.

It would also be nice to see Mack employ a little more power as a rusher. He's not much of a bull rusher (pardon the pun) and doesn't get a lineman pushing back. That's somewhat surprising considering that Mack shows strength against the run to shed blockers.

It's not something he can improve on technically, but it's worth noting that Mack was suspended for the first game of the 2012 season. He got into a fight with a teammate.

Bottom line:

We'll learn a lot about Mack in the first game of the season when Buffalo plays Ohio State. Although Buffalo likes to move Mack from the right to left side throughout the game, he'll go head-to-head with OSU left tackle Jack Mewhort, a possible top 100 pick. Mewhort will test Mack's take-on strength and could give him some trouble.

Ultimately, Mack's draft status will be up for debate until he performs in the Senior Bowl (assuming he gets an invitation). Before last year's Senior Bowl, there were questions about Eric Fisher and his ability to play against top-level competition. Mack will face the same scrutiny. How he overcomes it will determine his draft position.

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Source: http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/7/29/4567834/khalil-mack-2014-nfl-draft-preseason-scouting-report

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California political watchdog rebuffs request by Carlos Slim's firm

Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim at education conference in Lima, Peru. (Paolo Aguilar / EPA / July 11, 2013)

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Blockbuster burnout? Here are other options

Movies

Gael Fashingbauer Cooper NBC News

15 hours ago

"The Wolverine" should claw its way to a healthy box-office win this weekend, as Hugh Jackman's mutant hero returns to theaters with another solo outing. But what if you're not a super-fan of superheroes? Maybe you're suffering from blockbuster burnout, and need an entertainment option of a kinder, gentler ilk. Here are some options, from lesser-known movies to home video and book choices.

AP; AMC; Lionsgate

"Fruitvale Station," "Breaking Bad" and "Orange Is The New Black" are some options to help with blockbuster burnout.

'Fruitvale Station'
You may not find "Fruitvale Station" playing next to "The Wolverine" and "Pacific Rim" at your local mall multiplex. But it's worth seeking out at an arthouse or indie theater if need be. It's based on the true story of Oscar Grant, 22, who was shot to death by a police officer at a San Francisco train station in the early hours of New Year's Day 2009. Grant was no saint, and the film doesn't portray him as such, but he was handcuffed and unarmed when he was killed by the officer, who had announced he was going for his Taser, then suddenly drew a gun and fired into Grant's back. The film won both the Grand Jury Prize for dramatic feature and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. See it with someone you're comfortable discussing social issues with, because whatever your mindset going in, you'll want to talk about it. (Check local theater listings.)

'Breaking Bad'
The final eight episodes of "Breaking Bad" are speeding towards us like a meth-powered RV, and if you need to catch up, the time is now. You can watch the already aired episodes on DVD or via online streaming, and there are plenty of online dissections of each episode's pros and cons. Walter White's transformation from Mr. Chips to Scarface has been an engrossing and terrifying one, and how it will end is anyone's guess. (Aug. 11, 9 p.m., AMC.)

'Orange Is the New Black'
"Orange Is the New Black" is no "Oz." This new Netflix-only series focuses on Piper Chapman, a wealthy blonde New Yorker who finds herself a fish out of water when she's sent to a women's prison for 15 months. Piper is accustomed to making artisanal soaps and wearing designer clothes, not fighting for phone calls and wearing neon-orange prison garb. The women she meets are fascinating, including Laura Prepon of "That '70s Show" as the lover who helped land Chapman behind bars in the first place, and an almost unrecognizable Kate Mulgrew as the prison cook who tries to starve Chapman out after a poorly timed insult. (Netflix streaming.)

'The Way Way Back'
The Atlantic said "The Way Way Back" may be the best movie of the summer, and includes A-list star Steve Carell, yet even the most dedicated moviegoer can be forgiven for not knowing about it -- it hasn't seen even a quarter of the publicity blitz that surrounds movies like "Pacific Rim." Kids of the 1970s and '80s will remember that "the way back" was what many of us called the oddly situated seats in the far back of a station wagon, and that's where 14-year-old Duncan (Liam James) sits. He's struggling through life as his mom (Toni Collette) contemplates marrying her boorish boyfriend (Steve Carell). He meets pals at a local water park called Water Whizz and hears rumors that someone one passed another person in the tube slide, which seems impossible. One guess if it really is. (In theaters now.)

'Gone Girl'
Books where you're not sure if you can trust the narrator make for bumpy and intriguing reads. The 2012 bestseller "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn takes a wife's disappearance and forces the reader to stay alert, hopping from one possible scenario to another. You'll be reminded of the Laci Peterson case more than once. And if you like the book, get ready for the eventual movie, which will star Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as the main couple. (In bookstores and available for download now.)

'Power Moves'
Need a book to keep you laughing while you're living in your 'Bring (Chrysler Sebring) or downing brews at 'Bee's (Applebee's)? You need to get your hands on "Power Moves," you guys. The new book is an in-depth look at the life of (fictional, or so they say) Karl Welzein, the bad boy behind the hilarious Dad Boner Twitter feed. Karl must cope with Nosey Lady at work and a wife and kids who just don't get his rockin' off-the-chain, all-American life. How is this book not No. 1 in America? Kinda concerning, you guys.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/entertainment/got-blockbuster-burnout-here-are-quieter-entertainment-options-6C10765666

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