Vision Expo East is the complete event for ophthalmic professionals, where eyecare meets eyewear and education, fashion and innovation mingle. Join eyecare professionals, buyers, influencers, and technology leaders at Vision Expo!
Where eyecare meets eyewear, and education, fashion and innovation mingle, Vision Expo East 2023 is on track to be the largest optical gathering the industry has experienced in years according to show organizers The Vision Council and RX.
Vision Expo East 2023 took place March 16–19 at the Javits Center in New York City, with the show’s educational program, together with OptiCon®@Vision Expo, opening Thursday, March 16 and the Exhibit Hall opening Friday, March 17, 2023.
This year’s event is expected to be the largest vision-focused trade show since 2019, with over 450 companies from around the world and an anticipated 12,000+ attendees.
About Vision Expo: Vision Expo East and West are trade-only conferences and exhibitions for eye care and eyewear presented by co-owners RX and The Vision Council. Vision Expo is the complete event for ophthalmic professionals, where eye care meets eyewear, and education, fashion and innovation mingle.
In the Vision Expo Exhibit Hall, eye care providers can discover trends, interact with new technologies and access innovative products and services. The Vision Expo education program is driven by the profession, offering content of the highest quality and relevance to enhance overall patient care.
About The Vision Council: As the vision care leader in enabling better vision for better lives, The Vision Council positions its members for success by promoting growth in the vision care industry through education, advocacy, research, consumer outreach, strategic relationship building and industry forums.
About RX: RX is in the business of building businesses for individuals, communities and organizations. We elevate the power of face-to-face events by combining data and digital products to help customers learn about markets, source products and complete transactions at over 400 events in 22 countries across 43 industry sectors. RX is passionate about making a positive impact on society and is fully committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.
It was a very well attended show, Vendors and attendees in attendance throughout the World. Our World Liberty TV, Team saw many unique, Sunglasses, Readers, Frames and even smart glasses.
You can view all this and more in our World Liberty TV, Health Channels and Blogs by clicking here.
By Adal Hussain, Chief Editor, March 17th 2023
The New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world. The first parade was held on March 17, 1762 — fourteen years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The parade is held annually on March 17th at precisely 11:00 AM in honor of St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland and of the Archdiocese of New York.
The parade route goes up Fifth Avenue beginning at East 44th Street and ending at East 79th Street. Approximately 150,000 people march in the parade which draws about 2 million spectators.
From its earliest days, right up to the present, the New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade™ has been run entirely by volunteers, many of whom come from generations of families dedicated to the organization of the parade.
It takes months of preparation and countless hours to run the world’s oldest and largest parade. We could not do it without the commitment of these great women and men.
The NYC Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. *When March 17 falls on a Sunday, the Parade is held on March 16 for religious observances.
The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of New York City’s greatest traditions. The first parade was on March 17, 1762 — fourteen years before the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence.
The first NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade was comprised of a band of homesick, Irish ex-patriots and Irish military members serving with the British Army stationed in the colonies in New York. This was a time when the wearing of green was a sign of Irish pride but was banned in Ireland. It was a wonderful parade like always, Grand Marshall this year was Kevin J. Conway:
Kevin J.Conway : is the Vice Chairman of Clayton, Dublilier & Rice, a global private equity firm known for blending investment skills with operating capabilities to build great businesses. He joined CD&R in 1994 and served as Managing Partner from 2004 to 2016, as well as a member of the Management Committee. Conway is the Chairman of the Investment Committee at CD&R, a position he has held for over twenty years, during which time CD&R has invested approximately $50 billion to acquire over 75 companies with an aggregate transaction value of more than $200 billion.
The Firm’s current portfolio employs more than 600,000 people and generates annual revenues of approximately $100 billion. In his 28 years at the firm, Conway has helped build a leading global private equity firm, been active in many of the firm’s organizational initiatives, and worked closely with the chief executive officer on all aspects of CD&R’s operations.
Close to 2 Million were in attendance on 5th Ave of New York City seeing the parade go by.
Other dignitaries that marched in the parade included: Lieutenant Governor Delgado of New York State, Attorney General State of New York Letitia James, New York City Council Speaker, Adrienne Adams. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Former Council member Daniel Dromm and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, Curtis Sliwa, Guradian Angels Founder and New York City Mayor Candidate and many more political leaders
See More in our World Liberty TV, Political Channels and blogs by clicking here.
Farouk Shami was born on the 15th December 1942, in Beit Ur al-Tahta, Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine and is an entrepreneur, best known as the founder and owner of the hair and skin care production company based in Texas, USA called Farouk Systems. Shami was also known through being a candidate for the Texas gubernatorial position in the elections held in 2010. Farouk has been active in the beauty industry since the early 1970s.
How much is the net worth of Farouk Shami? It has been estimated by authoritative sources that the outright size of his wealth is as much as $700 million, as of the data presented in early 2017. The beauty industry is the major source of Shami’s fortune.Farouk Shami Net Worth $700 Million.To begin with, Shami moved to the USA in 1965. He graduated from the University of Arkansas, and was then a student of the cosmetology school based in Arkansas.
Regarding his professional career, Shami has been working in the development of hair care products for many years. At the start, he even developed an allergy to ammonia substances and was recommended to leave this profession. Yet, Shami was so passionate about his work that he wouldn’t even consider leaving, and on the contrary, he invented hair colouring which is ammonia free. So successful was Farouk that not only is he the founder of the hair and skin care production company Farouk Systems, but it currently employs more than 600 people just in the US. Their production is known all over the world, and the brands such as Cationic Hydration Interlin, BioSilk and SunGlitz are really popular. They export their production to more than 106 countries all over the world. Farouk Systems is the major source of Farouk Shami net worth.
In 2009, Farouk Shami participated in the election for governor of Texas position, as a member of the Democratic Party, and became involved in several controversies concerning religious issues and the 11th September attacks. During the campaign he revealed that he does not belong to any religious organization but has a personal bond with God. Another controversy was the statement that Farouk was not sure if the government of the USA was involved in the attacks of 11th September. Probably due to these controversies he lost the election to the politician Bill White.
In 2010, Farouk Shami served on the board of the American Task Force on Palestine.Moreover, Shami was friends with the current President of the USA Donald Trump. Together they have participated in the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants as well as in the reality television show “Celebrity Apprentice”, with Farouk providing sponsorship, but things changed after Trump’s anti-Hispanic remarks. However, Trump is believed to be using the CHI Helmet Head product made by Farouk System’s.
Finally, in the personal life of Farouk Shami, he has been married to Izziah Shami since 1961. They have an only child Basim Shami, who is also known for his work in the beauty industry. Currently, he is the President and CEO of the Beauty Elite Group.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Dr Farouk Shami, Chairman and Founder Farouk Systems Inc, at the International Beauty Show in New York , Feb 2023.
See More about the International Beauty Show 2023, in our World Liberty TV, Health and Beauty Channels by clicking here.
CES® 2023 opened today with innovative product launches that will help to solve global challenges. Companies are demonstrating how technology can conserve energy and increase power generation, address food shortages, create more sustainable agricultural systems, power smart cities, support access to clean water and more. CES 2023 is more than 70% larger than last year’s show, with over 3200 exhibiting companies, including 1000 startups, featuring the latest technologies. That includes innovations in transportation and mobility, accessibility technologies, electric vehicles, digital health, sustainability, Web3, metaverse and beyond.
“CES is back! The halls are buzzing with energy and excitement – attendees, exhibitors and media from around the world are passionate about gathering together and advancing our industry,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. During CTA’s State of the Industry Address Thursday morning, Shapiro noted, “At CES 2023, new innovations promise to change our world for the better. Companies big and small are showcasing innovations in mobility, digital health, artificial intelligence, robotics, food tech, smart home, digital assets and more.”
Joining Shapiro on stage were John T. Kelley, vice president and acting show director, CES, and Kinsey Fabrizio, SVP, membership, sales and marketing at CTA to provide updates on expected trends and sessions at the show.
Dr. Carmichael Roberts, chairman of CTA’s Executive Board and founder of SOURCE, joined Shapiro on stage to discuss how SOURCE is providing access to clean water through Hydropanel technology and renewable resources, powered by the sun.
Shapiro also announced the second edition of CTA’s International Innovation Scorecard, an assessment of policies and practices around the world that fuel tech innovation or stand in the way of progress. A record 24 countries earned the highest ranking of “Innovation Champion”: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, as well as the European Union (EU).
While the CES exhibit show floor opened today, the full week of innovation kicked off on Tuesday and Wednesday with Media Days press conferences, CTA’s 2023 Tech Trends to Watch presentation, CES Unveiled Las Vegas and keynotes from AMD, BMW and John Deere.
Keynotes: John May, chairman and CEO of John Deere, delivered the opening CES 2023 keynote unveiling a new era of farming with advancements in technology that will help to ensure food security for the growing global population. May noted, “technology allows farmers to create more with fewer resources – doing more with less is the path forward.”
Dr. Lisa Su, Chair and CEO of AMD, delivered a preshow keynote Wednesday evening, unveiling a broad range of new AMD products, powering artificial intelligence, hybrid work, gaming, adaptive computing and more. Emphasizing her belief that “technology should do good,” Dr. Su also highlighted the power of adaptive computing to drive advances in healthcare, metaverse, space exploration and entertainment – all while using less energy to create a more sustainable world.
Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management for BMW, delivered an evening CES keynote on Wednesday. Zipse introduced the “perfect digital car of the future” – the NEAU KLASSE generation of vehicles – and unveiled the i Vision Dee, a BMW concept electric vehicle equipped with high-end and adaptive AI. Vehicles are set for production in 2025. “We are able to explore the full potential of digitalization to transform the car into an intelligent companion,” said Zipse.
Celebrities at CES :Entertainers and other figures from sports, music, movies, TV and technology will appear throughout the week celebrating technology through speaking engagements, signing autographs, and meeting conference attendees including: Grant Hill, Jessica Mendoza, Ken Jeong, Barbara Corcoran, Snoop Dogg, Imagine Dragons, Mario and Marco Andretti, Paris Hilton, Joe Theismann, M. Night Shymalan, Erin Andrews, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Pearce, Jose Andres, Seth Rogen, Paula Abdul, David Dobrik, and Lauren Miller Rogen.
About CES: CES® is the most influential tech event in the world – the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators. This is where the world’s biggest brands do business and meet new partners, and the sharpest innovators hit the stage. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, CES features every aspect of the tech sector. CES 2023 will take place in person in Las Vegas, and digitally, Jan. 5-8, 2023.
About Consumer Technology Association: As North America’s largest technology trade association, CTA® is the tech sector. Our members are the world’s leading innovators – from startups to global brands – helping support more than 18 million American jobs. CTA owns and produces CES® – the most influential tech event in the world.
Yes CES 2023, was back in a very big way, bringing out the biggest tech innovators of all time, and so much to see and get excited about. See much more about CES 2023 in our World Liberty TV, Technology and Technology Review Channels and Blogs by clicking here.
By Adal Hussain, Chief Editor Jan 10th 2023.
Thousands of nurses went on strike Monday at two of New York City’s major hospitals after contract negotiations stalled over staffing and salaries nearly three years into the coronavirus pandemic.
The privately owned hospitals were postponing nonemergency surgeries, diverting ambulances to other medical centers, pulling in temporary staffers, and assigning administrators with nursing backgrounds to work in wards in order to cope with the walkout.
As many as 3,500 nurses at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and about 3,600 at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan were off the job. Hundreds picketed, some singing the chorus from Twisted Sister’s 1984 hit “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” outside Mount Sinai. It was one of many New York hospitals deluged with Covid-19 patients as the virus made the city an epicenter of deaths in spring 2020.
“We were heroes only two years ago,” said Warren Urquhart, a nurse in transplant and oncology units. “We was on the front lines of the city when everything came to a stop. And now we need to come to a stop so they can understand how much we mean to this hospital and to the patients.”
“Enough is enough, Sinai,” New York State Nurses Association President Nancy Hagan said outside of Mount Sinai on Monday surrounded by red-clad nurses. “What we are asking for is for safe staffing and quality care for patients. We don’t think we are asking for too much.”
The hospitals said in separate statements on Monday that they offered a 19.1% compounded wage increase to the nurses. Montefiore Medical Center also said it was committed to create over 170 new nursing positions.
With the traumas of COVID still freshly seared into their minds, New York City nurses are once again sounding the alarm that staffing shortages at local hospitals are jeopardizing the well-being of themselves and their patients.
Nurses in the Big Apple and throughout New York State are planning a series of protests starting this week to highlight what they say is a failure on the part of hospitals to staff jobs that started to become vacant after the first pandemic wave roared through the region.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said on Sunday that he and his staff were closely monitoring the situation and that the city’s healthcare system is prepared to meet any challenges that may arise due to the work stoppage.
Union officials appeared to be winning the public relations battle in this fight, with cars and trucks honking their horns in support of the strikers throughout the day. And the union officials were getting overwhelming cheers from crowd as well with their position that they were fighting to put patients over profits.
Let’s hope all parties get together as soon as possible and iron out the details and everybody is happy with the situation, as nurses are very important part of our health system and with the COVID Raging full force we need to have them back at work, right away.
See More in our World Liberty TV, Political Channels and blogs by clicking here.
Retail’s Big Show is retail’s most important event. With three days of educational programing, an enormous Expo featuring the latest retail solutions, plus an Innovation Lab and Startup Zone featuring breakthrough technology, Retail’s Big Show will introduce you to the ideas, people and partners that will put you on the fast track to success.
The retailers who matter most are at NRF Retail Week. It’s the must-attend gathering where retail’s decision-makers and influencers come together to learn, share, collaborate, network and inspire.
Surrounding NRF 2023: Retail’s Big Show, NRF Retail Week is a week-long celebration of parties, high-profile partner events, innovative store tours, experiential tech, workshops, educational sessions and more. Preview it all here, where NRF curates and promotes New York City’s must-attend events for retailers.
The eighth annual NRF Foundation Honors took place Sunday night at the New York Marriott Marquis to recognize the outstanding leadership of retail executives, award student scholarships and highlight retail as an industry of opportunity. The event raised nearly $3 million to fund the NRF Foundation’s career development programs and resources.
Some of the Speakers included: Simone Bile’s decorated athlete and advocate and the power of perseverance, Chobani ; CEO Hamdi Ulukaya, hiring refugees is a no-brainer, Whole Foods Market, CEO Jason Buechel, LVMH and Louis Vuitton Inc, North America Chairman and CEO Anish Melwani on the luxury company’s enduring success, Kroger, CEO Rodney McMullen on evolving the customer experience, Walmart’s Chairman and CEO, John Furner on the importance of a long-term perspective.
Food Service Tech Pavilion: Tech that’s hot off the grill. The Food Service Technology Pavilion is specifically curated for those who operate within the retail food service sector. It’s a specialized area of the Expo where professionals from IT, finance, marketing and digital technology explore new solutions to help accelerate their business.
The Pavilion showcases systems that address the needs of food service operations including point-of-sale and back-office systems, digital signage and menu boards, loyalty and data, online ordering and more. Exhibitors in the Pavilion offer services to build a more efficient technology stack in retail or standalone foodservice operations.
Innovation Lab: Breakthrough tech that breaks expectations. The NRF Innovation Lab showcases the latest applications in artificial intelligence, augmented reality, machine learning, facial recognition, robotics and more. This immersive exhibit tracks the latest developments in retail’s transformation and what retail can be now and in the future.
Startup Zone: Break out of the old and get in with the new. The Startup Zone is where you’ll get to meet the newest companies in retail and see their biggest, standout ideas.
Here, you’ll be the first to hear about the breakthrough technology and radical thinking that everyone will be talking about tomorrow.
Consumer Product Showcase: Included close to 50 Companies showcasing many products and services, huge diversity of people involved in all kinds of retail business’s Sponsored by Amazon, American Express, SAP, first Prize was a $15,000 Prize Second prize winner got $10,000 towards their business.
About NRF: The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail succeed. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs — 52 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies.
About NRF Foundation: The NRF Foundation provides the skills and resources needed for a life-changing career. As NRF’s nonprofit 501(c)(3), we connect people to an industry that’s a great place to start and a great place to grow. Together, we help people build better lives and stronger communities.
It was World Liberty TV’s 20th Annual Appearance at NRF 2023, yes we have been covering it in our World Liberty TV, Business and Retail Channels, Blogs that long. This year was special because of the COVID, for the last few years. Things have changed drastically, but this year we saw many people in attendance, more companies coming back, Networking events, Night parties, Dinners and many VIP Events taking place. It reminds us on the good old days, which I believe are back and going forward. Also NRF in 2024, will be doing NRF Asia in Singapore, if you are a retailer looking to have a foot print in Asia, this show might be a right fit for you to attend.
See much more about NRF 2023, in our World Liberty TV, Retail, Business and Finance Channels and Blogs by clicking here.
