China is trying to dominate the future of the auto industry, US official said. Washington: The United States finalized a rule Tuesday effectively barring Chinese technology from cars in the American market, taking aim at software and hardware from the world’s second-biggest economy on national security risks. The announcement comes as outgoing President Joe Biden…
LAND O’LAKES — Pasco County families soon could face more hoops to read certain books in their public libraries.Responding to county commissioners’ concerns that children had too easy access to what they called “disturbing” material, the commission’s Library Advisory Committee on Tuesday began discussing potential changes to the rules for where books are placed on shelves and how they may be checked out.Under the proposal presented by library director Sean McGarvey, parents would get the option of having their children under 16 years old receive a “child library card” that would restrict their permissions to only items categorized as juvenile or younger.That grouping would not include young adult or adult materials. School-related books such as Sunshine State Readers and classics would be allowed.Parents would be required to register their children for library use, at which time they could select between the child card and an unrestricted adult one. This tiered model is similar to the one used in Hillsborough County public libraries.The proposal also would include a review of books in the children’s section of the library, with relocation of titles to adult and support areas “as needed.” This step would allow books to remain available, with added parental oversight, as opposed to removing them completely, as some other counties have done.These steps come on the heels of a September policy amendment stating that children ages 8 years and younger must be accompanied by their parent, guardian or caregiver at all times. Children 9 and older must follow the library’s code of conduct or face a potential suspension of services.“Libraries do not act in loco parentis‚” McGarvey said, quoting the policy. He added, “We strive to have parents with their children and to know what they’re reading.”McGarvey stressed that the approach “is a proposal only,” and did not have many additional details. He expected it would take four or five months before any changes would take effect.Knowing the concept would be discussed, a half dozen residents showed up to raise concerns. They opposed any effort to limit resources available in the library, which they said should represent diverse viewpoints from across the spectrum of ideas.“A library is for the entire community, not just for those who agree with us,” retired librarian Tracy Suits said.Parent Taylor Devine told the board that she has brought her son to the library for four years, and has discovered books that have expanded his world view. That included some of the materials that the library recently removed.“Suppressing books will damage our community,” she said.Devine said she was glad to have the chance to address the board, and planned to keep following the process. She said she also had questions about the children’s library card, saying it might prevent some youngsters from having access to age-appropriate books.Library board members asked few questions. But a couple said they did not support censoring books, with one saying she did not want to see children run off from the adult section of the library if they’re there with their parents’ permission.Discussions about the appropriateness of books for Florida children lately has played out primarily in public schools, where lawmakers have made it easier for parents and county residents to object to titles. The state has compiled a list of challenged and removed school books, and recently approved a multimillion-dollar purchase of a computer system to help residents find which ones have been addressed across the state.The content debate has not been limited to schools, though. In Pinellas County, commissioner Chris Latvala pressured the Clearwater public library to remove a Pride display that included 25 books related to LGBTQ+ themes from its children’s section in 2023. The Citrus County public library system faced a similar battle in 2022.Pasco County commissioner Seth Weightman referred to the state list of challenged school materials as he called for greater controls in his local libraries. He said the subject came to his attention after a local parent complained about a children’s book in the library about a transgender youth called “Calvin.”Such books might appear harmless, Weightman told his colleagues. But they can lead to adult conversations that parents might want to withhold from their children until they are older, he suggested. The county conducted a book audit, using primarily LGBTQ+ terms, and temporarily removed more than 100 titles from the children’s section as a result. They included “And Tango Makes Three,” which publishers have sued to get returned to Florida school districts, “Beloved” by Toni Morrison and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky.Commissioners pushed for the immediate permanent removal of all the books in question, but relented at the recommendation of staff and lawyers who advised them to follow the challenge process they have in place.Those books remain unavailable pending further review. But no other titles have been pulled, McGarvey said.Any policy changes the Library Advisory Board ultimately recommends would need to have commission approval.
This content was written and submitted by the supplier. It has only been modified to comply with this publication’s space and style.In 1975, the Germany-based Weidmüller Group established a U.S. manufacturing headquarters in Chesterfield County, Virginia, a suburb of Richmond. Weidmuller USA is proud to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025, marking five decades as a pioneer of innovation in smart industrial connectivity and automation products and solutions. A highlight of the company’s year-long commemoration of this milestone anniversary is a grand opening event in Spring 2025 of its 24,000 square-foot engineering and manufacturing facility, which was completed in Fall 2024.The new facility allows Weidmuller USA to ramp up the engineering, assembly and manufacturing of Industry 4.0 products that are needed for U.S customers.Over the past half century, Weidmuller USA has significantly broadened its product portfolio, which today includes more than 80,000 parts that can be tailored to specific customer applications. Currently, custom-designed solutions from Weidmuller USA increase efficiency and profitability for businesses in a wide array of industry sectors including renewable energy, oil and gas, data centers, food and beverage, intralogistics, machine design, appliance and HVAC, wiring and cable processing, and many more.In addition to its pioneering leadership in developing IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) and future-forward technologies, Weidmuller USA has earned regional and national accolades for its outstanding company culture of excellence, work-life balance, and employee engagement. The company has been recognized for three consecutive years (2022-2024) as a Top Workplace by the Richmond Times-Dispatch as well as being named a 2024 Top Workplace USA by USA Today,“Being a pioneer means reinventing yourself time and time again, and that’s a challenge Weidmuller USA has embraced for fifty years and counting,” said Randy Sadler, President & CEO of Weidmuller USA. “Our teams are passionate about products and solutions that enable digital transformation and growing an automation ecosystem that makes our solutions more flexible, open, and future proof for all industrial settings and IoT environments. We’re building on a proud legacy of innovation, resilience and top-tier customer service that has defined Weidmuller USA since 1975 and will enable the company to thrive for another fifty years and beyond.”
Welcome to ID Tech’s digest of identity industry news. Here’s what you need to know about the world of digital identity and biometrics today:
Keyless Makes Strong Debut in NIST FRVT Program
Keyless ranked among the top 50 algorithms globally in the Mugshot category of the NIST Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT) 1:1 Verification evaluations. The algorithm demonstrated strong performance in constrained scenarios like VISA and BORDER datasets. It achieved a False Match Rate (FMR) of 0.00001 and a False Non-Match Rate (FNMR) of 0.0025 in the Mugshot category for images captured over a 12-year span. In VISA scenarios, the FNMR was 0.0031 at an FMR of 0.000001, with similar accuracy in BORDER datasets under less controlled conditions. Keyless employs privacy-preserving Zero-Knowledge Biometrics technology, ensuring no biometric data is stored on devices or in the cloud. This debut achievement follows a year of significant growth, including a 657 percent increase in annual recurring revenue, positioning Keyless as a competitive player in privacy-focused biometric solutions.
Prove Acquires Portabl to Expand Digital Identity Verification Capabilities
Prove has acquired Portabl, a digital identity company focused on reusable ID verification and networks. Portabl, a graduate of Mastercard’s Start Path program, brings compliance with W3C standards for verifiable credentials, aligning with global trends in standardized digital credentials. The acquisition will enhance Prove’s mobile identity solutions by integrating Portabl’s technology, enabling secure storage and selective sharing of user verifications via device-independent wallets. Portabl’s platform aligns with initiatives like the European Union’s cross-border digital identity standards, addressing privacy, consent management, and data interoperability. Prove now positions itself to build one of the industry’s largest trust networks, leveraging Portabl’s expertise as organizations globally prioritize secure and interoperable digital identity ecosystems.
Illinois to Launch Digital Driver’s Licenses in Apple Wallet This Year
Illinois will launch digital driver’s licenses and state IDs via Apple Wallet by the end of 2025, becoming the 12th U.S. state to adopt mobile ID technology. Enabled by House Bill 4592, this initiative allows residents to store licenses on iPhones and Apple Watches, meeting ISO 18013-5 standards for mobile identification. These standards ensure secure, interoperable functionality with selective disclosure for privacy protection. The rollout aligns with federal Real ID requirements, effective May 7, 2025, mandating Real ID-compliant identification for air travel and federal building access.
Paravision Is Highest-ranking U.S. Firm in NIST FRTE Visa-border Evaluation
Paravision secured a top five global ranking in the visa-border category of the latest NIST Face Recognition Technology Evaluation (FRTE) 1:N test, emerging as the highest-ranked vendor from the United States and Europe. The company placed in the top ten across all tested scenarios, a distinction shared by only five vendors globally. Paravision’s Gen 7 Face Recognition model, set for release later this year, showed significant improvements, with error rates reduced by 42 percent compared to Gen 5 and 15 percent compared to Gen 6. These advancements build on the company’s expertise in deepfake detection and collaborations with government agencies.
Sri Lanka to Launch Digital National ID Cards This Month, with Indian Tech Support
Sri Lanka is set to launch digital National Identity Cards (NICs) in January 2025, modernizing its identification system with a Rs. 20 billion initiative. Half of the funding comes from India, leveraging expertise from its Aadhaar program. An Indian company will provide technical assistance, while Sri Lanka retains sole access to citizens’ data. The move addresses delays in NIC issuance, transitioning all new cards to a digital format. However, privacy concerns have emerged, with critics questioning the integration of biometric data. Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne assured the public that the government alone would manage data security. This upgrade represents Sri Lanka’s largest identity system reform in over 50 years, aligning with regional trends in digital ID modernization.
Invixium Launches Enterprise Series Biometric Access Control Devices for SMB Market
Invixium has launched its Enterprise Series, introducing two biometric access control devices tailored for small and medium businesses (SMBs). The IXM ROSTO combines facial recognition and card authentication with dual cameras, a 5-inch touchscreen, liveness detection, and multiple connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, BLE, and NFC. The IXM TOUCH 3 focuses on fingerprint authentication with an FBI-certified sensor and a 3.5-inch touchscreen. Both devices are IP65-rated for durability and integrate with major access control panels through IXM LINK. Priced competitively, the devices aim to bring enterprise-grade security to SMBs. This launch complements Invixium’s IXM WEB 3.0 platform, which integrates with Galaxy Control Systems for unified biometric and access management. The series is available for preorder, with shipping set to begin on March 31, 2025.
Humanity Protocol Launches New ‘Humanity Foundation’ to Promote Digital ID Ecosystem
The Humanity Protocol has established the Humanity Foundation in the Cayman Islands to advance Proof of Humanity solutions and expand its ecosystem. The foundation’s leadership includes Animoca Brands Chairman Yat Siu, Mario Nawfal of International Blockchain Consulting, and interim CEO Yeewai Chong, who emphasizes biometrics as a cornerstone for secure, decentralized identity systems. The protocol employs privacy-preserving palm vein biometric verification to ensure unique identities, enabling users to add credentials like education and employment history securely. Led by Terence Kwok, the Human Institute focuses on technical development, strategic partnerships, and hardware innovations for campus and mobile identity verification.
WorldCoin Reaches 10M Users Despite Global Regulatory Challenges
WorldCoin, now rebranded as “World,” has surpassed 10 million verified users despite operational bans in multiple countries due to privacy concerns surrounding its iris biometric verification technology. Its Orb devices collect biometric data to establish proof of personhood, a system aimed at addressing challenges posed by AI advancements. However, regulatory actions have highlighted significant privacy issues. Kenya initiated the first ban in 2023, with subsequent restrictions imposed in Spain, Portugal, Hong Kong, and South Korea, where fines were levied for data protection violations. Investigations have also been launched in Colombia and other jurisdictions. While World asserts compliance with legal standards, these challenges underscore the global debate over digital ID systems.
J.P. Morgan Unveils POS Terminals with Biometric Authentication
J.P. Morgan Payments has unveiled the JP Morgan Paypad and JP Morgan Pinpad, proprietary point-of-sale (POS) terminals equipped with biometric authentication capabilities. These devices use palm vein and facial recognition technologies to enhance transaction security while ensuring efficient checkout experiences in retail settings. Part of a broader industry trend toward biometrics in payments, this initiative addresses increasing security concerns and the limitations of traditional PIN-based methods. With global biometric payment adoption projected to grow significantly by 2030, these devices aim to balance customer convenience with fraud prevention. A U.S. launch is planned for later this year, followed by an international rollout, reflecting the growing regulatory and technological shift toward authentication solutions.
–
January 14, 2025 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala
Related News
Politics
Official
The signing of the Strategic Partnership Charter between the Republic of Armenia and the United States of America took place in Washington
Support A1+!On January 14, the signing of the Strategic Partnership Charter between the Republic of Armenia and the United States of America took place in the U.S. Department of State in Washington.
On behalf of the Republic of Armenia, the document was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan, and on behalf of the United States, by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The full text of the Charter is presented below.
Charter on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Armenia and the United States of America
Preamble
The Republic of Armenia and the United States of America:
Affirm the importance of our relationship as friends and strategic partners. We intend to deepen our partnership to the benefit of both nations and expand our cooperation across a broad spectrum of mutual priorities.
Emphasize that this cooperation between our two democracies is based on shared values and common interests. These include advancing democracy and economic freedom, defending sovereignty and territorial integrity, strengthening the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, supporting innovation and technological advances, and bolstering energy security.
Stress our mutual desire to strengthen our relationship across the diplomatic, economic, energy, high-tech, educational, scientific, cultural, legal, defense, and security fields.
Section I: Principles of Partnership
This Charter is based on core basic principles and beliefs shared by both sides:
Support for each other’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity constitute the foundation of our bilateral relations.
Our friendship derives from our common commitment to democratic values and our shared belief that democracy is the chief basis for political legitimacy and therefore, stability.
Cooperation between democratic partners will help promote peace and stability.
A strong, independent, sovereign, and democratic Armenia, capable of defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of internationally recognized borders is essential for lasting regional security and prosperity.
Armenia’s continued democratic and economic reforms can unleash the full creative potential of its industrious citizens and thereby catalyze prosperity throughout the region and beyond.
The United States welcomes efforts by Armenia to deepen its political, economic, security, and social ties with other nations of the Euro-Atlantic community and broader community of democracies.
A dignified and durable peace is essential for a more stable and prosperous future of the South Caucasus. The United States supports the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including in the border delimitation process based upon the Alma Ata Declaration of 1991.
The United States supports the unblocking of regional transport communications in the South Caucasus, based on full respect for the countries’ sovereignty and jurisdiction.
Recognizing that the flow of goods and people across borders leads to interdependencies and mutual benefits for neighbors, the United States also intends to continue to advocate for the normalization of relations between Armenia and its neighbors.
Section II: Economic, Trade, Transport, and Energy Cooperation
Armenia and the United States intend to expand cooperation to enhance job creation and economic growth, support economic/market reform and liberalization, promote transport connectivity, improve the bilateral business climate, and improve market access for goods and services. We recognize that fair, worker-centered, and sustainable trade is essential to promoting resilient supply chains, equitable development, freedom, and prosperity. The United States supports Armenia’s efforts to integrate into the global economy.
Acknowledging the importance of increased trade and investment to economic growth and development, Armenia and the United States intend to identify strategic opportunities to increase bilateral trade and investment.
Recognizing the importance of a well-functioning, resilient, and secure market-oriented energy sector, Armenia and the United States intend to explore opportunities to increase and diversify Armenia’s energy production and supplies. This includes the development of a civil nuclear power program with the highest standards for nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation; efforts to enhance energy security and efficiency, including through a significant increase in the share of renewables in Armenia’s energy mix; and measures to increase Armenia’s energy connectivity to regional and European markets.
Armenia and the United States intend to initiate a working group to strengthen enforcement of export controls for dual-use goods, align policy frameworks, and share information. Armenia and the United States also intend to initiate a joint dialogue on greater access to U.S. Commerce export-controlled technology by trusted companies operating in Armenia.
Understanding the importance of trade diversification to address food security and promote economic growth, Armenia and the United States intend to explore opportunities to cooperate on areas that will support a strengthened environment for agricultural trade.
Recognizing the multifaceted challenges faced by Armenia due to its landlocked position and limited access to global trade markets, Armenia and the United States intend to deepen cooperation aimed at the integration of Armenia into wider regional transport networks and connectivity initiatives, in particular through strong political support and promotion of Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” project.
Section III: Defense and Security
The United States supports an independent, sovereign, and democratic Armenia. A peaceful South Caucasus is foundational to Armenia’s continued economic growth and democratic development, and that of the region. Defense and security cooperation between Armenia and the United States benefits both nations and the region.
Recognizing the persistence of threats to global peace and stability, Armenia and the United States intend to expand the scope of their defense and security cooperation programs, including through establishing bilateral defense consultations within the next year and assisting the Armenian military through professional military assistance training.
The United States recognizes Armenia’s important contributions to peacekeeping efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, and Mali. Deepening Armenia’s integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions is a mutual priority, and we plan to expand security cooperation and reform programs intended to increase Armenian interoperability and to strengthen Armenia’s defense.
Acknowledging the threat posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Armenia and the United States plan to explore means to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and dangerous technologies through adherence to international nonproliferation standards, effective enforcement of export controls, and strengthened enforcement of such controls. To this end, the United States intends to support the capacity building of the Armenian Border Guard Service and State Revenue Committee.
Recognizing the persistent threat to government, business, and the public from malicious cyber actors, Armenia and the United States intend to work towards an innovative, secure, and rights-respecting digital future. Armenia and the United States plan to continue to hold regular consultations on existing and new cyber threats.
The United States intends to continue to foster rights-respecting institutions, including by supporting Armenia’s efforts to reform and modernize its Ministry of Internal Affairs and law enforcement agencies. Such support is expected to include police education and other measures to provide for public safety, to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for abuses, and to combat transnational crime and corruption.
Section IV: Strengthening Democracy, Justice & Inclusion
Recognizing Armenia’s significant achievements to date, our two countries commit to work together to foster the rule of law buttressed by an impartial, independent judiciary, and to further strengthen freedom of expression, including for the media, good governance and accountability, public administration reform, fair and transparent electoral competition, a free and active civil society, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and anti-corruption efforts in Armenia. Armenia and the United States recognize the importance of building resilient, inclusive societies so that our governments are fully responsive to the needs of all.
Armenia and the United States plan to cooperate to bolster independent media, freedom of expression, and access to objective news and information.
Armenia and the United States plan to cooperate to strengthen Armenia’s efforts to advance the rule of law and the policy making processes in this area, including by working to increase judicial impartiality and independence, public trust, and transparency, as well as to develop Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms. Through enhanced law enforcement and judicial branch relationships, as well as a strengthened institutional framework for crime prevention and criminal justice, we plan to address common transnational criminal threats such as terrorism, organized crime, trafficking in persons and narcotics, money laundering, and cyber-crime.
Armenia and the United States intend to cooperate on Armenia’s anti-corruption initiatives and efforts and the policy-making process in this area, including by working to strengthen anti-corruption institutions and integrity in all areas of public services.
Armenia and the United States plan to work together to improve the legal and regulatory frameworks for human rights protections in Armenia and strengthen Armenian human rights institutions. The United States plans to support Armenia as it works to enhance its legal framework on anti-discrimination.
Armenia and the United States plan to work together to promote good governance by increasing transparency and accountability, improving public administration in Armenia, and working on effective communication of reforms, as well as expanding citizen and media access to government information in Armenia.
Armenia and the United States plan to work together to increase political pluralism and transparent, fair political competition in Armenia, including by encouraging the development of political parties, think tanks, and non-governmental organizations, supporting their participation in developing legislation and enacting reforms to create a more competitive electoral environment.
Armenia and the United States plan to work together to strengthen the capacity of Armenian civil society to develop and analyze public policy, advocate on behalf of citizen interests, participate in the legislative process, and provide oversight of public officials.
Armenia and the United States intend to fulfill their Summit for Democracy Commitments.
The United States plans to support Armenia as it implements a plan to prevent and combat all forms of human trafficking in Armenia.
Recognizing that Armenia has dealt with a displacement crisis since September 2023, the United States plans to continue to support Armenia as it provides assistance to displaced persons and refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.
Section V: Increasing People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges
Armenia and the United States share a desire to increase our people-to- people contacts, including through the Armenian American community, and enhance our cultural, creative, educational, scientific, and professional exchange programs that promote democracy, democratic values, and the rule of law, and increase mutual understanding.
Recognizing the importance of increased contact between the people of Armenia and the United States, both sides intend to promote further cultural and social exchanges and activities through initiatives such as the Fulbright Program, the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX), Undergraduate Exchange (UGRAD), Legislative Education and Practice (LEAP), the International Visitor Leadership Program, the English Language Teaching and Learning Program, and others.
Stressing the necessity of innovation and dynamism to the future of our two countries, Armenia and the United States intend to promote increased cooperation in higher education, business, and scientific research. The United States plans to facilitate the application process for U.S. visas consistent with U.S. laws and procedures so that qualified individuals in cultural, educational, business, and scientific activities are given the opportunity to participate.
Armenia and the United States acknowledge the potential of Armenia’s Academic City as a hub for academic collaboration and innovation, furthering shared goals in education and research.
Armenia and the United States intend to support joint initiatives for preservation of cultural heritage in Armenia.
As we consider the inauguration of a new president and the prospect of an unchecked authoritarian regime, many Christians are warily seeking the rationale for a life of faith in a changed political and social environment. We are testing our religious convictions for their durability in heavy weather. We are sorting through and sharpening our…
Posted in: Comics | Tagged: diamond, rob liefeldHow Much Does Diamond Owe? Comic Book Folk React To Diamond Comic Distributors Bankruptcy… but this is most likely to be Part OneArticle Summary
Diamond Comic Distributors declares bankruptcy, shaking up the comic book industry.
Big publishers left Diamond; small press faces distribution challenges.
Debates arise over traditional vs. modern distribution models.
Diamond’s past role in comics and changing dynamics in focus.
Steve Geppi founded Diamond Comic Distributors in February 1982 with one warehouse, seventeen customers and many competing distributors. Across forty years, it beat all the competition and became the dominant monopoly in the comic book direct market – though not according to the courts. But after it closed down temporarily during the pandemic, publishers were free from their contracts to seek alternative deals, and now Image and DC are with Lunar, Marvel, IDW and Dark Horse are with Penguin Random House, and Boom Studios is joining them. Earlier today, Bleeding Cool broke the news that Diamond Comic Distributors had declared bankruptcy, as well as details on Diamond UK and Alliance Games Distribution being sold to Canadian company Universal Distribution. And all hell broke loose. Privately, comic book publishers – and Lunar and Penguin Random House, who subdistributed to Diamond – are trying to work out exactly how much Diamond owes them. From conversations I have had, we will be talking high eight figures at this point. That includes the mountains of stock for publishers that Diamond keeps on hand – and now all part of the bankruptcy proceedings going forward.Alan Gill of comic store chain Ultimate Comics tells us, “There is no one currently who can replace the services and intangibles that Diamond Comic distributors provides. The monthly previews catalog brings all of the toy, statue and novelty products that are manufactured each month as well as a multitude of comic book publishers into one catalog , who else is going to step up to do that? A world without Diamond Comic Distributors is definitely going to hurt not only small to medium size comic book retailers by limiting the access they currently have to Funko, Monogram and other novelty best sellers but the smaller comic publishers will have no one to realistically distribute their books.”
Brian Hibbs of San Francisco store Comix Experience reminded us “There are a LOT of people who were actively rooting for Diamond comics to fail. Well, your wishes appear to be coming true, as Diamond files for Chapter 11, and this is going to be TRULY dire news for the Direct Market, at least in the short and medium term. Say “Goodbye” to most smaller publishers, and “so long” for the right opportunities for a majority of smaller and unproven creators. Never EVER forget that the blame for this falls directly upon DC Comics, and we should never forget this, or ever withhold that blame. My best wishes for Steve Geppi , as well as all of the staff at Diamond — and my most fervant prayers for creators and my fellow retailers that we’re all going to be able to navigate this disruption to the market. PEOPLE: Penguin Random House DOES NOT WANT any accounts smaller than they already have, and Lunar (besides being the primary retail competition for all of us) is really REALLY bad at their jobs and, in my personal estimation, could not possibly HANDLE adding more vendors. 2025 is going to be a nightmare.”
And in a move that confused some (Gail, Jim), the comic book store Titan Comics – but not the British comics book publisher Titan Comics, who once upon a time used to *be* Diamond UK, posted “What does this mean for the comic book business? Hard to tell for sure. Diamond has been losing pieces of the distribution business for the last five years and right now they’re a comparatively minor player in the game HOWEVER when it comes to small press comics Diamond is one of the few viable nationwide distribution options. We here at Titan Comics are committed to filling our customers orders and requests. We don’t know how our Diamond orders will be affected by this filing however we want to assure each and every one of our customers that we will do everything we can to acquire the comics you’re looking for. Please bear with us as we navigate these exciting and turbulent events. Remember that a Chapter 11 filing indicates an intent for the business to continue after a reorganization. We will all see where this leads us. Have a great day and thanks for being customers! We really do appreciate each and every one of you.”
And ComiChron have reminded us of the history of the distributor. “Diamond had THE main role in creating Free Comic Book Day in 2002, based on a suggestion by retailer @flycojoein my own Comics and Games Retailer magazine. It continues to be the organizing force for the day; it says it’s exploring contingencies for the event in the future. Diamond had supplied a lot of information about comics sales and its monopoly status made it possible for @Comichron to closely report how many comics Diamond sent to market. No one else reports; Diamond stopped monthly reports in April 2022, ending a long era of transparency. But even in this latter period, Diamond was sorting and shipping more DIFFERENT comics than ever before, due to the vast number of variants — if only as a wholesaler for companies like Marvel and Image. Diamond still ran weekly reorder reports, which @Comichron still shares.”
A rehashed Diamond logo
Here are a few other public reactions from across the comic book industry.
Si Spurrier: Well golly.
Jimmy Palmiotti: Holy sh-t!
David Macho: OOOF…
Justin Jordan: I do want to note that Chapter 11 bankruptcy is the kind that allows the business to keep operating.Diamond may well go under, but this is a step to try and stop that, not throwing in the towel.
Veronica Cristina: Crazy to see a Diamond fall. They had the monopoly for só long
Rob Liefeld: This is a challenge the industry doesn’t need right now but the industry will overcome.#
Christian Hoffer: Larger comics publishers have mostly moved away from Diamond, but this is a major blow to this industry:
Eric July: Diamond filed for bankruptcy. The “pandemic” will be blamed and people will write it off to general mismanagement. But the truth is there’s a tough conversation about traditional distribution models that most don’t want to have. I stated this a million times.
Adam Barnhardt: Should Diamond not make it through, that all but kills small press in the direct market. Self-publish or perish.#
Deniz Camp: Marvel already left Diamond for Penguin/Random House. Diamond is a reseller or Marvel through Penguin. So shops will have to order directly from Penguin (which I think most already did)
Ben Templesmith: Don’t forget, it was an idiot judge who once ruled these guys *were not* a monopoly… turned out they were. & like most things when you lack competition, you get crap. You get terrible. You get weak. The thing that caused this was the mere act of others competing. The end of an era. Who knows where we all go from here.
Sailor Poland: “To everyone trying to guilt trip me for celebrating Diamond going bankrupt – Diamond screwed over a LOT of small pressers, not paying them on time and making them go under because they weren’t big enough to bother with. They tried strongarming The Bigs like Marvel into changing their output. They ripped off my comic shop with every order. Diamond deserved to fail. You had your chance to build up an alternate. You didn’t, you sided with the devil. F-ck Diamond, and f-ck you for trying to make me cry for them.”
Plenty more to come…
Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!
The White House says it has finalized rules that crack down on Chinese and Russian automobile technology effectively banning all personal smart cars from the two countries from entering the U.S. market. In a White House fact sheet detailing the decision, the Biden administration Tuesday said that while connected vehicles offer advantages, the involvement of…
5 For Life, a non-profit organization is running a local book sale, and they need your help. Volunteers are needed to help the sale run smoothly. Debbie Taylor, past chair of the organization, explained that there are many positions available at the event. “We are looking for greeters at the door, cashiers, and people to…
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Speed and convenience are the price of entry in this hyper-connected age of customer service — not the difference-makers. The best example of this truth is one I see every day as a consumer and through the lens of branding as the President and Chief Creative Officer of a creative agency.I am a big fan of the coffee chain Dutch Bros, which is exploding across my home state of Texas for good reason. In a space dominated by Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts, their punk-rock vibe and social experience is the product as much as the coffee.This is a company on track to soon pass the 1,000-location milestone after nearly doubling in size since going public in September 2021. Earlier that same year, Dutch Bros opened their first store in the Lone Star State, and today have 142 shops and counting. Expansion has followed a proven formula: Seasoned operators who embody the Dutch Bros culture relocate to seed new markets. With over 400 internal operators in the pipeline — having spent an average of seven years with the company — Dutch Bros ensures its culture scales with its footprint.
So, how do you create a similar level of engagement where staff become the driving force of the brand? Dutch Bros’ success offers a blueprint for turning employees into owners of the customer experience.Related: What Leaders Must Do to Create a Great Customer Experience
Make service your point of differenceIf you want to max out the idea of convenience, think about how Dutch Bros have opened some of their newer shops with an escape lane so staff can run out drinks to customers before even making the window. Combine that with plans to launch mobile ordering nationwide, and it will make for a speedy getaway with your favorite beverage in hand.But, CEO Christine Barone said the time saved would be reinvested by deploying more “broistas” to engage with people in line at the drive-thru or at the window. “As we look at mobile order and pay, we think it’s incredibly important that we really keep our brand differentiator, and that brand differentiator is our service,” Barone said.This experience shows in the numbers that 67% of transactions come from loyalty members, and the chain enjoys $2 million-plus average unit volumes — outperforming both Starbucks ($1.8 million) and Dunkin’ ($1.3 million), albeit with a smaller footprint. Enhancing the consumer experience beyond expectation is a proven strategy. Chick-fil-A has also shown that a culture of empowerment and engagement can drive stunning growth in quick-service restaurants.The takeaway? This is not a zero-sum game. Design your systems so efficiency creates space for connection, not eliminates it. Then, when targeting expansion, be disciplined and, if necessary, slow down so you grow only as fast as your people and culture allow.
Related: To Dominate Your Market, You Need to Follow These Five StepsCreate a clear developmental pathwayOf course, Dutch Bros are not just about the people. The brand is also known for its elaborate customization options and secret menu. So, as the company grows, the pressure to maintain uniform standards rises with it.The Dutch Bros way starts with an intensive training program that codifies speed, quality and service standards in what they call the “Mafia Manifesto” alongside their Employee Handbook. As one employee explained to a newbie on Reddit: “Focus on ‘quality’ first — getting every component right. Speed comes later. The biggest thing is that even if it’s a stressful, busy shift, my coworkers will be right alongside me, and we’ll get through it together.”In addition to fostering a mutually supportive family dynamic among staff, Dutch Bros provides a development pathway supported by up to $5,250 per year in education benefits after the first year. “If you’re on a path where you’re driven and motivated to become a regional operator within the company, you’ll get to a place where you’re earning extraordinary income,” says cofounder Travis Boersma.
To follow the formula:Begin with immersion: Cultural training before operational training sends a clear message about priorities through stories, standards and shared experiences.Build in authenticity: Create space for individual expression within your systems — personality should not be scripted.Design for growth: Give people a clear development pathway and support staff with concrete resources like education subsidies.The lesson here is to give people the resources so they can start mapping out their future from day one on the job. While Dutch Bros jettisoned its traditional franchise model to promote from within, Raising Cane’s “Restaurant Partner Program” is another good example of rewarding hard work and vision. Managers in company-owned stores at the fast-food chain can even achieve a net worth of $1 million within a decade. With incentives like these, people will take ownership of both their roles and the culture.Related: The Analysts See Value In Dutch Bros Inc.Protecting the real productDutch Bros’ refined growth approach includes removing locations from the pipeline that do not meet investment criteria. Thus, the company is free to focus on sites that give its service culture the best opportunity to succeed.
With more strategic market entries and a deep bench of experienced operators ready to open new locations, this is how a people-first culture enables smart growth. Even as they roll out mobile ordering nationwide, Dutch Bros are still choosing to throttle volume where necessary to maintain service levels — proving that when you are in the business of relationships, every decision must protect your core values.