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Sketched out on an airplane vomit sack, it became fashion’s must-have accessory.The original Birkin bag, named after the actor, singer and fashion icon that Herms created it forthe late Jane Birkinis up for auction in Paris on Thursday.The so-called Original Birkin is expected to fetch hundreds of thousands of euros (dollars) at the sale by auction house Sotheby’s.Created for the London-born star by the Paris fashion house in 1984, the commercialized version of Birkin’s bag went on to become one of the world’s most exclusive luxury items, with its extravagant price tag and years-long waiting list.The fashion accessory was born of a fortuitous encounter on a London-bound flight in the 1980s with the then head of Herms, Jean-Louis Dumas. Birkin recounted in subsequent interviews that the pair got talking after she spilled some of her things on the cabin floor.Birkin asked Dumas why Herms didn’t make a bigger handbag and sketched out on an airplane vomit sack the sort of bag that she would like. He then had an example made for her and, flattered, she agreed when Herms asked whether it could commercialize the bag in her name.The bag became so famous that Birkin once mused before her death in 2023 at age 76 that obituaries for her would likely “say, ‘Like the bag’ or something,'” adding: “Well, it could be worse.”Sotheby’s said that the all-black leather prototype was handcrafted for Birkin. It described it as a “legendary handbag” and “one of the most iconic fashion items ever created.”The bag has seven unique design elements that set it apart from every Birkin that followed, the auction house said.“More than just a bag, the Birkin has evolved from a practical accessory to become a timeless cultural icon. Its presence spans the worlds of music, film, television and the arts; it is a red-carpet staple, a fashion magazine mainstay, and a coveted piece in the wardrobes of celebrities, artists and stylists,” it said. Associated Press
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E-Commerce
The internets latest obsession: training and cheering on anthropomorphized anime horses as they race around a track. First released in 2021 as a mobile game for iOS and Android, Umamusume: Pretty Derby is both a racing simulator and a gacha game. In the game world, iconic racehorses of the past are reborn as horse girls (umamusume)anime humanoids with horse ears and tails. The characters get the chance to race again for prizes and glory. Players dont directly control their horse girls; instead, they train them and cheer them on. The game was already a hit in Japan following its early 2021 release, even inspiring a multi-season anime adaptation. But it remained largely under the radar for U.S. audiencesuntil this summer. On June 18, the English version of Umamusume: Pretty Derby launched. The game quickly went viral, picked up by popular streamers like Ludwig and Northernlion. On July 9, it hit its all-time peak with 50,725 concurrent players on Steam. As more and more fans discover the game, theyve started sharing clips and posting TikTok edits of their favorite horse girls. @jpartnmaaa Playing Umamusume and becoming the greatest trainer in the world Catch Me LIVE THURSDAY #umamusumeprettyderby #tokaiteio #funny #viral #gaming original sound – JPartNMA What makes the game even more compelling is that each horse girl has a real-life racehorse counterpart. TikTok creators are diving deep into their backstories, and searches for the original racehorses have spiked more than 800% since the games release. @gameyokai Haru urara is a symbol of never giving up! Her real life horse inspires you to always try your best! #umamusume #umamusumeprettyderby #anime #horse #greenscreen 60sec.Ver – (CV. ) & (CV. ) & (CV. ) Haru Urara is a fan favorite. As one X user wrote: even though shes just a bunch of pixels on my screen i need haru urara to know that i would do literally anything in the world for her. even though shes just a bunch of pixels on my screen i need haru urara to know that i would do literally anything in the world for her pic.twitter.com/wpUJYfHWug— Mug (@Mug4Times) June 30, 2025 The real-life racehorse behind the character became a cultural icon in Japan in the early 2000s. Despite ending her five-year career with 0 wins in 113 races, Haru Uraras unwavering spirit made her a national symbol of resilience. Now the farm where Haru Urara is living out her retirement has responded to the wave of new fans. I dont know if this will reach the overseas bros and sisters, but Haru Urara is doing super well, and honestly, shes probably healthier and more energetic than I am! reads an X post. 1400 pic.twitter.com/E9MKbUaPRj— (@animal_love_kaz) July 3, 2025 Whatever you do, dont look up the backstory of the racehorse Rice Shower.
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E-Commerce
As job-seekers look for work in a challenging environment, an increasing number are falling victim to job scams that promise good pay for completing easy online tasks, according to the Federal Trade Commission.The scams start innocuously, often with a tailor-made text or WhatsApp message, and the scammers take time to build trust with the victim before cashing in on the relationship.“Most of the people who end up losing money to a scammer are behaving pretty rationally,” said Kati Daffan, assistant director of the Federal Trade Commission’s division of marketing practices. “Scammers are sophisticated, and they keep changing their tactics.”Reported losses to job scams increased more than threefold from 2020 to 2023. In the first half of 2024, they topped $220 million, according to the FTC. Gamified job scams, or task scams, represented a significant portion of that growth. About 20,000 people reported experiencing gamified scams in the first part of 2024, compared to 5,000 in all of 2023.Daffan said that that the number is certainly an underestimate, because many people don’t report their experiences of job scams to law enforcement or government trackers.“Only 4.8% of people complain,” she said.Here’s what to know: How the scams work The scam typically begins with an unexpected text or WhatsApp message from a “recruiter” offering online work, according to the FTC. The mystery texter will say you can “make good money” by “product boosting” or doing “optimization tasks” for an online platform or in an app, which might involve liking videos or rating product images.This “job” promises to earn you money from “commissions” per click. Once you complete the tasks, you’ll see an increasing tally of “earnings” on the platform or in the app. These earnings are fake.Eventually, the app or platform will ask you to deposit your own money, typically in crypto, to complete more tasks and withdraw your (non-existent) earnings. But if you do make the deposit, you lose your real money, and you never receive the illusory pay. Who gets targeted Eva Velasquez, CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, said these types of scammers typically prey on job-seekers who are new to the job market, people who have been out of the job market for some time (such as homemakers re-entering the workforce, whose children are grown), and immigrants, who may be less familiar with the employment landscape or who face language barriers.“Often the job will have an easy interview or no interview, promise to let you work from home, and let you start right away,” Velasquez said. “Sometimes they’ll start with praise, and the person will feel their skills are recognized. ‘Oh, you think I’m great? Tell me more.'”Velasquez emphasized the vulnerability of people looking for work, especially given ongoing economic uncertainty, who may choose to accept a role even if it initially feels shady.“Sometimes the ask is to leave phony reviews for products,” she said. “The scammers are probably selling those reviews illegally, but a job-seeker might look at a line and say, ‘I’ll cross that line. I’ve got to eat.'” Tips for spotting a task-based scam Ignore any generic and unexpected texts or WhatsApp messages about jobs, no matter how specific or complimentary the messages. Never pay to get paid, or to get a job. That requirement is a red flag that the position is a scam. Don’t trust employers who says they’ll pay you to rate or like things online, without an above-board process for using the actual products or services you’re rating. The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism. Cora Lewis, Associated Press
Category:
E-Commerce
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