The U.S. Congress passed a six-year extension of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) on Thursday, January 8, making it the first bill passed in 2015.

“The terrorism risk insurance program must continue as it will enable economic growth and allow our communities to rebuild in the event of a major terrorist attack,” said U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California). “While our strong national security apparatus is always vigilant in protecting us from terrorist attacks, we have a responsibility to prepare for the very worst. TRIA, by guaranteeing insurance in the event of an attack, is an essential part of that preparation.”

TRIA, first passed in 2002, provides federal backup to insurance companies in the event of major damages due to a terrorist attack. Businesses can be reimbursed for losses over $200 million dollars, up from $100 million in the bill’s previous iteration. The percentage that insurers must pay above the threshold also increased from 15 percent to 20 percent.

The bill is particularity important to venues.

“This is the kind of law that we wish wasn’t necessary, but in today’s world it offers important protections for large venues like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as we open our gates to fans each May for events like the Indianapolis 500,” said J. Douglas Boles, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “This legislation provides another level of confidence for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and many other venues around the country that host big events.”

The Senate voted 93-4 and the U.S. House of Representatives voted 416-5 to renew the act.

(Image: Architect of the Capitol)

Here’s another product from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that you might be interested in for your venue. It’s a flashlight. No, let me take that back. It’s a FLASHLIGHT (say that in your best superhero voice).

The Fogo, much like many of the products at CES, is smart. It not only lights your way, it also functions as a GPS receiver and a walkie-talkie.

“The walkie-talkie aspect of the device isn’t like your traditional two-way radio, for example,” reported Jamie Rigg for Engadget. “To be as efficient as possible, it transmits voice messages to other Fogos as needed, rather than leaving a radio channel open constantly. You can also send text-based messages, and data such as GPS locations to friends’ devices via the simple LCD and three-button interface.”

The flashlight also a built-in accelerometer that will dim or bright the light depending on where you point it. That accelerometer also knows if you fall down and will alert other Fogos nearby for help.

Fogo will appear on Kickstarter next week, and the base model will cost around $200.

(Image: Fogo)

IAVM member Jeff Blosser says he turns away $200 million a year because the Washington State Convention Center is too small for big conventions. For example, a conference of emergency room physicians recently turned down the venue.

“That is a show that we know we could get back, that’s been here before, loves Seattle, loves the destination, the convention visitor’s bureau, everybody, and they’re not coming back,” Blosser, CEO of the convention center, told KUOW.org. “They won’t even take a look at us because we’re not big enough.”

One solution, though, is right under his feet—build additional space underground.

“The idea is to make an exhibit space that large you have to go below grade,” Matt Griffin of Pine Street Group told KUOW.org. “Then we’ll put Olive back in place after we build the building.”

Accomplishing this build would let the convention center stagger events, and the existing hotel taxes would help pay for the project.

Please visit KUOW.org to read the rest of the story.

(photo credit: Susan Sharpless Smith via photopin cc)

New year, new you, new job, maybe? If so, you may want to heed resume writer Cheryl Simpson’s advice in her article “Top 8 Job Search Trends for 2015” on Careerealism.com.

Here are four trends she identifies, along with a quote from her about each one.

1. Social Networking Continues to Dominate
“…46 percent of U.S. companies source talent via social networks, [and] becomes imperative that job seekers boost their social networking skills and the amount of time they spend on networks such as LinkedIn.”

2. Video Recruitment on the Rise
“Seventy-five percent of recruiters are already using video for recruitment purposes.”

3. Mobile Computing Drives Innovations
“Cover letters, for example, should be shorter than 250 words and resumes are trending toward shorter summaries, paragraphs, and achievement bullets with less text density than was acceptable in the past.”

4. Thought Leadership via Content Development
“…content [can] help you attract the attention of more recruiters, companies, and hiring executives.”

Concerning trend No. 4, please consider writing for FM and IAVM’s blog. We’re always open to more writers and content. Email editor@iavm.org with your story ideas.

Please visit Careerealism.com to read the rest of Simpson’s trends, and good luck with your job searches this year.

(photo credit: thedailyenglishshow via photopin cc)

I’m continuing Consumer Electronics Show coverage from my desk, and I came across another product you may be interested in for your venue. It’s called a Comfort-Shell, made by Silentium.

Four microphones are hidden on the shell’s outer layer and they pic up the noise around the shell. That noise is then inverted and played inside the shell to help cancel sound, making for a “cone of silence.”

“While the Shell is meant to reduce most of the noise around you, it intentionally avoids cutting out voices,” reported Jacob Kastrenakes for The Verge. “When someone spoke to me, it came through loud and clear, without any sign that the Shell had tried to silence the speaker. It also isn’t muting noises within the Shell, which allows you to make phone calls or listen to music in a bit more quiet.”

Kastrenakes reported that the company wants to place these shells in airports, convention centers, and other large public places in order to give people some silent spaces.

Is this something you’d put in your venue?

(Image: Molly McHugh for The Daily Dot)