A Snapshot of the Convention and Event Business

| March 16, 2015 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/03/CindyFisherCrawford2.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:300;s:4:"file";s:32:"2015/03/CindyFisherCrawford2.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:5:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"CindyFisherCrawford2-336x168.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:168;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"CindyFisherCrawford2-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"CindyFisherCrawford2-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"CindyFisherCrawford2-470x235.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:235;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"CindyFisherCrawford2-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:114956;s:14:"optimized_size";i:57361;s:7:"percent";d:50.100000000000001;}s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/CindyFisherCrawford2.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:37234;s:14:"optimized_size";i:10310;s:7:"percent";d:72.310000000000002;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/CindyFisherCrawford2-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:6290;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4693;s:7:"percent";d:25.390000000000001;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/CindyFisherCrawford2-336x168.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:8683;s:14:"optimized_size";i:5398;s:7:"percent";d:37.829999999999998;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/CindyFisherCrawford2-600x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:22859;s:14:"optimized_size";i:12513;s:7:"percent";d:45.259999999999998;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/CindyFisherCrawford2-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:20499;s:14:"optimized_size";i:13383;s:7:"percent";d:34.710000000000001;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/CindyFisherCrawford2-470x235.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:13960;s:14:"optimized_size";i:6995;s:7:"percent";d:49.890000000000001;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/CindyFisherCrawford2-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:5431;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4069;s:7:"percent";d:25.079999999999998;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1672248204 
1426464000

Birmingham did not win the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Nor has it hosted an NCAA basketball tournament game in years. But players in Birmingham’s tourism and convention industry are working to keep a steady stream of events through the city. We have a snapshot of that industry in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.

 

Viral global TikToks: A twist on soccer, Tanzania’s Charlie Chaplin, hope in Gaza

TikToks are everywhere (well, except countries like Australia and India, where they've been banned.) We talk to the creators of some of the year's most popular reels from the Global South.

Memory loss: As AI gobbles up chips, prices for devices may rise

Demand for memory chips currently exceeds supply and there's very little chance of that changing any time soon. More chips for AI means less available for other products such as computers and phones and that could drive up those prices too.

Brigitte Bardot, sex goddess of cinema, has died

Legendary screen siren and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot has died at age 91. The alluring former model starred in numerous movies, often playing the highly sexualized love interest.

For Ukrainians, a nuclear missile museum is a bitter reminder of what the country gave up

The Museum of Strategic Missile Forces tells the story of how Ukraine dismantled its nuclear weapons arsenal after independence in 1991. Today many Ukrainians believe that decision to give up nukes was a mistake.

Jeffrey R. Holland, next in line to lead Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dies at 85

Jeffrey R. Holland led the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a key governing body. He was next in line to become the church's president.

Winter storm brings heavy snow and ice to busy holiday travel weekend

A powerful winter storm is impacting parts of the U.S. with major snowfall, ice, and below zero wind chills. The conditions are disrupting holiday travel and could last through next week.

More Economy Coverage