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By Marie Green
GLOBAL – Energizer has appointment TBWA Worldwide as the global advertising network in charge of its Energizer and Eveready brands.
TBWA Worldwide will be responsible for the creative output of all Energizer household products, localising the company’s global strategies through its regional network.
The incumbent on the account is TBWA Chait Day in North America and DDB in other parts of the world. TBWA Chait Day has been working with Energizer in the US since 1989 and is the agency behind the Energizer Bunny. The Los Angeles office will act as the global lead creative and strategic agency.
According to a company release, the alignment with TBWA will give greater cohesion and consistency to the Energizer brand globally.
“Through this appointment we are building a new, powerful agency team capable of reaching consumers in ground-breaking, creative ways to drive brand preference and purchase intent for the Energizer and Eveready brands globally,” said Jeff Ziminski, global chief marketing officer for Energizer Household Products. Seguir leyendo “Energizer partners with TBWA Worldwide globally”


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Examining the economic outlook for 2022
First, we’ll take a look at the supply chain problems that have dominated both headlines and business talk over the past few months and consider whether the strain on the auto industry will continue into 2022. Next, this year saw the launch of the private space industry, so what might the coming one herald? We’ll consider the options. Finally, with seismic changes in the social media sphere, and with further crucial changes on the horizon, we bring you analysis of what we can expect.
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Her main goal is to use her latest experience in the fashion industry to help young, aspiring designers in Eastern Cape.
"What I want to do is take whatever I have learnt from the big cities and bring it back home. I want to start in my city; we don't get the recognition that we deserve," she told HuffPost, after showcasing her beautiful garments at Tlale's bold bridal collection fashion show on Thursday evening.
She says it is important for black people to understand their roots.
"My ambition right now is to teach black people about who we are, where we come from, what we have achieved. We need to know who we were, to know where we are going."
[I want to] build Eastern Cape, make it big, so that they have this designer Sandi Dani from Eastern Cape who made it big.
That is why the theme for her line was "Black People In China" — Dani says it was based on her newfound interest in the origins of black people.
"Well, the inspiration around that... lately I have been doing a a lot of research about black people, our history, where we come from, all our contributions to society, all our inventions — all of that stuff.
"I found out that black people were the first people in China," she said.
She also wants to represent her province and show people the talent there.
"[I want to] build Eastern Cape, make it big, so that they have this designer Sandi Dani from Eastern Cape who made it big," she says enthusiastically.
'Having David Tlale approve your work on its own is like, wow!'
Dani was among 80 hopefuls vying to be chosen to work with Tlale and she says being picked really boosted her confidence.
"Just being part of that — at least you're on the right track. Just having David Tlale approve your work on its own is like, wow!" Dani said.
"Being his intern is amazing. He is the best, not because he is my boss. When you look at his work, he thinks out of the box. He's not scared to try new things," she chuckled.
What the young designer will most try to emulate, she says, is Tlale's commitment to work and discipline.


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How trendy water from Coke 'is no better than tap': Production process that adds minerals to Glaceau Smart Water 'has no benefit'
- Experts have said the 'vapour distilled' product is no better than taps
- Glaceau 'smartwater' is promoted by Jennifer Aniston in the US
- Coca-Cola withdrew Dasani water in 2004 as it was filtered from taps
Given the marketing, you might think Coca-Cola’s Glaceau ‘smartwater’ is something special.
After all, the trendy spring water is ‘vapour distilled’ to remove minerals and impurities, then ‘remineralised’ with the electrolytes found in energy drinks.
Promoted in the US by Friends star Jennifer Aniston, it was launched in Britain two years ago in a campaign fronted by Kylie Minogue and sells for 57p for a 600ml bottle.
Despite the big name backing and the apparently scientific claims, however, Glaceau has now been denounced by experts as no better than tap water.
Glaceau smartwater is promoted in the US by Friends star Jennifer Aniston but may not be better than ordinary tap water, experts have suggested
It was launched in Britain two years ago in a campaign fronted by Kylie Minogue
The production process adds nothing whatsoever, according to the British Dietetic Association.
The verdict will embarrass Coca-Cola, which had to withdraw its Dasani premium bottled water in 2004 after it was revealed to be simply filtered tap water from the mains supply in Sidcup, Kent.
That incident reminded many of the episode of Only Fools And Horses where Del Boy bottles tap water and sells it as the exclusive ‘Peckham Spring’.
In contrast, the Glaceau sold in Britain is taken from spring water, but with claims that it is ‘inspired by the clouds’.
The water is from Morpeth, Northumberland – and is the same spring water sold as Abbey Well, which Coca-Cola boasts has been ‘naturally filtered through water-bearing white sandstone for at least 3,000 years’.
To take on ‘smartwater status’, however, it is evaporated to remove the naturally occurring minerals and impurities, then cooled in a way which separates the water molecules from other matter.
It is then ‘remineralised’ with the electrolytes calcium chloride, magnesium chloride and potassium bicarbonate. It is also filtered twice.
But consultant dietitian Rebecca McManamon said: ‘The bottom line is there is no benefit in demineralising water, getting rid of the minerals and adding them back in.
‘The term smartwater implies it is either intelligent to drink it or it makes you more intelligent, although that it is not an explicit claim made by Coca-Cola. But there is no indication it is wiser to drink this water.’
Glaceau’s US advertising states that Glaceau is as pure as the ‘first drop of rain’, but she added: ‘Using the term pure suggests it is going to be better for you, but the way this water has been processed is no better or worse for you than regular tap water.’
Coca-Cole had to withdraw its Dasani premium bottled water in 2004 after it was revealed to be simply filtered tap water from the mains supply in Sidcup, Kent
That incident reminded many of the episode of Only Fools And Horses where Del Boy bottles tap water and sells it as the exclusive ‘Peckham Spring’
Coca-Cola insists it makes no health claims for Glaceau, and says its electrolytes make it taste different from other types of water.
However Mike Lean, professor of nutrition at Glasgow University, said: ‘Adding electrolytes sounds scientific, doesn’t it?
‘Some people who don’t have medical or scientific training imagine that with all that scientific-looking stuff the product must be beneficial. But it does nothing at all for health.’
Coca-Cola’s Morpeth factory produces more than 18,000 bottles of Glaceau every hour, and the brand is worth £21.9million. The total market for all types of bottled water in Britain is worth £2.1billion.
A spokesman for Glaceau smartwater said: ‘We take British spring water from a source in Morpeth, Northumberland, evaporate it, condense the vapour and then add just the right amount of electrolytes to create a distinctive, clean, crisp taste.’
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When Google launched its Google+ social-networking site three weeks ago, executives handed out sailor hats to the hundreds of employees working on the project, symbolizing their year-long journey to that point.
So far, the sailing has been mostly smooth. On Wednesday, Web-traffic watcher comScore Inc. estimated Google+ has had 20 million unique visitors since its launch, including five million visitors from the U.S. A Google spokeswoman declined comment.
Walmart 4th of July Rollbacks - Best deals on top picks
- Best Buy:
Save 15% or more on the Best Buy deal of the Day
- The Home Depot:
4th of July Sale: 43% off marble double trough sink vanity
Wayfair 4th of July Sale: Best deals of the season
Nike Independence Day Savings: Up to 60% off hot summer gear
- Dick's Sporting Goods:
10% off sitewide - Dick's Sporting Goods coupons


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Why iPhone 5 And Motorola Droid Bionic Will Be the Market's Best Fight
The 4G BattleThe Motorola Droid Bionic connects to data networks via 4G LTE. That's an important component in all of this. The high-speed connection is very much the future, and speculation abounds that Apple's iPhone will come with 4G, as well. If that's the case, expect both devices to battle it out for total dominance.
The Motorola Droid Bionic is all the rage in the Android marketplace right now. The device, which comes with a big, 4.3-inch qHD display, 4G connectivity, and Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread is widely recognized as the most compelling smartphone on the market right now, save for the iPhone 4. So far, the critics have celebrated its functionality, and as Google prepares to acquire Motorola Mobility, the Droid Bionic is being looked at as the device the search giant can build on when it takes control over the mobile vendor. All that excitement surrounding the Droid Bionic doesn't fail, however, to recognize that the device could very well be a major contender with the iPhone 5 when Apple finally launches that smartphone. After all, they will likely both connect to the Web via 4G, they will both deliver the latest and greatest versions of their respective operating systems. And perhaps most importantly, they're vying for the same customers. Simply put, the iPhone and Droid Bionic will be the mobile market's best fight in the coming year. Here's why.This article was originally published on 2011-09-19
In the channel, HP, Inc. is a storied vendor that has relationships...


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By: Michelle Booth | Category: Lawn & Garden | Issue: June 2011
Linnaeus Teaching Garden volunteers (L to R): Sandra Whitt, Julie Powers and Anne Soloman.
The Linnaeus Teaching Garden, located at 2435 S. Peoria, will celebrate its 5th anniversary on June 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The first 500 guests will receive a one-gallon ever-blooming hydrangea, valued at $15.
New types of annuals from California, Texas and Oklahoma will be for sale under tents located in Woodward Park. Money from plant sales will be used to help maintain the Teaching Garden.
Irrigation, lighting, retail nurseries and people in the garden industry will be available to answer questions. Light refreshments will be served throughout the day.
Renowned perennial authority Dan Heims will offer a free lecture in the Tulsa Garden Center auditorium at 10:30 a.m. He will discuss how to grow perennials and which of the many kinds to select. “This is Dan’s first time in Tulsa,” said Barry Fugatt, director of horticulture at the Tulsa Garden Center. “He is knowledgeable, engaging and has a great sense of humor. Guests will not be disappointed.”
Heims is president of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., a company in Oregon noted for its new introductions to horticulture. He has been deeply involved in all facets of horticulture for 35 years. Heims has hosted a weekly radio gardening show and has appeared on HGTV and the BBC. He has been featured in USA Today, Forbes, Better Homes and Gardens, Sunset Magazine, and Organic Gardening.
The Linnaeus Teaching Garden is maintained with the help of more than 200 volunteers that have undergone 12 weeks of intensive training. According to Fugatt, no taxpayer money was used to create the garden. “The Linnaeus Teaching Garden is a miracle,” he said. “I’ve traveled across the United States, Canada, and some of Europe and have not seen this paradigm.”
The vision for the Linnaeus Teaching Garden began with the idea of educating homeowners about horticultural possibilities for their own backyards. At first, it lacked the components necessary to make it a success. “This whole thing was a venture in faith,” said Fugatt. “To our great joy and amazement, industry was interested in getting involved.”
During 2005 and early 2006, the garden began to take shape. Nearly 3,000 individuals contributed donations equaling more than $800,000. The Tulsa Parks Department provided the location, authorizing the use of 1.55 acres of land in Woodward Park. Industry sponsors donated products and services for hardscaping and planting. More than 180 people volunteered to become the initial group of Linnaeus gardeners.
Fugatt stresses that the garden cannot exist without volunteers and the graciousness and goodness of the public. “Our volunteers are extremely dedicated,” he said. “They have an emotional connection to the Teaching Garden and take a lot of pride in this place.”
The garden areas demonstrate the latest and most successful techniques for growing vegetables, annuals, perennials, woody plants and groundcover. All garden areas are accessible via ramps and paved pathways.
The Linnaeus Teaching Garden was created to inspire, educate and equip people to do a better job of gardening. “We have been blessed with this garden,” Fugatt said. “We want to feed that back to the gardening public.”


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The business of healthcare has undergone major changes over the past two decades. The market is expected to change with the passage of Obama care and the aging of the population. Patients are who are hospitalized is staying shorter lengths of stays, and elective surgery is now being offering on the weekends. Another aspect of healthcare is that more and more healthcare institutions are spending big advertising budgets to attract and educate patients.
Every one of the leading healthcare institutions in the New York City marketplace is currently advertising. A number of healthcare leaders consider the advertising as a source of branding of their institutions as well as a means to attract patients to their institutions. Spokesman who include former Mayor Ed Koch as well as other patients are frequently appearing in all forms of advertising.
HealthLeaders Media reported "there is a certain finesse to choose the right celebrity spokesperson for any organization, but it is an especially lofty task for a hospital. The actor or sports figures (usually they are film stars or professional athletes) must be well known, but not too flashy; relatable, but respected, amiable, but competent and informed."
Former gold medal gymnast Mary Lou Retton is the new celebrity spokeswomen for Morgantown West Virginia Hospital, reported the Associated Press. She has appeared on television, radio and print ads.
In a recent issue of Protocol, a healthcare marketing report discusses the advantages of having a strong and consistent brand. In the article titled "Why Branding Still Matters for Hospital Marketers, "Protocol examines four reasons branding should remain a priority in the healthcare industry:
- Strong healthcare brands control their own destinies;
- A clear brand position aligns physicians and staff,
- Brand tools ensure consistent communications; and
- Branding supports multichannel and social media initiatives.
"Building a strong brand isn't easy, especially for healthcare organizations that once held a monopoly for care, and increasing financial exposure is making patients more likely to question the cost or need for expansive medical care", said, Mark Shipley, President and Chief Strategic Officer of Smith & Jones, the publisher of Protocol. "Hospitals are now forced to brand and market their services to retain even their local consumers care spending'.
The accounting and consulting firm of PwC report urges academic medical centers to enhance their brands by holding faculty accountable for cost and quality.
Academic medical centers also can build their brands globally through affiliations or acquisitions. "As the world become richer, people want to spend their money on education and health so it's very appropriate for Academic Medical Centers to have a global strategy, " Stephen M. Cohen, executive vice provost at New York's Weill Cornell Medical College, says in the report.
While public health care policy and the factors that influence consumer preference and purchasing decisions about health insurance are rapidly shifting, the 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend (EQ) study finds that brand equity remains strong among the top-ranked health insurers.
"The definition of consumer is 'one that consumes'," says Debra Richman, Senior Vice President of Healthcare Business Development & Strategy at Harris Interactive, "More than ever before, consumers are paying increased attention to their health care options and selecting products and services they prefer to consume. As a result, positive brand recognition has become and will increasingly be critically important."
Richman notes, "Consumer behavior in health care is beginning to mirror how consumers behave when making other purchasing decisions, whether for consumer goods or financial services. Consumers are evaluating brand equity, user experience, convenience, and product or service value." Among the ten competitive brands included in the 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend study, Blue Cross Blue Shield emerges as the top-ranked health insurer. This is the third consecutive year Blue Cross Blue Shield has earned the Health Insurance Brand of the Year accolade. United Healthcare places second and regional insurer, HealthNet, secures third place in this consumer-choice study
"Brand reputation is now one of the key criteria when selecting a health plan-this is especially important in a market where benefits and costs may be similar, which will definitely be the case in an insurance-exchange environment. Those companies with strong brand equity will be well-positioned to take advantage of such market changes and successfully differentiate themselves among competitors," Richman concludes.


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Hey, y'all made this a multi-million unit selling franchise, so we don't wanna hear no guff that we're writing about a Zumba game. In short, Zumba World Party, originally scheduled for this month, will now launch in November. In North America, the game is scheduled for Xbox 360, Wii and Wii U for...
Posted on Oct 22nd 2014 5:00PM
Posted on Oct 20th 2014 3:30PM
Posted on Oct 20th 2014 12:49PM


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From one full-time job to another . . . Larry and Judy Nore announced plans
to close Nore's Body Shop north of town after almost 32 years in business.
Instead of retiring, the Nores will relocate their offices permanently
to Nore's Auto & Trailer Sales on the south side of Kenmare
in order to better serve the increased demand for private and
commercial vehicle and trailer sales. The Nores are partners
in the dealership with their son John Nore of West Fargo.
By Caroline Downs
When Larry and Judy Nore posted a notice in The Kenmare News last week about closing Nore’s Body Shop at the end of the month, they received a barrage of questions about retirement.
For the record, shutting down the body shop has nothing to do with retirement.
“We’re just moving on to new adventures,” Judy said. “I’m semi-retired. He’s not. That’s one way to put it.”
The new adventure includes expanding the offices and inventory for Nore’s Auto & Trailer Sales, located along U.S. Highway 52 on the southeast side of Kenmare, a business in partnership with their son John who owns Visto’s Trailer Sales of West Fargo. “It’s a full-time job here,” said Judy as she nodded toward the body shop from her office, “and it’s now gotten to be full-time up there.”
Larry indicated the business of selling vehicles and trailers has been booming. “We’ll still have that, but we’re going to do more for the oil field now,” he added. “We’re going to start selling belly-dump trailers, consulting shacks, office trailers, that kind of thing.”
And while Nore’s Body Shop will stop serving customers, the shop itself will continue to be in operation as the Nores use the facility for any touch-ups or cleaning necessary before cars go on display at the lot.
Larry emphasized that vehicles on the lot would not be rebuilders, however. “I used to fix up cars and sell them, and some people know me for that but we don’t do it now,” he said.
Body work since KHS days,
body shop since 1980
Larry began working on vehicles as a teenager at Kenmare High School who enrolled in the DECA program as a way to leave the building for two periods a day. He found a position at Lyle Erickson’s body shop and kept the job through his senior year. Following graduation, Larry spent two years in the U.S. Army, including a year-long tour in Vietnam where he served as an ambulance driver and medic among other duties, but he returned to Kenmare and Erickson’s shop when his military obligations ended.
He moved to Wahpeton where he received further training in body work at the North Dakota State College of Science, then took a position with Kiefer Chevrolet in Moorhead, MN. He met Judy, who was working in Fargo at the time, and the couple married in 1976 and lived in Fergus Falls, MN, where Larry had another auto body job.
In 1980, the Nores decided to return to Kenmare to build and open their own body shop on land purchased north of town from LeRoy Gravesen.
“We came for the hunting,” Judy deadpanned, but Larry shook his head.
“In the 1970s, there was an oil boom in this area and there was a lot of work up here at that time,” he said, then laughed. “By the time we moved here, the oil was shutting down.”
He was willing to add services to grow his business, though, including towing, wheel alignments and radiator repair. “We used to fix radiators for 15 years,” he said, “until that went by the wayside, thank God.”
The business featured used car sales at times, and son John received some of his early sales experiences when he was in the eighth and ninth grades. “Larry trained John at the shop, and from a young age he started learning how to talk to and work with older people,” said Judy.
The Nores enjoyed the Kenmare community as they operated their business. John is a KHS graduate, as are the Nores’ two daughters who now live in St. Cloud, MN, with the Nores’ three-soon-to-be-four grandchildren.
Larry joined the Kenmare Ambulance Service after arriving back in town and has been a committed volunteer for 31 years, including the home delivery of a baby along with volunteers Jerry Essler and Ron Jensen. He has worked with the Kenmare Veteran’s Club, Inc. for 25 years, served on the Upper Souris Water District board of directors for nine years, and dedicated time to helping with activities for the Kenmare GooseFest and the Kenmare Country Club.
Keeping up with
trends and customers
With over 30 years in the business, Larry has updated his shop to accommodate various trends. “The painting part has changed three times in my time,” he said, “and if I was staying, now I’d have to change equipment again for more water-based paint work.”
The Nores installed a state-of-the-art paint booth in the mid-1990s and have held training sessions in their shop with paint representatives to learn about different types of sprays, techniques and, lately, how to achieve the colors used for newer vehicle models. “For someone to just come in and start a shop, the expense is high,” said Judy, “and if you want to keep modernized, you almost need the business of bigger towns.”
Finding and keeping auto body employees with competition from oil field wages has been difficult for many small town shops across the state, according to Judy.
“Most shops will have a body man, a painter, someone doing wheel alignment and a mechanic,” Larry said. “Here, we’ve done just about all of it, except some of the mechanical, but now most young people just can’t learn it all. The small town body shops are folding.”
Nore’s Body Shop currently employs Brenda Johnson on a part-time basis. Colten Williams spent just over a year working as a body man with Larry until last Friday, when he left for a new position with a dealership in Bismarck. “Over the years we’ve had one or two body men in the shop, up to three at times,” Judy said.
“And I trained just about every one of them from scratch,” Larry added, serving as a mentor in much the same way Lyle Erickson started with him. “Four of those went on to other shops or started their own business. Well, now it’s five with Colten.”
The shortage of auto body workers, coupled with an increased demand for such services at Nore’s shop, has led to a scheduling problem for Larry. “In the last two years, we’ve gotten so far behind,” he said. “I’ve never apologized to so many people in my life. Some of them have had to wait for months.”
“And they used to wait two weeks, tops,” added Judy.
The Nores’ dedication to their customers kept those customers returning from Kenmare, Donnybrook, Powers Lake, Columbus, Noonan and Crosby. “The whole northwest corner, basically,” said Larry.
“He’s also helped a lot of strangers who were stranded,” Judy said. “He would do what it took to get them back on the road.”
Larry shook his head again. “I remember there was one couple from Missouri,” he said. “Gary Mattern and I worked all night and part of the next day to get them back on the road.”
He continued, “And there a driver from Alaska who hit a moose at Lakeshore. We got him fixed up. He said he’d lived up there all that time and had never hit a moose, and he never expected to see one in North Dakota!”
“Larry looks at it as if it were his family, he would want somebody to do the same thing for them,” said Judy. “We’ve met a lot of people just because of their troubles.”
No more body jobs,
but call for a tow
After nearly 32 years, Nore’s Body Shop has stopped taking requests from customers as Larry works to finish his existing jobs by the end of the month. Work will begin shortly to build new offices in the former convenience store at the auto and trailer lot, and eventually the Nores intend to relocate there. In the meantime, the familiar phone numbers for the body shop and the dealership will continue to be in use, even though the Nores will be focusing on sales.
And, perhaps, on towing. “We’ll keep the towing, maybe,” said Larry.
“That’s a yes,” Judy told him. “You have to keep towing.”
“It depends on how much insurance is going to cost,” Larry explained, “but for the time being, yes, I like towing. That gets me out of here.”
“That’s just relaxing for him,” said Judy, “and he’s not near ready for retirement. I wouldn’t want to completely retire either.”
While the topic of towing sparked a discussion, the two agreed on their appreciation for the community’s support of the business through three decades. “We have a lot of faithful customers,” said Judy. “Here we were, a new body shop moving in, but he was a hard worker and he had that personality.”
“Well, I couldn’t have done it without a good bookkeeper,” said Larry.
The Nore's Auto & Trailer Sales location along U.S. Highway 52
at Kenmare's southeast edge.


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The iPhone XR was a huge hit for Apple throughout 2018 and 2019. However some users in the UK are experiencing connectivity issues with their iPhone XR on the O2’s network. Both Apple and the carrier publicly acknowledged the issue through separate statements.
The problems affect calls, texts and data usage with users reporting loss of signal on multiple occasions throughout the day. O2’s comment was that it’s working closely with its partners to resolve the issue affecting its iPhone XR users. Apple’s statement also confirmed the connectivity issues and promised a software fix with the upcoming iOS release.
We are aware of an issue causing intermittent network connectivity affecting some O2 customers, and we will have a fix in an upcoming software release. – Apple
Currently, the only temporary workaround for users seems to be the old reliable phone restart. We’ll make sure to follow up on the issue and see if Apple and O2 keep their promises.


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Our spy photographers catch the first glimpse of the new 280bhp Audi S3 ahead of its launch next year
These are the first pictures of the all-new Audi S3. It's seen here testing in three-door guise but the newcomer will be available as a five-door hatch and a saloon, too.
The hot A3 is marked out by quad tail-pipes – rather than the twin oval exhausts of even more extreme RS models – but other than that, it looks like a standard A3. This will change when the car makes production though, with a more aggressively styled chrome grille, rear spoiler and larger alloy wheels.
The S3 will be powered by a 280bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine - it 18bhp more than the outgoing model - mated to Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system.
It will be on of the first cars to be built on the new VW Group MQB platform, which will make its debut on the regular Audi A3 hatch this September. The new platform will also see benefit including less weight through the use of aluminum panels and increased rigidity, which will improve handling and road holding.
Expect to see the all-new Audi S3 on sale in the middle of next year with a price-tag of just over £30,000.


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The Federal Trade Commission charged the operators of the website “Jerk.com” with harvesting personal information from Facebook to create profiles labeling people a “Jerk” or “not a Jerk,” then falsely claiming that consumers could revise their online profiles by paying $30. According to the FTC’s complaint, between 2009 and 2013 the defendants, Jerk, LLC and the operator of the website, John Fanning, created Jerk.com profiles for more than 73 million people, including children.
In its complaint, the FTC charges that the defendants violated the FTC Act by misleading consumers that the content on Jerk.com had been created by other Jerk.com users, when in fact most of it had been harvested from Facebook; and by falsely leading consumers to believe that by paying for a Jerk.com membership, they could access “premium” features that could allow them to change their “Jerk” profile.
The FTC is seeking an order barring the defendants’ deceptive practices, prohibiting them from using the personal information they improperly obtained, and requiring them to delete the information.
“In today’s interconnected world, people are especially concerned about their reputation online, and this deceptive scheme was a brazen attempt to exploit those concerns,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
On Thursday, March 27, 2014, the Senate Judiciary Committee held another meeting on patent reform legislation. A markup of Senator Leahy’s bill (S. 1720, “Patent Transparency and Improvements Act”) may happen as early as this week. During Thursday’s meeting Senator Leahy, who Chairs the Committee, indicated a willingness to incorporate in his bill other provisions from Senator Cornyn’s and Senator Hatch’s bills.
Momentum is clearly building for more patent legislation, but the myriad bills and provisions make it difficult even for folks close to Capitol Hill to keep track of them all. To fill that need, today’s post is part of a series of articles based on the white paper, Patent Reform 2014. IPWatchdog.com has already published articles on Joinder of Interested Parties and Loser-Pays Fee-Shifting. Today’s focus is on the proposed FTC enforcement provisions found in several pending bills.
In September 2013, Senator Klobuchar’s staff circulated draft language that would require the FTC to initiate a rulemaking proceeding, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. §553, to prohibit the assertion or enforcement of patents in a manner that is an unfair method of competition, or unfair or deceptive act or practice, under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45).
What follows below is a review of some of the biotech and pharma news stories that caught my attention during the month of January 2014. Please also see Protecting IP is NOT ‘Satanic Genocide’, written by Dr. Kristina Lybecker.
All-Oral, Interferon-Free Therapy for the Treatment of Hepatitis C Genotype 1
On January 31, 2014, AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) announced the completion of its phase III clinical program and released results of four additional studies designed to assess AbbVie’s investigational all-oral, interferon-free therapy with and without ribavirin (RBV) in patients with chronic genotype 1 (GT1) hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. These results described below confirm previously reported AbbVie data and further demonstrate high sustained virologic response rates 12 weeks post treatment (SVR12) and tolerability in these GT1 patients. Even in difficult-to-treat patients (cirrhotic patients) achieved 92-96 percent SVR(12) rates.
The AbbVie investigational regimen consists of the fixed-dose combination of ABT-450/ritonavir (150/100mg) co-formulated with ABT-267 (25mg), dosed once daily, and ABT-333 (250mg) with or without ribavirin (weight-based), dosed twice daily. The combination of three different mechanisms of action interrupts the HCV replication process with the goal of optimizing SVR rates across different patient populations.
The Federal Trade Commission has extended the deadline for public comments on its proposed study of patent assertion entities (PAEs), which it announced on September 27. To provide additional time for interested parties to submit comments on the proposed study, the deadline has been extended throughDecember 16, 2013. The Commission will not consider requests for further extension. Comments can be submitted electronically.
PAEs are firms with a business model based primarily on buying patents and then attempting to generate revenue by asserting the intellectual property against persons who are already practicing the patented technologies. The FTC is conducting the study in order to further one of the agency’s key missions — to examine cutting-edge competition and consumer protection topics that may have a significant effect on the U.S. economy.
In testimony presented to a U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary subcommittee the Federal Trade Commission described its ongoing efforts to protect competition and consumers in many important sectors of the economy, including health care, pharmaceuticals, and technology.
Testifying on behalf of the FTC before the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Laws, Chairwoman Edith Ramirez said that, “In an effort to be most effective with limited resources, we pay particular attention to sectors where our action will provide the greatest benefit to the largest number of consumers. Chief among those are health care and the technology sector.”
The testimony outlines the FTC’s critical work promoting competition in health care markets, noting that health care consolidation can threaten to undermine efforts to control rising health care costs. Examples of FTC actions to prevent anticompetitive health care mergers include litigation involving proposed hospital mergers that threaten higher prices and lower quality of care, as well as divestitures in pharmaceutical mergers to preserve competition and maintain competitive pricing for needed medications.
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved final consent orders in three cases involving allegedly deceptive environmental claims for mattresses. The FTC’s complaints, first announced in July, 2013, against Relief-Mart, Inc.; Esssentia Natural Memory Foam Company, Inc.; and Ecobaby Organics, Inc., charged the companies with making unsupported claims that the mattresses they sell are free of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The FTC also charged that two of the companies made unsupported claims that their mattresses were chemical-free and odorless. The FTC also challenged one company’s claim that its mattresses are made from 100 percent natural materials, and another company’s claim that its mattresses were certified by an organic mattress organization.
In settling the Commission’s charges, the companies have agreed not to make similar claims in the future, unless they have competent and reliable scientific evidence to prove they are true. In addition, Ecobaby is barred from making misrepresentations about certifications.
How to Write a Patent Application is a must own for patent attorneys, patent agents and law students alike. A crucial hands-on resource that walks you through every aspect of preparing and filing a patent application, from working with an inventor to patent searches, preparing the patent application, drafting claims and more.
Without hesitation I recommend One Simple Idea and think it should be required reading for any motivated inventor. There is so much to like about the book and so much that I think author Stephen Key nails dead on accurate. The book is educational, information and inspirational. For the $14 cover price it is essential reading.
Typically blog roll links are not helpful to a website's rank. To give some additional "link love" to those we think you might be interested in reading we have moved our blog roll and links to a dedicated page. Go to IPWatchdog Blog Roll & Links.


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Dell shares slump after Q2 forecast falls short of expectations
SHARES in Dell tumbled the most in more than three years after the computer company forecast fiscal second-quarter revenue that missed analysts' estimates.
Revenue for the period ending in July will be $14.7bn to $15bn (€12bn), Texas-based Dell said in a statement. Analysts had been expecting an average of $15.4bn.
The forecast, paired with a first-quarter sales and earnings miss, pointed to problems endemic to Dell, Steve Felice, Dell's president, said in a conference call.
The sales team focused on individual products instead of packages of hardware and software, he said. A re-organisation is under way aimed at lining up staff who can sell a complement of Dell products, instead of specialising in individual ones.
"In my own interactions with larger customers, we are seeing a delay and pause in spending activity," chief executive Michael Dell said during a call with analysts.
PC sales will remain sluggish because businesses won't move immediately to Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system when it's introduced later this year.
"Corporations are still adopting Windows 7."
Shares slumped 15pc in early-day trading in New York, the biggest intraday decline since November 2008. The stock had climbed 3.1pc this year before yesterday's slump.
Demand for Apple's iPhone and iPad and other mobile devices are eating into Dell's notebook sales. The world's third-largest personal computer maker lost share in the global PC market in the first three months of the year, according to market researcher Gartner.
"They're focused on profitability," said Shaw Wu, an analyst at Sterne Agee & Leach in San Francisco.
"That's a double-edged sword. Sure it can help your margins somewhat, but you're also shrinking your installed base."
While Dell didn't change its earnings-per-share forecast for the year, chief financial officer Brian Gladden told analysts on the call there was "clearly pressure on the total year outlook".
To diversify beyond PCs, Dell is selling more of its own data-storage and networking gear.


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Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Microlink Networks & Techzio are pleased to announce they have entered into a global strategic partnership, combining Microlink Networks’ industry-leading products and services with ETechzio’s world-class strategy-led enterprise delivery and next-gen technology services. With technology playing an increasingly critical role in every aspect of business, companies recognize that they need to accelerate the development of digital solutions to ensure they remain in the competitive vanguard.
Microlink Networks and Techzio announce strategic partnership
- Post author:Admin
- Post published:December 25, 2018
- Post category:Press Releases


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Fans of Skittles and Starburst will be happy to know that the two are planning to spice things up with their new flavors.
A new Sweet Heat line exists according to People, and we could see it as soon as this winter.
Those who attended the Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago got a first look at the new candy, as that’s where Wrigley decided to debut the fiery snacks.
According to reports, the Skittles will still have a fruity core, and the five flavors within will consist of Fiery Watermelon, Blazin’ Mango, Flamin’ Orange, Sizzlin’ Strawberry, and Lemon Spark.
The Starburst flavors will be similar, with a Fiery Watermelon of their own, Strawberry Mango, Flamin’ Orange, and Pipin’ Pineapple.
The pricing will be similar to the rest of their products, as single packs for both will be $0.99, and a bag will be about $3.19.
Now we can taste the muy caliente rainbow.


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Woolworths stocks its shelves with more vegan
Australia’s largest supermarket, Woolworths, has reported a rise in demand for vegan foods.
In response, the chain intends to continue expanding its plant-based selection.
Sheese, Tofurky, Follow Your Heart, and Funky Fields, are just some of the new vegan brands Woolworths has added to its shelves recently.
Vegan food sales have increased by over ten percent at the chain over the last year.
A spokesperson for the store told price comparison site, Canstar Blue, “We’ve seen a strong increase in demand for vegan products in the past year, and we’re working to create even more choice and variety for our customers.”
At the beginning of the 2018, Australia was named as having the third biggest vegan market in the world by market research company, Euromonitor International.
January 2018 data suggested that the vegan packaged food industry was set to increase from $136 million to $215 million, by 2020.
In the past 12 months, Woolworths have added dozens of new products including dairy-free cheeses, dairy free iced desserts, and vegan meals.
The company recently recently commenced ranging products such as Tofurky, Sheese, Funky Fields, and Follow your Heart.
Every indication tells us this (vegan) category will only continue to grow and we’re focused on building a vegan range for our customers that is high quality, convenient, and affordable,” the Woolworths spokesperson said.
The US arm of Mars has acquired pet-care company VCA for US $7.7 billion.
Dairy processor Murray Goulburn and poultry producer, Ingham’s have both reported their 2017 financi...
Red Rock Deli has announced a new popcorn range, branching outside of chips and dips.
South Australian family chocolate business Robern Menz has acquired the Violet Crumble chocolate fro...
Qantas passengers will now get a taste of some of Australia’s native food ingredients thanks to new ...
Retail Food Group has promoted its Australian boss to lead a group-wide transformation program desig...
PEPSI is purchasing sparkling water maker SodaStream as the beverage giant minimises its dependence ...
HERE’s our top ten list of national and international news briefs.


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Supports 100 restaurants in Mumbai; extends program to lend support to another 500 restaurants in the next 2 years
Mumbai, 15th November 2022: After successfully supporting local restaurants in Bengaluru, Delhi Hyderabad and Kolkata, KFC’s India Sahyog program announced its next chapter for Mumbai. The Mumbai chapter was inaugurated at the KV auditorium, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), in the presence of representatives from partner organizations.
As part of the program, the brand will work with 100 local restaurants and food joints in Mumbai, helping them in business revival through training modules in food safety & hygiene, customer service, profitability and more. KFC’s India Sahyog program was launched in 2020; and is conducted in association with the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) and the Food Safety and Training Certification (FoSTaC) program of FSSAI; and aims to support 500 restaurants across the country by the end of 2022.
Speaking about the continued effort to augment the growth of the food industry in India, Moksh Chopra, General Manager, KFC India, said, “While the food industry has been recovering post-pandemic, many small food businesses are still reeling under the impact. As part of our India Sahyog program, we have been working with FSSAI & NRAI over the last two years, to support 400 independent restaurants across Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. With the Mumbai chapter, we will support 100 local restaurants in the city. Sensing the need to continue supporting the local food industry, we are extending our pledge to support 500 more such businesses, targeting to work with 1000 local restaurants by 2024."
Dr Shashikant Kekare, Joint Commissioner, Food & Drug Administration (FDA) said, “Over my career I have worked with many brands, but I am yet to come across a brand like KFC India. Usually, any successful company focuses on self-growth, but KFC is making sure that not only are they growing in India, but also helping the local food & beverage industry grow. They're supporting & upskilling hundreds of small businesses, which is truly commendable.”
Commenting on the association with KFC India Sahyog, Meenakshi Chudamani - Head, Operations, Retail Learning, Retailers Association of India (RAI), said, “As a non-profit organization, the RAI has been tirelessly working with the FSSAI to train retailers & small business owners to modernise & adopt best practices to enhance customer satisfaction. I want to take a moment to congratulate KFC India for this wonderful initiative which will surely play an important role in facilitating the growth of restaurant owners across the city. We as RAI will continuously support this initiative and look forward to partner with KFC and FSSAI.”
KFC has been continually making efforts to grow the local food industry in the country. In the past, KFC India and FSSAI have pioneered a street food vendor, training over 1500 street food vendors across 4 states on food safety parameters. Additionally, the brand also undertook a Food Safety Officers capability enhancement program along with the State Food Safety Authorities.


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How does Generation Z stack up as future consumers? According to a recent Mintel report, Generation Z (ages 12-22) is likely to be health conscious, interested in cooking and craving international cuisine.
You can thank their parents. Traits of this lifestyle group include:
- Influenced by parents who are “on the lookout for sugar”— 25 percent of teens aged 15-17 say they worry about staying healthy.
- 49 percent of Gen Z’ers said they think drinking soda is unhealthy.
- 36 percent of U.S. parents of children under age 18 agree that their kids enjoy eating international foods.
And it’s not just Mexican or Chinese anymore. Here’s how that interest in eating in international restaurants pans out:
- Generation Z prefers: Indian (36%), Middle Eastern (38%) or African (27%)
- Adult Generation Z consumers (aged 18-22) are also much more likely than older generations to find culinary inspiration from social media: 62 percent say they cooked international cuisines at home from social media compared to 46 percent of Millennials (aged 23-40) and 23 percent of Generation X consumers (aged 41-52).
- Raised having access to information at their fingertips 24/7, 80 percent of Generation Z consumers under age 18 say their hobbies/interests (like cooking) are just as important as their school work.
- 36 percent of consumers aged 10-17 and 31 percent of those aged 18-22 believe being creative is an important factor to being successful as an adult. Mintel researchers say this is an opportunity “to offer do-it-yourself experiences that help Tweens, teens and young adults be creative and, eventually, confident in the kitchen.”
Source: Mintel, “Generation Z Set to Impact the Future of Food and Drink”


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Toyota also is spending $62 million to boost production at its Troy, Missouri, facility.
In addition to the investment in Alabama, Toyota officials announced their plan to invest a total of $13 billion in its USA operations by 2021 with plans to add 600 new jobs at American manufacturing plants.
Toyota has big plans in America, and to accomplish them it will be investing $749 million into its various USA manufacturing facilities in addition to creating jobs for 586 people according to a report published Thursday by Reuters.
Meanwhile, Toyota made another big announcement in Kentucky. The jobs are not coming to the WSAZ region, but the company is investing $238 million in the Georgetown plant. Right now, the plant has the capacity for 120,000 units.
"Doubling our production of hybrid transaxles in West Virginia solidifies our facility's role in producing next generation engines and transmissions that will drive the future of Toyota's advanced mobility technology". "I thank Toyota for supporting these good, American jobs, and I am proud to stand up for our American workers against any trade policies that would make it harder for automakers like Toyota to keep Alabamians on the job".
"Toyota's continued investment in the Huntsville community is a testament to Alabama's first-rate workers and our leadership in the automotive industry", U.S. Sen.
According to the company, "the [Buffalo] plant represents a $1.4 billion investment".
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky Inc. executives, local officials, and Gov. Matt Bevin got together for the announcement.
Toyota said it plans to add 600 new jobs at its us manufacturing facilities over the same period as it builds more vehicles and auto parts, including the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and the Lexus ES 300h Hybrid.
The company plans to invest $288 million in new 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engine lines, Toyota North Alabama president David Fernandes said at a news conference.
Toyota now manufactures the Camry, Avalon, Lexus ES 350, Camry hybrid and Avalon hybrid at the Georgetown facility. "This latest investment, the company's seventh in Huntsville, signals Toyota's confidence in our workforce and its commitment to continued investment in this facility - more than $1.2 billion to date". Toyota leaders say they plan to boost production of the RAV4 Hybrid in January of 2020 with a capacity of about 100,000 units per year. "The production changes announced today are centered upon our commitment to meet changing customer desires by diversifying the types of products our team members build here in Georgetown". "It is because of our workforce and statewide partnerships that Toyota has continued to grow and prosper in Alabama".
The Lexus ES 300h hybrid will begin production in May with an annual capacity of 12,000 vehicles. "By boosting our USA manufacturing footprint, we can better serve our customers and dealers and position our manufacturing plants for future success with more domestic capacity".


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Samsung announced on Tuesday (24) that it temporarily closed the Manaus plant. The initiative aims to collaborate with the quarantine encouraged by national authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the new coronavirus. In a note, the South Korean giant says the measure is valid until March 29.
This is the South Korean conglomerate’s second attitude to the pandemic. Last week, Galaxy S20 deliveries were anticipated in the domestic market. Consumers started to receive it at home or pick it up in stores two weeks ahead of schedule.
Although Samsung chose to close the factory in the North of the country, the decision does not affect the manufacturing operation in Campinas. In the city, procedures remain normal, only employees of the office and the research and development sector have been ordered to work from home.
The Sammobile portal highlights that the brand’s largest Latin American market is located in Brazil. In the country, the manufacturer has received a high demand for intermediate and advanced smartphones, home appliances and QLED TVs.
In addition to closing a factory in Brazil, Samsung closed other factories in India, Slovakia and South Korea. The Covid-19 pandemic also affected the operation of the brand’s physical stores, which had their doors closed in Canada, China, Malaysia and in the United States.
What Samsung says
Check out the full note sent by Samsung Brazil:
“For Samsung, the health and safety of our employees is our highest priority and, as a precautionary measure, we are closing the Manaus plant from March 24 to 29. In addition, the employees of our office in São Paulo and the our R&D Center in Campinas have been working from home since March 23, a decision taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.The company is continuously monitoring the situation of COVID-19 and remains committed to the well-being of all. reinforces that it follows all prevention guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health of the country and other local authorities. It also emphasizes that it is committed to ensuring the well-being of its employees. “


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Maderira is a green island, also known as “Portugal’s flower garden” and it’s the largest one belonging to the Madeira Islands archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of Morocco.
Comprised of nearly eight million kilometers, to say Australia is big is an understatement. In certain spots, areas the sizes of small countries are completely uninhabited and a person can drive for days without coming across a single soul. This raw expansiveness is what is both intimidating and enthralling about the world’s smallest continent. Indeed, […]
Travel – Moments in Time, an English blog focused on travelling, just turned four today. It is a special moment for us, since Violeta Loredana Pascal is one of our travel news authors. Started out of the desire to share the curiosities discovered around the world and the experiences she had together with her husband, […]
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan is the largest of the states in what used to be known as the Soviet Union. Kazakhstan, a democracy, is one of the the most porsperous countries in Central Asia, which is mainly due to the natural gas and oil in the region. If you are planning a trip to this amazing landlocked […]
Bookings for the Disney Cruise Line ships sailing from Florida ports in the early part of 2015 opened to the public on Nov. 14, 2013. The company announced several itineraries and cruise dates, to Caribbean and Bahamas from Port Canaveral, and to Caribbean and Bahamas from Miami. Among the most interesting packages you can find: […]
Nestled on 1,000 acres of undulating Irish countryside, dotted with ancient woodlands and glittering lakes, Castle Leslie Estate is one of the last great Irish estates still in the hands of its founding family. Located in Glaslough, Monaghan, and considered to be one of the finest castles Ireland has to offer, Castle Leslie Estate is […]
Crete, the largest island in Greece and the fifth in Mediterranean Sea, is also the most fascinating one. With a remarkable history which the traveler can admire all over the island, from the ruins of the Minoan Palace of Knossos to the Venetian fortress of Rethymo, Crete is renowned for its natural beauty, diverse landscape and fertile valleys and rich gastronomic culture. Crete simply has it all!
30 October 2013, Czech Republic – Inspiration, Education and Networking – under this motto today in Prague starts the 2nd Edition of the most important East European event in the hospitality industry: Hospitality E-Commerce & Revenue Management Conference, organized by Dotcomhotel.eu. Aimed at independent hotel owners, the dotcomhotel Hospitality E-Commerce & Revenue Management Conference will […]
The 2013 Tourism Advertising Campaign from the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic hopes to boost tourist numbers to the country in 2014. The campaign, an extension of the previous “Has it All” initiative, introduces ads for popular destinations like Puerto Plata, La Romana, Samana, Santo Domingo and Punta Cana. The campaign was developed […]
AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Joseph McCormick warned that moisture from Tropical Storm Octave has the potential to enhance rainfall that already caused flooding Sunday in parts of Texas. Meteorologists warned that rainfall could cause flooding in more parts of the state. The storm is already bringing high surf and rip currents in Mexico, especially in the proximity […]
It seems like coffee is really important for global travelers, or at least that’s what a survey conducted by Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts found out. 53% of the queried people said that coffee is their preferred wake up call, and not sex. 54% of the respondents sad that they are preparing this brew at […]
Aiming to lure more and more tourists to the country, Iceland just launched a new promotional campaign called ‘Share the Secret’. This is a new campaign by Inspired by Iceland, which aims to showcase local attractions and beautiful places known by locals. Local residents are encouraged to share their secrets, their special places, and all other […]


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If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it’s probably a duck, and if it looks like a bicycle, it must be a bicycle – right? Not necessarily, at least according to Flanders-based additive manufacturing cluster organization Flame3D/Flam王D. The conglomerate is comprised of nearly 70 companies and research institutions, and the “not-bicycle” is a project recently completed by 15 organizations working together to demonstrate the varieties and capabilities of 3D printing. The result, says Flam王D, just so happens to look like a bicycle.
Whether having all the parts and appearance of a bicycle makes it a bicycle is a philosophical question for college students to debate in their common rooms at 3am, but for the sake of simplicity, we’ll call the bike-shaped 3D printing showcase a bike for now. The collaboration, between several institutions expert in 3D printing, was conceived to show the wide variety of 3D printing methods and technologies that have been developed, and what they can be used for. The project took the form of a bicycle to demonstrate how easy it is to create a bike entirely from 3D printed parts – something that would have been unheard of until recently (though we have now seen several 3D printed bicycle projects come to fruition or be attempted).
The cooperation between the multiple organizations was a key element in the project as well, says the newly created Flam王D. There are so many companies working with the technology these days, and so many different areas of focus and specialization, that it’s essential for those areas to be brought together in order to really advance the technology, according to Flam王D General Director Kris Binon.
”3D-printing a bike is not such a big deal any more. What 3D-printing really needs nowadays, is cooperation,” Binon says. “Beyond the hype, there’s a world in which we have to work together – both in- and outside the AM ecosystem. Flanders is ready for that reality. We need to set new standards for this amazing technology, the 3D-printing market needs maturing and therefore the focus should be on development of a continuous outlet rather than on competing each other.”
The bike is composed of parts created with a diverse selection of 3D printing technologies. The frame, created by Materialise with Ghent University, demonstrates the capability of 3D printing combined with composite wrapping to deliver an excellent stiffness-to-weight ratio along with potential for customization. Other examples include:
- Sprocket designed and printed by the University of Leuven using silicon-carbide 3D printing
- Carbon fiber-reinforced composite sprocket printed by REIN4CED
- Crank designed by Materialise with a lattice structure, demonstrating the possibility of printing strong yet lightweight parts
- Saddle produced by REIN4CED and Materialise from stiff carbon composite shell and soft rubberlike TPU topper
- 3D printed light within the saddle, from REIN4CED, Materialise and Tenco DDM
- 3D printed seatpost from metal printing company MT3D
- Wheels printed by Ghent University and 3dee
- Fender from University of Leuven and 3dee
- Steering component from Materialise and Sirris
Other companies who worked on the project include RSPrint, T&M Solutions, 3D&I, Formando, Hoet, Layered Prints, and Vamac. The bike was unveiled at the Zolder Race Circuit on August 27 and will travel to additional events and fairs in the near future to educate companies and schools about the extensive capabilities of 3D printing. Discuss further in the 3D Printed Bicycle forum over at 3DPB.com.
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Since the factory collapse, Primark has vowed to push for
Since the factory collapse, Primark has vowed to push for structural surveys of buildings as part of supplier audits. Spokesman Chris Barrie said the retailer has sent senior staff to Bangladesh to work with a non governmental organization to get food and other assistance to the local community. He declined to comment further.. If the British pound continues to stay low or fall even more, your trip to England will be cheaper. In the shadow ofslammed markets, the pound recently traded at levels (circa $1.33) not seen since 1985, making hotels, meals, shopping and other purchases at least 10 percent cheaper. Needless to say, it’s a good time to buy pounds for an upcoming trip.. Preserving food was as important as growing it. Levi dug a cave like hole in the ground where the family stored white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and onions. cheap football jerseys “They lasted all winter,” said Willa Vay. I acknowledge Governor Abercrombie for his leadership in this area and for his appointment of Father Marc Alexander to specifically address the serious cheap china jerseys problem of homelessness in the state.In addition, the hard work of the legislators across the street to come up with public private housing solutions has not gone unnoticed by us. There will be 2.5 million dollars in our executive budget from the city’s affordable housing fund to create an affordable housing partnership with the state. A new office of housing in the city, scheduled to start in July, will work closely with the state and the private sector to streamline and coordinate help to those in need. It would have been simple to write something like “Thanks for your donation. Cub Scout troop 227” on a piece of paper, copy it a few times, cutting the note into strips to leave at the doors of all those who contributed. In this way we would know that the scouts had the bags, and that nothing was misdirected. Racing cars were too much to drag around Australia so I sold up, bought myself a Triumph GT 6 and went back to aeromodelling attempting to throw myself into R/C. From Melbourne Frank asked me to move first to the Sydney and Brisbane venues but eventually to be put in charge of the creation and opening of Dirty Dicks Adelaide. The location of Dirty Dicks was in Pirie St and just round the corner in East Terrace was a model shop and it was there I met Max Starick one Saturday morning. Those in rural areas have fewer Internet options, and often pricier (sorry). Most of the providers don’t have to guarantee cheap football china access with copper wire or coaxial beyond certain areas. Users get stuck with a bill for the manual labor to install a broadband connection to your home from the closest available link which can get very expensive.


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Livestream Offers Anytime, Anywhere Live Streaming With Livepack
Much of the recent attention in live video streaming has focused on cell phones and cell phone networks. For critical event coverage, "that's not really a viable option," says Max Haot, CEO and co-founder of Livestream.
There's little middle ground, he says, between the cell phone and the complete mobile satellite truck, something that strains the budgets of even local news stations.
Event videographers have it the worst, he says. With no way to afford a truck, they're often forced to work with whatever Internet connection the event space has. But when everyone at a conference is relying on the same pipeline, bandwidth can suddenly get choppy. The common solution is to use a notebook with a 3G cellular card, but even then connection quality can be uneven.
"It's still the number one point of failure," Haot says.
That's why Livestream has just announced a partnership with LiveU to deliver an optimized version of LiveU's backpack solution for Livestream customers. The Livepack is a full upload solution in one small package. All the customer needs to do is supply the camera and have either a free or premium Livestream account.
The LiveU LU-30, which Livestream has optimized in a new offering called Livepack.
The secret to the Livepack is that it uses six load-balanced 3G/EVDO modems to upload data: two for AT&T, two for Verizon, and two for Sprint. If coverage is spotty, you can rely on one network and expect at least 300Kbps streaming. If coverage is good, the Livepack will use multiple modems and split the stream between them, delivering a 1Mbps connection.
"You don't want to stream at more than that because your viewers don't have the bandwidth to view it," says Haot.
Servers at Livestream will then reassemble the stream and send it to your channel live.
"The key is to be able to split a signal between different modems and then bring it back together. It's a TV broadcast truck in your backpack, basically," says Haot.Customers start out with the Livepack by e-mailing the company and getting a contract. They can choose between monthly use or set up a longer commitment. The one-month charge is $2,500, while committing to a year brings that down to $1,500 per month. Subscriptions include 30 hours of streaming uplink time per month.
Before the unit is sent out, it's configured to the customer's Livestream channel, so there's no setup for the customer to do. All they need to do is plug in a DV camera—simple or high-end—and select the auto-live streaming option from the touch screen menu.
While most customers will choose single channel shoots, the Livepack can be used in multicamera work with live mixing.
The streaming unit is ruggedized so customers don't need to worry about treating it as delicately as a notebook, and comes in a padded backpack. It won't turn off or overheat, assures Haot.
While LiveU was already renting the same equipment, customers need to stream video to their own server without the Livestream support, and then reincode and upload the feed. The Livestream partnership removes that entire process so that video goes directly to a Livestream channel.
"We make sure it works for you end-to-end," says Haot.
While Livestream has approximately 20 configured units, Haot says that LiveU has hundreds more that can be configured as needed. The company is already receiving orders, he says, and units ship within a week. For more on the Livepack, check the Livepack site, and watch the demo video below.
Mobile solution for streaming 3D from any location will be demoed at IBC.
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The world’s highest paid model is retiring from the runway. After 20 years strutting down the catwalk, Gisele Bündchen has decided that her final show will be April 20, 2015. She’ll still continue to participate in campaigns and fashion spreads, notes E!, so Gisele isn’t done with the fashion world quite yet — don’t worry!
READ MORE: Train Like a Victoria’s Secret Angel
Moda Estadäo from Gisele’s native Brazil first broke the news that the Brazilian bombshell has made the apt choice of Säo Paulo Fashion Week and the Colcci summer 2016 collection for her final catwalk. She’s walked the runway for Colcci before, and E! reminds us that she posed for one of the company’s campaigns in 2010 just six-and-a-half weeks after giving birth to her son Benjamin.
The 34-year-old supermodel earned a reported $47 million in 2014. Between her earning power and hubby Tom Brady’s contract with the New England Patriots, the Bündchen-Brady brood is going to be just fine with one less feather in Gisele’s cap.
READ MORE: 4 Victoria’s Secret Models’ Hairstyles to Try at Home


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As one year ends and another begins those in the restaurant business are once again speculating as to what 2013 is likely to bring.
Certainly public policy is going to have an impact on restaurant sales and profits. The resolution of the "fiscal cliff" drama, the costs of health care reform mandates, and the ultimate impact of rising food prices all make the economic forecast for the year ahead a murky one.
Then there's the issue of ever-changing customer tastes and preferences, a set of variables that can have a major impact on any eatery's continued viability.
As it does each year, the National Restaurant Association has teamed up with the American Culinary Federation to survey more than 1800 culinary professionals for its "What's Hot" forecast of menu trends.
For 2013 the survey suggests that children's nutrition and local sourcing are likely to be two of the most prominent concerns with consumers.
Other issues that the forecast predicts will influence restaurant menus include gluten-free cooking and, as a reaction to rising commodity prices, increased emphasis on low cost protein items.
An example of such is the "Denver Steak," a chuck cut that the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is promoting as an affordable alternative to the New York sirloin strip.
Chefs queried also predicted that sustainability issues would influence menu development in the months ahead, with an increased focus on sustainable seafood and "hyper-local" sourcing. The latter is shorthand for the restaurant practice of maintaining its own gardens to supply its kitchen.
Other trends the survey suggested have significance for the year ahead are ethnic-inspired breakfast items, half-portion offerings on menus, and house-made ice creams.
Just as noteworthy is the list of culinary waning trends -- those ideas and items trendsetters believe have peaked and are now becoming cliches. Foams and froth garnishes, mini-burgers and sliders, and desserts with bacon are, the survey suggests, becoming yesterday's news.
At the bar, hot trends for 2013 are likely to include barrel-aged blended drinks, locally produced spirits, and culinary cocktails -- drinks made with fresh ingredients like herbs and muddled fruit.
Moonshine (unaged whiskey) is also expected to remain "hot."


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That's a remarkable feat. But consider this: Volkswagen's market share has doubled since 2007, and the company's U.S. sales shot up 35 percent last year to more than 400,000 vehicles, its highest volume since the heydey of the original Beetle in the early 1970s. VW is aiming to grow by an additional 83 percent in the next five years, with a goal of becoming the world's largest automaker.
Critics of ad awards point to examples of so-called creativity that haven't sold anything, claiming that awards are a useless distraction. But it's hard to ignore the correlation between advertising prowess and sales results at Volkswagen. Correlation, of course, does not prove causality, and there's a great deal more than advertising tied to VW's success, from product design to dealer relations. But VW's experience underscores the fact that creativity, in the proper context, always outperforms the absence of it.
Our own research among the nation's fastest-growing companies demonstrates that the most successful are nearly twice as likely to have won advertising awards as those that struggle. Whether good brands produce good advertising or good advertising produces good brands is academic. The most important thing is that they go together.
The question of whether creativity sells is never asked of movies, art, or music. Great advertising, like a beautiful painting or well-crafted film, is funny, or moving, or thought-provoking, or sometimes even uplifting. Must it be strategic? Of course -- but even the best strategy won't compensate for a lack of imagination.
Steve McKee is president of McKee Wallwork + Company, and author of When Growth Stalls and Power Branding. A marketing strategist for nearly three decades, Steve has been published or quoted in many top news outlets and industry publications, and writes a monthly marketing column for Businessweek.com.


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Malaysia's total trade in September this year improved 1.6 percent to RM119.72 billion ( about 3.72 billion U.S. dollars) from RM117.88 billion (about 36. 56 billion dollars) a year ago, according to official statistics.
The trade surplus was recorded at RM9.33 billion (about 2.91 billion dollars), said the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) in a statement Friday.
MITI said that increases in trade were recorded with Singapore which rose by RM1 billion (about 3.3 billion dollars), India RM861. 7 million (about 269 million dollars), Australia RM 806.2 million (about 251 million dollars), Saudi Arabia RM706.4 million(about 220 million dollars), Kuwait RM410.9 million(about 128 dollars) and China RM333.2 million(about 104 million dollars).
Exports of manufactured goods for the month rose by 2.2 percent to RM49.14 billion (about 15.35 billion dollars) compared with September 2013, driven by higher exports of electrical and electronics (E&E) products, it said.
Exports of agricultural goods rose 11 percent to RM6.57 billion (about 2.03 billion dollars), contributed mainly by higher exports of palm oil.
For the nine-month period of 2014, MITI noted that Malaysia's trade for the period has exceeded the RM1 trillion mark with total trade valued at RM1.078 trillion (about 0.31 trillion dollars).
The achievement was supported by strong demand from major markets, mainly the United States, the European Union, particularly the Netherlands, Germany and Poland, as well as ASEAN countries, the statement said.


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With the holiday season around the corner, I’d like to start giving thanks early. This year, I’m thankful for karma, something The Huffington Post knows all about as of late. When writing about a typo on Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving stickers that say, “GOOBLE GOOBLE”—not “Gobble, Gobble”—the online media giant suffered a typo of its own, accidentally writing “work” when it meant “word.” HuffPost issued a correction, but didn’t mention how thankful it was for its readers’ forgiveness.
If I were Lizzie Magie, on the other hand, I don’t think I’d be so forgiving. The schoolteacher invented a game that was said to inspire Parker Bros.’ Monopoly. However, the company left her out of the story of the birth of the wildly popular game, according to Harper‘s Christopher Ketcham. (via Boing Boing)


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Walmart on Tuesday officially unveiled Walmart+, its new $98/year membership program that competes with Amazon's $119/year Prime membership. The program, previously called Delivery Unlimited and focused on groceries, will be renamed Walmart Plus and add many items you'd find in a Walmart store, including toys, electronics and household essentials like cleaners and toothpaste.
It will cost $98 a year, or $12.95 a month, including a 15-day free trial. Walmart+ gives members in-store prices and free delivery as fast as the same day on over 160,000 items. Members of this service will automatically become Walmart Plus members.
"We are a company committed to meeting our customers' needs", said Janey Whiteside, chief customer officer, Walmart.
While Walmart is expected to account for 6% of all online sales in the United States this year, Amazon is forecast to take 38%, The Associated Press reported. "We've designed this program as the ultimate life hack for them". "Walmart Plus will bring together a comprehensive set of benefits where we see the greatest needs from our customers and where our scale can bring solutions at an unprecedented value".
Trump Threatens Portland Intervention After Violence
In a subsequent protest, two demonstrators were shot and killed and a third wounded; a 17-year-old has been charged with homicide .
The big selling point of this is to expand free, fast and cheap deliveries to the parts of the USA that Amazon has yet to reach. Orders must be at least $35, the same minimum as with Delivery Unlimited.
Walmart+ benefits will be available on top of the retailers' standard offerings such as free curbside pickup, and both next-day and two-day delivery, the company said.
Members will get a discount of up to 5 cents a gallon at Murphy gas stations or at the 2,000 Walmart locations that have gas pumps.
In-store shoppers will have access to a "Scan & Go" feature that lets them scan items with their phones and pay for them using Walmart Pay, allowing them to avoid the checkout line. Walmart says that Sam's Club will soon join the. you know, club.


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courtesy of ‘logan.brown’
At just four minutes to midnight on July 4th, WMATA announced that all of the 4000-series cars on Metrorail were being removed for safety concerns related to their door motors. The timing, while awkward, may prove advantageous given the lower than average ridership week and the federal holiday. The 4000-series cars apparently have an issue with their door motors that can occasionally cause a door to open while the train is moving. Each of the 100 cars will need to have all of its door motors removed, inspected, cleaned, and replaced before the cars can come back into service. It’s expected to be a process that will take 2-3 weeks. Early next week is expected to be the worst of the situation, as cars will be coming back online in pairs as the work is completed.
Pingback: Tweets that mention Citing Safety Concerns, Metro Pulls All 4000-Series Cars » We Love DC -- Topsy.com
Thanks for using my photo! You’re welcome to use it bigger if you’d like!
I am sure they will be put back with little to no actual check ups


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Microsoft already developing next Xbox
On March 18, Microsoft announced that it was already developing the next Xbox, codenamed “Scarlett.” The news came as a surprise to many, as the current Xbox One is only six years old. However, Microsoft has been clear that it is committed to making Scarlett the “most powerful console ever.”
Microsoft has already begun to make moves that indicate its intent to make Scarlett the center of its gaming strategy. The company acquired several game studios in the past year, including Ninja Theory and Obsidian Entertainment. It also purchased the rights to the “Gears of War” franchise from Epic Games.
With Microsoft’s experience in developing gaming consoles, it is no surprise that the company is confident in its ability to deliver on its promises for Scarlett. The real question is whether or not gamers will be willing to buy into Microsoft’s vision for the next generation of gaming.


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Moving to zero-emission vehicles through regulations and investments is a significant part of Canada's $9.1 billion Emissions Reduction Plan to meet Canada's Paris Agreement target for 2030 and get on track for net-zero emissions by 2050. PHOTO by Pexels.
The federal government has released Canada’s Action Plan for Clean On-Road Transportation, outlining the strategy for the switch to zero-emission vehicles and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
“We are working with industry to secure jobs and production mandates in Canada, in order to enable a successful transformation to electrification. Our actions will support strong, resilient and reliable Canadian automotive and battery sectors with more jobs for Canadians,” said François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. Champagne, along with his provincial counterparts in Ontario and Quebec, has been instrumental in cementing monumental investment in EV infrastructure in Ontario and Quebec that over the course of a year has solidly marked Canada as a major hub for EV production.
The Action Plan for Clean-On-Road Transportation:
- will set annually increasing requirements towards achieving 100% light-duty zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035, including mandatory targets of at least 20% of all new light-duty vehicle sales by 2026 and at least 60% by 2030.
- aim to reach 35% of total new medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales being zero-emission vehicles by 2030. In addition, the Government will develop a medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicle regulation to require 100% of new medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales to be zero-emission vehicles by 2040 for a subset of vehicle types based on feasibility, with interim 2030 regulated sales requirements that would vary for different vehicle categories based on feasibility, and explore interim targets for the mid-2020s.
- details the measures Canada has already put in place, and those in development, such as consumer incentives and funds for charging infrastructure.
- highlights the steps the Government of Canada has taken to help secure well-paying jobs for Canadians.
There will be progress reports as required under the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act. The first report is planned for 2023.
The transportation sector is Canada’s second-largest source of pollution. Moving to zero-emission vehicles through regulations and investments is a significant part of Canada’s $9.1 billion Emissions Reduction Plan to meet Canada’s Paris Agreement target for 2030 and get on track for net-zero emissions by 2050. Canada is developing regulations for zero-emission vehicles to be 100% of new light-duty vehicle sales by 2035, and 100% of new medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by 2040, where feasible.
The Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles Program has already helped Canadians purchase or lease over 180,000 new zero-emission vehicles since 2019. Through Budget 2022, the Government of Canada invested $1.7 billion to continue this program until March 2025, including a broadening of the eligibility under the program. Additionally, in July of this year, the new Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicles (iMHZEV) Program was launched. This four-year, close to $550 million program, will help businesses and communities across the country make the switch to zero-emission commercial vehicles.
To date, the Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP), has invested in more than 34,500 new charging stations to be installed from coast to coast. Budget 2022 provided Natural Resources Canada’s ZEVIP with an additional $400 million, and Canada’s Infrastructure Bank will invest $500 million to deploy an additional 50,000 electric vehicle chargers by 2027.


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It’s no secret that the cost of living has increased dramatically since the summer. We can thank runaway inflation for this.
Today’s American consumers pay more for their daily expenses, and things might get worse before they get better. In fact, if you’re relying on your morning coffee to get you through the day, here’s some disturbing news. Inflation is set to hit the coffee industry soon, and once that happens, your daily dose of caffeine could become a lot harder to afford.
Coffee is not immune to inflation
On November 18, coffee futures reached their highest level since January 2012. And this year, the cost of coffee has risen by over 80% so far.
This does not necessarily mean that coffee prices will rise immediately. But soon, consumers could start paying a premium every time they want a cup of coffee.
Why are coffee prices soaring? We can blame the supply issues, which are fundamentally the theme of our current inflation situation.
Weather conditions in Brazil have not been favorable in recent months, and as Brazil is the world’s largest supplier of coffee beans, this particular supply chain is now under threat. If coffee suppliers have to spend more to source elsewhere, this cost is likely to be passed on to consumers. The result? Higher prices that are yet to come.
Why haven’t the prices already skyrocketed? One of the reasons is that the big names in the coffee industry usually buy their product well in advance and have different strategies in place to protect themselves against price increases. As such, you might not yet feel the pain when you visit your favorite coffee shop chain. But if coffee prices continue to rise, things could change quickly.
How to deal with rising coffee prices
If you make your own coffee at home, you will feel the pain of price hikes less than those who buy coffee from a local store or chain like Dunkin or Starbucks. If your store-bought coffee is starting to get too expensive to perfectly fit your budget, you may need to consider cutting back on your consumption. That could mean brewing your own coffee a few days a week and cutting down on the number of times you buy it outside of the house.
If you’re really in love with your store-bought coffee and can’t bear to give it up, find another expense to cut back. For the price of one takeout per month, you might be able to treat yourself to 10 days of freshly brewed coffee you love.
Another option? Get a side job to increase your income. This will help you cope not only with the rising price of coffee, but also with the increasing daily expenses, from gasoline to groceries. And while you might think the idea of taking a second job to keep buying coffee is silly, remember that there’s nothing wrong with making an effort to afford things. that give you joy.
Of course, if your savings account balance is healthy and you need to temporarily dip into it to pay for your beloved coffee, this is also an option. But not everyone has savings, or savings outside of an emergency fund, in which case reducing or increasing your income may be the best way to preserve your morning coffee habit.


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NZ First leader Winston Peters has attacked a Trade Me ad seeking a Chinese-speaking store manager for an independently owned and operated Caltex-branded petrol station in Opotiki.
"An employer in Opotiki is blatantly side-lining New Zealand workers. They are advertising for a store manager who is fluent in Chinese. This is unacceptable, especially as there's no shortage of workers in Opotiki and the rest of the Eastern Bay of Plenty," he wrote on Facebook.
The ad said a "full time position is available at Caltex Bridge Street Opotiki", and "applicant must be fluent in Chinese language" - however it has now been expired.
Mr Peters claims the store owner is using the language requirement in order to pay lower wages.
"Employers are taking advantage of National's record immigration numbers. They know that migrants are cheaper labour and will work under any conditions to just stay in the country. National has allowed unfocused immigration instead of targeting the skills we really need," Mr Peters wrote.
"A service station manager should not be on the skills shortage list."
Mr Peters' Facebook post has sparked angry comments and debate.
Gerard Kean agreed with Mr Peters, saying: "It's discrimination. It's saying I only want Chinese people for this job without actually spelling it out."
However one commenter wrote that there was a good reason for the language requirement.
"I was concerned enough about this to apply for job, got one of the nicest emails back that I have had in a long time regarding job applications," wrote Carole Hirst.
"Turns out why he is advertising for a Chinese speaking manager is although he says a wonderful team of Kiwis, Maori and Pakeha and he would love to have someone as a second manger to help him better understand English and all the council bylaws etc in running a business."
Caltex says the store is independently owned and operated and they are not involved in the store's management.


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The longest recession the United States has endured since the Great Depression ended in June 2009, a group that dates the beginning and end of recessions declared Monday.Unlike some countries, the official towncrier in USA uses metrics other than GDP change to mark recessions. The fact that the recent recession was the longest since the 1930's is not that important. Instead, I believe the most important fact is that the economy hasn't recovered much. Although unemployment is a lagging indicator, I still think it is fairly high from a historical point of view. Unlike most of the past recessions, when central banks "induced" a recession by raising rates, the recent one is one of the rare ones where rates were the least of the problems.
The National Bureau of Economic Research, a panel of academic economists based in Cambridge, Mass., said the recession lasted 18 months. It started in December 2007 and ended in June 2009. Previously the longest post World War II downturns were those in 1973-1975 and in 1981-1982. Both of those lasted 16 months.
Any future downturn in the economy would now mark the start of a new recession, not the continuation of the December 2007 recession, NBER said. That’s important because if the economy starts shrinking again, it could mark the onset of a “double-dip” recession. For many economists, the last time that happened was in 1981-82.
To make its determination, the NBER looks at figures that make up the nation’s gross domestic product, which measures the total value of goods and services produced within the United States. It also reviews incomes, employment and industrial activity.
The economy lost 7.3 million jobs in the 2007-2009 recession, also the most in the post World War II period.
The Great Depression lasted much longer. The United States suffered through a 43-month recession that ended in 1933. Then, it slid back into recession, which lasted for 13 months. That ended in 1938.
I don't think a double-dip recession is likely given the present low level of economic activity. The real risk is that the economy doesn't grow much, perhaps no better than 2% per year for next 5 to 10 years. Tags: economics


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Matalan founder John Hargreaves has stepped down as chairman of the value retailer, less than 12 months after he took the business private.
Hargreaves, who founded Matalan in 1985 and took it private in a deal worth £817 million last December, has resigned for personal reasons according to the company.
Hargreaves’ long-term tax adviser John Mills has been named as his successor, but Hargreaves will continue to have involvement in the business.
Matalan chief executive Alistair McGeorge told The Observer newspaper that he “speaks to John regularly,” and added: “His decision to go is for personal reasons.”
Hargreaves’ estimated fortune stands at £550m.


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Meat - the key element in our modern diets - has been linked to everything from health problems to climate change. The World Health Organisation last November caused a public outcry when it declared that processed meats cause cancer; while new research from UK think tank Chatham House argues that cutting meat consumption is needed to prevent global warming from exceeding dangerous levels.
This is pushing some researchers and scientists to look for radical solutions. Dr Mark Post of Maastricht University in the Netherlands believes that in five years’ time, a tastier and cheaper lab-grown burger will be available for the masses.
In an interview with the BBC in October, Peter Vestrate, part of Dr Post’s team and head of a new venture set up to commercialise the lab-burger, said: “I am confident that when it is offered as an alternative to meat that increasing numbers of people will find it hard not to buy our product for ethical reasons”.
After years of research, the team had discovered a way to make meat by using cells taken from cattle and cultured in the serum of unborn calves. Recently, they also found a way to incorporate iron and fat into their product, in the hope that its improved taste would convince the masses of its viability as an alternative to meat.
Most crucially, Dr Post last year said the team had trimmed its considerable production cost from an initial US$325,000 to a more affordable $80 per kilogramme. And it’s set to get cheaper.
Ultimately, the team hopes to eliminate the use of foetal serum altogether and will look to other bio sources such as algae and cyanobacteria as the material to grow his product in. This means the lab-grown meat will eventually become even less dependent on animal sources.
For those with more traditional tastes, there is already a burgeoning industry in vegetarian and vegan products that make use of advances in technology to create more faithful mimics of meat products in taste and look.
The Vegetarian Butcher, a company based also in the Netherlands, uses 100 per cent plant-based, locally grown sources to produce meat substitutes and collaborates with chefs to produce food that copy the complex flavours and textures of meat products via the use of high-tech machinery and techniques.
“[The] biggest obstacle to a plant-based future are meat and dairy substitutes which lack taste. Anyone who tries a poor-tasting meat or dairy substitute is unlikely to come back a second time.”
Jaap Korteweg, founder of The Vegetarian Butcher
Aggressively marketed and sold in traditional storefronts meant to conjure up the atmosphere of old butcher shops, the company has seen its popularity spread throughout Europe and the Middle East, while gaining a foothold in Asia via South Korea.
According to founder Jaap Korteweg, its appeal is simple: it just tastes good. He says on the company website that “[the] biggest obstacle to a plant-based future are meat and dairy substitutes which lack taste. Anyone who tries a poor-tasting meat or dairy substitute is unlikely to come back a second time.”
Still, even if they are appetising, it will take time and effort to convince the public - who are resistant to “inferior” flavours of plant-based products or the “unnatural” essence of such “frankenfoods” - of its merits.
While it is a daunting challenge, Dr Post is optimistic: “I do think that in 20, 30 years from now we will have a viable industry producing alternative beef.”
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