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UIL Holdings notifies customers after laptop stolen from vendor’s employee
UIL Holdings in Connecticut is notifying customers of a breach involving one of their vendors. The contractor is not named in their notification letter of September 30, which begins:
We are writing to inform you of an incident that involved your personal information. On or about September 13, 2014, a thief stole a laptop computer containing your personal information from a professional services firm performing work for UIL Holdings Corporation (“UIL”). The theft was reported to the police, but the police have not been able to locate or recover the laptop. The vendor first informed UIL about the theft on September 18, 2014. Upon learning of the theft, UIL immediately launched an investigation. UIL’s investigation revealed that the laptop contained certain information about you, which might have included the following private and personally identifiable information: [redacted]. The laptop was password protected, and we have found no evidence that your personal information has been accessed or used fraudulently.
The letter offers those affected 24 months of free services through AllClear ID.
You can read the template of the notification letter on the Vermont Attorney General’s website.
The total number affected was not disclosed, but on their site, UIL Holdings says they service approximately 700,000 electric and natural gas utility customers in 66 communities across two states.


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SALT LAKE CITY — After a sensational rookie year in the NBA, Donovan Mitchell enjoyed a busy offseason.
The Utah Jazz guard’s 2018 world tour took him to China, Spain, the Philippines and Serbia, among other stops as he gained nationwide fame and adoration among NBA fans.
After trial and error, Mitchell’s offseason won’t be as hectic this summer, but things are set to pick up in July. His signature sneaker, the D.O.N. Issue #1, is now set to release online at Adidas.com on July 1 for $100, according to a Deseret News source, followed by a retail release in stores such as Foot Locker and Champs on July 5, in conjunction with the “Spider-Man: Far From Home” movie, which he recently teased via social media with Spider-Man actor Tom Holland.
Then, he will leave July 6 for a trip to Asia, France and Germany with Adidas, multiple sources confirmed.
Mitchell debuted four different colorways of his sneaker throughout the Jazz’s playoff run as he counts down the official release.2 comments on this story
“To be honest with you, it’s still kind of unreal to me,” Mitchell said ahead of Game 2 of Utah’s postseason series against Houston. “For me, to get the shoe so soon I think really kind of took me by surprise.
“It still does to this day, but I’m excited for it to go on sale and people have been asking me for it nonstop but to be able to wear it, it’s so comfortable,” he continued. “I’m not just saying that because it’s my shoe but it’s comfortable and I love the shoe and it’s a blessing to be able to debut it, especially in the playoffs.”

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Titan releases financial results
Titan International Inc. reports its sales for fourth quarter 2013 were $494.4 million compared to $493.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. Income from operations was $0.6 million compared to $(1.1) million last year.
Gross profit for the fourth quarter 2013 was $49.3 million, or 10% of net sales, compared to $51.5 million in fourth quarter 2012, or 10.4% of net sales.
Sales for the full year 2013 were $2,163.6 million, up 18.8% compared to $1,820.7 million in 2012. Income from operations was $102.4 million, or 4.7% of net sales for fiscal year 2013 compared to $174.7 million, or 9.6% of net sales for 2012.
Gross profit was $295.2 million, or 13.6% of net sales for the year ending Dec. 31, 2013, compared to $294.1 million or 16.2% on Dec. 31, 2012.
Maurice Taylor, CEO and chairman, said, "We entered 2013 very hopeful but were challenged by the market conditions and internal missteps. The union negotiations at our three tire plants were not completed until the end of first quarter which we had hopes of finalizing in 2012.
“The wheel and tire farm business was strong in 2013 but due to the building of farm tire inventory at the OE level in 2012, there was a significant amount of destocking that occurred in 2013. Similar conditions were experienced in the construction market as this sector showed minimal signs of recovery in 2013 yet forecast were too optimistic resulting in an inventory surplus,” Taylor said.
“Due to falling rubber prices, the business experienced a material financial hit in 2013 as price reductions had to be passed on to our customers and margins were therefore sacrificed. The mining business was also hit hard in 2013. The tire inventory levels at the mines were higher than expected. Tires are being replaced at a 30% discount given the lower rubber prices, therefore companies are reducing inventory to the lowest levels to replace with cheaper tires.
"I believe my 2014 goals that were released in December of 2013 are still reasonable. Revenue is set for $2.4 to $2.7 billion and EBITDA expectations are $240 to $270 million. The overall farm economy will remain strong and the construction sector will begin to rebound but the mining business will remain challenged at least through the first half of 2014. ITM, Titan's steel undercarriage frame manufacturer, expects an improvement in the business this year compared to 2013 and I am confident in her forecast.
"Titan has worked hard to grow the business and invested capital toward maximizing our potential. We remain optimistic we can streamline the enterprise and improve our performance going forward. We have added to our board of directors and executive management in recent months. We look forward to the younger management setting a new pace for Titan. These younger guns will have the opportunity to run more of the business."
For the full financial summary, click here.


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Wall Street's best week in 18-months was marked by a strong rally led by technology companies. This gain ended a seven-week losing streak in the market, which was the longest since 2001.
The S&P 500 gained 2.5% and ended the week 6.6% higher, marking its highest weekly gain since November 2020. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.8%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 3%.
Investors received encouraging news regarding inflation, which led to a strong week. According to the Commerce Department, inflation increased 6.3% in April compared to a year ago. This is the first slowdown since November 2020. It's a sign that rising prices might be easing, at least temporarily.
Wall Street was looking for signs that inflation might be easing and trying to determine how low stocks could sink, so the report was published.
Ross Mayfield, Baird's investment strategy analyst, stated that "at this point it's all the marketplace needs." It's certainly one of the signs you would like to see.
S&P 500 closed 100.40 points higher at 5,158.24. The Nasdaq gained 390.48 points, to 12,131.13. This was the third consecutive gain for both indexes. The Dow gained 575.77 points, or 6.96 percent, to 33,212.96.
Stocks of smaller companies also saw a slight increase in value. The Russell 2000 gained 49.66 points or 2.7% to 1,887.90.
As concerns over inflation and rising interest rates mount, the market overall has been in a slump since almost two months. Investors were rattled last week by disappointing retail reports, including those from Target and Walmart, that stoked concerns about rising inflation and impacting profit margins, and reducing consumer spending.
Although trading was slow throughout the week due to the release of encouraging earnings reports by retailers such as Macy's, Dollar General, and financial updates, the market pushed higher most of the week.
Retailers were among those who gained the most Friday, as investors reviewed the latest earnings report to gain a better understanding of the impact rising inflation has on consumers and businesses. Ulta Beauty, a beauty products company, saw a 12.5% increase after it raised its profit forecast for this year. Amazon rose 3.7%
Many companies were affected by disappointing earnings and financial information. American Eagle, a clothing retailer, fell 6.6% following weak earnings in the first quarter.
Businesses are being squeezed by inflation, which is at its highest point in four decades. Inflation has risen to a point where companies raised prices on everything, from food and clothing, to protect their margins. However, consumers have remained resilient. The inflation picture was worsened by Russia's invasion in Ukraine, which pushed global food and energy prices higher.
Although crude oil prices in the United States were fairly stable, they are expected to rise by nearly 60% by 2022. This year, corn and wheat prices have increased by 30% and 50% respectively.
Inflation is causing supply chain problems that were made worse by China's closure of several cities.
Businesses have found it more difficult to offset inflation and this is causing consumers to spend less on expensive goods and more on necessities. This has raised concerns about the Federal Reserve's ability to limit the inflation impact.
Investors are concerned that the Fed will raise interest rates aggressively to combat inflation. However, investors fear that this could cause a recession.
The 10-year Treasury yield, which is used to set mortgage rates, fell to 2.74% late Thursday from 2.75%.


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A few insurance companies in Florida have stopped issuing policies on new cars ahead of Hurricane Irma’s landfall this weekend. So far, it’s only Progressive and Allstate, but that has obviously hindered new-car sales, considering no one can drive anything off the lot.
“If you take us out of business for a week before a storm even hits and maybe a week after, you can imagine the impact, not just on consumers who are inconvenienced but the state’s economic resources,” Ted Smith, the president of the Florida Automobile Dealers Association said. “I’m urging through our public officials that they talk to these insurance companies and make sure they follow the policy of State Farm -- wait until there’s imminent danger before you stop writing cars.”
It isn’t unheard of for insurance companies to stop issuing policies before a storm, but like Smith said, usually they wait for a hurricane advisory.
These companies are understandably skittish after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas last week. And Barclays estimates that Irma could cause as much as $130 billion in damage. Insurers are already looking at about $10 billion in claims from Harvey.
JPMorgan Chase estimates the Texas hurricane could reduce the adjusted annual rate of auto sales in August by 400,000 vehicles. We’ll have to wait to see how much Irma adds to that reduction, but it's worth noting the new-car sales boom that should result from all those waterlogged and storm-totaled vehicles eventually being replaced.


text: Scotch By Nino Marchetti / March 26, 2019 The Tamdhu distillery in Scotland, as we’ve touched upon in the past, was originally established on the banks of the River Spey in 1897. It is known mainly for a brief period of being shuttered and also its extensive use of Oloroso sherry casks for whisky aging. Those here recently debuted a new 15 year old expression that’s set to be a limited annual offering.The new Tamdhu 15 Year Old Scotch whisky, according to those behind it, has been matured in a combination of American and European oak, Oloroso sherry seasoned casks from the cooperages of Jerez in Spain’s ‘Sherry Triangle.’ It is a higher end bottling for the distillery, clocking in at 46% ABV and is both natural colored and non-chill filtered.Tamdhu 15 Year Old (image via Tamdhu)“We’re extremely proud of our new Tamdhu 15 Year Old,” said Sandy McIntyre, Tamdhu Distillery Manager, in a prepared statement. “All our whisky at Tamdhu is exclusively matured in the finest Oloroso sherry seasoned oak casks. When you taste a dram of Tamdhu 15 Year Old, you can really taste the time and care that has gone in to creating this incredible whisky. We hope Tamdhu drinkers around the world will savour it as much as we do.”As it stands now plans call for the Tamdhu 15 Year Old to be made available worldwide for around £85, or about $115 USD.


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The Cult PR has been appointed to represent the London Evening Standard Food Month, following a three-way pitch.
The multiple-award-winning agency will be responsible for the online and offline PR campaigns for the month-long, city-wide festival, as well as the social media strategy, celebrating the capital’s diverse and influential food scene.
Encompassing every corner of the city, the campaign for this exciting new food festival will celebrate the dynamic London food scene and the world’s culinary capital, with hundreds of events throughout June, featuring everything from fine dining and street food, to cafés and late-night eateries.
This culinary celebration will simultaneously promote awareness around food waste and food hunger with The Felix Project; official charity partner for the festival.
The Cult Director, Charli Morgan said: "We are thrilled to have been appointed to represent London Evening Standard's ambitious and delicious celebration of London, the culinary capital of the world."
Renowned food writers Grace Dent and Tom Parker Bowles take on their roles as creative directors of the festival. Together, they will curate a full programme that will see hundreds of events take place throughout the capital during the month of June.
Chefs, restaurants, hotels, food trucks, cafés, bars and more will participate and celebrate in the best that the London food scene has to offer. In addition to this, Fay Maschler, the London Evening Standard’s longest-standing critic and much-loved journalist, will be curating a definitive list of her 50 favourite places to eat in London in 2017.
The centrepiece of London Food Month will be the Night Market, a bustling outdoor dining experience held at an iconic London park over 12 summer nights. Starting June 7 and inspired by the global street food scene, the Night Market will feature up to 50 restaurants, food trucks, bars and live entertainment, from the iconic to the up-and-coming. Full details, including the venue and ticket sales, will be announced in April.
London Food Month will also include exclusive events with internationally-renowned chefs, from the impressive roster of international and British talent, during rare UK appearances. Massimo Bottura, chef-owner of Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, and founder of Food for Soul, is the first chef to be announced to take part in London Food Month, collaborating with The Felix Project.
The full schedule of events and official partners will be featured in the London Food Month programme that will be distributed with the London Evening Standard on May 2. Registration runs from February 21 to March 22. To register interest, visit www.londonfoodmonth.co.uk


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As the American economy looks forward to a post-COVID future, it is tempting for businesses to return to their pre-pandemic operations. But companies across all sectors are now faced with an opportunity—to experiment with new practices to increase growth and retention in a very different world. In Plymouth, Michigan, Argent International and its strategic partner Argent Tape & Label are developing a closer working relationship while maintaining the autonomy to do what each company does best and working to advance women in leadership positions. The result is a symbiotic relationship that also benefits the industry as a whole.
Argent International has over forty years of history, having expanded from a single die-cutter to today’s team of 125 full-time employees. The company’s 100,000-square-foot facility can produce more than twenty million parts per month, and its long history has earned it a place with original equipment manufacturers and Tier One automotive clients such as Ford, GMC, BMW, and many others.
In addition to its mass production, the engineering team at Argent International works closely with clients large and small to design and fabricate custom parts. With its infrastructure able to provide just-in-time delivery, the company is in a prime position to supply the occasionally volatile automobile industry. Its track record, machinery, and history as a 3M Preferred Converter give Argent International the flexibility to weather industrial changes. When the automotive industry slowed to a crawl as a result of COVID-related health measures, the company switched to manufacturing face shields.
For its part, Argent Tape & Label provides environmentally-friendly labels and adhesives for a variety of industries. The company is celebrating over twenty-five years in business and a new lease on life after a narrow brush with insolvency in 2010. Argent Tape & Label offers flexographic and digital printing, as well as process and spot printing and thermal transfers. Like Argent International, the company is also well-versed in custom jobs and can accommodate any material, printing, or stock tag options for a client. This has allowed it to branch out to the food & beverage and medical & pharmaceutical sectors, showcasing its versatility.
Today, Argent International and Argent Tape & Label are working more closely than ever before, though the two are just unique enough to prevent a merger. ATL, having been woman-owned since 2010, remains an active member of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), and closer to home, the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council (WBC). Argent International, newly woman-owned as of last year, hopes to be WBENC certified by the beginning of next year.
Lynn Perenic, Chief Executive Officer of Argent Tape & Label and President of Argent International, sees it as a chance for greater business representation for women, rather than just a growth opportunity. “I think that, frankly, there are not a lot of women in manufacturing, and there are even fewer women-owned businesses that are die-cutters.” She believes that this move will pave the way for more women-owned businesses in the automotive industry. “I think women tend to look at problems in a different way and solve problems in a different way than male leadership.”
The two companies’ recent cooperation and Argent Tape & Label’s continued prosperity, owe a great deal to Perenic. She recently took over leadership of the latter from its founder, her husband Fred Perenic, but her main objective remains Argent Tape & Label, which she formally took over in 2010. Though new to business, Perenic believed she had the right background for such an ambitious foray. “I’m a special [education] teacher, and I decided I could try to save this little label company,” she says. “So I took it on, and we turned it around.”
The early days were, predictably, an uphill battle; Perenic recalls that, on her first day as CEO, she was informed Argent Tape & Label owed $400,000 in receivables. “From the second the company started, it was underwater,” says Deborah Sellis, who Perenic brought on as Chief Operations Officer in 2016 and who has recently become COO and General Counsel to both companies. However, ten years later, just before COVID, Argent Tape & Label was on track to make $10 million in sales. “What we make costs customers fractions of pennies. That’s a lot of labels and a lot of work,” Sellis notes.
This extraordinary turnaround, which Perenic and Sellis are seeking to bring to Argent International, is a testament to Argent Tape & Label’s open-book management style. This approach focuses on clear communication and accountability across all company sectors, and provides employees with a stake in the game where they too share in the financial success that follows.
While the style is admittedly easier to implement at a smaller company like Argent Tape & Label, the company’s leadership is working to remodel Argent International to this system as well. As the company emerges from COVID restrictions, Sellis states that the company has already implemented open-book practices in daily operations. “It’s not unusual to have your floor-level operator in a meeting with myself or anybody else if it’s a problem that directly impacts them,” she says. “That was part of the culture before COVID, it’s part of the culture with COVID, and now, it’s part of the new normal.”
Indeed, this practice has helped the companies adapt to health restrictions and industrial shutdowns. Argent International and Argent Tape & Label at the height of the pandemic were able to shift from mostly automotive production to PPE and other healthcare equipment. As a vital supplier to an equally vital sector, the companies stayed on-mission for as long as possible, until shutdown orders arrived. “That’s all well and good unless you’re a key supplier and you can’t shut down,” Sellis says. “You have to have the skeleton crew and manage them that way.” But with open communication, remote work policies, and a stringent set of internal health practices, both companies managed to keep employees safe.
A hallmark of Open Book Management is the Mini-game, which is strategically implemented to encourage team-building, continual improvement, and desirable output or cost-saving results. Setting goals and having employees compete with themselves and each other are part of what leads to a robust system within the Argent families. The latest idea is to implement a Mini-game that “improves everybody’s production efficiencies over a certain period of time,” Sellis explains.
Moving forward, Argent International and Argent Tape & Label are continuing to press open-book management as a way of better retaining employees and gaining ideas from unexpected sources. “We have had several… press operators come to us with very viable ideas that, I think, in a closed culture, they would not have brought up,” Perenic says. She tells us how one employee, who also was a member of a band, was shopping for a new drum and noticed a new type of foam in a prospective purchase.
Noticing a sales opportunity, as drum packaging requires both foam and double-sided tape, he brought it to the attention of one of Argent’s sales professionals, who reached out to the drum manufacturer to begin a mutually beneficial partnership. Perenic believes that a typical manufacturing setting, lacking the collaboration between floor employees and sales staff, would not have seen this happen.
Due to such programs, employee retention is not an issue—a relative rarity in manufacturing jobs these days. Thanks to competitive wages, Argent International boasts turnover so low that the company gives prizes for ten, twenty, and thirty years of service. This is normally a trip to Hawaii, but with COVID, “we’re still working on that portion,” Perenic says with a chuckle. Work-life balance is also a large driver of company retention. She relates the story of one employee who left Argent International but returned after the birth of his second child to take advantage of the company’s working atmosphere.
As Argent International and Argent Tape & Label move forward, the companies have endured the crucible of the pandemic. “We had to really reinvent ourselves in a number of ways,” she admits. “We backslid but we’re right back in the game.” Comprehensive business plans will help the two avoid future troubles. Perenic jokes that she is “creatively paranoid,” and applies this to business plans. “I always like to pretend that thirty percent of our business is going to go away, and it did with the pandemic,” she says. Future safeguards, she believes, should help keep both companies running.
As Argent International and Argent Tape & Label move forward, the two companies demonstrate the alliance needed to move forward in automotive. The hybrid and electric vehicle market is still a growing sector for the companies, particularly Argent International’s solutions to deal with vehicle noise, vibration, and harshness. “When you have the quiet motor of an electric vehicle, all sorts of new sounds become audible since the over-riding noise of the combustion engine has been eliminated,” Perenic points out.
The two companies intend to attend Michigan’ Adhesives and Bonding Expo, planned as an in-person event as vaccinations have increased. After more than a year of virtual exhibitions, Argent’s leadership says it is the right time to return to live events. “People want to get back. They need to, we need to, and we want to,” Sellis remarks. “I think once it amps up—once a few people break the ice—then it’ll move pretty quickly.” As Argent leads the charge at such expositions, new business development is sure to follow.


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By Eamon Quinn
The Republic has doubled its second-hand car imports to 100,000 in the past two years, while new car sales have slumped in “a clear and dramatic effect” from the Brexit slide in sterling, according to the Marketing Institute of Ireland and the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.
Its consumer market monitor predicts second-hand imports will overtake new car sales next year, at 120,000, if sterling’s slump against the euro persists — it began when the UK voted to leave the EU in June 2016.
The monitor underscores the huge amount of food and household products imported across the Irish Sea into Ireland for sale in supermarkets. “Two-thirds of items on supermarket shelves are imported and that percentage is even higher for clothing and household goods,” said Professor Mary Lambkin of the business school.
“However, despite our reliance on a high proportion of imports for many types of goods, fears of Brexit have not materialised yet in most consumer sectors, except for car sales.
“Car sales are the one sector in which Brexit has had a clear and dramatic effect, driven by the significant fall in the value of sterling which has made car imports cheaper. While this is beneficial to the consumer, it is damaging Irish car dealerships.”
More jobs, more hours worked, and, “to a lesser extent”, pay rises helped drive the growth in consumer spending, said the monitor.
“Pay rates were up by around 2% per annum for the past three years. Increases of about 3% are forecast for this year and a similar rate for 2019.”


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Consumer perception of big companies can tend towards the negative when the ginormous salaries of their CEOs are subject to public scrutiny. Middle Americans are rightfully stunned to learn of the compensation packages afforded top executives, even as the economic recovery drags.
Big companies, after all, depend on consumers buying their brands, so maybe that's one reason they are eager to put a shine on their collective and individual images. Along comes a new initiative called "The Civic 100" to help them do just that.
Sponsored by the National Conference on Citizenship and Points of Light, with Bloomberg News as its media partner, The Civic 100 is a national initiative to survey, rank, and recognize corporations on how they engage the communities they serve and institutionalize these practices as part of their corporate culture. It aims to implement a scientific approach to measuring and evaluating corporate civic engagement, corporate citizenship and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) efforts.
A strong motivation for corporations to tout their strength in CSR is the fact that consumers are well aware of its value. Recently, a CSR Perception Survey, conducted by Penn Schoen & Berland, found that 75 percent of consumers find corporate social responsibility important; in fact, they say they are more likely to purchase products or services from a company after reading its responsibility agenda. What's more 72 percent of survey respondents said they would sacrifice spending or salary to support CSR initiatives, and 40 percent were willing to take a pay cut to work at a socially responsible company.
In an effort to give The Civic 100 even more punch, an unusual collection of five former CEOs have urged S&P 500 corporation CEOs to participate in The Civic 100 survey by the end of July, as well as evaluate how their companies are leveraging their time, talent, and resources to build strong communities. The former CEOs who signed a letter to current corporate CEOs are Steve Case (ex-AOL), Ray Chambers (former Wesray Capital Corporation Chairman), Michael Eskew (former UPS CEO), Bob Nardelli (former Chrysler and Home Depot CEO), and John Pepper (former Procter & Gamble CEO).
In part, the letter reads: "We hold steadfast to the notion that the private sector, wants to and can contribute more to solutions that address community challenges. America's challenges require much more from corporations than attending charity galas and supporting golf tournaments. Real change comes from companies devoting their time, collective talent and resources to developing long-term, sustainable action plans to improve their local communities nationwide."
The inaugural list of "Civic 100" companies will be announced in November.


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The Future of Frozen Pizza
A Slice Of Good News: Frozen Pizza Consumption Is On The Rise Thanks To More Health-Conscious Ingredients
Just a few years ago, a struggling college student only needed three things to cook a meal: a working oven, a dented old cookie sheet, and a frozen pizza.
Voila! Dinner was served.
Back then, no one was choosing frozen pizza for its crisp, buttery crust and exquisite toppings bursting with lively flavor. No – it was all about convenience and affordability.
But frozen pizza has come a long way in recent years, and it’s no longer limited to budget-challenged kids. It’s a go-to convenience food for young professionals, busy families, and anyone else who wants to enjoy a fresh, ooey-gooey pie without venturing to a chain restaurant or the local mom-and-pop joint.
Of course, delivery is always an option. The problem with delivery is that it comes with a different set of issues. A pizza that scores a 10 in the restaurant might be a 4 after it sits in a steamy box for 20 minutes during the drive to your house. That’s why more and more pizza lovers are choosing a frozen pie for meals at home.
With a growing list of topping choices and the proliferation of gourmet-style pies, consumers have more options than ever before. However, these new options just happened to coincide with an increasing demand for cleaner labels on mass-produced food.
A 2015 report from Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, said the frozen pizza industry suffered from a processed food stereotype in the face of health and “real food” trends. Food manufacturers have responded by offering “cleaner label” options in the frozen-pizza case. They are trying to improve their pizzas by cutting out preservatives and artificial flavors, lowering the sodium content, and making crusts with whole grains.
Now more than ever, it’s possible for shoppers to find frozen pizzas with an ingredient list that looks similar to what they might make from scratch.
The manufacturers’ efforts are paying off. Analysts from Technavio say at-home frozen pizza consumption was up in 2016, and they forecast the global frozen pizza market to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 3.41 percent through 2021.
If frozen food manufacturers want to get a good sense of consumer sentiment, they should look at what’s happening in chain restaurants, as they are on the front lines getting real-time feedback from diners.
Pizza Hut is the largest pizza chain in the United States1, both in terms of gross sales and the number of units. With so much at stake, Pizza Hut moved with caution before announcing in 2016 that they were eliminating certain preservatives and antibiotics from meats and cheese. This came roughly a year after Pizza Hut became the first national pizza restaurant to remove artificial flavors and colors from its core pizzas in 2015.
As they implemented these changes, one of their most significant concerns was ensuring the product’s taste profile remained consistent. Jeff Fox, Chief Brand and Concept Officer, told Fortune, “When balancing any change we make to any of our products, we make sure the food still tastes [as] good as it did before and we continue to provide the safest food out there.”
Frozen pizza manufacturers are equally concerned about maintaining flavor integrity. For them, the process starts by consulting with vendors to find ingredients that have the right combination of healthy attributes, flavor, and affordability.
Losing meat and incorporating veggies is an easy way to add more fiber, reduce saturated fats, and have less sodium than a typical “supreme” pizza. Those small changes make pizza a healthier meal by default. However, manufacturers still have the challenge of building pizzas with dough, sauce, and cheeses that don’t come with excessive ingredient baggage.
One solution is to use dairy products and seasoning blends that take advantage of innovative formulations to dial in the exact flavor profile consumers desire. A partner with dairy expertise can create customized solutions that give you a buttery, flaky crust and full-bodied flavor throughout the sauce and toppings.
Frozen pizza with a cleaner label is now in demand and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. If you produce frozen pizzas, you should have a heart-to-heart talk with your ingredient vendors about options for amplifying flavor while still minimizing the number of ingredients on your label. Your retailers and their consumers will thank you.
DairiConcepts, L.P., is a leading international provider of innovative dairy-based ingredient solutions that include cheese and dairy powders, seasoning blends, concentrated pastes, flavor enhancers, and hard Italian cheeses. The company serves major food manufacturers, food service providers, restaurant chains, and industrial ingredient and private label food manufacturers throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia. As an industry leader in certified organic, kosher, and halal dairy ingredient production, DairiConcepts owns and operates eight manufacturing plants, two development laboratories, and a pilot testing plant located throughout the U.S. All plants are SQF Level 3-certified. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., a national dairy marketing cooperative owned by more than 14,000 members and one of the most diversified manufacturers of dairy products, food components, and ingredients in the U.S.


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Play-Asia has been a very effective and efficient import store for Dreamcast owners and since Lik-Sang shuttered back in 2006, Play-Asia stepped up and started stocking indie games as well. Unlike Lik-Sang, Play-Asia hasn’t really had a community driven interactive atmosphere. So it is very nice to see them post news articles via their FaceBook Page.
On January 24th, they posted a very nice article celebrating the upcoming release of Neo XYX, Redux: Dark Matters and Ghost Blade.
A few days later on 29th, they posted another article discussing Dux 1.5, GunLord and Sturmwind.
It was especially nice to see that these posts sparked a little discussion on Facebook with many people being fascinated with the fact that we still get new games for Dreamcast, if only they kept up with DCS.


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- Reddit banned nearly 2,000 subreddits on Monday, including r/The_Donald, arguing it violated its new policies on hate speech, among other rules.
- The same day, Twitch temporarily suspended President Trump’s account over two videos from rallies where he made racist remarks against the Latinx community– marking the first time one of the president’s personal accounts has been suspended.
- YouTube also permanently banned several accounts belonging to white supremacists including David Duke, Stefan Molyneux, and Richard Spencer.
Reddit Announces Bans
Reddit, Twitch, and YouTube all took steps to crack down on President Donald Trump and right-wing accounts Monday.
In a post on the platform, Reddit announced that it had rolled out several new content rules, including updates to its policies that more explicitly ban hate speech.
“Communities and users that promote hate based on identity or vulnerability will be banned,” the post said.
As a result of those new rules, Reddit also announced that it was banning about 2,000 subreddits, notably including r/The_Donald, the main forum for Trump supporters on the platform.
The subreddit was created in 2015 when Trump was running for president and quickly became a very significant online base for him, boasting just under 800,000 users. While it does not have an official connection to Trump, he has been known to share memes from it, and in July 2016, when he was running for president, he did an Ask Me Anything.
The page has long been accused of sharing hate speech, conspiracies theories, and promoting violence. Over the years, Reddit has cracked down on the page multiple times for violating its policies.
Last year, the company “quarantined” the page— meaning it was placed behind a warning screen— over comments that Reddit said incited violence. Even before that, the platform had also prevented posts on the subreddit from reaching the front page.
Recently, the page’s moderators and much of its audience have moved to other websites that are similar to Reddit but have fewer content rules, and as a result, the forum has been largely inactive for about three months.
In their post, Reddit noted that the “vast majority” of the 2,000 subreddits they banned were already inactive. The post also went on to explain why they banned the r/The_Donald subreddit.
“All communities on Reddit must abide by our content policy in good faith,” it said. “We banned r/The_Donald because it has not done so, despite every opportunity. The community has consistently hosted and upvoted more rule-breaking content than average, […] antagonized us and other communities, […] and its mods have refused to meet our most basic expectations. Until now, we’ve worked in good faith to help them preserve the community as a space for its users—through warnings, mod changes, quarantining, and more.”
Notably, Reddit also said that it had banned the subreddit r/ChapoTrapHouse—which is a spinoff of the popular left-wing podcast—for similar reasons.
“Though smaller, r/ChapoTrapHouse was banned for similar reasons: They consistently host rule-breaking content and their mods have demonstrated no intention of reining in their community,” it said.
Twitch Suspends Trump
Around the same time, as Reddit’s post, Twitch also announced that it was temporarily suspending President Trump’s Twitch account for “hateful conduct.”
In statements to the media, the company noted two recent streams uploaded by Trump that violated their rules. The first was a rebroadcast of his famous 2015 campaign rally where he made racist comments about Mexico sending the U.S. rapists who bring drugs and crime.
The other was a broadcast of Trump’s rally a few weeks ago in Tulsa, where he talked about a “very tough hombre” breaking into a woman’s house in the middle of the night, saying that was something that happened a lot.
“Hateful conduct is not allowed on Twitch,” a spokesperson said in a statement to the media. “In line with our policies, President Trump’s channel has been issued a temporary suspension from Twitch for comments made on stream, and the offending content has been removed.”
While the company did not say how long the suspension would last, the move is still highly significant as it marks the first time ever that one of Trump’s personal social media accounts has been suspended.
YouTube Bans White Supremacists
Later on Monday, YouTube too took steps to address hate speech and announced that it was permanently banning several prominent white supremacist channels, including ones belonging to former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke, podcaster Stefan Molyneux, and white supremacist activist Richard Spencer.
In a statement, the platform said that the channels repeatedly violated its rules by claiming that members of protected groups were inferior, among other violations.
“We have strict policies prohibiting hate speech on YouTube, and terminate any channel that repeatedly or egregiously violates those policies,” a spokesperson said. “After updating our guidelines to better address supremacist content, we saw a 5x spike in video removals and have terminated over 25,000 channels for violating our hate speech policies.”
These bans come almost exactly a year after YouTube announced that it would start cracking down on supremacist channels. The company, however, has already received pushback for the move.
In a tweet Monday, Spencer said that he would appeal the suspension, which he described as “part of a systemic, coordinated effort.”
Molyneux also took to Twitter to voice his displeasure, writing that that YouTube “just suspended the largest philosophy conversation the world has ever known.”
A Broader Shift
The steps taken by Reddit, Twitch, and YouTube are part of this recent shift many social media platforms have begun to make.
Most companies have long-embraced a more hands-off approach and said they want to remain neutral, but now, more and more are changing their tones— especially when it comes to hate speech and President Trump.
Twitter has now placed labels on multiple Trump tweets for sharing misinformation or inciting violence. Recently, Snapchat said it will not promote Trump’s account anymore because his posts can be seen as encouraging violence.
At the same time, Facebook, the biggest social media platform in the world, has consistently refused to address these issues. While the company has claimed over and over again it does not want to police speech, numerous critics have said that they are simply allowing hate speech on the platform.
With so many other social media companies beginning to make changes, Facebook is now seeing unprecedented backlash for its refusal to follow suit.
Over the last week or so, a steadily growing number of major advertisers like Starbucks, Honda, Verizon, Coca-Cola, and more have joined a boycott of Facebook over its policies on hate speech and misinformation on the platform.
The move comes after civil rights groups pressured companies to stop paying for advertisements on Facebook, specifically, because the company has allowed posts from Trump that other platforms like Twitter have flagged as inciting violence.
Despite the numerous requests—and the fact that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly lost $7 billion last week because of the boycott— the company has refused to take any action in removing the content.
On Friday, Facebook responded to the boycott by announcing it will expand its hate speech policies and label posts from politicians who violate rules as “newsworthy.” However, those labels do not explain why the posts are inaccurate or hateful, and many say the company is just going to label hate speech from political figures “newsworthy” without taking any real steps.
Currently, it is unclear if the boycott has had any real, lasting impact, especially because some of the companies are only boycotting for a month. Because Facebook is such a huge incredibly rich company, losing those advertisers is probably just a drop in the bucket.
The issue of political speech is something Zuckerberg has remained really firm on, and while it seems unlikely he will waiver in any meaningful absent some massive event, it will be interesting to see how other companies like YouTube and Twitter continue to change.
See what others are saying: (NPR) (The Verge) (Business Insider)
Misinformation Makes Up 20% of Top Search Results For Current Events on TikTok, New Research Finds
According to the report, the app “is consistently feeding millions of young users health misinformation, including some claims that could be dangerous to users’ health.”
Misinformation Thrives on TikTok
As TikTok becomes Gen Z’s favorite search engine, new research by journalism and tech group NewsGuard found that the video app frequently suggests misinformation to users searching for news-related topics.
NewsGuard used TikTok’s search bar to look up trending news subjects like the 2020 election, COVID-19, the invasion of Ukraine, the upcoming midterms, abortion, school shootings, and more. It analyzed 540 videos based on the top 20 results from 27 subject searches, finding false or misleading claims in 105 of those posts.
In other words, roughly 20% of the results contained misinformation.
Some of NewsGuard’s searches contained neutral phrases and words like “2022 election” or “mRNA vaccine,” while others were loaded with more controversial language like “January 6 FBI” or “Uvalde TX conspiracy.” In many cases, those controversial phrases were suggested by TikTok’s own search bar.
The researchers noted that, for example, during a search on climate change, “climate change debunked” showed up. While looking up COVID-19 vaccines, searches for “covid vaccine injury” or “covid vaccine exposed” were recommended.
Dangerous Results Regarding Health and More
The consequences of some of the false claims made in these videos can be severe. NewsGuard wrote in its report that the search engine “is consistently feeding millions of young users health misinformation, including some claims that could be dangerous to users’ health.”
Among the hoards of hazardous health claims were videos falsely suggesting that COVID-19 vaccines are toxic and cause permanent damage to organs. The report found that there are still several videos touting the anti-parasite hydroxychloroquine as a cure-all remedy, not just for COVID, but for any illness.
Searches regarding herbal abortions were particularly troublesome. While certain phrases like “mugwort abortion” were blocked, the researchers found several ways around this that lead to multiple videos touting debunked DIY abortion remedies that are not only proven to be ineffective, but can also pose serious health risks.
NewsGuard claimed that the social media app vowed to remove this content in July, but “two months later, herbal abortion content continues to be easily accessible on the platform.”
Other standard forms of conspiracy fodder also occupied space in top search results, including claims that the Uvalde school shooting was planned and that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.
TikTok’s Search Engine Vs. Google
As part of its research, NewsGuard compared TikTok’s search results and suggestions with Google and found that, by comparison, the latter “provided higher-quality and less-polarizing results, with far less misinformation.”
“For example, searching ‘covid vaccine’ on Google prompted ‘walk-in covid vaccine,’ ‘which covid vaccine is best,’ and ‘types of covid vaccines,’” NewsGuard wrote. “None of these terms was suggested by TikTok.”
This is significant because recent reports show that young Internet users have increasingly turned to TikTok as a search engine over Google. While this might elicit safe results for pasta recipes and DIY tutorials, for people searching for current affairs, there could be significant consequences.
NewsGuard said that it flagged six videos containing misinformation to TikTok, and the social media app ended up taking those posts down. In a statement to Mashable, the company pledged to fight against misinformation on its platform.
“Our Community Guidelines make clear that we do not allow harmful misinformation, including medical misinformation, and we will remove it from the platform,” the statement said. “We partner with credible voices to elevate authoritative content on topics related to public health, and partner with independent fact-checkers who help us to assess the accuracy of content.”
Over 70 TikTok Creators Boycott Amazon as Workers Protest Conditions and Pay
As the company fends off pressure on both fronts, the Amazon Labor Union continues to back election petitions around the country including one filed Tuesday in upstate New York.
Gen Z Goes to War With Amazon
More than 70 big TikTok creators have pledged not to work with Amazon until it gives in to union workers’ demands, including calls for higher pay, safer working conditions, and increased paid time off.
Twenty-year-old TikToker Elise Joshi, who serves as deputy executive director for the advocacy group organizing the boycott, Gen Z for Change, posted an open letter on Twitter Tuesday.
“Dear Amazon.com,” it reads, “We are a coalition of over 70 TikTok creators with a combined following of 51 million people. Today, August 16th, 2022, we are joining together in solidarity with Amazon workers and union organizers through our People Over Prime Pledge.”
Amazon has refused to recognize the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) since workers voted to unionize at a Staten Island warehouse in April, and it has resisted collective bargaining negotiations.
Although the ALU is not involved in the boycott, its co-founder and interim President Chris Smalls expressed support for it in a statement to The Washington Post, saying, “It’s a good fight to take on because Amazon definitely is afraid of how we used TikTok during our campaigns.”
While the ALU posts videos on TikTok to drum up popular support for the labor movement, Amazon has sought to win large influencers over to its side. In 2017, it launched the Amazon Influencer Program, which offered influencers the opportunity to earn revenue by recommending products in personalized Amazon storefronts.
Last May, the company flew over a dozen Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok stars to a luxurious resort in Mexico.
Emily Rayna Shaw, a TikTok creator with 5.4 million followers who has partnered with Amazon in the past, is participating in the boycott.
“I think their method of offering influencers life-changing payouts to make them feel as if they need to work with them while also refusing to pay their workers behind the scenes is extremely wrong,” she told The Post.
“As an influencer, it’s important to choose the right companies to work with,” said Jackie James, a 19-year-old TikTok creator with 3.4 million followers, who told the outlet she will cease doing deals with Amazon until it changes its ways.
The ALU is demanding that Amazon bump its minimum wage to $30 per hour and stop its union-busting activities.
Slogging Through the ‘Suffocating’ Heat
Amazon is also facing challenges from workers themselves, with some walking out this week at its largest air hub in California, where company-branded planes transport packages to warehouses across the country.
They are asking for the base pay rate to be raised from $17 per hour to $22 per hour.
A group organizing the work stoppage under the name Inland Empire Amazon Workers United said in a statement that over 150 workers participated, but Amazon countered that the true number was only 74.
The Warehouse Worker Resource Center counted 900 workers who signed a petition demanding pay raises.
Inland Empire Amazon Workers United has complained about the “suffocating” heat in the facility, saying that temperatures at the San Bernardino airport reached 95 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for 24 days last month.
Amazon spokesperson Paul Flaningan, however, claimed to CNBC that the temperature never surpassed 77 degrees and said the company respects its workers’ right to voice their opinions.
On Tuesday, the ALU backed another warehouse’s decision to file a petition for a union election in upstate New York, roughly 10 miles outside Albany.
The National Labor Relations Board requires signatures from 30% of employees to trigger an election.
See what others are Saying: (The Washington Post (CNBC) (Associated Press)
Twitter Roasts Tim Hortons for Offering Coffee and Donut to Settle Lawsuit for Spying on Customers
The company allegedly tracked app users’ movements 24/7 to determine when they visited a competitor, a major sports venue, or their home or workplace.
A Not So Tasty Compensation
Social media users ridiculed Canadian fast food chain Tim Hortons over the weekend for a leaked email in which it offered to compensate customers whom it allegedly spied on by giving them a free beverage and pastry.
Twitter user James McLeod posted pictures of the email Friday, which was sent to affected users of the company’s app.
“You are receiving this email in connection with a proposed settlement, subject to Court approval, of a national class action lawsuit involving the Tim Hortons app and the collection of geolocation data between April 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020,” it read.
“As part of the proposed settlement agreement, eligible app users will receive a free hot beverage and a free baked good,” it continued. “Distribution details will be provided following approval, in the event that the court approves the settlement.”
The email specified that the free beverage would have a retail value of $6.19 (CAD) plus tax, and the free baked good would be $2.39 (CAD).
In a statement to Vice, Tim Hortons said the settlement is not admission of any wrongdoing and that the allegations in the lawsuits have not been proven in court.
“Add to this the fact that the coffee is absolutely abysmal and it becomes even more hilarious,” one person tweeted amid a flurry of criticism toward the company.
Another added, “Do you think the donut will have the good sprinkles or the bad sprinkles?”
‘Vast Amounts’ of Data Collected Illegally
Suspicion that Tim Hortons had violated its customers’ privacy began in 2020 when a reporter from the National Post found that the company’s app had tracked their location over 2,700 times in under five months.
Last Month, Canadian authorities wrapped up an investigation into the matter, finding that Tim Hortons tracked and recorded the movements of people who downloaded its app every few minutes of every day, even when the app wasn’t open.
Although the app requested permission to access geolocation data, authorities concluded that it misled users to believe it would only gather data while the app was open.
Using “vast amounts” of geolocation data, the company inferred where users lived, where they worked and whether they were traveling, according to investigators.
It even allegedly generated an “event” anytime a user entered or exited a Tim Hortons competitor, a major sports venue, or their home or workplace.
The investigation found that the company continued gathering data for a year even despite having shelved plans to use it for targeted advertising.
The company, which has committed to deleting all geolocation data on group members, said in a statement that it only used the data in a limited way, such as to analyze user trends.


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If you’re looking at the Australian Ford Ranger line-up and feel like the 21-strong range is missing something, this might be it.
Now on sale in the UK is a single-cabwith a tub – one of the few permutations of the best-selling ute we don’t get in Australia.
In fact, Australia has been without a tub-equipped single-cab Ranger since 2018, when the entry-level XL 4×2 was priced from $29,190 before on-road costs.
At present, the Australian Ford Ranger is only sold with a tub in super and double-cab guise, with the single-cab remaining exclusively as a cab-chassis offering starting from $36,880 before on-road costs.
The UK-delivered, South African-built Ranger single-cab is sold exclusively in base XL trim, with its tub able to accommodate loads up to 2332mm in length – or 785mm longer than the double-cab in Australia.
As with Australian-delivered, Thailand-built versions of the Ford Ranger, the UK’s XL single-cab ute is also only available with a single-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, producing 125kW of power and 405Nm of torque.
Unlike the latest-generation Ford Ranger sold in Australia, all XL and XLT variants in the UK are equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, rather than the 10-speed automatic. The manual was killed off locally when the previous-generation model reached the end of the road in 2022.
Excluding the UK’s 20 per cent value-added tax (VAT), the Ford Ranger single-cab with tub is priced from £28,275 before on-road costs – equivalent to $56,700 in Australia, without our own 10 per cent goods and services tax (GST) applied.
It is unlikely we’ll see this unique ute in Australian showrooms, given the low uptake of the last version sold locally.
Last month Ford Australia, cutting four variants from the range to slim down its offerings to only 21 grades.


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Nokia’s mobile device division might have been acquired by Microsoft already, but this has not stopped the rumors from spreading that a Nokia Android phone will soon be unveiled in the market.
Although Microsoft has remained tightlipped on whether to push through with the release of the device or not, a lot of sources reveal that indeed, this highly anticipated mobile phone will be out in the market real soon. Here is a review of the Nokia Android mobile phone, based on the reports that have been leaked online.
According to a Twitter user, the new Android phone from Nokia will be out in the market soon. He also attached a leaked image of the device on his Twitter account which gave fans a glimpse of the mobile phone, which according to others will be called the Normandy or Nokia X.
As for the display, the phone is expected to be brightly colored, as the image shows that it is in a bright red shade and its covering will be made of a plastic polycarbonate material. This is actually the same covering that Lumia customers have loved and if these rumors are true, then the Nokia Android will be greatly appreciated by Lumia fanatics.
According to some rumors, the upcoming Android device from Nokia will certainly increase the heart rate of diehard Android fanatics for they believe that everything in the phone is spectacular. According to some reports, the new device will feature a dual core 1 GHz processor with a 512 MB of RAM. It will also sport an 800 x 480 display, with a 4 inch display screen.
Furthermore, the rear camera will be 5 megapixels and will have a 4 GB memory that is expandable. It will also come equipped with a 1,500 mAh battery. The Nokia Android phone will also have a dual SIM slot, so it’s the perfect device for those who want to use two networks in one device.
Android Operating System
Obviously, the Nokia Android phone will be run by Android. This is something new knowing that Nokia’s mobile devices are all run by the Windows Operating System, which makes this device seem a bit more interesting to the public.
To be exact, the new Android phone will be run by the Android 4.4.1 KitKat according to some reliable sources. But then again, now that Microsoft has acquired the mobile division of Nokia, a lot of people have been wondering if the phone will indeed be launched soon or if Microsoft will block it.
According to a report posted on the website of a Vietnamese mobile phone retailer, the new Nokia Android phone will be able to support almost all Google services, including Google Maps, YouTube, Google Play, Google Now, Google Search, Gmail and the Google Calendar. This might seem unusual for a nonstandard Android phone. But whether this report is true or not, only one thing is for sure – a lot of fans have been eagerly waiting for the release of this new Nokia Android phone.


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The PC market has started off 2016 quite poorly according to both Gartner and the IDC.
Worldwide PC shipments have fallen 9.6 per cent to 64.8 million units in the first quarter of 2016 according to Garner's estimates. This makes it the first quarter since 2007 that fewer than 65 million PCs have shipped globally.
Lenovo, HP, Dell, Asus and Apple were the top PC manufacturers in Q1 2016 with only Asus and Apple seeing an increase in their numbers of PCs shipped. Lenovo and HP have been hit the hardest this quarter with Lenovo shipments down 7 per cent and HP's down 9 per cent.
The International Data Corporation (IDC) is estimating that the worldwide PC shipments are actually lower than Gartner's estimate and have dropped 11.5 per cent to 60.6 million units during Q1. The company also differs from Gartner in that its results see Lenovo, HP, Dell, Apple and Asus as the top five vendors during the quarter. IDC paints a much gloomier picture of global PC shipments and all of its top PC vendors are in the red, with Asus down 8 per cent and even Apple down 2 per cent.
The strength of the U.S. dollar is one of the main reasons that PC shipments have continued to decline according to Gartner. The firm also notes that many companies experienced an inventory build up as a result of sales offered during the holidays in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Another big factor in declining PC shipments is enterprise adoption of Windows 10. Many companies have yet to fully embrace the latest iteration of Windows and are merely test driving it to see if it will be a meaningful upgrade for their businesses.
Windows 10 will no longer be offered as a free upgrade come 29 July 2016 and this may entice users who have yet to switch to do so albeit through purchasing new hardware.
In 2016, we will learn without a doubt how Windows 10 will affect worldwide PC sales.


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US Import car dealerships will be hard hit
NEW YORK-June 25, -- A 25% tariff being considered on vehicles and auto parts imported to the US would be broadly credit negative for the global auto industry, and US giants GM and Ford and auto dealers would be affected, Moody's Investors Service says in a new report.
"Tariffs on imported vehicles and parts would be negative for nearly every group in the industry -- automakers, parts suppliers, car dealers and even transportation companies -- as it rippled across the globalized supply chain, which we forecast will produce about 96.7 million light vehicles this year," says Bruce Clark, Moody's Senior Vice President.
US automakers Ford and GM are vulnerable to import tariffs, as both import a significant number of vehicles into the US. GM, in particular, depends on imports from Mexico and Canada to support its US operations (30% of its US unit sales compared to Ford's 20%), and sources a significant portion of its high-margin trucks and SUVs from those two countries.
"Both GM and Ford would need to absorb the cost of scaling back Mexican and Canadian production and shifting some back to the US," notes Clark. "They would also likely need to subsidize sales to offset the tariffs during the near term, and could eventually pass on the higher costs to consumers."
Moody's says that non-US auto manufacturers would suffer even more from tariffs than their US counterparts. European automakers without US plants, for example, including Jaguar Land Rover and Volvo, would be hit particularly hard.
Japanese carmakers that export a meaningful proportion of domestically produced cars to the US, such as Toyota (22%) and Nissan (31%), would need to significantly adjust their production. Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia Motors' plans to increase US production and reduce imports will be insufficient to fully offset the potential negative effects of tariffs. Chinese auto manufacturers, on the other hand, have minimal exports and thus will be largely unaffected.
Meanwhile, a 25% tariff would hurt both Mexico's car production and the country's economy as a whole, as numerous automakers have built assembly plants in Mexico to service the US market, resulting in the auto industry representing 2.9% of Mexico's GDP in 1Q 2018.
Major auto-parts manufacturers could struggle to adjust to supply chain shifts resulting from tariffs, notes Moody's. Suppliers' efforts to optimize production cost and time for completed parts often results in multiple cross-border trips for finished goods, which could incur multiple tariff charges, and avoiding those costs could disrupt the supply chain.
On the retail side, US auto dealers, which are typically heavily weighted towards imports, would also suffer significantly. Auto-parts retailers, however, would generally be unaffected as they are insulated by replacement part demand for the 260 million vehicles currently on the road.
USA consumers will continue to buy quality products regardless of taxes or fees. There is no real 'fair trade' regarding high cost items such as automobiles. Cars built in Germany by GM, Ford, and Chrysler are built better and will survive high speed conditions. German dealers sell products differently. There you peruse the showroom, select a model, and put your car together. It is rare for a German to drive a car off the showroom floor. Dealers 'pull' vehicles from builders. In the USA manufacturers "push' the product onto the dealerships. US auto dealerships are forced to sell and store unreasonable inventories. We, in the US, refuse to use a better model and will continue to do so. After all, 'we been doin' it this way forever'. Yup, ya'll shore have!
Well of course. Anybody with any understanding of economics knows that but the point is where the money ends up. Supply and demand is the ultimate mediator of where prices are set and the free market will ultimately decide how much the consumer is willing to pay. The point of all this tariff nonsense is simply to level the playing field and I personally think the strategy is brilliant. If it takes sales away from our competitors it will have accomplished what was intended and bring them back to the table. Our various industries can no longer be on the losing end of these "deals". Remember if Americans quit buying high tariff products the producers will have to adjust somehow in order to remain in business or adjust to a much smaller market. I have full faith in President Trump's negotiating tactics and I concur 100% with what he is doing. For whatever that is worth.
Industry only absorbs the costs of change until they “... pass on the higher costs to consumers.” Ultimately, all revenues come from consumers and any time a price or cost rises, it is the consumer who pays for it.
“Both GM and Ford would need to absorb the cost of scaling back Mexican and Canadian production and shifting some back to the US,” It appears that things are going according to plan.


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NEW YORK (AP) — Apple, which revealed a new app Tuesday that lets users to create and mail greeting cards with their iPhones, might want to consider crafting its own condolence card for traditional greeting card companies.
A brief mention the $2.99 app that lets people design and send greeting through the postal service immediately sent the stocks of greeting card companies tumbling as much as 10 percent.
Scott Forstall, Apple’s senior vice president for iOS mobile software, released details of the app during an event at the company’s Cupertino, Calif. headquarters as it also unveiled the latest version of the iPhone.
The announcement of the new technology, perhaps the perfect app for procrastinators, sent shares of American Greetings Corp., based in Cleveland, down 8 percent to $16.40. Shares of International Greetings PLC fell 8 percent on the London Stock Exchange where it’s traded.
source: Associated Press


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Urth Leaf CBD Gummies
Just how to stay clear of harmful CBD products?
Urth Leaf CBD contact us tested With the increasing pattern of CBD items, illegal business are being exposed for using damaging chemicals and dilutors in order to manipulate this spike in popularity. Not all business are putting profit prior to individuals; UrthLeaf has actually been recognized as a business that complies with sector best techniques by subjecting all of their products to strenuous lab screening.
In the past year alone, three firms have actually been blacklisted by the FDA for unmanageable company practices entailing the production and also sale of cannabidiol (CBD) items. In the past 5 years, a tremendous 48 U.S. business have been positioned on this precise list, getting warning letters from the FDA to either abide or discontinue procedures with the legislations and best practices that safeguard the customer. The FDA successfully made it clear that there is no area for damaging products in the U.S. cannabidiol markets, yet firms remain to obtain away with these dubious business practices daily.
As the “anxiety of missing out on out” creeps right into the CBD market, consumers are unknowingly getting into these products while doing not have the appropriate devices required to recognize the products most likely to contain unsafe chemicals. With CBD tinctures having actually ended up being the brand-new craze in medical care and medication over the past couple of years, we have a look right into what really enters into the products that have everyone ranting and raving. According to Leafly, a popular marijuana as well as cannabidiol publication outlet, 2 chemicals continue to appear time as well as time once more in laboratory tests for sure CBD casts. what are cbd hemp capsules are dextromethorphan (DXM) and also 5F-ADB, which are two potentially dangerous chemicals in high dosages. Dextromethorphan is a popular cough medicine recognized for its habit forming and also abusive actions, while 5F-ADB has an extremely similar chemical structure to the miracle drug K2 (also famously understood as Seasoning).
UrthLeaf strongly thinks that the public needs to not be left in the dark regarding these toxic chemicals, which is why they have been entirely transparent concerning every component that goes into their products. In May 2019, complete testing was executed on UrthLeaf’s product line by Cannalysis (Santa Clara, CA), a CBD/THC screening laboratory.
Why do companies still exist if they are offering potentially dangerous products to unknowing consumers? It is a lot a lot more rewarding to weaken a CBD item with non-natural chemicals than it is to seek the totally organic course.
It is strongly recommended that consumers research the active ingredients in their CBD products before use since it is really challenging to see any kind of short-term negative effects by using pesticide or chemical-containing products, yet the long-term results can possibly be harmful. The FDA is doing as a lot as they can to limit the number of harmful business entering this market, yet ultimately it depends on the consumer to do their very own research study prior to choosing which product to purchase.
Take the winner and acquire your next order of CBD items from UrthLeaf here.
Laboratory examined With the rising pattern of CBD items, deceptive business are being revealed for using harmful chemicals as well as dilutors in order to exploit this spike in popularity. In Urth Leaf CBD affiliate , three companies have actually been blacklisted by the FDA for unruly business practices including the manufacturing and also sale of cannabidiol (CBD) items. As the “concern of missing out” slips right into the CBD market, consumers are unknowingly purchasing into these items while lacking the proper tools needed to determine the items most likely to consist of harmful chemicals. It is a lot more rewarding to dilute a CBD item with non-natural chemicals than it is to seek the totally natural route.


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We’ve heard rumours about a new and cheaper pair of wireless earbuds from Google, possibly called Pixel Buds A, for a while now.
Last week, Google seemed to have accidentally leaked a photo of the upcoming truly wireless earbuds. Since then, 9to5Google has investigated the Pixel Buds app’s latest version, indicating that the rumoured Pixel Buds A could feature a lack of volume gesture controls.
According to 9to5Google, the Pixel Buds’ app includes a reference to Buds called “type_two,” whereas the current-gen buds go by the name “type_one.” The report states that the new Buds’ build does not feature the “swipe_forward” and “swipe_backward” code, indicating that the Google Pixel Buds A might not support swiping gestures to control volume. Instead, users will need to control the volume via their phone or another device connected to the Buds.
Looking further, the code shows that the newer model, “’type_two,” doesn’t feature a charging light inside its case, which is backed up by the image Google leaked last week by accident.
Cost-saving might be the reason Google removed gesture controls. From past leaks, we know that the Pixel Buds A will likely launch as a cheaper alternative to the Pixel Buds (2020), and removing the gesture control seems like a reasonable way to cut down on costs. It’s also possible Google hasn’t added the complete coding for the new Buds to the app yet.
With Google’s annual I/O scheduled for May 18th-20th, we’ll likely learn more about the cheaper Pixel Buds A in the next month.
Image credit: 9to5Google


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More tastings, more Burgundy, boutique Australian wine and a quick flashback to db looking more awake.
Buyers from across Asia drove Sotheby’s recent London sale and scooped up the top lots of Henri Jayer that were on offer.
Pernod Ricard has predicted organic profit increase of “between +1% and +3%” for 2014/15, as it announced a return to growth in its first quarter.
The opening of Gaucho’s first Asian restaurant and its all-Argentine list is a chance for the country to promote its wines, according to its director of wine.
Symington Family Estates Asia Pacific marketing manager, Jorge Nuñes, on the market for rare Port in the region as the company prepares to launch the Grahams’ 1882 Ne Oublie in Hong Kong.
Riesling, Super Tuscans and old Rioja have been leading the way in Hong Kong for fine wine merchant Armit recently.
Hong Kong has recorded record levels of Australian wine imports this year and is among a core of increasingly strong Asian markets.
Champagne suppers, floating restaurants, portfolio tastings and a visit to the printers – db‘s in need of a lie-down.
A 42-bottle vertical lot of The Macallan is to be auctioned by Zachys in Hong Kong next month as the company adds to its growing spirits business.
The Princely family of von Liechtenstein is hoping to create a foothold in Asia with wines from its Austrian vineyards and perhaps those from its Liechtenstein holdings later on.
© 2015 Union Press Ltd | Unit 122, 30 Great Guildford Street, London SE1 0HS, UK | Registered in England and Wales No. 03606414 | Tel: +44 (0)20 7803 2420


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Cbs news iphone dating
"There is absolutely nothing more important, in this or any organization, than ensuring a safe, professional workplace," says CBS News President David Rhodes.App Store is a digital distribution platform, developed and maintained by Apple Inc., for mobile apps on its i OS operating system.
Following months of silence from the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star about her pregnancy, fans have started to speculate that her recent absence from social media suggests […] What baby bump? The 65-year-old […] I was just wondering how a Model My Size would look on this 📸 @photo_karizza A post shared by DIANA SIROKAI (@dianasirokai) on Dec 23, 2017 at pm PST There’s nothing more stylish than diversity!Developers have multiple options for monetizing their applications, ranging from free, free with in-app purchases, and paid.However, App Store has been criticized for a lackluster development environment, prompting the company in June 2016 to announce a "renewed focus and energy" on the store.From her official engagement portrait to her first official appearance at the Invictus Games, the royal-to-be stunned us all with chic look after chic look.While we can’t wait to see what she wears next, all of her outfits remain timeless.[…] Farrah Abraham shared a tribute to her daughter Sophia’s father, Derek Underwood, on Thursday, December 28, which was the ninth anniversary of his death.
The Teen Mom star posted an Instagram photo of Underwood’s grave and captioned it: “In loving remembrance to Derek Underwood, 12/28/2008 father, son, nephew, cousin, friend and so much more December […] Mommy to be!
App Store was opened on July 10, 2008, with an initial 500 applications available.
As of January 2017, the store features over 2.2 million apps.
Kim Kardashian has wiped her Instagram clean of all (yes, ALL) of the Kardashian family Christmas card photos that kept fans flocking to her feed for 25 days, and now she’s explained why. I am sorry to tell you all that […] Nick Jonas isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
“Was always the plan,” she tweeted on Thursday, December 28, after fans noticed the pics were missing and […] Sue Grafton, the bestselling author of the Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Series died on Thursday, December 28, after a two-year battle with cancer. Grafton’s daughter, Jamie, took to Facebook to share the news with her mother’s fans. Fresh off a Golden Globe nomination for the Ferdinand song “Home,” the 25-year-old is opening up about what he has in store for 2018. It’s been done for a little while, but it’s been so crazy busy this last part of the […] Let 2017 be remembered as the year that Meghan Markle hit her style stride.
In that case, it’s likely an album […] Jay-Z teamed up with acclaimed director Ava Du Vernay for his star-studded music video for “Family Feud,” which features a ton of famous cameos.


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Tickets to The International 2019, which were provided for the Chinese, were sold out in 53 secondsLord Matus
He also noticed the fact that tickets on the last gaming day, namely on August 25, were sold in 27 seconds.
The Dota 2 developers told on May 21 that the owners of Battle Pass together with the Dota Plus subscribers from China would be able to buy tickets to The International at 7:00 on May 24, while the sale had to start for residents of other countries at 8:15. Valve had to postpone the sale of Chinese tickets for one hour due to early-access codes didn’t display in the Dota 2 in-game client.
Ticket sales will start for other countries at 16:00. The first users to receive access to purchasing tickets will be the owners of Battle Pass and the Dota Plus subscription.
The International 2019 will be hosted in Shanghai on August 15-25. 18 teams will take part in the tournament. 12 of which will be qualified with the help of the rating system Dota Pro Circuit. The rest of the teams will pass qualifiers, which will be hosted in each of six divisions. One invitation will be up for grabs everywhere.
Now, the prize pool amounts more than $15,500,000. TI9 managed to achieve the biggest growth in 16,5 days compared to previous The International. For example, TI8 collected $10,610,860 in the same time, TI7 — $10,200,780, TI6 and TI5 — $8,903,240 and $8,359,414, respectively. Initially, the prize pool amounted $1,600,000. The rest of the money is collected with the help of the crowdfunding through the Battle Pass. Only 25% goes to the prize pool from all the money raised.


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Although summer hasn’t even officially started yet, the gap intelligence team is already looking ahead to the holiday season. gap intelligence market analysts Jason Barry (tablets & wearables), Dustin Downs (desktop & notebook computers), and Scott Peterson (smartphones & voice assistant speakers) took the stage at CE Week led by CT Lab Editorial Director, Rob Stott to talk about their respective CE categories. They touched on trends they’ve been following, and gave us a preview of what to expect around the love-it-or-hate-it shopping holiday known as Black Friday.
Peterson called attention to a major hole in the smartphone category which he calls the “junior flagship” tier. Many of the top smartphone brands, including Apple and Samsung, focus primarily on premium items that stand at $1,000+, and pay very little attention to the mid range price level. Specifically, Samsung only dedicates about 5 percent of its focus to this under-served market whereas Apple spends even less time than that. Peterson said that some of the “smaller guys” are doing a great job at capitalizing on this market including Google with its Pixel smartphone.
Downs mentioned that desktop and notebook makers have been strengthening their premium product portfolios as well with price tags also hovering around $1,000+. Lately, these devices have become all-encompassing for use at work, for gaming, watching Netflix etc. Because of this “increase in product lifestyle” the cost has become somewhat justified to the consumer.


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Singapore – Unified customer experience management platform Sprinklr has announced launch of Sprinklr AI+, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) feature which aims to facilitate content creation, improved feedback and assistance, and identification of insights and subsequent actions – all while being committed to enterprise-level governance, security, and data privacy.
Sprinklr AI+ allows enterprises to combine unstructured, CX data from 30+ digital channels – including social platforms, messaging platforms, and millions of publicly available news, blog, and review sites – with generative AI to create content, improve feedback and assistance, and more quickly identify insights and subsequent actions.
Moreover, Sprinklr AI+ incorporates generative AI powered by an integration with the OpenAI enterprise API. This bespoke arrangement includes robust security and privacy terms and demonstrates Sprinklr’s commitment to safeguarding our customer’s data.
The new offering gives brands a unified generative AI capability for social media management, customer service, and marketing that is built with enterprise-level governance, security, and data privacy in the design.
Through the new offering, Sprinklr customers can tap into new features across all four Sprinklr product suites namely its unified omnichannel contact center as a service (CCaaS) ‘Sprinklr Service’, AI-powered research platform ‘Sprinklr Insights’, unified omnichannel platform ‘Sprinklr Marketing’, and social media management offering ‘Sprinklr Social’.
Pavitar Singh, chief technology officer at Sprinklr, said, “We have seen massive demand for generative AI capabilities to improve customer service and employee efficiency. Sprinklr AI+ brings this transformational technology to customer experience at the enterprise level and has the potential to revolutionize the front office for our global customers.”
Singh added, “For us, this is the next evolution of our AI journey to help our customers work better, faster, and more cost effectively, while preserving the level of governance, compliance, and data privacy that the most iconic brands in the world require.”
Learn from marketing leaders across Southeast Asia—from CARSOME, Colgate-Palmolive, FlowerStore.ph, MessageBird and ZALORA Group—on how marketers are building a seamless customer buying journey with channels that adapt and bridge silos on 'Omnichannel Journey Mapping: Connecting the CX Dots in 2023.' To get on-demand access, register HERE!
Where can the best-in-class automation strategies take your email campaigns? Join marketing leaders from Allianz PNB Life, Coinhako, and MessageBird discuss brand-led email marketing strategies this June 21, 2PM SGT at 'Programmable Emails: Connecting the CX Dots in 2023.' Register now for FREE!


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Network effect Nov 11, 2022 (WiC 607)
“In Africa, for Africa, Huawei will continue to deepen cooperation with industry partners to support customers’ business success in the 5G era”
Benjamin Hou, president of Huawei’s northern Africa business, addresses the company’s first Africa 5G Summit recently in Bangkok. The keynote address was given by Coulibaly Yacouba, CEO of the Ivory Coast’s mobile spectrum authority, who hailed the advent of the 5G era. Last month mobile operators in South Africa and Kenya launched 5G networks powered by Huawei.
Electric shock Nov 4, 2022 (WiC 606)
“We don’t want to have Chinese neighbours that sell at a loss in Europe and then put the automotive industry on their knees”
Carlos Tavares, CEO of carmaking giant Stellantis, talking at the Paris Motor Show last week where both BYD and Great Wall had huge stands promoting their electric vehicle brands. Tavares called for the EU to impose tariffs on EVs from China. Meanwhile BYD has announced a 350% surge in third-quarter profits to Rmb5.7 billion, exceeding its record Rmb2.8 billion haul in the second quarter.
The future is fabs Oct 28, 2022 (WiC 605)
“Where the oil reserves are defined geopolitics for the last five decades. Where the fabs are for the next five decades is more important”
Intel’s chief executive Pat Gelsinger tells a Wall Street Journal conference this week that it was “inevitable” that Washington would impose restrictions on US semiconductor exports to China. He said chip manufacturing located in the US and Europe should shift to about 50% of global output by the end of the decade, versus the 80% currently in Asia.
Cattle from the Kiwis Oct 20, 2022 (WiC 604)
Simon Limmer, CEO of Silver Fern Farms, told the China Daily of his confidence in Chinese demand, fuelled by the “consumption upgrade” trend. Beef imports into China reached 1.7 million tonnes in the first eight months, up 12% on a yearly basis, according to Chinese government data. Silver Fern Farms is New Zealand’s largest livestock processing and marketing company.
“China is the largest importer of New Zealand red meat, demonstrating its preference for New Zealand as a country of origin for the product category”


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On March 5th, as COVID-19 began to reshape American life, I noted here that big tech companies had responded with unusual alacrity. Where they once had been loath to intervene in matters of fact, suddenly Facebook and Twitter were prominently featuring links to high-quality information from the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization in their respective feeds and search results. Google followed suit shortly thereafter.
In the weeks since, Big Tech has only accelerated its efforts at doing good. They have donated tens of millions of dollars to relief efforts. They have contributed large stocks of precious N95 masks acquired during last year’s wildfires to medical organizations. They have added sections to their apps highlighting accurate news about COVID-19. And as unemployment surged, Facebook pledged $100 million in grants to small businesses, and Amazon said it would hire 100,000 people.
In a dramatic change from only weeks before, news about Big Tech has been a bright spot at a time of great fear — and, increasingly, of grief. Increasingly, journalists are asking whether the backlash against technology companies that has defined coverage of them for the past three and a half years might have come to an end.
In Wired on Friday, Steven Levy asked the question plainly: has the coronvirus killed the techlash? He writes:
Now that our lives are dominated by these giants, we see them as greedy exploiters of personal data and anticompetitive behemoths who have generally degraded society. Before the pandemic, there was every expectation that those companies would be reined in, if not split apart.
But the deus ex machina of an overwhelming public health crisis has changed things. The pandemic may have the effect of a justifiable war waged by an embattled president with low popularity. While Big Tech’s misdeeds are still apparent, their actual deeds now matter more to us. We’re using Facebook to comfort ourselves while physically bunkered and social distancing. Google is being conscripted as the potential hub of one of our greatest needs—Covid-19 testing. Our personal supply chain—literally the only way many of us are getting food and vital supplies—is Amazon.
Who knew the techlash was susceptible to a virus?
At CNBC, Salvador Rodriguez explored the same issue on Saturday, focused on Facebook. After rounding up everything the company had done so far, he said: “Facebook won’t be able to rebuild trust with the public overnight, but when the company was presented with an opportunity to rebuild goodwill by being proactive and helpful during global health and financial crises, Facebook sprung to action and seized the moment.”
Subsequent articles have noted that, however magnanimous tech giants have acted in the crisis so far, they have much to gain from successfully navigating the coronavirus response. In The Information, Cory Weinberg noted that the companies’ work so far would likely have a recruiting benefit:
It is too early to know how big tech companies might seize the moment. And their own businesses certainly aren’t immune to economic fallout. But one area where they stand to benefit is recruiting. In recent years, big tech firms have had to compete with fast-growing startups for skilled computer scientists, especially as scandals and questions about abuses of power have tainted the reputations of the bigger firms. But tech workers who once might have preferred the dynamic surroundings of a small startup now might welcome the safer bet of a big enterprise.
One software engineer, who declined to be named to protect his job prospects, said he has been ignoring dozens of emails and calls from recruiters at Facebook in the last few months as he sought to develop his own company or join younger firms. But with venture capital firms expected to pull back from investing in nascent businesses, this month he scheduled an interview with the social media giant. His rationale: Stock gains from an equity package at Facebook could eventually help him self-fund his startup.
And perhaps even more importantly, the crisis represents an opportunity for tech companies to entwine themselves ever more deeply into customers’ lives. Already I’ve had friends who had sworn off Facebook for good return to check on friends and family; will they be so quickly to delete it when a more normal way of life resumes? Amazon Prime may be groaning under the weight of increased demand, but after it gets your family through this crisis, would you ever dream of canceling it?
Daisuke Wakabayashi, Jack Nicas, Steve Lohr and Mike Isaac explore this question in the New York Times:
While Amazon has changed shopping habits for items like books, getting customers to trust it with groceries has been challenging. Now, as more people are forced to stay home, one of the last strongholds of physical retailing may be coming under pressure. [...]
As more customers try different Amazon services, they may create permanent shifts in buying habits, said Guru Hariharan, a former Amazon employee and the founder of CommerceIQ, a company whose automation software is used by major brands like Kellogg’s and Kimberly-Clark.
For now, I think the prevailing sentiment is accurate: tech giants have probably turned a corner in public opinion. I imagine that the next time The Verge does its survey of Americans, it will find that the decline in trust has at least slowed, if not entirely reversed. One pressing question is whether that shift in sentiment, assuming its real, will affect the many ongoing state and federal investigations into competition and privacy issues that are still under way. Since late 2016 we have been focused on the problems that emerge from the size of giants like Google, Facebook, and Amazon; in the past several weeks the benefits that come from that size have become more apparent.
Still, it’s possible that even a perfect response to the COVID-19 crisis could plant the seeds for a future backlash. So much of the frustration with tech companies in recent years has originated from the fact that they are inescapable. Dependence breeds resentment, and the fewer alternatives consumers have to tech giants, the more resentful they are likely to become in time. It’s also possible — and even likely — that tech companies will make significant errors in their handling of the crisis, which could set back any progress they haver made.
But all that can wait for another day. For better and for worse, Americans are relying on technology companies to get them through the next several months. If there was ever a moment for these companies to prove their worth, it’s now.
Today in news that could affect public perception of the big tech platforms.
⭐Ten Amazon warehouses in the United States have had workers test positive for COVID-19. The news comes as the e-commerce giant races to hire 100,000 more workers to meet the rising demand. Here’s Jay Greene at The Washington Post:
The company has recently adopted new policies for its warehouses, including more regularly cleaning door handles, stairway handrails, touch screens and more, Levandowski said. It’s nixed stand-up meetings, staggered start and break times to aid social distancing, and suspended screening workers as they leave to improve the flow of workers, she said.
Amazon, though, is struggling to get workers all the protection it wants them to have. The company placed orders for “millions of face masks” to give to employees and contractors who cannot work from home, Bezos wrote in a letter to employees Saturday. Because of the global shortage of those masks, though, very few of those orders have been filled, he wrote.
Also: Amazon told workers at its warehouse in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, that it will keep the facility shut indefinitely after three people tested positive for COVID-19. The workers will continue to receive their scheduled pay. (Matt Day / Bloomberg)
Still, Amazon could come out of this crisis stronger than ever. The shutdown of many retail stores, along with a general anxiety about going out in public, could end up increasing the company’s share of overall retail by prompting shoppers to buy more stuff over the internet. (Priya Anand and Ashley Gold / The Information)
Amazon appears to be prioritizing shipments of its own hardware devices, like the Amazon Echo, while delaying distribution of other nonessential items as demand continues to soar. (Priya Anand / The Information)
⭐Singapore is open-sourcing its coronavirus contact-tracing app, called TraceTogether. The app uses Bluetooth to identify people who’ve been in close contact with COVID-19 patients. Here’s Hariz Baharudin at The Straits Times:
Launched last Friday, the TraceTogether app can identify people who have been within 2m of coronavirus patients for at least 30 minutes, using wireless Bluetooth technology. Its developers say the app is useful when those infected cannot recall whom they had been in close proximity with for an extended duration.
For the app to start tracing, the Bluetooth setting on mobile phones has to be turned on.
If a user gets infected, the authorities will be able to quickly find out the other users he has been in close contact with, allowing for easier identification of potential cases and helping curb the spread of the virus.
Russia is using facial-recognition technology to track people who are supposed to self-quarantine. It’s also threatening prison time for those who don’t self-isolate. (Robyn Dixon / The Washington Post)
Nextdoor has become the place for neighbors to connect, organize, and help one another amid the coronavirus outbreak. But relics of the old Nextdoor are still there, conspiracy theories and all. (John Herrman / The New York Times)
Facebook, Tesla, and Apple have pledged to donate thousands of masks to combat the medical equipment shortages caused by the novel coronavirus. Experts say it makes sense that these companies have vast stockpiles, since California is no stranger to natural disasters. (Blake Montgomery / Daily Beast)
Mark Zuckerberg said Facebook is “just trying to keep the lights on” as traffic continues to soar amid the coronavirus outbreak. The challenge is compounded by the company struggling to transition to a fully work from home culture. (Mike Isaac and Sheera Frenkel / The New York Times)
The World Health Organization plans to reach at least 50 million people with a WhatsApp chat service that delivers information about the novel coronavirus. The service garnered 10 million users within three days of launching. (Antony Sguazzin / Bloomberg)
Twitter temporarily locked the account of The Federalist after the conservative opinion site published a piece proposing the deliberate spread of the coronavirus in order to boost immunity to the disease. Fast, decisive, positive action from Twitter here. (Zachary Petrizzo / Mediaite)
Apple’s Screen Time feature has become a horrifying reminder of how much we’re using our devices now that we’re all stuck at home. I’m up to 16 hours a day across my devices, how about you? (Travis M. Andrews / The Washington Post)
Pinterest launched a new Today tab to bring people curated boards and coronavirus information. The company plans to include expert information from the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control. (Nathan Ingraham / Engadget)
Foxconn and Wistron, two iPhone makers, have suspended production at their Indian plants to comply with a nationwide lockdown ordered. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered the population to stay at home for three weeks. (Debby Wu / Bloomberg)
The coronavirus pandemic isn’t (yet?) hurting TikTok stars at The Hype House in Los Angeles. Some say they’ve seen enormous growth since the virus started to spread. (EJ Dickson / Rolling Stone)
Hundreds of tech employees are getting laid off amid the coronavirus outbreak — and now it’s all happening over Zoom. Here’s how it went down at TripActions. (Biz Carson / Protocol)
Why you’re getting coronavirus emails from every brand you’ve ever interacted with. They’re all making decisions out of “an abundance of caution.” Abundance O’Caution is going to be a great drag name for someone when this is all over. Or now! (Rebecca Jennings / Vox)
The internet was designed to adapt to huge spikes in traffic just like the one we’re living through. But the platforms and apps that make the internet useful are less tested. (Adam Clark Estes / Recode)
Americans who primarily get their news through social media are less likely to closely follow coronavirus news coverage. They’re also the most likely to report seeing misinformation about the pandemic. (Pew Research Center)
Total cases in the US: 54,453
Total deaths in the US: 737
Cases reported in California: 2,853
Cases reported in New York: 26,358
Cases reported in Washington: 2,469
Things to do
Stuff to occupy you online during the quarantine.
The Verge launched a newsletter called Home Screen about life on the internet during the pandemic. It’s designed to show you fun distractions from the disaster — highly recommended.


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With the Royal Wedding fast approaching, prices have been slashed on scallops ahead of the big day.
Morrisons have cut prices for their large British King scallops by half, allowing fans of fish to treat themselves for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The new, 50 per cent off price tag makes them just 50p each. That is half the price of Tesco, whose scallops are sold at £1 a pop, and a drastic difference to Marks and Spencer, where their single scallop price is a staggering £3.
And were you to head to Bentley's Oyster Bar in London to watch the royal reception, you'd be shelling out a hideous £9.50 per scallop, 19 times more than at Morrisons.
The deal is set to start today (Monday, May 14) and will last up until Sunday, May 20, in Morrisons stores up and down the country.
Sarah Bell, scallop buyer for Morrisons, said: “Scallops can be expensive. This 50p deal is the best in the UK and means that we are making a luxurious item much more affordable for all our customers.”
You'll need to head to the in-store fishmonger to get them, where the delicate droplets are sold in their shells, each weighing between 65-100g.