text:
An Arkansas company that operates service stations and convenience stores in Colorado and several other states is preparing to expand its brand in the Pikes Peak region.
Murphy USA plans to build an eight-pump, 1,200-square-foot Murphy Express convenience store southeast of Woodmen Road and Rangewood Drive in northern Colorado Springs, according to a proposal recently submitted to city government planners. The site is just east of a new CVS drugstore.
The location would be Murphy USA's second convenience store in the area, according to the company's website; another store operates in the Monument Marketplace shopping center in Monument, northeast of Interstate 25 and Baptist Road.
A Murphy USA spokeswoman didn't have details Friday about the new store or the company's expansion plans in the Springs area. The project's timetable also wasn't known.
Murphy USA operates gas stations under the same name that typically are built near Walmart stores, the company's website says. Its larger, stand-alone convenience stores operate under the Murphy Express brand; in addition to fuel, the stores sell soft drinks, chips, candy, cigarettes and other merchandise.
Murphy has nine convenience stores and three gas stations in the Denver metro area and northern Colorado, the company's website shows. Those stores are part of Murphy USA's 1,400 locations that operate in 26 states, primarily in the Southwest, Southeast and Midwest.
The new Murphy Express planned for Colorado Springs is the latest in a wave of convenience store expansions in the Pikes Peak region by existing operators and newcomers.
7-Eleven has long dominated the market and competes with Loaf 'N Jug, Circle K, Valero, Kwik Way and others.
Iowa-based Kum & Go opened its first Colorado Springs store in 2012 and now has about 20 area locations. Utah-based Maverik opened its first Springs-area store in October at Constitution Avenue and Peterson Road in unincorporated Cimarron Hills and plans a second store near Fillmore and El Paso streets in Colorado Springs.
Contact the reporter: 636-0228
Facebook: Rich Laden


text:
Attending the BAU international trade fair for the first time, Doncaster based Hörmann Transdek UK had a busy 6 days, with visitors from Europe and beyond visiting the stand to discuss the company’s specialist range of modular loading bay and lifting equipment. Held in Munich, BAU is heralded as the world’s leading trade exhibition for architecture, construction materials and systems. Transdek’s attendance marked a significant milestone for the company, being the first time they have attended a major European exhibition with the aim of expanding their export market, a move made possible by their acquisition by the Hörmann Group in 2021.
The Transdek stand featured a scaled working model of their innovative Vehicle to Ground (V2G) yard lift and an interactive presentation to illustrate the whole Transdek product range including double deck lifts (UDD), dock lifts and goods lifts. Visitors to the stand included major supermarket chains and logistics companies who were particularly impressed with how the V2G yard lift and UDD lifts could allow them to unlock the untapped potential of European Double deck trailers. Capable of carrying an additional 67% load, double decked trailers are a more cost-effective method of transportation, with Transdek V2G yard lifts and UDD lifts providing faster and safer loading/unloading, together with simple maintenance.
Commenting on the exhibition, James MacDonald Business Development Manager at Transdek, “Transdek have been attending trade exhibitions and shows for the past 15 years and we can confidently say we have never seen so many people enquiring about our products. The stand was full every day and since the show we have received firm enquiries from major organisations in France and the Benelux regions, Poland, Germany, and Romania.
Being part of the Hörmann Group has certainly opened up significant opportunities for us and our attendance at BAU is just one example of the support the Group continues to provide. From the feedback we received during the show and since our return we can say that we had an extremely successful show. We are now looking forward to BAU 2025 with the plan to have a full size, operational Transdek lift on show.”
To find out more about Transdek UK visit Loading Bay Solutions | Transdek UK Ltd or call 01302 752276

domain: news


text:
United Power Generation & Distribution Company (UPGDC) topped the chart of top 10 gainers following investors' increased participation.
The company featured a turnover of Tk 178.60 million on Sunday and grabbed 3.81 per cent of the total turnover featured by the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).
The company's share price declined 1.41 per cent or Tk 5.80 to close at Tk 406.70 each on the main bourse.
Some 437,200 shares of the UPGDC changed hands through 1,757 trades and the company's market capitalisation stood at Tk 196.81 billion on Sunday.
The company's board of directors has recommended 130 per cent cash dividend and 10 per cent stock dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2019.
For the same year, the company has reported consolidated EPS of Tk. 16.08 against Tk. 9.59 for the same period of the previous year.
Of other turnover leaders, Orion Infusion featured a turnover of Tk 165.90 million and captured 3.54 per cent of the market turnover.
The company's share price closed at Tk 71 with a loss of 0.14 per cent or Tk 0.10.
Silco Pharmaceuticals grabbed 3.40 per cent of the market turnover after featuring a turnover of Tk 159.60 million.
The company's share price rose 8.33 per cent or Tk 2.60 to close at Tk 33.70 each.
Beacon Pharmaceuticals posted a turnover of Tk 130.90 million and captured 2.79 per cent of the market turnover.
The company's share price closed at Tk 25.10 each with a rise of 2.44 per cent or Tk 0.60.
KDS Accessories featured a turnover of Tk 125.30 million and grabbed 2.67 per cent of the market turnover.
The company's share price rose 9.98 per cent or Tk 5.80 to close at Tk 63.90 each.
Fortune Shoes posted a turnover of Tk 122.5 million which was 2.61 per cent of the exchange's total turnover.
Of other turnover leaders, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation featured a turnover of Tk 122.40 million, Monno Ceramic Industries Tk 106.10 million, JMI Syringes & Medical Devices Tk 97.10 million and Beximco Tk 85.40.
© 2017 - All Rights with The Financial Express


text:
Pictured at left is a bitcoin. It’s a digital currency that was first conceived of in 2008. It was embraced by the digitari and has been used for awhile now to make on-line transactions via computer or smart phone.
On-line retailers like bitcoins because they get to avoid credit card charges that eat into slim profit margins. And consumers like them too because they’re easy to use. Bitcoins have even started to seep into the bricks and mortar economy with vendors accepting them in payment for goods and services.
In essence it’s a rival currency to our traditional state-issued currency. The latter is the very basis of our economy. But when you get right down to it, the only reason dollars hold the value they do is because we believe collectively as a society in their worth.
Bitcoins, potentially, are no different. They’re issued through some mathematical formula that controls how fast they’re released into the digital economy — kind of like a central bank. A hard circulation limit of 21 million bitcoins has been set, and that won’t happen until 2140. That will help keep a cap on inflation of the type that we experience now when central banks increase the money supply for fiscal policy reasons and prices rise.
One concern governments have is being able to track the bitcoin economy to ensure the proper taxes are collected. As awareness about the bitcoin grows, people are checking it out. But cautiously, it seems, and recently there’s been wild swings in the currency’s value. On April 10, for instance, it dropped from $266US to $105. But then supporters rallied and it bounced back up to $160. So it will be interesting to see how this pans out.


text:
Moments ago, Phophony Digital president and the creator of the Gran Turismo series Kazunori Yamauchi officially announced at the Silverstone Circuit in UK that, yes, like everybody thought, GT6 is in the works.
The next instalment in the best-selling PlayStation first-party franchise will be released for the PS3 later this year during the holiday season. There was no mention of a version for Sony’s next-gen console, the PS4.
“The game engine will be renewed for GT6, we’ll be cleaning it up, making it smoother for the future,” Yamauchi said.
“The rendering engine will be completely renewed… [There] will be a revamped physics engine, [along with] new suspension, tyre and aerodynamics modelling. We’ll have 200 more cars than GT5, with 1200 available at release. More cars will be released after launch too.”
As for racing tracks, the game was also said to feature 33 locations, with 71 course layouts. That’s seven new locations and 19 brand new layouts. New tracks will also be added to the game later via DLC.
But if that’s not enough, there will also be a new course maker.
Other features in GT6 include the ability to organise and form your own racing communities and championships, as well as connectivity with smartphones and tablets.


text:
SHILLONG, Dec 24 - Meghalaya Governor V Shanmuganathan and Chief Minister Mukul Sangma have extended their greetings to the people on the eve of Christmas.
In his Christmas greetings, Shanmuganathan said on Christmas �we celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus Christ, who gave the valuable and eternal message of peace, tolerance, compassion, love and brotherhood.�
The Chief Minister in his message said Christmas is the time we remember the ceaseless love of Lord Jesus Christ. �As we once again celebrate his birthday may the spirit of love and compassion fill our hearts with everlasting joy and peace,� Sangma said.
Meanwhile, the State Capital has been tastefully decorated with lights and festoons. The main shopping hub, Police Bazaar, has been decked up with lights to celebrate Christmas. In several places persons dressed as Santa Clause have been adding to the joy and colour of the occasion.
Tura Correspondent adds: The spirit of Christmas is off to a start in Tura with families making last minute purchases for the festival season. While the season always brings about the biggest shopping frenzy for the residents, the lack of money has led to dampened spirits for employees, both of the State as well as GHADC. Only partial payments have been made to the employees by the Council, while the State Government paid one month�s salary, leaving one month�s salary pending.
�It was only in the last three days that sales picked up. We will be suffering huge losses inspite of the last minute sales�, said a shop owner at Council Market in Tura�s main bazaar. �This is the drabbest Christmas that Tura has witnessed and it is mainly due to the cash crunch faced by all�, said an old timer.
The payment of salaries for Council employees came after the GHADC auctioned off most of its weekly markets to pay the arrears after the State Government failed to bail it out.


text:
City Council locked in a 2-2 vote as interest in Visalia grows from all sections of the industry
VISALIA – The possibility of allowing any aspect of the cannabis industry to operate within the city of Visalia has again gone up in smoke.
At its June 21 meeting, city manager Randy Groom presented a report saying the city has been approached by interested parties wanting to locate different types of cannabis related businesses within the city limits. One was a logistical company trying to find a warehousing for wholesale growers to distribute to retail shops. The company, which was not named, was looking at a 60,000 square foot property on Doe Avenue. Another was a retail dispensary interested in redeveloping an existing property, preferably in downtown. The most interesting was an agricultural waste recycling company which grinds up the hemp and cannabis stalks left over from cannabis cultivation, mixes it with other ag waste, such as sugar cane, nut shells, flower petals, to create an bioplastic, a material used to replace petroleum-based plastics in manufacturing of disposable packaging products, bottles and containers.
“There’s a broader scope of cannabis related businesses than many people are aware of,” Groom said.
Groom posed two questions to the council regarding cannabis related businesses: Do you wish to reconsider allowing them? If so, what type of business do you want to allow?
Visalia became the first city in the county to outright ban all aspects of the cannabis industry in 2017, prohibiting commercial delivery, cultivation, manufacturing, testing and dispensaries also known as collectives and cooperatives, operators, establishments and providers. But as Councilmember Brian Poochigian pointed out, people in the city are already buying it in other communities, having it delivered to their house and smoking it in their house, all of which are protected under Proposition 64, passed statewide in November 2016.
“My concern is if we don’t set up a tax structure right now the state is just going to come in and say you guys have to allow it,” Poochigian said, voicing his concerns about giving up local control to the state. He also proposed a tax structure of 8% on sales of recreational marijuana with 2% going to police, 2% to fire, 3% to emerging needs, and 1% to parks and recreation.
Councilmember Brett Taylor said none of the constituents he has spoken with are in favor of marijuana. Tobacco products, including vaping and anything related to smoking, have been a touchy subject with many after the city approved a convenience store’s application to become a smoke shop last month. Taylor voted to approve the smoke shop, despite being located just a few hundred feet from Houston Elementary, because the business was already selling liquor and cigarettes and wanted to shift more of its merchandise from alcohol to tobacco products. He said those same people were not supportive of marijuana either.
“When I was talking to all these groups and individuals, I was talking to majority of them about marijuana and with their thoughts of bringing marijuana business to Visalia and none of them were supportive of this,” Taylor said. “So I will be supporting my constituents and not be supporting any marijuana businesses in Visalia.”
Councilmember Greg Collins, who voted in favor of banning the cultivation and sale of cannabis in 2017, requested the item be placed on the June 21 agenda during the work session. He agreed with Poochigian many people were already using marijuana. In April, Collins proposed allowing dispensaries because it has become more socially acceptable and dispensaries are already operating without issues in Farmersville, Woodlake, Lindsay and Porterville, a similar ordinance has been approved in Tulare, and cultivation of cannabis is authorized in Dinuba. He suggested limiting the number in the community to two with both being located in east downtown, which is zoned for the city’s microbrewery and boutique winery district.
“It’s amazing the number of people that I bump into who take advantage of some of this material for sleeping purposes and for pain purposes,” Collins said.
The city’s public opinion survey supports Collins’ claims. In 2019, only 39% of residents said they were in favor of the city reexamining its city-imposed ban on the sale of recreational marijuana, a figure that had remained unchanged since the statewide approval of recreational marijuana in the 2016 general election, according to the city’s annual Public Opinion Survey. That changed last year when about half of people said they were in favor.
In April, Collins also noted cannabis was generating nearly $1 million annually for city budgets in communities much smaller than Visalia. Farmersville estimates cannabis will generate $1.4 million in taxes for the city in fiscal year 2021-22 and Woodlake has invested nearly $900,000 in its parks and recreation since approving cannabis for sale in the city in 2017.
“My mom used to say, ‘if your friends jump off a bridge, are you going to jump off with them?’,” Nelsen said. “And because our neighboring cities are allowing marijuana to come into their jurisdiction doesn’t mean I have to follow suit.”
Nelsen went on to cite recent medical reviews linking marijuana use to schizophrenia and domestic violence. WebMD published a review of several studies about the correlation between marijuana use and schizophrenia, a serious mental health illness often associated with losing touch with reality. The review was far from conclusive, falling short of causation, but did note using cannabis could double your odds of developing schizophrenia if it runs in your family. The domestic violence angle was inconclusive at best with the American Psychological Association saying there were too many other factors to establish a direct link.
“It took us about umpteen how many years to realize there was a correlation between cancer and smoking and the ill effects of smoking,” Nelsen said. “And we don’t have that basis right now on marijuana usage.”
Groom asked if either Nelsen or Taylor would consider any cannabis related businesses, including cultivation, processing, warehousing, testing, packaging and labeling, or delivery operations. The answer was no, leaving the council locked at a 2-2 vote. There is currently no vote to break the tie following the pasting of Phil Cox the week before. Groom said staff would stop looking into cannabis within city limits unless council directed it to do otherwise at a future date.


text:
Florida couple take milestone 100th cruise on Carnival Sensation
By Mary Forgione
Mar 17, 2015 | 10:45 AM
Bernard and Janice Caffary are loyal -- loyal to the cruise ship the Carnival Sensation. The couple from Lakeland, Fla., are currently taking their 100th cruise on the ship as it sails from Florida to the Bahamas.
Carnival Cruise Lines gave them a splashy sendoff Sunday at Port Canaveral to say thanks. No one has reached the milestone of 100 cruises on the same ship in the cruise line's 43-year history.
They were given the VIP treatment at the port with a banner to greet them and then partied on board with crew members of the 2,052-passenger Sensation.
"The crew members are phenomenal on this ship," Janice Caffary, 68, gushes. "Everyone is more outgoing, always there to greet and hug you ... when we step on this ship, it's like coming back home."
The Caffarys started their love affair with the Sensation in 2002. They most often reserve the same cabin (they won't say which one; it has an ocean view but no balcony) and they won't say how much they've spent on the cruises. (Carnival estimates it's at least in the tens of thousands of dollars.)
For Bernard Caffary, 76, a former submarine designer for General Dynamics, the journeys are about meeting crew members who represent 54 nationalities. "And they all have a story, they all work in peace and harmony," he says.
He has even created an "I Give Crew Hugs" badge that he and his wife wear on cruises. In addition to the 100 cruises on the Sensation, the couple has racked up an additional 41 cruises with Carnival.
They have 28 cruises planned for this year too, which roughs out to almost 200 days at sea.
Janice Caffary says they have finished their bucket list of about 30 or 40 worldwide locations. Their favorite place: Cartagena, Colombia, which they loved for its architecture and culture.
They've traveled so much that on their Carnival sailings over the years -- to the Bahamas, the western Caribbean, New Orleans -- that they frequently don't get off the ship. You can find them on the Sensation in their favorite place, Joe's Cafe.
They've become a bit of a sensation in their hometown too. Residents of Lakeland recognize them when they're shopping at the grocery store or at Walmart.
Carnival offers a VIFP Club (Very Important Fun Person) loyalty program that rewards frequent cruisers with perks the more they sail. (The Caffarys are at the top Diamond Level.)
Among the goodies the Caffarys received Sunday: gifts, dinner with the captain and a framed Carnival flag signed by members of the crew.


text:
Seoul to order 60 ships, subsidize LNG-fueled ships to help maritime industry
South Korea government will consign 60 vessel orders and initiate a project to groom sea gateways as a global logistics hub to restore the country’s maritime reputation through state-led restructuring and subsidy program.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in its policy plan for this year released on Thursday said it will place orders for 60 new ocean-going vessels through Korea Ocean Business Corp., a state entity launched last year devoted to promoting shipping and shipbuilding industries with an aim to order a total of 200 ships by 2022. The state entity already placed orders for 57 vessels including container carriers and liquefied natural gas tankers last year.
To meet the growing demand for eco-friendly ships, the government will subsidize 10 percent of the ship coverage if a company upgrades old vessels with eco-friendly features.
The ministry will also seek ways to prevent cutthroat competition among local shippers and strengthen their global competitiveness. It will encourage mergers among the country’s eight major container carriers to bring down the number to six bigger names. Operators for the country’s main ports such as Incheon and Busan will be transformed into bigger entities through mergers.
To reclaim the shipping routes that the country lost following the collapse of Korea’s once leading container carrier Hanjin Shipping in 2016, the ministry will provide aids to shippers on opening new routes and expanding shipping capacity. K-Global Terminal Operators (K-GTO) will be formed in cooperation with shippers, port authorities, and Korea Ocean Business. K-GTO will work to secure operation rights of shipping terminals in Southeast Asian countries with high growth potentials such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.


text:
In July 2022, Panasonic announced it would build a new lithium-ion battery plant in DeSoto, Kansas, a small town located right off a major highway. The plant is being built for the rapidly growing electric vehicle market. It's estimated the project will bring 4,000 permanent jobs to the state, and according to Kansas Department of Commerce officials, it is the most significant economic development project in state history.
Panasonic formally broke ground for its new $4 billion, 4,000-employee factory in Kansas in a private ceremony in November 2022.
On a recent ASSEMBLY Audible podcast episode, Multimedia Editor Jennifer Pierce interviewed Allan Swan, President of Panasonic Energy North America, who leads the largest battery factory in the world at Panasonic and Tesla's joint Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada.
To begin with, Swan introduced us to Panasonic's long history in battery manufacturing and how success in that arena and demand led to honing in on the new location in Kansas to expand its production capabilities. Further, during our interview, we get a firsthand inside perspective on why they chose Kansas as their site location, how the plant will be different from the Gigafactory, and when Panasonic will start hiring leaders and assemblers.
Most recently, in December, 2022, Panasonic announced it entered into multiyear agreements to supply batteries for Lucid's award-winning luxury electric vehicle, Lucid Air. On-site construction is currently underway.
For an in-depth expert account on Panasonic's battery technology and how that will factor into the new plant in Kansas, check out About Panasonic's Battery Technology:
Listen to the entire conversation on ASSEMBLY Audible: https://www.assemblymag.com/media/podcasts/6446-assembly-audible/play/191-inside-panasonic-s-battery-plant-in-kansas. And stay tuned throughout 2023 as we keep you up to date on the latest from the Kansas battery plant.
Inside Panasonic's Battery Plant in Kansas
For access to more podcast episodes, click here.


text:
The new Indian cruise line Cordelia Cruises, which replaces the now-defunct Jalesh Cruises, has announced that it will sail its maiden voyage this September from Dubai.
Cordelia’s only cruise ship Empress is currently docked at the Dubai Cruise Terminal in Port Rashid, and may be undergoing a refit and refurbishment in Dubai ahead of her maiden cruise, but Cordelia has not confirmed those plans.
Cordelia Cruises acquired the former Empress of the Seas cruise ship from Royal Caribbean International last year and re-named her Empress.
Empress arrived in Dubai shortly after and has been in lay-up in the city for the past few weeks. She was meant to enter service for the cruise line in early 2021, but those plans were put on hold amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in India.
Now, the cruise line has set September 2nd, 2021 as its launch date, when Empress will sail her first revenue-generating voyage for the cruise line from Dubai.
The 4-day cruise to Mumbai will make a port call in Muscat on the first day of the cruise, before spending two days at sea while cruising for the coast of India. She’ll arrive in Mumbai on September 6th and will then commence a summer season of 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 7-night roundtrip cruises from Mumbai.
Cordelia Cruises was established to continue the legacy of Jalesh Cruises, the first ever domestic cruise line in the country, which was forced to shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This is according to Jurgen Bailom, the CEO of Cordelia Cruises, who previously headed up Jalesh Cruises and pioneered the growth of India’s domestic cruise tourism sector before those plans were derailed by COVID-19.
In a previous press statement, Bailom said he was “continuing the legacy of Jalesh Cruises in upholding the spirit, culture, and value of ‘Incredible India’ and… curating memorable cruise holidays that delight customers”.
The cruise line is offering a number of specials, such as ‘kids cruise free’ deals for passengers under 12.
Empress has been designed by the cruise line to reflect the full diversity of India, with several dining options celebrating its many cultures, such as oriental, continental, Mughlai and Indian street food.
The ship will also feature a special section of Jain Food, “so that you can enjoy a delightful meal while sticking to your dietary preferences,” the cruise line said.
The ship will offer five different bars, a casino, nightclub and theatre where production shows will be staged nightly. Up top, there are several swimming pools, a rock-climbing wall, and a “dedicated area for educational and fun activities for kids of all age groups.”


text:
How many spam emails does it take to sell drugs on the Internet?
In short? A lot!
As reported by the New York Times, it takes 12.5 million emails to earn $100 in Internet-based Viagra sales. The finding comes from a research group engaged in “spamalytics” — trying to find the mechanisms by which revenues are generated from spam. In their most recent paper they found that 95 percent of credit card transactions for spam-advertised drugs and herbal remedies which they purchased were handled by just three financial companies. It is hoped that targeting these focal-points for spam transactions can remove the revenue potentials and curb spam.
Comments are closed.


text:
By Jim Ivers 04 January 2017, 12:12 p.m. comment Categories
Security is the new must-have car accessory. This doesn’t refer to door locks or car alarms, but rather software security. When you hear about software security you tend to think of computer software, not software in cars.
However, software is not new to vehicles. As the connected cars become more of a reality, manufacturers can’t afford to be complacent when it comes to software and app security, as evidenced by the hacking of the Mitsubishi Outlander hybrid.
Back in June, Mitsubishi was urged by security researchers to recall at least 100,000 cars after hackers were able to remotely turn off the alarm system, control the lights and drain the battery.
Ken Munro, the security expert leading the investigation on Mitsubishi, found he could geolocate a car and track it, meaning a hacker or thief would easily be able to do the same. Mitsubishi is just one example but other car manufacturers have suffered similar problems.
The latest angle to software is connectivity. It is well-known in the cyber-security industry that connectivity means infiltration, and that all software will have vulnerabilities.
With the emergence of connected cars, the combination of software and connectivity means there is a potential path for hackers to exploit. Rather than accessing personal or confidential data, connected car hackers can take control of the vehicle, making unexpected stops or turns, which could result in an accident.
As a result, consumers are beginning to pass on advanced electronics and other features in favour of security. At the RSA Conference in Spring 2016, it was stated that 51% of consumers are hesitant about autonomous or self-driving vehicles.
Consequently, some are reverting back to older cars with minimal or no connectivity to avoid running the risk of having their vehicle hacked.
This may be seen as an extreme stance to take however, as more news about the hacking of vehicles emerges, consumers are increasingly aware of the risks in vehicle security.
Many also feel the vehicle manufacturer holds responsibility for securing a vehicle from hacking.
The importance of updates
Even with software security installed in cars, drivers will not be completely safe from a potential hacking unless the software is monitored and regularly updated. Like any other software, avoiding updates will allow hackers to access data, enabling them to control key car components.
Furthermore, even with such security in place, hackers will always try to identify and exploit new vulnerabilities. In order to prevent the hacker from doing just that, it is essential that the in-vehicle systems continue evolving and learning new ways to fight back.
For this to happen, the software in the connected cars needs to be continuously updated. The most effective way to do this is to use over-the-air (OTA) updates that will ensure connected cars always have the latest cybersecurity features.
It could be said that once automakers identify a pattern of buying decisions based on security considerations, they will respond to the new consumer demands.
In September, Volkswagen announced it had created a new company dedicated to the security of next-generation (connected) vehicles. Volkswagen concentrated a huge amount of effort on this, hiring three Israeli security experts to head the company and to further develop its cyber security capabilities.
This indicates that Volkswagen sees security as an important factor in car buying behaviour.
The auto industry has seen this sort of evolution before. Before the 1970s, fuel efficiency was not a huge consideration as it was so cheap; it did not become part of the buying criteria in the US until the fuel shortages in the late 70s.
Likewise, safety was not widely considered until automotive companies like Volvo and Mercedes differentiated themselves by stressing the safety of their vehicles.
Following this, the car-buying criteria of the consumer changed, forcing other car manufacturers to respond. Nowadays fuel efficiency and crash test data are more highly considered than the shiny accessories and added extras.
Overall, consumers want a car safe from all complications, security attacks or malfunctions.
So far, software security has resisted the establishment of a commonly applied certification, but consumer influence could have a similar effect as with fuel efficiency and safety, consequently pushing big car companies to introduce and follow new security criteria.


text:
Normally the article in "The Indian Times", Economic Times section 20 July 2010, below would be good news and a sign of better times ahead.
"Whirlpool 2Q Net income More than doubles Whirlpool earned $205 million, or $2.64 per share, during the three months that ended on June 30. Excluding certain one-time items, that figure is $2.82.In the same period for last year the company earned $78 million, or $1.04 per share.Revenue rose 9 percent to $4.53 billion, up from $4.17 billion.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected the company to earn $2.17 per share on revenue of $4.50 billion.
Demand for the company's washers, dryers and other appliances had been hurt in the recession. But sales are picking up due to federal rebates for energy efficient appliances.
That prompted the company to boost its full-year profit forecast. Whirlpool said it expected to earn between $9 and $9.50 per share for the full year. That's up from its previous forecast of net income between $8 and $8.50 per share, and above Wall Street's expectation of $8.67 per share.”
Reading the article you see the caveat contributing the improved sales, not to new needs in new housing, but a handout in the form of a rebate for existing appliance replacement from the federal government. Whirlpools improvement in earnings is actual the results of a one shot deal at best and in my opinion without the handout Whirlpool will not be able to meet its optimistic annual prediction.
Handout Cash for Clunkers.
Handout check in the mail
Handouts are just one example of the many ways our stimulus plan is skewing the normal capitalistic processes in our economy and a second round of stimulus could add as much as another decade of lackluster performance to the US equities markets.
Our economy depends on the spending habits of the consumers. Currently a large percentage of the consumers are with out employment. An unemployed consumer has no money to spend and does not pay taxes. The government is currently running on borrowed money, but this too has a limit. When they can borrow no more the government subsidies will dry up. Only then will the normal processes of capitalism resume and we will start on the real road to growth, prosperity and true capitalism.
Economic experimentation (actually more like trail and error) at the world level results in unknown consequences. Be patient, it is going to be a stock pickers market for a log time.
Disclosure: No positions


text:
As the home of two of Irelands leading farm machinery
manufacturers, the people of Bagenalstown in Co Carlow
are used to seeing truck loads of agricultural implements
heading out of town. If expansion plans at Tanco and
Hi-Spec Engineering come to fruition, they can expect
to see more, as Peter Hill reports
THERE is no more obvious sign of optimism for continued manufacturing and sales success at Hi-Spec Engineering than the new building that was recently completed at the companys already expansive Bagenalstown premises.
Representing an investment of Ir£1 million, the new facility marks a significant step in the development of the 12-year-old company.
"Weve replaced an existing building that was used for storage but could be used for little else because there was no headroom to install overhead cranes," explains sales director Tom Nolan. "The new building will give us the chance to re-organise our production facilities a bit, but also provide more manufacturing capacity."
With Irelands farm machinery sales remaining buoyant against expectations, Hi-Spec needs all the elbow room it can get. Despite a collapse in sales to the UK due to local market conditions – it was once the companys largest export destination – the companys figures overall are still on the up.
New export markets are helping; Hi-Spec energetically sell its diet feeders to farmers in Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Holland and Poland, as well as feeders and vacuum slurry tankers to producers in Iceland and Canada.
"Ireland is in a very competitive position at the moment as far as exports are concerned," says Mr Nolan. "But we are also keen to do our best for the home market too."
Doing that involves continuing to produce a competitive range of diet feeders, including paddle and auger type machines giving operators a choice that suits the feedstuffs being used, while maintaining the "bread and butter" line of tankers and spreaders.
Getting into the diet feeder market involved more than just manufacturing skills; competitors had already established the principle that diet feeder machinery sales needed to be backed with sound nutritional advice. To help farmers get to grips with different ration options and feeding techniques, Hi-Spec sourced the backing of US-based firm Agri-King.
"Agri-King provides nutritional consultancy in Ireland as well as the UK," says Tom Nolan. "Its an essential part of selling the equipment."
He and brothers Michael, John and Henry, who also play key roles in running the business started 12 years ago, remain optimistic that Hi-Spec will continue to serve the specialist machinery needs of farmers in Ireland and overseas.
"We are diversifying a bit, by producing truck-mounted vacuum tankers for sludge work and gully emptying," says Mr Nolan. "But Im sure our core business will continue to be in agricultural engineering for the foreseeable future."
Hi-Spec Engineering sales director, Tom Nolan: "We are diversifying a bit but Im sure our core business will continue to be in agricultural engineering for the foreseeable future."
Factory: 11,150sq m (120,000sq ft); 1ha (2.5 acre) concreted yards.
Sales: Ir£5 million
Exports: 50-60% to UK, Denmark, Holland, Sweden, Poland, Iceland, Japan, Canada.
Product range: Diet feeders, vacuum slurry tankers, slurry pumps, manure spreaders, industrial truck tankers.


text:
Empire State Development has announced that the application window is open, and applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 15 for round five of the Grow-NY food and agriculture competition.
New this year, the Summit will also include a Dairy Innovation Showcase featuring participants in the Northeastern Dairy Product Innovation Competition, also currently accepting applications.
Grow-NY is a unique initiative that connects innovators and investors in the food, beverage, and agriculture sectors locally and around the globe. So far, this competition has resulted in economic growth and entrepreneurial opportunity in upstate New York with the addition of more than 200 new jobs and millions of dollars in follow-on investments.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “The Grow-NY food and agriculture competition helps to boost our upstate economy and spread the word that New York State is a great place to make some of the best, freshest, most innovative products in the world. I thank Governor Hochul for her continued support of this initiative and encourage businesses big and small to apply for round five and show us the agricultural products of the future.”
Winners are required to commit to operating in at least one of the 22 Grow-NY counties for at least 12 months and must agree to a “pay-it-forward” provision in the form of an equity agreement.
One finalist will receive a top prize of $1 million, two others will be awarded $500,000 prizes, and four more will be given $250,000 prizes. Winners will also receive publicity support to announce their achievements across the Grow-NY region and in their home regions.
The startup competition begins its fifth year with impressive momentum, having garnered applications and interest from over a thousand businesses in 41 unique states and 46 countries outside of the United States over the last four years. In all, 79 startups have participated as finalists, with 28 winners sharing $12 million in startup funding as well as the invaluable mentorship and networking benefits that the program delivers to finalists.
Past Grow-NY winners have continued to raise money, expand, and succeed. Soos, Year Two grand prize winner, set up and staffed an R&D facility at a poultry farm in Central NY, and is working with technicians in collaboration with Syracuse University to expand their technology. Year Three grand prize winner, Every Body Eat, is on the shelves of Whole Foods Market stores around the United States, while $500,000 Year Four winner, Hempitecture, recently became the first company to open an industrial hemp manufacturing facility in the U.S.
»Related: ProAgni is the 2022 Grow-NY contest’s grand prize winner
In addition to emphasizing innovation and scalability, the Grow-NY program is focused on drawing more diverse leaders to the region by reaching communities that have historically been left out of the innovation economy. In 2022, 75 percent of the 390 applicants included a founder from an underrepresented minority group, and 38 percent included a female founder.
“After four rounds of competition, the Grow-NY effect has resulted in the addition of hundreds of new jobs, the revitalization of commercial space, the development of agrifood infrastructure, and the follow-on of over $82 million in new investor activity lifting the critical ag sector throughout the region. It goes beyond the startups in our portfolio, and beyond even the food and farming communities, to lift businesses small and large throughout the region” said Grow-NY program director Jenn Smith.
In August, up to 20 finalists will be assigned mentors and enter the business development phase. All finalists will receive bespoke entrepreneurial support and valuable regional introductions, additional training to hone their live pitches, and an expenses-paid, three-day business development trip to the region for up to two team members.


text:
The Cowboy Breakfast may be only from 5 to 9 a.m. Friday, but some cooks won’t get the weekend off.
They’ll be grilling sausages to benefit their scholarship fund from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the H-E-B Grocery Store at Potranco Road and Loop 1604.
And, befitting of the world’s largest breakfast, they will be cooking on the world’s largest grill — so big it has to be hauled on a tractor-trailer rig.
It’s the Johnsonville Big Taste Grill, which also will be serving up Johnsonville sausages at the breakfast at Crossroads Mall.
“It’s going to be a long week,” said breakfast chairman Burt Mazac, who’ll likely stay up all night Thursday to get the feast off and running.
While it can cook more than 750 brats at a time — or 2,500 an hour — the grill weighs more than 53,000 pounds and is 65 feet long. It’s also has hot and cold water and a refrigeration unit.
The grill was built 11 years ago to celebrate Johnsonville’s 50th anniversary.


text:
U.S. consumer prices are up 7.9% in the last 12 months, as the cost of food, shelter and gas continued to rise in February, with gas accounting for almost a third of the CPI index’s monthly increase.
Inflation has been steadily climbing all winter, and last month was no different. The consumer price index, which tracks changes in how much Americans pay for certain goods and services, rose by another 0.8% in February, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
While the year-over-year increase in prices was the highest in 40 years, it was in line with analysts’ expectations. The cost of most consumer goods aside from food and gas rose 0.5% in February, following a 0.6% increase the prior month.
Rents were up 0.6% as well. That’s a significant increase, since housing is usually the biggest expense in household budgets. The food index also rose 1%, the largest monthly increase since April 2020.
Here’s how much prices rose for various items in the last year, according to data from the U.S. Labor Department:
Gas price increases appeared to be leveling off in January, and were down 0.8%. But the cost of fuel surged by 6.6% in February, and in the last year, gas prices are up 38%.
Gas prices have spiked dramatically in the last two weeks due to the invasion of Ukraine, which means that inflation is likely to continue throughout spring.
“I expect the energy price spike to prove mostly temporary, so that we may see some relief by midyear, depending on how long it takes for the war in Ukraine to be resolved and how long it takes other oil and gas suppliers to step in and backfill Russia’s sanctioned exports,” writes Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Amherst Pierpont, in a briefing.
Last week, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned the Senate Banking Committee that “we’re going to see upward pressure on inflation at least for a while” in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Powell has already indicated that he will raise the federal funds rate by 0.25% when central bank officials meet next week. An interest rate hike can help cool off inflation as it increases the cost of borrowing, which discourages spending.


text:
Companies who have faced criticism for poor working conditions found in their supply chains have backed a fund to combat forced labor. The fund supports tech startups that seek to monitor abuses or trace products.
A $23 million (€18.6 million) venture fund to tackle forced labor in large corporations launched on Tuesday, backed by big-name brands including Apple, Disney, C&A and Walmart.
Humanity United, a foundation established by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, partnered with several corporations to create the fund, called Working Capital.
The UK's Department for International Development contributed £2.5 million ($3.5 million/€2.9 million) to the fund as well in so-called "sidecar" grants.
Working Capital will be used to support tech startups that are testing ways to make supply chains more transparent for businesses and consumers.
"We know concerned companies want to do more, but lack the adequate solutions to tackle such a complex issue," Liliana Giffen of Humanity United told DW on Wednesday. "By investing in innovative technologies we aim to give companies greater visibility into their supply chain, allow them to identify risks, and ultimately ensure their operations live up to their values."
"Our goal is to invest and scale innovative technologies that corporations can use to gain better insight into the labor practices in their supply chains, enable them to evaluate risks, address grievances in a timely manner and ultimately enable those in their supply chains to work with dignity."
Asked how the technology would help monitor working conditions in areas where people might have less access to mobile devices, Giffen replied "We know mobile phone adoption in developing nations is significantly growing, with increasing usage in areas such as Bangladesh, China and India growing to north of 80 percent of factory workers in some instances. However, beyond mobile technology, we are seeing promising innovations including wearable technology, that can help monitor worker’s health, or IOR sensor devices that monitor the safety of the environment in which they are laboring."
The fund has already invested in a company called Provenance that uses blockchain tools to help track materials and products during each step of the production process.
Ulula, another company the fund has already invested in, uses data analytics in an attempt to communicate with workers and give them an anonymous way to report poor working conditions.
Read more: UN calls for end of child labor by 2025
'Market demand' for fighting forced labor
Regulatory and consumer backlash over forced labor and child labor has increasingly put companies under pressure to eradicate modern slavery from their supply chains.
"There is a growing market demand for more transparent and responsible corporate supply chains," Ed Marcum, managing director of Humanity United, said in a statement.
Read more: Why modern slavery is widespread in Asia
"We see an opportunity to invest in emerging solutions that will meet the demands of large multinational corporations while also benefiting millions of vulnerable workers," he added.
At least 25 million people worldwide were estimated to be trapped in forced labor in 2016, according to the International Labor Organization and the rights group Walk Free Foundation.
rs/aw (AP, Reuters)


text:
Posts Tagged «GE»
GE develops ultra-thin, almost-silent cooler for next-gen laptops and tablets December 12, 2012 at 6:28 am
General Electric has unveiled what seems to be the thinnest, high-performance cooler for the next-generation of ultra-thin tablets and laptops (pictured above). While this cooler obviously allows for slimmer designs (or more space for other components), it also uses just half the power of a comparable fan, granting a significant boost to battery life. Oh, it’s almost silent, too.
Think you have a big screen TV? Check out these monster video walls November 23, 2012 at 6:46 am
You may be about to drop big bucks on an awesome Black Friday big screen TV deal, but you’ll still be in the minor leagues compared to these massive video wall systems from Prysm — showcased by GE — and Stony Brook University, sponsored by the National Science Foundation.


text:
London – 8 March 2010 – Hitachi Consulting United Kingdom today announced that it has completed the redevelopment of easyJet's new web site, working in close collaboration with easyJet':s internal technical team. The new web site, which accounts for 98 percent of the low-fares airline's revenue bookings, was redeveloped using Microsoft's .NET architecture and Web 2.0 technology to deliver a robust, extensible framework, increasing ease of use and visibility for customers, enabling greater integration with its retail partners, such as insurance providers, car hire and hotels, reducing third-party maintenance and support costs, and providing a platform for future service-based delivery.
easyJet pioneered the use of the Internet for travel and now serves more than 46 million passengers through 500 routes. The company has 182 aircraft in 29 countries and employs more than 6,500 people. As the main booking funnel for the company's revenue, the easyJet web site is one of the top 10 web sites in the UK.
Hitachi Consulting UK and Microsoft worked collaboratively with easyJet's technical team, moving the web site from a Classic ASP architecture to a services-based .NET architecture. Initial development work was completed in February 2009 with easyJet gradually moving customers over to the new site throughout the year. At the end of November 2009, 100 percent of all traffic has been channeled through the new web site.
“We are heavily driven by IT as a company and are continually trying to upgrade our systems”, said Colin Rees, Head of Software Delivery for easyJet. “I had worked with Hitachi Consulting previously and was impressed by how much intellectual property they have in our industry, particularly with regards to working practices and procedures. They also have a deep technical understanding of Microsoft technologies and worked with our team on a collaborative basis. This project is the first of many step changes in our online offerings, and the .NET architecture gives us greater scope to develop more functionality moving forward”.
David Kilpatrick, Managing Vice President at Hitachi Consulting UK, commented, “As a company with a business model based so heavily on technology, easyJet's implementation is a great example of how Microsoft's .NET architecture and Web 2.0 technology can transform business performance. We look forward to supporting easyJet in its future projects”.
“This significant technology implementation reaffirms the exceptionally strong relationship we have with both easyJet and Hitachi Consulting as one of our Solution System Integration partners”, says Alex Cresswell, Business Manager for Travel & Transport at Microsoft UK. “We are proud to form such a fundamental part of easyJet's business plan and strategy and we are pleased to have been able to support them in offering an improved customer experience to the 50 million customers worldwide who will fly with the airline in the coming year”.


text:
Mr Simon Simpkins, from Pontefract, West Yorkshire, wrote to the newspaper to express his disgust at the images after buying a packet for his two children.
Simpkins demanded to see the store manager to express his anger and was told to register his complaint with the manufacturer, Haribo, also based in Pontefract.
“I’m glad I spotted this before my young children, who are both very sensitive,” wrote Simpkins in his letter.
“My wife and I have always tried to maintain their innocence and to think our years of careful parenting could have been wrecked by, of all things, a sweet wrapper makes me livid.”
It has been suggested that the letter was part of an elaborate ploy to raise awareness of a new sampling campaign for Haribo product ChewToo.
A Maoam spokesperson has denied this, stating that: “Maoam is in no way responsible for the letter to the Daily Mail“.
“Our wrappers certainly haven’t been created to cause any offence. The Maoam character, which was developed in 2002, was simply designed as a unique and jovial figure.”


text:
The Aluminum Association launched the Choose Aluminum campaign, which includes a digital media ad buy, videos with workers and aluminum leaders, a new sustainability website and additional material highlighting the sustainable properties of the 100% recyclable metal. The campaign describes how aluminum is providing sustainable solutions in the areas of recycling, automotive production, building and construction more. It also tracks how the North American aluminum industry has reduced its carbon footprint by more than half over the last 30 years. The U.S. aluminum industry supports nearly 660,000 jobs and has invested over $3 billion in U.S. manufacturing over the past decade.
The aluminum industry is making continuous improvements in the environmental efficiency of producing the metal. A third-party life-cycle assessment of North America aluminum can production done in May 2021 showed that greenhouse-gas emissions have dropped 40% over the last 30 years.
Report Abusive Comment


text:
The Future Of Vaping Is In The FDA's Hands
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
What might the future of vaping hold? Well, we could have an answer to that question tomorrow, September 9. That's when the FDA faces a deadline to decide which e-cigarettes are safe for the public and which might need to be removed. E-cigarettes were created to help cigarette smokers quit, but they have become a gateway to smoking for many consumers, including teenagers. And tomorrow, the industry could face a shake-up. Joining us now to talk about all this is Kathleen Hoke, professor of public health law at the University of Maryland.
KATHLEEN HOKE: Hello. Thank you for having me.
CHANG: So explain exactly what is at stake tomorrow. Like, what are the questions the FDA is wrestling with here?
HOKE: I mean, the primary question that the FDA faces is whether vape products, generally speaking without talking to a specific one, meet the public health standard that should allow them to be on the market. And that is whether they are, quote, "appropriate for the protection of public health" - looking at the risks the products present, the benefits that they offer to the population as a whole.
CHANG: OK. Well, let's talk about youths in particular, youth initiation. This is the idea of youths getting hooked onto e-cigarettes very early on in life. That's been a big deal for years now with kids getting their hands on Juuls and many of them getting really sick. Do you think we're going to see new requirements for marketing, like, to make e-cigarettes less appealing to teenagers?
HOKE: Yes, I do see, whether it's tomorrow - and I think it's optimistic to think we're going to know everything tomorrow. But when the FDA does make final decisions on the Juul application, on the application of the over, you know, 500 other manufacturers, whether they approve, there will - you know, if they approve any of these, they definitely will have restrictions on both marketing and some of the product design that will be, you know, intentional to reduce youth initiation and use.
CHANG: Now, there are people in the public health world who say that, you know, millions of people quit cigarettes by switching to vaping. How do you think the upcoming decision by the FDA might affect those individuals?
HOKE: So I don't anticipate that the FDA is going to be taking all vape products that adults might be using to assist them in - I'm not going to say cessation. I'll say transitioning down the harm spectrum. So they may stop using combustible smoking cigarettes and move down the harm spectrum to vaping. So I think they're going to leave product on the market that allows that dynamic to continue. I will note that none of these product applications are to allow the manufacturers to market the products as cessation products. That is a wholly different type of application. And no vape manufacturer is allowed to market their product right now as cessation, nor will they after tomorrow. That's, again, another process that would have to take place.
CHANG: Let me make sure I understand. So if the FDA ends up cracking down quite hard on certain e-cigarettes, do you think that that could push some people back to smoking tobacco cigarettes?
HOKE: You know, that's possible. That's what the vape industry would have us believe. But again, you know, that is kind of putting the cart before the horse because these have not been demonstrated, at least through the FDA approval process, to be cessation products. So there may be some products that people prefer that will no longer be available. And whether those people choose to go back to a cigarette that tastes like a cigarette or a vape product that tastes like a cigarette, I think, is anyone's guess.
CHANG: How worried do you think the e-cigarette industry even is right now about what the FDA might decide?
HOKE: I suspect the large players, the big market players like Juul are less worried. They have submitted substantial applications with likely a significant amount of science space. But there are, you know, many other manufacturers that probably submitted applications with a less strong science base. And so whether they get to bootstrap on some of the data presented by the other manufacturers or not as a question. So I think we're going to see a winnowing of the market. And so our major players will probably stay in the business, and some of our smaller manufacturers will likely be out.
CHANG: Interesting. Well, personally, from you, I mean, from a public health perspective, I'm curious, what do you hope to come out of the FDA's upcoming decision?
HOKE: I think what would be tremendous is elimination of flavors. I know the FDA has been tenuous about whether they will go that far as far as all flavors, but at the very least, all flavors in the youth attractive devices. And, you know, whether they leave menthol on the table, they've indicated they're going to take action on menthol cigarettes, so hopefully they would really strip away the menthol cigarettes. But I also think some other, you know, marketing restrictions and retail restrictions about where and how the products can be sold would be really helpful. They don't need to be in every mom and pop store, every convenience store where kids are going on a regular basis, and that can have a tremendous impact.
CHANG: That is Kathleen Hoke, professor at the University of Maryland.
Thank you very much for joining us today.
HOKE: Thank you for having me. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text:
Manitobans encouraged to donate unwanted gift cards to support Syrian refugees
CardSwap.ca accepting gift card donations to benefit the Red Cross
Manitobans with unwanted gift cards from Christmas past can now donate them toward a good cause.
CardSwap.ca launched a new charity campaign which allows people to donate the cash value of gift cards to the Red Cross' Syrian refugee efforts.
The Canadian website's main business focuses on selling and trading unwanted gift cards online
"People receive a lot of gift cards during the holiday time and in January they end up with the ones that they probably are not going to use," said Frances Ho, co-founder of CardSwap.ca. "We turn it [the gift card] into cash and they get the cash value for it and they spend it on what they actually need."
- I-TIP: Gift card rules
- 5 tips for gift card giving to avoid fees, expiry dates
- Fees on inactive gift cards banned in Manitoba
The company will be accepting donated cards to help Syrian refugees during the month of January. It converts the cards to cash for the donation.
The cash value of the donated card paid out by CardSwap.ca to the Red Cross varies from 60 to 92 per cent of its face value.
Red Cross aware of campaign
"Yes, the Red Cross does have a relationship with Card Swap," said Diana Coulter, a spokesperson for the Red Cross.
"They approached us and said they wanted to take this approach and perhaps offer people this opportunity to donate to the Syrian refugee fund."
Coulter called the idea unique and welcomed Canadians to support any campaign of their choice for the refugee initative.
Ho estimates up to 1 in 4 gift cards aren't redeemed by those who receive them.
The gift card campaign comes amid news that more than 6,000 of the promised 25,000 Syrian refugees have been settled in Canada to date. Manitoba has been told to expect about 2,000 of the government-sponsored refugees.


text:
New research shows that sugary drinks are a primary cause for many chronic health conditions, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Researchers are suggesting either banning the beverages or placing strongly worded warning labels to educate consumers about the dangers of these drinks.
Simon Capewell, a professor at the University of Liverpool, indicates that adding warning labels is a practical measure that could be accomplished fairly easily.
He suggests that vending machines that provide access to these sugary drinks should also be labeled. He mentioned that California is already considering legislation toward this effect, and the United Kingdom may be soon to follow in their footsteps.
Says Capewell, "A recent BBC survey found that 60% of adults would support health warnings similar to those on cigarette packets on food packaging. Even more, 70%, would support banning sugary drinks in UK schools, or limiting the amount of sugar allowed in certain foods. Because sugar is increasingly being implicated as a specific causal factor for overweight, obesity and heart disease and current UK and US obesity policies are failing to reverse obesity trends,” and this is an important move for health advocates to make.
Capewell explains that there are already warning labels on other dangerous foods and chemicals, including cigarettes, alcohol, pesticides, cleaning products and more, and adding a warning label to sugary drinks may be just as important to public health.
Warning labels for other dangerous things have been an effective way to educate the public, and Capewell feels that this strategy should be used to help control the intake of the sugary drinks that are leading to so many health problems. Calorie control should follow in the patterns used by the tobacco industry to cut the use of tobacco.
Capewell believes that the entire industry may be now finally moving in the right direction, showing increased awareness and a willingness to educate the public about the dangers of soda.
Further research, as well as more education and advocacy are definitely indicated as the world health policy makers move forward in the fight against obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
https://fit.webmd.com/teen/food/slideshow/slideshow-teens-sugar; Image courtesy of Naypong / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


text:
(PRWEB) April 20, 2013
TattoosFactoryOutlet, has recently teamed up with many component suppliers, and launched a site-wide promotion for its professional tattoo kits. Now, all clients can get a discount, up to 35% off, when purchasing their professional tattoo kits online.
The tattoo kits from TattoosFactoryOutlet include tattoo kits, tattoo machines, tattoo needles, tattoo power supplies, tattoo inks, tattoo grips, and more.
“We want to showcase the benefits of our professional tattoo kits to as many clients as possible, so we are selling the kits for only $60. For those who want to buy cheap tattoo kits, they should visit our online store,” says, Mr. Zheng, a spokesman for TattoosFactoryOutlet.
“All our tattoo machines have a good market performance, and these awesome products are also available for purchase. The promotion is launched to show our appreciation to all our customers. Thank you!”
Mr. Zheng points out that low-priced tattoo kits should be popular in the today’s economic atmosphere, and people would not spend a lot of money like before. TattoosFactoryOutlet is proud of the product recognition from customers worldwide and even prouder to be able to grow at a high speed.
Founded in 2008, TattoosFactoryOutlet.com is a well-known tattoo machine manufacturer and wholesaler, offering hundreds of premium quality tattoo supplies. With flexible marketing strategy, trendy styles, and affordable prices, the company has become a leading brand in the tattoo machine industry.
For more details, please visit http://www.tattoosfactoryoutlet.com


text:
INTEL announced last May that it was working on a computer vision software platform: Sonoma Creek. At Intel Innovation 2022 in San Jose, California, the chipmaker introduced its renamed Intel Geti platform and a new version of its OpenVINO toolkit. While simplifying the training of AI models for computer vision, Intel also wants to boost sales of its chips.
Computer vision models use AI to predict and extract valuable information from images or videos. This market is growing rapidly whether in the health sector, transportation, businesses, smart cities, retail… According to Intel, only half of the projects go into production due to high cost, limited resources, siloed work environments and inefficient processes that result in poor quality and unsustainable models.
Intel Geti, a collaborative platform
Members of different teams can work together on a single platform for data collection, data labeling, model selection, training and optimization, and AI model deployment.
Intel Geti trains computer vision models with as few as 20 to 30 photos or a video, using PyTorch and TensorFlow.
The graphical interface allows team members with little or no AI experience to participate in the design of these models: drawing features, annotation wizards or object detection wizards thus simplify drag-and-drop training.
Adam Burns, vice president and director of AI development tools in the Network and Edge (NEX) group at Intel, explains:
“Intel Geti is a computer system vision AI platform that enables anyone in the enterprise to quickly develop AI designs that improve service innovation and digital improvement. We understand the value of AI and computer vision in the enterprise and we also understand the development barriers to adoption.”
A platform already experienced in the healthcare and construction industries
Intel Geti was not announced until late September, but more than 30 Intel partners have participated in the platform’s early access program.
Adam Burns cites the example of the Royal Brompton Hospital in the United Kingdom, where clinicians are using Intel Geti to help with their research into rare respiratory diseases. Without any AI expertise, he says, the Royal Brompton team is able to train AI models as they would a human research team member to analyze research data.
“This solution can help significantly improve early diagnosis and treatment options for patients with severe respiratory diseases like cystic fibrosis.”
The second early use example, also in the UK, given by Adam Burns, is from Sensing Feeling, a visual analytics provider: Intel Geti enabled them to develop a solution to monitor edge analysis and improve safety for construction workers.
“Using the computer vision model created by Intel Geti, their solution can detect when heavy equipment or machinery is in dangerous proximity to other equipment or personnel.”
The OpenVINO toolkit
OpenVINO (Open Visual Inference & Neural Network Optimization) is a toolkit designed to accelerate the development of high-performance computer vision and deep learning inference applications at the edge.
According to Adam Burns, OpenVINO and Intel Geti are complementary technologies addressing different AI modeling needs, he states:
“Enterprise users can download images and quickly create computer vision models with Intel Geti, and then deploy those models using OpenVINO at scale running on Intel hardware. Intel Geti can generate an optimized, ready-to-deploy OpenVINO model at the touch of a button, saving additional optimization steps.”
The company announced version 2022.2 of its OpenVINO toolkit, which supports the Intel GPU Flex Series data center processors launched in late August.
Adam Burns concludes:
“With OpenVINO and now Intel Geti, we have continued to try to make AI accessible to decision makers and developers within the enterprise. Together, these two products enable the rapid development and deployment of computer vision models.”


text:
Electronics giant Sony recently launched its truly wireless earbuds in the Indian market. We observed immense interest around the launch considering that there are the first Sony-branded TWS products to land in India. Now, weeks after the launch, some new information has just surfaced around Sony TWS products. A new report indicates that the company is planning to launch yet another TWS product. Looking closely, it looks like Sony is planning to launch its top-of-the-line TWS, the WF-1000XM3 in India. The India launch of the product comes almost a year after the company launched it on the global stage. Let’s check out the details around the Sony WF-1000XM3 here including features, specifications, and possible pricing. Also Read - Sony WF-XB700 true wireless earphones review: Punchy sound, solid battery life
Sony WF-1000XM3 coming to India; details
According to a report from TechRadar, industry sources revealed that the company is all set to launch the TWS soon. The report also noted that the company is planning to launch the device next month. Others note that the launch may happen in “early August”. The highlight of the device will likely be the Active Noise Canceling (ANC) feature in the TWS form factor. The product comes with a QN1e HD noise-canceling processor to offer the highlighting feature. Taking a look at other interesting features, one can also turn off the noise-canceling with a gesture. Also Read - Epic Games gets $250 million investment from Sony; values the company at $17.86 billion
Watch: OnePlus Nord First Look and Unboxing
The Sony TWS sports 6mm drives in each but to offer a frequency response of 20Hz to 20,000Hz. It also comes with support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa digital voice assistant. Beyond this, buyers will also get surround sound support with an equalizer built-in the Sony app. Also Read - Sony PS4's Horizon Zero Dawn PC release date set for August 7
It also comes with in-ear detection for automatic play and pauses features. The Sony WF-1000XM3 also comes with up to 6 hours of battery backup with ANC on. The charging case can charge the TWS three times from 0 to 100 percent. The company has also added support for fast charging which allows 90-minutes of music playback on a 10-minute charge. The report also noted that the company will likely price the WF-1000XM3 around Rs. 20,000. Others note that it could be below this price marker.


text:
A Drug Enforcement Administration agent intimately involved in the Silk Road investigation admitted on Wednesday he secretly accepted bitcoins from the underground website's operator and illegally took other funds.
Court says NSA can keep collecting phone records... Vandals cut cables again... Leap second largely trouble-free... and more tech news
VMware has settled a lawsuit initiated by a former executive that alleged the company and a partner overcharged the U.S. government for products over a six-year period.
Google has managed to push the resolution of the antitrust case brought against it by the European Commission until after the long summer vacation.
A federal employees union has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, its leadership and a contractor, alleging that their negligence led to a data breach that compromised the personal information of millions of current, form...
The developers of a mobile app called Prized that secretly mined cryptocurrencies on people's mobile phones have settled with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission after being accused of deceptive trade practices.
The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a request from Google to hear a case in which it was accused of infringing Oracle copyrights by using Java in its Android mobile operating system.
Google's favoring of its own services in search results doesn't just harm competitors, it also harms consumers, according to research sponsored by a complainant in the EU antitrust trial against the company.
Google favoring own services may harm consumers... Tech industry hails same-sex marriage ruling... Disney bans selfie sticks... and more tech news
A lawsuit alleging that security software from Avira improperly blocked downloads of a software bundle that presented itself primarily as an Angry Birds-style game has been dismissed.
A former executive vice president at Qualcomm was sentenced Friday to 18 months in prison and fined US$500,000 on charges related to a three-year-long insider trading scheme.
A Dutch court won't take Facebook's word it has deleted data that could identify the person behind a now-deleted pseudonymous account from which a sex tape was posted, and wants the company to allow an independent expert to scour its systems for the ...
A tool to watch regionally restricted video content will no longer be offered in New Zealand, ending a lawsuit that could have clarified the legality of such services in the country.
The creator of a tool that was used to steal data from a half-million computers will go to prison for close to five years, the U.S. Department of Justice said Tuesday.
Most Popular Reviews
- 1 Subaru XV 2017 review
- 2 Samsung 2017 QLED Q7 TV: Full, in-depth review
- 3 Kogan Atlas UltraSlim Pro laptop: full, in-depth review
- 4 Gigabyte Aorus GA-AX370-Gaming 5 AMD Ryzen AM4 motherboard review
- 5 Kogan curved 4K UHD 55-inch LED LCD TV review
Join the Good Gear Guide newsletter!
Latest News Articles
- Logitech's G410 mechanical keyboard is $60 today
- Leaked Microsoft document confirms Windows 10 Cloud and a Chromebook competitor
- Radeon RX 480 owners are transforming their graphics cards into the Radeon RX 580
- EVGA GTX 1080 Ti SC2 review: A ferocious graphics card with a radical cooler
- Why getting the basics right in ITSM is the real advantage for businesses
PCW Evaluation Team
A smarter way to print for busy small business owners, combining speedy printing with scanning and copying, making it easier to produce high quality documents and images at a touch of a button.
I've had a multifunction printer in the office going on 10 years now. It was a neat bit of kit back in the day -- print, copy, scan, fax -- when printing over WiFi felt a bit like magic. It’s seen better days though and an upgrade’s well overdue. This HP OfficeJet Pro 8730 looks like it ticks all the same boxes: print, copy, scan, and fax. (Really? Does anyone fax anything any more? I guess it's good to know the facility’s there, just in case.) Printing over WiFi is more-or- less standard these days.
As a freelance writer who is always on the go, I like my technology to be both efficient and effective so I can do my job well. The HP OfficeJet Pro 8730 Inkjet Printer ticks all the boxes in terms of form factor, performance and user interface.
I’d happily recommend this touchscreen laptop and Windows 10 as a great way to get serious work done at a desk or on the road.
Ultimately, I think the Windows 10 environment is excellent for me as it caters for so many different uses. The inclusion of the Xbox app is also great for when you need some downtime too!
For me, the Xbox Play Anywhere is a great new feature as it allows you to play your current Xbox games with higher resolutions and better graphics without forking out extra cash for another copy. Although available titles are still scarce, but I’m sure it will grow in time.
- Samsung Galaxy S8 phone: full, in-depth review
- Ryzen 5 vs Intel Core i5 CPU Australian review
- Mass Effect Andromeda review: One for the fans
- Which flagship TV is best? Sony 4K HDR Bravia 2016 versus LG 4K HDR OLED 2016
- 10 Blu-ray movies / Best looking Blu-ray movies
- FTSystems Development Assistant Team LeadNSW
- CCPersonal AssistantNSW
- CCProject Scheduler/CoordinatorVIC
- CCTechnical Business Analyst - Infrastructure - VirtualizationNSW
- FTFunctional Security Test Analyst | OWASPVIC
- FTCRM Technical Specialist (Oracle Eloqua)VIC
- FTNetwork EngineerSA
- FTPMO CoordinatorACT
- FTWFM Support Analyst (Kronos)NSW
- TPEOI - Developer/Tester/Software EngineerACT
- FTProject Support AnalystNSW
- TPFull Stack Developer - Cutting-edge technologiesQLD
- FTConsultant - Warehouse/ LogisticsVIC
- CCSenior Business AnalystNSW
- CCTSM SpecialistNSW
- FTPMO And Governance ManagerNSW
- CCAgile CoachNSW
- CCTraining Content and Delivery SpecialistNSW
- FTNetwork Engineer - CCNP - WeipaQLD
- CCETL/BI /Data Stage DeveloperACT
- FTNetwork Consulting ArchitectVIC
- FTWindows EngineerWA
- FTSenior / Lead iOS DeveloperNSW
- CCService Delivery Analyst - Port MacquarieNSW
- CCWindows System EngineerNSW


text:
Kimbrell's President Hank Johnson retires after 42 years
Staff Staff -- Furniture Today, August 2, 2012
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hank Johnson, longtime president of Kimbrell's Furniture Distributors, retired from daily duties July 31 after 42 years with the Top 100 company.
Johnson, who served as president of the 50-store credit-oriented chain for the past 24 years, will continue as a member of the executive committee of Kimbrell's board.
The company is not currently seeking a replacement for the post, but instead is being led by three existing vice presidents, said Ken Corley, Kimbrell's treasurer and secretary. They are Bernis Martin, Ken Thornburg and Michael Wong.
"We have enjoyed relationships with so many throughout the furniture arena who contribute to the success of home furnishings retailers," Johnson said in a release.
"The furniture industry has recently been a very challenging one, and it is rewarding that the Kimbrell's business model has prospered throughout the changing climate."
Johnson added that Kimbrell's has "a tremendously focused team of associates" dedicated to serving its customers and is proud to be celebrating 97 years in business.
"I'm excited about our progress and our future," he said.
Among other things, Johnson is a member of the North Carolina Retail Merchants Assn. He also has been a chairman of the association and a National Home Furnishings Assn. board member.
Charlotte, N.C.-based Kimbrell's is No. 87 on Furniture/Today's Top 100 with estimated furniture, bedding and accessories sales of $52.2 million last year, up 3.6% from the year before.
Most Viewed Articles
FTTV: Frontline Friday From F/T


text:
(Reuters) - Beleaguered hardwood flooring retailer Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc reported a bigger-than-expected drop in quarterly sales as it struggles to cope with falling demand after reports that some of its laminates contained excessive levels of cancer-causing formaldehyde.
The company's stock and sales have been hammered since a "60 Minutes" report on CBS last March reported that the retailer's laminates from China contained excessive levels of formaldehyde.
Shares took a further beating this month after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its report to say people exposed to some types of flooring sold by the company were three times more likely to get cancer than previously estimated.
Lumber Liquidators said on Monday there was a decrease in both the average sale value and in the number of customers it billed in the in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31.
Sales at Lumber Liquidators' stores open more than 12 months fell 17.2 percent in the quarter, much steeper than the 12 percent drop expected by analysts polled by research firm Consensus Metrix.
Net sales fell 13.7 percent to $234.8 million, the third straight quarterly decline in fiscal 2015, and came in below analysts' average estimate of $254.5 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
The company reported a net loss of $19.8 million, or 73 cents per share, in the quarter, compared with a profit of $17.3 million, or 64 cents per share, a year earlier.
Costs jumped in the quarter mainly due to higher legal expenses and a fall in the carrying value of the laminates it sourced from China, which the company decided not to sell.
The company also named Dennis Knowles, a former executive of home improvement chain Lowe's Cos Inc , as its chief operating officer.
(Editing by Savio D'Souza)


text:
Flat World is an e-textbook publisher company that is used by over one million students in 77 countries. Flat World used to have a free on-demand and customizable textbook model, which was heavily favored by students. However, the company had to drop free access to the textbook platform in 2012. The company launched an adaptive learning and mobile model since then. Flat World has raised $9.5 million in funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners with participation from existing investors Valhalla Partners, Tribeca Venture Partners, Penguin Random House Holdings, and Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments.
Tribeca Venture Partners Posts
CommonBond is a Brooklyn based startup that offers loans to MBA students and can help refinance existing debt. CommonBond has raised a round of funding, which includes Vikram Pandit as an investor. Pandit is known for resigning as chief executive of Citigroup last October. Pandit has been keeping a low profile since he departed from Citigroup.
Continue reading →
AppNexus is a company that has a real-time bidding platform that has raised $75 million in funding. The Series D round of funding was led by Technology Crossover Ventures. Investors that participated in this round include Venrock and Tribeca Venture Partners. AppNexus has raised a total of $140.5 million.
NimbleTV is a startup that is working on making it possible to watch live TV from anywhere on any device. NimbleTV competes directly against Aereo, a company that is backed by InterActiveCorp. NimbleTV launched in April 2012 and promised to enable customers to be able to record and stream content from a variety of cable TV channels to their smartphone, PC, tablet, and Internet-connected TV sets. According to a regulatory filing, NimbleTV has raised a $6 million round of which $4 million has already closed. NimbleTV has not publicly launched their service yet. NimbleTV raised funding from the Tribune Company, Greycroft Partners, and Tribeca Venture Partners. NimbleTV will have the same functionality as Slingbox set top boxes and DVR recorders.


text:
Buns on sweets: Northamptonshire pub's National Burger Day charity dish guaranteed to hit the sweet spot
A Northamptonshire pub is hoping to hit customers' sweet spots this National Burger Day this month with a delicious dessert burger on offer as part of the annual celebration of the bunned beauty.
The dessert burger, which is made with a doughnut bun, chocolate brownie patty, set custard, raspberry "ketchup" and sweet polenta chips, is being featured on the menu at 185 Watling St Pub & Kitchen in Towcester.
Ten per cent of every dessert burger sold on National Burger Day next Thursday (August 24) will go to cancer support charity Macmillan, and will kick-start the pub's fundraising for Macmillan’s ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ on Friday, September 29.
Hannah Strudwick, general manager at 185 Watling St Pub & Kitchen, said: “We wanted to do something really different for National Burger Day and the dessert burger offers customers a burger thrill without the grill. It looks and tastes amazing and as well as hitting our diners’ sweet spot it will also help raise money for a great local charity.”
She added: “We can’t wait for customers to try it for themselves as well as the other delicious main course burgers we will have on offer.”
The pub, which was also named the Best Pub in Northamptonshire in the National Pub & Bar Awards 2017, will also be offering 20 per cent off all its burgers on Mr Hyde's National Burger Day, which is now in its fifth year and sees restaurants and pubs across the UK celebrating the menu favourite for the day.
Among main course burger options available at the pub, which has been shortlisted as a national finalist in the Great British Pub Awards 2017, is a prime bavette burger with Black Bomber Cheddar and chorizo jam and courgette rosti burger with mozzarella and carrot relish.
Hannah: “Alongside the burgers we will also be offering a great range of beers, bourbons and milkshakes to compliment the dishes. It is going to be a great day celebrating this menu favourite.”
The pub is also hosting a South African Braai Experience on the same evening of the August 24 from 7pm in honour of manager Hannah’s native homeland. Dishes on offer include Biltong, traditional meats cooked on a braai and South African doughnuts.


text:
Survey brings good news for Samoa tourism
Director of the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute, Professor Simon Milne, says based on Samoa’s visitor survey for 2018, the nation has a lot of be proud of.
Mr. Milne presented the results of 2018’s visitor survey to the tourism sector at Samoa Tourism Authority’s Tourism Forum 2019, held at the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Hotel on Friday.
According to his research, approximately five per cent of visitors were surveyed, and 85 per cent stated they are either ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with their stay in Samoa.
“We can see that Samoa clearly as a destination in the Pacific is perofmring very well, in terms of visitor numbers.
“They are ranking just behind French Polynesia, and obviously behind Fiji in terms of numbers but they have just outripped the Cook Islands.” Mr Milne said.
The international visitor survey (IVS) not only collects data on the numbers of people coming in and out of Samoa, but also details about their characteristics, what they do in Samoa, their satisfaction with their stay, and even how much they spend here.
Thanks to all that information, Mr. Milne and his team were able to say that tourism is still one of the highest earners for Samoa.
The survey calculates how much people spend on their travel, accommodation, site seeing and food to work out a net income for Samoa.
“Not only are we seeing large numbers of visitors to Samoa, those visitors are bringing a significant contribution to Samoa,” Mr Milne said.
Ideally, Samoa could further develop spending opportunities for tourists, such as in the food and culture sectors. The numbers of tourists will continue to grow, and hopefully they will spend more while they are in Samoa too.
“I think it is fair to say there are opportunities to grow visitor spend here in Samoa,” Mr Milne said.
“There are opportunities to increase shopping, to increase the amount spent on tours, to open up more of the cultural and land based activities in addition to the wonderful marine based opportunities that exist.
“If you can get a bit more money out of each kind of visitor then that’s a positive thing.”
That doesn’t mean only targeting wealthy, resort-going tourists, Mr Milne said. A variety of types of travelers sustain a robust and varied tourism sector, which is key to sustainability.
Mr Milne said overall the research shows the community is still onboard with tourism, and visitors report enjoying the warmth and friendliness of the Samoan people. Maintaining that is important going forward, he said.
“The number one thing visitors enjoy about their time here is the friendliness of local people, the fact they are welcoming, genuine, and those things are really vital to protect and cherish as we move forward,” he said.
Tapping into Samoa’s unique cuisine will be one way to continue growing the tourism sector. The sun, sand and sea many tourists want are not unique to Samoa, Mr Milne said.
Samoa can use what it has to keep encouraging visitors to come and spend time and money and experience something they cannot get anywhere else.
“What makes Samoa different is its people, its culture, its way of life. It’s about finding sustainable and appropriate ways to open that up to the visitor and give the visitor more opportunities to benefit from what Samoa has to offer.


text:
National Grocers Association and United Fresh Produce Association Partner on Produce Procurement Efforts
ARLINGTON, VA - Now is the time to help your neighbor as all sectors of the industry work to maintain the strength of the supply chain throughout these challenging times. The National Grocers Association (NGA), a representative of independent supermarkets, and the United Fresh Produce Association have partnered to connect produce distributors to retailers through an innovative strategy.
“The entire food industry has come together incredibly during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, ensuring that Americans across the country have access to affordable and nutritious food,” said Greg Ferrara, NGA President and CEO. “Our collaboration with United Fresh will improve upon what has already been accomplished, keeping independent grocers stocked with fresh produce.”
According to a press release, NGA and United Fresh are connecting produce distributors who can deliver fresh produce and other items with independent supermarkets on a store-to-door basis. The two will work with companies to assess their retail needs, as well as foodservice distribution communities, providing an opportunity for these businesses to network and find solutions.
“The fresh produce industry is committed to continuing to feed America. Foodservice distributors and processors have strong capabilities to deliver product, transportation, and supply chain solutions in these unprecedented times,” said Tom Stenzel, United Fresh President and CEO. “We’re pleased to partner with NGA, working in tandem to get more fresh, healthy produce items in the hands of consumers.”
As we all continue to forge these unprecedented partnerships, AndNowUKnow will keep bringing you the latest news.


text:
Follow us on
Gears of War creator Epic has said that its want to maintain independence may mean it never makes another big single-player epic.
The first game ever made by Grasshopper Manufacture is to be released in the west for the first time.
Microsoft has revealed how much Windows 10 will cost when its free upgrade period ends in July.
Dransfield joins Lick PR as junior account manager, Imagine promotes Josh West and Keywords brings on new chief customer officer
Sony is investing more marketing money in Uncharted 4 than it has with any previous game.
The raging debate over working conditions over working conditions in the development industry has once again reared its head, this time at Kerbal Space Program creator Squad.
Fresh evidence has cropped up suggesting that the Nintendo NX won’t use optical discs and will instead utilise 3DS-style game cards.
The Wii U is finished, say leading games retailers.
In this edition of MCV, we sit down with Angry Birds company Rovio to find out how it plans to re-establish the mobile blockbuster franchise.
The negativity being heaped on the trailer for Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare online is nothing new and nothing to worry about, Activision has said.
Gamers will have a chance to win Uncharted prizes during tonight (Friday, May 6th)’s Gogglebox.
Next Generation eSports and Twitch have partnered in order to produce the Rocket League Championship Series.
Oculus has a new chief operating officer in the form of former Fitbit COO Hans Hartmann.
A smartwatch manufacturer has declared bankruptcy, telling its backers that they are unlikely to ever get their money back.
Atlus has announced the much anticipated release date for its next RPG hit Persona 5.
ESL has announced that ESL One New York will return for its third year, but will now primarily be a Counter-Strike event.
The boss of GameStop has admitted that Wii U has fallen short of both its own expectations and those of its creator Nintendo.
It will take the best part of an entire console lifecycle before virtual reality starts to VR starts to strut its stuff commercially.
The announcement trailer for Activision’s Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare has become the subject of some sort of online anger campaign.
Indie hit Salt and Sanctuary is to be subject to a physical release on PS4, developer Ska Studios has confirmed.
Another Star Wars outing is to emerge from the loins of the EA-Disney video games agreement, this time from Titanfall developer Respawn.
According to the developers, Rocket League wasn’t their first physics-based video game involving cars and soccer balls in a cage. The first version, “Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars”, was released in ...
Zakari 'ZfreeK' Freedman is compLexity Gaming's support player and also CoL captain Kyle 'swindlemelonzz' Freedman's real life brother. Transferring to Dota 2 from Heroes of Newerth along with his brother, ...
During EGLX over the weekend in Toronto, Slingshot contributor Blake Bottrill had the chance to catch up with veteran Halo commentator David “Walshy” Walsh. The former pro player talked about ...


text:
India setting policies towards lesser emissions and safer cars, manufacturers discarding old vehicles.
Indian customers will soon see an end to the production of some of the finest cars the country has seen on its roads. This move will happen over the next two years and is part of the government’s efforts to properly implement safety and BS6 norms.
India is currently on the list of the most polluted countries, with 11 out of 12 cities rated as the worst. The government is aiming to lower greenhouse gas emissions and associated casualties by more than 50 percent. So manufacturers are decommissioning high emission vehicles from their product line.
The list of vehicles to be decommissioned will include Maruti Suzuki Omni, Gypsy, Tata Nano, Fiat Punto and Mahindra e2o. Productions of Hyundai Eon and the Honda Brio have already stopped, stated the respective companies. While the list is only probable, all these cars except Maruti Suzuki Omni have been facing a slack in sales.
Production of the Nano and the e2o is expected to stop by April 2019. The Omni and and the Punto will stop being available after 2020 because the BS6 norms will be fully implemented by then. Some of the other cars which are speculated to end production are Nissan Terrano, Fiat Linea and Volkswagen Ameo unless they are put together with new engines that can meet the BS6 norms. India is trying its best to reduce its emission levels and align itself with the global standard.
Along with keeping the emissions in check, the government is trying to pass laws that compel car manufacturers to offer airbags and ABS as standard safety equipment. India recorded the most road deaths in 2017 at 1,46,000.
While Tata Motors has announced that they will release an official statement before pulling the plug on any car’s production, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has hinted that they will work on improving the existing models to work under BS6 norms rather than completely shutting down production of a model. But it is really a blow for Maruti since the Gypsy and the Omni were two of the favourites in their respective segments.
BS4 Cars Discontinuation
– Government to implement safety and BS6 emission norms by 2020
– Vehicles decommissioned due to low sales, not receiving updates
– Government aiming to cut down emission rates by more than half
Source – EconomicTimes.com


text:
I reported earlier about the Swiss postal service working with Matternet to test the viability of using drones to deliver postal mail. Below is the summary from the latest press release on the subject, direct from the Swiss Post.
Swiss Post, Swiss WorldCargo and Matternet are jointly testing the commercial use of logistics drones. The three companies are investigating specific uses of drone technology and examining the cost-effectiveness of these business ideas. They will be carrying out drone tests in July 2015 for this purpose. The widespread use of drones is not expected within the next five years. The focus is primarily on their use in exceptional cases or the transport of special items.