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It’s been something that Florida State Seminoles football tight end Camren McDonald has been working towards since high school — the chance to capitalize off his success and personhood.
Forward-thinking, the California native had begun to put in the work to build his brand well before the state of Florida or the NCAA made a path for him to generate income. McDonald also took the time to emphasize the importance of establishing a personal brand to his teammates, something that’s been recognized.
“It’s been a long time coming,” McDonald said during a phone interview on Thursday. “When I first started the brand-building process in high school, I wasn’t expecting to be able to profit off it in college.
It’s nice to be able to see the fruits of my labor.”
Before midnight struck last night, McDonald tweeted out a promo announcing the launch of CM Apparel, a merch company of his own that’s partnered with Playbooked (a NIL service) and Boosted (originally formed to assist eSports athletes).
In addition, he (alongside several teammates) have signed up for the McKenzie Milton co-owned platform Dreamfield, which helps business book athletes for sponsorships or events.
It’s an opportunity that McDonald doesn’t take for granted, one that he calls humbling.
“Just look at all the former players in the past, they weren’t able to profit off of their names…and now we can. It just….it means a lot to us.”
Florida State was uniquely situated to deal with this new era of college athletics, having put in the work to educate athletes on financial literacy through the Secure the Bag program with Didier Occident.
“What he’s taught us along the way, for me since my freshman year, is finally going to come to fruition,” he said. “Because of that education, the money we’re going to be getting is going to be spent and saved in the right way.”
One of the ways that McDonald intends to use his profits is to further the social work that he’s made part of his personal brand as much as football. In 2020, after heading home and seeing the effects of the pandemic, he launched a non-profit called To Rise and Progress and intends to use profits from his deals to further that mission.
To Rise and Progress is a 501(c)3 tax exempt non profit organization formerly known as The Making Change Foundation. Our mission statement reads “Through partnerships and the means of the foundation we will attempt to change the lives of as many individuals/families to the best of our ability. Our goal is not to be confined to a specific cause, rather it is to help whoever, whatever, whenever, and wherever. Our work will provide immediate needs for the inhabitants of planet Earth. The ultimate goal is to make the world a better place by any means necessary.”
“A percentage of all the proceeds that I make from NIL is going directly to community service because I was paying for everything out of pocket — not that I was upset or looking for recognition, it was just something I always wanted to do. Now that I’m able to generate some income, I’m going to be able to invest right back into the people that invested in me.”
CM Apparel is just the beginning — something that was ready to launch day one because of the groundwork on McDonald’s part. He’s got his fingers crossed for more opportunities to come into fruition, and in true influencer form, he made sure to say that the news would be dropped on his Twitter account.


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Before gamers began experiencing the problem, the servers had only been up for an hour.
As soon as gamers discovered a peculiar flaw that promptly defeats the game, Rocksteady’s new third-person action shooter Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was taken offline. This occurred barely one hour after the game was released. It is possible that this is the first game-beating glitch, but we have all heard of bugs that break the game. It should come as no surprise that players seek even more than three minutes of gameplay out of their $70 purchase.
In an effort to get to the end credits as quickly as possible, the problem immediately prevents players from participating in any plot missions, including tutorials. It is also impossible to obtain trophies and achievements as a result of this, however the majority of buyers will presumably be preoccupied with the fact that “the game is basically unplayable.” If, on the other hand, you are looking for the easiest setting that can trump all other easy modes, then this is it. It would have been possible for us to leverage this problem for either Cuphead or Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
In this case, there is a significant obstacle that prevents this from developing into a massive story that is analogous to the disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2099 and many other AAA debuts that have occurred in recent times. Officially, the game will not be available for purchase in the majority of the world until February 2nd. Tomorrow, January 30, it will be distributed to certain territories, and this is where the bug will be found. As a result of the time zone differences that exist around the world, it is already the 30th of January in New Zealand, which is where the players experienced the problem. However, if you want to get your hands on the game before it’s released, you can easily adjust the clock on your Xbox system to New Zealand time. Do not act in that manner. Rocksteady needs some time to figure out how to fix the issue.
In light of this, the developer has stated that they are now working on a solution, which will include administering maintenance to the servers. According to Rocksteady, who writes that it could take “several hours” before it is addressed, patience is strongly encouraged. For the duration of this period, the game will not be accessible online. Whatever the case may be, the ship ought to be able to correct itself by February 2?
Searching for a bright side to things? Due to the fact that the glitch skips the overwhelming bulk of the game, there is a tremendously minimal chance that there will be any story spoilers in the coming days. Have a crack at it. You should visit the social media sites and discussion boards that you enjoy the most.

domain: news


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GREENSBORO, N.C. — Volvo says its engines are now available with a new feature that lowers NOx emissions to levels acceptable in California.
Volvo’s D11, D13 and D16 engines can now be spec’d with an optional Low NOx Idle (LNI) feature which allows customers to idle indefinitely in California and still comply with emissions standards. With the option, Volvo’s engines will emit less than 30 grams/hr of NOx while idling, the company says.
Engines that aren’t equipped with the option must not idle in California for any longer than five minutes. The restriction is also in place in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and other states are also looking at adopting the rule.
“As part of our environmental core value, Volvo has always promoted turning the engine off when a truck is not in use to reduce emissions and to conserve fuel,” said Matt Kelly, Volvo’s executive director – marketing. “However, it may be necessary to idle the engine while parked for a prolonged period in order to provide a comfortable environment to the driver who may be resting in the truck, such as during particularly hot or cold weather.”
The option allows the Volvo engines to idle at a low 700 RPM and it also employs a low level of exhaust gas recirculation, which reduces the fuel consumed at idle, lowering NOx emissions. The company says the option also provides a faster engine warm-up so the truck can be driven sooner after a cold start.
Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry. All posts by Truck News


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Yesterday, SM reported that US suppliers trading in China fear losing business as a result of a proposed new procurement rule which would favour domestic vendors.
Under the “indigenous innovation product accreditation” system, public sector buyers would give preference to products developed in China – where China owns the intellectual property. The trademark of the product must also be registered in the country.
According to the research conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in the People’s Republic of China (AmCham-China), 57 per cent of its 2,600 member companies expect to lose out as a result of the rule.
However, it was only a little over a month ago that the US finally surrendered to pressure and granted its Canadian neighbours exemption from its own “Buy American” provision, which had required US states and municipalities to only purchase US-produced goods.
It seems while America is happy to write so-called “protectionist” policies into its own procurement law to bolster domestic trade, it doesn’t like being on the other side of limited market participation. In this case, though, the US is not alone in fighting the plans, which have raised serious concerns globally. It will be interesting to see how this international spat pans out.


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Will the Jaguar XJ Go Electric?
Next-gen model will rival the Tesla Model S, report claims
The Jaguar XJ competes with the BMW 7 Series and the leader of large luxury sedans, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. But when it enters its next generation, Jaguar will position it against the Tesla Model S as an electric car, a new report claims.
According to Autocar, the next-generation Jaguar XJ will also keep its saloon look but will switch to a five-door layout. The report says that the design team has completed work on the new electric car, which will launch at the end of this year before going on sale in 2019. The model will reportedly debut a new design language that will reverberate through the Jaguar brand.
The XJ is said to receive a new aluminum architecture. Its drivetrain is expected to deliver high performance as well as a range of more than 300 miles. At this time, Jaguar is not pursuing a hybrid option.
In a statement to Motor Trend, Jaguar said, "We can't comment, confirm or deny any future product plans." But if the report is true, an electric powertrain could help the XJ stand out in a segment with strong competitors but slowing demand. It can also help Jaguar more firmly establish itself as a maker of electric cars, and that could benefit the brand in the long term.
Jaguar will introduce the I-Pace, its first electric car, this March. The model will have a significant technology transfer with the XJ, Autocar points out.
Back in September, design chief Ian Callum told the publication that the XJ should remain the brand's flagship instead of an SUV. He also noted saloons need a makeover in a new era of electrification and amid the rising popularity of SUVs, without making specific reference to the XJ. Jaguar will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the XJ this year.
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Dubai: Tech-savvy shoppers and retailers are gearing up for true spring fever when the first Gitex Shopper Spring 2013 opens doors from April 3-6 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
A bi-annual Gitex Shopper provides an additional platform for retailers to showcase the very latest in consumer electronics, especially as the rate of technology adoption among residents in the GCC region is exceptionally high and consumers expect to keep abreast of the latest trends.
“The spring edition is especially timely as it falls during the school holidays when we see an influx of regional tourists, with their families, who seek out the latest consumer electronics in Dubai,” Hemesh Chandavarkar, Director - Consumer Cluster, Exhibitions and Events Management at Dubai World Trade Centre, told Gulf News.
He said it is a chance for consumers to snap up great bargains on the latest electronic products and gadgets. All the major power retailers are present with substantially larger stands to provide more choice of products, more convenience and an all-round dynamic shopping experience. This is definitely an event that is not to be missed.
The region’s power retailers that have confirmed their participation include E-Max, E-City, Jacky’s Electronics, Jumbo Electronics and Sharaf DG. More than 20,000 sq. metres of exhibition floor space has been secured by retailers.
“Our experience in earlier years at Gitex Shopper has shown that the exhibition attracts visitors not only within the UAE but also from across the Gulf. Dubai is one of the world’s top 10 city tourist destinations and it welcomes more than 10 million visitors from different countries across the globe,” Chandavarkar said.
The fact that the Spring edition takes place during the school holidays adds another dimension to the show, he said, and added that allowing exhibitors to include family-focused activities on their stands, and showcase tech products that add to the learning and education of the younger, and increasingly tech-savvy generation.
Due to school holidays in Saudi Arabia, retailers expect to see several customers from Saudi Arabia at this event.
“The timing is ideal given that there is no big event between DSF & DSS and this shopper does cover the gap,” Niranjan Gidwani, Deputy CEO of Eros Group, said.
“Given that the spring edition is only four days long as against the eight days of the main Gitex, it would be unfair to make that comparison. We expect a healthy growth in April versus last April. We are looking for a growth of up to 50 per cent over last year,” Gidwani said.
According to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) report, sales of consumer electronics in the UAE are predicted to rise to Dh14.58 billion by 2015 compared to Dh11.53 billion in 2011. The UAE’s consumer electronics market is set for strong growth with demand for goods and appliances likely to remain robust, the DCCI report stated.
“With the life cycle of most products shrinking and buying happening more at the time of product launches, it was becoming apparent that not all our customers were prepared to wait till October each year to shop. Hence the introduction of a second event made sense. In other matured markets like Singapore, for example, you in fact see similar events take place four times a year,” Ashish Panjabi, Chief Operating Officer at Jacky’s Electronics, said.
As this event comes at a time when many manufacturers transition between line-ups, “we can expect many clearance or end of life offers at this event,” he said.
What to expect
• Windows 8 products will be available at the Shopper for the first time this year.
• Consumers can find cameras and TV sets with the latest 4K technology delivering four times the resolution of HD.
• Computer devices controlled by voice, touch and even eye movements.
• Host of health and fitness devices to track physical activity, calories burned, food consumed and sleeps patterns.
• Interconnectivity is another big theme at the show as homes get even smarter.
• BlackBerry Z10, Samsung Galaxy S3, iPhone 5 and Nokia Lumia will be the star attractions in the smartphone category.
• There are high expectations that iPad Mini will attract a big attention.
• Smart TVs are also expected to be among the most sought-after products, especially the larger-sized screens of 46-inches or more.
• High demand expected in tablets, smartphones, digital cameras, LED and LCD panels, among other gadgets.


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Here’s the list of top selling NASCAR diecast cars for the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series season
Just ahead of the holiday, Lionel has released the top selling NASCAR diecast list of 2017.
Dale Earnhardt Jr has swept the list. He’s not only all 3 of the top 3, he has 6 cars in the top 10.
Chase Elliott took 2 spots on the list. Meaning, Hendrick Motorsports took 8 spots in the top 10. View the full list below.
The 2017 top 10 best-selling cars:
1.Dale Earnhardt Jr. Axalta/Last Ride Chevrolet SS
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Nationwide Darlington Chevrolet SS
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Nationwide Chevrolet SS
4. Chase Elliott NAPA Chevrolet SS
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Axalta/Ducks Unlimited Chevrolet SS
6. Ryan Blaney Motorcraft/Pocono win Ford Fusion
7. Kyle Busch M&M’s Caramel/Bristol Win Toyota Camry
8. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Axalta Chevrolet SS
9. Chase Elliott Hooters Chevrolet SS
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Mountain Dew/Talladega raced version Chevrolet SS


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Crayons to Classrooms is the free store designed for teachers who work at under-funded schools that serve Dayton. Our Make a Difference readers have been contributing school supplies to the organization for many years.
In partnership with local businesses, individual donors and community volunteers, Crayons to Classrooms (C2C) seeks to close the opportunity gap by securing and distributing supplies at no cost to teachers of students in need. The organization currently serves over 2,000 teachers at 122 schools where 60 percent or more of the students participate in the National School Lunch Program.
Since opening in 2009, C2C has distributed over $30 million school supplies.
In the summer of 2021, we learned the group was losing 7,000 square feet of previously donated warehouse space and was in desperate need of an additional facility. “Having a second warehouse allows us to continue to accept product we might not have space for otherwise,” explains Dave Hargrove, Operations Manager. “The vast majority of our core items are all consumables. Students continue to use them, so the need is always there.”
The happy news is that the non-profit recently secured an additional 9,000 square feet of warehouse space and is now eager to fill this new space with donated supplies from its Stuff the Bus back-to-school supply drive. C2C needs help filling the warehouse in order to stock shelves in the fall with core school supplies, cleaning products, classroom decorations and more. The organization is calling on other organizations, faith groups, neighborhoods and individuals to host supply drives to collect needed products.
“Supply drives assist us in building our inventory to support teachers, not just at back-to-school time, but throughout the year,” says director of development Amy Koop. “During the 2022-23 school year, we distributed more than $2.5 million in resources. When you think about it, that’s a lot of pencils, notebooks and other supplies. This wouldn’t be possible without support from the local community.”
Your support of Stuff the Bus will help prepare 50,000 students and their teachers in our region for the upcoming school year.
Here’s what they need most:
- Colored pencils
- Dry erase markers
- Glue/glue sticks
- 70-ct. spiral one subject notebooks
- Pencil sharpeners
- Children’s scissors
Donations can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays at the Crayons to Classrooms store located on 1750 Woodman Drive, to the left of the Goodwill Outlet store. You’re asked to schedule a donation drop-off time by emailing Dave Hargrove at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Although Stuff the Bus campaign officially runs from July 1-August 31, C2C accepts donations year-round in order to keep the store stocked for Miami Valley teachers.
Other ways to help:
- Groups and individuals can get involved by hosting a virtual or traditional supply drive. Virtual supply drives can be created online through the support page: https://p2p.onecause.com/2023-stuffthebus. Information about hosting a traditional supply drive can be found in C2C’s Stuff the Bus Coordinator Toolkit. Supply drives can be held anytime through August 31.
- The organization has both remote and in-person volunteer opportunities. In the store, you might work as a shopping assistant, data entry volunteer or create Classroom Solutions products such as die-cut shapes or sentence strips. Volunteer projects that can be done from your home or office include assembling journals for students and sewing pocket hugs. For more information about Crayons to Classrooms’ volunteer opportunities, visit https://www.crayonstoclassrooms.org/volunteers/.
- Crayons to Classrooms will be on air with Dayton 24/7 Now from July 24-28. The bus will be parked at the station all week (2245 Corporate Place) and you can drop off donations there as well.
- Learn more about Crayons to Classrooms’ mission and how to get involved by visiting www.crayonstoclassrooms.org.
Are you a teacher?
Teachers who are interested in shopping in the free Teacher Resource Center can visit the website to see if their school is on the eligible schools list: https://www.crayonstoclassrooms.org/teachers/eligible-schools/. If your school is not on that list, you may be able to participate in the Volunteer to Shop program (VTS).
For more information: visit https://www.crayonstoclassrooms.org/teachers/volunteer-to-shop/. Teachers and volunteers can contact Program Manager, Carlye Rausch, at email@example.com with any questions.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Meredith Moss writes about Dayton-area nonprofit organizations and their specific needs. If your group has a wish list it would like to share with our readers, contact Meredith: firstname.lastname@example.org.
Please include a daytime phone number and a photo that reflects your group’s mission.


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On Friday, Citizens for Corporate Accountability (CCA) delivered a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos demanding his corporation stop using the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) “hate group” list. On Thursday, CCA bought a full-page ad in the Montgomery Advertiser, the newspaper in Montgomery, Ala., where the SPLC is based, demanding the far-left smear factory withdraw its “hate map” and submit to a truly independent investigation.
The SPLC gained its reputation by taking the Ku Klux Klan to court, but in recent decades it has used its “hate group” list to smear mainstream conservative and Christian organizations, listing them along with the KKK. Shamefully, news outlets, social media companies, and major corporations have taken the “hate group” list as gospel.
Amazon has been one of the worst offenders. The website runs a charity donation program called Amazon Smile, and it has excluded conservative and Christian groups from the program based on their presence on the SPLC list. D. James Kennedy Ministries sued the SPLC and Amazon in response. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a prominent Christian law firm, was also excluded, despite the fact that its ideological opponents at ACLU and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation have insisted ADF is not a “hate group.”
“It is regrettable that Amazon has played a part in this corrupt speech suppression effort by using the SPLC’s lists in the Amazon Smile program,” CCA Executive Director Brian Glicklich told PJ Media in a statement. “Today, however, there is no legitimate reason for Amazon to continue its reliance on this fraudulent and fatally flawed product.”
“We request and require that Amazon immediately terminate use of SPLC’s ‘hate group’ list and associated materials in determining eligibility for the Amazon Smile program,” Glicklich said.
The letter, sent to Bezos and Amazon Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Affairs Jay Carney, demanded that Amazon drop the “hate group” list and “publicly renounce” it.
“The ‘hate group’ list falsely purports to identify dangerous organizations promoting hate and violence, and Amazon has acceded to the demands of SPLC that Amazon terminate participation of named organizations in the Amazon Smile program,” the letter states. “However, this list mixes together racist and violent organizations like the Ku Klux Klan with those that simply espouse mainstream political and social views with which the SPLC and apparently many of its donors disagree. For this reason, the list is permanently compromised, and cannot be relied upon for business decisions by Amazon or any other organization.”
The letter also mentions the far-left smear factory’s debilitating racism and sexism scandal. In recent weeks, the SPLC fired its co-founder, Morris Dees, President Richard Cohen stepped down, and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson removed herself from the Board of Directors. Tina Tchen, Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff and a lawyer who attempted to help Jussie Smollett’s hate hoax, is leading an internal investigation. Conservatives have decried the choice of Tchen, due to her liberal connections.
Mainstream media outlets have covered the organization’s corruption, and two exposes have revealed the “hate group” list to be a crass marketing ploy.
“Numerous employees and journalists have reported that the SPLC’s so-called ‘hate group’ list is not a principled database, but rather a highly successful and cynical fundraising tool,” the CCA letter reads. “Former employees have described in great detail how the now-terminated SPLC founder developed the list to generate large donations from ‘gullible northern liberals.'”
Current Affairs Editor Nathan J. Robinson slammed the “hate map” as an “outright fraud,” a “willful deception designed to scare older liberals into writing checks to the SPLC.”
The “hate group” list has numerous problems. First, the group defames mainstream conservative and Christian groups that are not hateful at all. The list also inflates numbers by counting each chapter of an organization as a separate “group.” In addition, as Robinson pointed out, some of the “groups” are defunct, have only one person, or may just be a blog. A PJ Media analysis found that the “hate group” list inflates the numbers at least three times over.
The CCA letter denounces an “insidious conspiracy – that the ‘hate group’ list is a deceptive ongoing direct mail pitch designed to raise millions by sowing fear, division, and hate in American life.”
Given all this, Amazon should immediately drop the “hate group” list and publicly denounce it.
“We believe that the moral bankruptcy of the SPLC and its politically-motivated ‘hate group’ list is so clear, convincing, and well reported that no further detail is required in this letter,” the letter reads. “If you do not respond favorably, please know that we will ask Amazon shareholders, employees, and vendors, and the general public, for their support, with the intention of running a public information campaign.”
CCA gave Amazon ten business days from the date of the letter to respond.
This letter to Amazon is the first in a series of pressure campaigns CCA will launch against the SPLC’s corporate supporters.
In the Montgomery Advertiser ad, CCA called on the SPLC to take two concrete actions to redeem itself.
“We demand that the SPLC appoint a truly independent public ombudsman to investigate financial and employment improprieties, and report directly to the donor public without censorship. Your appointment of Tina Tchen, with no public accountability, does not fulfill this role,” the ad declared.
“We demand that the SPLC withdraw its so-called ‘hate map,’ which has been exposed by insiders as little more than a cynical fundraising tool. The SPLC must stop sowing the divisions it claims to cure.”
Speaking about the ad, Glicklich emphasized the news reports in a statement to PJ Media Thursday.
“Given the number of articles and depth of detail about SPLC’s actions, CCA cannot imagine any public corporation will not want to distance themselves from SPLC immediately,” he said. “Politics belong in the political arena, and public companies should not stand on the throats of benign social and religious organizations to help SPLC raise more money. ”
The SPLC faces many defamation lawsuits regarding the “hate group” list — and these came before the list was revealed to be a cynical fundraising ploy.
After the SPLC defamed Muslim reformer Maajid Nawaz as an “anti-Muslim extremist,” Nawaz sued and the SPLC settled for $3.375 million. About 60 organizations started considering lawsuits of their own.
Last December, Baltimore lawyer Glen Keith Allen filed a mammoth lawsuit against the far-left smear factory. Last month, the SPLC hired a high-powered lawyer to defend itself from Allen’s suit, suggesting it takes this attack very seriously. The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), one of the organizations that signed on to the letter, is suing for wire fraud under RICO. Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes is also suing for defamation. The American Freedom Law Center (AFLC) sued the Michigan Department of Civil Rights after the department announced investigations into SPLC-designated “hate groups.”
This week, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) demanded an IRS investigation into the SPLC’s tax-exempt status.
The SPLC’s last few weeks have been hectic, but the storm is still brewing. Amazon had better get out before the scandal gets any worse.
Follow Tyler O’Neil, the author of this article, on Twitter at @Tyler2ONeil.


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UPDATE: After correspondence with Lukasz Kukawski, the PR Guy over at GoG who has stated the following:
“We’ve not detected anything that would seem like a breach of data on our end – but we are aware of the reports and we are monitoring the situation.
As for what you can do, drop by https://haveibeenpwned.com to see if your credentials have ever been compromised (keep in mind that list is not all-encompasing, but it’s a great pointer).
If you are compromised make sure to change your password. Definitely have a unique password for your email account, and keep 2-step on. As long as you’re the only one with access to your email account, 2-step is just about impenetrable.”
There are an increased number of reports coming in from the official forums of GoG (formerly Good Old Games) that suggests a GoG password leak has occurred, we highly recommend you enable 2-Factor Authentication if you haven’t already and change your password.
GoG is a popular online video games store that is better known for selling retro games at some truly delectable prices, the service has been known to have its security faults as in 2015 and in-between there have been incidents of hackers intruding into many customers accounts.
This time around, there are increase in the number of reports coming in that suggest a leak that is allowing a lot of users passwords to be reset from various parts of Brazil.
You can see the first page of the official forum discussing this and how the pages go on to show the number of occurrences is something that suggest that this isn’t just an isolated incident.
No official Statement on Gog Leak:
While the attack seems to be at its infancy since GoG themselves haven’t released a statement yet, it is highly advised that if you are an active purchaser on the site, you immediately take the appropriate measures to safeguard your account.
There is no news yet on the severity of the breach, we are very sure that it is enough to allow users in Brazil to change passwords, meaning the passwords were stored in plain text.
While this is still a rumor, the official forums and other places are also reporting a rise in login incidents from various locations, that are most commonly from Brazil, so it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?
We will update the story when we have an official statement from GoG, but until then we highly advise you protect your account with the appropriate measures to ensure you don’t have to go through customer support to restore access to your account.
If you are a GoG customer or have been affected by the breach, let us know in the comments section below!


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id: Rage due in 2011
The creative director of Rage, Tim Willits, has admitted in an interview that Rage will not be out in 2010.
Willits told VG247 that Rage is not even at alpha yet although it is close.
Willits said: "We're working very hard and we're getting close to that. But it's important that we get this right. There's nothing worse than pushing something out before it's ready."
The developer continues: "And the great thing about Bethesda and Zenimax is [that] the executive management has the faith in us to give us the resource that we need to do the right game. Because, trust me, it would be horrible if we were to release it and it was bad."
- Riot Games in talks with European ISPs over building a dedicated League Of Legends network
- New 2-on-2 mode lands in Destiny's Crucible
- Second Life Is Strange developer diaries arrives, Reddit AMA planned for next week
- Destiny's Crota's End Raid beaten in 27 minutes on Hard Mode
- Techland to show off Dying Light's asymmetric multiplayer Be A Zombie mode tomorrow
- You won't need a new graphics card in order to use DirectX 12
- Dying Light physical launch outside North America coming end of February with free DLC for all
- Telltale's Game Of Thrones Episode 2 coming at the beginning of next month
- Sony unveils special edition Bloodborne PS4s for Japan


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February 16, 2022
Flippy 2 units to remove kitchen ‘pain points’
White Castle, the iconic U.S. fast food chain known for its slider-size hamburgers, is planning to deploy robotic fry stations at 100 of its standalone stores.
The chain is expanding its partnership with Miso Robotics, a startup developing autonomous kitchen assistants, to install Flippy 2 units that perform food preparation tasks such as frying and grilling. The units start at around $3,000 a month.
By taking over the work of an entire fry station, Flippy 2 “alleviates the pain points that come with back-of-house roles at quick-service restaurants” and allows staff to be redeployed across other parts of the business, Miso said.
Flippy 2 also contains an AutoBin system, for sorting lower-volume and specialty foods such as onion rings or chicken tenders. Each ‘bin’ can hold as much as a full fry basket and is fully customizable.
The companies have been working together since September 2020, with the partnership thrusting Miso into the public eye. The startup would go on to raise $60 million and is aiming for an additional $40 million in its recently opened Series D round.
Apart from White Castle, Miso has partnered with Inspire Brands, the holding company behind Arby's, Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins, to test its units. It is also working with beverage dispenser manufacturer Lancer Worldwide to develop automated soda machines.
The startup has lofty goals – with CEO Mike Bell revealing to AI Business that the startup may eventually consider doing an IPO, “but only when the time is right.”
Buck Jordan, the company’s president, told AI Business last May that it is planning to take its kitchen bots to markets outside the U.S. to places including the U.K., Canada and Australia.
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A new study has revealed that eating pasta as part of a low-glycemic index diet can result in modest weight loss, compared with consumption of a higher-glycemic index diet.
Low-glycemic index foods are those that do not cause spikes in blood sugar levels and include oatmeal, beans, nuts and most fruits. Higher GI foods include white bread, crackers, cookies, and other foods containing refined carbohydrates, WebMD reported.
Although pasta is a refined carbohydrate, it has a low glycemic index, according to study author Laura Chiavaroli, PhD, from the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Chiavoaroli wrote that foods with a lower GI tend to be more filling, delaying hunger and additional eating.
Published April 2 in BMJ Open, the study reviewed 32 separate studies involving 2,448 adults that analyzed the effect of pasta on global and regional measures of body fat in the context of a low-GI diet.
Study participants who ate pasta lost approximately 1½ pounds over 12 weeks, compared with those who followed diets with higher-GI foods, the study found.
Participants experienced a similar pattern of weight loss over 24 weeks. “This finding is of particular relevance since many dietary studies are successful in demonstrating weight loss in the short term but not over the long term,” the authors wrote.
The study authors acknowledged that pasta can vary widely in its ingredients and processing. Even so, pasta had a significantly lower GI than white bread. The study also indicated that pasta’s GI is similar to other fiber-rich carbohydrates such as steel-cut oats, and its GI is lower than more commonly eaten foods such as breakfast cereals and skin-on potatoes. The authors noted that most people eat pasta produced with white wheat.
Elena Philippou, PhD, assistant professor of nutrition-dietetics at the University of Nicosia, Cyprus, agreed with the study’s conclusion, according to Medscape Medical News.
Philippou said that eating pasta as part of a low GI-diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, may cause you to feel fuller, and it may have good effects on blood sugar. “Of course, it’s important that the general public understands that this doesn’t mean that one can eat as much pasta as they want and they will not gain weight.”
Philippou added, “Neither does it mean that they can serve pasta in cream and not gain weight either. Everything in moderation and as part of a healthy low-GI diet plan.”


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I welcome Tyler, our new Product Reviewer to the Simple Home Cinema team.
Plug Dirac Live USB Mic Directly into Denon or Marantz AVR
Dirac Live will allow you to plug the UMIK-1 USB calibration microphone directly into the AVR, if you so wish, as opposed to the laptop or PC that Dirac Live is running on. As far as I understand, this is a first for Dirac Live! UPDATE: This original news article went out based on communications... Continue Reading →
Audyssey is Officially Launching MultEQ-X Pro
MultEQ-X Pro is a software package that's available for A/V businesses and installers, as opposed to MultEQ-X that is consumer-oriented. While MultEQ-X Pro has been around for 6 months or so, if you new who to email to request access, Audyssey is officially launching the program across the board today, 14 March 2023. The following... Continue Reading →
Marantz AMP 10 “Warm Sounding”
Audioholics reports that the HDAMs in the AMP 10 are there to make the amp "warm sounding".
Dirac Live Sale (Extended to 4 Dec)
We are a little late with this, but if you go to Dirac’s Facebook page, you’ll see that they have had Black Friday sales which have now been extended to 4th Dec 2022. One of our readers brought this to our attention - thank you! The sale allows you to get 30% OFF any of... Continue Reading →
Audyssey Black Friday Sale
Audyssey Black Friday Sale has started!
Audyssey Launches MultEQ-X Pro for Installers
Audyssey has sent out an email to installers a few days ago detailing a new licensing model for them. The new licensing offers a better cost structure for those who calibrate many receivers in their line of work. It requires the purchase of at least 5 licenses and comes with more discount, the more licenses... Continue Reading →
Dirac Live Coming to Denon and Marantz AVRs
Sound United (now operating under its new parent company, Masimo) decided to do the unthinkable: implement Dirac Live in addition to Audyssey in their latest crop of Denon and Marantz receivers.
Audyssey MultEQ-X Version 1.1 Out Now
Audyssey has released v1.1 of MultEQ-X along with new hardware. I cover what's new!
News: Audyssey Pro is Coming Back!
Audyssey is working on Pro installation software for PCs that will allow the use of a higher-quality microphone, more microphone positions and more configuration options than currently available. Find out more.


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“It’s an honor to be recognized for sharing a meaningful, business-focused message that reflects everything we value in Oroville,” said Sandy Linville, President and CEO of Oroville Economic Alliance and the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Oroville, CA February 13, 2018
The Northern California city that received national attention in February 2017 following serious damage to the Oroville Dam now has a reason to celebrate: the Oroville Economic Alliance recently garnered notice from the International MarCom Awards with a three-part video series that won a Gold Award for excellence in messaging and production quality. The video series, which is available to view on the Oroville Economic Alliance YouTube channel, was developed to share real success stories from thriving businesses throughout Butte County. The City of Oroville, which has positioned itself as “California’s Business Oasis,” aims to attract the attention of companies looking to expand or relocate to a business-friendly area of the golden state.
“It’s an honor to be recognized for sharing a meaningful, business-focused message that reflects everything we value in Oroville,” said Sandy Linville, President and CEO of Oroville Economic Alliance and the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce. “As we work to counteract the negative impact that last year’s emergency had on public perception of our area, these videos are helping us tell our story in an authentic way that explores the features and characteristics of our community that matter to businesses looking for a new home.”
TWEET THIS: International @MarCom_Awards recognizes @CABizOasis with #Gold Award for three-part video series depicting business owners’ testimonials about doing business in California’s #Business Oasis. http://bit.ly/OEABusinessVideos
The Oroville Economic Alliance is a coalition of business advocates and local agencies promoting economic development in Oroville and all of Butte County. The area is home to more than 220,000 people and lies in close proximity to many of Northern California’s most prosperous regions. The organization promotes initiatives aimed at streamlining the process by which new businesses enter and take root within the local economy, while also emphasizing the availability of skilled labor and abundant, affordable land.
The MarCom Awards is an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement in marketing and communications. The awards process is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, an international organization that consists of several thousand creative professionals. This year’s competition received more than 6,500 entries from 19 countries. Approximately 24 percent of MarCom entrants received a Gold Award for exceeding high industry standards.
To learn more about the Oroville Economic Alliance and view the videos, visit CABusinessOasis.org.
About Oroville Economic Alliance
Oroville Economic Alliance is a private and public-sector coalition united in its goal—and passion—for bringing business from across the country and around the world to Oroville and Butte County. Known as “California’s Business Oasis,” Oroville is unique for its business-friendly combination of abundant affordable acreage, ready workforce, strategic location, and lowest-priced, highest-quality water in the nation. Participating members of the alliance include South Feather Water & Power Agency, Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce, City of Oroville, Butte County and Oroville Economic Development Corporation. For more information, visit CABusinessOasis.org.


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Miss Texas R’Bonney Gabriel made history this week as the first Filipina American to be crowned Miss USA.
Gabriel, a 28-year-old fashion designer of San Antonio, Texas, will go on to represent the U.S. next year at the Miss Universe pageant. Gabriel said she designed her dress to pay tribute to her heritage and parents.
“My mom is from Beaumont, Texas, and my father is from the Philippines,” Gabriel wrote in an Instagram post. “They got married in Manila, Philippines. I hand-painted the same flower design from my mother’s wedding dress onto my sleeves and tied in a traditional Maria Clara Filipina collar shape. I have immense gratitude for the [opportunities] my parents provided me and wanted to express my love to them through this.”
Her win coincides with Filipino American History Month, which started in October.
“Oh my God, it’s an honor,” Gabriel said. “I’m getting messages on Instagram and just social media of Filipina girls and women telling me they’re so excited, they’re so happy.”
“They’re crying tears of joy because they are inspired to go after pageantry or something,” she said. “Like I’m paving the way for them to just go after whatever they want no matter what it is. So it’s an honor.”
Gabriel graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in fashion design. Her historic win comes after Macel Wilson of Honolulu, Hawaii, became the first Asian American to win Miss USA in 1962.


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cargo-partner expands air cargo charter capacity
24 / 01 / 2022
By Damian Brett
Copyright: Miran Kambic. Source: cargo-partner
Logistics firm cargo-partner has added extra airfreight charter capacity from Europe to the US as it looks to meet a “tense market situation”.
The company will offer a weekly “part load” connection from Vienna to Chicago O’Hare on top of existing connections between Asia and Europe.
“Airfreight is currently experiencing another boom – not only because of capacity constraints in airfreight, but also due to an increasing shift from sea transport to airfreight,” the company said.
“This trend has been intensified by a number of factors, and congestions at ports in Europe, America and Asia have also accelerated this development.
“Demand for reliable airfreight solutions is on the rise, particularly in the automotive, high-tech and retail sectors.”
The company said that Vienna Airport can serve as a hub for central and eastern Europe, while Chicago is a “strategic starting point for distribution in the Midwestern US”.
Cargo-partner also operates its own warehouses at both locations.
The company has also been providing regular cargo charter flights from Hong Kong to Budapest since spring 2020 with three weekly departures, as well as flights twice a week from Budapest to Zhengzhou and back.
In addition, it offers weekly flights from Frankfurt to Zhengzhou and Zhengzhou to Cologne form part of this programme.
“These charter services have been set up as a long-term program to provide continuity,” the company said.


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Posts filtered on Category
Wednesday marks the start of the annual International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and, as is the recent norm, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will kick things off with the opening keynote.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is scheduled to open the International Consumer Electronics Show … again.
Hewlett-Packard posted this exhilarating (sarcasm) video showing off its Apple tablet-killing (sarcasm) Slate that’s had so much hype (sarcasm) since Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer presented it at CES.
Every once and a while I feel the need to post one of 1938media’s videos spoofing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. This one is a recap of his keynote address Jan. 7 at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
It like something straight out of “Minority Report,” the 2002 Stephen Spielberg movie that introduced to us so many futuristic computing concepts. At least the Intelligent Digital Signage that Intel showed off at CES last week doesn’t scan your retinas.
It’s been more than a dozen years since the introduction of OnStar, the automotive communications hook-up from General Motors. It’s been six years since Microsoft and Fiat forged a partnership that eventually spawned Blue&Me, the first major in-car “infotainment” system focusing beyond safety and emergency response, and nearly four years since the product was released. Ford Sync, also built on top of Windows Embedded Auto, debuted the next year – in 2007 – and last week saw the unveiling …
Aaron Greenberg, a long-time spokesman for Microsoft’s Xbox team, gave TechFlash’s Todd Bishop an answer to the question we’ve all kinda-sorta wondered since summer: Will Project Natal be called “Project Natal”?
Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty ImagesA Microsoft representative, left, explains the features of a Windows Mobile smartphone to attendees Friday at the Microsoft booth at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. | Photo gallery Previous: View gallery of CES 2010 – Day 1 (Thursday) View gallery of CES 2010 – Day 0 (Wednesday)
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer loves talking about the “natural user interface,” the development of which Microsoft hopes to accelerate with the release of Project Natal this year for Xbox 360. After writing Wednesday about Microsoft’s work in health, education and the environment, Ballmer wrote another guest column for The Huffington Post on Friday.
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesA general view of the Microsoft booth Thursday at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Click to enlarge I’ve never done this and probably never will again – I’m referring you directly to a Microsoft PR piece. I never do this because a news release only gives you Microsoft’s marketing message; my job is to break through the bull.


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Looks like Windows Phone fans in the United Kingdom are finally in luck: The Nokia Lumia 900 has officially landed in the UK. At least, retailer Phones 4u has a shipment and is selling the phone from today.
Last we heard, Nokia had been forced to delay the UK launch of the Lumia 900 because it couldn't keep up with demand for the phone in the United States. Though Nokia insisted that it was still on track to deliver the phone in the second quarter of 2012, retailer Phones 4u adjusted its shipping date from April 27 to May 14. Despite the fact that we're still a few days away from that amended date, it seems the phone has arrived a few days earlier than Phones 4u anticipated.
Engadget reports that Phones 4u got in touch to let the site know that the Lumia 900 had arrived early and would start selling to customers today instead of next Monday. Pop on over to Phones 4u to check out pricing and tariffs for the different carriers that will be supporting the Lumia 900.
The Lumia 900 is similar to the Lumia 710 and Lumia 800 in appearance but is packing a bit more of a punch under the hood. It boasts a single-core 1.4GHz Snapdragon CPU, a 4.3-inch ClearBlack AMOLED 800 x 480 touchscreen display, 512MB RAM, an 8-megapixel (F2.2, 28mm) camera in the rear with Carl Zeiss optics, and a 1840mAH battery. It's also got support for 4G LTE in the U.S.


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Woman Charged With Large Embezzlement at Stewartville Business
Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - An Austin woman has been charged with stealing tens of thousands of dollars from a Stewartville business.
A criminal complaint has been filed in Olmsted County Court, charging 41-year-old Trina Engler with five counts of felony theft.
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office was contacted last year by the administrator of Stewartville Care Center. The company operates several apartment buildings. The administrator told an investigator it was suspected Engler had embezzled a large amount of money and benefits over a 5-year period.
An investigation found Engler never deposited more than $50,000 in rents and security deposits from tenants; made personal purchases with a company credit card totaling more than $14,000; used $13,000 in petty cash to mostly purchase Kwik Trip gift cards; and, may have collected unearned PTO benefits totaling more than $6,000.
The criminal complaint says Engler told the investigator “her spending habits had gotten way out of control” and that she was “spending way beyond her means.”
Engler was fired last August. She has been ordered to make her first court appearance next month.


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Scribd’s latest reading discovery feature is like CliffsNotes for the latest, best-selling books
Reading platform Scribd is introducing a new way for readers to discover nonfiction books. The feature is called Snapshots, and it’s akin to a CliffsNotes version of a book you can find on the company’s platform that’s designed to introduce potential readers to new works in quick fashion.
Originally founded as a document-sharing site, Scribd has branched out to become a subscription platform for reading. That vast amount of content means that there’s plenty of material to attract new subscribers but it also means that there’s a pitfall: how do you find what you’re looking for, or new books you didn’t know existed?
Scribd already provides recommendations to readers based on their preferences and reading history. But, as the site notes,…


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Lowe Boats has unveiled new brand graphics, including new product designs, updated messaging and a logo to attract the next generation of consumers.
“We're passionate about delivering amazing experiences on the water for our customers, and we have a long history of delivering world class boats that last generations,” Greg Falkner, general manager, said in a statement. “The bold new direction for Lowe is built upon this strong foundation to honor our current customers’ passion for the outdoors while evolving the brand to dynamically attract the next generation of boaters.”
Boat design is also part of the brand relaunch, with the completely redesigned 2022 model year SS Pontoon (shown above) and Bay Series boats and will be carried through Lowe’s full lineup in upcoming model years, the company said.
“This new era for Lowe is only as strong as our products, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to launch these unrivaled designs with our consumers in mind, with our new branding, which matches our bold new style,” continued Falkner.
This fall, the company said it plans to introduce a redesigned website.
Click here to see more.


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Sqrrl raises $1 M in pre-Series A round; Aahaa Stores announces equity infusion of $2 M
Gurugram-based Sqrrl announced it has raised $1 million in a Pre-Series A funding round from Equanimity Venture Fund. According to the company, the funds will be used to improve its product and technology through investment, particularly in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, to sharpen its product recommendation, and further smoothen the on-boarding process. Sqrrl is an investment and wealth management platform aimed at helping young Indians build the habit of savings and investments.
Chennai-based office supplies company Aahaa Stores announced an equity infusion of $2 million from global investment Group Calega. The company raised earlier raised capital funds twice - $1 million each time - from a group of investors led by YourNest. It plans to use the fresh investments to upgrade technology, expand business across new verticals and geographies, enrich infrastructure by inducting more independent service providers, and mobilise superior talent.
Instagram, the world’s fastest-growing social network, crossed a billion monthly users last week, with the last 500 million users getting added in two years. The first 500 million had taken six. The enormous rise of Instagram which started out as an iPhone-only photo filter app is, what many say, the consumer tech story of the decade.
Close to $1.3 billion has been invested by venture capitalists in Blockchain and Blockchain-adjacent startups globally. In India, the government seems to be open towards adopting this technology wave and in March, its think tank Niti Aaayog was reportedly working on a national strategy for Blockchain that will identify the areas where the country can implement the technology. With a potential market and limited venture capital poured in, we list some Blockchain startups, funded in the last six months, whose operations go beyond than just being a crypto-exchange.
One97 Communications Limited, which owns Paytm, said it will offer life insurance coverage to eligible offline partner stores and their staff that accept digital payments. The company plans to cover its merchant partners for up to Rs 5 lakh. In a press statement, the company clarified an existing life insurance player will provide the insurance policy and the premium will be borne by Paytm. Until recently, Paytm claimed to have close to 7 million merchants on its platform.
Paytm plans to cover its merchant partners a life insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh


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Most European IT managers think they will spend the same or more on IT equipment this year compared to 2001. PC renewals top the list of planned investments, according to the latest hardware survey from...
Facebook denies being a monopoly, Amazon denies unfairly competing with Marketplace merchants, and Google denies being evil
Amazon accused of abusing its position as both retailer and retail platform
Security flaws identified by Eclypsium have since been mitigated by the manufacturers
Elon Musk wants volunteers willing to have their skull drilled in four places to try out Neuralink's brain-machine technology


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| Jul 2, 2014
| 1:06 PM
Get a flat tire in a newer model car and you might be asking, “Dude, where’s my spare?” Go to the trunk and you may find a can of sealant, small air compressor, or neither.
In an August 2013 survey by AAA that includes 2014 models,...
| Jul 4, 2014
| 3:20 PM
After years of worrying about the stuff that matters — comfort, reliability, quality — Hyundai focused on the superficial with its all-new Genesis luxury sedan.
The previous Genesis was a solid luxury car wrapped in a forgettable exterior,...
| Jun 24, 2014
| 8:04 AM
With a massive recall involving air bags Monday, the auto industry has broken the U.S. annual record for safety recalls in less than half a year.
The problematic part, made by Takata Corp., is used in millions of vehicles made by half a dozen...
| Jul 9, 2014
| 8:00 AM
A new book on the history of German food arrived in my mailbox the other day. Not exactly the stuff of summer daydreams. Nevertheless, I picked it up, poured a glass of Riesling and started leafing through it. Before long, I was hooked.
| Jul 10, 2014
| 4:32 AM
Most significant changes: Bluetooth and USB port standard on all models Price change: TBA On sale: December Which you should buy, 2014 or 2015? 2014 The Sentra compact sedan was redesigned for 2013, and sales have taken off this year.......
| May 2, 2014
| 2:30 AM
Kiplinger's Personal Finance
When we compile our list of family-friendly vehicles, safety is our first concern. Our picks must get high scores in our annual rankings for overall value, performance and safety, plus they must earn a Top Safety Pick from...
| Jun 3, 2014
| 1:49 PM
We are a list-loving culture. And no segment relies on the list as heavily as the family. And top 10—or 12—best family car lists are a dime a dozen, all with a different and seemingly subjective set of criterion. Wall Street Journal’s...
| Apr 21, 2014
| 4:20 PM
The midsize sedan is in the midst of a makeover. Automakers are redesigning the utilitarian family car with sportier styling and maximized fuel economy to get an edge in the most competitive and second largest segment in the U.S.
Toyota just announced...
| Jun 2, 2014
| 2:18 PM
After almost a year of deliberations and discussions with community members, Northbrook officials have passed a set of regulations for food trucks, which have grown in popularity in the area and across the country over recent years.
The ordinance, which...
| May 27, 2014
| 9:26 AM
Hyundai has upset Honda for the title of the Greenest Automaker in the United States, according to the latest ranking by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), an independent nonprofit organization.
The Korean automaker and its sister brand Kia have...
| May 27, 2014
| 3:18 PM
We've all typed an odd word or phrase into Google at some point.
The folks at real estate website Estately.com decided to take things a bit further with their most recent study that analyzes Google Trends data for each of the 50 U.S. state and the...
| May 7, 2014
| 4:31 PM
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named the redesigned-for-2015 Hyundai Genesis a Top Safety Pick Plus, the institute's highest honor. The premium full-size sedan earned a good rating in crashworthiness tests including small overlap front,...


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Bhubaneswar: Unidentified miscreants allegedly looted gold ornaments from a jewellery store in Odisha’s Sambalpur city after they opened fire at its owner and employees today.
Sujit Sonara, the owner of the jewellery shop, sustained bullet injuries in the incident, sources said.
According to locals, the motorcycle-borne miscreants reached jewellery shop ‘New Payal Jewellers’ near Dhanupali Square in the western Odisha city in the afternoon. They immediately opened fire at the shop.
“The miscreants targeted the jewellery shop in the presence of its owner, employees and a few customers in the afternoon. They vanished from the scene after looting gold ornaments,” said a local.
The owner of the jewellery store was rushed to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research at Burla in a critical condition.
On being informed, the police reached the spot and launched a probe into the incident.


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Hi! Welcome to the Insider Advertising daily for September 22. I'm Lauren Johnson, a senior advertising reporter at Business Insider. Subscribe here to get this newsletter in your inbox every weekday. Send me feedback or tips at email@example.com.
Today's news: Walmart and Instacart chip away at Amazon's ad dominance, Quibi mulls a sale, and Suzy raises $34 million.
Ad insiders say retailers like Walmart, CVS, and Instacart are starting to chip away at Amazon's advertising stronghold in the pandemic
- Patrick Coffee and Tanya Dua report that the pandemic has benefitted new e-commerce advertising platforms like CVS and Walmart.
- Amazon still rules e-commerce, but the pandemic marks the beginning of a long-term change that could threaten its dominance of digital retail advertising.
- Driving the trend will be small to mid-sized businesses like cell phone accessory maker BGZ Brands, which was able to quickly move ad dollars to Target and paid social when Amazon restricted the shipment of nonessential items early in the pandemic.
- The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Jeffrey Katzenberg's mobile-video startup, Quibi, which raised $1.75 billion but has struggled to sign up subscribers, is considering a possible sale.
- A possible sale is one of a few strategic options the company is reportedly considering, including raising more money, and going public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company.
- Since launching in April, the short-form mobile video app has struggled to attract subscribers.
An ad agency vet who built a market research startup just closed a $34 million Series C round as he looks to take on Nielsen and Qualtrics
- Tanya Dua reports that ad agency vet Matt Britton closed a $34 million Series C round for his marketing-tech firm Suzy.
- Marketers use Suzy to conduct market research in real-time to help with things like product development and ad testing. The new round of funding will go towards building products, hiring more people, and boosting sales and marketing.
- Suzy has reached an annual revenue run rate of $20 million, according to Britton.
More stories we're reading:
- HBO dominated the Emmys with 'Watchmen' and 'Succession' even though Netflix led in total nominations (Business Insider)
- How Hershey is using retail ad platforms like Walmart and Target to win at e-commerce in the pandemic (Business Insider)
- How to land a job in public relations in 2020 (Business Insider)
- At Yelp's Phoenix office, some insiders say a 'boy's club' atmosphere fueled racism, sexism, and a hard-partying culture — on top of regular verbal abuse from customers (Business Insider)
- 'This is for cord cutters': Discovery aims to launch Discovery+ streaming service in early 2021 (Digiday)


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05 Jan 2021
Remograph release Remo 3D v2.10 for Microsoft Windows® 10/8/7 and Linux.
Remograph, providers of products and services for the computer graphics, visual simulation and 3D modeling markets, today announced the release of Remo 3D v2.10.
The primary file format is OpenFlight®. Remo 3D is currently available for Microsoft® Windows® 10/8/7 and Linux.
This new version 2.10 of Remo 3D brings support for more keyboard shortcuts, improved macro handling, setting of relative external reference paths and other various fixes.
The full list of new features and improvements can be found in the release notes on the website:
Mobile hit Roshambo Live is being developed into a TV pilot for ITV
Live Tech Games, is one of the multiple businesses selected by ITV's Studios 55 Ventures arm, an initiative the company launched in September to seek out businesses to invest in.
ITV will now invest an undisclosed sum in Live Tech Games and work with the studio to develop Roshambo Live into a game show that can either work as a standalone programme or one that extends an existing one.
The pilot will focus on giving ITV viewers the chance to play along with a live televised tournament, rather than the ones currently hosted entirely in-game.
Watch this space for more updates!!
Nintendo makes a rare move to acquire, the Vancouver-based Next Level Games.
Next Level Games is most notably responsible for Switch title Luigi’s Mansion 3, which launched at the end of October 2019.
The title sold well globally, especially in the US, and while it doesn’t quite make the Nintendo’s own top 10 all-time best selling Switch titles, with 7.83m copies sold globally it comes in a very close 11th place (and in a lot less time than some titles proceeding it).
The deal between the current owner-directors and staff shareholders was conducted privately, so the cost of the acquisition is undisclosed. Although it may be possible to ascertain it from Nintendo’s next round of financial figures in early February.
To know more about the deal, check out: https://www.mcvuk.com/development-news/nintendo-acquires-luigis-mansion-3-developer-next-level-games/
Epic buy mall for new headquarters
It’s not every day you wake up and find that someone has bought your local mall. However, that’s exactly what happened to the residents of Cary, North Carolina.
The struggling Cary Towne Center will soon be bidding its final farewells and bright hellos to Epic Games' new global headquarters!
Development of the new headquarters is scheduled to begin this year with work to be completed by 2024.
Sony Interactive Entertainment has officially discontinued the PS4 Pro and all but one model of the original PlayStation 4 in Japan.
It’s a sad day for the retro PlayStation fans in Japan. Sony have officially announced the discontinuation of the only all but the standard Jet Black 500GB PlayStation 4 “slim” model in Japan.
All other PS4 consoles will disappear once current stock is sold, the publication reports, and SIE will divert production to PS5.
Check out the full article here: https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1298409.html
Modder discovers Zelda: Breath of the Wild ‘uses advanced Miis’ for its NPCs
Modder ‘Alice’, who is a self-proclaimed “Mii expert”, was liked more than 20,000 times on Monday after sharing an image showing how players’ custom Mii characters can be placed inside the Zelda game as converted NPCs.
Don’t forget you can still catch the Awesome Games Done Quick Event at https://gamesdonequick.com/ helping to raise money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation.
Simply join the crowd and watch, donate or play on the sweepstakes! There is still plenty to do over the next few days!
On January 16th get ready for GameOn.
GameOn is Vancouver's local game development conference for aspiring developers, students, and gaming enthusiasts to learn and broaden their knowledge on the video game industry through a series of workshops and q&a panels with the gaming industry’s professionals.
The conference focuses on industry workshops, Q&A panels, and live networking with professionals across the gaming industry.
Want to know more? Visit: https://ubcgameon.com/
Keep Calm and waka waka...


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Numerous flexible fitness trackers cannot be immersed in water as the wearers would feel uncomfortable wearing the coatings needed to seal these devices.
Scientists have coated a thin, slippery coating on a conductive fabric, forming a breathable underwater movement sensor. They reported their creation in the ACS Nano journal.
The scientists then combined the sensor with a smart device that can wirelessly alert a smartphone app if a swimmer is no longer moving, a warning that they could be drowning.
There are numerous applications for underwater movement sensors, including tracking the activity and safety of swimmers and checking the heart rate. However, existing approaches to shield these electronics make the devices bulky and impervious to air, resulting in skin irritation.
Earlier research has demonstrated that thin, smooth layers of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) offer adequate water repulsion to protect flexible movement sensors in water, but it is uncertain whether the coating would offer any comfort to the wearer.
Cheolmin Park, Jianying Huang, Yuekun Lai, and contemporaries were keen to test PDMS as a coating that could repel water for a fabric-based sensor that would be one of the components of a wireless underwater movement detection system.
To achieve this, the scientists immersed a portion of polyester knit fabric into a graphene oxide solution, hydroiodic acid, and a solution comprising PDMS microparticles and nanoparticles.
Preliminary tests revealed that the coated fabric was water-repellent and conductive, yet still pervious to air, signifying that the material would offer wearers the required comfort. When a portion of the coated fabric was fixed to a person’s finger that was then bent while underwater, it generated a quantifiable electrical response.
The researchers integrated the fabric-based sensor with a power supply and a data collector to develop a smart underwater movement system that could wirelessly convey the electrical response to a smartphone app. The app monitored the doll's kicking legs when the smart device was fixed to a mechanical swimming doll.
To mimic a swimmer in trouble, the kicking motion of the doll was switched off, and the app transmitted a red warning message. The scientists say that because the smart movement sensor is water-repellant, it could help track swimmers’ safety and be employed in other versions of underwater sensors.
The researchers are grateful for the funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province, the 111 Project, the State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials and Advanced Processing Technologies, the China National Textile and Apparel Council Key Laboratory of Flexible Devices for Intelligent Textile and Apparel, Soochow University, the Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholars of Fujian Province, and the Creative Materials Discovery Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).
Zhu, T., et al. (2022) A Breathable Knitted Fabric-Based Smart System with Enhanced Superhydrophobicity for Drowning Alarming. ACS Nano. doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.2c08325.


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No external sensors will be needed, and the headsets could boast better-than-Oculus-Rift resolution.
Microsoft announced a wave of Windows 10-compatible VR headsets coming next year, and they're going to be powered with technology derived from its HoloLens system.
A Microsoft representative confirmed that the headsets, arriving early next year from a handful of third-party partners (Asus, Acer, Dell, HP and Lenovo), won't need any external sensors or cameras. They'll track everything, including motion in the room, directly from the headset. And we also learned that that tech is, indeed, HoloLens-related technology.
The HoloLens uses its own cameras to allow "six degrees of freedom," meaning you can walk anywhere in a room. And while the upcoming Windows VR headsets will need to be tethered to a PC with at least one cable, that HoloLens tech means that the new headsets will not need external sensors, cameras or light boxes that enable "room scale" VR. By contrast, current VR hardware such as the Oculus Rift , PlayStation VR and HTC Vive does.
These headsets, then, will also have cameras. Whether or not they can capture images or mixed reality isn't clear. Our source wouldn't confirm whether these headsets will work with Microsoft's Project Scorpio game console, which is slated for late 2017.
But these headsets will be compatible with things like keyboards and mice -- and, even, your hands. Much like the HoloLens, these VR headsets will be capable of hand-tracking.
How will the display resolution be? According to our source, expect something "even better" than the Oculus Rift.
One thing to consider, though, in case you were thinking of waiting for a Windows 10-compatible VR headset: these headsets may not be compatible with Oculus' software, or even the HTC Vive's Steam apps. They're going to require Windows VR apps, which right now don't really exist. Whether or not these headsets, and Microsoft's VR ecosystem, can support another VR ecosystem remains to be seen.


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To mark National Fitness Day on September 26th, Premier Training International has conducted a survey of over 200 fitness professionals from across the UK to find out how their clients rate the exercises they regularly carry out. Figures show that 28% of clients find the burpee (squat thrust) their least favourite exercise whilst boxing came […]
Health and fitness provider to launch new venue in Glasgow to give people the opportunity to start a new career
National training provider Premier Training International has announced it is to launch a new venue with Fit4Less in Glasgow. Premier will offer a number of fitness training courses from the facility, starting this month to enable people the chance to kick-start a new career in the health and fitness industry.


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The downtrodden economy has claimed another victim.
Polock Johnny?s, a popular Baltimore eatery that dates to 1968, is closing its Lexington Market location this weekend.
11 News reporter Nadia Ramdass said loyal customers of the restaurant are upset about the news.
The owner of the franchise told WBAL that she tried to stay afloat, but the economy proved to be unstable.
"I don't know who is going to take over, but it's going to be a big shoe to fill,? said restaurant patron Kevin Doyle.
Polock Johnny?s has spent nearly 44 years serving cheese dogs, hot and spicy dogs and their famous original polish sausages with the works.
The Lexington Market location will close for good Saturday.
?It's an icon here, and that's why I'm sad to see it go,? said owner Diane Wilkins.
Wilkins, the owner of the popular franchise for 15 years, made the tough decision after she noticed a decline of patrons over the years. With a sluggish economy and stiff competition from major food chains, she said she was left with no choice but to close down operations.


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The UK government has said that it is keen to encourage the rise of online-only estate agents in a statement that will come as a blow to the high street.
A document detailing plans to boost competition in the UK to bring down bills for families includes a section dedicated to “injecting innovation into the process of home buying”, which highlights the importance of quicker, simpler and cheaper ways to buy and sell property.
Chancellor George Osborne’s intention is for the Government to “further reduce barriers so that it’s easier for alternative business structures, such as supermarkets and estate agents, to offer legal services such as conveyancing”.
“Encouraging new business models (for example, online only estate agents) is key to enhancing price competition in the real sector, but these have yet to penetrate the market,” says the document.
It also highlights research that has found that consumers incur costs of around £270 million each year when transactions fall through. Similar issues can affect businesses trying to buy or sell commercial property – the UK ranks 45th for registering property in the World Bank’s Doing Business index, and improving performance will help unlock additional economic growth, notes the document.
“The government wants to consider and address the way the real estate and conveyancing markets have developed around the existing regulatory frameworks, encourage greater innovation in the conveyancing sector and make the legal process more transparent and efficient,” it adds.
The government will launch a consultation in spring 2016 to discuss possible solutions.
Founder and CEO of online estate agency eMoov.co.uk, Russell Quirk, welcomes the move as a “significant nod to the success of the online property sector” and how it has evolved in recent years.
“We’ve known for a long time that we offer a vastly superior service for a fraction of the cost of the high street. If you ask me we have most definitely penetrated the market already and have been injecting innovation for quite some time now. However I understand that the Government can’t base its plans on a whim and so having now had enough time to evaluate the results, their latest intention shows that they, like us, are clearly consumer centric when it comes to the property selling process.”
“By improving the legal process and reducing the barriers involved in aspects of the property process such as conveyancing, the Government should hopefully help us streamline the process of buying or selling a property even further. This will make it easier for companies like eMoov to offer legal services and will hopefully result in yet more value added for the consumer, as well as a more fluent process overall.”
Mark Hayward, Managing Director of the National Association of Estate Agents, told Property Industry Eye that innovation and competition is a good thing, but that the high street still has a role to play.
“Many high street agents have very strong online presence and work in tandem with estate agency portals. High street agents have networks of contacts who are searching for property and offer a variety of different techniques and channels,” he said.
“High street agents understand local markets and will advise on the right tools for individual clients. While strong online presence is essential, it is most effective when teamed with expertise and local knowledge.”


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After just posting the April security patch builds based on Android 7.1.1 moments ago, Google has now published Android 7.1.2 builds for Pixel and Nexus devices. You can find the images here and the OTAs here. The Nexus Player and Pixel C started to receive 7.1.2 just days ago.
OTAs for the Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, and Nexus Player are live. Read More
Factory images and full OTA images for the April security patch are now available for the range of Nexus and Pixel devices. The Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 6, and Nexus 9 all have their respective images up. The Nexus Player and Pixel C appear to be lagging behind at the time of this writing. Build information follows. Read More
Samsung is really, really, really proud of the Galaxy S8 and S8+'s design. Not only did it spend a lot of time talking it up during the device's official announcement, it is also touting it left and right at every opportunity... and for good reason. The S8 and S8+ take every compliment that was said about the S7 and S7 Edge and push it further. The curves, lines, design, material, finishes, everything just comes together to create a gorgeous smartphone that can disappear to let the display shine or pop up when you choose to focus on it.
Samsung will be exhibiting the S8 at Milan Design Week (think Mobile World Congress but for design). Read More
There are some cool things you can play around with in the Android O preview, but some of the most useful features won't be available until developers start implementing them. For instance, the new notification channel feature. As it turns out, Google has already implemented notification channels in the Android System. That means you can get a feel for how it'll work. Read More
We've gotten a few reports in recent days that Motorola's latest budget phone is hungry. Hungry for what, you may ask? SIM cards. Several reviews on Amazon allege the G5 Plus SIM card tray is defective and causes SIM cards to become lodged in the phone. Having a Moto G5 Plus at the ready, I'm struggling to figure out how anyone can get this wrong. Read More
The research arm of StatCounter, an independent web analytics company, has revealed an interesting stat today: according to its numbers, Android has overtaken Windows for the first time in terms of worldwide total internet usage.
This bold statement comes with a lot of asterisks. We're talking about total internet usage here, not sales numbers or users. We're also looking at worldwide usage across all platforms combined (desktop, laptop, tablet, mobile). And even then, the difference is minimal at 37.93% for Android compared to 37.91% for Windows.
The distinction of platforms is important because if we were only looking at desktops, Windows would have an 84% usage share. Read More
Large displays such as TVs and monitors have been rapidly going down in price in these past few years. The Sony 4K Android TV we're featuring here is a perfect example of this; this exact model (XBR55X850D) retailed for $1600 just over a year ago when it came out, and now its price tag has more than halved to $769. What a world we live in. Read More
Google initially spearheaded virtual reality on Android with Google Cardboard, which evolved into the more complete Daydream VR platform. Unlike Cardboard, which could start on any somewhat-recent Android or iOS device, Daydream support requires the phone manufacturer and Google to make sure everything works. Read More
Android O is expected later this year, but there's still (at least) one more update to Android 7.1. Google released the first 7.1.2 Beta back in January, followed by a second beta in March. We've now received multiple reports of 7.1.2 being pushed to users outside the beta program. Read More


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AMD’s AM5 platform will support DDR5 and PCIe 5 when it launches in 2022
AMD has confirmed that its new AM5 platform will support both PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 memory, and will land on our desktops in 2022. AMD released its first Ryzen processor five years ago and famously does this by getting Robert Hallock and John Taylor to sit down and discuss the architecture that has transformed AMD’s place in the CPU market.
It’s not as dry as it sounds, as AMD took the opportunity to confirm a few things: its 3D V-Cache chips are still on the way at the start of next year, and its AM5 platform from new generation will support the latest I / O and memory technologies.
After a quick trip down memory lane where Robert Hallock remembers the first time he got his hands on the first Ryzen processor, he goes on to say, “In 2022, Ryzen will have a new platform and some key ingredients are DDR5, PCI Express Gen 5, and cooler compatibility with existing AM4 coolers. “
AMD has been talking about DDR5 support for Zen 4 in slides for some time now, but hasn’t said if its next-gen platform will support PCIe 5.0. Confirming this now makes sense, if only because the 12th Gen Intel Alder Lake platform will ship with support for DDR5 and PCIe 5.0.
To be fair, it would have been surprising if AMD let its I / O lead slip away for a whole generation, given that it has supported PCIe 4.0 since the launch of Zen 2 in 2019, when Intel did not. took over the standard only this year. PCIe 4.0 may not have done much for graphics cards, but its impact on storage, along with PCIe 4.0 SSDs, has been profound and PCIe 5.0 doubles the available bandwidth. It is never a bad thing.
The last point that Hallock raised is also worth mentioning, as cooler compatibility is important for anyone looking to upgrade to Zen 4 as a PC platform when it launches. You’ll need a new motherboard and new DDR5 RAM, so being able to keep your CPU cooler means you should be able to save a bit of money and not have to wait for a company to release adapters.
We don’t have an exact date for when these chips will land, although given that the 3D V-Cache chips are going to be released at the start of the year, we can probably expect Zen 4 and AM5. decrease between July and November in 2022.


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What will it take for government to get serious about fixing the holes that exist in this country`s seafood safety net? Maybe a closer look at the real issues that affect the health and safety of consumers. And maybe, this time, a commitment to set aside the political infighting that plagues lawmaking in this country.
Contention among senators and congressmen explains why nearly 30 different pieces of legislation addressing seafood safety have been introduced since 1967, and not one has ever been made into law. And why, in 1990, did the House and Senate each pass their versions of seafood safety legislation but no one had the inclination or determination to settle the differences between the two so that a bill could become law?
Now, many would say that government has bigger fish to fry, especially since seafood is already subject to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which also sets the standards for milk, fruits, vegetables and other groceries. But it is important to note that the U.S. does not have a federal inspection program dedicated to and specifically designed for seafood at a time when it needs one.
As Americans turn to lower-fat diets, they are eating more seafood. Per capita consumption increased 25 percent over the past decade. With this newfound love for fin and shellfish comes increased scrutiny and concern over seafood safety. We all saw the media coverage given to Consumer Reports`
recent investigation of fresh fish and shellfish sold in New York and Chicago. But don`t expect that one news report will bring about sweeping changes.
Once again our lawmakers are in a position to do something about seafood safety. Senate Bill 2538, the Consumer Seafood Safety Act of 1992, was introduced earlier this year by several senators. While the legislation is likely to be refined and amended, it appears to have already avoided one of the obstacles that plagued previous bills: the issue of jurisdiction.
The act puts the program and budget in the hands of one federal agency, the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA, in turn, will work with the Departments of Commerce and Agriculture to implement specific inspection programs and other activities outlined in the legislation.
While many of the recent attacks on seafood safety are exaggerated, it is an issue that demands attention and thoughtful consideration by consumers, the seafood industry and, most important, Congress. Food safety has come a long way. But it is critical that government keep pace with consumer demand for higher quality.


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VW Will Acquire As Much As 20% of Suzuki
Sources with direct knowledge of the deal have told Reuters that Volkswagen AG has concluded negotiations with Suzuki, Japan’s fourth-largest automaker, to take a stake in the Japanese company of as high as 20%.
The sources say that an announcement could be made as early as next week.
It is expected that VW will increase that stake in the future to at least one-third, in order to have a controlling stake in the company. Such a move would make Suzuki a VW subsidiary.
VW has stated publicly that it wishes to be the world’s largest auto manufacturer by 2018. Suzuki’s minicar and small car expertise and its sales strength in developing markets could be quite instrumental in achieving that goal.
Although Suzuki has been saying that they would welcome a partnership with a major company since they lost their previous ties to General Motors, Suzuki CEO Osamu Suzuki denied that any talks were occurring with VW as recently as three weeks ago. The news of a deal with VW, therefore, is somewhat surprising.
Volkswagen’s $45.7 billion USD market capitalization now encompasses ten brands, including VW, Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, Skoda and others, a dominant position in Europe, China and Brazil, and high growth potential in other developing markets. VW’s weakest area may be the US market, where, despite major past efforts to increase their market position, VW has only a 2% market share.
Suzuki is the 800-pound gorilla of the expanding Indian market, as well as the unquestioned leader in the unique-to-Japan market segment for 660cc minicars (kei cars), and currently has a market capitalization of $13.7 billion. Suzuki has a minuscule .2 % of the US market. Admirably, Suzuki also owns 20 percent of itself in treasury stock, bought back from GM between 2006 and 2008 after GM signaled its exit from their partnership.
GM’s first investment in Suzuki was as far back as 1981 and eventually climbed to 20 percent of the Japanese carmaker in 2001. GM’s financial problems precipitated an unwinding of the partnership. In fact, on a related note, Suzuki divested itself of 50% of CAMI just a few days ago. CAMI was a Canadian joint venture it maintained with GM during its partnership. Suzuki sold their share back to GM.
VW is expected to very quickly either tap Suzuki’s expertise in order to develop a platform for their small Up concept car, or just adapt Suzuki’s existing platform in whole, and be done with the development in one stroke.
COPYRIGHT Autosavant – All Rights Reserved


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As society accelerates into its digital future, the UK is taking steps to protect the centuries-old technology known as paper money.
Digital payments are rapidly becoming ever more commonplace, so much so that even the world’s central banks are debating whether to issue an electronic form of money to the public. But increasingly cashless Britain, where many bank branches and ATMs have vanished, has become a reminder of the risks of leaving physical money behind too quickly. Some 10% of Brits still use cash for all or most of their daily purchases, and the poor and elderly can be especially reliant on it.
The spread of cash deserts sparked an uproar in communities from Wales to Scotland, and officials have searched for ways to shore up physical infrastructure that is becoming outmoded but is still vital for many people and businesses. To counteract a steep decline in the number of bank branches and ATMs, Community Access to Cash Pilots—an independent initiative backed by banks, consumer groups, and small business representatives—started a program of “banking hubs” in April in a town in Scotland and another in eastern England.
How the UK is protecting cash
Banks in the UK have been shutting down branches at a rapid clip to cut costs as more customers rely on apps, and the number of ATMs has likewise been dwindling for years.
The decline in usage of physical money has accelerated around the world during the Covid-19 pandemic as more buying and selling takes place online and as businesses try to keep transactions socially distant and sanitary. As the infrastructure for physical currency goes away, it can feed a worrisome cycle—more businesses will refuse to accept cash because processing it takes more time and is more costly. That can put pressure on the elderly and other vulnerable people who aren’t comfortable going online, or can’t go online, for financial services.
The UK’s hubs are a partnership between the country’s Post Office, which offers counter service for basic cash needs, and the five largest nearby banks, which take turns providing staffing. By sharing the real-estate, banks can save money on overhead costs, while locals could get access to a wider range of financial institutions. The pilot was supposed to finish next month but has been extended to at least April 2023.
🎧 For more intel on digital currencies, listen to the Quartz Obsession podcast episode on the future of cash. Or subscribe via: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | Stitcher.
Experiments like the UK’s banking hubs show that officials will have to be creative in the coming years as cash usage declines. Central banks, including the Bank of England, are looking into digital currencies to make sure they can still support the public as more transactions go digital. But at the other end of spectrum, hard cash has properties that can’t be replicated electronically—it’s anonymous, doesn’t require a bank account, and still works when the power goes out.
One larger bank said half of its customers who used the cashback service could be considered vulnerable. “We can already see the positive role the Hubs are playing in revitalising these local communities—providing essential banking services for individuals as well as a boost for local businesses,” Natalie Ceeney, independent chair of the Access to Cash Action Group, said in a statement. “Extending the pilots gives us more opportunity to really understand what works for people.”


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Little-known global payments provider Adyen processed $10 billion worth of transactions in 2012, a new record the company points out is on par with the volume of mobile payments processor Square.
So does this mean that Adyen is becoming a threat to Jack Dorsey’s brainchild and other processors?
“In five years we’ve grown tremendously…which really speaks to what we’re bringing to the marketplace,” says Peter Caparso, president of Adyen North America.
Adyen provides its merchant clients with more than 200 payment methods, 187 transaction currencies and 14 settlement currencies across every inhabited continent. The company travels to countries its clients want to expand into, conducts market research while speaking with the big payments players about spending patterns and then partners with those players to allow payments on merchant’s e-commerce sites with localized methods.
Not only has the Amsterdam-based company grown quickly in a short period of time, but it’s done so without the venture capital funding that mainstream payment companies have received.
But Square processed $10 billion in payments with only its mobile card reader, says Gil Luria, an analyst at Wedbush Securities. Although Adyen did launch a portable card reader called Shuttle last year, the company processed its $10 billion in total, Luria says.
“It’s an impressive number, but [Adyen] isn’t a threat to anyone, not yet,” Luria says.
To put Adyen’s $10 billion annual processing volume in perspective, fellow multicurrency processor Planet Payment posted $2.3 billion in settled dollar volume processed in 2011 and $1.9 billion through the first three quarters of 2012. While both companies aim to capitalize on the multicurrency processing niche, their volumes are dwarfed by Global Payments’ $180.7 billion processed during its fiscal year 2012 that ended in May.
But Adyen’s early acceptance of EMV and its focus on mobile could push it to the forefront in the future, Luria says.
Caparso seconds Luria, saying “portability and globalization” are at the heart of Adyen’s success. As the world becomes more globalized and people are connecting across physical borders, e-commerce merchants need help handling payments in their customers’ local currencies using local payment mechanisms.
Adyen’s annual processing volume was a 35% increase from its 2011 volume. The company said it experienced a 300% increase in mobile payments on its platform in 2012, making up 10.5% of total transactions. It also claims a 58% increase in revenue year-over-year, but the privately-held company declined to provide the dollar amount of its revenue. Worldwide customers grew 55% and in North America, its fastest growing region, Adyen saw a 70% increase in new customers, including JustFab, Kachingle, Entrust and Elance last year.
In the upcoming months, Adyen plans to announce other large retail partners, says Caparso.
Many companies are taking advantage of this “flatter” world. Payelp Global partnered with SafetyPay in December 2012. SafetyPay allows consumers to use their online bank account to make purchases in their local currency on Payelp’s ecommerce platform.
And BlueSnap, formerly Plimus Inc., makes it easy for merchants of digital goods to accept payment in a variety of ways, including credit and debit, PayPal and mobile wallets.
The core team at Adyen spent 15 years working in the payments industry with Bibit before forming Adyen. Bibit, founded in 1997, provided electronic payment services to multichannel retailers. It was during this time that the team learned what merchants wanted from their payments providers, particularly during the transition period when Bibit was acquired by RBS, when it learned its most important lesson.
“When we started to adopt the RBS practices, we found we were reverting to the one size fits all model,” says Caparso. “When we got back together for Adyen, we felt with the complexity of the various new payment methods, coupled with the complexity and fast growing global marketplace, we needed to have a state of the art, real-time merchant-friendly system.”
The company became profitable 36 months after launch of Adyen, which Caparso believes validates the benefit of Ayden’s model.
“The bottom line is that we learned in order for businesses to be successful, we needed to be listening—and providing solutions—to our customers with complete commercial and platform flexibility,” he says.
Last year, Adyen quietly became a principal for Visa and MasterCard, working as an online acquirer. Adyen Payment Acquiring allows its merchants direct connectivity to the payment schemes and better reporting on payments, such as why transactions were denied. Plus this process is often cheaper since merchants are not paying an extra fee to connect with a big bank, says Caparso.
“It’s so powerful for merchants,” Caparso adds. We’re “removing an extra link in the chain.”
Adyen won’t be an acquirer for all its merchant clients; the company still works with a lot of banks around the world.


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Russia sold over 200 tanks abroad in 5 years
"Rosoboronexport" over the past five years, it has delivered more than 200 tanks manufactured by Uralvagonzavod to foreign buyers, said ROE Director General Alexander Mikheev.
“Over the past 5 years, Rosoboronexport has supplied more than 200 tanks manufactured by Uralvagonzavod to the world market. In total, in the order portfolio of Rosoboronexport today, the volume of the concern's products is about 50 billion rubles, — the message says.
August 16, at the Army-2022 forum, included in the Rostec Group of Companies “Rosoboronexport” and “Uralvagonzavod” signed a program of joint activities to promote products and services to the foreign market in 2022-2025.
In the coming years, ROE plans to bring new modern models of Russian armored vehicles to the market, including the T-14 Armata tank. , self-propelled howitzers 2S43 “Malva”, “Msta-S” caliber 155 mm and “Coalition-SV” 152 mm caliber self-propelled artillery gun 2S40 “Floks”, as well as 82-mm self-propelled mortar “Drok”.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that a number of models of promising weapons of the Russian Federation for years and decades are ahead of foreign analogues, largely surpassing them in terms of characteristics.
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