text:
With the launch of Nike’s new football boot, the Hypervenom, the sportswear powerhouse calls on one of Soccer‘s most touted athletes, Neymar. Unveiling it in Neymar‘s homeland, Brasil, Nike hosted an event to celebrate the launch of Soccer‘s newest super-boot.
The athlete-tested boot gives attacking strikers and midfielders the upper hand when attempting to dismantle opposing defenses. Built with a upper that graces the very new NIKESKIN system–which features a soft, supple mesh bound with a thin polyurethane film, while being assisted by Nike’s ACC–Nike upholds their supreme level of comfortability and performance. On the other side of the spectrum, we see the sole which was specifically made to position the foot closer to the ground. The Hypervenom will make its debut come June 2nd when Brasil takes on England and it will be worn by rivals Neymar and Wayne Rooney.


text:
MSI and ASUS Unveils Their Latest GTX 1080 Ti GPUs: Extreme Cooling Systems, Custom Fans and RGB Lighting Options Galore [VIDEO]
Several add-in-card (AIC) manufacturers have now started to unveil their latest setup for the recently unveiled NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti video card. Among the biggest names in GPU customization namely MSI and ASUS, have now teased fans of their new products, which are aimed at giving serious gamers other options aside from the standard reference GTX 1080 Ti GPU from NVIDIA.
The most recent one that was unveiled is the new MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X Edition. The card comes with all sorts of factory customizations including the company's latest Twin Frozr VI cooling system that sports a dual fan design.
According to WCCFTech, the new Twin Frozr fans deliver up to 22 percent more air pressure that the standard 1080 Ti cooler. For those who are into building show PC rigs, the new MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X Edition also comes with custom RGB lighting that can be configured using the company's Afterburner utility software.
ASUS, on the other hand, has announced two new GPUs based on the 1080 Ti, namely the new ASUS GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Turbo and the ASUS ROG STRIX GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. Both cards of course come with upgraded cooling systems that should allow extreme gamers a lot of overclocking leeway.
The ASUS GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Turbo is fitted with a modest blower-style fan setup and utilizes the card's stock PCB. Furthermore, the ASUS ROG STRIX GeForce GTX 1080 Ti has an extremely cool looking triple fan setup.
The newly announced NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is perhaps one of the most hyped GPUs for 2017. The new card has been announced to be slightly faster than the $1,000 flagship Titan X GPU, while also being significantly cheaper. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is also 30 percent faster compared to the standard GTX 1080.

domain: news


text:
Prospects for the UK’s financial service and accountancy small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been lifted by research from The Co-operative Bank, which found that 58% of those in the sector believe their sales and orders will rise during 2013.
The findings of the study, carried out on the bank’s behalf by YouGov, also show that almost a third (30%) expect to take on new staff, while 26% plan investment in their business, such as for new equipment or improvements to premises.
“SMEs and entrepreneurs are widely acknowledged as vital to Britain’s economic recovery so these results are good news as we head in to 2013,” said Keith Alderson, managing director of corporate and business banking at The Co-operative Bank.
“As the curtain closes on another tough year it seems many SMEs in financial services and accountancy are now looking forward with a cautious sense of optimism about the challenges for their businesses next year.
“We see this entrepreneurial spirit day-in, day-out in our dealings with customers and I’m not surprised that SMEs are adapting and exploring new markets to overcome the economic challenges.”
Asked about the main challenges facing their business in 2013, nine in 10 said the current economic climate is their main concern. This was followed by red tape and regulation with 50%, cashflow (24%) and rising energy costs (16%).
The study also found that just 14% felt sales and orders would fall in 2013 although a fifth (20%) said they had suffered a decline in 2012.
Rising interest rates, excitement around blockchain use cases and cross-border payments were all hot topics at this year's AFP conference in San Deigo.
On-Demand Treasury Management Solutions continue to gain increased adoption in the US and EMEA regions.
Chicago based Treasury Management System (TMS) vendor GTreasury and Sydney based risk and treasury management vendor Visual Risk have joined forces in a strategic alliance to ... read more
Direct carrier billing is currently a competitive payments industry in Europe, but will it flourish under PSD2? EE and Microsoft think so.


text:
IPWatchdog Publishes Sar's Article on Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016
IPWatchdog, a leading intellectual property law blog, recently published a piece by partner David Sar on the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016.
Sar explains how the law will create new lawsuits and federal claims because it “provides that an owner of a misappropriated trade secret may bring a federal civil action ‘if the trade secret is related to a product or service used in, or intended for use in, interstate or foreign commerce.’”
The article also explores new whistleblower protections that may require companies to re-examine their non-disclosure agreements. Under the law, immunity is provided to a whistleblower who discloses a trade secret for the purpose of reporting a suspected violation of the law. Sar encourages “companies to consider whether their standard NDAs and employee handbooks need to be revised” in light of these changes.
The article can be read in full here.


text:
In May 2023, US senators proposed a new law requiring the integration of AM radio technology into all new vehicles, including electric vehicles. So far, this draft law has remained a bone of contention between car manufacturers and safety agencies.
Proponents of AM radio claim that the older technology is considered an ideal backup communications option. In remote areas or in cases where phone signal is lost due to natural disasters that damage infrastructure, the government can easily contact people through AM radio due to the much longer range of AM waves. compared to FM waves.
Furthermore, transmission systems (or more specifically, towers/stations) also need to be built in much smaller quantities and thus save costs.
In contrast, many car manufacturers do not want to integrate this old technology into new cars. Many car manufacturers have recently stopped integrating this technology into new cars to reduce assembly costs, such as Volkswagen, Peugeot or Tesla. Even though the company maintains radio stations, the technology used is FM only.
The problem raised by opponents of AM radio is that many new cars launched by 2025 will be electric cars and these cars will be negatively affected by AM waves.
So, if you want to put an AM radio on an electric vehicle, each company has to spend 50 – 70 USD per electric vehicle to protect the electric motor from the effects of radio waves.
According to the American Automotive Research Center’s estimate, the total amount of money that car manufacturers in the US would have to spend if the above law is passed is approximately USD 3.8 billion (92.5 trillion VND) due to just one incident. This appears to be a small addition.
So should we have radios in electric cars or not? Until a more convenient communication method becomes available on the market, the answer will probably be yes for security reasons. Car manufacturers opposed to integrating AM radios in cars have been asked to find an alternative to the above equipment, but they still have no answer.


text:
Huda Beauty and Kayali team up for first-ever collab
The Lovefest Collection is inspired by the summer music festival season
Huda Beauty and fragrance sister brand Kayali have teamed up for their first-ever collab this summer.
The brands, co-founded by sisters Huda and Mona Kattan, were inspired by the music festival season for the Lovefest Collection.
"We’re bringing you that feel-good festival energy as Huda Beauty and Kayali come together to infuse the glitz of disco with euphoric festival vibes to create an iconic, party-ready collection," said the Kattans in a statement.
"Express yourself with playful make-up must-haves and an addictive fragrance that will get you dancing from dusk to dawn."
The summer season collection features new make-up products from Huda Beauty, including a new Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette in sunset-inspired shades, two reformulated Cream Blushes, a Quick 'n Easy Liquid Liner in brown along with a Lip Quad.
Kayali, meanwhile, has released a Lovefest Burning Cherry edp with key notes of cherry, raspberry, praline, guaiac wood, patchouli and palo santo.


text:
China Unicom tipped for modest recovery in third quarter
Speculation rife on whether major internet company will become a strategic investor on back of government’s mixed ownership reform programme
China Unicom, the world’s sixth largest mobile network operator by number of subscribers, is expected to show a modest recovery when it reports third-quarter earnings on Friday, analysts said.
That could temper recent speculation on how parent China United Network Communications Group will push forward the government-sanctioned “mixed-ownership reform plan” involving potential strategic investors.
In a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on October 10, Unicom said its parent was included in the first batch of state-owned enterprises tasked last month by the National Development and Reform Commission to implement the plan.
The NDRC meeting on September 28 was held more than a month after Unicom posted a record 79.6 per cent fall in interim net profit to 1.43 billion yuan, down from 6.99 billion yuan in the same period last year, due to higher sales and marketing costs as well as network, operations and support expenses.
It was the company’s steepest six-month profit plunge since reporting a 61.8 per cent year on year drop to 2.53 billion yuan in the first half of 2010.
Interim revenue slipped 3.1 per cent to 140.25 billion yuan from 144.68 billion yuan a year earlier.
Bernstein Research estimated that Unicom would post a 1.08 billion yuan net profit in the three months to September, compared with 1.19 billion yuan a year ago.
Third-quarter revenue is predicted to reach 71.74 billion yuan, up from 67.23 billion yuan the previous year.
“Further announcements on reform may improve sentiment on the stock. But fundamentals
are still weak,” said Elaine Lai, an equity analyst at Jefferies. “We think profit recovery for China Unicom will take at least two years.”
Daiwa Capital Markets analyst Ramakrishna Maruvada said in a report that one of the objectives of the mixed-ownership programme was to enhance state-owned enterprises’ operating efficiency and boost their competitiveness.
“We view this development as a positive share price catalyst, even though details remain sketchy for now,” Maruvada said.
The mixed ownership reform plan may entail asset sales to investment funds, employee stock options, the public listing of the whole state-owned enterprise or its core assets, and the introduction of
Speculation has been rife about the potential for China’s three internet giants – Baidu, Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings – to invest in Unicom. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.
Nomura analyst Joel Ying said in a report that China’s telecommunications industry has developed the world’s largest 4G infrastructure, but has failed to establish viable mobile internet services.
“If China Unicom can co-operate with some internet companies, it may be able to accelerate development in businesses such as cloud computing, big data analysis and financial technology,” Ying said.
Bernstein senior analyst Chris Lane, however, said the question for Baidu, Alibaba or Tencent would be what any of them would gain from investing in Unicom.
“Why buy a complicated, high capital expenditure business when you can easily deliver your online services ‘over-the-top’ to your customers. I don’t see how owning Unicom would change anything for them,” Lane said.
Over-the-top (OTT) applications like Netflix on-demand streaming video deliver services over the internet that bypass traditional commercial distribution via telecommunications, cable or satellite network operators.
Unicom’s share price was up 2.81 per cent on Friday to close at HK$9.88.


text:
Lordstown Motors may fail again. In a regulatory filing Monday, the EV firm that went public via a SPAC merger warned investors that Foxconn might back out of a major funding transaction, forcing it to declare bankruptcy.
Foxconn wrote to Lordstown on April 21 that the carmaker breached the investment agreement because its stock price fell below $1 for 30 days and risked delisting from Nasdaq. In addition, Foxconn threatened to cancel the investment agreement if the breach was not remedied within 30 days.
Lordstown said it would protect its rights but cautioned that withholding vital finance would hurt the firm.
According to the SEC filing, Lordstown will not have enough funds to operate without the investment. If no settlement is achieved, Lordstown is considering legal and financial options.
“As a result of these uncertainties, there is substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern,” Lordstown noted in the regulatory filing.
“Our ability to obtain additional financing is extremely limited under current market conditions, particularly for our industry, and also influenced by other factors including the significant amount of capital required, the Foxconn dispute, the fact that the BOM [bill of materials cost] of the Endurance is currently, and expected to continue to be, substantially higher than our selling price, uncertainty surrounding the performance of any vehicle produced by us, meaning
The business will declare bankruptcy if Foxconn doesn’t settle or find alternative finance.
Foxconn invested $170 million in ordinary stock and newly formed preference shares in Lordstown Motors last November. Lordstown invested again a year after Foxconn bought its 6.2-million-square-foot facility. Foxconn helped Lordstown Motors build its Endurance pickup vehicle as part of that $230 million contract, which included a $50 million direct investment.
Last year’s Foxconn-Lordstown Motors joint venture finance was replaced by the November $100 million direct preferred stock investment. The US Committee on Foreign Investment reviewed the tranched investment.


text:
Microïds has decided to turn to Android users and announced the porting of its catalogue on Google Play and Amazon Store. Dracula: Resurrection is its first title available on Android today. MWEB GameZone takes a look
One more reason to have an Android phone :)
Looks interesting, should be an interesting one to try on the Galaxy S4
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


text:
In response to rising COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, Austin Public Health (APH) recently raised the area’s risk-based guidance to Stage 5, its highest level. RAINING KATE’S wants you to know that we are fully on board with the notion of our company’s responsibility in adhering to APH’s recommendations and working toward halting the spike in infection caused by the Delta variant.
Unfortunately, weather does not concern itself with a pandemic and if your home or business is flooded or has suffered water damage, you need to seek help, which means having people in your house or workplace. We understand that this may cause you concern and want to assure you that at Raining Kate’s we are doing whatever we can to keep both our customers, employees, and contractors safe. Our COVID-19 safety protocol includes the following:
Encouraging all of our staff and contractors to get fully vaccinated.
Requiring all of our personnel to wear masks at all times while working in and around your property.
Instructing our workers to wash their hands regularly and where this may not be possible to use liberal amounts of hand sanitizer. If our workers need to wear disposable gloves, such gloves will be changed at regular intervals.
Requiring that all workers wash their hands for at least twenty seconds before they start working, after removing gloves, before and after handling high-touch items, and before and after all bathroom or meal breaks.
Frequently disinfecting and cleaning your home to the best of our ability throughout the day, paying special attention to frequently-touched areas like bathrooms, windows, and door handles.
While working in your home, maintaining, to the best of our availability, adequate ventilation to reduce the concentration of viral particles in indoor air.
In addition, we strongly encourage all customers to wear face masks when interacting with our workers.
Please continue to support local businesses in 2021. It is no secret that our small and local businesses have been hit hard.
We are making sure that we are playing it as safe as possible on a day to day basis in our work and our personal lives. However, we want to be sure we remain aware of where we spend our money. Our focus this year continues to be on investing locally on the businesses that keep our local communities thriving, vibrant, and unique.


text:
More indications of a 2013 reveal for the next Xbox
More rumours have emerged about next-generation home console hardware but this time they relate to the next Xbox.
It appears that the Xbox 720 could very well be shooting for a reveal at E3 in 2013 if the new anonymous industry sources are to be believed.
News has already emerged of next-gen Xbox games in development at Lionhead, Turn 10 and THQ with Rare even rumoured to be working on a mature title for the next Xbox.
Earlier this year a source close to EA claimed that they already had early development kits for the Microsoft's new home hardware.
Thanks Develop Online.
- Steam is awesome this weekend, Borderlands 2 and Dishonored freeplay and a massive 2K sale
- Peter Molyneux: “There is a brilliant game there in Godus that is going to bring people together”
- FIFA Ultimate Team cheaters be warned EA Sports is coming for you
- #welovegamedevs Twitter campaign appears as an antidote to this week's unpleasantness
- No branching narratives for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Spa hotlap video arrives for F1 2014
- Phil Fish puts Polytron and Fez up for sale and quits Twitter after multiple hacks
- The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter gets a PC release date
- Sony schedules PSN maintenance for Monday


text:
Sales of vehicles also remained in the red due to the Shraddh period, considered inauspicious for big purchases
Also, manufacturers did not push much inventory to the dealers expecting sales to remain tepid during the month
New Delhi: Retail or showroom sales of passenger vehicles in India declined a sharp 20% year-on-year to 157,972 units in September, according to data released by Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). Customers stayed away from showrooms during festivals like Onam and Ganesh Chaturthi in the southern and western states of the country expecting a cut in Goods and Services Tax on vehicles.
Sales of vehicles also remained in the red due to the Shraddh period during the month, considered inauspicious for big purchases in the northern and western states.
Also, manufacturers did not push much inventory to the dealers expecting sales to remain tepid during the month. Wholesale dispatches of passenger vehicles slumped 23.7% year-on-year to 223,317 units in September, the eleventh straight month of such decline.
Reflecting the slowdown in the rural markets due to a fall in farm income and floods in states like Maharashtra, Bihar, Assam and others, retail sales of two wheelers also decreased 12% year-on-year to 1098271 units.
In the commercial vehicle segment, showrooms sales declined by 18.5% year on year to 63518 units, on the back of slowdown in overall economic activity especially in the manufacturing and infrastructure sector. Increased load carrying capacity of trucks also restricted fleet owners from buying new vehicles.
According to Ashish Harsharaj Kale, president, Fada, continued heavy monsoons in major states and the Shraddh period also contributed to this sales lag. The complete effects of the positive measures announced by the union government were still not visible at the retail levels during September.
“FADA believed September to be a transition month into positivity with continued monsoon and measure after measures being announced by the Government. The retails were under pressure during the month and the decline was on expected lines. The corporate tax cut although not a direct positive for auto retails, but hopefully the savings by corporates will result in higher outflow in promotional offers and marketing spends, which will result in some positivity in the market," added Kale.


text:
Tag Archives: Google
China is quite famous with the way it handles its internet content. If you didn’t know that China had its..
Waymo, the self-driving car company that is housed under Google’s parent company Alphabet, is suing Uber and its self-driving truck..
Are you tired of viewing ads displayed on YouTube just before the video you want to watch starts playing? We..
Search engine giant, Google has created a total of $4m crisis fund (2m from the company and another $2m in..
Have you noticed that Google loads a Chromebook up with lots and lots of amazing wallpapers, but not so much..
Search company, Google has launched the Pixel phone, featuring a 12 megapixel camera and unlimited photo storage. The smartphones launched were the..
An autonomous vehicle made by Google was involved in a crash on Friday, September 23. The tech giant Google confirmed that the..
Google Allo is the latest voice messaging app coming from the Mountain View company. It was announced that it would..
Google DeepMind has announced its second collaboration with the NHS, this time the company will use 1m anonymised eye scans to..
If you’ve been following Android for a while, you must have herd that the ‘N’ you’ve probably guessed to be..


text:
Sun City acquires Longboard
There's been a change of course at Longboard. The surf brand, founded in the early 2000s and developed by the Norprotex group, has been taken over by the French group, Sun City, which specializes in developing apparel and accessory licenses for fashion brands and mass retailers.
The transaction price was not disclosed by either of the two parties but was facilitated by Emmanuel Assouline, operations director of the Saint-Denis-based company. The marketing director, who has worked with Sun City for nearly three years, has been involved in developing the presence of the label's distribution networks for nearly 15 years.
"Emmanuel is a bit like a co-founder of the brand," said Pierre Sokolowski, CEO of Norprotex, who had already sold the rugby brand Ruckfield to former French international athlete, Sébastien Chabal, in 2019. "Longboard is a great story that we started from the Southwest of France to Hawaii and Australia. It has generated, on average, annual turnover of between 15 to 20 million euros, with a total of more than 15 million pieces sold and beautiful licenses in different product categories. Today, I retire, but knowing that the brand is in good hands.”
While the textile company pauses its marketing to return in the Spring/Summer of 2023, these licenses have not stopped and will continue to keep Longboard alive in the coming season. Oberthur will offer stationery, Sogema eyewear, Impex car interior products, and a few others could come soon.
"The brand had a strong presence in GSA (supermarkets) in France, but also in Spain and Portugal, primarily in the surfing apparel market, but there is a possibility of deploying the offer in the outdoor apparel market which is currently very buoyant, as we have seen with our Ushuaïa license, but as well as for the snow with softshell jackets and fleeces," explained Assouline. “We were able to take over the brand along with its history, its archives, its data. We see a potential to position the brand at the level it has been in the past, but also to expand it to new markets through our contacts in Asia and North America".
This comes as an interesting new asset for Michel Benchetrit and brothers Daniel and David Taïeb’s Sun City group, which will be able to apply the know-how of its design teams to the distribution of its own brand. The company, which reached 60 million euros in sales in 2020, says that it experienced a growth of 14% in 2021.
Norprotex becomes an investment player
The operational activity concluded last year for Sokolowski. “We have stopped activities related to distribution," explained the manager. “We have converted Norprotex into a holding company and are taking minority stakes in companies". The entrepreneur chose to back the Almé Paris company, developed by his daughter, but to also invest in his son's project, Atelier Garrigue, which focuses on knitwear. He also supports the Parisian label La Panoplie and has invested, as a former doctor, in a paramedical equipment company.
"I'm not ready to stop my activities," commented the director. “And we are currently looking at dossiers for other investments.”
Copyright © 2023 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


text:
Pakistan is aiming at reducing some taxes on the imports of raw materials to increase growth in the manufacturing industry and to promote overall economic growth, as announced by the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Trade, Abdul Razzak Dawood.
He said that this policy will be applicable to the raw materials for the pharmaceutical, chemical, engineering, and food processing industries, according to a report by Bloomberg. They will be reduced by three percent to 10 percent, he added.
Dawood further said that this will help to lower the import of finished goods while improving local production, thus allowing Pakistan to improve its exports.
“Pakistan had ridiculously high duties,” he said, adding that the objective of the new policy is to put Pakistan on par with other countries for trade taxes.
The proposal to reduce the import taxes on the specified industries will be presented for the upcoming federal budget for the next fiscal year, which is scheduled to be presented in the parliament on 11 June.
Considering that Pakistan earns nearly 40 percent of its total tax revenue through import taxes, reducing them will be a huge shift for the current government.
The economic team is aiming at lessening the country’s reliance on foreign bailout programs by strengthening exports for which concessional long-term financing and working capital financing will also be made part of the new policy, Dawood said.


text:
Around 630 persons arrested and over 6500 challaned for flouting COVID-19 norms during last 3 days across Punjab
Punjab Police registers 560 FIRs from May 2 to May 4 against violators, including owners of prominent Hotels, Marriage Palaces, Shops, Restaurants etc
With the Punjab Government issuing fresh guidelines imposing stricter curbs amid surge in COVID-19 cases, the Punjab Police is leaving no stone unturned to enforce the various newly announced restrictions to protect and save the people of Punjab from this deadly virus. Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Dinkar Gupta, while sharing details, said that the joint
Chandigarh : With the Punjab Government issuing fresh guidelines imposing stricter curbs amid surge in COVID-19 cases, the Punjab Police is leaving no stone unturned to enforce the various newly announced restrictions to protect and save the people of Punjab from this deadly virus. Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Dinkar Gupta, while sharing details, said that the joint teams of Punjab Police have issued at least 6531 challans to face mask violators and arrested as many as 629 persons for violating the COVID-19 norms across the state in last three days.The Home department on Sunday, ordered that all the non-essential shops must remain closed in the state, while, all Four-Wheeler Passenger vehicles should not seat more than 2 passengers and no Pillion riders are allowed on scooters and motorcycles except those belonging to the same family and living in the same house. Likewise, no gathering of more than 10 persons is allowed, including for weddings/cremations/funerals.The DGP, while disclosing data from May 2 to May 4, 2021, said that the Punjab Police have registered around 560 First Information Reports (FIRs) against those found flouting the guidelines, including owners of prominent Hotels, Marriage Palaces, Restaurants, Shops etc.The DGP said that, besides issuing fines, the Police have taken over 66000 Face Mask violators to undergo RT-PCR testing under the drive to enforce COVID-19 appropriate behaviour during the same span.
Since the special drive was started from March 19, 2021, the Punjab Police have persuaded over 6.9 lakh people to undergo COVID-19 testing besides penalising over I lakh people across the state for not wearing face masks, he added.Divulging details regarding the action against prominent establishments, Spokesperson of Police Department said that the Tarn Taran Police have booked owners of restaurant Arabian Kebab and Master Burger for defying night curfew timings besides registering case against owner of petrol pump owner as most of employees found without mask and also they were not adhering to the social distancing. Similarly, Barnala Police have lodged an FIR against the owner of Royal Green Resorts for violating COVID-19 norms, while the Hoshiarpur Police have booked three persons found drinking at the office of a Property Dealer during the night curfew hours. Recently, the Jalandhar Commissionerate Police had also booked owners of Ramada Hotel and Gulshan Palace for organising a Party having more than 20 guests while owners of Taj Restaurant and Yummy Fast Food were booked for flouting night curfew timings.The DGP once again exhorted the public to comply with the laid down restrictions, which are similar to those laid down in over 15 other States of the country. Otherwise, strict legal action including arrests and impounding of vehicles would be taken against the violators, he said.Meanwhile, all shops selling essential items including Chemist shops and shops dealing with supply of essential goods, milk, bread, vegetables, fruits, dairy and poultry products like eggs, meat, mobile repair, kirana and grocery shops, shops selling fertilisers, seeds insecticides, pesticides, agriculture equipments, and Liquor vends etc. are allowed to open, subject to adherence of Covid protocols.


text:
Chesterfield College Launches New Creative Hub
West Studios has opened its doors to showcase the new facilities it has available for creative businesses in Chesterfield.
The former boy’s grammar school on Sheffield Road has been completely renovated thanks to a grant from the European Regional Development Fund.
Part of Chesterfield College, the centre now offers workshop and office space, as well as access to business support that can help turn creative skills into successful enterprises.
Guests enjoyed an exhibition and auction at the event on Thursday 22nd January which featured a diverse range of work from current tenants – from silversmithing to sculpture, knitwear design to performing arts and much more.
Sharlaine Fincham, Manager of West Studios said:-
“It is wonderful to be able play a role in nurturing local creative talent in a way that will give creative industries in our region a real competitive edge.
“It’s evident that a facility like West Studios is needed as we are already working with so many fantastic businesses. We are helping our tenants with things like market research, using social media and other general business support that can really make a difference.”
Photographs from the launch event are on the Chesterfield Facebook page here.


text:
| || |
In the sustainability section above there are two articles that illustrate ways of reducing carbon footprint. When cattle grow faster due to less energy wastage through Methane production or when more carbon ends up in the soil as a result of grazing management, there is plenty of potential for economic returns to producers as well.
Small Changes in Productivity Can Make a Big Difference to the Bottom Line
Alan Lauder, Soils For Life | March 16, 2018
Discussing management of carbon flows relates to both economic outcomes and environmental outcomes. This week is all about economics.
If I asked an average sheep or cattle producer if they could double their profit, I would be laughed at. However, if I asked could you increase production by 9%, I would get a hearing. The interesting thing is that they are both the same thing in a marginal industry.
McDonald's Becomes the First Restaurant Company to Set Approved Science Based Target to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
McDonald's News | March 20, 2018
McDonald's announces it will partner with franchisees and suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to McDonald's restaurants and offices by 36% by 2030 from a 2015 base year in a new strategy to address global climate change.
Additionally, McDonald's commits to a 31% reduction in emissions intensity (per metric ton of food and packaging) across its supply chain by 2030 from 2015 levels. This combined target has been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Through these actions, McDonald's expects to prevent 150 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the atmosphere by 2030.
Meat Industry Welcomes CPTPP Signing
Aiden Fortune, Global Meat News | March 9, 2018
Canadian Meat Council (CMC) president and CEO Chris White said the signing of the deal would be a big boost for the domestic meat industry.
"CMC is confident that this deal has the potential to increase beef and pork sales by at least $1 billion, creating the potential to support an over 11,000 new jobs here in Canada."
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and the Meat Industry Association (MIA) also welcomed the signing. B+LNZ chief executive Sam McIvor said it will save the sector NZ$63 million in tariffs. "The New Zealand sheep and beef sector exports close to 90% of its production totaling $7.5 billion, on which we paid $231 million of tariffs in 2016," he explained. Bayer, WFO to launch global Care4Cattle grant to advance cattle well–being,
Every day, livestock professionals around the world demonstrate their commitment to ensuring the well–being and health of the animals in their care. In support of their dedication, Bayer has launched the global Care4Cattle initiative aimed at recognizing innovative thinking that can advance animal well–being, in partnership with the World Farmers' Organisation (WFO).
Living in the Netherlands I can confirm that there is quite a lot of political activism related to animal welfare; there is even a political party called the Party for Animals with 5 seats in the National Parliament (out of 150), and 33 in municipalities around the country.
Animal Welfare A 'Growing Consideration' for Consumers
Caroline Allen, Agriland | March 18, 2018
Good animal welfare is an increasingly critical consideration for consumers, according to Mark Zieg, meat production sector manager, Bord Bia.
"Good welfare is an increasingly important requirement coming from the marketplace and is something that we track across a range of markets in our insights work, which then feeds into our promotional approach," he said.
Sustainable Beef Pilot Passes First–Quarter Mark
Country Guide | March 16, 2018 | March 18, 2018
The project, dubbed the Canadian Beef Sustainability Acceleration (CBSA) pilot, was set up to test and validate the audit and traceability systems needed to meet the requirements of the Certified Sustainable Beef Framework laid out by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB).
The pilot project, which so far has taken in cattle from over 70 eligible producers, was able to "successfully" certify over 550,000 pounds of beef as per CRSB's standards and supply chain guidelines, Cargill said.
JBS $200 Million Sale of Five Rivers Cattle Feeding Final
Sharon Dunn, Greeley Tribune | March 17, 2018
It took about eight months, but JBS is finally free of its Five Rivers Cattle Feeding operations. The Greeley–based company had planned since last June to sell its massive cattle feeding operations, which span six states including Colorado. The deal became final and closed on Friday.
Pinnacle Asset Management, a private New York–based asset management firm that focuses on global commodities markets, acquired the operations for $200 million.
The sale to Pinnacle includes 11 feed yards across Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, with feeding capacity of more than 900,000 animals. The firm also agreed to supply cattle to JBS USA beef processing plants.


text:
A new study found that some of the melatonin "gummies" sold as sleep aids contained potentially harmful amounts of this hormone, which helps regulate sleep.
One product contained 347 percent more melatonin that was listed on the label, said Pieter Cohen. He is an associate professor at the Cambridge Health Alliance, in Somerville Massachusetts.
Cohen says that a jar of gummies may also contain ingredients that you did not expect. 'One product listed as melatonin actually contained no melatonin. It was cannabidiol or CBD.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration 'it's currently illegal to sell CBD by adding it into a food product or labeling as a nutritional supplement.' Cohen noted that several of the products tested in the study, which contained CBD, openly promoted the addition of this compound to their product melatonin.
Cohen stated that four of the products tested contained CBD levels between 4% to 18% higher than the labels.
The use of CBD as an over-the counter aid is especially concerning, because parents may purchase gummy products for their children to assist them in sleeping, according to Dr. Cora Collette Breuner. She is a professor of Pediatrics at Seattle Children's Hospital, part of the University of Washington.
Breuner said that there was no evidence to support the use of CBD for children. Breuner did not participate in the study. It's only currently recommended for very specific uses in children older than 1 years old with intractable seizures disorders.
Breuner said that consuming a gummy containing extremely high levels of Melatonin, well above the daily dose of 0.5-1 milligrams per night, that is shown to induce sleep among children, is dangerous. The American Academy of Pediatrics is writing new guidelines for supplements in children.
Melatonin can cause drowsiness in children, as well as headaches, agitation and an increase in bedwetting. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (a department of the National Institutes of Health), there is the possibility of harmful interactions with medication and allergic reactions to melatonin.
The agency warns that supplements can affect hormone development. This includes puberty, menstrual cycle, and the overproduction of prolactin which is responsible for breast and milk production in women.
Select carefully from the government database
Researchers sent 25 products labeled melatonin gums to an external lab for testing. The tests measured the levels of melatonin as well as other substances.
Cohen explained that the team did not choose products randomly from the internet. Scientists carefully selected the top 25 gummy melatonin supplements displayed in the National Institutes of Health database. The public can view the labels of dietary supplement products sold in the United States by checking the database.
Cohen stated that they chose gummies because they thought parents would choose edibles for their children. Cohen said that they wanted to look more closely at these products because last year, poison centers received over a quarter of a million calls regarding pediatric ingestion. This led to thousands of hospitalizations and ICU visits as well as some deaths.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report in 2022 that found the number of calls made to poison control by parents about their children consuming melatonin increased by 530% from 2012 to 2021. Report said that the highest spike of calls (38%) occurred between 2019-2020.
The majority of calls came from children under 5 years who had eaten gummies that their caregivers hadn't properly locked away.
Cohen stated that gummies were appealing to children who saw them as candy. Cohen said that they wondered if the products were causing the increase in calls to poison control centers.
Cohen, who studied incorrect labeling for years, found that 88% of gummies had been inaccurately labelled. Only three contained a melatonin quantity within 10% of the amount listed on the label.
He said that the regulatory framework for supplements was broken. 'Manufacturers are not following the law and the FDA does not enforce the law.' This means that there are a lot low-quality products on the market.
A spokesperson from the FDA confirmed to CNN that they would be reviewing the findings of this study. They added that, while the FDA does not comment on specific studies in general, it 'evaluates' them as part of a body of evidence which helps us understand a certain issue.
The spokesperson stated via email that it is important to emphasize that the FDA has no authority to approve supplements before they're marketed. It's the responsibility of the firms to ensure their products are not misbranded or adulterated before they're distributed.
Steve Mister is the president and CEO of Council for Responsible Nutrition. This trade association represents the dietary supplements industry. He released a press release saying that manufacturers can add more melatonin in order to ensure the product stays at the levels listed on the label, as natural degradation occurs over time.
Mister stated that while there may be some variation in the overages, as companies adhere to FDA requirements regarding shelf-life and potency, this does not mean that there is any risk when taking these products in their intended form.
Melatonin, a hormone
Experts say that people often mistake melatonin for a herbal supplement or vitamin. Melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal, deep in the brain, is released into the bloodstream and regulates the body's sleeping cycles.
Breuner explained that studies have shown that melatonin is helpful for promoting sleep when used properly -- a small dose taken at least two hours prior to bedtime -- but its actual benefits are small.
She said that in six randomized controlled studies on melatonin treatments for children, the time to fall asleep decreased from 11 to 51 minutes.
Breuner stated that these studies were small and had widely varying results. "So, I tell parents that you can reduce the time your child takes to fall asleep by as little as 11 seconds."
If you are considering buying melatonin, make sure the bottle is stamped with the United States Pharmacopeia's (USP) stamp. This organization hires manufacturers to test and verify their products.
Cohen stated that if the product has the USP stamp, it is labeled accurately. Cohen said that this does not mean that melatonin will work or be a good thing to take.
He said, 'That is not the USP.' "But at least, the verification of the labels should eliminate the issues we see here in our study."


text:
Designing for New Customer Demands
Almost half (47.6%) of all U.S. consumers are “very concerned” about their personal health as it relates to the COVID-19 virus, according to IDC’s recent U.S. consumer survey. This concern for safety has spurred many businesses to create new contactless consumer experiences, including curbside pickup. Enterprises will also invest in design and user interface requirements for contactless process automation with an emphasis on voice-based experiences and self-service options through mobile apps.
- Prediction: By 2023, 75% of grocery ecommerce orders will be picked up curbside or in store, driving a 35% increase in investment in onsite or nearby micro-fulfillment centers.
- Prediction: In 2021, 40% of development activities will reprioritize design and user interface to support contactless process automation.
Accelerating Automation Initiatives
Enterprises will increasingly adopt automated IT operations practices to support the greater scale required for digitally driven enterprises. Robotic process automation (RPA), robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies will play a more important role in labor automation while a continued focus on autonomous operations will drive investment in Digital Engineering organizations and digital operations technologies.
- Prediction: By 2022, 45% of repetitive work tasks will be automated and/or augmented by using “digital co-workers,” powered by AI, robotics, and RPA.
- Prediction: By 2023, 75% of Global 2000 IT organizations will adopt automated operations practices to transform their IT workforce to support unprecedented scale.


text:
Now that the holiday shopping frenzy is almost over, merchants are bracing for a less-welcome wave of business: merchandise returns. But it's not all those sweaters that never seem to fit right that are the big headache. Instead, post-Christmas marks the prime season for retail return fraud. According to a National Retail Federation survey, return fraud cost retailers an estimated $8.9 billion in 2012, with nearly 30 percent occurring during the holiday season alone. Overall, the survey shows that about 4.6 percent of holiday returns are fraudulent.
More Suggested Content:
Retail Predictions and Convictions for 2013
December 31, 2012
We all know the foundation, landscape, and future of brick and mortar retailing is changing forever. The mammoth social mediums, internet purchasing, information gathering, entertaining, mobile apps, consumer based social publishing, smart phones, tablets, and any other glowing boxes allowing for fast push and pull actions and reactions, are the driving forces of this change.
NRF To Honor Amazon's Bezos
December 19, 2012
The National Retail Federation said this week that it has named Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos the winner of its NRF Gold Award. Bezos will receive the honor on Jan. 15 at the BIG Show in New York.


text:
NimbleBit, indie creator of the mobile free-to-play hit Tiny Tower
, has partnered with Disney to produce Star Wars: Tiny Death Star
, due out soon for mobile devices worldwide.
Similar in concept to Tiny Tower, Tiny Death Star
is a simulation game in which players build floors and manage businesses in a bid to populate a tower (or a mobile instrument of planetary destruction, in this case) with workers and residents. Tiny Death Star
will feature familiar Star Wars-themed locations filled with series characters and Galactic Bitizens.
As of last year, Tiny Tower
has racked up over 10 million downloads
across the iOS App Store and Google Play.


text:
FIFA 18 has already managed to catch the attention of the gamers since the announcement of the game on June 5. And since then we have been coming across a number of updates regarding the crucial aspects of the game. From all that has been reported it seems that the gamers are eagerly looking for the launch of the FIFA 18 demo.
FIFA 18 Demo Release Date (Probable)
The FIFA 18 trailer which has been released has revealed that the game will be available on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. An exclusive version of the game will be available on Nintendo Switch as well. So as we slowly approach the official launch of FIFA 18, we are looking forward to the FIFA 18 demo release date as well for that will provide the gamers with the opportunity to play the game before it becomes social a few days after the release of the demo.
Generally, we have seen that the demo editions of the games in the FIFA franchise are released a few days before the official release date of the original version of the game. In this case, we already know that the release date of FIFA 18 is September 29. So it is expected that FIFA 18 Demo is going to be released in the second week of September this year. To be precise, it is perhaps going to be on September 15 that FIFA 18 demo is going to be launched. However, the official update on this is yet to be revealed, and it is expected that EA Sports will announce it at Gamescom 2017.
FIFA 18 Demo Possible Features
Certainly, there will be some exclusive FIFA 18 features which will be revealed when FIFA 18 Demo is launched. And here we are with a glimpse of what the gamers might come across with the launch of the demo of FIFA 18 – the best player, the teams and the other modes of the game which are going to be playable in the Demo version of the much talked-about game.
Cristiano Ronaldo will feature as the cover star of the game, and that has been revealed during the FIFA 18 trailer launch. And it can be stated that it is going to be Cristiano Ronaldo who is going to have the best overall rating in the game, particularly in the demo version.
There are going to be a number of teams which will be playable in the demo edition which will come out for the gamers a couple of weeks before the original copy starts getting rolled out. It is believed that Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea are going to be the playable teams in the game. Among the other clubs which might be playable in the FIFA 18 Demo are Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid from Spain; Juventus from Italy; Bayern Munich from Germany; Paris Saint-Germain from France; LA Galaxy and Toronto FC from MLS.Most of the clubs mentioned here (not all though) have been spotted in the trailer which has been released already. And that's one of the prime reasons why these clubs are going to be playable in the FIFA 18 demo edition.
The Journey: Hunter Returns
It does not require any mention that the Journey Mode is the biggest selling point of FIFA 17 and a similar fate of The Journey Mode in FIFA 18 can be predicted. In fact, the gamers are keen enough to come across what this particular mode of FIFA 18 gameplay has got in store. This has led to the question that whether ‘The Journey: Hunter Returns’ will be playable in FIFA 18 demo or not. And much to the pleasure of the gamers, the answer is yes. Definitely, the gamers cannot play the entire version since it is going to be the demo only. But that is certainly making the fans wait keenly for the release of the FIFA 18 Demo as well.
It seems that the FIFA 18 Demo itself has got a lot in store for all the gamers for they will be able to get a glimpse of the game before it gets launched officially. Unquestionably the demo edition of FIFA 18 is going to be really exciting for the gamers, let alone the full edition of the game. And hence, all eyes are currently on the announcement of the release date of the FIFA 18 demo.


text:
Bryan Texas Utilities continues to see letters and other forms of protest to their cut offs and fees, but the company says that an existing solution for customers in need is being overlooked.
As of August 12, 2020, BTU has 465 customers in danger of having their power cut off.
The company says that doesn’t have to be the case, though.
Through August 10, 2020 they have gotten more than $200,000 in pledges from different organizations to help customers with their utility bills.
And those previously mentioned 465 customers owe a combined total of about $184,000, which means there’s more than enough money to help.
“This is gonna be an ongoing thing," said Mike Connor, a Senior Accounts Manager at BTU, "we’ve always had organizations that pledge money for customer utility bills even before the pandemic.”
Connor noted this issue has just been brought to the forefront with the pandemic.
So all a concerned customer has to do is give BTU a call, and the company will put them in contact with different agencies they can get the pledge money from.
From there, payment arrangements can be made to get their bills up to date.
BTU noted they have always been transparent about the resources available, though.
“Every customer whose account was subject to disconnection actually received a letter before we started resuming disconnects with a list of all these organizations that have made pledges to us in the past,” Connor said.
The company says they welcome customer calls about this because they really do want to help.
To find out more about BTU’s policies you can visit their website.
To get in contact with organizations that help people in a tough spot right now, call 211 or click here.


text:
Holidays are coming… and so is one of the country’s biggest Christmas parties, Capital's Jingle Bell Ball with
Tickets for the two-day music event sold out in record time this year, as 14 chart-topping artists were confirmed for the star-studded line-up, including Jess Glynne and Nathan Sykes. As headline partner, we’ll be there to bring fans updates on the main event, and offer them the chance to win tickets on The
So, with the dress code as dressed to PAARRRTTAAAYYY, it’s time to polish those dancing shoes for the highlight of the Christmas party calendar.
More on Journey
- Twisted and Exotic: Watch Tanya Reynolds personify Diet Coke’s fruity summer flavours
- Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade certification: What they really mean
Ball Games Allowed: New
Coca-Colacampaign unleashes the power of football
- Coca-Cola x Stranger Things: We’re transforming Shoreditch into Hawkins to celebrate the launch of Season three!
Coca-ColaEnergy dancing flash mob takes to the streets!


text:
Apple might finish adult removing a assisting palm from a mega smartphone opposition Samsung, after a South Korean wiring hulk assured US regulators to demeanour during dual Smartflash LLC patents.
In February, Cupertino was ordered to compensate scarcely half a billion dollars to Texas-based obvious chartering association Smartflash after a jury found that Cupertino’s iTunes song use had disregarded 3 patents.
Now, as remarkable by Bloomberg Business, a fact that watchdogs are sniffing around Smartflash could infer useful to Apple.
A examination house during a US Patent and Trademark Office is reportedly reviewing a prop of Smartflash patents to coddle over either they should have been released in a initial place.
If a patents are chucked out by a regulators, afterwards a $533m outcome opposite Apple progressing this year could be undermined. ®


text:
Alinma Bank partner (client), Mr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed from the city of Jeddah, has become the first individual to receive a BMW car as part of the bank’s current promotional financing campaign, which was launched at the beginning of Ramadan and will extend through September 29, 2011. Mr. Al-Mohammed received the car after taking real estate financing from the bank.
As part of the campaign, Alinma offers a wide range of valuable gifts including BMW cars, consumer electronics packages, Mobily Connect service packages and other valuable offers. Gifts are guaranteed to partners who take personal financing for a period of two years (24 months) or more and they are not required to transfer their salaries or enter any type of special drawing or raffle.
A special ceremony was held at the bank’s branch in the Safa district of Jeddah, during which the BMW was handed over to Mr. Al-Mohammed, who said he was pleased to deal with Alinma Bank and was impressed by how easy it was to complete his real estate financing. “I would like to thank the bank for helping me purchase my dream,” said Al-Mohammed. “The bank’s service was first rate, and I am, of course, thrilled to receive this wonderful car.”
The campaign was launched in partnership with Mohammed Yousuf Naghi BMW, Mohammed Yousef Naghi for LG Electrical Equipment, and Mobily. Partners receive their promotional gifts immediately upon completion of their financing deals at any of the bank’s 61 branches throughout the Kingdom.


text:
Amazon’s closing of the Whole Foods Market acquisition this week is sure to add to brick-and-mortar retailers’ anxiety about the e-tailing giant’s ongoing march into traditional retail channels.
Speculation about a potential move by Amazon into the pharmacy space has disquieted drug chains and other retail pharmacy players. But the online retailer’s grocery market entry is already a reality. Market intelligence specialist Packaged Facts described Amazon’s Whole Foods buy and expansion of AmazonFresh as a “one-two punch” to the grocery sector.
For food retailers, the shorter-term hit from Amazon’s grocery push likely won’t come on the market share side but on margins, according to Packaged Facts.
“Will Amazon overtake the food and beverage market? No, but perhaps most importantly, Amazon’s major foray into food will surely stretch margins in an industry where they are already notoriously thin,” explained Packaged Facts research director David Sprinkle.
“This will in turn likely result in additional industry mergers and alliances geared toward managing costs,” he noted, “as other retailers seek to stay in the game with a competitor long known to absorb heavy losses over time in its quest for market share.”
Packaged Facts pegs Amazon’s online food and beverages sales at $1.5 billion last year and rising to $2.3 billion this year, which would give the e-tailer a 19% share of the online market. As Amazon leverages the addition of Whole Foods to spur multichannel expansion, sales growth of 70% in 2018 and 2019 is possible, the market researcher said.
Amazon’s estimated food and beverage sales in the 2018-2020 span “make only minor inroads” into overall food-at-home sales and would leave the company well behind market leaders Walmart and Kroger, Packaged Facts pointed out. Still, looking farther ahead, the researcher said that even average growth by Amazon from 2021 to 2025 would hoist its food and beverages sales well above $30 billion.
What’s more, growth in food sales likely will give a lift to Amazon’s sales in other categories. Packaged Facts said that any progress Amazon makes in the food segment will boost the value proposition of Amazon Prime, “giving more shoppers more reasons to buy three times products across categories.”


text:
- Influencers say brand partnerships are a main source of business, especially for those primarily working on Instagram.
- This lucrative market has been facing a recent hit due the coronavirus outbreak.
- Business Insider spoke to several bloggers, travel influencers, and industry experts about the impact of the coronavirus on the influencer industry.
- Click here for more BI Prime stories.
Many influencers, especially those primarily working on Instagram, say brand sponsorships are their main source of income — with brands set spend up to $15 billion on Business Insider Intelligence.by 2022, according to
But in the last few weeks — and days — this lucrative market has faced a hit due the coronavirus outbreak.
"I think a lot of people in the travel industry are holding their breath," said travel blogger Oneika Raymond, who has 84,900 Instagram followers. "Companies are reluctant to take on anything new and therefore that is impacting the income of creators."
Brand integrations live on almost every social platform, and nearly 79% of brands mainly use Instagram for influencer campaigns, compared with Facebook (46%), YouTube (36%), Twitter (24%), and LinkedIn (12%), according to Influencer Marketing Hub.
Business Insider spoke to several bloggers, travel influencers, and industry experts about the impact of the coronavirus on the influencer industry and Instagram in particular.
'It's a big cloud of uncertainty'
Ray Hughes, a talent manager who represents clients on YouTube and Instagram, said that most of the brand integrations and campaigns his clients had planned have been canceled.
"It's a big cloud of uncertainty," Hughes said. "Sure, we are losing money. It's impacting all talent."
Another talent manager, who represents YouTube creators and Instagram influencers, told Business Insider that they had been advising clients to only share information about the coronavirus that they know is "absolutely credible."
"Neither the creators, nor the brands want to be seen as exploiting this situation in any way, shape or form because it is so serious," the talent manager told Business Insider. "Luckily, the majority of creators have other sources of revenue and their business can continue on. For others who are newer in this space however, I think it's going to impact them a lot more, and it's going to impact Instagram creators much more than creators who operate on multiple platforms."
Mommy-blogger Jehava Brown, who has around 108,000 Instagram followers, said she hadn't noticed any difference in her standard brand collaborations, but all upcoming travel opportunities have been postponed.
Travel influencer Lauren Bullen, known as @gypsea_lust on Instagram with 2.1 million followers, said all her paid trips had been canceled. Bullen currently lives in Bali, and at the moment she had no plans to leave, she said.
"There's obviously no travel jobs going ahead right now," said Bullen. "I also had a job with a luggage company that was to go to a destination — that's canceled until corona passes. But mostly, we aren't wanting to travel much as we don't want to set a bad example and be worsening the issue by thinking it's OK to be jetting across the world and potentially spreading the virus."
Brands are canceling deals, web traffic is down, and paid events are postponed
Raymond makes money on her travel blog from display ads and affiliate links. She said since there's been a decline in tourism, traffic on her website has been down.
"That means that the income that I make from my website has decreased as well," she said.
She also recently canceled a paid work trip to the West Coast, she said. But as a freelancer, she said she is accustomed to changes in her monthly sources of income, and she added that if she only relied on sponsorships for money, she would be experiencing a bigger hit to her business.
"A major brand reached out to me last week or so, inquiring about what my rates were and how we could partner," she said. "They just sent an email saying that due to coronavirus and due to the uncertainty of the industry, all upcoming campaigns have been put on hold until further notice."
Raymond declined to share her rates, or how much money she is losing from these canceled brand opportunities. But typically, the rule many influencers will follow when they first start out is to set their sponsored post rate at $100 for every 10,000 Instagram followers. These rates change based on their overall engagement, like number of comments and Story views on Instagram.
Raymond said she has around 10 different revenue streams which have saved her from any significant loss. They include sponsorships, YouTube monetization, freelance writing, affiliate link revenue, speaking engagements, and display ads on her blog.
For more on the business of influencers, according to YouTube stars, check out these Business Insider Prime posts:
- The metrics that brands use to measure the success of an influencer-marketing campaign are changing, as 'likes' and 'followers' fall out of favor: Given the influencer-marketing industry's concern about fake followers and Instagram's move to hide likes, some brands are looking at new metrics to measure the success of campaigns in 2020.
- 8 YouTube stars explain which videos made them the most money, including one that earned $97,000: We spoke to eight creators with vastly different channels, and they shared the most amount of money YouTube paid them for a single video.
- How much TikTok stars should earn from a brand deal, according to a talent manager who says they often 'can get a lot more money' than they think: How much money a TikTok creator with one million followers should charge for a brand sponsorship depends on their overall engagement.


text:
ON Sunday evening, a group of men and women will gather in a screening room here to watch — and sing along to — the movie musical “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Many will be festively attired in bell-bottoms, love beads and big-hair wigs.
A hippie revival session? A flash-mob theatrical performance?
No. Just another night at Vidiots, one of the Los Angeles area’s last independent video stores.
Over the years, the spread of video-purveying giants like Netflix and Redbox has sounded a death knell for smaller brick-and-mortar video stores, even as some of the Goliaths, including Blockbuster, have faltered themselves.
But through it all, a few scrappy Davids have held on. And now, in the face of the latest assault on their base — in the form of Netflix’s online streaming service — they are struggling to stay afloat by rethinking their business models. They are tapping into new revenue streams in ways that may seem quaint and old-fashioned, but that are proving to be culturally astute and financially viable.
“We just got so into survival mode,” Patty Polinger, co-owner of Vidiots, said of the decision she and her business partner, Cathy Tauber, made to throw the equivalent of a Hail Mary pass and start changing their store’s modus operandi after 26 years.Continue reading the main story
A campy sing-along night is just one component of their plan. Since Vidiots, a beloved institution among the area’s movie cognoscenti and stars, opened a sleek space called the Annex a year ago, it has offered a “Film Studies” program. It has had classes on anime mythology; lectures by filmmakers like Larry Clark (“Kids”); and spoken-word events, known as Tail Spin, where participants deliver improvised monologues on a theme (for example, “the stranger”) for five minutes before the thread is picked up by someone else.
Physically, too, the Annex symbolizes a new era. Its clean, modern design bears no resemblance to the graffiti-covered walls of the video store, which feels more like a basement clubhouse.
The special events have been integral to Vidiots’ transformation from a strictly retail business to a cultural hub and community center. They are intended as a riposte to what the store’s fans regard as the nameless, faceless quality of services like Netflix.
“We felt that with Netflix and the Internet, what we should be focusing on was community and people talking to each other,” Ms. Polinger said. “We just wanted to go the other extreme and be more interpersonal.”
The changes have helped strengthen the store financially, she says. Whereas at one time “I felt like we were in freefall mode, I now feel we’ve stabilized,” she says.
Other retailers are thinking along the same lines as Ms. Polinger. This fall, Videology, a rare video store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is opening a cafe and bar, where a dozen kinds of beer will be on tap, and movie screenings and trivia nights will take place.
And at CineFile Video in Los Angeles, long a mecca for Fassbinder and Godard enthusiasts, Josh Fadem, a comedian who works as a clerk at the store, occasionally performs a free stand-up act.
The movement toward community-building goes beyond marketing. It is also tapping into a cultural impulse to connect with something, or someone, in a digital age. In this way, it is not all that different from the local food movement, or a decision to buy asparagus at a farmer’s market instead of at a superstore.
Consumers need “to have a choice, and the choice is in support of independent whatever — independent bookstore, independent grocery store, independent video store,” said Milos Stehlik, executive director of Facets Multi-Media, an art house film company in Chicago that exhibits, rents and sells films. Ms. Polinger said Facets, which also runs a series of film classes for children and adults, was an inspiration for Vidiots’ new direction.
“People make an effort to reach out to something real, so the one thing they appreciate here, is we are very knowledgeable,” Mr. Stehlik said. “People who work in the video store are very knowledgeable about film. There’s always a conversation, not just a click. Those kinds of real experiences, you can’t really duplicate when you’re getting a movie out of a vending machine.”
Still, clicking is a tempting convenience, even for purist movie geeks who believe that viewing pictures on anything other than 35mm film is blasphemous.
Maybe there is a third way, incorporating both approaches. Peter Fader, a professor of marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, said video stores should position themselves not as an adversary of Netflix, but rather as an alternative.
“What I see happening is that people will use this kind of service as a complement to Netflix,” Professor Fader said. “A lot of movie watching will be on Netflix or video on demand or other sources, but when there is a particular title that’s impossible to find, or a particular event happening — be it a speaker or an activity — it will be something that’s a part of their movie consumption portfolio.
“I think that’s more likely the path to success than being the small, anti-Netflix kind of club,” Professor Fader added, pointing to bookstores’ initially dismissive attitude toward Amazon.com as a lesson in how not to compete with new technologies.
Video stores may get their biggest reprieve as a result of their bête noir. Netflix’s controversial recent 60 percent price increase — for its monthly package of online movie streams along with one DVD by mail at a time — has spawned customer outrage and some cancellations. Furthermore, the notion that Netflix’s future appears to be in online streaming, not DVD’s, may return some business to video stores, given that fewer movie titles are now available via streaming.
“I see a ray of hope with the Netflix thing, and people’s frustration with that,” Ms. Polinger said. “I’ve seen a couple people come in after giving up on Netflix. There’s definitely a backlash.”
Then she paused and sighed.
“Now if we could just be the last one standing.”Continue reading the main story


text:
While consumers' appetite for healthier dishes has increased, their time to prepare them--and willingness to pay high prices--has not.
Fast-food restaurants seem to be most affected by this apparent dilemma as sales continue to be sluggish.
But a rapidly emerging category of eateries is stepping in to fill the niche: quick or fast casual. Restaurateurs are clamoring to cater to consumers who want good-quality food more closely associated with a casual diner than a burger window.
"Every couple of years in the restaurant business something comes along that changes the way you look at the industry," said Harry Balzer, a vice president at NPD Group, which tracks spending and visits to restaurants. "It takes time to build distribution and get the message out to customers, but the [quick-casual] category is growing fast."
So fast that Balzer's assessment is echoed by many of those scurrying to provide the new and healthier options for consumers.
"An enormous wave of competition is flooding into the quick- or fast-casual segment," according to Glen Ellyn native Aaron Kennedy, founder of Boulder, Colo.-based Noodles & Company--which has 11 Illinois outlets.
After growing relatively slowly for years, Kennedy's company is now expanding at breakneck speed, hoping to capitalize on fresh demand in cities such as Dallas, Salt Lake City and Ann Arbor, Mich., along with further growth in its two main markets: greater Chicago and Washington, D.C.
"We anticipate going from roughly 60 stores at the end of this year to 90 next year," said Kennedy, whose company employs a mix of cash flow, fresh equity and commercial debt, which includes a soon-to-be concluded $25 million line of credit from Bank of America to help finance the growth.
The story is similar at the popular local eatery Corner Bakery. "We are expecting to grow at around a 20 percent clip a year," said Dave Wolfgram, the president of Corner Bakery, which is owned by Dallas-based Brinker International. Wolfgram expects the number of eateries to grow from 74 at the end of December to 86 by the end of 2003.
Other players are also jockeying for position. TGI Friday's owner Carlson Restaurant Worldwide Inc. is backing Asian chain Pick Up Stix and plans to quickly expand from its 61 restaurants in California, Arizona, Nevada and Illinois to more than 300. Pizza Hut and KFC parent Yum Brands has teamed with Asian celebrity chef Martin Yan and is expected to use its franchising muscle to roll out that concept. Lesser-known outfits such as Qdoba Mexican Grill have also thrown their hat in the ring.
Still a small percentage
Quick casual alternatives such as Noodles & Company and St. Louis-based Panera Bread Co. still represent only 2 percent of total annual restaurant traffic, or about $5 billion in sales a year, but such venues are now among the fastest-growing eateries in the huge dining industry, according to NPD Group.
Both Wolfgram and Kennedy readily acknowledge that competition isn't coming only from upstarts and entrepreneurial ventures. It is increasingly coming from more established players like Subway, Chili's and Outback Steakhouse, which are using a mix of clever marketing and reinvention to help them migrate their concept into quick-casual alternatives, often offering innovative takeout options.
Yet the biggest threat may come from the burger giants, such as McDonald's and Wendy's, which have set out to be leaders in the new segment.
Oak Brook-based McDonald's bought a minority interest in quick-casual outlet Chipotle Mexican Grill in early 1998, the first of the burger behemoths to invest in an outside chain. McDonald's now controls 90 percent of the equity in the concept, according to Russ Smyth, McDonald's president of partner brands and the man responsible for growing Chipotle and other lesser-known restaurants in the Golden Arches stable, including Boston Market, Donatos Pizzeria, and British-based sandwichmaker Pret A Manger.
While core sales for the burger chain have been sluggish this summer and group profits have been down in six of the past seven quarters, Smyth tells a very different story, even though his division lost $66 million in 2001 on sales of close to $1 billion.
He is overseeing rapid expansion at Chipotle--as well as in his other brands both at home and abroad--which is dismissed as an afterthought by most traditional McExecutives but gives the burger giant a significant presence in the fast-emerging quick-casual niche.
Chipotle will open one restaurant every few days for the foreseeable future, according to Smyth, who expects the number of outlets to rise from 210 currently to 250 by January and 320 in the following 12 months.
Some 500 restaurants should be a reality "very soon," as Chipotle's management works to present Smyth with a new business plan for the next phase of growth, he says.


text:
Virtual reality has been the talk of the gaming community, especially since the announcement of the steep $600 price for the Oculus Rift. Last week, supposedly the price of the PlayStation VR leaked on three Swiss retailer websites claiming about a $435-$544 price range, which obviously isn’t much better than the $600 price point. So with all of the hype spreading around, here are some predictions for the future of virtual reality gaming.
It will be too expensive.
This should be an obvious notion to predict about the virtual reality gaming industry. With the $600 price point of the Oculus Rift and a rumored price point not much lower from the PlayStation VR, it’s a given to worry that the extremely high prices are going to be too much for the average gamer. While working at GameStop, I saw gamers even struggling with dishing out the initial price of almost $500 for the Xbox One with the Kinect. So how are gamers supposed to afford an Oculus Rift for $600? The best part is, it’s not even a console, it’s an added device to allow for the capability for virtual reality, but it costs more than a console. So if you don’t have a PS4 yet, well, there’s another $300 to $400 to tack on to the price of the VR device. And you don’t even want to see how expensive of a gaming PC you need to even run the Oculus Rift.
Many games won’t need to be in VR.
Virtual reality is an entertaining and unique option to consider when looking for a game to play, mostly because it’s almost as if you are put right into the middle of the game. Developers always strived to make the gameplay experience feel more real, from creating realistic graphics to a more engaging storyline. But sometimes not all games need to be VR-capable. For example, take the platformer, Lucky’s Tale, that supposed to be shipping free with the launch of Oculus Rift. That game, very much like 3D Super Mario Bros. games, is a prime example of a game that doesn’t need to be in VR. There’s nothing spectacular about watching from a third-person perspective as you control a character in a 3D world. I think the platformer would be fantastic by itself and without VR, which leads me to believe when you do have to purchase it for VR, it won’t sell well. Games, like Overkill’s The Walking Dead, might be more beneficial when looking for a VR game. But I feel like a lot of developers will try to push their luck with the VR just to jump onto the bandwagon.
Less hours spent playing games means less interest in games.
Many who have reviewed VR headsets have already commented on the fact that it’s going to be hard playing games for a long period of time because of the dizzying effects of VR in high-action games. So if Fallout 4 ever releases on Oculus Rift or PlayStation VR, you can guarantee people will try to play Fallout 4 for a long time, but it will be nowhere near the 30+ hours players spend on it now. And if players can’t play games for as long as they want due to motion sickness, then their interest in the game, and possibly the device, decreases. And then the VR headset takes a seat next to the Kinect up on the top shelf in the back of the closet.
VR will be more popular outside of the home.
Recently, Starbreeze Studios announced that they were bringing an arcade to Los Angeles that was going to be entirely stocked with VR games using their new VR headset, StarVR. But did you also know that virtual reality rides are also coming to theme parks in Los Angeles? According to the LA Times, Canada’s Wonderland amusement park will be just one of the many theme parks getting a VR addition to one of their coasters at the park this year, so that riders can choose to experience the ride in VR or in real life. The VR will be used to boost riders on rides that are otherwise not as flashy and popular. So with this thought in mind, you can spend $600 on an Oculus Rift or try out VR for yourself at a theme park or arcade for much cheaper.
VR is not here to stay.
While virtual reality gaming is in high gear right now and everyone is trying to take advantage of the trend, that’s all it’s really going to be: a trend. Consumers will spend hundreds of dollars pre-ordering the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR, only to find that by the time the prices come down to being affordable, the trend would’ve moved on to something else. The only reason I could ever see me buying an Oculus Rift or PlayStation VR is for horror games. In environment-heavy horror games, virtual reality is probably one of the best ways to experience a horror game. I had my first experience using a DIY cardboard Google VR headset and playing a VR horror game on my phone—and it was so worth it and not jerky enough to give me motion sickness. But other than that, I think VR headsets will be short-lived until the next amazing gaming creation comes along. Then again, I could be totally wrong.
Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News
Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.


text:
"Milk. It's in the stuff you love" campaign focuses on dairy ingredients in foods that young consumers love
By Jackie Clark
While the younger generations don’t tend to reach for a tall glass of milk to quench their thirst, they still enjoy a wide range of products with dairy ingredients. The Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) hope to remind these consumers of that fact in an exciting new ad campaign.
“Milk can be off-trend because there are so many beverages to choose from,” Pamela Naleajek, DFC’s vice-president of marketing, told Farms.com. “Even though (millennials and Generation Z) might not drink it in the traditional way, they embrace it in so many other ways.”
The campaign features a “6-foot-tall glass of milk character who’s a little weird, a little awkward, but is still endearing. His job and single-minded focus is reminding people that he’s in the things they love,” Naleajek said.
This illustration serves as an example of DFC's milk character reminding consumers that he's an important ingredient in foods they love.
“Our milk character shows up in unexpected ways,” she added. “Look for (posts) on Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook,” and more.
The fun and fresh perspective on dairy reflects consumer trends, but also the modernization and new generation of producers, Naleajek explained. “It’s a campaign that (dairy farmers) are very much a part of,” she said.
DFC is consistently working to address “the dairy wary who are still consuming dairy but have questions,” Naleajek added. The organization uses creative ad campaigns to address misconceptions and inform consumers about Canadian-raised dairy.
“We want to shift perceptions of dairy and reframing it as more than milk,” she said.agrobacter\iStock/ Getty Images Plus


text:
NEW YORK, Dec. 6, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- EGYPTAIR, the national carrier of Egypt, has chosen New York-based Global Advertising Strategies ("Global") as agency of record for the airline's new rebranding campaign in North America. In partnership with Global, EGYPTAIR will engage in an extensive marketing outreach designed to position EGYPTAIR as the premier carrier to the Middle East and Africa, as well as to highlight its newly upgraded fleet and sophisticated in-flight experience.
A Star Alliance member, EGYPTAIR recently expanded its fleet to include Boeing 777-300ER widebody jets. The airline has also bolstered its upscale in-flight services, and now offers amenities including a large entertainment selection, comfortable flat bed seating and enhanced fine dining options. Global's award-winning airline branding and positioning strategies will highlight the level of service as well as the world-class amenities of the carrier. The agency, recognized for its effective and innovative cross-cultural outreach, will also reposition the airline among the expat community in the United States, emphasizing the cultural competence of EGYPTAIR's services.
"We have set out to position EGYPTAIR as the premier carrier to the Middle East and Africa for the North American market," said Anna Abelson, Global's travel marketing expert. "The launch has called upon our deep knowledge of travel branding and we are thrilled to unveil the airline's new offerings."
Global's dynamic media mix includes traditional as well as innovative vehicles to ensure a vast audience reach. Placement in the leading consumer and trade print outlets will coincide with placements in ethnic print and online news outlets to precisely target the expat community. Out-of-home messaging will be displayed in appropriate ethnic neighborhoods, reaching travelers frequently flying to Cairo and beyond. The campaign features branded double-decker buses in New York City as well as prominent video displays on the Reuters and NASDAQ screens in Times Square.
"The strategy is focused on leveraging the media synergy of various channels to amplify the messaging and maximize the brand's impact," said Marcos Sanchez, VP of Client Services at Global.
Securing the video display in Times Square plays a vital role in increasing the public's brand knowledge and recognition. Set to launch in December, the video display will run for 30 consecutive days, reaching millions of New Yorkers and visitors, as well as television viewers of the New Year's Eve countdown broadcast.
"We are excited to launch our marketing efforts in partnership with Global Advertising Strategies, an award winning international travel marketing agency," said Sameh A. Aziz Helmi, EGYPTAIR's Regional Manager, North America. "Global's travel marketing expertise, their knowledge of the markets and target audience as well as understanding of cross-cultural marketing has assured us of a successful campaign outcome."
EGYPTAIR is the world-renowned national airline of Egypt, based in the cosmopolitan city of Cairo. In more than 78 years, EGYPTAIR has experienced extraordinary growth, taken the lead to be the first airline in the Middle East and Africa and the seventh in the world to join IATA and become a treasured brand. In 2004, EGYPTAIR demonstrated the scale of its commitment to the highest standards of safety by being the first IOSA certified airline in the Middle East and Africa. Currently, EGYPTAIR fleet comprises of 68 aircraft criss-crossing the world to 74 destinations in 51 Countries carrying more than 9.1 million customers /year and fulfilling the needs of both business and leisure travelers.
Global Advertising Strategies is a full-service marketing and advertising agency with international reach. From innovative cross-cultural campaigns to targeted interactive offerings, Global's ability to connect brands with the diverse identities of consumers worldwide has set us apart for over a decade. Global's proprietary analytic tools and market-tested strategic expertise enable us to provide an open gateway to international markets. Our multinational professionals deliver our finance & real estate, travel & tourism, telecommunications and pharmaceutical clients the edge they seek, whether the goal is to tap unrealized potential or to open new frontiers.
For more information on Global and its capabilities, please visit www.Global-ny.com.
SOURCE Global Advertising Strategies


text:
South Beach Smoke e-cigarettes come out tops in taste test
You might already know how good SouthBeachSmoke.com's range of electronic cigarettes taste, but don't just take our word for it. South Beach Smoke recently emerged triumphant in a blind taste test, proving that our e-cigs offer you the kind of satisfaction you just won't find anywhere else.
The proof is in the pudding
We might not be the most well-known brand of electronic cigarette in the U.S., but when it comes to delicious flavors and a satisfying smoke, we cannot be beaten. In a recent blind taste test, a control group of randomly selected smokers was given a choice of three brands of e-cigs – South Beach Smoke's and two competitors. The participants assessed our electronic cigarettes against a range of criteria, including specific taste attributes, likability and overall satisfaction. In all three categories, our electronic cigarettes emerged the firm favorite.
Although we won in terms of flavor, South Beach Smoke's e-cigarettes also proved the most popular with regard to the smoothness of the draw our e-cigs offer. Many of our competitors claim to provide their customers with a clean, smooth draw that simulates the throat hit of a traditional tobacco cigarette, but the control group said ours was the best.
We take our electronic cigarettes very seriously, which is why the nicotine juice in our flavor atomizers is made right here in the U.S. You can't enjoy a world-class smoke without world-class ingredients, and we know what it takes to create the kind of smooth, satisfying vapor that smokers all over the country are discovering for themselves.
"Our e-liquid flavorings are designed to be inhaled, meaning they are a step above food grade," said Nick Molina, CEO of South Beach Smoke. "All of our products contain lot number labels so that our products can be traced to their origins. We take flavor and quality assurance extremely seriously and use these standards across all of our brands."
With so many people turning their backs on traditional tobacco smokes and getting into vaping, it's little wonder our electronic cigarettes are so popular. However, we don't expect you to blindly trust a taste test, no matter what the results. If you're ready to experience a whole new world of smoking enjoyment without the chemicals, combustion or hassle of tobacco, why not try one of our disposable electronic cigarettes for yourself?


text:
Stylist to the stars, Kollin Carter, has styled everyone from Cardi B, Nicole Scherzinger, and Offset. In light of the national protests to end racial injustices and police brutality, Carter called out fashion designers in a recent Instagram post who aren’t speaking out. In the post, Carter admitted to receiving several emails from brands that have been silent about the Black Lives Matter movement.
Support authors and subscribe to content
This is premium stuff. Subscribe to read the entire article.
Login if you have purchased


text:
No joke: Lenovo makes venture investment in security startup Nok Nok
Research Triangle Park, N.C. — Just a year ago, Lenovo helped launch a new security organization called Fast IDentity Alliance, or FIDO, in an effort to improve authentication - perhaps even replacing passwords. On Wednesday, Lenovo stepped up its commitment by investing in Nok Nok Labs, a startup that helped launch FIDO....
WRAL TechWire Publisher and Editor Rick Smith dishes out tidbits from the local technology sector. Read more articles…
Please Log In to add a comment.
Latest for Insiders
- House OKs new venture fund for NC with decisive vote
- Uber expanding ride-sharing to North Carolina's coast
- New state venture fund that would provide startups a cash infusion advances
- Lenovo's 'attacking' strategy: Targeting the 'social mobile Internet'
- Sources: NetApp cutting 15 percent of its work force at RTP campus
- Road risks: 70% now using social media, net while driving
- CenturyLink fast Internet service targets much of eastern NC, Triangle
- CEOs want our state, but does General Assembly want CEOs?
- AT&T, trade group take FCC fight to court in attempt to stop new rules
- 'Venom' security risk hits cloud; Red Hat warns about vulnerability


text:
Timber Industry Distorts Information to Exploit Our Forests
- by Samantha Chirillo, July 11, 2013. Source: Register-Guard
Swanson supposedly states just the facts regarding Oregon's forests and industry, but instead distorts them. Swanson is connected to the Swanson Group, a family that owns mills dependent on public timber.
Her bias may be expected, but her name-calling is childishly rude. Educated, employed, property-tax-paying, law-abiding Oregonians like Susan Applegate and Patty Keene, whose June 6th guest viewpoint triggered Swanson's response, aren't "extremists" or "radicals." They just don't believe the unsupported claims the timber industry cares for the best interests of Oregon's forests and people.
Swanson was more careful not to call some things what they really are. Her opinion never used the word "logging." When timber industry supporters say "manage," what they're really talking about is logging. Managing forests can be as benign as preserving wilderness. When "management" is focused on cutting and hauling away merchantable trees, it's more honestly called "logging."
Industry claims our public forests are sick and diseased and that they need more logging to make them healthy again. On the contrary, it's because they’ve been logged less and have larger, older, more fire-resistant trees that they are robust, valuable and coveted by the timber industry. U.S. Forest Service data shows the industry's forests in Oregon being logged faster than they're growing. The forest growth surplus Swanson speaks of is on our lands, not theirs. What's wrong with having a surplus?
The 86,000 Oregonians reported by Swanson as working in the "forest industry" is more than twice the number reported by the state Employment Department.
Swanson quotes other "facts" from the Oregon Forest Resources Institute. This organization is also biased heavily in favor of the timber industry. Created by the Legislature in 1991, Oregon Revised Statute 526.640 says "The Oregon Forest Resources Institute shall enhance and provide support for Oregon's forest products industry." The state Department of Revenue shows that OFRI is funded directly with forest products harvest taxes, benefiting directly from increased logging.
The legislative findings for establishing OFRI say, "The state of Oregon recognizes that the forest products industry is one of the largest industries in the state." This is not factual. The Employment Department's 2013 Industry Employment Forecast shows today's timber industry accounts for three percent of Oregon's payroll employment and contributes only two percent to 2020's projected employment. Most job growth is predicted to be in wholesale and retail trade, professional and business services, leisure and food service, and health and education.
OFRI's legislative findings say, "The welfare of the state is largely dependent on the health and vigor of the forest products industry." Again, not factual. The state Department of Economic Analysis reports that today's wood products industry contributes only one percent to our Gross Domestic Product.
In Lane County, Oregon's biggest timber producer, the wood products industry is not even one of the top 10 employers. Has this industry achieved more employment from recent logging increases? Not according to state Department of Forestry and Employment Department data. Lane County's logging levels increased 57 percent from 2009 to 2011. In this same period, Lane experienced an 11 percent drop in wood products employment. None of our political leaders, obsessed only with increasing federal logging, have publicly mentioned this obvious disconnect.
The increasing export of unprocessed, "raw" logs, also ignored by politicians, may explain the disconnect.
Based on Forest Service data, beginning in 2009, log exports to Asia have increased steadily from the Northwest, particularly from Oregon, which may be exporting as much as one third of its annual harvest as raw logs rather than as finished lumber. A billion board feet of raw logs were exported out of Oregon in 2011 alone. OFRI claims that there are 28 jobs created for every million board feet of logs Oregon's workers process. Multiplied times a billion board feet, OFRI's inflated employment numbers imply that as many as 28,000 wood products jobs may be exported annually.
Lane County is particularly hard hit from log exports since one of the region's largest raw log exporters, Weyerhaeuser, is also Lane's largest private landowner, with about 340,000 acres. Weyerhaeuser controls more forestland in Lane County than the BLM does. The company gets huge property tax exemptions on the value of its standing timber. ORS 321.259, the legislative finding granting this exemption to private forest owners, says "The interests of the state, its citizens and future citizens are best served by taxing policies that encourage...millage of timber products within Oregon."
Where's the outcry about raw log exports from Sen. Ron Wyden, Rep. Peter DeFazio, and others promoting their agenda to increase timber supplies, revenues and jobs?
Contrary to Swanson's claims, the timber industry and its politicians seem to either distort or ignore the facts to justify further exploitation of Oregon's forests and people.
Samantha Chirillo of Eugene is a research consultant.


text:
Ed Kane, the Boston entrepreneur who owns Red Lantern and Empire, is planning to open his newest restaurant later this month in the historic Masonic Temple in downtown Boston.
The Business Journal first reported last year that Kane was seeking to develop the concept in the Masonic space.
Kane's Big Night Entertainment Group will open Explorateur, a French eatery "with a modern Californian twist" on Aug. 20 at 186 Tremont St.
“The vision behind Explorateur is to bring a one-of-a-kind dining experience to Boston, where approachable yet creative French-inspired cuisine is offered for breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” Kane in a statement. “Explorateur is a true passion project for us, and we’re excited to bring a new style of restaurant to Boston. From the extensive pastry program, to a sophisticated full-service dining room, there’s something for everyone to explore and enjoy no matter what time of day.”
The expansive 5,329-square-foot restaurant features a 66-seat cafe area equipped with a custom-made coffee bar/pastry counter made of marble, brass and washed oak where customers can grab a fresh cup of coffee or a pastry.
The restaurant serves breakfast from 7-11:30 a.m. in the cafe, lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and dinner from 5-10 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday and 5-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. It also features weekend brunch, and the bar stays open until midnight Sunday through Wednesday, and 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.