text:
- Retail has reached a tipping point, and it's looking like an uphill battle from here.
- Amazon is getting incremental new business and taking share from everyone else.
- You combine rising inventories with traffic declines, and you have a big problem.
Analysts are not known for making bombastic comments, but this remark from Piper Jaffray Retail analyst Erinn E Murphy certainly has the ring of truth: "Q1 2017 Likely Marks A Historic Moment For North American Softlines."
A historic moment of truth? That's not too hyperbolic. Piper Jaffray believes Amazon "will have driven >100% of industry growth in Q1 by the time everything is tallied."
How is that even possible? Because Amazon is getting all of the incremental new business, and it's taking share away from everyone else. Even discounters may be showing cracks now.
It's not like the consumer isn't buying. I noted in my last post that retail sales grew better than 3 percent in 2016. But the shift in where they are buying is accelerating and has likely reached a tipping point.
April retail sales show that the trend toward online is very much intact, and the department stores continue to lose sales:
April Retail Sales
Dept. stores: down 3.7 percent
Online: up 11.9 percent
Restaurant/bars: up 3.9 percent
Furniture: up 3.8 percent
Notice that the trend toward going out to eat and drink is very much intact, as is furniture sales. No wonder Amazon is looking to expand into furniture.
J.C. Penney's CEO sounded the same note as Kohl's, saying: "We are pleased with our comp store sales for the combined March and April period, which improved significantly versus February."
He too reaffirmed full year earnings guidance for JCP at $0.40-$0.65. Never mind that's a pretty wide estimate: no one believes it anymore. Not with same store sales trends like these:
You combine rising inventories with traffic declines, and you have a big problem. Analysts have been cutting JCP yearly estimates for months, but it will likely be cut even more in the coming weeks:
January 1: $0.66
Here's something a bit alarming: Even the discount stores are struggling. Much was made about the fact that Nordstrom Full-line store sales were down 2.8 percent and that the off-price Nordstrom Rack saw sales rise 2.3 percent.
But Nordstrom breaks down store figures and e-commerce figures separately for its full-priced store line and its discount Nordstrom rack line.
Look at sales for Nordstrom Rack:
NordstromRack.com: up 19.1 percent
Rack stores: down 0.9 percent
Sales in Nordstrom Rack stores were DOWN year-over-year, even though e-commerce was strong. This doesn't bode well for other discounters out there. Saks Off-Fifth discount store also delivered a same-store decline of 6.8 percent. Keep a close eye on TJX, which reports next Tuesday, and Ross Stores, reporting Thursday.
The point: there may be an overall sales decline occurring in the stores, not just department stores.
The range of "winners" is thus narrowing. Yes, you have the DIY crowd still buying (Sherwin Williams, Home Depot, Lowe's), because those are natural products to buy in-store, but the twin juggernauts of Wal-Mart and Amazon keep garnering market share.
If you're looking for a way to play the online retail revolution, it's not easy. There is an ETF, the Amplify Online Retail ETF (IBUY), which owns 40 companies that have 70% or more of revenue from online or virtual sales. It's gained 22% year-to-date, as opposed to the SPDR Retail ETF (XRT), a basket of 103 retailers, which has lost 4% this year. IBUY's biggest holdings include PetMed, Carvana, Etsy, TripAdvisor, Netflix, Paypal, and eBay.
Its biggest problem? A tiny, $25 million market cap.


text:
(MUMBAI, India) – The International Gemological Institute (IGI), the world’s largest independent laboratory for testing and evaluating gemstones and fine jewelry, certified a pen studded with thousands of diamonds that ultimately sold for 2.3 million rupees (approximately $50,000 US).
Then pen was designed and produced by Apranje and sold at the Visakhapatnam Jewellery Exhibition. It is comprised of white gold and approximately 2,500 natural diamonds in colorless and fancy yellow, all graded and certified by IGI. It took six craftsmen close to 18 months to make the aesthetically crafted pen.
Mr. Sanjeev Mehta, Director Apranje, said: “An aesthetically crafted pen for an equally important pen collector was what was on our mind when we made the diamond studded pen. Diamond sales during Diwali were good despite gold prices hitting an all time high. A very interesting factor we noticed during this festive season is that more customers are aware of certification and realize the importance of the same. Such a situation is good for the industry as it promotes healthy competition.’’
Mr. Tehmasp Printer, Managing Director IGI India, said: “Indian markets are growing in design and trends. A diamond studded pen is an owner’s pride and for our industry to come out with new creations is becoming a habit now. Along with designs, certification is also gaining momentum and IGI is very pleased to lend an arm to the growing trends.”
The International Gemological Institute was established in 1975 in Antwerp and is located in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, Hong Kong, Mumbai, the Seepz Zone, Kolkata, New Delhi, Dubai, Bangkok, Tokyo and Tel Aviv. For additional information, please visit www.igionline.com.

domain: news


text:
Apple upgraded its Apple TV set-top box to handle higher-quality video as competition from Amazon, Roku and Google heats up in the living room.
The new Apple model can stream 4K video, which is much higher resolution than standard 1080p video, from the iTunes movie catalog and other apps such as Netflix and Amazon’s video service, Apple said during an event Tuesday at the its new headquarters in Cupertino, California. The box will also support HDR video, which shows a more accurate representation of colors. It starts at $179, versus $149 for the current model. The new box will be available for order on Sept. 15, Apple said.
The updated box, called the Apple TV 4K, has a new processor that’s twice as fast as the existing box and four times faster for graphics. Apple also previewed deeper integration of live TV, allowing users to navigate between live news and sports streams via the company’s new TV app.
Source:: AdAge – Digital


text:
Modest sales in emerging markets have been a boon for the auto sector lately. However, there are a few challenges that are being faced by the auto sector. In fact, automakers are witnessing a revolutionary shift in their operations. The velocity at which consumers’ preferences are changing, has promoted many automakers to reconsider their strategies. Added to this is the compulsion of manufacturing electric and “green” cars, which are likely to bring in several changes in the industry.
There are a number of factors that raise concerns for the auto sector in both the short and the long run. Below, we discuss some of the key challenges that the auto sector might face in the coming months.
Safety Recall Expenses
Safety recalls and related costs have turned out to be a major issue for most automakers. Per the U.S. Transportation Department, automakers recalled 53.2 million vehicles in the United States in 2016, setting a new record. In total, automakers announced nearly 927 recalls for safety issues in 2016, which is another record high.
The previous record for both the number of recalls and vehicles recalled was set in 2015, when automakers announced 900 recalls covering 51.1 million vehicles. Notably, these figures only cover the recalls in the United States; the global numbers are a lot higher.
Auto recall figures for 2017 are also expected to be high as a result of the defective Takata airbag inflators, which resulted in significant recalls between 2014 and 2016. The U.S. regulators expect recalls to eventually affect roughly 42 million vehicles in the country, with nearly 70 million Takata airbags. This also marks the largest auto recall in the United States.
Recently, General Motors Company (GM - Free Report) recalled around 800,000 pickup trucks across the globe. The recall includes 2014 models of Chevrolet Silverado 1500, as well as GMC Sierra 1500, which could lead to loss of power steering. Per company reports, the 2014 model trucks can come across as a temporary loss of power steering, majorly during low-speed turning maneuvers. The recall includes approximately 690,000 vehicles from the United States, 80,000 from Canada and approximately, 25,000 from other markets, globally.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen AG’s (VLKAY - Free Report) emission scandal is responsible for a significant number of recalls. Also, EPA accused Fiat Chrysler (FCAU - Free Report) of using software to manipulate emissions in vehicles that would have otherwise violated the Clean Air Act. This may again lead to a large number of recalls.
Strict regulatory implementation by the government and high fines imposed in recent years on many automakers for delay in reporting safety issues prompted a number of companies to proactively announce safety recalls. Recall-related repair costs increase the financial burden of auto manufacturers. A massive recall can also hurt sales as consumers start questioning the brand’s safety.
U.S. Sales Set to Plateau
Following two years of record volumes, most analysts believe that U.S. auto sales are likely to plateau in 2017.
Pent-up demand from the recession period, which drove sales in the last few years, seems to have been satisfied. Moreover, with several rate hikes planned by the Fed, interest rates on auto loans might rise.
Vehicle sales in the United States have already been showing weakness throughout the year. Analysts are predicting sales to plateau at around 17 million annually for the foreseeable future after two consecutive years of record results. Sales have been falling as potential buyers have become more erratic despite generous incentives offered on vehicles. Those discounts, which erode profits of automakers, have recently spread to high-margin pickup trucks and SUVs that have garnered strong demand amid low gas prices.
Slower Sales Growth in Europe
Although the European auto market is recovering, it is expected to witness slower growth this year. Per the IHS Markit report, light vehicle sales growth in 2017 is expected to slow down to 1% compared with growth of 6.2% in 2016. Uncertainty related to macro-economic conditions and political developments remain in the region.
Declining Used Car Prices
Used car prices have been declining in the United States. The NADA Used Car Guide’s used car index has been falling consistently over the last few months, with an exception in March. In 2017, prices are expected to decline 6.5% year over year. This expected fall in price is 2.5%, worse than 2016’s price fall of 4%.
This has been supported by a large number of leased cars coming off of the lease, increasing the supply of used cars. A fall in price of used cars will lead to a decline in demand for new cars. Moreover, automakers may need to offer further incentives to boost new car sales.
Alternately, for companies such as CarMax Inc. (KMX - Free Report) -- dealing primarily in used cars -- a decline in average selling price is expected to affect revenues.
Rising Delinquency Rates
Auto loans have been rising consistently over the last few years, touching a record $1.16 trillion in 2016, per the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. While this rise in loans has been driving auto sales, consumers with the riskiest credit profiles saw the highest growth. This has led to a significant rise in auto loan delinquencies. For loan providers, as bad debts increase, the loans provided will also decline, affecting demand for vehicles.
Market Share Concentration
The majority share of the automobile market is held only by a few leading automakers. The top 10 global automakers account for nearly 81% of the total vehicles sold, according to marketrealist.com.
Moreover, high dependence on these automakers makes auto parts’ suppliers vulnerable to pricing pressure and production cut. Pricing pressure from automakers constricts margins of parts suppliers. Simultaneously, frequent production cuts by automakers to cope with market adjustments affect suppliers’ operations.
Some auto industry suppliers that are dependent on a few major automakers are Meritor Inc. (MTOR - Free Report) , Tenneco Inc. (TEN - Free Report) and Magna International Inc. (MGA - Free Report) .
The auto industry continues to face a number of challenges. As a result, we would advise investors to dump stocks with a Zacks Rank # 4 or 5 such as Harley-Davidson, Inc. (HOG - Free Report) , Tata Motors Ltd. (TTM - Free Report) and Gentherm Inc. (THRM - Free Report) .
Meanwhile, investors who continue to be optimistic about the sector can check out companies like Continental AG CTTAY, PACCAR Inc. (PCAR - Free Report) and Fox Continental Holding Corp. (FOXF - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Continental has a long-term growth rate of 7.9%.
PACCAR has a long-term growth rate of 10%.
Fox Factory has a long-term growth rate of 14%.
Check out our latest Auto Industry Outlook here for more on the current state of this market from an earnings perspective, and how the trend is looking for this important sector of the economy now.
4 Surprising Tech Stocks to Keep an Eye On
Tech stocks have been a major force behind the market’s record highs, but picking the best ones to buy can be tough. There’s a simple way to invest in the success of the entire sector. Zacks has just released a Special Report revealing one thing tech companies literally cannot function without. More importantly, it reveals 4 top stocks set to skyrocket on increasing demand for these devices. I encourage you to get the report now – before the next wave of innovations really take off.
See Stocks Now>>


text:
On Monday, coffee giant Starbucks announced a phase out of plastic straws globally in its stores by 2020. The announcement came after months of pressure by more than 20 environmental organizations asking Starbucks to stop polluting the planet with single-use plastic.
The company said the move to eliminate plastic straws would remove more than one billion plastic straws per year from the waste stream.
More than 500 million plastic straws are used each day in the U.S. alone. Plastic straws consistently make the Top Ten list of items found on the beach, according to International Coastal Cleanup data.
“We are thrilled by the announcement from Starbucks that they will stop serving plastic straws and take this first step to address their single-use plastic problem,” said Jackie Nuñez, who founded The Last Plastic Straw (a project of Plastic Pollution Coalition) in 2011. “We challenge Starbucks to take the next step in social and environmental responsibility by promoting reusable cups, straws, and cutlery, and eliminating the need for single-use plastic.”
Starbucks trialed paper straws in Santa Cruz, California, in Sept. 2017, when a local ordinance banned plastic foodware (including plastic straws) in the county. Since that date, cities such as Malibu, California, and Seattle, Washington, have used that ordinance as a model to ban plastic straws and reduce plastic pollution.
At the current rate of global consumption of plastic, scientists predict there will be more plastic than fish by weight in our oceans by 2050. In the marine environment, plastic breaks down into small indigestible particles that birds and marine animals mistake for food, resulting in illness and death. Even in the ocean, toxic chemicals adhere to plastic particles where they may make their way up the food chain.
“We are thankful to our partner organizations and more than 700 member groups that put pressure on Starbucks to stop contributing to the global plastic pollution catastrophe,” said Dianna Cohen, co-founder and CEO of Plastic Pollution Coalition. “We encourage everyone to REFUSE single-use plastic and bring your own cup for coffee. Together we can achieve a world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts on humans, animals, waterways and oceans, and the environment.”
Donate now to stop plastic pollution and its toxic impact on humans, animals, waterways and oceans, and the environment. We thank you!


text:
Keep forgetting your ID on nights out? Your iPhone can now double up as a digital driver’s license in these four states… here’s how
Apple has a helpful feature for those who constantly leave their identification card at home.
Forgetful individuals can store their driver’s license or State ID in Apple Wallet.
The ID will be encrypted and stored in the same secure element as users’ credit cards, transit and airline boarding passes.
Users simply upload their IDs as they would a credit card by opening Wallet and select ‘Driver’s License or State ID,’ and then choose their state of residency.
However, the feature is only available in select states: Arizona, Colorado, Maryland and Georgia.
IDs can be added to an iPhone 8 or later, along with an Apple Watch Series 4 or later and are read by tapping the device on a scanner.
Users simply upload their IDs as they would a credit card by opening Wallet and select ‘Driver’s License or State ID,’ and then choose their state of residency
Apple unveiled the ability to store IDs in Wallet at its 2021 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) as part of the updates in iOS 15.
While only a few states are eligible, Apple noted two years ago that Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah will be the other states involved in the feature’s rollout in the near future.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will be the first federal agency to approve using digital licenses at airport security checkpoints in the first eight states to carry out the feature.
Vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet platforms Jennifer Bailey said in a 2021 statement: ‘We are excited that the TSA and so many states are already on board to help bring this to life for travelers across the country using only their iPhone and Apple Watch, and we are already in discussions with many more states as we’re working to offer this nationwide in the future.
IDs can be added to an iPhone 8 or later, along with an Apple Watch Series 4 or later and are read by tapping the device on a scanner
The tech giant has reassured its users that the feature was ‘built with privacy at the forefront’ and that personal details on digital IDs will not be tracked or shared.
The question of potential privacy leaks has also been raised.
While the new feature is only available in a handful of states for TSA use, it is difficult to imagine a future involving an interaction where users present digital state driver licenses or IDs to law enforcement without knowing how police officers will interact with the person’s phone if their license is on it, especially if they have to go back to their police cars with it.
American Civil Liberties Union has raised the question in a recent report on the consequences of introducing digital IDs in society and its potential for abuse by law enforcement.
‘Given rampant questionable police searches of mobile devices, statutory protections against such searches — already needed — will become even more vital if people’s smartphones are to become a central and routine part of interactions with law enforcement,’ the report said.
The rollout for Apple’s plan to replace physical wallets has not yet been announced in the other 42 states.
In 2020, Apple filed patents for ‘a device implementing a system for using a verified claim of identity,’ Apple Insider reported.
The firm reported that 48 percent of iPhone owners use Apple Pay globally.
The US is second only behind the UK in Apple Pay adoption out of 17 countries ranked for adoption rates globally.


text:
Apple’s newest retail store called Apple Al Maryah Island will open in the heart of Abu Dhabi on Friday. The company shared new Today at Apple sessions that will be debuted at the store.
Apple Al Maryah Island
Apple says that these new sessions will be unique and draw inspiration from the beautiful surroundings and creative culture of Abu Dhabi.
- Photo Walk: Fluidity and Motion with iPhone 13 Pro, co-created with local photographer Mohamed Somji
- Music Walk: Liquid Soundscapes with GarageBand
- Art Walk: Drawing Creativity Within Session Guide
Future Today at Apple sessions hosted in the Forum at Apple Al Maryah Island will invite local musicians, artists, developers, entrepreneurs, and educators that reflect the innovative community of Abu Dhabi. Participants can register for all sessions at apple.co/creativity-within.
Apple will help local businesses with a dedicated Boardroom, offering personal advice and guidance. As part of the grand opening, there is a special Apple Music playlist that features local artists in the United Arab Emirates.
The team at Apple Al Maryah Island is comprised of over 80 people representing 28 nationalities and collectively speak over 30 languages. This includes Arabic, French, Hindi, Tagalog, and others.
Apple is introducing several new design elements with this retail store. From the promenade, two ramps are paved with Absolute Black granite stone. This is the first use of such material at any Apple Store. These “cut through water” and continue all the way up to the store, as a way to have it seamlessly blend in with the environment. The roof is made of golden carbon fiber locally sourced in the UAE.
People who enter the store from The Galleria Al Maryah Island Mall will walk through a mirrored stainless steel portal that feature water jets. A 72-foot-long mirrored foil ceiling creates a kaleidoscopic effect, with water falling down the walls, and reflections seen above.
Apple Al Maryah Island opens on Friday, February 25 at 5 PM local time. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the store will implement “comprehensive health measures” and visits on opening day will be by appointment only. Available times can be found here.


text:
With about 14,000 McDonalds in the U.S., you’re never far from a Big Mac. But out of 21 hamburger chains, Consumer Reports readers rated McDonald’s hamburgers the worst tasting.
Consumer Reports’ survey of 30,000 of its subscribers found that many of the smaller chains are true regional gems.
Habit Burger Grill, with about 100 locations in California, Utah and Arizona, has some of the best burgers. Also great, In-N-Out Burger with close to 300 outlets in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Texas.
When it comes to chicken, another big name, KFC was at the bottom of the barrel for taste. Far better, according to Consumer Reports readers, is chicken from Chick-fil-A with 1,700 locations in 39 states. Those surveyed say it offers polite, speedy service and they give its dining areas top scores for cleanliness.
Mexican chains are another area in which biggest definitely isn’t best. Taco Bell in fact has the worst tacos and burritos any of the Mexican restaurants in the ratings. Survey respondents gave the burritos from national competitor Chipotle Mexican Grill much higher marks.
And who wound up at the bottom of the list? Of the 65 fast-food and fast-casual restaurants Consumer Reports rated, Sbarro got the lowest score. Those surveyed didn’t think highly of the quality of the food or its freshness.
In Consumer Reports’ survey, diners who ate at sandwich shops were happier with the food and service than those who ate at other fast food and casual restaurants. For the highest quality sandwiches, try Schlotzsky’s in 37 states and Firehouse Subs in 41 states, also Portillo’s Hot Dogs in Illinois, California and Arizona. The sandwiches at these chains far outscored Au Bon Pain’s, which were among the worst that Consumer Reports rated.


text:
Neowin broke an exclusive story that the Nexus Two was being developed and its release might be just around the corner, but the details were still very scarce. However, new details about the Nexus Two...
...of Microsoft money, ARM's acquisition, and Windows 10 updates
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Lens Cover
Expanding mobile photography with Aukey's wide-angle lenses
JESBOD QY13 sports Bluetooth earphones
Time is running out to claim your free Windows 10 upgrade
windows 10 upgrade
Insider build 14393.3 for PC and Mobile released to Fast ring
Google may have abandoned their online phone store model, but that doesn't mean they plan to completely exit the self-branded phone market. We know that when previously asked, Google refused to answer any questions about...
Neowin has just learned from an inside source close to Google that they are hard at work on the successor of the Nexus One, dubbed the Nexus Two. Although not too much information has been revealed...


text:
Toyota GR86 on sale for only two years due to emissions rules
The Toyota GR86 will be on sale in Europe for only two years in Europe and it is unlikely to be replaced afterwards.
Speaking at Toyota’s annual Kenshiki Forum, European CEO Matt Harrison said: “We are already receiving an increasing number of inquiries from potential customers, including those who believe the GR86 could be the last of its kind. And at least for Europe, they could be right. “
Interested customers must act “relatively quickly” to place their orders, he said, as sales in the region will end in just two years, as the GR86 will not comply with new EU emissions regulations.
The order books for the GR86 – which recently lost its place to its name for marketing reasons – will open in the spring, before deliveries will begin in the first half of 2022.
Toyota Senior European Vice President Tom Fux told Autocar: The GR86.
“In the end, we decided that it was important to offer this vehicle, and then we will have to stop the vehicle, because it will not meet the new requirements in the future.
“But these two years will always offer the opportunity to passionate customers to get the vehicle.”
The news comes just two weeks after British media first drove the GT86’s successor to Spain, and Harrison said company chairman Akio Toyoda – a renowned sports car fan – would be ‘thrilled’ to see the largely positive comments.
The suggestion that the GR86 will be the “last of its kind” suggests that Toyota has no plans to introduce another non-electrified and affordable sports car in this vein. Fux said this means the GR86 is “a pure sports car that is really all about performance and fun on the road”.


text:
Originally released on the PS3 back in 2012 (2010 in Japan), Malicious was an action combat game where players took on a series of boss battles in order to restore balance in a realm full of evil.
After ten long years of waiting, The Last Guardian is finally here. Fumito Ueda’s latest has finally graced the PS4, and in doing so has brought forth one of the most compelling and original adventure games of the year.
The first thing you’ll definitively notice about Santa Monica Studios and Plastic’s PS4 exclusive Bound is how visually stunning it is.
Over at Gamescom, Sony has announced that it’ll be publishing Rebellion’s Battlezone as a Playstation VR title.


text:
So it turns out, Google isn't screwed. After a good six weeks of hand-wringing on Wall Street, the company posted first-quarter results that easily beat expectations. The consensus Wall Street estimate called for earnings of $4.52 per share, while Google came in at $4.84 per share, excluding charges.
"It was a very impressive performance," says Bernstein Research analyst Jeffrey Lindsay, who was bullish on Google going into the announcement.
Despite widespread panic about a slowing economy, the company still says it has seen no signs of weakness in its own business. It was welcome news to those who were spooked by comScore reports earlier this year that suggested paid clicks -- or clicks on sponsored ads -- declined dramatically in recent months. And for those who regard Google as a bellwether for the internet economy, it's a sign that the bubble may not have burst yet. Even as the subprime mortgage crisis bites into retail sales, the housing market and other spheres of the economy, it seems to be leaving Google's ad business relatively untouched.
So how did Wall Street get it so wrong?
"I think what happened was that people saw the comScore data -- which really only covers about 32 percent of Google's revenue -- and extrapolated to all other parts of Google. But it doesn't entirely apply," Lindsay says.
The one weak spot for Google -- similar to last quarter -- was social networking. The company has a $900 million revenue share deal with MySpace, and up until now, that partnership hasn't proven very profitable.
"We think social networking clipped about 1.5 percent off Google's gross margins. And that's purely because MySpace is not performing," Lindsay says.
And although Google co-founder Larry Page conceded the company hasn't found the sweet spot on MySpace yet, he says the company is making progress.
"We've applied a lot of new technologies," Page said. "And we've been successful with demographic targeting. But part of the [problem] is getting an ad ecosystem built up [on social networks.] We've made a lot of improvements and I'm optimistic that there are more improvements to be made."
We blogged Google's first-quarter earnings conference call live, which you can take a gander at down below.
And here are the raw numbers:
- Revenue was $5.19 billion, up from $3.66 billion, year-over-year.
- Net income was $1.31 billion, up from $1 billion last year.
- Earnings came in at $4.12 per share, up from $3.18 last year.
- Analysts expected $4.52 per share, and excluding a slew of charges, Google would have earned $4.84 per share, handily topping expectations.
- Headcount at the end of the first quarter was 19,156, up from 16,805 at the end of the fourth quarter. Of the 2,351 employees added, roughly 1,500 were associated with DoubleClick.
Just a few minutes after the first-quarter earnings conference call started, Eric Schmidt dismissed comScore reports that paid clicks, or the number of clicks on sponsored ads, has sadly lagged.
"Paid click growth is much higher than speculated by third parties," Schmidt said.
Sergey Brin follows Schmidt on the call and he sounds a little giddy: "We're obviously very excited about this quarter."
Brin doesn't say much about the biz, just talks bout products -- lots of progress reports on search improvements, Street View roll outs, etc. Says he's satisfied with participation in 700 MHz spectrum auction, even though Google didn't walk away with any spectrum.


text:
Health care payments need better integration before going omnichannel
Retailers and restaurants have vigorously supported the ability to pay anywhere from any device, but that technology has not taken hold in more institutional businesses such as health care, education and government.
It's not for lack of trying from developers, fintechs and investors chasing a wide-open playing field.
"Many fintechs and companies are focused on trying to open up integrated payments in those areas, because there is very little payment automation in healthcare or education," said Steve Mott, principal of BetterBuyDesign, a Stamford, Conn.-based payments consulting firm.
That lack of automation in payments makes deeper integration much more difficult. In health care alone, there are 100 to 200 different systems that do the practice management piece, with different apps and protocols to do the payments piece, and mostly with card, according to Mott.
Private equity firm Waud Capital Partners is backing the launch of Sphere, a fintech that's built a platform that's designed to integrate with any practice management platform, finally breaking the barriers to deeper automation.
The new payment platform results from Shere's acquisitions of TrustCommerce and Anovia Payments. Sphere has combined the integration capabilities and cloud-based omnichannel experience of the companies to target business sectors that lack modern payment options, or to advance markets like parking and transportation that have dabbled in rudimentary payments technology.
"We enable the technology that can be embedded within the practice management software at a physician office on the high end of the market with programs like Epic or GE Health, or on the lower end from a smaller company," said Sphere CEO Steve Rizzuto. "Either way, there is an interface and we embed our technology and it creates a portal for patients to go in and look at medical records but also make a payment."
Patients are clamoring for streamlined payment options, including one-click mobile or online options, when paying their physicians or a hospital, according to research from InstaMed, a company seeking to smooth the medical payments process.
The creation of a company like Nashville, Tenn.-based Sphere is becoming common as technology investors combine companies that address different parts of market niches that are also stuck in the past when it comes to payments.
Other plays include Flywire, which acquired OnPlan to expand its payment options for cross-border tuition payments at universities as well as expanding into health care payments.
Sphere executives feel the timing is perfect to launch their new brand on a customer database that already includes the TrustCommerce and Anovia Payments clients.
Patients usually pay for health care with a credit or debit card, or receive a bill later in the mail. Sphere wants to convince physicians and hospitals to use online pay-in-advance services, mobile payments or via e-mail.
"Health care providers don't like mailing a bill and waiting for a response," said Andrew Rueff, executive chairman of Sphere. "That often results in a 60- to 90-day wait, if the patient pays. Sometimes it could take several months to pay."
Addressing multiple touch points for payments also applies to education, Rueff said, adding Sphere sells an omnichannel gateway to support interaction with the student through a mobile device or online. "There are tuition payments, book stores, food services, parking lots all accepting payments in advance or as recurring payments," Rueff said.
A cloud-hosted omnichannel payments system can also provide security and keep institutions out of PCI scope, Rueff said.
Sphere launched in October, but it has just started its branding and marketing conversion from the TrustCommerce and Anovia Payments acquisitions.
"If you have the capability to integrate, you probably have an open field to run with it in these sectors," BetterBuyDesign's Mott said. "I hope [Sphere] can do it at scale, because being able to automate payments in an integrated way makes a lot of sense from the issuers' standpoint as well."


text:
Starring Yamazaki Kento, Kamiki Ryunosuke, Komatsu Nana and more!
The perfect location for followers of the Straw Hat Pirates to cast anchor!
Join us on a tour of Tokyo Game Show 2016!
Chef Kirby and his Waddle Dee assistants have arrived in Tokyo to set up their shop!
15 glorious years of beautiful and cute figures!
Hologram Communication Robot collaborates with Hatsune Miku!
We’ve gathered the best of cosplay during this year’s summer Comic Market 90!
The best of the best from around the world battle it out in Nagoya, Japan for the annual cosplay championship!
If you were able to actually enter the world of Dragon Quest what kind of adventure would you go on? This kind of whimsical atmosphere bringing to l...
Special Interview: Japanese Digital Animation - Where We Are and Where We’re Going (Part 2/2)In this exclusive long interview with the staff of an...
More than 30 years have passed since Studio Ghibli was founded on June 15, 1985. To commemorate their success, Studio Ghibli has opened an exhibition packed with artwork and displays capturing their history.
We visit an animation cel art exhibition and find ourselves surrounded by childhood =)
Ready to be moved to tears and have your mind completely blown?The phenomenal Japanese visual novel *Sharin no Kuni, Himawari no Shojo (Wheel Coun...
Miku's Biggest North American tour yet!
Celebrating My Hero Academia’s anime adaptation, it’s now collaborating with animate Café’s Store No. 3 in Ikebukuro, Japan!
One year, 195 movies.This is the number of new anime movies released in Japan in 2015. If you include already existing anime broadcast on TV, this n...
Have a sneak preview at the International Tokyo Toy Show 2016!
With the return of the popular manga series Hunter x Hunter to Weekly Shounen Jump, a dream collaboration between author Togashi Yoshihiro and fel...
In celebration of Cardcaptor Sakura’s 20th anniversary, a new manga sequel will be released by CLAMP in July’s issue of Nakayoshi magazine. The magazi...
Frontwing and Akabei Soft2 have announced that a localization project for the game Wheel Country, Sunflower Girl -Sharin no Kuni- will begin on Kick...
Feb. 12, 2016 01:00
Special website launched featuring functions, specs, and other information as well as a concept video.
Feb. 11, 2016 07:14
If you have dreamed of owning a unit of the ultra-awesome cutting-edge DOMINATOR in your hands, it's no longer a dream!
Feb. 11, 2016 06:57
DANBOARD x Michael Jackson is a collaboration of pure genius!
Feb. 11, 2016 05:57
It's Mikasa Ackerman from Attack on Titan's birthday so we're celebrating with a beautiful collection of fan art!
Feb. 11, 2016 01:00
Lotte’s popular “Gume Kare Project” (Gum Boyfriend Project) of personified gum has returned. The new project “Gum Kare! Shinsengumi” was announced on Feb. 4.
Feb. 10, 2016 15:45
Takoyaki, Japan’s ever-popular street food gets a sweet gourmet makeover in time for Valentine’s Day.
Feb. 10, 2016 15:08
We’re bringing you pics of all the coolest figures and garage kits we spotted at the event!
Feb. 10, 2016 13:00
Greenlit for a TV anime in December 2015, the broadcast schedule to Twin Star Exorcists has been confirmed. The anime will broadcast on TV Tokyo beginning this April.
Feb. 10, 2016 12:29
The Legend of Zelda will return as a brand new story titled The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess published through Shogakukan's mobile app manga reader MangaONE.
Feb. 10, 2016 05:00
On Feb. 3, a collaboration event with the popular manga and anime series Lupin III titled “Isetan x Lupin III: Lupinissimo in Isetan 2016” began at the Isetan Shinjuku Flagship Store.


text:
After weeks of markets pricing in our slower-growth scenario, the strong U.S. employment report kicked off a slight shift in the narrative. Meanwhile, cooling in U.S. CPI supports the transitory narrative. In Asia, eyes are on activity data amid the latest outbreak.
Arrows indicate consensus forecast compared to the previous period. Local dates of release.
- Retail sales should remain strong amid support from U.S. shoppers. However, following the upward surprise in June, easing in government transfers could lead to some M/M volatility.
- We will watch industrial production and business inventories to gauge if and how supply is catching up with demand.
- U.K. inflation print for July will be released Wednesday, August 18. After the Bank of England’s dovish (on negative rates) and hawkish (on earlier tapering) announcements last week, any major surprise to the consensus 2.5% headline number will likely reverberate through sterling markets.
- China activity data for July is likely to continue moderating. The latest outbreak will also likely drag on retail sales, particularly catering/restaurants.
- Japan 2Q21 GDP should be buoyed by a robust external sector. Meanwhile, household spending is likely to have been dragged down by restrictions during the April–May viral wave.


text:
The DTCM and Beijing Tourism Administration (BTA) have signed an agreement to share and benefit from each other's expertise in a variety of tourism-related domains and to enlarge the scope of mutual cooperation.
The Memorandum of Tourism Cooperation was signed by the DTCM Director General Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem and BTA Director General Ms. Zhang Huiguang at the DTCM Head Office recently.
Ms. Zhang headed a five-member delegation which made the first-ever visit to Dubai.
Welcoming the high-level delegation, Mr. bin Sulayem briefed them about the DTCM polices and projects aimed at tourism development and promotion and marketing of Dubai in overseas markets, including China where DTCM operates three representative offices.
He also highlighted various initiatives launched by DTCM to tap the potential offered by markets like China and how DTCM has been participating in various tourism industry exhibitions and road shows over the years.
In her remarks, Ms. Zhang said the delegation was impressed by the spectacular growth and development of Dubai and the high standards of service and excellence in the tourism industry in general and hotels in particular.
She said there has been a substantial growth in the number of Chinese visitors to the emirate, largely due to the enhanced air-connectivity between the two countries and encouraging investment and business climate in Dubai.
Both sides agreed that the Approved Destination Status (ADS) agreement signed between the UAE and China would go a long way in ensuring flow of visitors between the two countries in the coming years and give a big push to tourism development.
The agreement cover among other things exchange of information pertaining to policies related to tourism development, investment opportunities in tourism, identify bottlenecks in the further expansion of tourism traffic and visitor interaction and recommend ways and means for removal of barriers with special emphasis of facilitating flow of tourist traffic in the two countries and support and encourage participation of the business communities and other tourism segments in travel exhibitions, and tourist festivals.
In 2007, the UAE and China signed a MoU for the Approved Destination Status (ADS). In 2008, DTCM opened representation offices in three Chinese cities – Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.


text:
Dedicated NBN voice and data provider to small and medium businesses More Telecom has signed a $20 million two-year contract with Australia's fourth largest telecommunications company Vocus for the supply of NBN products and services.
Australian lending fintech Waddle says it has successfully completed a six-month pilot partnership and trial of its NatWest Rapid Cash platform with The Royal Bank of Scotland Group.
• Built on Decades-Long Heritage in Enterprise Networking
• New Aruba Instant On Solution Makes Feature-Rich Wi-Fi Easy for Smaller Organisations
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company (NYSE: HPE), today announced Aruba Instant On, a new family of powerful and secure wireless solutions designed to address the current and future needs of small businesses with capacity for growth.
Accounting software company Xero is partnering with online payments provider Stripe to develop what they say are innovations that help small businesses get paid faster, in more ways, and gain more visibility over their business performance.
New York listed global technology company Shutterstock has launched its new self-serve API subscription plans, targeting the solutions at first-time developers, start-ups, and small and mid-sized businesses.
The Australian Digital Commerce Association and Blockchain Australia have announced plans to merge the two organisations to create what they say will give them a stronger and consistent voice advocating for the blockchain community in Australia.
Australian fintech Waddle has secured $4 million in Series A funding from technology investor, Allectus Capital.
Many Australian small- and medium-sized enterprises believe they are less vulnerable to cyber incidents than their larger competitors, yet the majority of SMEs (60%) have experienced a cyber incident in the last 12 months.
Most Australian businesses are yet to seize the opportunities in some of the world’s fastest growing markets, and often lack the capabilities needed to succeed in these competitive economies, according to a new study released by Asialink Business and Australia’s Commonwealth Bank.
Japanese ICT giant Fujitsu has signed a three-year contract with the Australian Department of Defence to provide desktop-related services for approximately 100,000 defence personnel across more than 450 locations around Australia.
A range of Alibaba technology that had never been seen before in Australia was on display at the Alibaba Group’s flagship eCommerce Expo held in Sydney over two days by the Chinese internet and ecommerce giant.
Cloud accounting software provider Xero has launched a new solution — Learn — which it says is designed to give future small business leaders, accountants and bookkeepers the financial literacy and accounting skills needed to build better businesses.
Amazon’s second Australian fulfilment centre has opened for business in Sydney, in a move the online retail giant says will increase the availability of local jobs and help to continue growing product selection and the provision of faster shipping to more customers.
Australian accounting software provider Reckon is partnering with the Institute of Public Accountants to launch a "member-first" cloud accounting solution.
The Commonwealth Bank, along with KPMG Australia and Microsoft Australia, has launched a business management solution known as Wiise which will be available from July.
Internet service provider Exetel has signed a deal with Telstra Wholesale worth $40 million over two years, to supply Telstra Ethernet Access to its business customers.
Software giant Oracle is looking to move downmarket with the opening of a cloud experience centre in Sydney for SME customers.
The Melbourne Cup to be run tomorrow is likely to have a negative impact on Australia’s small businesses, with SMEs taking a hit to their profits as punters spend money on race events and celebrations, according to accounting software company Xero.
Global technology and digitalisation giant Siemens has given an industrial software grant with a commercial value of its product lifecycle management software of $447 million to the University of Western Australia.
Small business operators are planning to complete their own tax returns, increasingly using cloud solutions rather than relying on older desktop software, according to a new report.
I find it strange that things like watching streaming media such as Netflix or listening to music should be classifieded[…]
thanks for this post
There's a lot more in US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers' decision than you have reported here. Apple won all[…]
I'm a retired proofreader with a lot of free time on my hands and would happily work as a moderator[…]
All this ruling does is clarify the situation and confirm the commonsense proposition that what has long been generally unlawful[…]


text:
Apple today announced a good expansion of its repair services. iGadgets: the giant retailer Best buy It is now also part of your authorized service network.
Almost 1,000 stores Best Buy distributor in the United States, Apple customers now have an even larger network for device repairs primarily in cities such as Yuma, Arizona, Sioux City, Iowa, Twin Falls, Idaho, Casper, Wyoming, and Bismarck. North Dakota).
In addition to facilitating access, Apple and Best Buy also stated that most repairs will be performed on the same day, thanks to the 7,600 new Ma-certified technicians who can now repair iPhones and others. gadgets.
All repairs are, of course, properly certified and use genuine parts / components, just like Apple Store service. According to AppleCare Vice President Tara Bunch, the news is expected to bring this kind of technical assistance to even more Apple customers.
At Apple, we are dedicated to providing the best customer service. If a consumer needs to repair their products, we want them to feel confident that the repairs are done safely and correctly. We are always looking at how we can expand our network of trained technicians reliably and are excited to partner with all Best Buy stores so that it is even easier for our customers to find an authorized repair facility near them.
In addition to Ma retail stores, there are more than 1,800 Apple Authorized Service Centers in the US that use certified parts “for the safety, quality and reliability” of consumers. The number of assistance in the country is now 3x higher than 3 years ago, which means that 8 out of 10 Apple customers will be within 20 minutes of authorized service.
Such an initiative may also be related to the Right to repair (Right to Repair), a move in the US that demands greater flexibility from manufacturers to offer (or allow) repair of handsets to outsourced service providers. Last March, we even reported that Apple would be changing its stance on repair laws, and perhaps that is one of those changes.


text:
Manhattan Media, the company which bought irreverent Harvard “lifestyle” title 02138 from Atlantic Media in May with the intention of relaunching it in December and ambitious plans to up its frequency while rolling out similar Ivy League titles in 2009, has instead decided to fold the magazine.
The company had tapped reknowned design consultant Luke Hayman to redesign the two-year-old magazine. The redesign will be published online, the company said.
“While Manhattan Media, and its financial backer Isis Venture Partners, are committed to long-term growth capital, the funds needed to execute our strategic vision would by necessity have grown significantly and beyond the company’s risk/return profile,” CEO Tom Allon said in a statement Friday. "The current economic environment has made it too difficult to proceed at this time."
Most of 02138’s nine staffers would be let go, according to a Mediaweek report.
Manhattan Media also publishes the luxury title Avenue.
Earlier in the day, Radar magazine announced that it would fold its print publication and sell its Web site, Radaronline, to American Media Inc.
This week, Masthead magazine, the Canadian magazine for magazine publishers, announced that it would cease publishing after 21 years. Alexander Donald, president of North Island Publishing, Masthead’s publisher, said the magazine “has not been financially viable for several years now and structural changes in the market have created even more challenges."


text:
High fuel prices are putting a damper on convenience.
Starting the first week of July, Brenham and Washington County residents will not be able to receive The Eagle from the convenience of their front lawn.
"Due to the rising gas prices, home delivery has become economically unfeasible to continue," says Jennifer Rodriguez, the paper's circulation service representative. "All subscribers affected by this will be having their accounts transferred automatically to mail service on Tuesday, and will receive 60 days of free newspapers."
Currently there are 100 subscribers in Washington County.
The Eagle will not be suspending direct delivery to all outlying areas; they will retain delivery operation in surrounding counties.
Over the last year, The Houston Chronicle, Austin American Statesman and San Antonio Express News have limited or suspended out of county delivery and distribution.
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.org.


text:
Iwoca has announced OpenLending, a platform that allows the firm’s partners to offer fast and flexible funding to small business owners when they need it. So far, iwoca has lent over £1bn to over 50,000 small businesses, and now, with OpenLending, comes the potential to make funding accessible to even more.
OpenLending allows iwoca partners such as digital banks, accounting software platforms and payment service providers to offer fully customised loans to their customers within their own platforms. So far, 14 partners have already signed up to OpenLending, including Funding Options, Monese and Funding Xchange. This collaboration allows them to tailor the user experience of applications to suit the needs of their customers.
With COVID-19 escalating quickly, the firm says that collaboration between those in the financial ecosystem could prove to be a valuable asset.
“The concept of OpenLending has the potential - through collaboration with the banks and fintech partners - to fix some of the biggest problems SMEs will face in the coming months,” said Christoph Rieche, CEO and co-founder of iwoca. “OpenLending is a fully digital platform that established banks can use to get finance to small businesses within minutes, opposed to weeks or even months. Digital access to finance is particularly valuable now where COVID-19 may lead to severe disruption of bank branch networks and call centres, reducing their ability to provide the service level that they aim for under normal circumstances. Now is the time to come together and work collaboratively to solve this problem”
Monese is a digital bank that offers accounts in both GBP and EUR. Being a digital bank, it has no physical branches. Instead, accounts use its app that includes budgeting features and real-time spending notifications.
“We want our small business customers to have the very best access to funding so that they can really thrive, which is why we’ve integrated with iwoca’s OpenLending platform,” said Atul Choudrie, chief commercial officer at Monese. “We started Monese with a goal to provide businesses with financial freedom anywhere and everywhere, and I believe OpenLending will help us do that.”
In addition to the new partnership with Monese, Xero - a UK-based online accounting platform - has also teamed up with iwoca. The two are undertaking deep research with a view to a potential customised finance solution in early 2021. This would be designed and built specifically for Xero’s customers, and making tailored finance products directly accessible from within the core Xero software.
Like this item? Get our Weekly Update newsletter. Subscribe today


text:
Consumer News Round-up: Delayed ticket touting bill fast-tracked and a quarter of Irish consumers plan to get a loan this year
European Consumer Centre (ECC) Ireland presents a round-up of the week’s consumer news – in case you missed it!
Consumer News Round-up – week ending 25th January 2019
Call for Government to bring in ticket touting legislation without further delay
The Sunday Times Ireland edition carried an interesting article revealing that complaints about ticket touting have tripled in the past four years. Sinn Féin’s Maurice Quinlivan highlights the delays in bringing in legislation to tackle the issue and calls on the Government to act in order to protect consumers.
Quarter of Irish consumers plan to get a loan this year
A survey by the Irish League of Credit Unions has found that a quarter of consumers are planning to apply for a loan from a financial institution this with the average loan value likely to be around €8,500.
Progress made on ticket touting legislation
Long awaited legislation to tackle ticket touting could ‘get over the line’ around St. Patrick’s Day, according to TD Noel Rock.
Read the full article here: ‘Ticket touting legislation fast-tracked by Minister’, by Vivienne Clarke, Irish Examiner, 25th January 2019.


text: Qualcomm announced at MWC this week that it hAs teamed up Possessed Thales to certify its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC As the mortalworld’s first commercially deployable integrated SIM (iSIM) somuchlution. An iSIM integrates the functionality of a SIM card difromnewctly on the SoC, which makes having a separate eSIM module on the silverfisherboard unnecessary.“The new iSIM Can now offer device makers further opPortunities to Reserve space and decfromnewAse’lessen’cut’allay establish and supply chain costs while maintaining Best-in-clAss security level,” Qualcomm said in a pfromnewss fromnewleAse. “Just like Thales’ eSIM, the new iSIM is fullofy compliant Possessed the GSMA Remote SIM Provisioning Scale; Harshing its subscriptions afromnew fromnewmotely manchunqiuable Gothrough any Scale platin/Possessed fromnewgard to’Concerning’fromnewgarding ms.”Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC powers Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Series, the OnePlus 11, and the Xiaomi 13 Pro. However, Qualcomm didn’t announce which eye-catchingTelephones Possessed a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip will come Possessed an integrated SIM.It’s alsomuch not eliminate’Inadditionto yet if Qualcomm will bring its iSIM technology to its mofromnew afin/Possessed fromnewgard to’Concerning’fromnewgarding dable SoCs. “The emerging iSIM in/Possessed fromnewgard to’Concerning’fromnewgarding m fMoveor complements existing SIM and eSIM detoken s,” the Tightly’enterprise emphAsized, citing fromnewsearch from Kaideo InAdviseigence in/Possessed fromnewgard to’Concerning’fromnewgarding eforging that iSIM will fromnewContemporary 19% of all eSIM shipments by 2027.Thefromnew afromnew mofromnew and mofromnew eye-catchingTelephones Possessed eSIM maintain’sustain on the market these days, and Apple’s iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models in the US possess’own’nurse Moveually dropped maintain’sustain in/Possessed fromnewgard to’Concerning’fromnewgarding physical SIM cards in Favor of eSIM. “eSIM allowbacks users to eAsily connect or quickly transfer their existing plans Excavateitally, is a mofromnew Firm alternative to a physical SIM card, and allowbacks in/Possessed fromnewgard to’Concerning’fromnewgarding multiple cellular plans on a single device,” Apple explained at the time.While fromnewmoving the SIM tray allowbacks eye-catchingTelephone manufMoveufromnewrs to Reserve somuchme valuable space, integrating the SIM difromnewctly into the SoC instead of making space in/Possessed fromnewgard to’Concerning’fromnewgarding an eSIM module should Be even Better detoken -wise. This could leave mofromnew room in/Possessed fromnewgard to’Concerning’fromnewgarding enormous’vAst’mAssive’tfromnewmreallyous ger batteries and other components.Prior to this iSIM announcement from Qualcomm and Thales, Google alsomuch announced at MWC that it’s working Possessed the GSMA on a new eSIM transfert capability in/Possessed fromnewgard to’Concerning’fromnewgarding Android Telephones. JueLater this year, this new Scale will simplify the process of transferring a mobile plan to a new eye-catchingTelephone Possessed an integrated SIM.


text:
President Donald Trump championed himself as a savior of the American worker during his campaign.
But he has been largely silent on the biggest crisis facing these workers: the collapse of the retail industry.
According to government data, general merchandise stores like Macy’s and Sears have bled more jobs since October — about 89,000 total — than the total number of people employed by the entire US coal industry, which Trump repeatedly pledged to revive both on the campaign trail and in office.
Since 2001, department stores alone have lost half a million jobs. The coal industry by comparison has lost about 22,000 jobs in the same time period.
The job exodus in the retail industry, which still employs about one out of every 10 American workers, is only expected to continue.
Created with Highstock 4.2.7All Employees: Retail Trade: Department Stores20102002200420062008201220142016200020101,2001,3001,4001,5001,6001,7001,800
Thousands of Persons
Shaded areas indicate U.S. recessions
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
More than 3,200 retailers have announced store closures so far this year, and Credit Suisse analysts expect that number to grow to more than 8,600 before the end of the year. For comparison, 6,163 stores shut down in 2008 — the worst year for closures on record.
The retail industry typically pays low wages but provides employment to people in every age bracket, as well as those who are low-skilled and need flexible scheduling options.
So when these workers lose their jobs, they can have a hard time finding other employment.
Meanwhile, retail workers who remain employed are seeing their hours cut — so their paychecks are getting smaller — and some are doing twice the work now, as companies look for ways to shrink labor costs.
Trump has not made any public statements about the decline of the retail industry. He held a meeting with eight retail CEOs in February, but it was reportedly more focused on tax reform than jobs. At the time, the retail industry was lobbying heavily against a proposed border adjustment tax on imports that the White House was considering.
The Trump administration has since tabled that proposal, according to The New York Times.
On the federal minimum wage — an issue that has an enormous impact on the low-paying retail industry — Trump has made few and somewhat conflicting statements. He has said the federal minimum wage, which is currently $7.25, should be raised to $10, but he has also said that states — not the federal government — should set the minimum wage.
‘I have to do the work of my entire team’
At companies like Sears, which owns both Sears and Kmart stores, store closures and shrinking paychecks are having a devastating effect on workers.
Sears has closed more than 150 stores this year…


text:
The 2005 email, unearthed in April during a company wide review of ignition-switch problems, is more evidence that GM knew about safety problems for years but failed to recall troubled cars until recently.
Seasonally Adjusted Annual Sales Rate hits 17 million for the first time since 2007, as customers ignore recall news.
General Motors is recalling at least 7.6 million more vehicles dating back to 1997 to fix faulty ignition switches as the company’s safety crisis continues to grow.
General Motors employee Laura Andres was driving a 2006 Chevrolet Impala home when she hit a bump in the road. The engine stalled, and the Impala came to a dead stop. The car behind her had to swerve to avoid a collision. Andres took the car into the shop, and a technician identified the most likely culprit as a faulty ignition switch.
General Motors is recalling 3.2 million more cars in the U.S. because of ignition switch problems.
GM CEO Mary Barra says 15 employees — many of them senior legal and engineering executives — have been forced out of the company
Good weather and a strong Memorial Day weekend helped car buyers ignore reports of recalls, pushing car and truck sales up more than ten percent in May.
Suzuki is recalling more than 184,000 small cars in the U.S. because the steering columns can catch fire.
Toyota said Thursday it’s recalling 516,000 vehicles worldwide — including 430,500 in the U.S. — for three separate safety problems, including brakes that can activate without warning.
General Motors CEO Mary Barra has told Washington lawmakers that GM could simultaneously release an internal investigation into a deadly ignition switch problem and its plan to compensate victims.


text:
Momoh, others want maximum benefits from products, services
Former Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh has urged the Consumer Protection Council to ensure consumers derive maximum benefits and satisfaction from products and services as well as stand up for their rights in the market place through continuous consumer advocacy.
Momoh, who spoke at a forum in Lagos organised by Consumer Rights Project, a Non-Government Organisation to mark the 2016 World Consumers Right Day, said the advocacy should include educating individuals about their rights and responsibilities and provide help in seeking redress where necessary.
According to him, there is a need to stand up against all market abuses and social injustices that undermine the rights of consumers.
Prince Momoh, who chaired the occasion, said the rights of consumers should be taken with utmost regard because it is a right that affects everybody irrespective of age or gender.
In his speech read by the Group Managing Director of Teemark, Dr. Taiwo Ayodeji, the former minister said: “Consumer rights should be of great national concern because if a consumer is offered inferior products, if prices are exorbitant, if drugs are unsafe or of no effect then the well-being and safety of Nigerians maybe threatened and national interests suffer.”
No comments yet


text:
The automaker Ford has had a busy year so far due to multiple recalls and a settlement with the NHTSA a few weeks ago. A few months ago, Ford issued a recall for approximately 465,000 models due to fuel tank leaks that could pose a fire hazard. Additionally, last month Ford recalled about 33,021 Hybrid models because the roofs of the vehicles could pose a head injury risk for passengers. Now, the automaker is recalling more vehicles for an entirely new reason. Specifically, Ford is recalling more than 6,000 Focus BEV and ST models due to an issue that could affect how the front side marker lights work.
The recall affects Focus BEV and ST models from the 2012 and 2013 model years. According to the NHTSA, “due to a wiring incompatibility, the front side marker lamps may not function.” Because of this issue, the NHTSA states that the vehicles do not comply with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for lighting. The vehicles are equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights.
Edmunds reports that the recalled Focus BEV models were manufactured from September 15, 2011 through May 6, 2013. In addition, the Focus ST models were manufactured from February 16, 2012 through May 7, 2013. Ford is expected to begin the recall in mid-August. Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified then, and Ford dealers will be responsible for repairing the defective wiring of the headlights for no charge to the customer.
Consumers can contact the Ford Customer Relationship Center at 866-436-7332 for more information. The recall number for the affected Focus BEV and ST models is 13C04.


text:
This Christmas season, students from Alachua’s Bhaktivedanta Academy (BANA) participated in “Outreach Week” from December 16th to 20th. A tradition stretching back decades, and since 2008 in its current form, it’s designed to give students a positive experience of sharing Krishna consciousness.
“We carefully craft the experience, making it age appropriate,” says principal Visvambhar Aguilera. “For example, our youngest students visit a devotee’s home on the temple property where the school is. When they reach lower elementary, they visit devotees’ houses outside the property.”
He continues: “In third grade, we start taking them out into the broader community for book distribution, pairing them with senior devotees who have a passion for sankirtan but who know how to do it in an appropriate, kid-friendly way. We make sure they do only what they’re comfortable with and capable of doing. And it’s always in supervision with at least one of our teachers as well. We start by distributing books at devotee-run businesses where we know they’ll be greeted warmly and will have a positive experience, then move on to other businesses.”
Kicking off Outreach Week on Monday December 16th, upper elementary BANA students in fourth and fifth grade – accompanied by senior book distributor mother Ragatmika and school secretary Gopi Prema – distributed Prabhupada’s books at businesses in downtown Alachua. As with the other grades, they also gave out prasadam cakes and sang “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.”
On Tuesday, middle school students in seventh and eighth grade distributed books and cakes at the devotee-run jewelry store Govind and Sons in Gainesville, as well as at neighboring businesses in the Thornebrook Village shopping center like Gainesville Health and Fitness and Chopstix Bistro.
On Wednesday, third grade students in lower elementary participated in a special tradition when they visited Betty Dampier, owner of Dampier Septic Tank, Inc in Gainesville. Students from Bhaktivedanta Academy, and before it, previous devotee schools in Alachua, have visited Betty for over twenty-five years. Now in her late eighties and retired, she still comes in specifically to meet the students because she enjoys seeing them so much.
On this occasion, the children sang “Govindam” and “Parama Karuna” in Sanskrit, as well as “Lover of the Lord,” an English song by Mangalananda Das about Srila Prabhupada’s qualities. Betty then purchased prasadam cakes for all twenty-something of her employees, and spent time chatting with the students.
“She calls herself a “woman of God” and believes that we both believe in the same God, but just call Him different names,” says Gopi Prema. “She asked the students to promise that after she passes away, they will continue to visit her daughter, who will take over the business. She wants to make sure that the tradition continues even when she’s no longer around.”
Next, on Thursday, BANA’s youngest students from Pre-K to Kindergarten visited with Mother Yadunandana, a senior devotee who has cared for Lord Jagannath for over forty years. Children brought fruits from home to offer to her giant Deities, who preside over local Florida Rathayatras, and sang songs in both Sanskrit and English such as “Jagannatha Swami” and “Krishna, Krishna Let’s Go Play.” Meanwhile Mother Yadu told the kids stories about Lord Jagannatha and gave them delicious maha cookies.
The oldest students – 9th and 10th grade high schoolers – also went out on Thursday, distributing books and cakes at a shopping plaza in Gainesville; while on Friday fifth and sixth graders visited businesses in another nearby town, High Springs.
Students distributed a total of 60 books and 120 cakes. All the donations they collected were given to the New Raman Reti Hare Krishna temple.
“As we went store to store, many business owners said that our visit was the highlight of their day,” says Gopi Prema. “For their part, the students were also feeling so happy that they didn’t want to stop the service. Some said, ‘We are giving God to them,’ and felt that they were doing something important.”
Principal Visvambhar Aguilera adds, “Growing up in ISKCON, I did not necessarily have very positive experiences with sankirtan or outreach. We want to create a different experience, where our students have really positive memories about it. And based upon their enthusiasm to go out every year, I think we’re doing it the right way.”
In another gesture of Christmas spirit, students and their families also dropped off food items with a long shelf life, such as rice, flour, and cans of beans or fruit, in a food collection box outside Bhaktivedanta Academy throughout the week. Radha Selvester, coordinator for the local Hare Krishna Social Services program, then distributed the food amongst devotee families in need.
Aug 06, 2022
Brahmatirtha das Director, Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies


text:
From the Not-Very-Bright file:
It took the recording industry more than five years to figure out what the rest of us knew before they even started doing it: Suing its customers for sharing music is not a good idea.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Recording Industry Association of America is going to quit its campaign of hauling into court individuals caught making music available to others online. Instead, it’s going to turn Internet service providers into copyright cops:
The decision represents an abrupt shift of strategy for the industry, which has opened legal proceedings against about 35,000 people since 2003. Critics say the legal offensive ultimately did little to stem the tide of illegally downloaded music. And it created a public-relations disaster for the industry, whose lawsuits targeted, among others, several single mothers, a dead person and a 13-year-old girl.
Instead, the Recording Industry Association of America said it plans to try an approach that relies on the cooperation of Internet-service providers. The trade group said it has hashed out preliminary agreements with major ISPs under which it will send an email to the provider when it finds a provider’s customers making music available online for others to take.
Depending on the agreement, the ISP will either forward the note to customers, or alert customers that they appear to be uploading music illegally, and ask them to stop. If the customers continue the file-sharing, they will get one or two more emails, perhaps accompanied by slower service from the provider. Finally, the ISP may cut off their access altogether.
The RIAA said it has agreements in principle with some ISPs, but declined to say which ones. But ISPs, which are increasingly cutting content deals of their own with entertainment companies, may have more incentive to work with the music labels now than in previous years.
Sharing music for which you don’t have the rights is wrong, of course, but the Draconian measure of suing individuals for doing so isn’t right, either. Not only does it alienate music lovers — even those who are getting their tunes legitimately — but it ties up court time on what is, in the greater scheme of things, a very trivial matter. Whether you’re making the latest Vampire Weekend album available for download via Limewire isn’t an issue that should be further choking our already-overwhelmed legal system.
Internet service providers are probably more inclined to cooperate these days not because of any sense of moral duty, but because file sharing consumes lots of bandwidth. Comcast wasn’t interfering with BitTorrent traffic in order to stop media and software pirates from sharing files, but rather because the practice is clogging its tubes.
But this new strategy will probably be just as effective as the previous one, only now the ISPs will become the goats.
The best thing the RIAA could do is encourage its members to drop copy protection, price its products affordably and embrace file-sharing as a powerful form of marketing and promotion. Some musicians, such as Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor, have already figured this out on their own. It’s time for the rest of the industry to get a clue, and quit trying to prop up a dying model.


text:
2014 President’s Award
Russ Darrow Honda Earns Honda’s Most Prestigious Honor
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced that Russ Darrow Honda is among the recipients of its prestigious Honda President’s Award for 2014. This annual award is presented to Honda dealerships for exceptional performance in all facets of their operations – profitability, sales, vehicle condition, customer experience, service retention, and brand representation.
More than 1,000 Honda dealerships from across the country strived to earn the President’s Award in 2014, with 125 receiving the honor. To mark this significant achievement, Honda provides each winning dealership with an exquisite trophy that symbolizes the dealership’s extraordinary efforts, along with President’s Award recognition materials for its showroom.
"Honda has a proud tradition of delivering excellence in everything we do," said John Mendel, executive vice president of automobile sales for Honda. "The President’s Award is reflective of our long-standing commitment to create exceptional customer experiences. Dealerships that earn this coveted recognition are role models for building positive connections with customers."
"I encourage you to visit Russ Darrow Honda to experience the outstanding services offered by this award-winning dealership. Its dealership team members showed a passion for excellence and a commitment to exceeding customer expectations that truly make them worthy of Honda’s most prestigious honor."
Russ Darrow Honda carries the full line of reliable, fuel-efficient, and fun-to-drive Honda automobiles. The Honda lineup includes the Accord, Crosstour, Civic, Fit, and CR-Z, along with the Pilot and CR-V sport-utility vehicles and the Odyssey minivan.


text:
The retailer also said the suit is causing unlawful interference with Saks’ other business relationships.
As reported, on Wednesday, Cartier, a subsidiary of Compagnie Financière Richemont SA, filed suit in local New York court against Saks, part of Hudson’s Bay Co., claiming that the retailer’s $250 million remodel and a related attempt to end years early a five-year lease for a retail space within its Manhattan flagship is damaging its business. Cartier is seeking at least $40 million in damages.
Saks’ countersuit also alleges that a termination provision in the agreement between the two companies was included so that no brand could have veto power over fundamental store changes.
Saks said in order to remain competitive, it is essential that its business model evolve. As part of the renovation plan, the retailer is building a new space on the lower level called The Vault to house an expanded fine jewelry and watch assortment. It believes that customers spending large sums of money on upscale pieces will feel more comfortable in this environment than on the crowded main floor.
The space occupied by Cartier is earmarked for a luxury handbag vendor and as a result of Cartier’s refusal to move, the store will incur additional costs as a result of construction delays and loss in revenue from other concessions that were expected to open on the main floor by the recently completed New York Fashion Week, Saks said in its countersuit.
In its earlier complaint, Cartier said, “Saks’ actions were undertaken in bad faith for the purpose of harassing Cartier and interfering with its ability to operate in the Cartier department in the Cartier location and constitute a breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing.”
The jeweler said in October 2016 it renewed a five-year lease for its “specifically selected” location within the Saks flagship, and noted the space was chosen and substantially invested in “due to its nearly unmatched visibility (to maximize brand exposure) and customer foot traffic, security and logistical considerations, as well as the overall shopping experience of Cartier’s customers.”


text:
What does 2021 hold in store for the publishing industry? Every year at Written Word Media we consult experts and dive into our own data to predict the next year’s publishing trends. And, after 2020, we’re more excited than ever to focus on the future. Self-publishing is an ever-changing industry and big changes can come seemingly out of nowhere.
So, how will 2021 look? This year we’ve broken down our predictions into four themed sections. Here are our top 10 publishing trends for 2021.
Trend #1: More traditional authors will move to the indie model
Some indies are having major financial success, and the rest of the publishing industry is taking note. Mark Dawson of The Self Publishing Formula says that consolidation of major publishers and knowledge of the financial opportunities available elsewhere could drive this trend.
“We’ve already seen A-list authors – Dean Koontz and Patricia Cornwell – take the Amazon shilling and sign with Thomas & Mercer; I can see more of that, and, perhaps, a really big name striking out on their own,” said Dawson.
Penguin Random House Acquiring Simon & Schuster will lead to less competition for the work of traditional authors. These authors will find that they have less negotiating power and at least some will be tempted by the indie path. Mark Leslie Lefebvre of Draft2Digital notes that consolidation at the top could lead to more competition in the indie market. “There’ll be another huge influx of both new authors and talented freelancers moving into the marketplace. This is always the side effect of those types of big publisher corporate mergers – the shedding of imprints, staff, and authors,” said Lefebvre. “More traditional authors are going to realize the opportunities that indie publishing can bring, specifically with regards to eBook sales.”
Trend #2: More indie authors will collaborate or consolidate in collectives
Just as we see consolidation among traditional publishers, we’re also seeing indies combining resources and audiences to compete on a level above. For example, Michael Anderle’s LMBPN Publishing has long seen notable success and will serve as a model for authors to aspire to.
Kinga Jentetics of Publish Drive says that collaborating indies can bring their business to the next level. “From sharing production costs to combining marketing efforts, this is a great way for indies to publish quicker, expand back catalogs, and beyond,” said Jentetics.
Collaboration by indies is also now set up to be better supported by the indie publishing industry. Draft2Digital now allows payment splitting, making it easy to share the proceeds of co-authored books distributed through their platform. Mark Leslie Lefebvre says, “Savvy authors can increase output and earnings by collaborating, not just by combining email lists, but actual books as well.”
With more pressure from competition and new tools to use, we see more indies collaborating than ever before in 2021.
The Big Players
Trend #3: Authors will benefit from competition in the eBook marketplace between Amazon, Apple, and Google
Amazon is the largest retailer for indies, but in 2020 we saw signs that two other major tech players are interested in competing for authors.
In spring 2020, Apple announced a redesign to its author portal and revealed that they had made it easier for authors without a Mac to publish with iBooks. Google Play also revamped its publishing analytics interface in fall 2020. This redesign makes it much easier for authors to analyze their sales on the platform.
These moves by Apple and Google are a clear signal that they are investing in indies. And we see this continuing in 2021. Competition among marketplaces means indies win. We’ve already seen usability improvements in 2020. Will 2021 bring even more developments? We think so.
Trend #4: More platforms fighting for Audio supremacy will benefit savvy authors
Competition in the audio space will continue in 2021, and the fight for audio supremacy could benefit authors who invest in audiobooks. “The audio wars will further heat up between Audible (Amazon), Spotify, and Apple,” said Jane Friedman, The Hot Sheet. “All are taking steps to become a central hub for audio entertainment and storytelling, and you can find myriad startups entering the playing field, trying to get a foothold in a market that’s expected to keep growing over the next decade—and will likely surpass ebook sales in a couple years,” notes Friedman.
Joanna Penn, The Creative Penn, sees audio competition expanding to the international market. “Opportunities in the audiobook market will continue to expand with the expansion of subscription services like Storytel into more international markets, and Spotify (possibly) entering the scene in a more significant way,” said Penn.
Penn also believes audiobooks will only get easier to produce as companies fight for content. “With Google Play now offering audiobooks narrated by AI voices, 2021 might also see the emergence of new, cheaper ways of producing mass-market audio, while still enabling the premium human-narrated editions to reach new listeners. It’s an exciting time for audiobooks!”
With the audiobook market expanding year after year, the big players are lining up to duke it out. Audible took a public relations hit with authors in 2020. Will they or other retailers respond by offering more favorable terms to authors in 2021?
The eBook Market
Trend #5: COVID-19 will impact book sales in different ways at different times
COVID-19 has had a major impact on the eBook market. “2020 saw more people turn to books for at-home entertainment and education via digital means,” said Kinga Jentetics. “PublishDrive has experienced a surge in digital book sales since the outbreak of the pandemic.”
We expect that the surge in eBook sales will continue in the first half of 2021. However, the second half of the year could mark a downturn for eBook sales if vaccination efforts in the US and Europe are successful. As people are able to leave their houses and once again embark on travel, people will have less time (or inclination) to read and could buy fewer books. This could mean a temporary lull in eBook sales during the “post-Covid re-emergence” phase of our lives. As with many of the habits adopted during the Covid pandemic, a shift from physical to digital eBooks is likely to stick, so that by 2022, eBook sales are likely to have normalized into new post-Covid sales patterns.
Trend #6: The overall eBook market will continue to grow
COVID-19 has accelerated so much in our world, and we suspect eBook consumption is no exception. Mark Leslie Lefebvre also thinks there is room for optimism here.
“One thing that I think is critical for authors to understand, particularly those who believe that the market is saturated with eBooks, is that we’re still at the very beginning of a long-term transformation of digital consumption of books,” said Lefebvre. “The reality is that most people who read have STILL not read an eBook. Overall industry stats show that upwards of 70% of people who read, still read print and haven’t yet adopted a digital reading diet.”
With libraries and bookstores harder to access, we assume that more readers turned to digital in 2020. And once they discover the ease of access and savings, we see them sticking with it in 2021. More readers are joining the digital eBook market, and we see this accelerating as the word spreads even more.
Trend #7: Authors will see more success with international sales
Ricardo Fayet of Reedsy is optimistic about the growth of the eBook market in Europe. “One thing the pandemic has greatly developed is the eBook market in European countries that were so far viewed as extremely traditional in their book-buying habits,” Fayet said. “Whatever the evolution of the pandemic, I can only see this trend further developing, especially in the first months of the year, when all the Christmas present Kindle devices need to be loaded up with books.”
While some of these international sales could decrease in accordance with Trend #5, Fayet points out that there are now new digital readers who might not go back to print. Authors willing to invest in translation could get a great foothold in this rising European eBook market.“I’d still recommend going for the German market first, but I feel the French, Italian and Spanish ones will be catching up quickly,” said Fayet.
Trend #8: It will be a volatile year for paid advertising
Covid has accelerated the shift to digital among all industries, not just books. That means more retailers and brands will spend more marketing dollars in digital channels in 2021. Increased spend and competition will drive up the costs of digital advertising for authors.
As if that wasn’t enough, fundamental shifts in the landscape – Apple and Facebook’s iOS 14 dispute and Google’s antitrust litigation – will make for an ever-shifting environment. Authors should be prepared to see higher ad costs in 2021 but also stay abreast of these events. Where there is change, there may be opportunity.
Trend #9: Email delivery and engagement will become a focus for authors
Authors will become even more dependent on their email lists due to the rocky ad landscape. But the advent of new email services for users (Hey, SuperHuman) and continued gating by Gmail will make it harder to reach those users who have subscribed to author’s lists. Add to that growing email volume due to the generalized shift to digital due to Covid, and the competition here is fierce.
The bright side? Yes, it’s harder than ever to get someone’s attention with an email, but when you have a reader’s email address, you own a direct line to them. It’s less likely that a software update or an increase in ad costs will prevent you from letting them know about your latest release. Other marketing channels will suffer in 2021, so email is poised to be more important than ever.
Trend #10: Authors who write into series, and with big backlists, will win larger pieces of the pie
Writing a series results in more sales, and authors know it. In 2020 we introduced our series promo to great results. In 2021, we expect to see more authors focus on writing series, and those who do will see the financial rewards.
Our 2020 author survey showed that having more published books is a major driver of author income. So with the eBook market growing quickly, authors with a larger backlist are best poised to take advantage right away. If that backlist is made of series, even better. Those authors can expect even more read-through and more purchases of an entire series “up-front.”
Ricci Wolman, Written Word Media, predicts more authors will focus on growing their catalog to reap marketing and earnings efficiencies. “There is a formula for success and high earnings as an indie author,” said Wolman. “Authors who follow this formula are winning and we expect more to follow suit.”
In 2021 we will continue to see how the pandemic impacts the self-publishing industry. We’ve learned a lot in 2020, but 2021 will, hopefully, see another major change if the spread of the virus is reduced. What trends do you see coming in 2021? Do you agree or disagree with any of our predictions? Let us know in the comments!


text:
MILAN – Alfa Romeo will work on a new sizable vehicle in the US to be launched in 2027, the brand’s head, Jean-Philippe Imperato, said on Friday, however, the group has yet to decide where to manufacture it. Is.
Imperato said the US program was key to producing designs for overseas markets, helping Alfa Romeo to consolidate its position as an international premium brand under Stelantis.
“Our proposal for the sizable vehicle should fit into the international markets, American, Chinese, European,” he said during a media call, a day after parent Stelantis released its first-half financial results.
Alfa Romeo is still assessing whether the new model will be an SUV, a crossover or a sedan, but it probably won’t be a classic big SUV, like BMW’s X5 or X6, Imperato said. ,Automotive News Classifies the X5 and X6 as crossovers.)
“We want to find the right mix,” he said. “It is a decision we will take by the end of this year”.
The US market is swamped towards crossovers and SUVs of all shapes and sizes, from traditional coupes and sedans.
In February, Imperato reported Automotive News Europe The vehicle can be a cross between a sedan and a crossover.
Imperato said developing the car in the US does not mean it will be produced in the NAFTA region.
“Production in the US isn’t something we’ve decided and it’s something we just don’t want to decide,” he said. Alpha has two production sites in Italy.


text:
The FDA hasn’t banned the sale of cannabidiol oils as a drug company is considering marketing them.
The Daily Debunker brings you the top stories on Snopes.com.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of cannabidiol (CBD) oils as a drug company is considering marketing them.
On 20 March 2016, the disreputable alternative health web site Natural News published an article claiming the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had "only " outlawed cannabidiol (CBD) oils by claiming that "all plant molecules now belong exclusively to Big Pharma":
Although the article was later considerably edited, its original version was republished verbatim to alternative news blog The Event Chronicle on 21 March 2016. The original article, which was credited to Natural News ‘ "Health Ranger" Mike Adams, stated:
Hemp oil extracts containing CBDs (cannibidiols) are a danger to the pharmaceutical industry which the FDA is now invoking completely insane justifications for outlawing them.
CBDs are non-psychoactive chemicals found naturally in hemp plants. They work really well as powerful natural medicine that people everywhere are realizing CBDs work better than medication for treating epilepsy, disorders, neurological disorders and other serious health conditions (including HIV infections).
So the FDA has only established a huge regulatory attack against CBDs by invoking the most insane logic that you ‘ve ever discovered… The FDA only criminalized among the most miraculous recovery drugs from the world by handing it over to Big Pharma[.]
In other words, the FDA only handed Big Pharma a complete monopoly over CBDs (hemp oil extract) by ridiculously claiming such natural goods are "adulterated" with molecules (CBDs) that the FDA says may one day turn into a medication.
The association between digital content and societal media is that a huge share of the reading audience is exposed only to the headline of any given article rather than its full text. One quote from 2014 indicated that as many as four people only read a product ‘s name, a figure which could be far higher when multiplied by Facebook. Thus, Adams’ asserts led several to infer that the FDA had indeed issued a direct, sweeping ban on CBDs (a product popular among chronic pain sufferers).
The original article contained several connections that viewers may have presumed corroborated its claims. The first important link was to some 19 February 2016 article which in no way indicated that the FDA had banned CBDs; it only reported warning letters delivered by the FDA to CBD oil producers with respect to "impermissible" tag claims:
The debate over hemp CBD’s legal standing continues after FDA shipped eight warning letters to producers of CBD dietary nutritional supplements and food products before this month. The warning letters cite impermissible health claims used to advertise the goods, in addition to CBD’s invalid standing as a dietary ingredient because of its existence in two drug programs currently under consideration.
On February 4, FDA sent warning letters to eight companies marketing CBD foods and dietary supplements, partly on the grounds of impermissible medical claims used in marketing https://cbdreamers.com/cbd-oil-for-sale materials. These include hints that CBD may be used to reduce symptoms of schizophrenia, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, obesity, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and much more.
The following link pointed to some nearly month-old article published by the Cannabusiness web site on 22 February 2016. Cannabusiness ‘ coverage seemed to explain CBDs labeled and marketed in a Way That violated FDA labeling regulations:
This continues the FDA’s ongoing battle against unapproved CBD solutions. In April of 2015, the FDA issued six comparable warnings to companies with varying quantities of CBD.
Pain Bomb, among the companies in question, was issued an FDA warning February 4th, 2016. Members of the FDA composed "PainBomb violated the FDC [Food, Drug, and Cosmetic] Act by misbranding its goods. The diseases that PainBomb marketed its products cannot be self-diagnosed or self-treated by people other than health care professionals. For this reason, PainBomb’s schooling labels informing users how to use its products violate the FDC Act. "
The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, otherwise known as the FDC Act, requires scientific information to demonstrate that a drug is safe. Pain Bomb allegedly violated section 201(g)(1)(B) of the FDC Act [21 U.S.C. 321(g)(1)(B)].
Cannabusiness connected to some 16 February 2016 article published by legal blog Above The Law, which concisely explained why the FDA was sending letters to CBD oil vendors:
In April 2015, the FDA sent warning letters to six companies whose goods supposedly contained CBD. The FDA warned these companies about marketing and promoting unapproved drugs to diagnose, mitigate, treat, or prevent ailments in humans or animals.
The FDA sent out a fresh round of warning letters to eight new businesses. The FDA’s February 4th correspondence to PainBomb, LLC in regards to the company’s "PainBomb CBD" goods is representative of the letters, and it says… PainBomb’s websites and accompanying literature seek to sell medication covered by section 201(g)(1)(B) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [(the "FDC Act")] [21 U.S.C. 321(g)(1)(B)] because they are meant for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.
The diseases that PainBomb marketed its products cannot be self-diagnosed or self-treated by people other than health care professionals. For this reason, PainBomb’s schooling labels informing users how to use its products violate the FDC Act.
Especially, the FDA in no manner issued a ban of almost any description on the sale of all CBD oils. Rather, the agency stepped in to warn many producers that their products couldn’t be marketed or labeled as "meant to be used in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of illness " without further FDA supervision. And as it happens, section 201(g)(1)(B) of the FDC Act pertains to the tagging of products under its own governance:


text:
EXPANSION works at Mort & Co’s beef feedlot in the Darling Downs are set to help efforts to help boost efforts to export more meat overseas.
Mort & Co is at Grassdale, west of Toowoomba, close to Wellcamp Airport and less than two hours’ drive to the Port of Brisbane.
The expansion has been supported by the Queensland government’s Jobs and Regional Growth Fund.
Minister for State Development Cameron Dick said Mort & Co’s operation is now Australia’s largest operational feedlot, with capability to turnoff upwards of 200,000 cattle a year.
“Beef processing is one of our state’s largest manufacturing industries, employing around 10,000 Queenslanders, and our government is committed to its continued success,” Mr Dick said.
In line with the Grassdale expansion, Mort & Co have brought online their own gas-fired power plant, a move that is expected to allow them to meet their individual power requirements and become a net exporter back into the grid.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development Mark Furner said Mort & Co were also building a new fertiliser pellet manufacturing facility, which is set to be delivered in the first half of this year.
“In a first for the Australian beef industry, Mort & Co will use innovative technologies to convert 60,000 tonnes of manure into high-value granulated fertiliser pellets,” Mr Furner said.
“This process will provide the feedlot with an environmental solution to waste issues, while also generating a new form of revenue for the company.”
Mort & Co executive chairman Charlie Mort said the prolonged drought across Queensland and NSW made it imperative the feedlot industry continued to grow. “This will ensure a consistent supply of quality products for beef markets, both export and domestic,” he said.