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Back in 1996, the explosion of on-line casino site gambling brushed up the world. The USA had actually been a large component of this, and also numerous casino players had actually relied on online gambling enterprises for every one of their gaming. For several years, these casinos continued to be played unrelenting. However, back in 2006, regulation was passed that made it a little challenging for online gambling establishments to continue to operate. This legislation, slipped in by piggyback with the Safe Port Act, would be called the Unlawful Web Gambling Enforcement Act, and also it came to be a thorn in the side of the online gambler, the on the internet casino, as well as all settlement cpus there in.
The Unlawful Internet Betting Enforcement Act of 2006, or the UIGEA, had, in short, prohibited financial institutions and also repayment processors from refining purchases that would correlate to on-line betting. This has not just difficult filling accounts, yet additionally taking out. While U.S.A. on-line gambling enterprises have actually remained to operate, they have actually had to utilize settlement processors that would prevent these limitations. Regretfully, the UIGEA was not even set to enter into result until December of 2009, assumed the effects of the legislation had fall out that would certainly be nothing short of disastrous for numerous on the internet gaming business, especially those that relied greatly on the United States market.
The UIGEA had actually hindered most of the operations worldwide that utilized the American market in order to remain ahead in earnings, all the while keeping losses to a reduced. The implications ran deep, harming numerous companies running these casinos. Not 더킹카지노 only had a few of the bigger, publicly traded online gambling enterprises taken a significant hit to the price per share, which subsequently injured the shareholders of those business, yet also set you back the companies profits from the United States Market. PartyGaming comes to mind specifically, though various other big betting firms had actually taken a hit. In addition, lots of execs accountable of numerous of the online gambling enterprises, including Anurag Dikshit, one of the early creators of PartyGaming, had been indicted and fined for their participation in on the internet betting – although that these companies had actually been based beyond the USA. Payment cpus had likewise been substantially impacted, as most of these monetary companies had actually taken an impact from federal mistreatment, which, in some cases, totaled up to hundreds of numerous dollars in seizures. Regretfully, the UIGEA had actually not also been conjured up in much of these seizures. Rather, the Cable Act of 1961, a law that had been passed years before the Net was even beginning to turn into what we see today.
Despite the laws that had actually begun to hinder on-line gambling establishment gambling, numerous online casinos continued to approve U.S.A. gamers. While several of the bigger brands of on the internet gambling enterprise had been stripped from the United States market, numerous others had actually stayed steadfast in their dedication to providing gambling enterprise gaming to the American market. Though there are on-line casinos still operating in the United States, the selection has actually ended up being minimal. In order to concentrate on a marginal market, on the internet gambling establishments accepting American gamers needed to provide a service of higher quality. That having actually been said, those online gambling establishments have had to outclass the older types of casino software application that had removed themselves from the American market.
There are currently 3 significant brand names of gambling establishment software program that have yet to stop operating within the USA. These brands have no purpose off duty the American market, as well as still out do those that have actually already left USA players high as well as dry. Live Pc Gaming, or RTG, Rival Pc gaming, or simply Competing, and also Probabilities On, additionally known as Vegas Innovation, are the three kinds of casino site software program still accepting Americans. Each lugs its very own unique functions, though they widely out carry out those who have actually left the United states behind, including Microgaming, Playtech, and also others. While some of the specific online casinos running under these brand names have decided not to content with the opinion of the USA federal government, nearly all of them continue to supply USA gamers with high quality casino site pc gaming.
Online casinos powered by RTG are among the superior three. Live video gaming has brought high quality gaming to players throughout the USA. Their superiority comes through the electronic passion of their games. Instead of supplying weary, dull tables games as well as slots, they have actually taken steps to ensure that each gamer will certainly appreciate the smooth graphics as well as game play of their online casino. Actual time Pc gaming gambling establishments provide their players with adequate diversity to stay entertaining, along with substantial perks for their gamers. Gambling enterprises beyond the United States, particularly Microgaming casinos, will usually fall short in regards to rewards. Through integrated safety and security, these casino sites under the RTG brand also remain the most safe and secure.
The second brand name of online casino pc gaming comes with Rival Video gaming. Rival Gaming has actually created and subsequently dispersed an one-of-a-kind collection of games. These games, the Interactive Slots, have actually brought an entire new level of amusement to slot games. Instead of the common rotating of the reels, Competing has actually elevated the bar to the pinnacle of gambling enterprise pc gaming. Their table games have additionally been a significant hit, bringing in players who look for just to play cards, dice, or various other table based gambling enterprise games. Though gamers outside of the USA may delight in the Interactive Slot, there is no global online casino site that blocks American IP addresses that supplies anything from another location similar to the power and also variety of the I-Slot.
Finally we pertain to Chances On. With Probabilities On Gambling establishments, players are qualified to utilize one of the initial sorts of online gambling enterprise software program. Odds On has reinvented the means games are played, especially slots. The Chances On bonus ports have actually brought hundreds of thousands of dollars to their champions. Additionally, these bonus slots are backed by the large, multiplayer port competitions that have ended up being a staple for many players all over the world. The dimension and also appeal of these events are virtually unique to Probabilities On. Port events offer gamers with the capacity to appreciate port pc gaming without a frustrating financial danger, while giving less complicated access to large jackpots. Though various other types of casino site software application will regularly give players with the chance to enjoy slot tournaments, none will be as versatile or prevalent as those discovered through Probabilities On – showing once more on the internet gambling enterprises accepting USA players are superior to those found open only to European gamers.
Though gambling establishments approving Americans have had a bumpy road, specifically in 2009, hope lies on the perspective. The Unlawful Web Gambling Enforcement Act, which held a deadline of December of 2009, has actually been postponed. This delay bought time, 6 months to be specific, that would enable lawmakers to reevaluate the law’s passing. Several lawmakers, especially Congressman Barney Frank, have actually been pushing for a change in legislation. In order to help in the promote regulated Internet online casino gambling, any person might contact their legislators as well as representatives in order to share their viewpoint. There are additionally political activity committees, such as the Poker Gamer’s Alliance, that are attempting to bring casino video gaming into the homes of gamers throughout the USA. Regardless of these laws, the casino sites still running for American players are ranked far over those who have chosen against continued procedure Stateside.


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Last month the Advertising Standards Authority released a report with the not-so-shocking revelation that charity adverts in particular go too far when it comes to shocking. It's a debate that gets recycled on average at least twice a year, as one particularly "hard-hitting" charity flirts with the fine line between a reality check and content that is just downright distasteful. One week, it's Peta using basement-level, misogynistic, crude humour to promote veganism; the next, it's a certificate 18 viral from Save the Congo that would probably make even the most ardent Saw fans turn away in revulsion.
For me, I think the tired debate has become a futile, perpetual cycle that we're not going to break out of any time soon, because we are asking the wrong questions. Whenever you ask if the line has been crossed, it creates a clear divide between right and wrong – and, therefore, charities will continue to be edgy in an attempt to grab your attention, regardless of any ASA sanctions, fines or bans.
The idea of shock tactics stems from the notion that a short, sharp shock can be effective in affecting behaviour in a positive way. But what happens when you're receiving a short, sharp shock every single day? You eventually become numb to the effects and the shock value becomes null and void. More importantly for marketers, the cut-through disappears.
Brendan Gormley, chief executive at the Disasters Emergency Committee, last year warned of the danger that the persistent use of shock tactics could amount to little more than a "race to the bottom". Particularly with the likes of Peta's often crazed obsession with attention-seeking and headline-making, it's difficult to argue that it is any more than just that. It makes you wonder what exactly the nadir will be.
What frustrates me is that I feel charities are getting away from what their ultimate goal should be. Like any good business (let's be clear, charities are, and have to be run like businesses in order to function), charities need to raise donations, raise awareness and compel people to act. To do those things, you need to grab attention initially, of course, but you then need to actually do something once you have a captive audience.
If all you're doing is shocking people, how many of them are you actually moving to make a donation or engage? And how many of them are you purely upsetting and unsettling by placing these adverts before the watershed? You have to make sure that a shock propels people into action rather than just leaving them with a bad taste in their mouths.
What's similarly frustrating is the lack of creative flair behind these adverts. We ad-men often yearn for a challenger-brand client, willing to approach a new campaign with an open mind and be creative. More often than not, we bemoan the great creative ideas that are left on the cutting room floor in favour of safe, conventional 30-second spots that may have all the key messages, but offer little in the way of persuasion for consumers to act upon.
Charities, however, want to grab your attention. They want to be disruptive, they want to go against the grain and, theoretically, they don't want to be formulaic. Yet, collectively, we as an industry have become lazy. In the absence of inspired creative work, shock tactics appear to be an easy fallback. What's more worrying is that "heads-turned" seems to be an acceptable measure of success these days. Surely it should be donations raised and actions instigated on which we can evaluate campaigns?
It's not to say shock doesn't have a place within advertising, but those that use shock effectively are thus drowned out by the overbearing noise around them. For example Women's Aid, in my opinion, manages to tow a tasteful line with a range of effective campaigns that make people stop and think about an issue where the biggest barrier to action is an unwillingness or inability for it to be confronted. It's sad to think how its cut-through is diluted by an obnoxious "competitor", screaming loudly for attention like an infant.
I think surely the time has come to stop going round in circles and for those of us in advertising to take responsibility for what we put out there. Not out of some moral duty, but for the sake of our own integrity. With new channels and possibilities opening up to us all the time, there's arguably never been a greater opportunity to create something wonderful, to create true popular culture. Great advertising in action is a joy to behold, despite the tattered reputation of the medium. It's time we all remembered that.

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Google Q4 Earnings Not Bad At All – Google is Still Unstoppable
Google (GOOG) reported Q4 earnings today. They reported revenues of $6.67 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, up 17% vs the fourth quarter of 2008. Earnings for the quarter came in at $1.97 billion, up from $348 million for the same quarter of 2008. Earnings per share were $6.13, up from $1.21 a year earlier, although the 2008 figure included stock-based compensation and year-ago impairments, Adjusted, earnings rose to $6.79 from $5.10 per share.
Google’s official comment was the following
“Google had a strong fourth quarter, with 17% year over year revenue growth,” said Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google. “Given that the global economy is still in the early days of recovery, this was an extraordinary end to the year. Our performance in 2009 underscored the strength of our management team, the resilience of our business model and the pace of innovation within our product and engineering teams, which continued unabated throughout the downturn. As we enter 2010, we remain hugely optimistic about the internet and are continuing to invest heavily in technological innovation for the benefit not only of our users and customers, but also the wider web.”
Google stock has been riding high and their product moves have been stellar of late Chrome, App Engine, Cloud, Android. There is more coming. As I posted last week before the China “thing” – Google is unstoppable and only the governments can stop them. Certainly that post was a prelude to the China “thing”. Obviously China wants to stop Google.
Rob Hof was monitoring the call and reported the following
Despite recent battles with Apple, glitches in the rollout of its Nexus One cell phone, challenges in China, and competition with just about everyone in tech, Google’s core business–search advertising–is starting to roll again following the past year’s economy-driven slowdown. “We’re back in business full blast,” CEO Eric Schmidt said on the conference call.
In particular, Schmidt says display will be the “next huge business” for Google. And he says it’s a little-known story how successful Google has been in display–though he didn’t add any details. He views 2010 as the year this will become apparent. More on what Google plans to do in display from my BusinessWeek story last year.
Mobile may start to become a noticeable piece of that display ad business as well, bolstered by its purchase of AdMob in November. Then there’s YouTube, which Google also said was doing well–though again with no specifics.
In any case, it appears that whatever other challenges Google faces this year, its core business won’t be one of them. Which is more than most large ad-supported businesses (that is, traditional media) can say.
Most of the earnings call is dominated by the China “thing” but Google isn’t performing bad at all. As I wrote last week Google has everything going for them must of which is CASH and deep product research and development.
The Google equation is at the heart of the disruptive convergence in tech – cloud, social web, and mobility. Why is Google so powerful? In the emerging technology they are pushing in all areas – cloud, social web, and mobility. Combine that with the fact that they have a monopoly lock on the “regular” web – search.
Putting it all together: data, software, and massive compute scale is Google’s Opportunity.
Google ability to advance on the user experience in new emerging categories leveraged by their massive market share on search (and Google toolbar) gives them unprecedented data. Just thinking about the possibilities makes me dizzy.
Competitively speaking I just don’t see anyone stepping up to challenge Google.
Microsoft? No. IBM? No. HP? No. Intel? No. Cisco? No. A startup? No Way!
How this will impact the marketplace for companies and startups – not sure but it’s not growth. Google can steamroll anyone. Look at the Nexus One phone. In a months Google makes Motorola
A message from John Furrier, co-founder of SiliconANGLE:
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Some social conservatives have had it with backlash directed at Indiana over its Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
In a column for conservative grassroots site RedState.com, editor-in-chief Erick Erickson criticized business owners and people on the left who say the law will allow anyone to cite religious belief in refusing to serve gays and lesbians. Erickson’s opening sentence hones in on Apple chief executive Tim Cook for what he sees as hypocritical business practices.
"To recap: Tim Cook (please, please click this link) and the left are happy to do business in countries that stone to death or otherwise jail gay people, but will not do business with Indiana," Erickson wrote, "which merely passed a law insisting that the ‘free exercise’ clause of the first amendment be on the same legal footing in courts as the ‘free speech’ clause of the first amendment."
Erickson would not respond to our requests for more information, but his point is fairly evident: Apple will do business in countries where being gay is illegal (there were more than 70 such countries as of 2013) but won’t do business with Indiana.
That turns out to be putting words in Apple’s mouth.
What Cook said
Cook, who has been Apple’s CEO since 2011, started speaking out against Indiana’s religious freedom law with a couple of tweets March 27, the day after Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed the measure into law.
Cook wasn’t done criticizing the law. In a March 29 Washington Post op-ed, Cook, who is gay, warned that the legislation in Indiana and other states allows people to cite personal religious beliefs as a reason not to serve a customer based on sexual orientation. (Some experts say such refusals along these lines under Religious Freedom Restoration Acts would not win out in court, but the law may lead some people to think they have that right.)
"Our message, to people around the country and around the world, is this: Apple is open," he wrote. "Open to everyone, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, how they worship or who they love. Regardless of what the law might allow in Indiana or Arkansas, we will never tolerate discrimination."
Cook also said, "on behalf of Apple, I’m standing up to oppose this new wave of legislation — wherever it emerges."
Strong words, yes. But like his tweets, the op-ed said nothing about the company no longer doing business with Indiana.
We searched and found no other instance of Cook, or Apple, making comments about Indiana’s law or suggesting they would not do business in, or with, the state.
Erickson did not respond to us via our email, phone or Twitter queries. Instead, he posted a blog on RedState saying "Seriously. Sometimes a tweet is just a tweet." (Erickson’s post was not a tweet, it was a column.)
As for Indiana, the state is home to two Apple retail stores in malls in Indianapolis and Mishawaka. Both were still in operation April 2, 2015, when we called.
An Apple spokesman offered no additional comment.
In trying to call out Apple’s Cook for clashing business practices over gay rights, Erickson said Cook "will not do business with Indiana."
That is not true based on Cook’s public remarks on Twitter and in an op-ed. Cook has been outspoken in his position against the law and others like it across the country, but Apple stores remain open in Indiana and iPhones, iMacs and everything else is still being sold.
Erickson’s claim rates False.
Read About Our Process
RedState column, "You don’t need a rainbow sticker to let people know you’re black," March 31, 2015
Washington Post op-ed by Tim Cook, March 29, 2015
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.


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Sega and Warner Bros. have pushed back the North American release of the MMORPG, "Matrix Online," from November to Jan. 18, 2005. According to many sources
the companies preferred a simultaneous world-wide launch of the game rather than a two stage release. However, those that pre-order the game will get access to a closed-beta test starting on Nov. 18 and will get a special feature for their characters: hyper-jump. Hey, as long as bullet-time is involved, how can it go wrong (sarcasm)?
Continue Article ↓


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tech2 News StaffOct 31, 2014 07:30:13 IST
Samsung plans to release three low-priced smartphones namely the Galaxy A3, Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 in China next month. There were rumours which suggested that the Samsung Galaxy A series, will follow the Galaxy Alpha's premium metal body design, which has been launched a month back.
These 3 devices are said to be aimed at the mid-range smartphones and will be targeting Xiaomi which is now the third-largest smartphone vendor in the world.
According to the Korean IT Times, Samsung Galaxy A3 is said to come with a 4.8-inch 960x540p display with a quad-core Snapdragon 410 64-bit processor. It will come with 1GB RAM, a 5MP front camera and an 8MP rear camera.
Samsung Galaxy A5 is rumoured to come with a 5.0-inch HD display and 64-bit Snapdragon 410 processor. It will have 2GB RAM, 5MP front camera and 13MP rear camera.
Samsung Galaxy A7 will feature a 5.2-inch display with resolution of 1920 x 1080p and pack a 64-bit eight-core Snapdragon 615 SoC under the hood. It will have 2GB RAM, 5MP front camera and 12MP rear camera.
Expected price range is $350 to $400 (approx Rs 22,500 to Rs 24,500) for the Samsung Galaxy A3, $400 plus (Over Rs 25,000) for the Galaxy A5 and $450 to $500 (approx Rs 28,000 to Rs 31,000) for the Galaxy A7.
Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.


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Couldn’t make it to Orlando Business Journal’ s Business of Technology event? We’ve got you covered.
Hit the slideshow to see who was there. And see below for snippets from the conversations from today's event.
Oh, and be sure to grab today's issue of OBJ for more on Orlando's $14 billion technology industry.
- Carol Craig, president of Craig Technologies Inc.: There’s a need to not just think about Orlando’s technology industry, or Brevard's technology industry, or Tampa’s technology industry. "We need to think regional.”
- Harry Ellis, CIO of NextHorizon: Central Florida needs high-profile tech companies to come to town. “For the tech industry to evolve, you need that big name. You get a couple of big names here and the tech industry will explode. People will stay rather than leave.”
- Stephen Thomas, intellectual property lawyer at Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed PA: Cloud computing does come with risks. What happens if you store info on a cloud and the cloud provider gets hacked? “The threat level had gone through the roof."
- Ellis: “If a hacker wants to get into your system, it doesn’t matter if it’s in the cloud. If Anonymous wants into your network, they’re going to get in.”
- Beau McGlamery, director of IT for Vaco Orlando: “You have to do your research. There are bad doctors, bad attorneys, bad CPAs and bad IT people."
- Ellis: “We’ve been working with a couple of different firms to enhance 3-D animations on a virtual desktop. When you’re manipulating high-end video and 3-D graphics, there’s a lag time. We’re working on an algorithm to compress that stream.”
- Thomas: “It’s never a problem until someone makes money. You have to be careful. The open code hacking, weekend events, they’re really good, but they can be a nightmare from a legal perspective.”
For more on Orlando's tech scene, see the stories below:


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Google introduced it will be working with artificial intelligence (AI) and a device finding out (ML) model to mechanically update business enterprise hrs and authentic-environment street information and facts.
The goal of these initiatives is to present end users with a lot more up-to-date data about neighborhood alterations.
Harnessing The Energy Of AI For Much more Precise Facts
However analysis into AI began in the 1950s, it did not start to make deep mastering breakthroughs right until rather recently. This is largely simply because machine discovering progressed fairly appreciably put up-2010.
“From my expertise, I saw that ML algorithms are no extended the bottlenecks. To be guaranteed, they are significantly from perfect, and there’s a good deal of operate to be accomplished, but that function is happening at breakneck velocity,” Edo Liberty, the previous head of Amazon’s AI lab and existing CEO of Pinecone, a vector databases for similarity lookup explained in a February 22 interview with Lookup Motor Journal.
Corresponding with the rise of big details, these improvements are letting AI to progress with remarkable velocity.
Google Using AI To Update Enterprise Hrs
COVID-19 altered the way lots of enterprises function, such as the hrs stores and places to eat are open up. To tackle these changes and greater lookup motor users, Google formulated a equipment finding out design that mechanically identifies if enterprise hrs are very likely erroneous.
At the time incorrect hrs are identified, Google instantaneously updates the company’s organization profile with AI-generated predictions.
For example, a small business may perhaps have a profile exhibiting it’s shut on Mondays, but it hasn’t been up to date in above a yr.
If Google decides its busiest hours are usually Monday evenings, it will identify the several hours are very likely out-of-date and update them quickly.
It also works by using Road See images of the storefront to establish hrs of functions symptoms, while enlisting the help of local guides and company homeowners to verify predictions.
Company proprietors are contacted using Google Duplex, an AI process that will allow persons to have organic conversations and attain serious environment tasks with desktops around the cellphone.
Google predicts this technological innovation will assist it update the hours of far more than 20 million enterprises worldwide in just the up coming 6 months.
ML Updates Real-Earth Road Problems
Google also announced it is experimenting with other methods it can use visuals for AI and ML. Starting in the U.S., it is launching a third-social gathering imagery pilot that will provide the most up-to-date speed restrict information and facts.
The objective of this engineering is to improve driver protection and incorporate facts that can make driving additional effective. Google hopes to ultimately insert information about potholes, college zones and building.
Emphasis On Privacy Stays Higher
This pilot is intended with privacy as a vital component. Reference photos will only arrive from general public roadways. Associates will also be expected to blur pinpointing facts, including faces and license plates.
Once Google gets an picture, it yet again blurs the photograph, which is then deleted soon after maps have been updated.
Showcased Impression: Screenshot from weblog.google/products and solutions/maps/, April 2022.
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It looks like Chick-fil-A could be winging its way to Apple Valley in the near future.
At its 7 p.m. Thursday meeting, the Apple Valley City Council will consider a conditional-use permit, as well as a site plan/building permit authorization, to build one of the chain's drive-thru restaurants at the intersection of Cedar Avenue and 153rd Street.
Thursday night's vote will be the final city action on the proposed restaurant's construction, which was unanimously approved in January by the city's planning commission.
There are already several locations of the Georgia-based restaurant chain—best known for its breaded chicken sandwiches—in Minnesota: at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and in student unions at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Minnesota State University-Mankato.
Construction of two other locations, in Maple Grove and Coon Rapids, has been approved.
The Chick-fil-A proposed for Apple Valley would be located at the southeast corner of the Cedar Avenue-153 Street intersection, in an outlot planned as part of the Cub Foods renovation.
According to Apple Valley Planning Commission documents, the 4,585 square-foot building would seat 106 customers and would have an outdoor seating area and a drive-thru lane.
Chick-fil-A has proposed a two-menu-board drive thru; Apple Valley’s building code allows for one board, but the Planning Commission unanimously recommended changing the ordinance to allow for Chick-fil-A's request, according to Tom Lovelace, city planner. That plan, too, comes up for a vote by the city council Thursday.
Besides its food, the restaurant is probably best known for two things: A marketing campaign featuring cows urging people to eat more chicken, and the political/social positions of its leader.
Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy is well known as an opponent of legalizing same-sex marriage, prompting howls of outrage from gay rights supporters and calls for support from religious conservatives around the country. Last year, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino vowed to block the chain from opening an outlet in his city.
"In recent days you said Chick-fil-A opposes same-sex marriage and said the generation that supports it has an 'arrogant attitude,' " Menino wrote to Cathy. "Here in Boston, to borrow your own words, we are 'guilty as charged.' We are indeed full of pride for our support of same-sex marriage and our work to expand freedom to all people."
So far, no such debate has arisen in Apple Valley. The planning commission simply deals with land-use issues, Lovelace said.


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After last week's spinach scare, easing food safety restrictions is probably the last thing people want. But some people have paid a lot of money to get legislation passed...
Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) is a cosponsor of HR 4167, legislation that would restrict states from enacting food safety regulations that are stronger than federal government standards. If passed, the bill would preempt a law that restrict the level of lead in candy and one that keeps parents and women aware of the risks of consuming too much fish with high levels of mercury.
There is a group of folks that support the legislation, though - and they are the agribusiness interests that have given Rep. Pombo nearly $1.4 million for his Congressional races, including money from crop production, agricultural services, food processing, and beef. Click here to download the full report.
Click here to check out our press release and download the full report.


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The majority (62%) of educated, affluent news and public-policy followers in 20 countries place less trust in corporations now than they did a year ago, though trust levels are higher in developing countries than in the US, where they are lowest, according to the latest Edelman Trust Barometer survey.
The research, which gathers responses from a demographic sample that PR firm Edelman calls “informed publics”* between ages 25 and 64, explores this group’s levels of trust in four institutions: Business, government, media and NGOs . Results reveal the lowest across-the-board levels of trust since the survey began ten years ago.
Trust in Business, CEOs Plunges
When respondents in the US were asked about trust in business in general, only 38% said they have faith in business to do what is right, a 20% plunge since last year. Moreover, only 17% said they trust information from a company’s CEO. Both are lower levels of trust than those Edelman measured in the wakes of Enron, the dot-com bust, and Sept.11, 2001.
This decline in trust also is playing out on in people’s everyday lives, Edelman found. More than three-fourths (77%) of survey respondents say they refuse to buy products or services from a company they distrust, and 72% say they have badmouthed a distrusted company to a friend or colleague.
By a three-to-one margin, respondents around the world say that government should intervene to regulate industry or nationalize companies to restore public trust. In the major Western European economies of the UK, France, and Germany, three-quarters say that government should step in to prevent future financial crises (73%, 75%, and 74%, respectively).
In the US, less than half (49%) say the free market should be allowed to function independently. Globally, the call for government intervention also extends to issues such as energy costs, global warming, and access to affordable healthcare. Respondents around the world, by at least a two-to-one margin, say government has the primary responsibility for solving these issues, though tywo-thirds (66%) expect business to partner with governments and advocacy groups to solve these issues.
Trust Increases in BRIC Economies
In contrast to the lack of trust in the Western economies, trust in business in several emerging economies increased. In China, the “trust in business” score rose from 54% to 71% among 35-to-64-year-olds. In Brazil, trust in business climbed to 69% from 61% a year ago. And while trust in banking dropped by 33 percentage points in the US, trust in banks rose from 72% to 84% in China, and from 52% to 59% in Brazil.
“People in emerging economies credit business with improved standards of living, which remain at historically high levels,” said Richard Edelman, president and CEO of Edelman. “But this trust gain for business may now be at risk, as 79% of Japanese, 56% of Chinese, and 49% of Indian opinion leaders say they have growing concerns about business, and Korea, Mexico, and Brazil report new low levels of trust in CEOs as spokespeople.”
According to the survey, respondents say being able to “trust a company” is one of the most important factors in determining a company’s reputation. Among a global audience of 25-to-64-year-olds, trust ranks just below the quality of a company’s products and its treatment of employees – more important than a company’s financial future, job creation, giving back to the community, and innovation in products and services. Transparency, defined as frequent and honest communication, also outranks those attributes.
Repetition Key to Belief
The survey also found that 60% of respondents say they need to hear information about a company three to five times before they believe it:
Further, independent specialists remain the most trusted purveyors of information about a company, with 62% globally saying an academic or expert on a company’s industry or issues would be extremely or very credible. Employees and peers are also considered credible sources of information about a company, with 47% trusting what they hear from “a person like yourself” and 40% trusting conversations they have with employees.
Additional survey findings:
- Trust in nearly every type of news outlet and spokesperson is down from last year. Trust in business magazines and stock or industry analyst reports – last year’s leaders – decreased from 57% to 44% and from 56% to 47%, respectively.
- Globally, only 29% of respondents trust information about a company from a CEO – down from 36% last year.
- Only 13% trust corporate or product advertising – down from last year’s low of 20%.
- In the UK, France, and Germany, trust in business was already at a low level of 36% among 35-64-year-olds, and it stayed there this year. The only EU countries where business made a notable gain in trust were the Netherlands and Sweden.
“It has been a catastrophic year for business, well beyond the evident destruction in shareholder value and need for emergency government funding,” said Edelman. “Our survey confirms that it’s going to be harder to rebuild our economies because no institution has captured the trust that business has lost.”
About the survey: The 2009 EdelmanTrust Barometer is the firm’s tenth such survey. It was produced by the PR agency’s research unit StrategyOne and consisted of 30-minute telephone interviews conducted by World One from November 5 – December 14, 2008. The sample consisted of 4,475 informed publics in two age groups (25-34 and 35-64).
*“Informed publics,” as defined by the survey, are those who were contacted by the research firm and met the following criteria: College-educated; household income in the top quartile for their age in their country; read or watch business/news media at least several times a week; and follow public policy issues in the news at least several times a week.


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In further evidence of how the maritime sector is working in unison to find solutions to long standing problems four industry associations and insurers TT Club are collaborating to produce simplified guidance for packing containers.
The Container Owners Association (COA), Global Shippers Forum (GSF), the International Cargo Handling Co-ordination Association, (ICHCA) International, insurers TT Club and the World Shipping Council representing vessel owners and operators, who together form the Cargo Integrity Group (CIG) announced on 14 September that that they have published a Quick Guide to Container Packing.
The group has been formed with a view to improving the safety, security and environmental performance of the logistics supply chain, through the promotion, awareness and wider use of the Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units – the CTU Code, developed by the International Maritime Organization, with the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
According to the CIG members the guidance on packing containers is a large and complex volume, the Quick Guide will allow shippers to identify cargo types and their packing requirements readily.
“The United Nations sponsored Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (the CTU Code), together with a Checklist of actions and responsibilities for the guidance of those undertaking the packing of cargoes in freight containers specifically,” said a joint press release.
However, CIG is looking to develop more systems and guides that will educate and simplify the requirements for packing individual cargoes and properly representing those cargoes in documentation so that carriers can safely stow containers.
Peregrine Storrs-Fox, TT Club’s risk management director, told Container News, “Experience – even in the current world, both pandemic and increasingly digitised – tells us that people need introductory material that is accessible and distributable. Two immediate features here are that the text guides readers where to go for greater depth and the checklist is separately available as an editable PDF. The latter may facilitate packers creating a digital record of their process for each unit packed.”
CIG is already investigating if it can produce a searchable digital version to the Quick Guide, according to Storrs-Fox who said that “The UNECE website already provides a level of search capability.”
A digital version would include weblinks, with interactive material. “The concept is easy, implementation far more complex,” said Storrs-Fox, who explains that CIG is looking to support packers to make decisions regarding the specific commodities that they are packing.
The industry group believes the UN are keen to develop this feature and “CIG is also investigating developing an app following a cross-referenced approach similar to the Quick Guide.”
In a further statement of intent the recently formed CIG has issued guidance to the four areas that it will target that it says will improve safety and protect the environment, they include:
- Promoting awareness and adoption of the CTU Code, of which the guidance material published today is an example.
- Seeking changes in regulatory requirements to improve their clarity, application, implementation and enforcement, including to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
- Monitoring of CTU packing performance through support for strengthened cargo screening processes and more effective container inspection regimes
- Working with other industry and governmental stakeholders in promoting awareness and better understanding of safe cargo packing and handling practices.


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PlayStation boss Jim Ryan has been talking up his big new subscription offering, and the quality of games which will be available via the service.
Speaking via the official PlayStation Podcast, Ryan said that subscribers would be able to look forward to "all the big names" in the service's upcoming library of games.
When asked to name more games set to be available, Ryan replied that Sony had "massive publisher participation... We have all the big names present".
"We have big publishers, we have small indie publishers. We have over 200 partners working with us to put their content into PlayStation Plus, so the lineup is going to be really strong," he continued.
However, as expected, PlayStation Plus will not be where you go to play upcoming first-party launches on the day of their release.
So, unlike Halo Infinite or Starfield's launch via Xbox Game Pass, you shouldn't expect God of War: Ragnarok as part of your subscription price.
"The games that we make are getting bigger; they’re getting better, they’re getting more beautiful, they’re getting richer, the narrative is getting stronger," Ryan said.
"Putting these games into a subscription service immediately upon their release would break this virtuous circle, and we wouldn’t be able to invest in the way that we’re currently able to. So we’re not doing it. We’re going to stick to the approach that we have and has served us well under many years now."
The revamped PlayStation Plus will launch in June with three tiers. PlayStation Plus Essential will offer the same subscription available currently, while Plus Extra will add ~400 PS4 and PS5 games. Plus Premium, the priciest of the lot, then adds ~340 PS3, PS2 and PS1 games to stream and/or download.
At launch, Death Stranding, God of War, Marvel's Spider-Man, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Mortal Kombat 11, and Returnal will be included in the Extra and Premium tiers.


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LONDON (Reuters) - Dixons Carphone (DC.L), Britain’s largest electricals and mobile phone retailer, is planning for tougher times after the group beat forecasts with a 19 percent rise in first-half profit.
The company has had a strong run of earnings so far in 2016, but its shares have fallen 30 percent, reflecting its exposure to high-cost, big ticket goods and perceived vulnerability to any drop in consumer spending.
Its shares had risen ahead of the results and were up initially on Wednesday before dropping sharply. They were nearly 7 percent down by 1200 GMT, making them the biggest fallers in the FTSE 100 index .FTSE.
Analysts said Dixons Carphone’s performance was not strong enough to justify a boost to earnings forecasts.
“The shares have had a good run (this week) and a lack of upgrades today has led to profit-taking,” independent retail analyst Nick Bubb said.
Analysts also fear many retailers may have to raise prices next year as a slide in sterling after the Brexit vote has increased import costs, potentially squeezing consumer demand.
Dixons Carphone, which trades as Currys, PC World and Carphone Warehouse in Britain and Ireland, said it had still not seen any effect on trade in its home market as a consequence of Britain’s vote in June to leave the European Union.
It said it remained optimistic about its ability to continue to gain market share in all its key markets, while its investment plans had not changed because of Brexit. It also operates the Elkjop and Elgiganten brands in Nordic countries and Kotsovolos in Greece.
But Chief Executive Seb James said the company was planning for the possibility of more uncertain times.
“In particular, we have been focussing on reducing our fixed cost base, identifying areas of potential market share growth if the world becomes a tougher place for our competitors, and generally preparing for all eventualities - just in case,” he said.
“We are also planning our offer so that potential currency impacts are minimised for the customer.”
Dixons Carphone’s finance director Humphrey Singer said that 90 percent of its purchases are in sterling, meaning there is not a direct pressure from exchange rate movements.
He said its suppliers, who manufacture globally, will, however, feel currency pressure once their hedging arrangements begin to unwind.
But he said countering that was the fact that the company has a wide product range that tends to change a lot over time.
“So actually I’m not sure it will be very noticeable to consumers what the price changes (will be),” he said.
Singer also pointed out that many of Dixon Carphone’s products are naturally deflationary - computer products deflate at about 10 percent a month, while TVs deflate at about 10 percent a quarter.
Dixons Carphone made an underlying pretax profit of 144 million pounds in the 26 weeks to Oct. 29 - ahead of analysts’ average forecast of 141 million pounds.
Group revenue was 4.87 billion pounds, up 11 percent. Sales at stores open over a year rose 4 percent, driven by a 5 percent rise in the UK & Ireland.
Before Wednesday’s update analysts were on average forecasting an underlying pretax profit of 487 million pounds for 2016-17, up from 447 million pounds in 2015-16.
Dixons Retail also announced it has formed a strategic partnership with UK energy supplier SSE (SSE.L) to provide “connected home” services.
Editing by Keith Weir and Jane Merriman


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We’ve launched a new functionality on our website of tracking bitcoin ATM locations – reports of any bitcoin ATM’s state as working or non-working. There were many complaints when someone did a long journey to bitcoin ATM just to find out that machine is not working or is simply not there anymore.
We update the site regularly as soon as we find or receive information about any changes, but sometimes this is not enough.
New functionality allows anyone to report any bitcoin ATM as active (working) or as non-working / removed by simply upvoting or downvoting a particular bitcoin machine and leaving a short feedback for reference.
Since launch the functionality have already been used by several users, e.g. somebody reported bitcoin ATM in Bucharest, Romania as working:


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Written by Jimmy MacGyver
(Reuters) – A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from financial markets columnist Jamie MacGyver.
Asian markets will get key economic signals this week that could determine monetary policy in the continent’s two largest economies – retail sales, industrial production and house prices from China, and Japan’s GDP and inflation.
Markets will also be watching interest rate decisions from New Zealand and the Philippines, inflation numbers from India and earnings reports from major companies from China, including Tencent, Lenovo CNOOC and JD.com.
The biggest fireworks in the economic data calendar on Monday may come from India. Annual consumer price inflation is expected to show a sharp rebound in July to 6.40% from 4.8%, and a slowdown in wholesale price deflation to -2.4% from -4.1%.
The overall market mood is likely to be cautious after last week – the Nasdaq stock exchange posted its first consecutive weekly decline for the year, and the MSCI Asia excluding Japan stock index lost 2% on its way to a month. a little.
The caution could turn to outright gloom on Monday, after China’s largest privately held real estate developer Country Garden said it would suspend trading of its 11 domestic bonds.
The company’s shares hit a record low, it did not pay two dollar bond coupons due Aug. 6 totaling $22.5 million, it has about $200 billion in liabilities, and it warned last week that it could report a loss of up to $7.6 billion. first half.
Investors are wondering how long Beijing will resist pressure to inject any kind of stimulus into an economy now officially in recession with the weakest credit impulse since 2009.
Another batch of below par data this week may force the authorities to step in.
Meanwhile, investors and the Bank of Japan will pay close attention to Japanese inflation data later in the week. Economists polled by Reuters expect the annual rate of core consumer price inflation to slow to 3.1% in July from 3.3% in June.
A lower print could tempt the market to price in a more gradual change to the BoJ’s “yield curve control” policy, and firmer inflation could have the opposite effect.
Either way, the yen will come under scrutiny – it fell to a 15-year low against the euro in the late week and shrugs off levels against the dollar that last year prompted a major yen-buying intervention by Japanese authorities.
Asian stocks have performed poorly this year, largely due to concerns about China, which is battling weak growth, deflation and capital outflows. Chinese blue chips have been flat this year, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is down 4%.
The MSCI Asia stock index outside Japan is now down two weeks in a row for the first time since April, and has risen only twice in the past eight weeks.
Here are the key developments that could provide more direction to the markets on Monday:
India consumer price inflation (July)
India wholesale inflation (July)
Germany wholesale inflation (July)
(Writing by Jimmy McGiver; Editing by Diane Craft)


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The farm just isn't exciting as the city.
CityVille, the hit social game from Zynga that allows users to build a city from the ground up, now has over 100 million monthly active users on Facebook. That user base is all the more impressive when one considers that the game hit that mark a little over one month since its release.
CityVille's meteoric rise has made FarmVille, another wildly popular title on Facebook, look, well, desolate. That game has over 57 million active users, according to its Facebook page.
Zynga's CityVille success has helped the company maintain its leadership position in social gaming. According to its Web site, it has over 215 million monthly active users and more than 50 million daily active users.
In other social-gaming news, RockYou announced that it has acquired developer Playdemic. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but RockYou said the developer, which is best known for its Facebook game, Gourmet Ranch, will operate independently.
Although Gourmet Ranch has just half a million monthly active users, RockYou has garnered major followings for its games. The company has over 200 million monthly unique visitors and over 15 billion "monthly global impressions," it said. Its most notable game is Zoo World, which according to its Facebook page, has nearly 9 million monthly unique users.


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AltaVista Offers Free Internet Access in Canada
Page 1 of 1
AltaVista Company this week began offering free dial-up access to users throughout Canada.
AltaVista's free Internet service couples online access with the AltaVista microportal, a small desktop window meant to allow instant search, view and customization Web content.
AltaVista's free dial-up Internet service is available through local phone numbers to users nationwide. The service covers more than 85 percent of the country.
"Canada is the first expansion of our free service outside of the successful offering in the United States, and we are pleased to be working with a Canadian service provider," said Bill Keenan, director of AltaVista Free Access.


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EDITOR: Things are not looking good for US Manufacturing in the short term. March saw a huge decline in factory orders.... and this is before the lockdowns started in March. Keep an eye on US Manufacturing. US companies are already starting to move overseas manufacturing back to the US... but that is going to take time.
Amid collapsing employment, crashing sentiment signals, and carnage in any hard data signals around the world, it is no surprise that analysts expected a 9.7% MoM plunge in factory orders in March (still before the major lockdowns in April).
But the actual print, down 10.3% MoM, was notably worse and sent Factory orders down 11.4% YoY - the worst since the great financial crisis (ignoring the 2014/5 aberration)....
Read the rest of the article, with additional charts at https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/us-manufacturers-new-orders-crash-most-ever-and-april-will-be-worse


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Ferrari 458 Italia: from success on the road to glory on the track Company press release.
The 458 Italia has won more awards and titles than any other road car in Ferrari history. It has received more than 30 plaudits from the leading international magazines, including the best high performance engine award for two consecutive years. Now the GT2 and GT3 versions of the 458 have added to that long list a string of trophies won on circuits across the globe.
The latest arrived this weekend at the International GT Open in Barcelona where AF Corse secured both the Drivers' title and the Team trophy for the SuperGT category, courtesy of Gianmaria Bruni and Federico Leo, while Kessel Racing did likewise in the GTS category, thanks to Daniel Zampieri and Michael dalla Stella. These prestigious victories resulted in Ferrari beating rivals of the calibre of Porsche, Mercedes and McLaren to win the Manufacturers' title.
The new titles flank the many others won in the course of the year in the world's most prestigious enclosed wheel championships including the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Grand AM, the Blanc Pain Endurance Series and the FIA GT3 Asia.
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Celebrity Cruises announced that for the first time, one of its Edge Series ships will homeport in Southampton, UK for its entire 2024 season.
According to a press release, the Celebrity Apex will replace the recently-revitalized Celebrity Silhouette.
“This truly is an exciting moment for us. Having one of our award-winning Edge® Series ships sailing from Southampton will offer an experience like no other from the UK, connecting guests to the world around them through the innovative outward-facing design and visionary spaces these celebrated ships are known for,” said Lisa Lutoff Perlo, President & CEO of Celebrity Cruises. “Celebrity Cruises continues to redefine cruising, taking our guests to the world’s best places on the world’s best places.”
Celebrity Cruises Vice President & Managing Director of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Jo Rzymowska, added, “The UK has always been integral to the success of our brand, and homeporting Celebrity Apex from Southampton underlines our commitment to this market and is testament to the strength of local consumer demand, supported by our formidable travel partners. There is huge appetite from UK guests who share our curiosity for people, places and cultures, and our passion for opening up the world through a love of travel. I’m looking forward to welcoming even more of our guests on board Celebrity Apex when she raises the bar for cruising from Southampton in 2024.”
The ship is set to offer four- to 13-night sailings from May to November 2024.
Among the options, the Celebrity Apex will head to the peak of Europe on a 12-night Norwegian Fjords and Arctic Circle cruise, including calls in Tromso and Honnigsvag,
Much further south, a new addition to Celebrity’s itineraries from Southampton include sailing to Ibiza on a Mediterranean itinerary.


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On Thursday, bill author and State Senator Lieu joined pet owners in front of the capitol in Sacramento where animals were implanted with free chips.
The devices make it easier to reunite lost pets with their owners.
Each year, California shelters take in nearly a million dogs and cats, half of which are euthanized because their owners cannot be found.
"Folks who have pets who are not micro chipped," Senator Lieu said. "If they get lost, there is only a 13 percent chance they are returned. If you have a microchip in your pet, about 74 percent of the time you will get your animal back."
The Controller's Office says sheltering and euthanizing lost pets costs the state about $300 million per year.


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FoxKids.com and Codemasters Deal
The two companies strike a marketing and product cobranding deal.
FoxKids.com and Codemasters have announced a cobranding and marketing alliance for the upcoming PlayStation game FoxKid's Micro Maniacs. FoxKids.com will support the game with promotions such as shockwave media based on the game's premise, a comic book, and a strategy guide for the PS game.
"We are looking for opportunities to have online versions of games launch on the site, combining with offline offering," said Adam Chesnoff, senior vice president and chief operating officer of FoxKids.com. "As console games come online, FoxKids will include online elements to support games."
FoxKids.com expects to reach similar agreements with other developers interested in reaching the site's 6- to 14-year-old demographic.
GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.
Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email firstname.lastname@example.org


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The idol group SNSD has transformed into “Marine Girls” this time.
SNSD has announced that on this coming June 25th, they will have a comeback with their second mini-album. On the 15th, SNSD released a photo showing their concept for the second mini-album, and the responses are explosive. In the photo, SNSD is wearing navy uniforms made specially for females, while exuding strong charisma. SNSD, who once represented cuteness and liveliness, is planning to introduce a new image with their charisma.
It is very much expected that with SNSD’s transformation into the “marine girl” uniform fashion concept, will set a new trend for Korea once again, not only with their songs, but with their fashion.
SNSD set a “Soshi Gee look” trend in the beginning half of 2009, which spread the ‘Gee’ syndrome even into the fashion world. An associated party of SNSD hinted that the songs, clothing, concept, and etc, will be very different from their ‘Gee’ days.
SNSD has raised the bar by making a big hit with their colorful skinny jeans, starting the “Soshi Gee look” during their days of promoting ‘Gee’.
On another note, the new upcoming second mini-album feautres charms that only SNSD can show, and contains music that is polished and very finely perfected. SNSD is expected to show the same enormous power that they have showed from their debut “Into the New World”, and their other hit songs, “SNSD”, “Kissing You”, “Baby Baby”, and most recently, “Gee”.
SNSD shared their thoughts by saying, “We’re very happy to come back with new music and performances. We are working very hard to prepare a new look to show everybody, so please be expectant and support SNSD a lot.”
Source: Jo!ns and Newsen
I definitely diggin’ this new style…
It oozes sexiness (I’m a chick & I’m even saying this XD)
& I’m so gonna copy Sooyoung’s hair haha.
It’s too hot<3


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Remember when the rear bumpers were coming off?
Tesla has done some great things in its 17-year existence. Not only has it become the world's premier all-electric automaker, but also the world's most valuable one, recently surpassing Toyota. But like all automakers, Tesla has its flaws.
Over the past few years and more frequently in recent months, there have been numerous reports regarding quality issues, ranging from poor build quality, a glass panel roof flying off, and rear bumpers that break off in rainy weather. It's the latter problem Tesla has now admitted to be a design flaw. The Tesla Model 3 owner who recently saw his car's rear bumper suddenly detach during a rainstorm is not alone and the company has realized the problem is at their end.
Electrek obtained a Tesla service bulletin dated July 31, 2020 that states the following:
"In rare instances, certain components on Model 3 vehicles built at the Fremont Factory before May 21, 2019, might be damaged when driving through standing water on a road or highway with poor drainage or pooling water. In these rare instances, the rear fascia might detach from the vehicle and harnesses and/or body fasteners/mounts might also be damaged. This document clarifies that damage caused during these instances is covered under warranty."
Tesla has since changed the rear fascia diffuser along with a few other troublesome external body components. On the one hand, Tesla's recently issued bulletin is great news for owners who've experienced these potentially very dangerous problems.
On the other, it's taken two years for Tesla to officially admit this is a design flaw. Why did it take this long? You could argue Tesla purposely took its time to conduct a thorough investigation. Thing is, an investigation such as this doesn't require two years. Potential flaws involving the design and attachment for something as basic as the rear bumper can be discovered in far less time. Tesla probably could have begun investigating the matter far sooner but, for whatever reason(s), dragged its feet.
Typically, Tesla responds fairly quickly to problems and CEO Elon Musk personally gets involved. Hopefully, resolving the rear bumper issue is a one-time thing.
Now, about that flying glass panel…


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February 11, 2011 by Jessica Zorawski
For the average American man, the Super Bowl is a symbol of athleticism, team work, and also a great time to make some side cash betting on whether the Packers will beat the Steelers. For the average American women, the Super Bowl is a great excuse for a party that everyone is sure to attend, and a chance to swap cheese dip recipes. For marketers, the Super Bowl exists solely as a basis for the wonderful commercials and ad campaigns that go along side it.
Pepsi understands this, and had developed a multichannel mobile campaign for the event in order to capitalize on the number of eyes glued to the game. According to Mobile Marketer, the campaign included a mobile website, an application for smart phone users, a scan able QR code for a Pepsi coupon, and an SMS experience. All of these initiatives were publicized on all pieces of advertisement.
A key target group for Pepsi throughout this campaign was Latinos, a group that is accustomed to using digital media on their phones. Pepsi’s goal was to engage them in the Pepsi Super Bowl experience as much as possible. There was actually a specific site made for Latinos in Spanish, and a call to action keyword labeled “FAMILIA”. For those that opted in to the keyword in Dallas, six had a chance to win tickets to the Super Bowl.
January 26, 2011 by Jessica Zorawski
You’ve probably heard that over 90 percent of text messages are opened. This is a statistic that is proven over and over again by numerous studies and is pretty much a matter of fact these days. For marketers and business owners new to SMS marketing, this fact is comforting and encouraging.
What will comfort newbie’s to the world of SMS even more is a recent finding in a SinglePoint research study. This study found that 90 percent of text messages are read within 3 minutes of delivery! That’s truly amazing when you think about the possibilities this brings to your marketing campaign. If you own a restaurant and have a surplus supply of salad that needs to go by the end of the night, you have the comfort of knowing that if you send out a text message at 6:13pm, the moment that you realize the surplus exists, you could potentially have customers opening your doors at 7pm, showing their “free side salad with entrée” text message coupon you sent less than an hour before.
by Jessica Zorawski
In school, marketers learn a variety of different promotional channels they can potentially use to reach their customers. Traditional channels include T.V., radio, billboard, telemarketing, and newspaper. With T.V., you can really only estimate the number of people that will actually see your ad, and nowadays with TiVo and new ways to avoid commercials, the intended effect of your ad diminishes further. Radio, where it’s also hard to calculate the number of listeners that truly engage with an ad, is still a pretty viable marketing channel, one that mixes quite easily with mobile actually. Billboard? Same as radio. Marketing educators now need to get with the times and update their curriculums to include online and mobile advertising.
Within online and mobile advertising, there are different categories and the effectiveness and reach of each of these varies. Take online for example. You can be online on your computer, laptop, or mobile phone. And each of these marketing channels will need a different approach to make sure consumers see your advertisements. The same goes for a mobile phone. You can either reach people by call, a text message, or online, if they have all of those features. The reality still remains that the vast majority of phones don’t have either the ability or the relevant plan to be online. However, almost all phones have the ability for you to call and text. Narrowing this down even further, a telemarketing call is a tried and tired practice. However, a permission-based text message is still warmly welcomed, and even requested, by consumers.
January 19, 2011 by Jessica Zorawski
It’s perceived by some that luxury brands, by their very nature, would stay away from text message marketing campaigns. This is because most consumers and business owners alike still perceive text message marketing to be a medium to send out a coupon or a discount, an action that is contrary to the essence of a luxury brand. In reality, this is not the case at all- text message marketing actually works quite complementarily with luxury brands.
Take Cartier for example. Over the past holiday season they launched a campaign called “Winter Tale” to get consumers talking about their business and luxurious French watches. They used the keyword “FOLLOW CARTIER” for consumers to text into, and by doing so consumers received information on the brand’s seasonal offerings and knowledge of new products.
January 15, 2011 by Jessica Zorawski
Of all of the market research companies available in the world, Nielsen is one of the most respectable and credible. It is Nelsen’s job to stay on top of market trends, and it’s no surprise that they have created a factsheet called the “U.S. Media Universe” that focuses on reporting the key trends in U.S. consumers’ relationships with their favorite media tools. Read on for some facts that will help you understand U.S. consumers and predict their media-related behavior for 2011.
As of January 2011, there are 228 million mobile phone users in the U.S. Of those, 83.2 million have access and use the web on their phones. That’s about 36 percent of total mobile phone users. Sixty six percent of mobile phone users send text messages, according to their study. Nielsen has broken down the amount of texters by age group. The highest amount of texts comes from 13-17 year olds, an age group that sends 3,705 text messages a month! That’s over 44 thousand text messages a year. The remaining age groups usage goes down steadily. Eighteen to 24 year olds send 1,707 a month, 25 to 34 year olds send 758, 35 to 44 year olds send 583, 45-54 year olds send 349, 55 to 64 years olds send 124, and all 65 plus year olds send on average 41 messages a month. The key thing to note is that there is not a single age group that is NOT texting, they all are.
When it comes to gender, women tend to send more texts and talk more on the phone than males. On average, a woman will send 716 texts a month compared to a man’s 555.
How can this information help you? Well, if you are a marketer or business owner, knowing that the total U.S. population is 310 million and that 228 million of them are texting, it’s safe to say that if your target market is between the ages of 13-64, you can reach them by text. Also, if you are targeting various age groups, you can use this information to help allocate your advertising budget based on your understanding of how that group communicates. Obviously, if 13-17 year olds are within your target market, the unparelleled communication tool to get their attention is a text. The same goes for allocating budgets for targeting women versus men.
With consumer spending set to increase in 2011, now is a good time to get your marketing message into the hands of your target consumers via text.


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FLINT, MI -- After months of building and planning, and weeks of soft openings, the only brewery within the city limits is officially open.
Tenacity Brewing officially opened last weekend, welcoming customers inside its doors of the old fire station on Grand Traverse, just north of the Flint River near downtown.
Co-founder Jason Caya said a group of six people who work with Flint businesses and organizations -- for example, Caya is the director of the Flint Area Reinvestment Office, and Janet Van De Winkle is the director of the Flint River Corridor Alliance -- started the process for the microbrewers application about a year ago. The owners are Caya, Van De Winkle, Tamra and Robb Klaty, and Jeff and Melissa Rasmussen. They had already secured the building space before coming up with the idea to join the state's roster of about 150 microbreweries.
"We all thought, it'd be really cool if Flint had a brewery, and it'd be really cool to start that brewery," Caya said. "...All the partners all love Flint, and plan on staying here and are invested in the community in different ways. It makes sense that we would invest further, and start a brewery that was all about Flint."
A successful Kickstarter campaign crowdfunded $21,406, exceeding the goal of $15,000, and they got to work. They rebuilt the inside of the fire house with reclaimed wood from Genesee Conservation District and Habitat for Humanity ReStore to create a warm feel; patrons can sit at the bar, or in a den area with couches and chairs.
Head brewer Jeff Rasmussen has been tweaking beer recipes for about eight months. After having six beers on tap for opening weekend, Caya and Van De Winkle said they're adding another beer this weekend. The production rate so far is four to five barrels a week, Caya said, with plans to increase as demand builds.
They're working on more recipes to fill the rest of the taps--out of 13 taps, one will always be for soda, and another will eventually be used for cider. Favorites so far have been a Milk Stout, described as a "delicious treat" with "sweet but balanced with roasted malts, creamy mouth feel" on the menu, and IPA, described as "honey and citrus aroma; well balanced malt flavor; brewed with local honey."
Beer fans can also fill their growlers at the brewery, or join a mug club to have a designated mug to drink from and get discounts when they visit. The beer menu will be updated regularly, and is available at the brewery's Facebook page.
Caya said there aren't any current plans to distribute the beer around the state yet, but that they will be explored later. For now, the plan is to keep the beer local, and to learn from their customers and other breweries while making their stamp in Flint.
"The brewing industry is very cool, because they're very inclusive, collaborative and supportive of each other. It makes sense that there are a lot of breweries, because it brings more people in, and you have a better concentration of customers and great beer," he said. "We've put the stake in the ground for the city of Flint. From there, our plan is to brew extraordinary exceptional beer ... and have our beer stand for itself and bring people in."
The group is still working on Tenacity's food concept. Soft openings for friends and family served items from Vehicle City Tacos, and the opening weekend had a limited hot dog menu that is no longer available. Currently, patrons can snack on McClure's chips, which are made in Detroit.
"We view the whole opening process as being soft," Caya said. "We don't have a grand opening planned, but so far it's been great to get our feet under us and work some of the kinks out, and get feedback, which has all been positive and constructive."
As the weather warms up, organizers plan to install a beer garden patio of seating by the Flint River, and do more events downtown.
Tenacity, 119 N. Grand Traverse St., is open 5 p.m.-midnight on Thursday through Saturday, according to its website.


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Yuantai: The goal of electronic paper is to be cheaper than LCD
August 19, 2022
Core tip: Yuantai, a major e-paper manufacturer, pointed out in today's legal meeting that the goal is to make it cheaper than LCD (liquid crystal display), and e-paper is in line with the world's carbon reduction trend. Take shelf product labels as an example. After changing the standard four times, the electronic paper label can reduce the carbon emission of 20,000 tons, and expand the application. For example, the metal license plate can also be changed to electronic paper.
Yuantai, a major electronic paper manufacturer, pointed out in today's legal meeting that the goal is to be cheaper than LCD (liquid crystal display), and electronic paper is in line with the world's carbon reduction trend. Take shelf product labels as an example, if a general paper label is changed 4 times a day E-paper labels can reduce carbon emissions by 20,000 tons, and expand their applications. For example, metal license plates can also be converted to e-paper.
At present, electronic paper is mostly used in readers. However, the current demand for consumer electronics is weak, and the outside world is concerned about the impact on the company. The company said that it is currently converting to electronic color readers. The full year should still be able to grow slightly compared to last year.
Optimistic about the growth prospects of the electronic paper industry, the board of directors of Yuantai (5) confirmed that it will spend 3.305 billion Taiwan dollars (about 740 million yuan), and plans to build a new factory building in Hsinchu, Taiwan, China, and expand two electronic paper material production lines. It is expected to be completed and opened in 2023.
In addition to continuing to expand upstream material production capacity, Yuantai currently has two production lines in Linkou, and the Hsinchu plant is expanding four production lines. It is estimated that three new production lines will be put into operation before the end of this year, and the last production line is expected to be completed by the end of the year. , put into mass production next year.
Yuantai previously stated that after the completion of the planning of the new factory building, at least six material production lines have been reserved for expansion.