text:
Scotch Broom closes its Nevada City doors after 43 years in business
March 15, 2014
It was an empty room with crumbling brick walls the day Barbara Brown moved into the 1,000-square-foot retail space on Commercial Street in downtown Nevada City.
"We probably started the business with 75 bucks," Brown said. "I didn't know what Scotch broom was at the time, but when I was filling out the papers to get a business license, they asked me, 'What is the name of your store, dear?' I had seen a poster for the Scotch broom breakfast in North San Juan, and I thought, 'Well that's kind of a pretty name. Scotch Broom! How about that?'
More than 40 years later the boutique, which has been one of Nevada City's longest running businesses, will officially close its doors on March 31.
"It's going to be hard to say goodbye," current owner Justine Jacus said. "So many customers have come through our doors for so many years."
“It’s going to be hard to say goodbye. So many customers have come through our doors for so many years.”
current owner of Scotch Broom
Scotch Broom opened in June 1971 after Brown and a group of friends decided to move from Fresno to Nevada City in search of a simple life, living on a plot of undeveloped land off Highway 20.
Recommended Stories For You
"We lived outside, we didn't have any buildings or anything and gradually built houses," Brown said. "We were all sort of borderline hippies, but we were a little more entrepreneurial."
Brown, who was 29 at the time, remembers that downtown Nevada City was riddled with drug use, and that some members of the community were hesitant to welcome a store run by people from the "new age" culture.
"The day that we rented the store we were sitting in the Crazy Horse, a bar down the street, waiting for the landlord, and the guy that had owned the business looked at us with our long hair and was trying desperately to talk us out of it," Brown said.
Within a year, Brown's friends moved away and left her as the sole owner of Scotch Broom. As the hippie stigma passed, Brown's business became a respected company in the community.
"That was an era where polyester was kind of big because it was a new thing," Brown said. "Our idea was that people were more healthy if they wore natural fibers, so we concentrated on finding cotton, wool, silk and rayon, and it wasn't easy to find."
Brown soon became partners with two local clothes designers, and the team of women ran the boutique together, making and selling their own clothes.
Brown said they paid each other just $5 a week on top of the revenue they received from selling each other's handmade products.
"In my case, I didn't have any electricity. So I was sewing on a treadle sewing machine with no electricity," Brown said.
"The store was a place for people to purchase natural fiber clothing that was not available in the area," partner Barbara McHugh said. "We featured handmade clothing .… and sold fabric for quilt making, too."
By the mid-1970s, Scotch Broom had a regular following. In 1976, they helped to organize a national bicentennial event in Nevada City, getting customers from around the county to stitch individual blocks of fabric to seam together into one 11-foot-long quilt that hangs in the foyer of the Eric Rood Center to this day.
"That was one of our big contributions, from our store to the community," Brown said.
Brown's partners left the store a few years later, leaving her to run the store with her husband.
The 1980s, Brown says, were a good time for Scotch Broom as they continued to build relationships in the community and sell products, but by the early 1990s, the store began to decline in sales.
Natural fiber clothing was more common than it once was, and Brown looked into selling the boutique.
"I had a couple buyers, but nothing came from them," Brown said.
"At the end of (1993), I just finally decided that we'll close the doors, and so we were having a sale right after Christmas, and Justine walked in and said she'd like to buy it."
Jacus, who is from Lanikai, Hawaii, came to California with her family after running a bikini business on the beaches of Waikiki at the age of 19.
After owning several yogurt shops in San Francisco, Jacus took her funds and headed to Nevada City to start a business.
"I bought Beads Galore in 1993 — it's a jewelry store in the Brunswick area — and I took over Scotch Broom the following year," Jacus said. "We continued the tradition of natural fiber clothing, but we changed it up a bit."
Jacus and her sister, Alesiaia Sampson, began to think of new, creative ways to display their fun and funky clothing and jewelry.
"We did live models in the window," Jacus said. "Every summer we have what's called Hot Summer Nights, where all the streets are closed and you have music and food outside. So every summer night we dress the girls up and they stand there like mannequins in the windows."
Jacus added, "It is kind of a festive way to show the community the kind of clothes we have, and it gets people in the area involved, too."
Another way to boost the store's advertising was what Jacus called a "walking silent fashion show." Models would dress up in Scotch Broom clothes and walk door to door into different businesses in the community.
"They would carry a little sign on a stick that said Scotch Broom, and people would come to our store and ask, 'Where's your walking fashion show? I want that skirt.' That was really fun," Jacus said.
Business for the boutique, Jacus said, was initially lucrative, but the past five years have been rough.
"We've noticed that it's been a little tougher to keep things going," Jacus said. "The economy is the reason we are closing, and I think sometimes online (shopping) affects it. People are shopping more online than coming into a store."
But Sampson, who has managed the store for more than 15 years, said stores like Scotch Broom give customers something that online shopping can't.
"We're a brick and mortar, we're here for the people to come and try things on, get the experience and help them shop," Sampson said. "It's a community where customers drop by all the time, not to buy anything but just to say hi and chat for a bit."
Sampson added, "Being part of the community on a daily basis, making memories, is what I'm going to miss the most."
Nevada City council member Duane Strawser, whose wife and daughter shop at Scotch Broom, said that the closing of the store is a huge loss for the city.
"Any store that has been a part of the fabric of the community for so long, when they close it's heartbreaking," Strawser said.
"It's not that we're worried about it being vacant, it's more so losing that person or that group and their following."
Jacus says she will continue to sell jewelry from Scotch Broom at Beads Galore.
"I wanted to thank all of the beautiful women of Nevada County for gracing our doors for the past 43 years," Jacus said.
"It's been fun, it's been a really great time."
For Brown, remembering where Scotch Broom began gives her some symbolic solace.
"The Scotch broom plant, if you look up its qualities, one of the things that they talk about is it has perseverance," Brown said.
"It's such a noxious plant with all these seeds that you just can't eradicate, and I always thought that somehow calling the store that was somewhat auspicious in making it last so long. How's that for far-fetched?"
To contact Staff Writer Ivan Natividad, email firstname.lastname@example.org or call 530-477-4236.


text:
Disgruntled Veritas Investments shareholders fired a salvo of questions over poor performance and the tanking share price for the group, which includes the Mad Butcher, Nosh, and Better Bar Company brands, at today's annual meeting in Auckland.
Veritas has said it is on track to meet 2017 guidance after first quarter trading, with revenue expected to be lower than last year at between $50m and $55m and underlying net profit in the range of $3m to $3.6m. In August it reported a full-year loss of $4.6m, compared with a $3.3m profit the prior year.
John Hawkins, chairman of the New Zealand Shareholders Association, questioned whether Veritas was simply at the mercy of its bankers, given its high debt levels, and expressed concern that 66 per cent of its assets were intangible and would have no value if the company was no longer able to keep on as a going concern.
He accused the board of "glossing over" a lot of serious issues.
Chairman Tim Cook, who was re-elected today despite some shareholder criticism, said the company enjoyed a "strong relationship" with its banker, ANZ. It made a deal in September to reschedule and reduce the group's debt repayments. The deal includes the board preparing a plan to address its capital structure by the end of February and it can now only issue dividends with the bank's approval.
Auckland-based Veritas had current liabilities at the end of the June 2016 financial year of $21.4m against assets of $6.8m. It has to repay $16.5m in debt within the next year and a further $16.7m beyond that.
Cook said as a shareholder who had bought into the company at the time of the initial public offering at $1.30 a share and with the share price now trading at 20 cents per share, no-one was more motivated than himself and chief executive Michael Moreton to turn around the company's performance.
The strategy to restore profitability included finding a new point of difference for the Mad Butcher stores, seven of which had closed, with beef prices up 28 per cent over the past two years and intensified competition from supermarkets. Cook said the board was looking at offshore meat retailing trends, given it could no longer compete on price. It was also re-franchising four company-owned stores.
With the Nosh food supermarkets, the board is relying on selling eight company-owned stores to franchisees, who Cook said historically perform better than employees in lifting sales. When asked why good franchisees would be attracted to the poorly performing brand, Cook said they were offering the franchises at a significantly discounted price to attract the right people.
With the Better Bar Company, the only division that is performing well, three loss-making bars in Hamilton were sold and the remaining eight were trading profitably. Cook said it was making some investment in redeveloping existing sites to lift revenue and profitability and was open to acquiring more bars, though he didn't say where the funding for that would come from.
One shareholder questioned the board on why auditor PwC had qualified its opinion of the listed company's full-year accounts after saying the Nosh investment was carried at $4.6m in the consolidated statement of financial position but was unable to obtain sufficient evidence to support that valuation.
Cook said the board "couldn't agree on the number" with PwC, and was confident of achieving the key assumptions of cumulative sales growth of 15 per cent over three years and a gross margin improvement of 3.5 per cent over the same period.
Richard Flower, who told the meeting he was regrettably a shareholder, questioned the legal advice the board had received over its 50 per cent in Kiwi Pacific Foods, which supplied meat patties for Burger King outlets and will be wound up by the end of March next year. Veritas has made a $1.6m loss on that investment after Antares Restaurant Group decided to source the meat more cheaply elsewhere.
Cook said the board had relied on legal advice from two law firms that Antares couldn't do that under the contract but an independent arbitrator had ruled it could.
"After burning $250,000" on legal fees fighting the case, Cook said the board decided it wasn't prudent to burn another $250,000 taking it to appeal.

domain: news


text:
Juliane Eller’s a rising star in wine circles. She has a degree and awards as a wine grower in Alsheim, Rheinhessen. At the age of 27, she’s already scoring a huge success around the world.
Thanks to the heat wave scorching Europe, German winemakers have started the earliest-ever wine harvest. Wine expert Romana Echensperger tells DW how the German wine industry can adapt and shares global wine trends.
Worldwide demand for German white wine has seen strong growth. Connoisseurs from the US are paying ever higher prices for riesling from the Rhine and Mosel areas - thanks to a focus on quality and tradition.
© 2018 Deutsche Welle |
Legal notice |
| Mobile version


text:
Nidhi Yadav, Founder and Creative Head of AKS Clothing believes brand building is a committed, persistent and intellectual exercise. The brand, which recently launched three new collections, offers premium fast fashion at affordable rates. “Our products include capes, tunics, long maxi with collars, lehengas, indo-western tops and spaghetti kurtas, cold shoulder maxi, crop-tops, and kurtas among others. These fusion dresses are the best option to meet the changing demands of our professional customers aged from 25 to 40 years,” says Yadav.
Multiplicity of choices makes fusion popular
Yadav believes, fusion wear has become popular amongst women in the last few years as it offers more choices in women’s wardrobe with growing options like a long maxi with collar, skirts, crop tops, tunics, halter tops, and sleeveless long spaghetti kurtas. “It combines the elegance of traditional Indian women’s wear, and comfort and functionality of Western wear to transform traditional salwars into palazzos, churidar into leggings, patialas into skirts, kurtis into floor-length dresses, even tunics. Women who spend a major part of their day in offices and markets prefer these dresses as they offer both style and buoyancy,” adds Yadav.
The market for fusion wear is evolving quickly and isn’t limited to metros anymore. “Women in smaller cities are also being targeted by fusion wear brands as they are not only well educated but also financially independent. Hence, they prove to be valuable potential customers for many offline and online brands,” notes Yadav.
A growing market for Indian brands
Many Western brands have included fusion fashion in their portfolio. However, they do not completely focus on it. “This offers a huge market for Indian brands to explore,” Yadav opines. As a recent BBC report reveals, fusion wear market in India is likely to reach Rs 22,619 crore by the end of 2020. “This clearly indicates how quickly the market is evolving. The major cause for this is changing lifestyle of Indian women,” he states further.
Currently, AKS Clothing focuses only on the online retail and offers quality products through channels such as Myntra and its own exclusive website. “We do not own any EBOs, MBOs or LFSs as we aim to achieve greater success in the online segment before moving towards the offline market,” Yadav explains. The brand’s current plan includes expanding and increasing its reach in the online retail segment and generating revenues worth Rs 1,000 crore in the next three years. “We aim to take our brand’s expansion in the e-commerce segment to a new level,” Yadav sums up.


text:
Datapath has made the list of top 200 businesses in Derby.
In a study carried out by The University of Derby, a league table was created to show the biggest contributors to Derbyshire’s economy, with Datapath ranking 156th.
This is the 2nd year in a row that Datapath has made the list and the company has also seen a jump up the table since 2018, from 167th.
The full list of businesses can be found here.
The post Datapath Makes The Top 200 Businesses In Derbyshire appeared first on Datapath.


text:
Indian car major, Maruti Suzuki is likely to face legal action for receiving pre-launch bookings of its latest sedan, the Ciaz, without revealing the details of the vehicle. Although pre-launch booking is not an old practice, the move comes after former Railways Minister and MP Dinesh Trivedi filed a complaint. Trivedi claims that he has received many complaints from the public about the company taking pre-launch booking. Consumer affairs ministry has communicated with the car maker and asked why it shouldn’t initiate action under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
In a letter addressed to the chairman and managing director of Maruti Suzuki, Manoj Parida, joint secretary at the ministry wrote, “The Consumer Protection Act provides a consumer the right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices.”
In response to the letter, one of Maruti’s executive said that the consumers had an option of going through the reviews of the Ciaz before booking the vehicles. Defending manufacturer’s marketing strategy, a Maruti Suzuki spokesperson told ET Auto, “Accepting bookings for the Ciaz is in no way an unfair trade practice and nor does it violate consumer rights. The company accepts a token amount which is adjusted against the price of the car at the time of purchase. Customers are free to cancel their booking at any stage in which case the token booking amount is fully refunded.”
Do you think a legal action should be taken against Maruti Suzuki for accepting pre-launch bookings of the Ciaz? Share your thoughts and opinions through comments below. Stay tuned to Motoroids for more updates from motoring industry.
Source: ET Auto


text:
Or maybe not?
If you'd been following the 'patent wars' (I have been), you'll have noticed that motorola isn't actually doing very well. Their only real win so far has been against iCloud - they can possibly stop apple from delivering push email. Not bad, but nowhere near enough to prevent apple from 'winning' (and you'll want to include microsoft too btw, as that's the other side of motorola's battle just now).
The other 'victories' have been on FRAND patents, and only in Germany where the law is utterly stupid (and out of line with EU law, and appeals end up with the EU, making victories in germany very much short term).
Problem with FRAND patents: Motorola promised to license them fairly, and to anyone. They've not been doing that, and several judges have found that they've not been doing that. The EU suspects they've not been doing that, and have started an anti-trust investigation.
Even if they were to win with these patents, it would be a disaster for basically everyone. They could say to any company "You can only build a phone if it doesn't have wifi, 3G or play video, unless you pay us 7.5% of the retail price". That's more than the profit margin for many companies (including motorola themselves judging by their lack of profits!), so many companies couldn't afford to sell phones. This is why they're accused of 'market abuse'.
It's going to be very interesting to see how google handle the patent issue. They can continue with Motorola's strategy, and risk a colossal backfire. Or they can drop all the cases where they're asking for bans based on FRAND patents, and risk getting hammered by microsoft and apple.


text:
Struggling to make ends meet, Lorraine Imperio swapped a pair of Nike slip-on shoes for a whole dressed chicken on an online bartering site, one of dozens that have sprouted up during the Philippines’ virus lockdowns.
With millions stripped of their jobs and many forced to stay home to slow the coronavirus spread, Filipinos have flocked to Facebook groups to exchange their possessions, including kitchen appliances, children’s toys and designer handbags – mostly for food.
Keep readinglist of 4 items
“It’s so difficult nowadays. You don’t know where you’ll get the money to settle the bills for groceries,” said Imperio, a mother of two whose husband works part-time at a doughnut shop in Manila.
His hours have been slashed because of the pandemic and he now only earns about 9,000 pesos ($185) a month, half of which is used to pay the rent for the family’s apartment.
Online bartering groups have provided a lifeline to the Imperios and other Filipinos hit hard by the country’s months-long virus restrictions that started in March and have plunged the economy into a deep recession.
At least 98 groups, some with tens of thousands of members, are operating across the archipelago, according to an AFP tally.
Nearly all of them started during the pandemic as many Filipinos resorted to the ancient trading practice to feed their families.
Google search volume in the Philippines for the keywords “barter food” soared 300 percent in May from April, iPrice Group found in a recent study, as lockdowns squeezed household budgets and made travelling about difficult.
Its analysis of 85 popular Facebook barter groups, with more than two million members in total, found food and other groceries were among the most sought-after items.
People post photos and specifications of the goods they want to swap, indicate what they want in return and then negotiate via the comments section.
After successfully bartering baby bottles that she no longer needed, Imperio swapped a baby’s down jacket and a Ralph Lauren hoodie for six kg (13 pounds) of rice.
While the Nike slip-on shoes were traded for a chicken, a second pair has not had any takers after three weeks.
“Old items are more difficult to sell,” the 28-year-old said. “With bartering, it’s easier to convert them into food.”
Swapping to survive
Jocelle Batapa Sigue launched Bacolod Barter Community four months ago out of frustration at not being able to go shopping and a desire to help others.
Her husband held the family’s only quarantine travel pass, which people were required to carry when they left their homes during the lockdown.
“It’s difficult for me to get what I want when I tell my husband to buy it,” said Sigue, who is a lawyer in the central city of Bacolod.
The group has more than 230,000 members with more joining every day, she said.
Sigue estimates thousands of items – from shampoo and birthday cakes to mobile phones and eyeliner – change hands on her site daily.
“Without the pandemic, I don’t think the barter community would be popular,” she said.
An estimated 5.2 million Filipino families experienced “hunger due to lack of food to eat” at least once in the previous three months – the highest in nearly six years, a survey in early July by pollster Social Weather Stations showed.
But it is not just cash-strapped people bartering their belongings.
Others are taking the chance to dispose of goods they no longer need after quarantine measures upended normal life.
Chona de Vega, 57, traded her hair-straighter and electric kettle for a bag of groceries and now plans to dispose of her iron.
“I have no use for it,” said de Vega, who lives in Manila and spends most of her time at home because of travel restrictions.
Charles Ramirez, who runs a 14,000-member bartering site in the capital, said a “big percentage” of his group live in poverty and mostly ask for groceries.
“People are realising that while they have no money, they have accumulated a lot of material things (they can swap),” said Ramirez, who set up his group in May after losing his job as a grocery wholesaler.
“It’s a depressing feeling, of course, having to let go of things you have accumulated just to be able to survive.”


text:
US and China sign 'phase one' trade deal - Ethiopian hydro power plant under construction - App identifies businesses along political lines
Much of Germany's economic life has ground to a halt. Now, many small and medium-sized companies are developing creative new ways to generate revenue.
Markets across Asia witnessed a fall, as investors feared a recession from the coronavirus pandemic.
Can governments be run more efficiently? Yes, say founders of a new wave of startups that are helping municipal agencies make better use of the vast stores of data locked away in obscure government databases.
The coronavirus pandemic has put the business side of Bundesliga football in a precarious spot. A premature end to the season could cost the clubs €750 million ($836 million).
© 2020 Deutsche Welle |
Legal notice |
| Mobile version


text:
The next hustle: What we should expect from Trump
What will Donald Trump’s post-presidency look like? It’s really not a complicated question to answer. We know that Trump will never admit he lost (at least not “fairly”). He will want to get even with anyone he considers “disloyal.” But most of all, he will want to make as much money as he can. Unfortunately, those instincts will interfere with the other task reportedly at the top of his list: becoming president again.
Much has been made of the fall of the Trump brand and his potentially perilous financial condition. But Trump may make it through these difficulties more easily than you might think. He still has a large core of supporters and a certain aura.
Question: What is a good description of the prototypical MAGA Trump supporter? Answer: Someone who would do anything to get into Mar-a-Lago, but whom Trump would allow in only to fix the plumbing.
And that is how his brand could still be an asset.
Trump has always set up his brand as one of luxury and success. Today, high-net-worth consumers are fleeing his brand. Properties that may have possessed a premium value just from the Trump name now do not (or may be at a discount). But for the masses supporting him, Trump still stands for success and aspiration. Trump can still profit from that perception.
Trump’s moneymaking ventures will likely revolve around three areas: media, merchandising and public appearances.
The media portion seems the most lucrative but also the most challenging to Trump’s political future. While the likelihood of establishing a successful new cable channel is next to zero (it seems unlikely the major carriers would consider putting Trump TV on their systems), a streaming service would be relatively cheap to set up and could be marketed direct to Trump fans.
I think there’s little chance he buys Newsmax or One America News Network (OANN). Even if they were for sale, why spend the money when he can put together his own service? Not to mention that the minute Trump buys either network, major cable carriers will likely start dropping them.
It is impossible to determine what Trump will charge or ultimately demand. Barron’s speculated that $300 million in revenue is not out of the question (5 million subscribers at $5 per month). Trump could price high and offer a special “deal” to pay upfront for a full year. That brings in a very large cash infusion very quickly.
The subscriptions are only a start. You better believe Trump will be selling the email list to anyone prepared to pay the price. The channel will likely be stuffed full of ads and double as a platform to sell all kinds of apparel and various Trump tchotchkes. Sales of emails, ads and junk alone might be enough to support the venture — because the programming is likely to be cheap. When the attraction is Trump, why pay for high-profile talent? The service will likely be loaded up with his most sycophantic loyalists who will be glad to get a paycheck.
Trump will also likely head out on tour at some point. Pull in 15,000 Trump fans for a dozen or so dates at $30 per ticket, and that’s more than $5 million — plus merchandising, food concessions, etc. (and a chance to sell TV subscriptions). Trump might even get the MyPillow guy to cover some of the expenses. Trump may offer himself for personal appearances. He could bid himself up to Republicans in conservative states or offer Mar-a-Lago as a fundraising venue. Rent it out for half a million and get Trump’s support.
In sum, Trump could clean up in year one.
But it wouldn’t be long before trouble starts.
In the media, you have to keep providing new and interesting content. Longevity is very tough — it takes real skill to stay fresh and hold on to your audience. Trump himself has a gift for showmanship and promotion, but could he handle a daily or even a weekly program on Trump TV? He attracted good crowds for his occasional campaign forays and held them in attention through his long monologues. But accomplishing that week after week seems like a stretch. And forget a talk show. Trump only wants to talk about Trump, while talk show interviews are mostly about the guest.
As for the rest of the programming, the cheap collection of loyalists seems likely to be a bust. Is there any evidence that Don Jr. could handle a show of his own? Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani would be an entertaining train wreck for a few weeks, but that’s about it. Bad programming, tons of ads and endless email solicitations probably mean few renewals. Trump’s thirst for cash would inevitably alienate a portion of his base.
The fundamental problem for Trump is that he has little to offer except complaint. As president, he was the center of attention and made news just because he was president. As a private citizen, he has a much harder task. His previous stints in the public eye were mostly stage-managed by other people. It was “The Apprentice” that launched Trump back into the American consciousness, but there Mark Burnett set up the plot dominated by back-stabbing contestants with a climax in which Trump ripped them apart for 15 minutes.
How does Trump stay relevant on his own? It will be a monumental task competing with all the other voices criticizing President Biden. He likely won’t be allowed back on Twitter or Facebook anytime soon. When either company even contemplates allowing Trump back, their employees will revolt. Fox News will be much more parsimonious covering Trump given his attacks on them. Newsmax and OANN will not appreciate the competition from Trump TV.
Trump will not disappear. There will always be a very loyal core, and he still has a superior sense of marketing and self-promotion. But after a year (or less), Trump’s shtick will get tired, and he will have soaked some of his loyalists beyond what they can handle. The decline will be uneven but inevitable and perhaps the most interesting thing about Trump’s future.
Keith Naughton, Ph.D. is co-founder of Silent Majority Strategies, a public and regulatory affairs consulting firm. Dr. Naughton is a former Pennsylvania political campaign consultant. Follow him on Twitter @KNaughton711.


text:
We’re all out here just trying to squeeze the most battery life out of our iPhones. Unfortunately, you’ve probably spent untold minutes? hours? days? of your life swiping up on apps in a fruitless effort to do so.
The man in charge of iOS at Apple, Craig Federighi, has confirmed that there is no need to bother killing your apps because it won’t help your battery life. Mashable reports that Federighi’s confirmation came in an email to an Apple customer, who had originally written to Apple CEO Tim Cook.
In an email that was later published on 9to5Mac, the customer wrote to Cook and asked, “do you quit your iOS multitasking apps frequently and is this necessary for battery life?”


text:
JOPLIN, Mo. — When you think of fireworks, you probably think of the 4th of July.
For one Carl Junction man, it’s a year-round focus. One that’s turned his working world upside down.
“No, no, when I was 20, 21-year-old Steve, I would have never ever thought I would be here,” said Steve Houser, Red Rhino Fireworks.
Steve Houser’s fireworks business is very different this year.
“My wife kind of refers to it as ‘Oh, now you’re on your ‘China workday,” because obviously we’re literally reversed from their timeline. So our six in the morning right now is their eight at night.,” said Houser.
Hours he now has to keep.
Houser is in his 16th year as a fireworks wholesaler, but he’s added a whole new dimension in 2022.
“So, we basically transitioned a little bit out of just being a fireworks company to really kind of being a freight forwarder and a true importer,” said Houser.
Prompted by the pandemic challenges of 2021.
“Our rates in the fireworks industry quadrupled. So we were paying, you know, $9,600 to $9,800 for container pre-COVID, and within two years we were paying almost 45,000,” said Houser.
Even just moving those shipments was also a problem.
So, he teamed up with a Chinese consumer fireworks exporter and another local fireworks wholesaler to charter their own boats.
“You know we got better rates, but what we really got was the ability to move product, whereas in most cases prior to the charter boat, you had a certain limited number of bookings you could get on a container. So, if you had 50 containers you wanted to ship, you may only get to ship 10 of them,” said Houser.
The new and improved logistics are making a huge impact from lowering prices to filling shelves.
“By the time the fall hits, we’ll be completely ready to go for another 4th of July right now,” said Houser.


text:
Bonfire Funds, a crowd-funding company that helps organizations raise money by selling T-shirts, this month moved into a new Innsbrook office and closed on a round of capital.
Founder Brian Marks said the 750-square-foot space at 10120 W. Broad St. would give the two-person company a central location and room to hire several interns and employees.
The new Richmond office also allowed Bonfire chief technology officer Dusan Nedeljkovic to relocate from Serbia. Previously, he and Marks had worked remotely.
Read More at RichmondBizsense


text:
Now this is how you get me excited for your handheld, Sony! Stop showing me conceptual trailers full of idiotic douchebags, and concentrate on the software. Good show!
This software lineup commercial reveals a wonderful amou... read
Famous author Arthur C. Clarke once said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Famous game developer David Jaffe once said, "New hardware is like new pussy." Truly, the spirit of Clarke is b... read
Good news everyone! We've just completed work on the latest episode of The Destructoid Show.
In this episode, our heroes discuss WTF the 411 on the PSP2, AKA the NGP is. OMG. If that's not portable Sony news for you, w... read
Sony has revealed that it considered aping the 3DS' visual gimmickry for its upcoming PSP successor, but decided against it because 3D should be a shared, family experience. Apparently eyestrain headaches love company.
GameStop has started to take preorders for the freshly revealed PSP successor, codenamed the Next Generation Portable. However, some people have gotten their panties in a bunch over the price estimate, which lists the console... read
In the dead of night, Sony lifted the lid on the long-awaited PSP successor, a system codenamed Next Generation Portable. In addition to this, it also revealed a cross-platform mobile gaming service, the PlayStation Suite.&nb... read feature
So the NGP has been announced, a successor to the PSP with quad-core, 3G, twin sticks, a touchpad, intense graphics and motion sensing. As we find ourselves drowning in specifications, only one question remains unanswered -- ... read
Even though this is being presented as a rumor, it seems so damn inevitable that it's almost worth running as a "Captain Obvious" post before it's even been confirmed. Nevertheless, rumblings suggest that Sony's new handheld ... read
Sony's "Next Generation Portable" will mark the end of the UMD format, with Sony ditching the discs for games stored flash-based memory cards.
According to the publisher, these cards can not only store a full game, but ... read
Sony showed a lot of both hardware and software at today's PlayStation Meeting 2011. So what games do we know of for the device? Live demonstrations of Uncharted and Hot Shots Golf were performed at the event, as we... read feature
Industry analyst Michael "Spider Pants" Pachter has gone out on a limb to suggest that the 3DS will win the next iteration of the handheld console war, destined as it is to outsell Sony's yet-to-be-announced PlayStation Porta... read
When Nintendo revealed that 3DS games would received a fairly significant graphical upgrade, it looked like the company was finally meeting some visual standards. However, the bar looks set to be raised even higher, with PSP2... read
It's time for your daily dose of PSP2 rumoring, with the latest details once again hyping the system's power, as well as hinting at the most requested feature of all -- twin analog sticks.
The bit making headlines is th... read
According to the omnipresent ANONYMOUS SOURCE, Sony is set to officially unveil the PlayStation Portable successor console on January 27. The long-rumored, practically-confirmed, might-as-well-not-be-kept secret PSP2 has been... read
Sony Computer Entertainment boss Kaz Hirai seems to realize that, despite the PSP2 not being announced, we all know it's a thing. In fact, he was quite open about the console in a New York Times interview, going so far as to ... read
Sony bringing its biggest franchises to handhelds? Shocking!The original LittleBigPlanet found itself a successful port on the PlayStation Portable, sure, so why not the game's sequel? There's one on the way, according to ret... read
Earlier in the week, industry analyst Michael "Sparkle Boy" Pachter claimed that the PSP2 would be "dead on arrival" just like he believes its predecessor was. In a remarkable U-turn, however, the fortune teller has... read
Sony is terrible at keeping secrets. Killzone 3, Resistance 3, the PS3 Slim, the PSPgo, Sony has no end of cats to let out of its bag, and rare is the time we are ever surprised. The PSP2 looks set to continue this trend, wit... read feature
Yet more fuel for the PSP2 rumor fire is yours today, with another graphical boast for the as-yet-unannounced system. According to the latest gossip, PSP2 games will look so good, they'll rival early PS3 games for visual impr... read


text:
Shipping Rates More Expensive
The high price of bunker fuel is requiring carriers to update their tariffs, increasing the costs for exporting and importing, affecting international trade.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The cost of sending goods from, say, Costa Rica to the United States has risen significantly due to increased bunker fuel prices, the price of which was quoted at the beginning of the week at $600 a barrel. This rise has meant that sending a 40-foot container with a refrigerated load from Costa Rica to Miami increased by 24.1% from February 2010 to February 2012.
Everything about maritime transport imports and exports in Central America.
Top companies - Quantities, amounts and prices.
click for more info
The shipping company has announced a rise in service fees for transporting refrigerated containers from Central and South America and Africa.
The company Maersk Line has restructured its service between Asia and the U.S., using the Suez Canal rather than the Panama Canal, mainly for reasons of profitability.
Maersk line will open a new sea route: Guayaquil – Panama Canal – Rotterdam – Bremenhaven – San Petersburg.
The shipping company Maersk joins APL in raising its prices on refrigerated container shipping from January 2013.
- Daily Update
- Government Purchases
- Classified Ads
- Indexes & Statistics
- Press Releases
- Events Calendar


text:
After seven years in the business, Ivanka Trump, First Daughter and special advisor to the President of the United States is shutting down her namesake fashion label.
Trump’s lifestyle brand, which sold everything from shoes and accessories to contemporary dresses and separates, was first reported as imminently shutting down by the New York Post on Tuesday, July 24. Staff have reportedly been informed that they have been laid off, with an insider telling NYP, “It’s just never recovered since she stepped away from the company,” said an insider.”
As mentioned previously, Trump left her lifestyle brand at the end of 2016 to assist her father Donald Trump with his presidency in Washington, D.C. in an unofficial capacity.
Trump confirmed the news to the Washington Post on Tuesday in a statement, “After 17 months in Washington, I do not know when or if I will ever return to the business, but I do know that my focus for the foreseeable future will be the work I am doing here in Washington,” she said. “So making this decision now is the only fair outcome for my team and partners.”
The brand opened its first brick and mortar store in Manhattan this past December, nearly a year after Ivanka stepped down from her role. Earlier in 2017, Nordstrom dropped the Ivanka Trump label from their stores.
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!


text:
Swedish clean technology company OrganoClick is taking its environmentally friendly performance materials into the Asian market in a new partnership with Taiwanese textile manufacturer Chang-Ho Fibre, the company announced last month.
OrganoClick created OrganoTex, a fluorocarbon-free water-repellent textile treatment technology that is readily biodegradable and entirely fluorocarbon-free, and will now be positioned to supply it in Asia.
Robin Grankvist, business area manager at OrganoClick AB said, “In principle all textile production takes place in Asia, so it has been extremely important for us to find the right collaborative partner there.”
Currently, most water-repellant functional textiles on the market today contain harmful fluorocarbons like perfluorooctanoic (PFOA) for example, which has been known to disrupt hormones and is not biodegradable.
All OrganoTex treated fabrics get tested and analyzed for fluorocarbons to identify any impurities from other stages of the production process. If any are found, OrganoClick minimizes them and says retailers and brands can confidently tell consumers that products are fluorocarbon-free.
The first OrganoTex-treated product that Chang-Ho Fibre will launch is a 100 percent recycled polyester fabric. Volunteers at a charity organization in Asia collected the green PET bottles used to make the fabric. Since the fabric retains the green color from the bottles it doesn’t need to be re-dyed, which saves both water and energy, two increasingly important factors in creating a sustainable production process. The new recycled polyester fabric was chosen as one of the most exciting textile breakthroughs at ISPO Munich, the outdoor, ski, action and performance sports product trade show.
Mark Chen, business manager at Chang-Ho Fibre said, “Selecting OrganoTex® as a fluorocarbon-free water-repellent textile treatment was an obvious choice for us, as this technology is biodegradable and is not harmful, in accordance with the European REACH regulations. These reasons, together with the unique recycling process, mean that the recycled polyester fabric is perhaps the World’s greenest functional fabric — literally. ”


text:
>>Venture>> Crowns Swiss Fintech Veritic as Its Most Innovative Early-Stage Startupby Fintechnews Switzerland July 7, 2022
Switzerland’s startup competition >>venture>>announced that the Zug-based Veritic was crowned the most innovative early-stage startup in the Finance & Insurance vertical.
>>venture>> celebrated 25 years of fostering Swiss innovation and entrepreneurship on Tuesday evening at ETH Zurich.
The anniversary celebration was highlighted by the 2022 Award Ceremony where >>venture>> doled out over CHF 500,000 in non-dilutive cash to the country’s most promising early-stage startups.
The competition ranked and celebrated the 15 winning startups across 5 different industry verticals after having received a total of 358 business submissions.
The 15 winners were chosen by the C-suite executives that make up the >>venture>> advisory board.
The annual competition will open again for submissions starting October 1, 2022, for their 2023 edition.
First Place Winner: Veritic
Veritic develops user-friendly, multi-chain NFT platforms in collaboration with leading institutions, and is based on a highly secure minting and custody infrastructure.
According to Veritic, they work closely with blockchains to enable high-security solutions and push the boundaries of NFT technology.
To achieve their vision of NFTs as part of everybody’s online experience, their work focuses on three key pillars; highly secure institutional-grade minting and custody of NFTs, secure end-to-end compliance process, and new user-friendly NFT platforms.
As the 1st place winner, Veritic was awarded CHF 50,000 and a McKinsey & Company business consulting package to help jumpstart their entrepreneurial journey.
Second Place Winner: Correntics
Correntics was ranked second-place in the competition. The Zurich-based startup helps companies future-proof their supply chains through its specialised software that helps reduce the financial risks from climate extremes and emerging risks in global value chains.
Third Place Winner: Kaspar&
The St. Gallen-based Kaspar& ranked third with its customer facing all-in-one app that includes a Swiss bank account, and an automatic transaction-based round-up mechanism which invests the resulting micro-payments in professionally managed investment strategies.
Check out Veritic’s short video intro here:


text:
SACRAMENTO – Senator Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres) today presented Senate Concurrent Resolution 65 (SCR 65) on the Senate floor declaring June as Dairy Month. The resolution recognizes the importance of the dairy industry and the contributions dairy has made to California. SCR 65 passed the Senate unanimously, 37-0.
“I was proud to present SCR 65 to celebrate June as Dairy Month in California,” said Senator Cannella. “The hard work and dedication of the dairy industry has made our state the nation’s leader in dairy production since 1993.”
As California’s number one agricultural commodity, the dairy industry produced $65 billion in total sales to the California economy and contributed $21 billion in value added to the gross state product last year. The California Dairy industry provides the State with 189,000 milk production jobs, with 30,000 of those being on the farm and 20,000 relating to processing.


text:
A sale and auction of memorabilia from the iconic Astrodome Saturday drew thousands of people, some of whom waited in line for hours.
Ted Nelkin, whose family owned a sports memorabilia store in Houston for decades and formerly operated a trading card store at the Astrodome, waited more than 11 hours in line and left with a receipt for two pairs of seats, which he was told he could pick up in December.
The manner in which the sale was conducted was "the worst," Nelkin said.
"I've got nothing good to say about it," he said. "They could have cared less that we were there. It was 'If you want your seats, you will wait in line as long as it takes.' We were kept in the dark and had no idea of what to expect."
Nostalgic fans started lining up around 5 a.m., three hours before the sale was set to begin at the adjacent Reliant Center.
Nelkin said he was told that organizers ran out of Astroturf pieces at 11 a.m. and ran out of physical seats that had been removed from the Dome by 2 p.m., forcing buyers to receive receipts for seats to pick up next month.
And as for the printer that workers were using to print those receipts, he said, "It looked like it came from the Dome days."
Mark Miller, Reliant Park's general manager, said sale organizers expected about 1,500 people to show up but that the actual crowd was six to eight times that size.
"I apologize to everyone for the wait," he said. "The sentiment for this building is just overwhelming. But the crowd was very cordial and very understanding, and we had no real issues."
Hours of standing in line made for friendly conversation, said Nelkin.
"They (sale organizers) got lucky," he said. "It was a nice group of people. We traded email addresses and talked about fantasy football. It would have taken just one person shoving another person and him shoving another person, and you would have had a riot. But it was a really nice group."
Miller said Reliant Park consulted with the group that handled the sale of seats and other items from Yankee Stadium and were told that "there was some initial demand but that it tapered off very quickly."
Organizers planned accordingly, he said, and were shocked by the crowds that showed up early Saturday morning.
"We were going to feel good if we had sold 500 pairs of seats," Miller said. Instead, organizers sold 900 pairs and accepted orders for another 1,500 pairs.
Miller said Reliant Park will conduct an online auction starting at noon Nov. 15 for customers who were unable to get to the Saturday morning sale. Plenty of seats remain, he said, but he is unsure how much Astroturf, if any, remains available.
Details on the online sale will be announced later.
A key vote on the Astrodome's future takes place Tuesday. A referendum asks voters to authorize up to $217 million in bonds to turn the stadium into a convention center and exhibition space. Harris County officials have said that if the ballot initiative fails they likely would seek to demolish the dilapidated facility.
Cindy Horswell contributed.


text:
Uber Banned From Operating in Israel
JNS.org – The Tel Aviv District Court ruled that Uber must end its rideshare services in Israel as of Nov. 29 following an appeal brought by the app’s competitor Gett, as well as the Israel Taxi Drivers Association.
Uber, which operates in more than 160 cities worldwide and allows private drivers to freelance as taxi operators, has faced blowback from Israeli regulators since it launched a trial run in Tel Aviv in 2016.
Judge Eitan Orenstein ruled on Monday that because Uber drivers lack the necessary insurance to cover passengers, he could not allow the company to continue operating its Uber Day and Uber Night services, which utilize privately owned vehicles.
Uber was also sued by Israel’s Transportation Ministry in May based on Israeli laws that forbid accepting payment from passengers without obtaining the necessary license to operate a taxi in the country.
Monday’s Tel Aviv District Court injunction quoted Uber’s lawyer as agreeing to “a permanent stay on everything to do with Uber Night and Uber Day operations in their current format.”


text:
China’s cyberspace watchdog said on Monday, August 9, that authorities have arrested 59 people and seized 25,000 illegally controlled webcams in a crackdown on illegal camera voyeurism.
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said in a statement that it and other government bodies including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security and State Administration of Market Regulation have been stepping up efforts to crackdown on voyeuristic behavior including “trading private videos.”
Online content platforms including Baidu, Tencent and Alibaba’s UC Browser have “cleaned up” more than 8,000 pieces of illegal voyeuristic information and punished 134 illegal accounts, the CAC said.
E-commerce platforms like JD.com, Alibaba’s Taobao and Xianyu took offline a total of 1,600 cameras that had been advertised or sold illegally, according to CAC. – Rappler.com


text:
Speculation began making the rounds on the internet today regarding a photo
of some Provaris with a new design:
Provape was able to confirm that yes, a new version of the Provari is being launched soon. They are changing the tube design, and the design of the logo which is not etched into the metal. Provape said that the functionality of the Provari will not be changed, "for now". So will we see a VW/VV version of the Provari? It seems like a logical next step. Provape was not able to confirm changes to the functions of the Provari, but suggested we keep an eye out.


text:
Farmers and fruit growers in Georgia’s eastern Kakheti region are preparing for a bumper peach and nectarine season, during which about 35,000 tons of fruit is expected to be harvested, the Ministry of Agriculture has announced.
From the total volume of the harvest about 15,000 tons of peaches and nectarines will be exported, while the rest will be sold locally.
A special peach and nectarine harvest coordination center will be opened in the middle of June in the town of Gurjaani in Kakheti that will issue documents required for the export of the fruit in a single window system.
Last year Georgia exported 13,256 peach and nectarine to the following countries: Russia – 10,777 tons, Armenia – 1,373 tons, Azerbaijan – 667 tons, Ukraine – 150 tons, Kazakhstan – 114 tons, Slovenia – 78 tons, Iraq – 39 tons, Iran – 20 tons, Moldova – 19 tons, Belarus – 18 tons and Qatar – 0.4 tons.
There are 11 fruit-processing factories operating in Georgia with the co-financing of the Ministry of Agriculture. (Agenda/Business World Magazine)


text:
Good news on furniture front?
High Point and the furniture industry have been abuzz of late with talk that Heritage Home Group could be planning to move its corporate headquarters to the city.
Last week, Furniture Today, a furniture industry publication, reported that Heritage Home Group plans to relocate to the area from St. Louis. Heritage Home Group, which is the parent company of several North Carolina furniture companies, could not be reached for comment.
Last year, private-equity firm KPS Capital Partners announced the formation of the company to acquire Furniture Brand International’s assets out of bankruptcy for $280 million.
Furniture Brands’ holdings included Thomasville Furniture, Drexel Heritage, Broyhill, Lane, Henredon, Pearson, Hickory Chair, Lane Venture, Maitland-Smith and La Barge brands.
Tom Conley, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority, said rumors of a possible corporate headquarters move by Heritage Home Group have been circulating for months, but he’s heard nothing affirmative.
“We would be delighted to have them here,” said Conley. “Finding a new corporate headquarters has become a real big deal in corporate America, and I’m sure they’re playing their cards close to the vest. But there’s been a lot of conversation.”
High Point Economic Development Corp. President Loren Hill said his office does not comment on potential business relocation or expansion projects.
Heritage Home Group has been closing facilities and slashing jobs of late.
It announced in January that it would close two Thomasville furniture plants, eliminating 84 jobs. It also announced that it would close a Lane furniture plant near Tupelo, Miss., cutting 480 jobs.
One reason the company apparently stayed in St. Louis after Furniture Brands International was initially formed was that it had an expensive, long-term lease on the building it moved into, according to Jerry Epperson, a furniture-industry analyst with Richmond, Va.-based Mann, Armistead & Epperson Ltd.
“Now, there’s no longer a reason to be there, and they can move closer to where their companies are based,” said Epperson. “One reason we have so many furniture companies based in North Carolina is because you can recruit and bring in good, knowledgeable people, and that’s a real key.”
High Point scored a victory last year, when Stanley Furniture Co. moved its corporate headquarters from Virginia to the downtown furniture market district, pledging to bring 42 jobs.
Conley said moving to High Point would put Heritage Home Group not only closer to the furniture market and its showrooms, but closer to its customers.
Epperson said, even if Heritage Home Group moves here, it doesn’t necessarily mean the future is secure for its furniture lines.
“The KPS group has shown very little of their hand relative to the direction they’re going to take these companies,” he said.


text:
The initial amount of games for the Nintendo Wii was pretty low as no one expected this console to become such a big hit but the game supply is definitely catching up now. X-bit Labs reports more games will arrive for the Wii console in the fourth quarter of this year than Xbox 360 and PS3 games combined.
The situation reflects massive sales of Wii across the world and means that game developers have changed their development priorities.
Analyst firm Screen Digest predicts that 86 titles are scheduled for release on the Wii in Q4 2007, compared with 47 for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and just 38 for Sony PlayStation 3. Moreover, about 20 games for Nintendo Wii will be exclusive for the platform, whereas only 8 and 5 will be exclusive for Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3, respectively.
“While Wii and Xbox 360 are likely to look back on 2007 with some satisfaction, the same cannot be said for Sony PlayStation 3. Given the platform’s release schedule this Christmas, it is not a surprise that Sony is focusing on lowering the cost of entry to PS3 platform to maintain parity with its rivals this Christmas,” said Ed Barton, Screen Digest games analyst.
Still, Mr. Barton finds that the new generation game consoles will be massively adopted by gamers going forward, meaning that sales of consoles like Sony PlayStation 2 will slowdown dramatically shortly from now.
But not everyone is convinced of the Wii. Mark Rein from Epic Games recently said developing game engines for the Wii wouldn't be profitable enough.


text:
Following sell-out collaborations from the likes of Supreme and most recently, Keith Haring, Lacoste has been leading the way for an expert fusion of heritage silhouettes and modern street style. Reinventing its classic polo and tennis-inspired threads – the brain child of founder Rene Lacoste – the French sportswear brand is back with another knock-out collaboration.
Amid Men’s Fashion Month and the French Open Grand Slam last month, an unexpected announcement was brewing. Taking to Instagram to tease the new collaboration, Californian-based rapper Tyler, The Creator appeared on the social media platform donned in a series of cobranded threads. From a baby pink cardigan to a matching long-sleeve polo nothing else was mentioned surrounding the fresh partnership – that is, until now.
Rumours ensued and not before long, we’ve received a first look and release date for the forthcoming capsule. Set to drop from July 17, the rapper has unveiled campaign images of the collection and boasts a wide range of basic silhouettes, all infused with the old-school sensibilities of the 28-year-old.
LACOSTE x GOLF le FLEUR* : JULY 17TH pic.twitter.com/n6c1V6KPVn
— Tyler, The Creator (@tylerthecreator) July 8, 2019
Set on a clay tennis court, the images feature matching tracksuits in a white and blue colourway, basic striped t-shirts, a pale pink and white polo and shorts as well as the aforementioned knitted cardigan. Presented in a ’70s-style treatment, the line also appears to include branded bucket hats.
No other information has been released by Lacoste as of yet so stay tuned for further details. In other Tyler, The Creator news, the rapper has released tour dates for his latest album IGOR and is set to include supports acts from Jaden Smith, Blood Orange, and GoldLink.


text:
Dyslexia is estimated to affect between 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the Australian population. It is an inherited condition that sees children struggle when learning to read and can have lifelong implications.
Code Read was formed by a group of concerned parents who wanted to provide support and information for the families struggling with the condition. The organisation campaigns to increase awareness of dyslexia and convince educational institutions and government to take the condition more seriously.
The team behind Code Read sought out Principals to create a name and brand identity and Principals took on the task on a pro bono basis.
The brand idea Principals created is “change minds, change lives”, which describes exactly what Code Read is aiming to do, while XXVI developed the Code Read name. The brand identity features the colour red, which teachers use when correcting children’s writing. The bold imagery evokes the challenges dyslexics face and smartly tells people how to pronounce the name.
Julie Hermansen, one of the founders of Code Read, said: “We don’t accept the status quo because it is unacceptable to dyslexics. We don’t accept that people should suffer, mainly due to ignorance. We are here to change minds; the minds of children who are coming to terms with their dyslexia; and the minds of policymakers in government and educators who have the greatest impact on the lives of dyslexic children and their parents. With the help of Principals and XXVI, we now have a platform to do just that.”
Hamish Cargill, Director of Brand Language at XXVI, said: “We’re thrilled to have been able to work with Julie and the team to create the Code Read name which will allow this important organisation to take their mission to the next level.”
Sandy Belford, Director of Principals, said: “The effect dyslexia has on the lives of young Australians is heartbreaking. In my career, I’ve worked with designers who have had to make their way against the tide of dyslexia. So it came naturally to help out and, we hope, make a difference for dyslexics and their families.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Meta’s decision to stop paying for Australian news is “not the Australian way” and that he is “very concerned” about the announcement. Meta today confirmed it will walk away from funding Aussie journalism once the current content deals expire in what is a significant blow to Australia’s largest publishers. […]
The Australian media industry has responded to Meta’s decision to walk away from funding Aussie journalism once the current content deals expire. In a blow to local media outlets, Meta said it will not enter negotiations to extend deals to pay Australian media companies for the news that appears on its platforms. Michael Miller, News […]
Free TV has said that today’s announcement by Meta that it will not be renewing any of the deals struck with Australian media companies for use of news content on its platforms should be met with swift action by the government. Meta today revealed it will walk away from funding Aussie journalism once the current content […]
NOVA Entertainment has today announced the launch of a refreshed brand identity for FIVEAA, Adelaide’s premier commercial talkback station. The forward-looking brand refresh reflects FIVEAA’s new lineup and vision while paying homage to the station’s previous logo and rich heritage. Built upon the new tagline of Always Adelaide, the new direction celebrates the ‘AA’ branding […]
Australian social and content marketing workflow platform Fabulate has won big at the industry’s annual AiMCO Awards, taking out the highly competitive Best Influencer Marketing Technology Service category. Lead image: Fabulate team at Aimco Awards The win saw the start up platform, which has a team of around 50, receive the industry recognition against competitor […]
Australia’s newest transformative TV technology, Hubbl, will be on sale from March 10 in Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi retail stores nationally and via Hubbl.com.au. Lead Image: Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany at Hubbl Launch. Also from March 10, Hubbl will unveil a national advertising campaign starring brand ambassadors Hamish Blake and Andy Lee. The multi-channel […]
Marking a historic moment, THE LUME Melbourne will welcome original pages from Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Atlanticus to Australian shores for the first time, as they touch down on March 9, before going on display to the public from March 16, when Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius presented by Webuild opens to […]
Eyeota, a Dun & Bradstreet company and a global source of data for digital marketing, have selected Proximic by Comscore, a leading provider of audience and content targeting solutions for programmatic activation, as its preferred partner for making its full taxonomy of audience segments available for contextual cookieless targeting.


text:
Dara Khosrowshahi, chief executive officer of Uber Technologies Inc., speaks on a webcast during the company’s initial public offering (IPO) on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Friday, May 10, 2019.
Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Uber shares dropped slightly after the FT published its report. Shares were down about 1% late Thursday morning.
SoftBank urged Uber and DoorDash to discuss a potential merger, the FT reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions. Although conversations fell apart, the companies have not ruled out the idea of resuming talks, according to the FT.
An Uber spokesperson declined to comment. Representatives from DoorDash didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
SoftBank has invested heavily in both companies through its Vision Fund. Last November, DoorDash raised a new round of funding that values it at close to $13 billion, after raising $600 million last May in a funding round from SoftBank and other investors.
Uber Eats has struggled to become profitable, despite seeing double-digit revenue growth year over year in Uber’s most recent earnings report. Last week, Uber sold its food-delivery business in India to its competitor Zomato. Uber also exited its Eats business in South Korea last September.
The market for food delivery services has proven competitive, with Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates, Grubhub and others all jockeying for customers’ wallets. Venture capitalists have been pouring money into start-ups like Postmates and DoorDash, but many of them have struggled to generate a profit. Grubhub, the only profitable delivery service, is reportedly exploring strategic options, including a possible sale.


text:
Facebook is rolling out a more secure way to connect to its website, which will protect users from a widely publicized wireless networking attack called Firesheep.
Germany is stopping short of legal action against Facebook after reaching a 14-point agreement on Monday over how the site handles data from non-Facebook users.
Social media websites remain top when it comes to blacklisting websites according to Open DNS's annual report. The web security and filtering company has produced a report detailing some of the key findings of 2010.
Eric Schmidt may have been pushed aside as Google's CEO, but he's getting a nice gift as he packs up his top office.
The Silicon Valley companies that store our personal data have a growing responsibility to protect it from government snooping, according to Daniel Ellsberg, the man who leaked the Pentagon Papers.
It's a truth universally acknowledged that public Wi-Fi hotspots aren't secure, but they're so convenient that most of us use them anyway. That's why there was something of a panic last year when Eric Butler showed everyone how easy it is to hijack F...
Facebook users who want to access the social-networking service on the go, but don't have smartphones, now have an app of their own in some countries.
The year 2010 was a hugely significant one for computing criminality and could turn out to mark the beginning of a 'third era' of cybercrime, security expert Graham Cluley of Sophos has said in advance of the company's latest threat review of the yea...
Facebook should overhaul its third-party developer program and require every app on the social network to go through an approval process, security firm Sophos says. The suggestion was part of Sophos' annual security threat report for 2011, published ...
Apple has added a page to its iTunes Store that reveals the top iPhone and iPad app downloads since the App Store opened in mid-2008.
"The Social Network," the blockbuster film based on the story of the Faceback social media site, made the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony absolutely geeky this year by winning four major categories.
Facebook has disabled a new capability it introduced several days ago that let users share their cell phone numbers and physical addresses with developers of applications they use on the site and with publishers of Web sites they've linked their acco...
The biggest mobile infection threat isn't malware that specifically targets mobile devices, according to new research from security firm BitDefender. Malware that targets Facebook is a far bigger problem for mobile security, the firm claims.
Your home address and phone number are now part of the information dump third-party developers can obtain through Facebook-powered Website logins and applications.
There was another question about the planned Facebook stock offering that went beyond whether the social media leader is a good investment now or if it's overpriced. A more serious issue was how investment banker Goldman Sachs was structuring a "priv...
Most Popular Reviews
- 1 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultrabook (2015 model)
- 2 Synology DiskStation DS215j NAS device
- 3 Fitbit Charge wireless activity tracker
- 4 HP Stream 11 laptop
- 5 B&O BeoPlay A2 portable Bluetooth speaker
Best Deals on GoodGearGuide
Latest News Articles
- Google Now adds data from Lyft, Airbnb and many more apps
- Outlook app for Android and iOS boosts Microsoft's mobile comeback
- MIT randomizes tasks to speed massive multicore processors
- NEC aims at Big Data 'sweet spot' with new SAP Hana tool
- Uber will fight to keep its Boston ride data private
GGG Evaluation Team
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.


text:
A Wake-up Call For Everyone On The Issue Of Vulnerability
S Mohini Ratna, Editor, VARINDIA
When we compare the pre, present and post COVID-19 pandemic scenario the adoption of technology has grown to more than four times with the use of existing and new technologies and tools as consumers went into lockdowns, millions are forced to work from home and digital connectivity will take even more of a hold on everyday habits post the pandemic.
We are witnessing what will surely be remembered as a historic deployment of remote work and digital access to services across every domain. For some consumers this may be totally new behavior (such as shopping for groceries online for the first time), while for others this may mean increased online usage or the addition of new technology, tools and software.
Owing to the rapid rise of COVID-19 cases across the country, state governments and large municipalities are coming up with strict surveillance mechanisms to ensure that those quarantined adhere to the norms, and stay at home. Health surveillance in this context seems to be taking multiple forms - a mixture of human intelligence and technology. At the same time, Payments on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in June hit an all-time high of Rs 1.34 billion in terms of volume with transactions worth nearly Rs 2.62 lakh crore, as per National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) data and in the month of May, the number of UPI transactions stood at 1.23 billion valued at Rs 2.18 lakh crore.
But the surprising part is no one is talking about the vulnerability associated with hardware/software and Work From Home solutions (Hardware/software) including the CCTV and UPI payments, but everyone is busy in selling and users are in desperate buying whatever is best available. Demand surged thanks to the shift towards home working.
The traditional DVR-based CCTV systems leave companies vulnerable to attack from malevolent intruders. Cyber-attackers can exploit weaknesses in visual surveillance systems, find vulnerable devices and hijack connections to the device’s IP address. With cyberattacks on CCTV systems making news headlines on a weekly basis of late, there is a good deal of concern and uncertainty about how at risk these systems are, as well as why they are being attacked.
Once a hacker has gained control of a device, they could use the camera for hostile reconnaissance, they could inject their own video stream in a Mission Impossible style attack, or they could use the device to pivot into other devices on the same network, all of which would make for a really bad day. The Router and Modem have been used to gain access to the network and CCTV cameras were to be the targeted victim. Remote Hacks: This attack happens when videos are transmitted over the Internet. Camera Hackers take the advantage of the data breach or unsecured passwords to hack into security cameras. That is how many security cameras live hacked.
Secondly, the Unified Payment Interface app is a payment system that allows users to make and receive payments anywhere around the globe by just using a smartphone. UPI allows customers to pay directly from linked bank accounts to merchants without using credit card, debit card and bank account details like the account numbers, IFSC code or net banking.
UPI is considered to be a very safe medium for online transactions but the security levels are not that high because if someone figures out the M-Pin, the attacker can easily transfer money from a bank account. According to NPCI, UPI has End-to-End encryption secure verification methods and much more. Also it doesn’t include third party software to be installed in the user’s smartphone. There are many security flaws in UPI.
There are various types of published vulnerabilities that have been found in payment companies including Amazon Pay, Phone Pay, BHIM, PayTM, Mobikwik, Mastercard and Visa etc.
Banks have started creating awareness programs regarding not disclosing your UPI pin, M-PIN, sharing of UPI ID, spamming warning and many more. But still beware of engaging with fraudsters’ alert to transfer or receiving untrusted payment requests. Unverified application that request to allow permission to access the payment applications and do not click on any given payment link to make a payment, Sharing OPT and not to download any open source untrusted application (games, social media networking etc.), as such applications are the main cause of malwares and crashing of the smartphone.
When security and operations teams collaborate closely, they can protect your business more effectively against all kinds of threats.


text:
In a statement, William Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of Barnes & Noble said that while "NOOK device sales got off to a good start over the Black Friday period," they then faltered, and "fell short of expectations for the balance of holiday."
"We are examining the root cause of the December shortfall in sales, and will adjust our strategies accordingly going forward," said Lynch.
During the nine-week holiday period, Barnes and Noble's digital business -- which include the NOOK readers and tablets, digital content, and accessories -- saw revenues of $311 million, a decrease of 12.6 percent compared to the same period last year.
NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ tablets reviews have been positive, but the devices have are in the unfortunate position of being sandwiched between the twin juggernauts of Apple's iPad and Amazon's Kindle Fire.
To make matters worse, the market is being further eroded by tablets from the likes of Samsung, and even Microsoft. The tablet and e-reader market is a very crowded one, and despite making what it calls "significant investments over the past three years building the valuable NOOK digital retailing platform," Barnes & Noble has found it hard to maintain traction during the all-important holiday period.


text:
photo via getty.
Jennie-O is recalling 91 thousand pounds of raw ground turkey due to ongoing salmonella outbreak.
So far there has been one death and 164 reported illnesses in 35 states. Be on the look out for these products 1-pound packages of raw, ground turkey. They had a use-by date of October, but could still be in freezers.


text:
Coastal Kits well known for their model bases, is now experimenting with backdrops starting off with a modern hangar in 1/48 scale
Metallic Details is preparing to release a new photo etched detailing set for Revells 1/144 scale Airbus A380
Airfix has released the two colour schemes for its re-release of its 1/72 scale de Havilland Vampire T.11 including a Swedish J-28C
Skale Wings has announced it will be releasing a 1/72 scale Skyraider AD-5W with folded wings
Airfix has released images of the sprues for the new tool Hawker Hunter F.6 in 1/48 scale
A Japanese Mavis Flying Boat with torpedo is heading our way in a limited edition 1/72 scale kit.
Master Details have released a 1:32 resin USAAF bomber co-pilot figure. It's designed for the existing largescale B-17 kits - but now there's a B-24 incoming too, so its timing is doubly neat.
Mark Peacock has sent us sample pages of Valiant Wings' new reference book on the Heinkel He 162, which is all set for imminent release.
Kitty Hawk has released the boxart for their upcoming 1/35 160th SOAR (Special Operations Aviation Regiment) MH-60L Black Hawk kit.
Proper Plane has released four prop and exhaust sets in 1/32 scale for the Albatros D.V and Fokker D.VII
Wingsy Kits has released their 1/48 scale Type 96 carrier-based fighter II A5M2b early “Claude”
Airfix has re-released its 1/72 scale BAE Hawk T.Mk.1A with a new set of markings
After some delay Kitty Hawk has announced that the release of the 1/48 scale Su-34 Fullback will be soon
Kitty Hawk has announced that the release of the 1/48 scale F-10B Vodoo will be soon
Cold War Studio has posted images on Facebook of their progress with work creating resin 1/48 scale conversion set to create a MiG-25 BM Foxbat F
The brand new tool MiG 21MF in 1/72 scale from Eduard is not officially released until May, but you can order it now during Eduards Moson Afterparty event and at a reduced price
Platz is planning to release a 1/72 scale MiG-29 (9.13) Fulcrum C this summer
Richard Alexander has sent us news of Wingnut Wings' new kits timed for Scale Models Expo in Wellington - which will undoubtedly dash the hopes of anyone expecting a certain Fokker triplane... but, along with the exciting new Junkers D.1, there are some real specials lined up with the re-release of previously sold-out classics with exclusive new resin figures by Mike Good.
Finemolds is to release a new tooled 1/48 scale C5M Type 98 “Babs”
Hasegawa has released a Limited Edition Boeing 777-300ER in 1/200 scale
In May Eduard will be releasing a ProfiPack Edition kit of the Albatros D.V in 1/48 scale.
Osprey Publishing continue with thier Combat Aircraft series with a publication on the US Navy F-4 Phantom II Units of the Vietnam War 1969-73.
Fonthill Media are to release in May a book dedicated to the History of the Gloster Javelin: The First All Weather British Fighter.
Eduard has a Limited Edition Duo Combo “Longest Day” planned for June featuring their 1/72 scale Spitfire Mk IX
Modelcollect is drawing up plans to produce a 1/48 scale A-12 Avenger II a proposed stealth attack aircraft for the US Navy
Coastal kits has released a 1/72 scale display base replicating the catapult area of HMS Ark Royal
Eduard is to release four detail sets in May for the Airfix 1/48 scale Ju 87B-2/R-2 kit
June sees Eduard releasing a Limited Edition 1/48 scale Typhoon Mk.Ib with bubble canopy
Italeri is proud to announce that they will be re-releasing an upgraded version of their 1/32 scale F-104 Starfighter next month
8ADecs has released a decal sheet replicating the Test A321 LR Neo in 1/144 scale
Phase Hangar Resin Accessories has reopened its order link for the 1/48 scale A-4F/M Super Fox intakes
Freedom Model Kits has released images of another built 1/48 scale Hawk III this time in Argentine colours
Mars Models has posted on its Facebook page design images for a 1/144 scale Tu-4
Four new issues of Top Drawings are now available to provide some great references for your builds to include the Thunderbolt, Buffalo, Hayate, and Corsair.
ICM Holding has released a 1/72 scale Do 17Z-7 Night fighter
AMUR Reaver has produced a superb looking resin flap set designed for the Tamiya or Revell 1/32 P-51D Mustang
Lisa from Airbrushes.com has informed us that Wilder Aqualine Acrylics April 2018 are now in stock
Zvedza is very pleased to announce the re-release of the new tool Yak-130 in 1/72 scale with a new set of markings
Yahu Models has announced it is working on a 1/48 scale instrument panels for the Italeri A-20 Boston/Havoc
As Revell has re-released the 1/48 scale A-26B Eduard has stepped up to produce a revised detail set for it
MicroMir is continuing its interesting line of helicopters with a 1/48 scale Brantly-B2
It looks like MicroMir is drawing up plans to produce a 1/144 scale Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
ICM is pleased to announce the release of their 1/48 scale Ju 88A-4
ICM has informed Aeroscale that they have released the 1/48 scale MiG 25 PD
Special Hobby has sent Aeroscale news of a special online offer that will be available on their range of kits and more during the Mosonmagyóvár 22th International Model Show
8ADecs has produced a 1/144 decal sheet of the first Boeing 737-8 MAX to join the fleet of American Airlines
Noy's Miniatures have released a nice diorama base section of Perforated Steel Planking (PSP) or Marston Mat in several scales.
Special Hobby have sent us details of a plethora of new resin upgrades for Revell's 1:32 P-51D coming soon in their CMK range.
Fine Molds has re-released its 1/72 scale F-14A Tomcat with a new set of markings for Tomcats of the Freelancers and Black Knights aboard the USS Independence 1995 cruise
Avalon Productions is producing a 1/72 decal sheet covering six marking options for the Kawasaki Ki-61d Hien


text:
Transcript for 13-Year-Old Claims Her Samsung Galaxy Note7 Caught Fire in Her Hands
Trouble for Samsung a thirteen year old girl claiming her replacement galaxy note seven. Caught fire right in her hands here's ABC's Rebecca Jarvis tonight. Tonight new problems pouring in owners complaining Samsung galaxy note seven replacement phones went up in smoke. Thirteen year old Abby Zeus says she was holding her galaxy note seven when it melted down. Pulled it up I saw smoke and I throughout the Clark this Manning Kentucky says he won't to a smoke filled room his galaxy note seven in golfed in planes. Look over and my my phones on fire. And just this morning a Virginia man claiming his galaxy note seven caught fire while he was sleeping the owners of all three phones including a fort that burned through the carpet on a southwest flight last week. Say they were replacements. Samsung had initiated a nationwide recall of the galaxy note seven last month after nearly 100 devices caught fire. Tonight Samsung tells ABC news they are working diligently to see if a safety problem. Exists. And tonight at least one wireless carrier AT&T now says it will no longer be replacing galaxy note sevens with the replacement phone. Instead they're letting customers exchanged the original note sevens for different devices to at a big concerns over these replacements now there are aren't Rebecca thank you.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.


text:
Tesla driver dies in US after fire truck crash, Autopilot under scanner again
A Tesla driver in California of US died on Saturday after crashing into a fire truck on an interstate highway, reports Reuters. This has again brought the automaker's famous driver assistance system, Autopilot technology, under the scanner. The latest crash has again fuelled the question if the technology is safe or not. Interestingly, this comes at a time when the US regulators are investigating Tesla vehicles with the Autopilot driver assistance system over a series of crashes with parked emergency vehicles.
Speaking about the latest accident, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Department said in a tweet that a passenger in the electric car was taken to the hospital in critical condition. A fire department official also said that four firefighters had minor injuries due to the accident, and they were released after evaluation.
Also Read : Which Indian cities have the most comprehensive EV policies?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Thursday that its investigation, launched in 2021 into Tesla’s Autopilot and associated vehicle systems remains open and active. The agency is reviewing whether Tesla vehicles adequately ensure drivers are paying attention.
The statement followed Tesla announcing a recall of more than 362,000 vehicles in the US to update its Full Self-Driving Beta software after regulators raised concerns that the driver assistance system did not adequately adhere to traffic safety laws and could cause crashes. It is unknown whether the particular Tesla car that crashed into a fire truck was equipped with that FSD Beta or not.
In the last couple of years, several Tesla cars have been involved in major accidents. In some cases, the Tesla cars have reportedly steered themselves while the Autopilot was on. In some cases, they slammed the brake when not required, while in many cases, the Tesla cars didn't apply brakes even when there were obstacles ahead, despite the Autopilot being on at that time.


text:
ATET, Digita Oy, OBS, rbb, Skyworth, Synamedia, ZEASN Europe
Geneva, February 8, 2022 – The HbbTV Association, a global initiative dedicated to providing open standards for the delivery of advanced interactive TV services through broadcast and broadband networks for connected TV sets and set-top boxes, is proud to announce that seven new members have joined the industry association in the past 12 months.
The new members are leading broadcasting organisations, network operators, electronics manufacturers, technology companies and service providers, namely ATET (France), Digita Oy (Finland), Ocean Blue Software (OBS, UK), Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb, Germany), Skyworth Group & Shenzhen Chuangwei-RGB Electronics (China), Synamedia (UK) and ZEASN Europe (Netherlands).
“We are honoured and excited about more than half a dozen new members joining the HbbTV Association in the past year. This clearly confirms the significance of the HbbTV specifications among companies from different parts of the industry across all platforms,” said Vincent Grivet, Chair of the HbbTV Association. “I would like to encourage all industry players interested in shaping the TV and OTT world of the future to join the HbbTV Association as a member.”
With the latest additions, the HbbTV Association now has a total of 75 members from all areas of the broadcast and broadband industry. The full list of members can be accessed at www.hbbtv.org/membership/#members.
About the HbbTV Association
Hybrid broadcast broadband TV (or “HbbTV”) is a global initiative founded in 2010 developing a specification enabling the delivery of advanced and interactive TV and entertainment services to consumers through a combined use of both broadcast and broadband networks. The HbbTV specification is developed by industry leaders to improve the video experience of consumers on connected TV sets, set-top boxes and multiscreen devices. The HbbTV specification uses elements of existing specifications from other standards including OIPF, CEA, DVB, MPEG-DASH and W3C. With the incorporation of activities from the Open IPTV Forum (OIPF) in 2014 and Smart TV Alliance in 2016, HbbTV is able to address service providers and technology suppliers for IPTV services as well as the combined scope of broadcast and over-the-top (OTT) services.
HbbTV is organised as a non-profit association registered in Switzerland and has 75 members which include all global TV manufacturers, the large European broadcasters and TV platforms as well as a vast array of global technology and chipset vendors. More information: www.hbbtv.org


text:
During the current marketing year, Ukraine will be able to export about 50 million tons of grain from last year and the new crop.
Denis Marchuk, Deputy Chairman of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council, said this during a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform.
“About 30% of the planned area for this season has already been harvested – up to 12 million tons of grain of the new crop. If we take into account the indicators that we have, then we, given the new crop, will need to export about 50 million tons during this marketing year “, Marchuk said.
According to the expert, if the work of seaports is not resumed, then, taking into account the current pace of exports of agricultural products in alternative ways, the export of such a volume of grain from Ukraine will continue for three years.
As reported, on August 1, for the first time since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into the territory of Ukraine, a ship with Ukrainian food left the port of Odessa. There are more than 26 thousand tons of corn on board. The Sierra Leone-flagged Razoni is heading to the port of Tripoli, Lebanon. It will move along the corridor, the security of which was confirmed by the UN and Turkey.


text:
Turkey now has the highest selling price for the recently released iPhone 14 over Brazil.
The Nukeni list is based on iPhone costs, which vary according on local taxes and currencies, that were acquired from each nation on the Apple website. Based on the gathered information, a new rating finds Turkey at the top of the list for the priciest iPhone 14.
In Turkey, a 128GB iPhone 14 costs $2,193.15; in Brazil, it costs $1,823.19 iPhones may be purchased for $999 and $1,039.46, respectively, in the US and Japan, excluding local taxes. Other nations where Apple products are costly include Poland, Hungary, and India.
With an inflation rate of more than 80%, Turkey has been experiencing a catastrophic economic crisis. Apple stopped selling its devices there in 2021 when the local currency dropped against the dollar by more than 15% in a short period of time. Apple raised the costs of its goods, app store charges, and subscriptions by 25% in that nation once the suspension was removed.
According to 9t05Mac, Apple has also raised the prices of its products in Europe as the currency declines against the dollar, particularly as a result of the conflict in Ukraine.


text:
McDonald’s Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets are served the world over, but only in Vermont can diners at the fast-food giant now get pure maple syrup with their oatmeal.
Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin announced Thursday that McDonald’s USA has agreed to offer pure Vermont maple syrup or sugar with its Fruit and Maple Oatmeal menu item, beginning in February.
Vermont is the nation’s largest producer of maple syrup, and it upholds strict maple laws.
The state previously said McDonald’s use of maple in its advertising for its oatmeal did not meet regulations because it did not actually contain maple.
For now, the pure Vermont maple syrup will be offered only in-state, but Shumlin said he would encourage McDonald’s to use the state’s prize crop elsewhere.


text:
Mortal Kombat fans have had months to master the game's original roster, which means it's about time for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to start expanding its options. The publisher today announced that the blood-soaked ninja Skarlet will be available to download starting June 21 for 400 Microsoft points ($5).
The Mortal Kombat roster is set to expand even further. Skarlet is just the first of the planned downloadable characters, along with the blind fighter Kenshi, the purple ninja Rain, and an as-yet-unannounced fourth fighter.
Skarlet won't be the only new Mortal Kombat DLC arriving this month. June 21 will also see the release of a new pack featuring new Sektor and Cyrax skins inspired by the robotic ninjas' appearances in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3.
The first Mortal Kombat game since 2008's Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe and the ninth in the series, the reboot is rated M for Mature for pervasive gore accentuated by gruesome fatalities. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's review of Mortal Kombat.


text:
Subaru puts a price on its first-ever hybrid model.
Read This Article
The non-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently bestowed its coveted Top Safety Pick awards to four new vehicles: 2013 Ford Escape, Acura ILX, Scion FR-S, and the Subaru BRZ.
The latest rise in gas prices is once again impacting both driving habits and vehicle purchase decisions.
Subaru has announced that, instead of building a bigger production facility, it will be staying in the current one it uses in Lafayette, Ind.


text:
RICHFIELD, Jan 26 - Twin Cities radio station, KS95 FM, and the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MBA) today rewarded customers who fueled up with E15 at Richfield Minnoco.
From 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, customers who fueled up with E15 at Richfield Minnoco at 6744 Penn Ave S in Richfield won prizes from MBA and KS95.
Among the prizes included $25 in cash, passes to Wild Mountain as well as KS95-branded merchandise. KS95 executive producer and personality, Rudy Pavich, was on site with MBA staff to educate customers on the benefits of using E15 and hand out prizes.
Today's event is the second time MBA and KS95 have teamed up to reward drivers who use E15. Last month, MBA and KS95 rewarded customers at Highland Service Minnoco in St Paul.
"This is the second consecutive month where we have gone out to a station with our partners at KS95 FM to speak with and educate consumers on the benefits of using E15. Once consumers understood that E15 has a high octane rating, is good for the environment, boosts Minnesota's economy, makes us more energy independent and is cheaper than regular unleaded, they switched to E15," said Tim Rudnicki, executive director at MBA.
Richfield Minnoco is one of 16 stations that offer E15 in the Twin Cities. The number of stations in the metro and the rest of the state is expected to significantly increase this year following the availability of $16 million in grant funding from the United States Department of Revenue (USDA), the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, state biofuel producers and industry coalition partners.
The funds will be used to install or retrofit 620 pumps to dispense fuels like E15 and E85 at 165 stations in the state.
In 2015, a record volume of E15 was sold in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, as of Nov 30, 2015, 2.54 million gallons of E15 was sold in the state.


text:
This is just about the classic story of what happens when new technology meets existing workplace. In this case the story is about drones taking the jobs of commercial pilots. It’s so obvious when you think about it:
Aerial surveyors, photographers and moviemaking pilots are increasingly losing business to robots that often can do their jobs faster, cheaper and better.
It reminds me of the way so many news photographers have been affected by the rise of smartphone cameras and the like.
And you can very easily imagine the same thing happening when driverless (Google) cars start hitting the roads. We tend to think of them in terms of what they mean for us as ordinary car commuters, but the real effect, at least initially, is likely to be in the automotive equivalent of commercial pilots: the ones who will be run over, job-wise, are the delivery workers, bus drivers, truckies, and the like.
The pilots are trying to fight back, but it has losing battle written all over it:
That competition, paired with concerns about midair collisions with drones, has made commercial pilots some of the fiercest opponents to unmanned aircraft. And now these aviators are fighting back, lobbying regulators for strict rules for the devices and reporting unauthorized drone users to authorities.
Jim Williams, head of the Federal Aviation Administration’s unmanned-aircraft office, said that many FAA investigations into commercial-drone flights begin with tips from manned-aircraft pilots who compete with those drones. “They’ll let us know that, ’Hey, I’m losing all my business to these guys. They’re not approved. Go investigate,’” Mr. Williams said at a drone conference last year. “We will investigate those.”
So look, the lesson is, we need to think about this on a macro level. The lesson is, first they came for commercial pilots but I was not a commercial pilot so I said nothing. The lesson is, do not send for whom the bell tolls — the drone flies, the Google car drives — it tolls/flies/drives for thee.


text:
Plans are starting to come together for what is slated to be a multi-phased, office, retail and luxury hotel development project next to Raleigh’s Crabtree Valley Mall. And development partners say it could value in excess of $100 million once built.
New site plans were recently filed in Raleigh that detail the teardown of a three-story, 1970s-era office building near the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and Creedmoor Road, currently anchored by Raleigh web design firm AtlanticBT.
In its place, development partners from East West Partners of Chapel Hill have proposed constructing a new, six-story, mixed-use office, retail and outdoor plaza plaza concept, along with a seven-level parking deck, to be called Crabtree Terrace.
Lee Perry, development director at East West Partners, says the new Raleigh project will tie-in directly with renewed plans by a Virginia hotel developer to build a luxury hotel and conference center on an adjoining property at the busy U.S. 70 intersection.
“I can’t get into too many specifics about the hotel project, yet,” Perry says, “but we are working on a joint project and site plan that will bring full mixed-use as part of this larger development.”
In 2006, a group of local developers had envisioned a 43-story tower building of both luxury hotel and condominium quarters known as the Soleil Center for the site. Starwood Hotels had committed to branding the Soleil Center's hotel with its luxury Westin brand, but all construction work was halted in 2008 at the start of the economic recession.
The Soleil Center property was sold at auction in 2015 to Shamin Hotels of Chester, Virginia. Shamin Hotels CEO Neil Amin confirms that plans are in the works again to bring an upscale hotel and conference center to the site, but he declined to provide additional details.
For the new office building, Perry says the $50 million project will offer close to 144,000 square feet of Class A office space, along with about 38,400 square feet of retail space and parking for more than 700 cars. Gensler’s Raleigh office is the project’s architect, and Kimley-Horn is the civil engineer. Office and retail broker specialists from CBRE-Raleigh will be handling the leasing for both the office and the retail spaces.
Perry noted he’s also aware that redevelopment plans are in the works for the former Capital Bank building at 4901 Glenwood Ave., but he had no other details about that project.
“We were originally looking at the Soleil site before it went to auction and had been looking to develop it with (Shamin Hotels),” Perry says. But after Shamin acquired the land and started developing their own plan for the site, Perry says his firm switched gears and put its focus on redeveloping the Crabtree Executive Center site next door.
“We know what the hotel guys have planned, and we really like their plan,” Perry says.
In the Triangle, East West Partners has also been involved in the development of the East 54 mixed-use property in Chapel Hill, the Liberty Warehouse apartment and retail project in downtown Durham and the nearly-completed Alexan Chapel Hill apartment complex next to Village Plaza.