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This game will let you experience a week as an Amazon fulfillment worker
Spoiler: You’ll hate it
Rumors and reports of lofty targets and often downright disturbing working conditions at Amazon’s warehouses around the world are hardly new, with workers pushed to the limits all in the spirit of retail. Oh, and there’s the ever-present danger of a robot making you obsolete. Lack of bathroom breaks, worker safety issues and targets even a robot couldn’t meet, the reported conditions are pretty grim.
Now, you can experience the dismal existence of working in Amazon’s Melbourne, Australia’s fulfillment warehouse, thanks to this charming 8-bit game created by Australia’s ABC News.
The scenarios in the game came from eight former and current employees at the warehouse. Their employment contracts hinge on performance, with difficult pick targets to meet under their “casual employment” terms which is a nice way of saying “you have no rights and no chance of a permanent position.” Having worked piece-meal jobs before, where wages were tied to performance targets, it’s an all-too-familiar situation.
It’s worth noting that this game is a dramatization based on those employee accounts, not a “literal interpretation of minor details of Amazon operations,” as ABC News is clear to point out. The game itself tries to show how workers need to race (but not too fast, as workplace safety won’t let you run) between picking assignments in order to keep getting scheduled on more shifts.
Everything is controlled via your scanner, which serves as a boss, mentor, and occasional survey worker. Notice that the time allotted to each ‘pick’ starts as soon as you look at your scanner, not once you’ve read the instructions. The game also throws in other snippets of information, like a despondent co-worker who tells you at lunch that they’re worried about losing shifts as her pick rate has gone down.
Even if these conditions are still rampant, we, as consumers, are part of the reason for them. Amazon might have revolutionized online retail, but it also got us addicted to things like one-day or two-day shipping, and bred intolerance of shipping or packing snafus.
After publication we were contacted by an Amazon spokesperson who said:
The Game by the ABC is intentionally sensational in its reporting and is demeaning to the hard working dedicated people who work at Amazon fulfilment centres and do a great job.
Editor’s Note: This post was updated on February 28 to include a statement from an Amazon spokesperson.
- The FTC just scored its first major win against fake Amazon reviews
- Facebook will finally let you delete the information it holds on you later this year
- Facebook grossly underpays its content moderators, while also giving them PTSD
- Apple Music is finally making its way to Google Home devices soon
- Apple seems to finally be looking into sleep tracking on the Apple Watch


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American monetary providers firm Constancy Investments has absolutely launched its cryptocurrency custody service.
Abigail Johnson, CEO of Constancy Investments, revealed the event in an interview with the Monetary Instances published on Oct. 18. Johnson mentioned that the corporate is able to roll out its crypto custody enterprise following a year-long preparation and accumulation of purchasers.
A nascent, however promising enterprise
Final fall, Constancy particularly indicated that it might present an enterprise-grade crypto custody service to hedge funds, household places of work and monetary advisors. Johnson known as that form of service nascent and never developed, however famous its potential, saying:
“There are individuals on the market with important quantities of wealth in cryptocurrencies, most likely Bitcoin, they usually’re in search of someone to carry these cash for them as a result of within the occasion of their passing — which goes to occur sooner or later or one other — you’ve acquired to have a plan to have the ability to get these cash to someone else.”
Talking about Coinbase’s custody providing, Johnson argued that Coinbase “remains to be an organization that most individuals had by no means heard of, they usually don’t have the present relationships with the unbiased advisers.”
As beforehand reported, Coinbase Custody was initially announced in November 2017 and launched in July 2018, with an goal to offer sturdy safety of crypto property, which in response to Coinbase has been institutional traders’ “‘primary’ concern.” As of August, Coinbase Custody claimed to retailer property on behalf of greater than 120 purchasers in 14 totally different nations.
Constancy’s cautious strategy to buying and selling crypto
Lately, Kathleen Murphy, private investing president of Constancy Investments, said that the agency doesn’t provide cryptocurrencies on retail buying and selling platforms to guard its purchasers. When requested when she expects customers to commerce crypto “in a significant approach” on Constancy’s platform, Murphy replied:
“, we’re actually cautious about that. So whereas we embrace crypto by way of attempting to know it and be revolutionary and considerate… We’re additionally very cautious about the place we provide these forms of issues, so that they’re not provided broadly on the retail platform. We wish to be very cautious about ensuring that traders who actually aren’t institutional traders […] do not make a mistake with cryptocurrency.”

domain: news


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Country’s largest segment by sales revenue, Tata Motors reported a 3% decline in its global sales this Saturday. Global wholesale units of all Tata Motors commercial vehicles and Tata Daewoo range last month stood at 34526 units while they stood at 62822 units in December 2018.
Tata Motor’s showstopper JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) also saw a decline overall. Wholesale units of Jaguar last month stood at 12742 units while wholesale units of Land Rover stood at 37259 units.
Tata Motors expects the automobile industry and to get back on track in the 2nd half of this year.
“This would be after the switch from BS-IV to BS-VI emission rules is complete and the central government’s effort to turn around the economy starts paying off. We are going to get back to a growth path. I am being cautiously optimistic; the second half of FY21 should be realistic” added by Guenter Butschek, managing director of Tata Motors. (Source)
The carmaker will begin the introduction of its BS-VI range with passenger vehicles starting this month. There will be 4 global unveilings, 14 commercial and passenger vehicles display at the Auto Expo 2020 at Greater Noida.
Transition to BS-VI is expected (and is disrupting) the commercial vehicle industry in a big way. Higher pricing with new technological inputs. Adding BS-VI in Tata Motors commercial vehicles will come with multiple variants, trims level and body types.
The entire automobile industry is disrupted by a number of reasons, with rolling out of BS-IV fuel range is the major one. Not only sales of Tata Motors are affected, but the entire industry (except Maruti & Mahindra) experienced darkest times ever in 2 decades.
The automobile sector is yet to see improvements by the 2nd half of this year but till the time comes, major carmakers are expecting a decline in their sales figures.


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What type of market is craft beer?
There are six distinct craft beer industry market segments: microbreweries, brewpubs, taproom breweries, regional breweries, contract brewing companies, and alternating proprietors.
Is the craft beer market saturated?
Despite the growing competition for craft beer drinkers, area tavern operators and brewers — veterans and newcomers alike — agree the market for specialized beer is not saturated. … 1 in terms of craft beer production — 3.72 million barrels last year.
What is the target market for craft beer?
The target audience for a microbrewery is usually upscale, well-educated and more interested in flavor than quantity.
What is the most popular craft beer?
Best in Beer Readers’ Choice: Top 50 Beers of 2020
- Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (2)
- Bell’s Brewery Two Hearted IPA (1)
- Russian River Pliny the Elder IIPA (3)
- Guinness Extra Stout (11)
- Allagash White (8)
- Brasserie Dupont Saison Dupont (6)
- Founders All Day IPA (10)
- Cigar City Jai Alai IPA (14)
Is Budweiser a craft beer?
The nation’s largest beer company dabbled at the edges of the burgeoning craft beer movement, but its backbone remained the brands to which craft beer was largely a reaction — Bud and Bud Light, Natural Light and Michelob Ultra, and whatever odd innovations might tempt a new generation of consumers, be it Lime-a-Rita ( …
Why do Breweries fail?
According to the Brewer’s Association, hundreds of breweries close their doors each year. … Bart Watson, chief economist for the BA says that some of the reasons for brewery failures is increased competition, rent and landlord issues.
Is craft beer still growing?
Craft has been growing its consumer base steadily over the past decade.
What percentage of the beer market is craft beer?
As a result, craft beer lost some of its market share. It now makes up 12.3% of the overall beer market, compared to 13.6% the year before. In terms of hard dollars, the industry took in $22.2 billion, a 22% decline over 2019.
Who consumes craft beer?
The age group of craft beer drinkers most likely to drink craft beer weekly in the United States were 35 to 44 year olds. In 2019, 52 percent of craft beer drinkers within that age range stated that they drank the beverage weekly.
How big is the craft beer industry?
In that year, California boasted over 900 craft breweries, the most of any U.S. state. In terms of production, craft beer volume amounted to about 23.1 million barrels in 2020, a reduction of roughly 3.2 million barrels compared to 2019 and the first decline ever.


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WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell is to scoop £36 million from the advertising company’s controversial executive bonus scheme, it was disclosed today.
Sir Martin will receive the maximum amount of shares under the long-term incentive plan after the value of the business jumped £10 billion in five years.
The long-time WPP boss and 16 other executives all had to commit shares to participate in the scheme, which allowed them to receive up to five times as many shares dependent on performance.
The scheme was scrapped by the company in 2012 amid a shareholder revolt but executives are still able to participate based on the share purchases they made in the years prior to its replacement.
The latest payout means Sir Martin, who is already regarded as the highest paid chief executive in the FTSE 100, is set to receive more than £40 million in total pay and awards for 2014.
His latest pay-out is likely to stoke anger over executive pay, with the Institute Of Directors recently forecasting it was likely to be an issue in the run-up to the general election. WPP’s annual report is due at the end of April.
Sir Martin joined WPP in 1986 and has turned the business into one of the world’s biggest advertising and marketing companies, with about 180,000 staff and UK agencies including Burson-Marsteller, Ogilvy and RLM Finsbury. He is also a non-executive director of Formula One.
The company is currently worth more than £20 billion and last year generated revenues of £11.5 billion and pre-tax profits of £1.68 billion.
WPP pointed out that £1,000 invested in the company in January 2010 increased to £2,207 by end of 2014 compared with £1,213 if invested in the FTSE 100 Index.
WPP chairman Philip Lader said “This senior management incentive compensation plan required substantial personal, long-term investment by the participants, exceptional corporate performance over five years, and was approved by an 83% supporting vote of share owners.”
Sir Martin has sold 48% of his shares award in order to cover tax liabilities on the plan.


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Today, the criminal immigrant isn't an Irish miner; it's a Mexican warehouse worker, meatpacker or hotel maid. And today's Pinkertons are ICE agents working outside their own rules and the rule of law to coddle exploiters and criminalize the exploited.
The latest incident is occurring in Long Island City, Queens, where the Teamsters of Local 805 are working to organize nearly 900 warehouse workers at a FreshDirect warehouse.
Strangely, the company wasn't worried about its workers' immigration status as long as the workers didn't complain about their .60 per hour wage and minimal benefits. Some of the immigrant employees had worked for the companay for as many as five years. But as soon as those same workers started signing Teamster cards over the summer, things heated up.
CLICK THE LINK FOR THE COMPLETE STORY, WITH ADDITIONAL LINKS.


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Don sits down with the CEO of Jushi in this exclusive interview…
Ask executives at the top multi-state operators (MSOs) in the country which cannabis markets they see as having the biggest growth opportunities, and one state makes the list nearly every single time: Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis program has been one of the most successful in the United States as sales figures have exceeded expectations at every turn.
On its current trajectory, the state could see $500 million in sales just this year with the potential to reach the $1 billion mark as soon as 2023.
And that’s just for medical cannabis.
Pennsylvania also happens to be a favorite for passing adult-use cannabis legalization this year, with voter support picking up even before it became one of the first to deem cannabis essential during the coronavirus crisis.
Add in the momentum from its neighboring state New Jersey‘s recent decriminalization bill, and you have a perfect recipe for Pennsylvania’s cannabis market to explode virtually overnight.
And today, there’s one company that’s capitalizing on this high-growth cannabis market that you should know about…
An Exclusive Interview With the CEO of Jushi
Jushi Holdings Inc. (OTC: JUSHF) is on a mission to become the leading vertically integrated cannabis company in the U.S.
Already a strong player in Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis market, the company has plans to expand beyond its eight locations as well as an exciting acquisition in the works.
“When Pennsylvania explodes like it should with adult-use [legalization], Jushi will be a great way to play that.” – Jim Cacioppo, CEO of Jushi Holdings Inc.
But Jushi’s reach goes way beyond Pennsylvania. It also has an established presence in Illinois – a fully legal state that, like Jushi, saw record sales numbers in May – and Virginia, where it is one of only two public companies allowed to operate. The company is also setting up operations in Nevada, California, and Ohio.
With all this exciting news, Executive Director Don Yocham knew he had to sit down with Jushi’s CEO, Jim Cacioppo, to bring you the full story straight from the man making it all happen.
In this exclusive one-on-one interview, Jim gives you the inside scoop on his company’s plans for growth – and shows you why he thinks Jushi could be the best bang for your buck when it comes to pure-play cannabis stocks:
While today’s discussion of Jushi should not be taken as a buy recommendation from us, Don has put together a list of his top 10 pot stock recommendations under $10 that you can check out right here.
7 responses to “Jushi Is Cashing in on Pennsylvania’s Soon-to-Be $1 Billion Cannabis Market”
July 20 2020


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Netflix agreed Wednesday to delay fulfilling customers’ requests for DVD and Blu-ray titles from Warner Bros. for their first 28 days on the market, bowing to studio pressure to give preference to those would would purchase the discs.
The move, reports The Associated Press, is a first for the rental company, which has 11 million subscribers. More such deals are expected with other studios this year.
The reason is simple: Warner Bros. is feeling the pinch as consumers who once had the disposable income to buy new movies as soon as they came out switch to services like Netflix and Blockbuster Online.
In return, Warner Bros. reportedly is giving Netflix a discount on their discs and allowing more titles to be viewed online by Netflix subscribers.
In an age when media piracy is already rampant, this move is bound to stir even more anger against the big studios, and Warner Bros. in particular as the trailblazer. I suspect it won’t be long before many Netflix subscribers say “That’s All, Folks!” and either turn to alternative services or, unfortunately, hoist the Jolly Roger.


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The folks at LAUNCH put out a provocative edition of their email newsletter today focused on the open source internet currency system Bitcoin.
Bitcoin is a P2P currency that could topple governments, destabilize economies and create uncontrollable global bazaars for contraband. (...) After month of research and discovery, we've learned the following:
1. Bitcoin is a technologically sound project.
2. Bitcoin is unstoppable without end-user prosecution.
3. Bitcoin is the most dangerous open-source project ever created.
4. Bitcoin may be the most dangerous technological project since the internet itself.
5. Bitcoin is a political statement by technotarians (technological libertarians).*
6. Bitcoins will change the world unless governments ban them with harsh penalties.
I haven't spent enough time poking around with Bitcoin yet to agree or disagree with the rather charged assertions above, but I'm definitely intrigued. More, including video, here.
Concealed Online is an anonymously owned (the owner won't divulge his identity due to fear of reprisals) company whose customers complain scammed them by tricking them into taking its online curriculum for Virginia's farcical easy concealed carry permits, without divulging that these permits are useless in the rest of America.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has stated that the free market "is not working" and as a result, regulation of the tech sector is "inevitable."
In March 2018, Nathan Ganas was murdered in his driveway in Durban, South Africa, during a botched hijacking; now Momentum, the insurer who wrote the 2.4m Rand (USD 170,700) policy on his life, is refusing to pay out because they say he didn't disclose his elevated blood-sugar levels when he took out the policy -- […]
The key to learning any new language is feedback. When you’re immersed in conversation, it’s easy to pick up key phrases and pronunciation, but not all of us have the means to jet off to Spain, France or wherever we can learn to speak like a local. The next best thing: The Mondly app. Mondly […]
Got a gadget-minded geek on your holiday list this year? Don’t wait for Black Friday. The prices are already dropping on some quality tech toys, and we’ve got a roundup of some of our favorites. Force Flyers DIY Building Block Drone MSRP: $49.99 | Normally: $42.99 | Price Drop: $39.99 (20% Off) Compatible with everybody’s […]
Ever wondered what it takes to make the transition from amateur photography to a full career? If you answered “a better camera,” you’re half right. Before you get the equipment, get the know-how to use it with the Hollywood Art Institute Photography Course & Certification. Taught by experienced pros, this course is geared towards shutterbugs […]


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Want to join the conversation?
$CTL's net cash provided by operating activities for 2015 fell to $5.15Bil from $5.19Bil in the previous year. Net cash used in investing activities decreased to $2.85Bil from $3.08Bil last year, while net cash used in financing activities rose to $2.30Bil from $2.15Bil in the prior year.
I haven’t seen a drop in banks like this in a long time. Looks like $WFC is still facing pressures from its sales practices scandal..!!
Helping President-elect's America first focus, $WMT set to create 10,000 retail jobs in the US in 2017.
Looks like Trump has his eyes on the $MON and Bayer merger next. He had a meeting with the CEOs and apparently got job promises from them.


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The world’s largest dairy exporter has warned some of its products including infant formula could contain potentially deadly bacteria.
Some 870 tons of tainted milk products could now be recalled from the countries they were exported to.
New Zealand’s dairy giant Fronterra has sent out an alert to its clients saying some of its whey protein concentrate, produced in May of last year, could be contaminated with bacteria that can trigger botulism – a potentially deadly paralytic disease.
Products potentially containing the tainted ingredient include infant formulas and sports drinks which were were shipped to Australia, China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Vietnam.
“We are acting quickly. Our focus is to get information out about potentially affected product as fast as possible so that it can be taken off supermarket shelves and, where it has already been purchased, can be returned,” Fonterra’s Chief Executive Theo Spierings said in a statement.
Considering the products were manufactured a year ago, some of them could already have been consumed. There have, nevertheless, been no reports of any botulism cases linked to Fronterra products.
New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser said health authorities around the world had also been alerted to the contamination.
"This has included formally notifying Infosan, the World Health Organization's international food safety regulators network. As more information on this issue is confirmed we will provide our trading partners with further updates,” AFP cites Groser as saying. read more
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Guardian Auction enters Hong Kong market
The Chinese oldest auction company, China Guardian will enter the Hong Kong market with its first sale on October 7. The focus will be on Chinese traditional modern paintings like favorites, Qi Baishi, Li Keran and Xu Beihong, old masters from the 1920-30’s.
This has created a great anticipation in the HK market and it will be head-to-head contest between the Chinese mainland and the western auction houses. Choosing October, Guardian will compete with Sotheby’s who normally are first for the season and draws more than a quarter of its auction revenue in HK. However other sectors like Chinese contemporary is not challenged for now.
It would not take long before Guardian’s arch rival Poly Auctions will enter Kong Kong market as well but so far no announcement. Most likely they will enter in 2013 spring auction.


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CAMPBELL, CA. October 20, 2014 – IC Manage today announced that Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) is recognizing IC Manage’s President and CEO Dean Drako as one of the “100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2014” at its Builders + Innovators Summit in Santa Barbara, California.
Dean Drako founded IC Manage in 2003, leading it to become the IC/SoC design and IP management technology leader. Drako was previously founder, president and CEO of Barracuda Networks, where he created the industry’s first email security appliance in 2003 and subsequently grew the company to more than 140 products, 150,000 customers and approximately 1000 employees.
Drako had multiple other successful startups; in 2007, he won the Ernst and Young Northern California Entrepreneur of the Year for Networking and Communications. Drako received his BSEE from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and MSEE from the University of California, Berkeley.
“It is a privilege to be named to Goldman Sach’s list,” said Dean Drako, IC Manage President and CEO. “I would like to thank IC Manage’s team and our customers for their role in expanding the deployment of IC Manage GDP across the enterprise.”
“We are honored to recognize Dean Drako as one of the most intriguing entrepreneurs of 2014,” said David Solomon, co-head of investment banking at Goldman Sachs. “This is the third year for the summit and our goal remains the same. We pair seasoned and emerging entrepreneurs — the builders and innovators — from a diverse set of industries to discuss how to make vital, enduring companies that reshape industries and boost the world’s economies through innovation.”
For more than 140 years, Goldman Sachs has been advising and financing entrepreneurs as they launch and grow their businesses. In addition to honoring 100 entrepreneurs, the summit consists of general sessions and clinics led by Goldman Sachs experts, seasoned entrepreneurs, academics and business leaders as well as resident scholars.
About IC Manage
IC Manage provides high performance design data and IP management solutions for companies to efficiently complete designs across their global enterprises. Design teams using IC Manage improve product quality, designer productivity, and global collaboration, while maximizing their IP reuse. IC Manage customers include Altera, AMD, Broadcom, CSR, Cypress, Entropic, Juniper, Maxim, Mediatek, NVIDIA, Rambus, Samsung, Sandisk, Xilinx and other top semiconductor and systems companies. IC Manage is headquartered at 2105 South Bascom Ave., Suite 120, Campbell, CA. For more information visit us at www.icmanage.com.


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LAS VEGAS — Consumers may soon be able to toss those pricey 3D glasses aside. Or just not buy them in the first place to watch their 3D TVs at home.
Samsung, which leads in 3D TV sales, is pairing up with RealD to incorporate the Los Angeles-based company’s projection technology found in theaters for 3D screenings into its new TVs to eliminate the need to wear current pairs of pricey 3D spectacles that require battery power. New display technology would essentially let viewers wear the same 3D glasses at home that they wear at the megaplex.
Most of the 3D glasses sold for the home today have active-shutter lenses, which provide better visuals than the pairs of black glasses handed out in theaters or the traditional cardboard pair of red and green lenses consumers are used to. And for that, they sell for around $150 or more, which has turned off some consumers.
By working with Samsung, active shutter technology will be built into Samsung’s new 3D TV sets.
The new technology will be called RDZ and be compatible with RealD’s glasses currently worn by moviegoers.
Move should make the TVs more attractive to buyers, especially for families who won’t need to buy multiple pairs of glasses. Last year, 3D TVs made up less than 5% of HDTV sales, with some industry watchers putting that figure closer to 2%.
Samsung is also trying to make its current line of glasses a little more attractive, as well, by pairing up with Silhouette to make the industry’s lightest 3D glasses, that weigh just 1 ounce.
The glasses switch on when 3D images are being viewed and can recharge wirelessly.
Samsung declined to disclose when its new 3D TVs would reach retailers.


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Samantha Bee to be among guests at BookCon in 2016
NEW YORK (AP) — Samantha Bee of "The Daily Show" fame will be a featured guest at next year's BookCon, along with such popular authors as Meg Cabot and Marissa Meyer.
Event organizer ReedPOP announced Monday that Chris O'Dowd and Leigh Bardugo also will be in attendance for the third annual BookCon, to be held in Chicago on May 14.
Publishing's version of Comic Con, BookCon began as a pop culture subset of the convention and trade show BookExpo America. It now takes place as a stand-alone event, immediately following BookExpo.
BookCon speakers have included John Green, Mindy Kaling and Judy Blume. Bee will be promoting her middle grade novel "Cracking Up."


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Big screen sets could drop to $2,000 by next Christmas, according to market researchers Envisioneering Group. All this is bad news for companies such as Sony ( SNE) that still insist on making the guts that go into their own consumer electronics. But it's great news for companies such as Dell Computer ( DELL) that have mastered the art of using what I call other people's components to drive down the costs of their own finished goods. Dell already sells a 30-inch liquid crystal display TV for $3,000. I can't wait to see what the company can do once it gets really serious about this business. To ride this next big thing, I'd pick Intel and Dell Computer.
Do You Speak RFID?
Get used to it. This is the tech acronym most likely to get big media play in 2004. It stands for Radio Frequency Identification Tracking, and with Wal-Mart ( WMT), the Pentagon, Visa and American Express ( AXP) behind it, the technology will generate a lot of excitement in 2004. The idea is simple: A tiny radio transmitter embedded in a tag printed on a product (much like today's bar code) or in a credit card or a cell phone transmits a radio signal that allows a retailer to charge your credit card without a swipe, to track the location of any product as it makes its way from plant to store to consumer, to keep even more detailed records on who buys what and where and when. The Pentagon has said that its top 100 suppliers -- that's out of 43,000, mind you -- will have to implement RFID by January 2005. Wal-Mart is rolling out its program at about the same pace. Visa and American Express have pilot programs going to test the technology. Private companies such as Alien Technology of Morgan Hill, Calif., and Matrics, Inc. of Columbia, Md., both working with the Pentagon, are hot among venture capitalists.


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Тhis week, the Humane Cosmetics Act—new federal legislation that seeks to ban the testing of cosmetic products on animals—was introduced to the United States Senate.
The act was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators that includes vegan Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ), Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Animal-rights group Cruelty Free International has worked with legislators and companies around the world to end cosmetic animal testing. “Cruelty Free International applauds this renewed effort to bring an end to animal testing for cosmetics across the United States that will match the progress that we have seen around the world as consumers, companies, regulators, and advocates come together to achieve a common goal of ensuring that animals no longer suffer for the sake of cosmetics anywhere,” said Cruelty Free International Chief Executive, Michelle Thew.
The Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, and Personal Care Products Council have joined together to support the act, saying the legislation would help to ensure a new standard for animal welfare. “We look forward to working with a bipartisan group of congressional leaders, and other key stakeholders, to help enact the Humane Cosmetics Act in this Congress,” the organizations said in a joint statement. On a state level, both California and Nevada recently passed legislation to ban cosmetic testing on animals—which both states will enforce starting January 1, 2020.
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About The Author
Joyce is a passionate vegan activist and has a BSc in Nutrition from the University of Washington. Except for discovering and reporting breaking vegan news and top industry stories, she is now pursuing a full medical degree, which she believes will give her more credibility while spreading the vegan message, and inspiring people to live a healthier cruelty-free lifestyle.


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- 2 min read
Volkswagen aims to double electric car sales in China this year after missing targets
Volkswagen Group, which alongside its own brand owns other marques such as Audi, Lamborghini and Porsche, sold 3.3 million cars in China last year, down 14%, Wollenstein said. The company aims to boost that number by around 15% or roughly 500,000 units this year, though he said this also depended on the chip supply situation.
The ID series, which Volkswagen produces at its Chinese joint ventures with SAIC Motor and FAW Group, is the backbone of its EV ambitions in China, the world's largest auto market.
The German automaker sold 70,625 of its ID electric vehicles in China last year, missing its goal of selling 80,000 to 100,000 cars, with production also affected by regional COVID-19 outbreaks in addition to chip-related issues.
Volkswagen's China chief Stephan Wollenstein told a briefing in Beijing that the automaker would still like to double its original plan but that goal "is not currently secured by the semiconductor supplies that we currently see."
He added, however that he was "pretty positive that we will see a doubling of actual sales."
Volkswagen Group, which alongside its own brand owns other marques such as Audi, Lamborghini and Porsche, sold 3.3 million cars in China last year, down 14%, Wollenstein said.
The company aims to boost that number by around 15% or roughly 500,000 units this year, though he said this also depended on the chip supply situation.
The shortage of chips, used in everything from brake sensors to power steering to entertainment systems, has led automakers around the world to cut or suspend production, pushing up both new and used vehicle prices amid robust demand from consumers.
While China's EV market is seeing very strong growth, most foreign automakers have lagged their Chinese counterparts in designing smart cars that appeal.
The market is now dominated by Chinese brands, led by BYD and Wuling - part of the GM group but a local marque. While Tesla ranks as No.3, it is the only foreign brand among the top 10.
"You don't see Volkswagen. Players like Volkswagen, GM and Toyota have fallen far behind in China's smart EV race," said Bill Russo, head of consultancy Automobility in Shanghai.
Some 15% of all passenger cars purchased in China last year through November were either battery electric cars or plug-in electric hybrids, according to Russo. In November alone, electric car sales accounted for 21% of China's overall passenger car sales.


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This social media experiment of buying followers had a crazy result
Ever wondered how people become Insta-famous?
With a saturated market, it's harder than ever for aspiring social influencers to make a name for themselves.
Consistent hard work and engaging with your audience seem to be the key to success, but it's a dirty secret within the industry that some try to grow a following by buying followers.
A recent experiment showed just how easy it could be to amass a large following and even land sponsorship deals.
Mediakix, a marketing agency that connects brands and social media stars, set up Instagram profiles for two completely fake influencers, travel blogger Amanda Smith (@wanderingggirl) and Californian style guru Alexa Rae (@calibeachgirl310).
In a post called 'How Anyone Can Get Paid To Be An Instagram Influencer With $300 (or Less) Overnight', the agency detailed how it conned brands into deals.
For style influencer 'Alexa', the agency hired a model and took photos during a one-day shoot. The photos were then drip-fed to the Instagram account over a period of months.
Interestingly, for travel blogger 'Amanda', the agency simply used stock images of different exotic locations and blonde girls that didn't show the girl's face.
It then started buying 'followers' (fake accounts) at a cost of $3-$8 per 1,000 followers.
"We started with buying 1,000 followers per day because we were concerned that purchasing too many followers at the onset would result in Instagram flagging the account. However, we quickly found that we were able to buy up to 15,000 followers at a time without encountering any issues."
It also bought engagement for the accounts to ensure that they looked legit.
"We paid around 12 cents per comment, and between $4-9 per 1,000 likes."
After a few months, the agency started applying for brand deals and campaigns on behalf of their 'clients' Alexa and Amanda and, incredibly, had some success.
"We secured four paid brand deals total, two for each account. The fashion account secured one deal with a swimsuit company and one with a national food and beverage company.
"The travel account secured brand deals with an alcohol brand and the same national food and beverage company. For each campaign, the "influencers" were offered monetary compensation, free product, or both."
Mediakix said that the point of their experiment was to highlight the problem of fake followers in the social influencer industry, which it likened to 'ad fraud'.
"Influencers of all sizes know brand dollars are pouring into the space, and in order to compete and secure these sponsorships, influencers are increasingly inflating follower counts and engagement artificially."


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Fri, 24 May 2013
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Davenport Lyons has acted for yacht brokerage company Yachting Partners International (YPI) in its sale to BRS Yachting.
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- Crypto Whale says Salvadorians are tired of Bitcoin and country should switch to another crypto.
- Many merits El Salvador has seen since adopting Bitcoin.
- El Salvador influencing many other countries to adopt Bitcoin.
Popular crypto analyst Crypto Whale has speculated that El Salvador should ditch Bitcoin and opt for other cryptocurrencies with “real utility.”
The crypto investor who is also a critic explained that Bitcoin transactions in El Salvador have plunged 89 percent, pointing that locals are ready to ditch Bitcoin. He said Salvadorians no longer want to use Bitcoin as it was outdated due to the network’s challenge of high transaction fees and slow transaction times.
This analysis adds to the heap of backlash the country has to deal with since the switch to Bitcoin. However, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele appears unperturbed by the myriad of backlash raised by Salvadorians since Bitcoin adoption.
Many positives to hold since El Salvador Bitcoin adoption
Bitcoin was officially adopted as legal tender in El Salvador in September of this year. Since then, there have been positive reports coming out of the country for Bitcoin adoption. Reports have noted that with over 3 million downloads of the Chivo wallet, more Salvadorians have Bitcoin wallets than traditional bank accounts, in line with Bukele’s primary objective.
Salvadorians both home and abroad have also resolved to use Bitcoin for cross-border remittances and local payment. Alexander von Frankenberg, the managing director and founder of High Tech Founder Fund, who visited the country a while back, said people are actually using Bitcoin in the country as many places accepted the cryptocurrency, powered by the very fast and cheap lightning network.
On the global stage, the Central-American country has influenced neighboring countries who are now considering adopting Bitcoin as a legal tender. Countries including Panama, Cuba, and Ukraine have already taken serious strides to follow suit with the country. As a result of El Salvador Bitcoin’s position, some other countries are looking at accomodating crypto more than being hostile and capital with the industry.


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The show may soon be over for Party Animal, which is the latest pet food manufacturer accused of product contamination. Party Animal is recalling several batches of its Cocolicious canned dog food amidst concerns that it contains barbiturate pentobarbital, a drug commonly used to euthanize humans and animals. Following a reported animal illness, the FDA sent samples from two Cocolicious batches for laboratory testing in Texas. The two samples tested positive for pentobarbital, prompting a national recall. The recall, issued on April 24, 2017, includes the 13 oz. Cocolicious Beef & Turkey dog food from Lot 0136E15204 04 (“Best by” date July 2019) and the 13 oz. Cocolicious Chicken & Beef dog food from Lot 0134E15 237 13 (“Best by” date August 2019). Read moreGoogle+
We’ve been told since childhood to take our daily vitamins, but sometimes they do more harm than good. In March 2017, a consumer fraud class action lawsuit was filed against popular vitamin manufacturer Vitafusion for that reason. Vitafusion lists 400 mg of folacin on the label of its flavored multivitamins. However, test results show an actual amount of 1,232 mg, which exceeds the “upper tolerable intake limit” of 1,000 mg set by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Read MoreGoogle+
In February 2017, a class action lawsuit was brought against Sears Roebuck and Co.(Sears) for selling Kenmore-brand barbecue grills with serious safety risks.
Plaintiffs claim that the grills in question – gas powered, and made with galvanized steel fireboxes – are unfit for use. Their firebox trays have been found to prematurely age and corrode within the grills’ normal lifespan, even when used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The resulting hazard is that the disintegrating firebox trays leave the grills’ propane tanks exposed to flames, which can produce a deadly explosion.Google+
On Jan. 28, President Trump signed an executive order prohibiting travelers and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries – Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Libya – from entering the U.S. A flurry of legal activity has followed in the wake of the presidential order. Since Friday, immigration lawyers have flocked to U.S. metro airports to file petitions for clients while individuals, corporations, and states have begun a quest for legal assistance. Read MoreGoogle+


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Humber LEP supports Hull vehicle bodybuilding business Paneltex to create 87 new jobs through grant and business loanThu 25th March 2021
Up to 87 new jobs could be created at Hull vehicle bodybuilder Paneltex after the business benefitted from a Growing the Humber grant and business loan from the Humber LEP.
The LEP’s Investment Panel agreed a grant of £141,000, which will fund equipment such as forklifts and lifting machinery, and will help create 13 new machine operative roles.
In addition to the grant, a loan of up to £470,000, approved at the Humber LEP’s November Board meeting, will support an extra 74 new jobs as the company sets to expand the services they have on offer due to increased demand for delivery vehicles due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Founded in Hull in 1991, Paneltex are a commercial, refrigerated and specialist vehicle bodybuilder, with four production sites, including their main site on the Kingston International Business Park in East Hull.
The funding was provided as part of the LEP’s Growing the Humber Scheme, which was funded through an allocation of £4m from the Government’s Local Growth Fund, part of the Government’s commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.
Managing Director of Paneltex, Chris Berridge, said: “The grant and loan from the Humber LEP has come at an important time for Paneltex and has enabled us to establish an additional manufacturing site in Hull dedicated to export products whilst allowing us simultaneously to expand our main factory to increase output for UK sales.
“The coronavirus pandemic is a worldwide problem and has certainly changed the shape of our business, both in the UK and for our growing export markets. We have had to react hard and fast to respond to this in a challenging working environment and the support from the LEP has been greatly appreciated.”
Stephen Parnaby OBE, Chair of the Humber LEP, said: “We’re really pleased to offer Paneltex this grant and business loan. The proposed 87 new jobs is not an insignificant number and is especially needed at a time when people have lost their jobs due to the ongoing pandemic.
“We want Hull and East Riding businesses to know that grant funding is available if they have capital investment needs that could result in new or safeguarded jobs, or their businesses becoming more efficient and increasing productivity. Our business loans are also available to businesses across the Humber with expansion plans.”
If your business is in Hull or East Yorkshire, find out more about the Growing Hull and East Yorkshire business investment grant funding by visiting https://www.humberlep.org/business/funding/growing-hull-east-yorkshire-business-investment-grants/


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During a panel discussion at Mediabistro's Inside Bitcoins conference in New York City on Tuesday, one of the panelists, serial entrepreneur Brock Pierce, posed a question: "Is Bitcoin Friendster, MySpace or Facebook?"
In other words, is Bitcoin here to stay, or will it soon decline or disappear altogether, taking investor dollars with it?
That's the question on the minds of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and laypeople alike. In simple terms, Bitcoin is both a decentralized, open-source digital currency and a peer-to-peer payment system. Users are able to send bitcoins to each other over the Internet, and to convert them into fiat currency, such as U.S. dollars and euros, and back again using online exchange platforms. Cryptographic procedures enforce scarcity and ensure the security of transactions.
Once the preserve of hackers and crypto-geeks, Bitcoin is increasingly being seen as a legitimate platform on which to build businesses. The Winklevoss twins, known for their tussle with Mark Zuckerberg over the ownership rights to Facebook, led a $1.5 million investment in payment processing platform BitInstant earlier this year.
But while some high-profile investors are taking a chance on it, Bitcoin remains a volatile market. When you invest in a Bitcoin company, you're taking a risk not only on that startup but also on the overall Bitcoin space, said Pamir Gelenbe, partner at Hummingbird Ventures, a European early-stage venture fund, during Tuesday's panel.
Gelenbe compared the current Bitcoin landscape to that of Internet companies in 1994, in the sense that outsiders view the space with skepticism. He and other investors on the panel said they look for entrepreneurs with a solid track record. "I'm excited about the leap that's occurring from semi-professionalism to companies that will be around for a while," said Tuur Demeester, author of investment newsletter MacroTrends. Demeester recommended Bitcoin to his readers as an investment in early 2012, when its exchange rate was only $5.
Demeester believes an opportunity exists for new Bitcoin exchange markets, although established exchanges such as MtGox and Bitstamp currently handle a combined 70 percent of all U.S. Bitcoin trade, according to Bitcoin Charts. Gelenbe, however, said his firm wants to invest in companies, not in currencies; he would prefer to fund startups that could easily switch over to other digital currencies that may gain primacy and ones which are not likely to face regulatory trouble.
The total value of all bitcoins in existence, currently 11.5 million, has increased from about $10,000 three years ago to about $1 billion today. Between July 2012 and April 2013, the price of a Bitcoin rose from about $10 to an all-time high of $266 before plummeting spectacularly below $60. A flurry of media attention covered the rise and fall. On Wednesday, the price of a Bitcoin fluctuated between $103 and $111.
Thompson Clark, an editor at financial intelligence company Agora Financial, outlined the reasons why Bitcoin could outlive the media hype. In times of global economic instability, precious metals and cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin become more attractive as expressions of value that aren't subject to government manipulation. Fiat currency loses value over time due to inflation, whereas Bitcoin so far has been a deflationary currency, meaning that it gains in value over time despite fluctuations in its exchange rate. The limited supply of bitcoins -- there will never be more than 21 million in existence -- means that demand alone will determine its value.
And there are social benefits too, according to the panelists. "Fiat currency encourages consumption," and that leads to planned obsolescence of consumer products and waste that harms the environment, said Clark. In a world where money keeps its value for longer periods of time, or actually increases in value over time, people will be more thoughtful about how they spend it, he said.
As for that all-important question posed by Pierce? It's too soon to tell, he said. But everyone on the panel said they think that Bitcoin will continue its move into the mainstream. "It's just a better money," Clark said.


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We all love a sausage roll – but have you ever thought your pastry-covered treat just wasn’t big enough?
Well, you’ll be pleased to discover that Morrisons is now selling a foot-long sausage roll, and it retails for just £1.
Here it is compared to some normal-sized sausage rolls:
The 12-inch pastry and sausage combo weighs in at nearly half a kilogram, and is believed to be the largest sausage roll on sale at any UK supermarket. In fact, Morrisons claims it is ‘double the length and four times the weight of some high street competitors’.
MORE: RECIPE - SAUSAGE ROLLS
Morrisons’ pie and pastry expert, Philippa Shaw, said: ‘We sell one million freshly baked sausage rolls-a-week but customers have asked for one that is even bigger. So we created this foot-long version.’
While some people have criticised Morrisons for bringing out such a calorific treat, the supermarket has suggested it will be perfect sharing food for picnics and football fans.
The foot-long sausage roll is available from Morrisons’ Pie Shop now.
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Further reiterating its commitment to service, Gionee today revised is DoA policy to make returns easier for customers.
Gionee India has announced a revision in its Dead on Arrival (DoA) policy. The new policy which allows customers to return any Gionee mobile phone, which has developed a functional Defect within 30 days of purchase. Earlier customers had just 7 days before the return window closed.
To be marked as a DoA handset, the Gionee device must qualify a few conditions which include the following:
- Functional defect within 30 days of Activation/Proof of purchase (whichever is earlier)
- Handset box should be supported by original invoice with IMEI details
- Box, Handset and all original accessories should be available
- No sign of major scratches, damage, tampering, liquid damage or user defects
- Defect must be re-produced in service center
To avail the return of the Gionee smartphone, the customer needs to visit the Authorized Service Centre with the defective handset along with Box and all accessories. The company currently has 460 exclusive service centers across India. These are equipped to handle complaint up to L3 level and also include specialized zones for product demonstrations, customer interactions and face-to-face service for handheld devices.
Speaking about the revision, Uday N. Pandey, Head – Service, Gionee India, said, “Gionee has always been a leader known for bringing in innovation in products and services for its customers always. Our commitment is consumer satisfaction and to ensure that we reach out to all our consumers across the country through exclusive service centers. The extension of the period in DOA policy will empower the customers to report to us if they are facing any technical issue with a smartphone and we will get it rectified. The new policy is elevating our commitment to consumers by prioritizing their needs.”


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Reader takes issue with McDonald’s ad scrutiny
The Reporter Times
Once again, the Federal Fat Kid Patrol is accusing McDonald’s restaurants of targeting minority kids with their fat menus.
It’s my understanding there is a massive campaign to make sure all kids eat. They are receiving free meals at home, free meals at school, beginning with breakfast and free meals served by the government while on summer vacation.
So, why and when would minority kids be eating at McDonald’s to cause them to become obese?
Should the free meals be causing fat kids?
Virginia Schwieterman, Bargersville


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The 2013 eRoadRacing World Cup calendar that’s been published so far is incomplete, with the organizers claiming they’re working on confirming at least one more date in both Europe and North America. As it stands the published calendar shows 3 events on both continents, but I’d been told of a fourth event in North America that’s not on the published calendar. Brammo just published an event calendar that contains the fourth North America event I’d been told – so I feel safe to go ahead and discuss the calendar I’d been told.
Brammo’s calendar shows these events:-
- 05/04/2013 – 05/05/2013 – AFM Race – Infineon Infineon Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, CA with AFM
- 06/01/2013 – 06/02/2013 – AFM Race – Thunderhill Thunderhill Raceway, Willows, CA with AFM
- 07/19/2013 – 07/21/2013 – Red Bull US Grand Prix – TTXGP North America Championship 2013 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
- 08/16/2013 – 08/18/2013 – Red Bull Indianapolis GP – TTXGP North America Championship 2013 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- 09/01/2013 – 09/01/2013 – Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, UT – Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, UT
- 09/27/2013 – 09/29/2013 – FIM Superbike World Championship – FIM Superbike World Championship at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
What Brammo has done is to merge events from the AFM series with those of the eRoadRacing series, while neglecting to have the calendar read eRoadRacing rather than TTXGP.
The AFM has announced they are allowing Brammo to race electric bikes against gas bikes, plus are allowing other electric bike owners to arrange to do the same. Two of the listed dates are AFM dates.
The remaining dates listed are the eRoadRacing series. What was announced by the eRoadRacing organizers are the first three of the dates shown, and the official calendar ends with the Miller Motorsports events. The fourth event, FIM Superbike at Laguna Seca, is not on the official calendar.
However what Azhar Hussain had explained to me as the constraints is that eRoadRacing, as a FIM racing series, had to be held at tracks which are homologated by the FIM. There are very few such tracks in the U.S. giving eRoadRacing a limited set of events/tracks to appear at. Given the late start of the U.S. eRoadRacing season, the only way it would work out was to hold the fourth eRoadRacing event at the FIM Superbike event.
- Big advertising splash for GMC Hummer EV - January 30, 2020
- EU’s Green Deal means Romania risks losing 40% of electricity production - January 27, 2020
- Hyundai/Kia investing in Arrival to co-develop electric vehicle technology - January 16, 2020
- EV charging station costs can be reduced, says Rocky Mountain Institute - January 16, 2020
- GM’s Hummer jaw dropping electric pickup return a sign of shifting car industry - January 13, 2020
- Every plug-in vehicle has the right to access charging stations - December 28, 2019
- eVgo offers CHAdeMO fast charging to Tesla owners – UPDATE - December 20, 2019
- Trump intervenes to kill EV tax break extension for Tesla and GM - December 17, 2019
- 2012 is calling wanting its all-electric Mini Cooper SE - December 17, 2019
- eVgo offering fast charging to Tesla’s on non-Tesla charging station - December 15, 2019


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Say what you want about Reebok, but its collaborations bang. Whether it’s those Tabi Décortique Lows with Maison Margiela, a pair of crisp white JJJJound, or its recent coloring pack with Eames, Reebok link-ups rarely disappoint.
Now extending its ever-growing list of collaborators for Spring/Summer 2022, the Boston sneaker brand has tapped London-based streetwear outfit Maharishi for a “Subdued” take on its archival Legacy AZ, a silhouette inspired by the AZTEC II.
Maharishi, which is also no slouch when it comes to collaborations having worked alongside the likes of G.H. Bass, Fracap, and Nike in recent years, has become renowned for its work with traditional military styles since its inception in 1994, and reworking them into modern-day silhouettes.
Complementing Maharishi's Fall/Winter 2022 collection that saw them explore the history of flight suits and flight jackets, this partnership -- which is set to land online and in-store on June 10 -- sees the Legacy AZ decorated with black and olive MIL–SPEC ripstop patches as a nod to the iconic MA-1 Flight Jacket, and a 3M reflective strip that sit atop an infamous Reebok gum sole.
This latest collaboration is the latest in a busy year for Reebok, who within the last week unveiled further co-releases with JJJJound and Maison Margiela, after earlier 2022 link-ups with the likes of Palace, Pyer Moss, and Kanghyuk.
In the fast-paced sneaker world where collaborations continue to drop thick and fast, it could be easy for brands to lose sight of the point of each partnership. But when Reebok is in the mix, its vision and purpose is certainly clear.


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May 30, 2010 4:04 PM by Chris Welty
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Ever stop to think about how much
difference a slightly off-kilter scale or gas pump could cost you
and other customers?
Nationally, the stakes could be a staggering $7 trillion - for
both customers and sellers. That estimate comes from the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, which is the country's lead
Earlier this year, more than a dozen states uncovered a pattern
of overweighing by fish packers who added the weight of glaze ice
to the labeled weight of fish. That meant consumers ended up paying
several dollars more than they should for a pound of fish. Federal
officials have threatened action and dealers in at least one state,
Ohio, have been fined.
There's no proof such scams are related to the recession. But
authorities say unscrupulous businesses are more likely to cheat
when states cut back on enforcement.


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The second edition of Africa Fashion Show Geneva organised by Crucible Events and Planners (CEP) proved a huge success bringing together designers and creatives all over the continent on Friday 30 May and Saturday 31 May 2014 to celebrate African arts, fashion and culture over two days.
The first day of the event on the lush Château des Penthes grounds commenced with a fashion show and diverse entertainment from the continent. Nigerian rapper Babatunde not only opened the show with an electric performance but was also but was also the master of ceremony through the evening introducing other acts, McEasy who treated the crowd to a taste of Afro Funk and Curtis who put on an astounding roller skate show to the sounds of Afrobeats.
The fashion was just as fascinating with vibrant prints by Tanzania’s Malleni, Ghana’s Manyeyo and Cuba’s EmmaFor by way of Guinea who blended the colours and patterns of Cuba and Africa in her ‘Metisse’ collection, gorgeous kaftans for both men and women from Moroccan label A la Pointe du Caftan, eclectic looks from Burundi’s Cy’Mun and dapper menswear by Nigeria’s Baldon Clothiers. Face of Tanzania 2011 runner-up and the winner of Miss Earth Tanzania 2011 title, Neema Kilango and the catwalk choreographer and creative director himself, UK-based Julius Reuben, also the man behind the risqué jumpsuit in Tiwa Savage’s controversial new video, also joined the Swiss models and took the runway by storm.
Attended by the members of the Swiss diplomatic and business community as well as African ambassadors and country representative and prominent Swiss press and bloggers, the event also provided a beautiful setting for cocktails and networking in the verdant gardens of Domain du Penthes overlooking Lake Geneva.
“Despite the many hurdles as is often the case with events of this scale, we crossed the finish line in grand style!” said Tayo Omotola, CEO of Crucible Events and founder of Africa Fashion Show Geneva who took to the runway at the end of the evening to give a note of thanks to her team and the guests.
On Saturday, 31 May 2014, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Geneva played host to a grander affair as VIP guests were treated to pre-show cocktails where they had the chance to view art from the “Here Africa” art exhibition organised by Art for the World (AFTW) and beautiful designs by one of Nigeria’s leading fashion designers Deola Sagoe who could not attend but sent her best wishes for the event.
Opening the show was A la Pointe du Caftan with even more opulent kaftans followed by pretty prints from EmmaFor. After buffet dinner offering guests a taste of African cuisine and more opportunities for networking, the runway continued with some show-stopping evening looks from Tanzania’s Malleni Designs and gorgeous eveningwear by Manyeyo. Nigeria’s Baldon not only brought smart looks for men on the runway but also joined the #Bringbackourgirls campaign fashionably with a series of t-shirts sporting the hashtag which got standing ovation from the guests.
Last but not least, with a spectacular grand finale was the Brazilian designer Tony Palha from Fashion Inclusive Brazil, an AFSG partner. Just in time for the World Cup taking place in his homeland, Palha celebrated the link between Africa the Amazon and the diversity of Brazil with his glamorous collection ‘Afroamazonica’.
The gala evening had another surprise for the guests before the end of the night in the shape of the Grammy award winning legendary former Rose Royce lead singer, Gwen Dickey (aka Rose Norwalt) who flew in from the UK to entertain the guests with some classics including “Carwash” and “Wishing on a Star”.
“It’s a new era in fashion, Geneva is rebranding itself by embracing appreciating African roots, culture, art and fashion. Working with local models, artists and businesses, AFSG 2014, the largest event in the Geneva region, showed the finest of Africa’s talents in arts, music and fashion,” said Tayo Omotola. When asked about future plans, she added, “Now in its second year, we hope to be a magnet for promoting masterpieces by leading and upcoming fashion designers across Africa.”
The sponsors and partners for the event include Art for the World, Compagnie Bancaire Helvétique, Jubrila Ayinla Foundation and and Tasteehub Nigeria and the media partners are Africalink, BOS International Magazine, 360Nobs, Bella Naija and Made in Africa.
As well as handling the international publicity, S TWO Media also provided in house photography, videography, creative direction and styling for Africa Fashion Show Geneva with the team flying in from London.
Images are now available to download on:
Image credits: Michael Mba / S TWO Media


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Ana Acevedo’s business, Blue Moves Swimwear, produces more than 1,000 pieces of clothing in every color available, but the recent increase in sales and demands project that the number will double by next year.
Blue Moves Swimwear is a bathing suit brand registered and based in Puerto Rico, that specifically caters to young women between high school and college.
“I made this brand inspired by my experience when I was young. A lot of young Puerto Rican women love fashion and frequenting the beach, but can’t afford to break the bank, because they must focus on becoming financially independent. My products are aimed specifically for them,” said Acevedo.
The Blue Moves brand can be found in several stores across the island like Kókomo, Tres Palmas P.R, and Waves Surf and Fishing. Other than going directly to stores, customers can purchase swimsuits directly from the Blue Moves website.
“Working in collaboration with the stores is very good for growing as a business, because not only do you gain visibility, but you also get a better understanding of what your customers are buying,” added Acevedo.
This bathing suit company designs its pieces to be tailored to perfection for every woman’s body type, ensuring a secure fit and longevity.
Along with expanding production, Blue Moves has recently begun a process of changing all its fabrics to ensure that they are all eco-friendly or the least harmful to the environment.
“You have to grab opportunities when they come up and really hold on to them. The tip that has helped me keep this business afloat for more than 28 years, is to never forget your mission and who your target audience is. Always strive for the same end goal,” said Acevedo.


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Netflix is doing its best All calm on the west front and the film will have a physical release starting in March 2023 for those in the US and April 2023 in the UK.
Nominated for 9 Oscars and recent winner of 7 BAFTAs All calm on the west front is one of Netflix’s most decorated movies to date and is hoping to win big at the next Oscars on March 13, 2023.
As a result, expect Netflix to continue to campaign for All calm on the west front in the coming days and weeks. After all, some believe the film is Netflix’s best shot at a Best Picture Oscar since they began releasing movies in 2015.
In the past few weeks, we’ve seen a report about how it’s been added to Netflix, and whether it’s been on a commercial site or In Los Angelesyou’ve no doubt seen one of the many ads Netflix is running.
As you may know, it’s rare for Netflix Originals to get physical releases. When physical editions have been released, they have often been movies or series that ultimately belong to distributors other than Netflix.
We should also note that eight Netflix Originals have also been released via the coveted Criterion Collection.
All Quiet On The Western Front – Limited Collector’s Edition available now for pre-order
Here’s a breakdown of the release dates and who will be distributing the movie in the US and UK:
- MPI Home Video is handling the launch in the U.S. The title will be released on March 28, 2023.
- Altitude Film Distribution is the distribution arm behind the physical release in the United Kingdom. The title will be released on April 24, 2023.
for him listing on amazon.co.ukHere’s what to expect from the limited edition Blu-ray release:
“Released as a limited 2-disc Collector’s Edition in Mediabook format with the film in 4K Ultra HD on UHD Blu-ray and HD on Blu-ray, as well as a 24-page booklet and the following bonus features:
- Audio Commentary by Director Edward Berger
- 24-page booklet including “Sharing the German perspective” – A conversation with Edward Berger and “A death machine unlike any experience before” –
- An interview with historian and professor Daniel Schönpflug
- Featurette Making
Will you pick up one of the limited edition copies of All calm on the west front? Let us know in the comments below.


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Data Breach: Macy’s customer data stolen after its online store was hacked
According to Macy’s, their e-commerce website was breached in October. Hackers managed to steal information from unknowing customers as they shopped online. Overall, it’s a very scary situation that proves that data breaches can happen to anyone. Last year, online tech store Newegg was hit with a data breach that skimmed the payments page for over a month.
Based on the information in the report, the following information was potentially exposed:
- Phone Number
- E-mail Address
- Credit Card Number
- Security Code
A company spokesperson said: “We are aware of a highly sophisticated and targeted data security incident related to macys.com that affected a small number of customers during a one-week period in October,” the company said in an email. “Affected customers have been notified and will receive additional information, including instructions on how to enroll in consumer protection services at no cost.”
For more information, check out this article from CBS News.


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The Elder Scrolls VI has been announced with a trailer on Youtube. Five years has passed since we last stepped into the Elder Scrolls universe with Skyrim. With over 20 million copies sold, rumors earlier this year propped up as to when and where the next game is going to show. You can finally watch the trailer here.
With Valenwood, Elsweyr, Black Marsh, Battlespire, and Regard left to touch on from the original Elder Scrolls game we might be seeing a mashup between two zones to make the game even bigger than before.
But as to why Bethesda is taking so long to create the game, the official response was to work on the Fallout game DLC. In addition to building for the next generation devices, other potential reasons like upgrading the game engine to beat the Witcher 3 is within the realm of possibility. So we should be seeing the game come out within the next couple of years.
Sorry for putting your hopes up.


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According to a Nikkei report on Friday, Apple Inc has asked suppliers to ensure that shipments from Taiwan to China comply with the latter’s customs regulations to avoid them being held for inspection.
Trade tensions between China and the United States have risen following a visit to Taiwan by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a congressional delegation.
According to the report, the iPhone maker informed suppliers that China had begun enforcing a long-standing rule that Taiwanese-made parts and components must be labeled as made in “Taiwan, China” or “Chinese Taipei.”
A request for comment from Reuters was not immediately answered by Apple.
In response to a media report that said shipments to Pegatron’s factory in China were being held for inspection by Chinese customs officials, the company that assembles Apple iPhones, Pegatron Corp, said its mainland China plant is operating normally.
Foxconn and Pegatron, two Taiwanese suppliers and assembly companies, are stepping up their production efforts as Apple prepares to introduce the new iPhone in September.


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Words: Sarah Paz
Photos: Noorie Kazmi
On Wednesday, April 24, Centennial students demonstrated their team spirit by wearing their favorite sports team jersey. Many proud students wore their Ravens jerseys or their Centennial sports team apparel.
Students can look forward to celebrating Decades Day tomorrow. Seniors will wear 70’s clothing, juniors will don 80’s clothing, sophomores will dress up in 90’s clothing and freshmen will go back to the fashions of the early 2000’s.
For more breaking news and photos, follow The Wingspan on Instagram and Twitter @CHSWingspan.


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Kim Kardashian Wears Iconic Marilyn Monroe ‘Happy Birthday’ Dress to Met Gala By Sasha Urban Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and Kim Kardashian is Share Save Report Marilyn Monroe Collection Subscribe Comments
An Anthology of Fashion I am so honored to be wearing the iconic dress that Marilyn Monroe wore in 1962 to sing “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy.
“And that’s Marilyn Monroe,” she told Vogue . “For me, the most Marilyn Monroe moment is when she sang Happy Birthday to JFK, it was that look.”6:15pm PT Kim Kardashian Wears Iconic Marilyn Monroe ‘Happy Birthday’ Dress to Met Gala By Sasha Urban Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and Kim Kardashian is no exception.
Kim Kardashian wears Marilyn Monroe’s JFK dress as Met Gala celebrates gilded age Reality TV star wore a sauna suit and lost 16 pounds to fit into gown worn by actor
As a follow-up to last year’s American fashion theme, this year’s dress code is “Gilded Glamour.” Monroe’s Jean Louis dress certainly fits the bill,
Notably, the dress was so tight on Monroe that she had to be sewn into it before her performance at President John F. Kennedy’s 45th birthday event at Madison Square Garden,
Marilyn Monroe in the gown, serenading JFK at Madison Square Garden.wears Marilyn Monroe’s dress on Met Gala 2022 red carpet With Kardashian’s decision to don it for the Met Gala, however, that no longer seems to be the case. See other stunning looks from this year’s Met Gala here .
It was so tight Monroe had to be sewn into it when she purred “Happy birthday, Mr. president” on May 19, 1962
Happy birthday, Mr. president” on May 19, 1962, at a Madison Square Garden fundraiser.
Kardashian’s visit to the museum April 23 with boyfriend Pete Davidson Kardashian Wears Marilyn Monroe Dress At Met Gala 2022 Next Up Lady Gaga Wore 4 Outfits To The Camp Themed Met Gala
Nowadays everyone wears sheer dresses, but back then that was not the case,” Kardashian told Vogue
when the fashion mogul and boyfriend Pete Davidson paid a visit to the Ripley’s Believe It or Not!Kardashian wore a crystallized Mugler dress so tight she said she was given “corset breathing lessons.” Last year,Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson Red Carpet Official The Wendy Williams Show New 31K
Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson together on the red carpet. Photograph: Gotham/GC Images She stepped on to the red carpet in the multimillion dollar-gown topped by a white fur shawl.Travis Barker make out on Met Gala 2022 red carpet Blac Chyna plans to appeal Kardashian-Jenner verdict tweeted after walking the red carpet with Pete Davidson . According to Kardashian,


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U.S. durable goods unexpectedly dropped in November, amid tranquility in markets as investors and traders prepare for the year-end holidays.
Durable goods orders slumped 2.0 percent last month, following a revised of 0.5 percent increase. Analysts had predicted a 0.2 percent surge.
The core reading showed no change from October, compared to both revised prior and expected readings of 0.5 percent and 1.5 percent rise respectively.
As of 13:35 GMT, the dollar index resumed its advance for a fifth straight session at 97.35, the highest level since December 9.
Markets took a boost at the beginning of the
week as China said it is planning to lower import tariffs on 850 goods from
January 1st, while President Trump said over the weekend “the trade deal
and we will be signing it very shortly.”


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The Coast Guard said there is a revised strategy to refloat the Ever Forward, and the second attempt to get the grounded container ship out of Chesapeake Bay could take more than two weeks.
“Salvage experts determined they would not be able to overcome the ground force of the Ever Forward in its current loaded condition. The new strategy offers the best chance of successfully refloating the Ever Forward,” the Coast Guard said in a press release Monday. It is working with the Maryland Department of the Environment and Evergreen Marine Corp. to remove the vessel from the shipping channel.
The 1,095-foot-long Ever Forward, with a carrying capacity of 11,850 twenty-foot equivalent units, ran aground in Chesapeake Bay near the Craighill channel March 13.
The Ever Forward grounding drew global attention not for disruption of the supply chain but for its name. Another Evergreen container ship, the Ever Given, notoriously blocked the Suez Canal for a week last year and sent the global supply chain — and mainstream media — into a tizzy.
The Ever Forward is not preventing other vessels from transiting to or from the Port of Baltimore, where it last berthed. As Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Marine, noted soon after the incident, the Ever Forward grounding “is not an event with major global ramifications.”
Still, it is a spectacle in Chesapeake Bay, and state and federal agencies began working with Evergreen almost immediately after the grounding to devise a strategy to get the container ship on its way.
The Coast Guard shared the first refloating plan on March 18. “After sufficient mud is excavated, the amount of ballast water on Ever Forward will be adjusted to reduce the ship’s weight and the refloating operation will begin using both the tugboats and the power of her main engine. The rescue team will carry out the plan utilizing the most beneficial high-tide period in the port area.”
Following more than a week of dredging, an attempt to refloat the ship took place last Tuesday. The Ever Forward didn’t budge.
The Coast Guard said Monday that dredging to a channel depth of 43 feet would continue. But now containers will be removed from the Ever Forward “as soon as the installation of two crane barges with suitable lift heights” takes place.
The removed containers will be shuttled back to where they were onloaded, the Seagrit Marine Terminal at the Port of Baltimore.
“Once the containers are removed, tugs and pull barges will attempt another refloat,” the Coast Guard press release said, adding that “all aspects of the operation should take approximately two weeks. However, that timeline may change based on weather conditions and other variables outside of the control of the unified command.”
Meanwhile, a sensor system has been installed to constantly monitor the ship’s stability. Regular soundings of the fuel and ballast tanks are also being done, according to the Coast Guard.
The Ever Forward was bound for Norfolk, Virginia, when it ran aground. In addition to Baltimore, the container ship had called Colon, Panama, and Savannah, Georgia. The Ever Forward sails on the Ocean Alliance’s Asia-U.S. East Coast service. It was expected to call New York before transiting the Panama Canal to pick up cargo in China.
NOVEMBER 7-9, 2023 • CHATTANOOGA, TN • IN-PERSON EVENT
The second annual F3: Future of Freight Festival will be held in Chattanooga, “The Scenic City,” this November. F3 combines innovation and entertainment — featuring live demos, industry experts discussing freight market trends for 2024, afternoon networking events, and Grammy Award-winning musicians performing in the evenings amidst the cool Appalachian fall weather.


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Armoured Jaguar that served as Margaret Thatcher’s last car – and which was also used by David Cameron – sells at auction
Offered with an estimate of £15,000 to £20,000 ($19,800 to $26,400 or €17,600 to €23,600), an armoured Jaguar XJ8 used by Margaret Thatcher sold at auction yesterday for £37,500 ($49,900 or €44,200).
The 2006 long wheelbase saloon, the last official vehicle allocated to the late Baroness Thatcher by The Government Car Service, a division of the Department for Transport, was paid for by HM Treasury and funds raised from its sale will go back to the department.
Christie’s South Kensington sold the vehicle as part of their annual ‘Out of the Ordinary’ sale. It was part of a collection owned by a Jersey based collector named David Gainsborough Roberts and featured armoured enhancement including titanium roof, ballistic steel armouring, under-floor Kevlar protection, bullet-resistant borosilicate glazing and tyres with run flat capability. It came with a certificate of authenticity signed by the Secretary of State, Patrick McLoughlin and has a gross weight of 3,200 kg.
Of the sale, Gainsborough Roberts remarked:
“After collecting for over 40 years the time has finally arrived to share my collection with the world”.
“I hope my insatiable appetite for the curious, the famous and the infamous will inspire a new generation of custodians”.
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Walmart employee charged with theft of merchandise
Published: Friday, January 4, 2013 at 9:21 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, January 4, 2013 at 9:21 p.m.
A Buffalo man is accused of stealing more than $4,700 worth of merchandise from the Union Walmart.
Corey Lynn Malpass, 22, of 158 Haney Road, has been charged with breach of trust by the Union Police Department.
A store employee told an officer Wednesday that Malpass, who was an employee, stole cologne, perfume and electronics. The thefts are alleged to have occurred between Dec. 17, 2012 and Wednesday.
An employee reviewed video footage and saw Malpass in the store's back room acting suspicious, pulling carts of merchandise in front of a camera and hiding out of view, according to an incident report.
The employee reviewed additional video footage and saw Malpass take a cellphone case and an iPad kick stand, and put them in his pockets, the report states.
The total amount of merchandise stolen was $4,731, according to the report.
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YouthNet will partner with Sony to develop a mobile phone volunteering application called ‘+U’.
The idea is to deliver YouthNet’s 'Do It' database of more than one million volunteering opportunities through the application and straight to potential volunteers.
Users can find out about local projects through geo-location technology and will earn points for completed tasks as well as being able to share their experiences on social networks such as Facebook.
Emma Thomas, CEO of YouthNet, said: “There is huge potential to develop the way in which we encourage and motivate people to volunteer.”
Initially known as Greenbook, the application emerged from Sony’s crowdsourcing platform Open Planet Ideas, which launched in 2010 inviting the public to imagine how existing technology could be used to tackle environmental and sustainability issues.
A preview version of the application will be available to trial later this year and the date for the final product will be announced in September 2011.
v app to attract young volunteers
Meanwhile v, the National Young Volunteers Service, has launched its vinspired app for Android. Meanwhile, an iPhone version is already available and a BlackBerry version will be launched soon.
The app allows users to find volunteering opportunities by a post-code search or GPS and enables them to keep a record of their activity, upload pictures and apply for the vinspired awards.
Kieron Lyons, lead project worker at Clifton Road youth centre in the West Midlands, said: “The vinspired awards are a brilliant way for volunteers to get recognition for their achievements and it’s really easy to do on a mobile phone, which makes it accessible for all young volunteers, including those with disabilities.”


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With ChatGPT unveiled in November, the tech industry has been working tirelessly to come up with their own version of “generative” artificial intelligence (AI). Google, Elon Musk, Meta, everyone is working on the Open AI tool killer.
Now Alibaba, one of the largest e-commerce and cloud computing companies in the world, has recently unveiled its own generative artificial intelligence (AI) model, named Tongyi Qianwen. The model is similar to ChatGPT, the popular AI platform developed by OpenAI that can generate natural language texts based on user inputs. Alibaba plans to integrate Tongyi Qianwen into all its business applications soon, starting with its smart speaker Tmall Genie and its workplace messaging platform DingTalk.
What is Tongyi Qianwen?
Tongyi Qianwen is the name of the artificial intelligence (AI) model that powers Alibaba’s new chatbot service, which aims to provide natural and engaging conversations for users across various platforms. Tongyi Qianwen, which means “seeking truth by asking a thousand questions” in Chinese, is a large language model that was trained on massive amounts of data from different domains and languages. It can generate coherent and relevant responses to user queries, as well as create original content such as stories, slogans, and summaries.
Tongyi Qianwen was unveiled by Alibaba Group CEO Daniel Zhang at the 2023 Alibaba Cloud Summit in Beijing, where he demonstrated how the chatbot can be integrated into Alibaba’s products such as Tmall Genie, a smart speaker, and DingTalk, a workplace communication app. Zhang said that Tongyi Qianwen will eventually be deployed across all Alibaba applications, from e-commerce to mapping services, to improve user experience and business efficiency.
” Tongyi Qianwen will bring about big changes to the way we produce, the way we work, and the way we live our lives”. Alibaba chief executive Daniel Zhang
Who is behind Tongyi Qianwen’s development?
Tongyi Qianwen is not only a product of Alibaba, but also a product of its creator, who has been fascinated by AI since his early life. Tongyi Qianwen is the brainchild of Li Wei, a senior researcher at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence and the leader of the chatbot project. Li was born in 1995 in Shenzhen, China, and showed a keen interest in computer science and mathematics since he was a child. He participated in various national and international competitions and won several awards for his outstanding performance.
Li pursued his undergraduate and master’s degrees in computer science at Tsinghua University, where he focused on natural language processing (NLP), a branch of AI that deals with human language. He joined Alibaba Cloud Intelligence in 2019 as a researcher and soon became the head of the chatbot team. Li said that his vision is to make chatbots more human-like and intelligent, and to enable them to understand and interact with users in natural ways.
Li and his team developed Tongyi Qianwen based on the latest advances in NLP and generative AI, which are technologies that can produce novel and realistic outputs from given inputs. They used Alibaba’s massive cloud computing resources and data sources to train Tongyi Qianwen on billions of words and sentences from various domains and languages, such as news, literature, social media, e-commerce, finance, education, and entertainment. They also applied techniques such as self-attention, transformer networks, and pre-training to enhance Tongyi Qianwen’s ability to capture the context and meaning of user queries and generate appropriate responses.
What can Tongyi Qianwen do?
Tongyi Qianwen is not only a chatbot that can answer questions, but also a content creator that can generate original texts. For example, it can write stories for children based on their preferences and interests; it can craft business pitches for entrepreneurs based on their products and markets; it can summarize news articles or books for readers who want to save time; it can even come up with catchy slogans or jokes for advertisers or entertainers who want to attract attention.
Tongyi Qianwen is also a multilingual chatbot that can communicate with users in both Chinese and English. It can switch between languages seamlessly according to user preferences or needs. It can also translate texts from one language to another with high accuracy and fluency. Moreover, it can adapt to different scenarios and domains by adjusting its tone, style, and vocabulary accordingly. For example, it can be professional when talking to business clients or casual when talking to friends.
Tongyi Qianwen is also a valuable contribution to the development of the global AI community. Alibaba said that it will make Tongyi Qianwen available to its cloud customers who want to build their own customized large language models for their specific applications. It will also share its research findings and best practices with other researchers and developers who are interested in advancing the field of NLP and generative AI.
Tongyi Qianwen is based on Tongyi, Alibaba’s proprietary pre-trained model framework that combines various AI models. Alibaba claims that Tongyi Qianwen can achieve better performance than ChatGPT on several natural language understanding and generation benchmarks. The company also says that Tongyi Qianwen can manage multiple languages, including Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean.
How will Alibaba use Tongyi Qianwen?
Alibaba intends to use Tongyi Qianwen to enhance its existing products and services, as well as to create new ones. The company demonstrated how Tongyi Qianwen can be embedded in its Tmall Genie smart speakers and DingTalk workplace messaging platform. For example, Tmall Genie users can ask Tongyi Qianwen to tell them stories or jokes, while DingTalk users can ask Tongyi Qianwen to summarize meeting minutes or generate sales proposals.
Alibaba also plans to make Tongyi Qianwen available to its cloud computing clients, so they can build their own customized large language models for their specific needs. Alibaba’s cloud division is the largest in China and the fourth largest in the world. By offering Tongyi Qianwen as a service, Alibaba hopes to attract more customers and gain an edge over its competitors.
What are the implications?
Tongyi Qianwen is the latest entry in the AI arms race between China and the US. ChatGPT has sparked a lot of interest and innovation in the field of natural language processing (NLP), as well as concerns about its potential misuse and ethical implications. Several tech giants, such as Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Baidu, have launched or announced their own versions of ChatGPT-style services.
China has been investing heavily in AI research and development, aiming to become a global leader in the technology by 2030. The country has also been setting rules and regulations to govern the operation of generative AI services. In draft guidelines issued on Tuesday 4th April 2023, China’s cyberspace regulator said that generative AI services would be required to undergo security reviews before they can operate.
Tongyi Qianwen represents Alibaba’s ambition and capability in the field of AI. The company has been developing various AI applications for its e-commerce, cloud computing, logistics, entertainment, and social media platforms. With Tongyi Qianwen, Alibaba hopes to create more value for its customers and partners, as well as to explore new possibilities for human-machine interaction.


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The Writers Guild wants to take a bite out of Apple.
Deadline has confirmed that the guild plans to bring its monthlong strike to the front door of streamer Apple TV+ on Monday. In a deft move, the WGA action at Apple HQ in Cupertino, CA, dovetails with the kickoff of the Tim Cook-led company’s 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5.
The Apple action first was revealed Friday afternoon in a tweet from the AFL-CIO:
The WGA and other supporting unions also are planning protests at Apple stores in Philly, D.C., NYC, L.A. and more, sources tell me. In an important distinction, the Writers Guild and its allies will be handing out leaflets at the various Apple outlets and location, not picketing.
Renowned for its product launches and pivots, the tech giant’s annual weeklong shindig this year is expected to highlight Apple’s upcoming mixed-reality headset, along with a livestreamed keynote from CEO Cook at 10 a.m. PT Monday.
With the exception of the May 21 protests and jeers against Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s Boston University commencement speech, the Cupertino action is a rare departure for the WGA from the more traditional picket lines approach since the strike began on May 2. While the Guild has been in front of the studios’ gates daily and has held a number of rallies in both NYC and LA in the past weeks, as well as targeting the likes of broadcasters’ scaled-down upfronts, disruption of production on series and films has been the most visible and successful form of direct action so far.
That could change now with the high-profile move against the home of Ted Lasso and Best Picture Oscar winner CODA.
The shuttering of the late-night shows aside, consumers have yet to feel much of a blast radius from the WGA strike on their day-to-day viewing routines as networks and streamers continue to draw from their completed series and inventories. However, targeting the tech giant on home turf could refocus the public’s attention on the Hollywood labor dispute.
With an estimated 26 million subscribers, the Zack Van Amburg- and Jamie Erlicht-run Apple TV+ is a small part of the $2.8 trillion market-valued company’s business. Despite the massive allure its multitude of products obviously have, with the global audience Apple’s annual conference attracts, the PR-sensitive Cook and his top brass are likely to feel the sting of greater scrutiny more than the conventional Tinseltown studios.
Seemingly growing more comfortable with his media-mogul moniker, Cook was on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival last month for the premiere of the Martin Scorsese-directed Killers of the Flower Moon. The film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone and Robert De Niro will be released in cinemas on October 20 via Paramount, before heading to an exclusive perch on three-year-old Apple TV+ later in a unique arrangement between the studio and the streamer.
Action against Apple by the WGA also comes as the scribes’ strike heads into its second month — with no return to talks with the studios and streamers scheduled. Since pickets went up on May 2 after weeks of negotiations with the AMPTP proved fruitless, the WGA has said all along that they are willing to sit down again with the studios and streamers.
However, the AMPTP, which just clinched a tentative deal with the Directors Guild late Saturday night, has not proven receptive to the WGA’s standing offer.
Awaiting ratification on the DGA deal, the studios and streamers are set to start negotiations with SAG-ACTRA on June 7. Like the DGA, the current contract for actors’ union, who are expected to announce the results of their strike authorization vote this week, expires on June 30.
Erik Pedersen contributed to this report.


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RiRi is expanding her empire. Rihanna has reportedly filed for a Fenty Kids clothing trademark. The Fenty Kids trademark will cover “infant wear, swimwear, hats, underwear, footwear, leggings, socks,” and many more items according to the trademark attorney. By the list of items noted in the trademark, it looks as if Fenty Kids will have children’s items from infants to toddlers.
Having a line dedicated to children is not off-brand for the “Diamonds” singer, since she recently became a mom. RiRi welcomed her baby boy with her boyfriend rapper A$AP Rocky back in May.
In March 2022, Rihanna also reportedly filed a trademark for Fenty Hair. The hair line will include an array of products, including hair bands, barrettes, picks, bows, clips, pins, ribbons, scrunchies, nets, hair extensions, wigs, and hair curlers, E! News reported at the time.
Currently, Rihanna has several successful businesses under the Fenty umbrella. Her makeup line is named Fenty Beauty, her skincare line is called Fenty Skin, and her lingerie line is Savage X Fenty.
While Rihanna is steadily building her empire, she is also gearing up for her Super Bowl Halftime performance. Back in September, the NFL announced that she would be the headliner for this year’s Super Bowl. Earlier this month the Anti singer teased her performance on social media. In the 30-second clip, RiRi appears as a silhouette as voices are heard saying, “Dude, Rihanna, we’ve waited for you.” Another added, “It’s been six years since the nine-time Grammy-winner dropped an album.”
The singer later emerges from the shadow and is seen wearing a green furry coat, a black outfit underneath accessorizing with chunky silver jewelry.
The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles kick off on Feb. 12 at the State Farm Arena in Glendale, Arizona.


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As recently as late 2010, mobile commerce was only 3% of e-commerce. By the end of last year’s holiday shopping season, that number had risen to 11%, according to comScore.
That’s approximately $18.6 billion in consumer spending – and that doesn’t even include travel-related purchases, which comScore counts separately.
New mobile merchandising trends — merchandising being the art of selling people products they didn’t know they wanted — like mobile catalogues and coupons are helping to drive this explosion.
Thanks in part to this new ecosystem of retail and shopping apps, mobile-generated retail spend could rise to 15% of retail e-commerce by the end of this year.
In a new report from BI Intelligence, we examine the main reasons why mobile commerce is exploding, dig deeper into the numbers underpinning the explosive growth, and analyse the new mobile merchandising trends — like mobile catalogues and coupons – that are contributing to this growth.
Here’s a brief overview of why retailers and brands are offering mobile coupons:
- Driving digital revenue: Successful coupon campaigns can help e-retailers acquire customers and drive online sales. By 2014 the number of mobile coupon users is expected to increase to 53.2 million a year. At roughly 10%, the redemption rate of mobile coupons crushes that of print coupons, which hovers around 1%.
- Increasing offline sales and foot traffic to physical stores: Effective coupon strategies can lure more consumers into bricks-and-mortar locations. Mobile coupons are also proving to be a path into mobile for large consumer packaged goods brands that have previously shunned the medium.
- Gathering data: Because they are received on phones but often redeemed offline, coupons are a perfect medium for acquiring consumer data. It is a great way for them to collect data on offline purchases and close the mobile-to-offline purchase loop. In a world where the linking of offline and online consumer behaviour is still a daunting challenge, that’s a valuable resource.
- Building relationships: Coupons are essentially just another channel through which to communicate with consumers. It’s useful to think of coupons less as a discounting vehicle, and more a piece of content with an offer appended. If coupons are done right, they will weave a customer and a retailer or brand more tightly together.
- Examines the three main reasons why mobile commerce is exploding
- Digs deeper into the numbers underpinning the explosive growth
- analyses new mobile merchandising trends — merchandising being the art of selling people products they didn’t know they wanted — like mobile catalogues and coupons – that are proving to be successful in driving mobile business