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Sledgehammer to work into the Call Of Duty rotation with Infinity Ward and Treyarch
Activision has revealed that they are working to a three studio, three year rotational cycle for the Call Of Duty series.
Sledgehammer have finally been handed the honour of building their own Call Of Duty title which will be released this year.
This slides the studio in between the series creators Infinity Ward and Black Ops studio Treyarch in the rotation and hopefully means that the 2014 entry in the long-running series will be a fresh take on what has grown into a stale formula as Call Of Duty: Ghosts' comparatively poor sales have shown.
Activision told investors earlier today in their quarterly earnings conference call, "For the first time, this years Call of Duty game, and future Call of Duty games, are being built on a three year development cycle. There are several advantages to doing this, the first is of course quality This will give our designers more time to envision and to innovate."
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III is coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360 after all
- Tomonobu Itagaki's Devil's Third gets a release date
- Adr1ft is coming to PC and consoles at the end of the summer
- EA gives the new Mirror's Edge a name – Mirror's Edge Catalyst
- ZombiU PS4 and Xbox One port reportedly in the works
- Mike Bithell's Volume to be released this August
- Gearbox's new shooter Battleborn gets a pre-E3 trailer
- Steam Controller launches in October, Steam Machines arrive in November
- Gears Of War devs Black Tusk change their name to The Coalition ahead of E3


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All three figures are now in development and will be released in 2021. Their release will mark the completion of all amiibos based on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s first season of DLC.
“It’s amazing to think that an official 3D model of Banjo and Kazooie is being made by Nintendo,” Smash Bros. director Masahiro Sakurai said in a live stream on Saturday, which was held to detail the latest DLC fighter, Minecraft’s Steve.
Sakurai joked: “Will an amiibo for Steve be made? If it’s going to be produced, I bet it’ll be easier compared to the other fighters.”
Smash Bros. DLC fighter Min-Min is yet to have a confirmed Amiibo release. However, Sakurai said in a previous live stream that Nintendo planned to continue producing the figures.
Nintendo has slowed its Amiibo releases since the initiative was first introduced in December 2014.
In 2015 more than 60 Amiibo figures were released, followed by over 30 in 2016 and 2017 and just 11 in 2018. 19 Amiibo figures were released in 2019, the vast majority of which were for fighters added in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
The most recent Amiibo releases were Joker and Hero this month. Prior to that, the last amiibo, for Dark Samus and Richter, were released in January.

domain: news


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Premiere Napa Valley auction nets US$3 million for vintner group
The annual Premiere Napa Valley auction came to a US$3 million conclusion on Saturday, though the sum of individual bids is being kept under wraps for now.
After a week of trade-only barrel tastings and winery visits, the 28th annual Premiere Napa Valley auction came to a US$3 million conclusion on Saturday afternoon as bidders online and in person from 10 countries and 29 states purchased for future delivery 166 one-of-a-kind lots made only for the auction, which was conducted by Sotheby’s.
Leading the bidding was Nick Pegna, who joined Sotheby’s as its new global head of wine and spirits last June. The former Berry Bros. & Rudd fine wine boss was brought in to support the auction house’s planned expansion in the ‘luxury’ category.
The Premiere Napa Valley auction helps to fund the annual operations of its sponsor, the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV), which represents 539 member wineries. The $3 million total was down somewhat from the $3.4 million raised in 2023 but up from the $2.7 million bid in 2022.
More than 1,000 trade members came to bid on wines and conduct business with Napa Valley wineries as a rainy start of the week turned into brilliant spring sunlight on the final two days of the event.
“We look forward to Premiere Napa Valley every year,” said Richard King, co-owner and general manager of Ellerbe Fine Foods and one of the successful bidders.
“Our industry is rooted in relationships, and this week is all about reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones. It’s a wonderful opportunity to champion the people and wineries of Napa Valley, and we couldn’t imagine not being part of this amazing experience.”
Throughout the week, dozens of tastings took place in Napa Valley, London and Hong Kong in anticipation of the Saturday live auction. In an emerging trend for the annual auction, 12 of the lots were collaborations between producers, with a total of 59 different wineries taking part.
“The strength of the Napa Valley wine region is evidenced in the bidding activity and demand for Napa Valley’s prestigious Premiere Napa Valley wines,” said Nick Pegna, Sotheby’s global head of wine & spirits, who at times operated as a bids spotter during the event.
“Sotheby’s is honoured to conduct this highly respected wine trade auction.”
The top-selling lots were:
Burgess Cellars, Heitz Cellar, Stony Hill Vineyard
Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery, OVID. Napa Valley
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
Robert Mondavi Winery
Davies Vineyards, Diamond Creek Vineyards, Diamond Mountain Vineyard, Dyer Vineyard, The Vineyardist, Wallis Family Estate
Napa Valley’s 16 AVAs, a collaboration of 20 wineries
This year’s bidding began on 9 February and culminated on 24 February, in person at the Culinary Institute of America, Greystone, and online.


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Achica has appointed Steve Robinson (pictured), who previously headed M and M Direct, as its new chief executive as the members-only homewares-to-food site shifts its focus towards expansion at home and abroad.
He takes over from William Cooper, who co-founded Achica and will now move to chair the company, a role in which he will help to develop corporate strategy.
Robinson joined the company in July 2013 as chief operating officer and will now lead Achica as it focuses on international expansion as well as improving both the website and the range.
“Having been trading for four years Achica is still a relatively new business and it is growing rapidly in size, product offer and operations,” said Robinson. “The company has achieved some notable landmarks in the past few months including membership reaching three million, the launch of the first flashsales UK antiques department, a new ad campaign based on the theme of discovery and acceptance into the government #FutureFifty scheme for high-growth businesses. The coming years will be critical in growing Achica as the business looks to expand domestically and internationally.”
Cooper said: “Steve has already played an instrumental role as COO and I am delighted that he has taken on the CEO role. I am confident that with his significant and relevant retail experience he will continue to build on the early success of Achica and enable us to achieve our ambitious goals.”
Achica was founded in 2010 by Will Cooper, a former chief executive of TradeDoubler and Quentin Griffiths, co-founder of Asos.com.


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Isis Vending Program Going Nationwide (April 25, 2013)
The companies behind the Isis mobile wallet have teamed up with cashless acceptance technology provider USA Technologies (USAT) to launch a mobile payment and loyalty program for vending machines across the U.S. The partnership is an extension of USAT’s involvement in Isis’s test run in Salt Lake City and Austin, Texas, where Isis users can make NFC purchases at up to 7,500 vending machines in those two markets.
The development of the Isis loyalty program is a major step for the vending industry, which has long been based on cash, according to USAT. A mobile wallet gives vending operators a consumer engagement tool that can help drive traffic, repeat business and brand loyalty, while also enabling direct-to-consumer marketing, according to USAT. Under the new venture, USAT’s installed base of more than 100,000 NFC-enabled cashless payment terminals will be equipped with Isis SmartTap technology for rewards acceptance and redemption.
“Loyalty programs that allow consumers to be rewarded for repeat purchases are essentially uncharted territory for the vending industry. Connecting these businesses with their consumer creates a whole new marketing paradigm for the industry,” said Jim Stapleton, chief sales officer for Isis. Vending operators already working with Isis are seeing some impressive results; PGI Services, a Salt Lake City vending, coffee and micro-market service provider, has seen its cashless sales skyrocket to 80 percent of all transactions since the Isis pilot began late last October, the company said.


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Autumn Blum was struck with her latest business idea during a 2014 scuba diving trip in Palau.
While sitting in the boat in the western Pacific Ocean, Blum noticed a big oil slick in the water surrounding a group of about 100 snorkelers. She paid close attention to it for the rest of the week. Blum's discovery: It was from their sunscreen.
With a background in organic chemistry and experience starting and selling companies, Blum immediately approached the problem with a business mindset. “I was trying to find the next thing, and I just knew this was it,” she says.
When Blum returned from Palau, she mulled over the idea. Eventually, she was ready to pursue it. She quit her job with healthy product manufacturer Nutraceutical Corp. to begin working on her own product line.
In August 2015, Blum officially launched Stream2Sea, a skin, sun and hair care product line “concerned with what goes on the body and into the environment,” she says of the company's mission. “I knew what was safe for the body,” she says. “The aquatic standards were much different.”
Specifically, sunscreens are incorrectly labeled as coral reef safe, largely because it's a “very loosely regulated” sector, she says. Oxybenzone, an ingredient found in more than 3,500 sunscreens, has proven to come off of swimmers and pollute coral reefs, according to information from a study by the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory. Blum and Stream2Sea also cite research from the National Park Service, which says between 4,000 and 6,000 tons of sunscreen enters into reefs each year.
Blum, who grew up in Sarasota, operates her business out of Hardee County, 50 miles east of Bradenton, because of economic incentives officials offered her there. That includes more than $640,000 in funding provided by the Hardee County Industrial Development Authority in return for at least 10 fulltime jobs by June 30, according to public records. The company has seven employees, plus four more who work indirectly though the manufacturer, and Blum says all the products are produced and distributed through the relationship with Hardee County's incubator program.
Blum says consumer education is a crucial task as she works to grow her business.
For one, the dangers of sunscreen to coral reefs isn't widely discussed and likely not at all considered by beachgoers on vacation. Regular shoppers of health-oriented stores, for example, might constantly read product ingredients and know what to look for, she says. “Other average consumers look at the SPF and the cute monkey on the bottle.”
Blum plans to take the standard routes to educating consumers: social media, PR and consumer word of mouth. But persuading non-health obsessed consumers to buy a more expensive — ranging from $6.95 to $16.95 per bottle — product is unlikely. Because of that, she won't be taking the usual route of business-to-business tradeshows. Rather, she plans to target consumers directly through niche retailers, she says.
The company, in the early stages, has grown rapidly, adding 80 new wholesale accounts in the fourth quarter of 2015. She declines to discuss specific sales figures.
Stream2Sea had about 250 accounts at the end of the first quarter. By year's end, the goal is 1,000, Blum says. And as the business scales, consumer education is just one task.
“Finding employees is very difficult,” Blum says. “Staffing is a huge challenge.”
Products available at Stream2Sea:
Shampoo and body wash
Sun and sting relief gel
Ingredients-to-avoid information card
Follow Steven Benna on Twitter @steve_benna


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CALLS are being made for a rescue package to to save the Breadalbane Folklore Centre in Killin.
Stirling District Tourism Ltd, which is also keeping the doors closed on Stirling’s Old Town Jail, said this week its directors had decided not to reopen the Breadalbane Centre following a review of the centre’s financial performance.
A spokesperson added that in previous years the centre had been dependent on additional support to meet the shortfall in the venue’s income.
The spokesperson added: “The decision has been extremely difficult. It has normally been possible to fund the operation of the centre through income from retail sales and admission charges, supplemented with support from the Wallace Monument in Stirling.
“However, the decline in visitor numbers experienced across a wide number of visitor attractions in 2008 has meant the surplus generated by the monument is now insufficient to meet the deficit at the Breadalbane Folklore Centre.”
SDT also said it had been in discussion with Stirling Council for some time to determine whether other additional sources of funding may be available in future to assist the operation of visitor attractions which were normally dependent on revenue support.
The spokesperson added: “As yet, however, it has not been possible to identify a source of funding for these centres and regrettably SDT had to take the decision not to reopen some.
“The visitor information centre within the folklore centre is operated by VisitScotland and this has successfully helped to drive footfall to the visitor attraction. Unfortunately it is not viable for VisitScotland to maintain this level of service after the attraction closes.”
Stirling MP Anne McGuire said “I have contacted both the Scottish Government Tourism Minister who oversees VisitScotland and Stirling Council, who are represented on the board of SDT, to ensure they work together to save these important visitor attractions.
“Since the announcement by SDT I have been contacted by a number of constituents and businesses as well as the chair of Killin Community Council, to raise their worries over the impact on Killin as a tourism destination if the folklore centre closes. I understand the local community had previously raised money to prevent it falling into disrepair.
“Many clan associations may be planning to come to Killin in the next few months, and the 2009 Homecoming was meant to be a good year for the village, but this has put a dampener on those hopes.
“Linked with the closure of the tourist information office, which shared the Old Mill premises, I can understand why local businesses are so concerned.”
Mrs McGuire also said the case of the Old Town Jail was an “ongoing saga” since the “temporary” winter closure was announced late last year, and that she would be supporting local business in their fight to have the decision not to reopen it reversed.
Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford said he too had asked VisitScotland and Stirling Council to help find a way to reopen both the jail and the folklore centre.
He added: “While I recognise these attractions cannot escape the effects of the recession, in this year of Homecoming it is essential our tourism venues are open for business.”
The council’s Labour opposition spokesman on economic affairs Councillor Colin O’Brien said: “The closure of the Breadalbane Centre is a particular concern. It could be devastating for the community’s economy.”
The council’s corporate resources and economy portfolio holder Councillor Scott Farmer, however, said moves were afoot to look at the situation.
He said: “The council’s administration has asked for an options paper to be brought to the next meeting of the Executive committee to investigate ways of supporting Stirling District Tourism.”


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A new app called HiHello is taking aim at business cards. While plenty of apps in the past have tried to kill the business card, they never achieved critical mass. Mainly, this is because most required
The critically acclaimed RPG Divinity: Original Sin II is coming to PS4 and Xbox One this summer, and along with a remapped control scheme, the console version will come with a number of significant changes.
With the recent release of Far Cry 5, Ubisoft Montreal has added yet another open-world to the Ubisoft portfolio. This time, however, the formula is a bit different. In the video above, Mike Mahardy takes
Meet Song Maker Chrome Music Lab has launched a new music creation tool called Song Maker. A browser-based experience, Song Maker is a sequencer that allows you to program loops for two different instruments
Broadcasting app Anchor, which helps anyone record and share audio, is relaunching its app today with a new focus on serving the larger podcaster community. While in the past, Anchor was carving out a
'I Hope This Is an Instance of Fake News': FBI Messages Show the Bureau's Real Reaction to Trump Firing James Comey
lawfareblog.com - Nora Ellingsen is a third-year student at Harvard Law School. Prior to graduate school, she spent five years working for the FBI's Counterterrorism Division. She graduated cum laude from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Psychology and Political Science. More Articles
After 27 years in the business, renowned game developer David Brevik is following up his big-ticket productions – which include the massively popular RPG, Diablo, as well as Hellgate: London, and Marvel
Hijacking big events for viral success is one of the most well-worn sections of the marketing playbook. Effective and often entertaining, there’s no better way to get your brand in front of millions than
Restore order to your days. Between work, activities, appointments, and ever-growing to-do lists, many of us constantly feel rushed and anxious. And all too often, the distractions of our smartphones make
Easy installation is key. Brilliant plugs directly into your home's existing light-switch ports, and it controls a slew of smart home devices, including lights, the Ring doorbell, Nest thermostat, Sonos
Just because a website or an app looks fantastic doesn’t mean users will flock to it. Having an easy-to-navigate, structurally sound site or app where important information can be found quickly and intuitively
Lets face it: A lot of holiday gifts just aren’t that useful, and end up stored in a closet indefinitely. That’s just a waste of money, so we’ve tried to collect gadgets tech that will hopefully avoid
When it announced the new Surface Pro a few months back, Microsoft also used the opportunity to preview Whiteboard, a Windows 10 app designed to offer creative and business collaboration across devices.
This is a review in progress for the first 20 levels of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. We’ll update this review upon hitting the level cap of 40. Animal Crossing is the game about taking life slow. You


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The service has customers in 100 countries, according to a report from TechCrunch, enjoys an audience of mostly women, 70% of which are under the age of 35. The average basket size is $3000, and has cultivated fruitful relationships with around 250 happy suppliers including Fendi and Dior, from which it takes a small commission.
Unlike other e-commerce services, Threads uses WeChat, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram and iMessage for the resolutely non-AI, human sales team to interact with customers.
“The idea behind Threads is curation and convenience”, says Founder and CEO, Sophie Hill. “It’s a customer-centric business and it’s built on chat because that is where the customers wanted to be and transact. Chat may not have been used in the way we were using it in 2010 [when Threads was founded] but that was our problem to solve. We had to learn to serve through chat rather than create was for convenient for us as a business.”
The investment will go toward expanding personnel with more stylists and more engineers to make the operation run more smoothly.
At founding, messaging services were popular in the West but were nowhere near what some Asian platforms were building. WeChat was the obvious bellwether for the direction of travel, given that its wealth of services was the result of its audience’s habitual use of the platform for communication. However, unlike the platforms, Threads focused on making the consumer experience as slick as possible by improving the order tracking service for customers, or building better search functions for stylists.
Notably, it acquires customers very differently from other e-commerce businesses. Hill told TechCrunch that the company has no real marketing budget nor a leader of a marketing function. Threads has aimed for word of mouth among users, using its social footprint to amplify its Instagram content and that of its customers.
At its core, it seems, Threads strength is the personal relationship that customers develop, aided by technology. “We are going to be using technology to enhance that personalised experience. Using tech blended with human interaction will be the ultimate service for the luxury industry. We see it as a complement, a way to enhance the personal experience”, Hill said.
Sourced from TechCrunch, Financial Times; additional content by WARC staff


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T-Mobile's Chief Executive Officer John Legere said that the third largest wireless carrier in the United States is capable of starting a new trend of major mergers in the country's telecommunications industry. While speaking to analysts and journalists during the company's Q1 2017 earnings call earlier this week, Legere stated that the Bellevue, Wahington-based company will soon be ready to listen to offers from all parts of the industry, implying that T-Mobile is willing to consider both mergers and acquisitions with its direct competitors and potentially compatible conglomerates, a sentiment that was already expressed by the company in recent months.
The federal year-long spectrum auction ban on merger talks officially expired yesterday, and the entire telecommunications industry is now once again free to discuss consolidations. Following years of positive performance on T-Mobile's part, the third largest mobile service provider in the country is seen as a top acquisition target by numerous industry analysts, a title that Legere is seemingly more than happy to accept. The Bellevue-based firm was already in talks with Sprint's parent company SoftBank about a potential merger with the Kansas wireless carrier several years back, but that consolidation was effectively blocked by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and several other government agencies under the former Obama administration. However, with the arrival of the new Trump administration, Washington is now seemingly much more open towards mergers and acquisitions in the telecommunications industry which is something that many major players are reportedly looking to take advantage of in the near future.
Even if T-Mobile ends up merging with another company, Sprint isn't the only option on the table seeing how SoftBank has recently been sending mixed signals regarding its future plans for the Overland Park-based mobile service provider that might even end up being sold to a cable company instead of trying to merge with the firm that Legere is currently heading. Regardless of what happens in the U.S. wireless segment in the coming months, one thing is seemingly sure – some major changes of the telecommunications landscape in the country are on the horizon, and T-Mobile will likely be at the forefront of those consolidations.


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18 July 2018
Like the other tech giants, the South Korean giant Samsung also hold developers conference yearly to showcase what they are cooking inside regarding software and also new perks and methods for developers to create apps for Samsung devices. The main agenda of this conference is to facilitate developers so they can produce more apps for Samsung software.
Today finally the company officially confirmed the dates for this year's developers conference. Last year the company hold the conference on October 18th and 19th. This year the conference will be slightly late as it will be held on November 7-8 in San Francisco.
Like last year we can expect thousands of developers, tech enthusiasts and creators from across the globe will attend the Samsung's 2018 developers conference. The company will reveal new services and advancements in the different segments of software including smartphones, Tabs, cloud, wearable and much more.
Although the dates of the event are out but the company yet not opened registrations for the event. Samsung stated they will soon announce regarding the registration of Developers conference 2018.


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Fashion chain New Look said the snow put a £15m hole in its Christmas trade as it reported a slump in third-quarter sales.
Like-for-like sales tumbled 9.1% in the 15 weeks to 8 January with the retailer warning its profit margins were hit by the weather which saw more stock end up on its clearance rails than planned.
Its chief executive Carl McPhail said: "Trading conditions in the UK have continued to be challenging and the adverse weather in December significantly affected footfall and spending patterns." He estimated the bad weather had reduced total sales by £15m and knocked 3% off like-for-like sales.
The private equity backed business, which last year cancelled plans to list on the stock exchange, said its market share had held firm at 5.8% despite the hiatus, maintaining its position as the UK's second largest womenswear retailer after Marks & Spencer with 606 stores.
McPhail said the business outlook was "uncertain" for this year adding: "We remain cautious about the impact of the recent VAT increase and government cuts on consumer spending."


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Golf course beer sales exceed expectationsSeptember 18, 2013
By CANDY NEAL
Herald Staff Writer
JASPER — The transition to selling beer at the city golf courses over the past three months has gone smoothly, according to city officials.
Jasper Municipal and Ruxer golf courses started selling beer June 13. With that, golfers and visitors to the courses are no longer allowed to bring in alcohol.
“People have really cooperated,” said Steve Milligan, director of golf for the city park department. “They understand the change and have been good at following it.”
Beer sales for the two courses through August have totaled $21,374. Of that, Jasper Municipal has sold $17,881 and Ruxer has sold $3,493.
“It has exceeded our expectations,” Park Director Ken Buck said. “The sales have been running smoother than we thought and anticipated.”
Jasper Municipal’s sales for August have been the best, at $9,380; that is more than twice as much as that course’s July sales, which were $4,430. Milligan attributed the exceptional sales to the golf scramble held Aug. 2 to 4 as part of the Strassenfest.
“The scrambles do well,” he said. “With all the people here, the sales peak then.”
About 20 scrambles have been held at the courses since beer sales started in June and many of them, like the Jasper football scramble in June and The Herald Dubois County Men’s Amateur Golf Tournament in July, draw big crowds, Milligan said.
With that, the staff has had to work hard to keep up with the demands of the crowds during the scrambles. “When you have lots of groups coming at you all at once, that’s a lot to handle,” he said. “But we’ve learned. Now when we do it, it runs more smoothly.
Both Buck and Milligan said that the public overall has complied with the new arrangement.
“There have been some who don’t live around here anymore and come back for a game that didn’t know” of the change, Buck said. “We’ve had only a few of those instances. We just told them that they couldn’t bring their own alcohol on the courses, and they complied.”
The park department has obtained alcohol permits to sell beer and wine, but its plan at this time is to sell beer only, Buck said.
Beer costs $2.50 a can and $12 for a six-pack. A cooler for the alcohol must be rented for $10. The cooler fee is returned to the golfers when they return the cooler.
Contact Candy Neal at firstname.lastname@example.org.
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Online black market Silk Road 2.0, the marketplace leader in drug listings and total listings, has revealed a new update on the status of its ongoing customer repayment efforts.
The reimbursement plan was put in motion by Silk Road 2.0 after the site suffered a serious hack in February that resulted in the loss of 4,476 BTC in customer funds ($2.6m at then-market prices). Undeterred, Silk Road 2.0 proposed a seven-point plan that would find moderators going without payment and the site charging a markup on purchases to recoup the losses.
Moderator Defcon issued a lengthy statement on a community forum and reposted on Deep Dot Web regarding the status of the plan on 27th May, saying that 82% of customer funds have been repaid thus far, adding:
In late April, the Silk Road 2.0 moderator indicated that all customers could be expected to have received compensation for lost funds by 18th June. That news followed the announcement that 50% of hack victims had been repaid as of 8th April.
Defcon ended the message by claiming that Silk Road 2.0 cannot release exact user counts or BTC sales figures, citing "security reasons".
Defcon framed the announcement as a vindication of his operation, which has faced criticism since the initial hack, stating:
Defcon also took aim at "economic oppression", contrasting the actions of Silk Road 2.0 with economic giants like Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley, which Defcon criticized for "steal[ing] the people's money".
Still, Silk Road 2.0 has seen setbacks. Defcon noted that sales figures have still yet to recover, and that volume currently totals just 68% of pre-attack weekly sales.
Should sales rise, Defcon suggested, the repayment plan could be completed before its scheduled date.
Thief counting money image via Shutterstock
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In December, a new Japanese legal amendment put a ban on certain types of mods. That includes tools and programs for modifying save games and console modding services. The amendment also makes it illegal to sell game keys without explicit permission from software makers.
All the official info on the changes to the Unfair Competition Prevention Act is currently only in Japanese, but details have started to come out among English sources including RetroArch developer Brad Parker, Switch modder OatmealDome, and blog Nintendo Soup. The latter reports that potential punishments could include fines up to 5 million yen (just under $46,000 USD) or a prison sentence just under five years.
For the most part, it seems that this revision to the Unfair Competition Prevention Act will have more of an effect on mod makers than end users, since it specifically targets distribution of mod tools and services. Cyber Gadget’s popular PlayStation 4 save editor is now listed as “product discontinued” on the official site, though it appears to still be available through other retailers.
While the specific examples here have been limited to console games, there doesn’t appear to be any language limiting the scope of these restrictions. We’ve seen some harsh arrests in Japan over the past year, including a guy who sold some modded SNES Mini consoles and an apparent crackdown on the country’s game bars.
Related: Nintendo’s taken action against ROM sites
The restrictions on reselling game keys is potentially even more notable, at least for end users. Key resale has always been a gray area in the industry, but users could count on at least having the option to sell keys on an open market. With these laws in place, that’s a much riskier proposition for Japanese players.
The texts, information and opinions published in the space are the sole responsibility of the author. Therefore, they do not necessarily correspond to the E-Sports Plus’ point of view.
Os textos, informações e opiniões publicados neste espaço são de total responsabilidade do(a) autor(a). Logo, não correspondem, necessariamente, ao ponto de vista do E-Sports Plus.


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Ford Motor Company may announce its biggest annual profit since 2000 on Friday on better cost control and higher sales to become the number two auto company in the US.
Ford Motors had announced a net profit of $10.2 billion in 2000 while it’s expected to announce a profit of $8 billion (£5 billion) this time around, although sales are lower by 33 percent in 2010 compared to 2000.
Higher profit margins, i.e. bigger margins on lower sales have been the strategy since CEO Allan Mulally joined the company in October 2006.
The company has been profitable for two years in a row compared to a $30 billion loss it booked between 2006 and 2008.
The company is now focused on increasing profitability rather than struggling for survival, said Mulally and Executive Chairman Bill Ford.
Ford has been below investment grade since May 2005 and investors will wait for the steps to be undertaken by executives to return to investment grade.
Ford has reduced its debts on books and the automotive operation has a debt of $22.8 billion and cash of $20.3 billion.
Ford expects to remain profitable in 2011, but net margins may dip, said the company. Because of debt reduction, ratings agencies have raised Ford’s rating; however, it still remains two notches below investment grade.
Ford had raised $23.5 billion by mortgaging most of its assets and used the fund to develop new products. While its rivals GM and Chrysler took government bailout money, Ford managed to stay away from such funding.
The US auto sector saw sales rise by 11 percent in 2010 while Ford’s sales grew by 19.5 percent.


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A viral clip from Geno Smith is going from a word of inspiration to a possible new business venture.
Monday Night Victory
Last week, the Seattle Seahawks quarterback had NFL fans buzzing after the team opened the season with a win against the Denver Broncos, 17-16. Despite the game being former Seahawk Russell Wilson’s debut with his current team, Smith stole the show by helping lead his team to a victory.
Before His Starting Chance
According to Sports Illustrated, the 31-year-old’s story exemplifies how being a fighting chance can change everything.
“Smith was the 39th overall pick by the Jets in 2013 and started for most of the next two seasons to subpar results,” the outlet reported. “From 2015 to ’20, he made a total of two starts while suiting up for the Jets, Giants, Chargers and Seahawks. He was Wilson’s backup the past three seasons and performed well over four games (three starts) in 2021. He then earned the starting job over Drew Lock this year.”
Resilience Always Wins
After being underestimated for years, the star had some words for the people.
“They wrote me off—I ain’t write back, though,” Smith said in a postgame ESPN interview. “That’s the problem, I ain’t write back. Let’s go!”
The Viral Clip
In the interview, he declared that this was just the beginning, and it looks like he’s sticking to his word in a new way.
According to trademark attorney Josh Gerben, Smith has filed a trademark for “THEY WROTE ME OFF I AIN’T WRITE BACK THOUGH.” It’s reported that it was filed two days after the game.
Geno Smith has filed a trademark for:
"THEY WROTE ME OFF I AINT WRITE BACK THOUGH."
The filing was made two days after Geno Smith beat the Broncos to open the season.
— Josh Gerben (@JoshGerben) September 19, 2022
Retail Items Coming Soon
Based on the filing, Smith is gearing up to place his viral line on everything you can find in retail such as footwear, clothing, headwear, eyewear, sports bags, backpacks, and more.
According to the filing, services would also feature virtual goods and virtual merchandising, as you can see above.


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ASTON Martin will launch a factory-backed assault on the 2017 Bathurst 12 Hour, with the company’s boss one of the drivers.
Wheels can exclusively reveal that Aston Martin boss Andy Palmer will campaign a single car at next year’s event alongside one of Aston Martin’s factory GT3 drivers. A local recruit, as yet unnamed, is also likely to join the Aston line-up.
“I’m planning on racing in it [the 12 Hour] next year,” Palmer told Wheels at the Geneva Motor Show. “I’m personally going to be driving, and I don’t believe we’ve publically announced it. Well, until now.
“For me it has always been one of those dreams to go and race at Bathurst and now there’s an opportunity to go and do it next year.”
Palmer confirmed he has already started assembling a team for the event, with the single car to have full factory support. The car in question will be an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, prepped to either GT3 or GT4 spec.
He ruled out racing the brand’s new DB11, shown at the Geneva show, saying Vantage would remain the British brand’s racing car of choice. Aston recently revealed its new V8 Vantage GTE (pictured), which will contest this year’s World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans. There it will challenge the likes of Porsche, Ford and Ferrari for class honours.
“It’ll be a factory team,” said Palmer. “I don’t think we’ll team up with any local teams. We may bring in a local driver but we’ll work that out. We’ve started to put a team together.
“We’ll find a good Aussie to help us along; there are plenty of them.”
As for who else will fill the driver’s seat alongside Palmer, a factory Aston driver is the logical choice. Interestingly, New Zealander Richie Stanaway is one of the drivers on Aston’s roster.
Palmer has no illusions of winning the event, revealing he’s setting himself realistic expectations. He does, however, have previous GT racing experience, having campaigned an Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 in last year’s Britcar 24 Hour race at Silverstone.
“I’m not going there [to Bathurst] for outright honours, I’m going to survive!” he said. “We’re going there for the experience.”
Next year’s Bathurst 12 Hour won’t be the first factory excursion that Aston Martin has made to the home of Australian motorsport. Several Wheels readers reported in mid-February that an Aston Martin DB11 development prototype sent here for testing had visited the track for a recce.
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Could Oscar Piastri be our next Formula 1 driver?
Melbourne-born F3 champion earns himself a Renault F1 test


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beijing digital economy experience week & digital consumption festival launches in shougang parkrelease time：2023-07-17 13:16:22
on the evening of june 18th, the launch ceremony of 2023 beijing digital economy experience week & digital consumption festival, one of the six characteristic activities of the 2023 global digital economy conference, was held in hall 10a of the china international fair for trade in services in shougang park. shougang blast furnace no. 1 soreal metaverse paradise was also licensed by the beijing information consumption experience center.
themed “digital and versatile, renewal and splendid”, this year’s experience week consisted of concrete practices to implement the construction of a benchmark city of the global digital economy and set up a “beijing model” for china’s digital economy development and a “beijing benchmark” for global digital economy development. moreover, it is another measure to build beijing into an international consumption center city. at the launch ceremony, representatives of the “16 1” districts successively promoted and presented their districts, showing the development vision and achievements of the digital economy in each district in the manner of “number theory”, and issued invitations to global enterprises in the field of the digital economy to land and develop.
digital consumption experience activities included virtual cycling, virtual competition challenges and intelligent fitness equipment experience. digital sports exhibition areas were also set up in communities, scenic spots, commercial districts and other places to showcase the latest digital sports equipment and technological products.
during the experience week, digital science popularization and research activities were also held with the establishment of the digital scene open day. eight characteristic experience routes of science popularization and research, including the sub-center route and haidian route, were planned, covering 25 science and innovation venues and such fields as smart cities and artificial intelligence. at the same time, characteristic themed activities such as the digital economy carnival were also launched in each district in order to enrich offline digital application scenarios, deeply create a sense of immersion in the digital economy for people from all walks of life and stimulate the continuous innovation and development of digital technology.
shougang blast furnace no. 1 soreal metaverse paradise was jointly built by dang hong qi tian and the shougang group. the project is located in shougang park and uses 5g xr technology to give the century-old historical and cultural site a rebirth. after the completion of the project, it will not only be the offline entrance of metaverse immersive science fiction interaction for the whole country, but also the first international culture and technological park in the world that combines xr technology with industrial heritage. the 2023 china science fiction convention kicked off here, and many activities were held here such as the metaverse industry summit and the special forum, expressing the imagination of future science fiction and stimulating the infinite imagination of the metaverse through the unique approach of demonstrating it with the blast furnace and industrial-style light and shadow.
the reporter learned from the launch ceremony that the first china digital concert will be held across the entire network on july 4th. at that time, super a-list digital stars will make their debut on the stage, bringing “new and unique” performances such as physical stage realistic virtual technology and real singer digital person. at the first china digital concert, with new technology, new forms, a new lineup and the combination of virtuality and reality, the audience will open up their imagination and jointly sing the future of the digital economy.
citizens can log on to the official website of the global digital economy conference or the official wechat applet to learn more about the activities and enjoy the charm of the digital economy in beijing together.
乐鱼app官网下载 copyright © 2003 shougang.com.cn, all rights reserved


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Engadget: It wasn't that long ago that T-Mobile USA launched Nokia's venerable 5230 as the Nuron, but you've got to admit -- with a mug only a mother could love, Nokia owed it to itself to get cracking on a prettier replacement.
According to a recent statement by Pekka Lundberg, the CEO of Nokia, people are likely to get 6G technology by 2030.
Nokia C21 Plus, C21, and C2 2nd Edition Android Go phones revealed at MWC 2022. On the back, the Nokia C21 has a single 8-megapixel camera. The Nokia C21 Plus
Nokia Oyj is heading several organizations and universities in a EU-funded wireless project named Hexa-X to provide help to 6G development


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In addition to losing your money to someone who had no intention of ever visiting you, you may also have unknowingly taken part in a money laundering scheme by cashing phony checks and sending the money overseas and by shipping stolen merchandise (the forwarded package).In another recently reported dating extortion scam, victims usually met someone on an online dating site and then were asked to move the conversation to a particular social networking site, where the talk often turned intimate.For weeks, even months, you may chat back and forth with one another, forming a connection. But ultimately, it’s going to happen—your new-found “friend” is going to ask you for money.
But as Valentine’s Day gets closer, the FBI wants to warn you that criminals use these sites, too, looking to turn the lonely and vulnerable into fast money through a variety of scams..
You can be anywhere in the world and victimize people,” she said.
“The perpetrators will reach out to a lot of people on various networking sites to find somebody who may be a good target.
We can find out where in the world their computer is being used.
It’s identifying who they actually are that’s the hard part.


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The trading in Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) stock since its 2014 initial public offering has been interesting. Alibaba stock basically has had only two sustained rallies.
Shares bottomed in early 2016, along with the market as a whole and zoomed higher until late 2017. BABA stock tripled over that stretch. The stock now has gained almost 50% from its late May lows and over 30% since pulling back in early October.
Other than those two moves, BABA has spent its five-plus years on the public markets trading basically sideways at best. In fact, it took this sharp recent rally for Alibaba stock to surpass mid-2018 peaks and reach a new all-time high.
At these levels, there is a case to take profits, as Josh Enomoto detailed last week. The U.S.-China trade war has thawed, but seems far from over. Long-running worries about the Chinese economy and government persist. I’ve personally long been a skeptic toward Alibaba stock, and I’m not ready to reverse field just yet.
That said, I’ve also argued that bulls can (and do) see BABA stock very differently, with some justification. Even after the gains of the past few months, it’s hard to see why BABA bulls are going to change their minds. The 2016 rally lasted longer than skeptics believed it would. The rally that begin in 2018 may well do the same.
What’s Changed for BABA Stock?
Other than valuation, nothing’s really changed during the rally in Alibaba stock. The broad strokes of the bull case remain the same and might even be strengthened.
Alibaba is the dominant e-commerce play in one of the world’s two largest countries. JD.com (NASDAQ:JD) and Pinduoduo (NASDAQ:PDD) are trying to take market share, but there’s been little sign of Alibaba’s lead shrinking at all.
Pinduoduo likely has pulled some sales from Alibaba, particularly in smaller cities. Its third-quarter revenue rose 123% year-over-year, against 40% growth for Alibaba in the same period. But over the past twelve months, Pinduoduo’s sales are barely one-twentieth that of Alibaba; Alibaba remains comfortably ahead of both of its primary retail rivals. And it’s targeting Pinduoduo’s core markets in a bid to slow the growth of its smaller rival.
Meanwhile, U.S. retailers like Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) have been unable to crack the market, even with a partnership between heavyweights JD and Walmart (NYSE:WMT). A bear thesis centered on competition seems tough to support at the moment.
The opportunity in cloud remains expansive. Alibaba has room to expand beyond China, with its Ant Financial affiliate last week applying for a digital banking license in Singapore. Alibaba’s Youku Tudou sits in third place between iQiyi (NASDAQ:IQ) and Tencent Holdings’ (OTCMKTS:TCEHY) Tencent Video in streaming, but still has solid market share.
The case for Alibaba stock always has been relatively simple: ignore the noise, and own one of the best businesses in China. That hasn’t changed. And while BABA stock is more expensive, a roughly 25-times multiple to the fiscal 2021 consensus earnings per share estimate isn’t exactly onerous. BABA still is cheaper on a relative basis than many mega-capitalization U.S. names. And to bulls at least, it has a much greater growth opportunity looking forward.
Have the Risks Been Mitigated for Alibaba Stock?
To be sure, most bullish investors and analysts would admit that there are risks here. China, for all its opportunity, remains an emerging market. Its government remains single party and nominally communist. Investors reasonably could, and do, pay a premium for the relative safety of large-cap names based in the U.S. and Europe.
But even the risks seem potentially mitigated by recent developments. China’s economy slowed in 2019 amid the trade war fallout, yet there was little, if any, sign of pressure on Alibaba’s results.
The listing of Alibaba stock on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange allows investors to bypass the VIE (variable interest entity) structure of the U.S.-listed version. Trading between the two listings shows that investors on the whole see VIE risk as minimal: the spread between the two is roughly 0.5% at their respective closing prices on Tuesday.
Again, risks remain. But, much like the bull case, the bear case is basically what it was six months ago (or three years ago, for that matter), and perhaps weaker. Investors who owned BABA stock in May 2019 or February 2018 really aren’t going to see the situation as all that much different in January 2020. And so, it’s difficult to argue that Alibaba stock suddenly is going to reverse barring a significant catalyst.
The Rally Can Continue
It’s possible that catalyst shows up or that Alibaba stock simply finds a way to reverse or stall out anyway. After all, the 2019 rally hasn’t had a single obvious driver. Even the trade war progress seems minimal, and U.S. and Chinese stocks gained as the dispute dragged on in the summer and fall.
But the simple way to look at Alibaba stock right now is that the status quo should hold, both in terms of the company’s growth and the external environment. At 25-times earnings in this market, this suggests the stock still could find more buyers.
We’ve seen this rally once before, and it lasted almost two years. Even though I’m not convinced BABA stock should keep gaining, I’d be far from surprised if it failed to do so through 2020 at least.
As of this writing, Vince Martin has no positions in any securities mentioned.


text: A skyrocketing number of complaints regarding metal-on-metal hip implants could lead to further, wider-reaching recalls as well as widespread product liability claims. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already received more than 5,000 reports of problems with all-metal hip implants this year. That’s not only approximately double the number of complaints from all of 2010, but it’s more than the past four years combined. The deluge of complaints is significant enough that the FDA in May requested that makers of all-metal hip implants study how often the implants are failing and to further assess the risk of metal-on-metal hip implants to patients. Although no life-threatening side-effects have been reported, complaints have included reports of pain, rashes, inflammation and crippling injuries thought to be caused by the implants shedding metallic components. Until the major DePuy hip implant recall last year, all-metal hip implants comprised about one-third of the approximately 250,000 hip implants placed annually, according to an Aug. 22 New York Times article. As with many medical devices that are considered moderate to low risk, most metal-on-metal hip implants were marketed with minimal to no patient testing, and with no follow-up tracking of product performance. For now, an increasing number of surgeons have stopped using all-metal hip implants in favor of alternatives that are considered safer, such as implants that combine metal and plastic elements. Meanwhile, the FDA is awaiting reports from metal hip implant manufacturers and will review the matter in greater detail later this year. If you’ve been harmed due to an all-metal hip implant or other faulty medical device, please contact the Mobile, Alabama, product liability attorneys at Long & Long to schedule your free case evaluation.


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Under Armour has a new Steph Curry commercial.
Steph Curry's new shoe, the Steph Curry 3, is set to drop on Tuesday after being unveiled this past weekend. It looks like the apparel manufacturer has rolled out a new commercial with the release as well.
In the new clip, which is titled "Make That Old" - Curry's career, which has included two MVP awards, is highlighted. It's also acknowledged that the Golden State Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in last year's NBA Finals. Curry's goal? To make that "old news" as well.
The clip is just over 90 seconds long. It's unclear whether it's just for social media or will be shown on television as well. Check it out:
Golden State, which added Kevin Durant this offseason, is regarded as the heavy favorite to win the NBA Finals this year. LeBron James and the Cavs, the team that knocked them off last year, will likely be their biggest competition.


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Baidu’s (NASDAQ: BIDU) quarterly results beat Wall Street estimates, as the Chinese search engine benefited from a rebound in advertising sales and increased demand for its artificial intelligence and cloud computing products.
The company, dubbed the “Google of China,” also said its chief financial officer, Herman Yu, had been appointed chief strategy officer, but would continue to serve as chief financial officer until a successor. him be found.
Demand for the company’s rapidly growing autonomous driving service and its heavily invested artificial intelligence-based cloud computing products has helped Baidu diversify its revenue streams and offset competition from competitors. such as Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) and ByteDance.
Baidu’s streaming service iQIYI saw a 15% increase in advertising revenue and the number of subscribers rose to 106.2 million at the end of June thanks to more original content. IQIYI’s total revenue increased 3% to US $ 1.17 billion in the quarter.
The company said its total revenue reached US $ 4.84 billion, up from US $ 4.02 billion in the previous quarter, beating analysts’ estimates. The company’s latest profit was US $ 2.38 per share, ahead of $ 2.01 per share expected by Wall Street.


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How to use Snapchat marketing in 2018 as part of your social media strategy
Its been a slow year for Snapchat. Snapchat’s has a total of 173 million daily actives for its entire app whilst Instagram has a total of 700 million monthly users, the Instagram stories feature a direct rival to Snapchat. Instagram has continued to mimic Snapchats old features and Snapchat has had to create new unique features to give users a reason to use their platform.
This year we have seen Snapchat launch new editing tools and camera features, as well as Snapmap and Snap Publisher. Snapchat began in 2011 as a disappearing photo-sharing platform. The app saw significant growth when it first launched but is now struggling to compete with its rival, Instagram Stories. Snapchat made its mark for showing a more authentic and unpolished side of social media. According to SproutSocial, that original feeling is what keeps some of its users engaged to this day.
As we step into 2018 we cover all the key stats from this year to help inform your 2018 Snapchat marketing strategy.
Snapchat statistics 2017
- There are 3 billion Snapchats sent daily (Statista ,2017)
- Snapchat daily users worldwide – 173 million (Statista,2017)
- Snapchats U.S. Daily active users has hit 68 million (Snap Inc. S-1 filing, 2017)
- Their key demographic are 12-17-year-olds, it has been reported that Millennials account for 7 out of every 10 Snapchatters. Making it the third most used platform among millennials (Smart Insights, 2017)
- Snapchats Europe Daily active users has hit 52 million (Snap Inc. S-1 filing, 2017)
- 25% of Snapchat DAUs post to their Story every day (Source: TechCrunch)
- Snapchat has over 166 million daily active users, but its YoY growth rate has begun to slip, falling to 36 percent year-over-year from 48 percent in Q4. (Smart Insights, 2017)
- Currently, 60% of Snapchat users are under 25 (Smart Insights, 2017)
- 45% of 18-34-year-olds prefer “Snapchat Stories”, only 21% “Instagram Stories” and 34% of respondents had no preference and are OK with using either of the two
- According to the Snap Inc. S-1 filing, in Q2 2017 company made net revenue $182 million, more than twice from $72 million in Q2 2016
What does this mean for marketers?
One of Snapchat’s biggest advantages is its appeal to younger audiences. Millennials were among the early Snapchat adopters, and are still loyal users. Currently, 60% of Snapchat users are under 25. Therefore if your business is made up of mostly millennials, Snapchat may be the better platform for you.
As more marketers turn to Instagram stories there is less competition on Snapchat. So if you are currently seeing ROI on Snapchat continue to push this platform. The key to success on Snapchat is authentic content that offers something users cannot find on any other platform. Share exculsive content
Why not use these six tactics and examples of brands using stories to help inform your own Snapchat marketing strategy.
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The Scott Brothers find a home at Kohl’s; licensing agents add new brands to their rosters; Michaels expands kids crafts; Amazon continues physical store strategy; and other licensing news highlights of the week.
Licensing, marketing and retail expert/opinion leader Tony Lisanti, provides insight and perspective for the top headlines of the week. “Licensing and Merchandising Report” is a must read for top execs who want objective, straightforward and authoritative analysis.
Kohl’s Partners for New Home Brand, Apparel Brand
Scott Brothers Global—the company created by HGTV stars and twins Drew and Jonathan Scott and one of the fastest growing licensors over the past two years—has inked a deal with Kohl’s for an exclusive home collection. The new brand, Scott Living, will debut in fall 2019. The lifestyle collection will include modern home basics and décor, furniture, bedding and bath and kitchen decor.
This is a huge opportunity and strategic initiative for Kohl’s for several reasons. It will strengthen its overall brand portfolio, create a new brand with the potential for huge sales and long-term growth and enhance customer loyalty. Scott Living has the potential to be as popular and successful as the Food Network brand, which Kohl’s has merchandised for more than a decade. In addition to Food Network, Scott Living also joins other Kohl’s home brands including Simply Vera Vera Wang, LC Lauren Conrad, Sonoma Goods for Life and The Big One.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the Scott brothers to offer home brand Scott Living to customers nationwide,” said Doug Howe, Kohl’s chief merchandising officer. “Home has been an incredibly strong category for Kohl’s and we know our customers will love the Scott Living collection. The addition of Scott Living reinforces our continued strategy to drive a constant pipeline of relevant new brands.”
“We are excited for the opportunity to collaborate with Kohl’s to create a lifestyle brand that allows families to outfit their homes with our exclusive furniture, bedding, bath, home décor, and more,” said Jonathan. “Scott Living incorporates modern, stylish home design without sacrificing the functionality and value we know families need, and we’re thrilled to work with Kohl’s to bring this to life for customers nationwide,” added Drew.
“Kohl’s is an incredible partner that has a strong connection and understanding of their customer and communities,” said Laura Aldrich, Scott Brothers Global executive vice president of licensing. “Together with our world class licensees, we are building a collection rooted in family, quality and trust that Kohl’s customers will love.”
Kohl’s also added a new private label brand targeted to the women’s plus-size market. EVRI, which stands for Easy, Versatile, Real (Value) and Inspiring, will feature a deep assortment of modern wardrobe essentials and relevant fashion wear in sizes 0X-4X in tops and 14W-30W in bottoms. EVRI will launch in Spring 2019.
Top Agents Add to Brand Rosters
LMCA Champions Foreman
LMCA has been named exclusive agent for the George Forman brand throughout the U.S., Europe and Asian markets.
The George Foreman grill has been one of the most successful products in housewares category and the former heavyweight boxing champion now has the opportunity to further extend his brand name based on his huge popularity and recognition not only in the U.S. but also in many international markets.
Foreman Digital LLC and LMCA plan to extend the longstanding brand into various new categories including food and beverage, vitamins and supplements, men’s care and grooming, fitness wearables, clothing and footwear.
“George Foreman is trusted worldwide and the brand is synonymous with reliability, innovation and convenience,” said LMCA president, Alan Kravetz. “We are excited to bring the George Foreman brand into new categories and spaces that reflect the quality consumers expect from a George Foreman product.”
Beanstalk Nails Craftsman
Based on its long-standing relationship with Stanley Black & Decker, Beanstalk will now represent the company’s Craftsman brand, which it acquired from Sears last year for $900 million.
Over the years, Beanstalk has expanded the Stanley Black & Decker brand into one of the most successful licensing programs in the hardware category and corporate brand licensing. The company now has more than 70 licensees worldwide with more than $1.5 billion in retail sales.
Based on its track record, Beanstalk has a huge opportunity to expand Craftsman’s licensing program and achieve similar success it has experienced with Stanley Black & Decker.
Last month, Stanley Black & Decker unveiled 1,200 tools across various categories.
The Craftsman brand has recently launched at Lowe’s, ACE, Amazon and other top retailers.
Beanstalk’s president and CEO Allison Ames said, “We are truly honored to represent one of the most famous and recognized brands today. Everyone has a Craftsman story. It is an iconic brand that speaks to American values. Building on Craftsman’s longstanding reputation with both core and new consumers through fresh and innovative products will be one of the most exciting brand launches in the second half of 2018.”
NFLPA Supports Health Network
The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and its OneTeam Collective have partnered for another innovative opportunity for fans.
NFLPA’s latest deal gives Fan Health Network (FHN) the rights to use current NFL players to facilitate engagement and participation in corporate wellness challenges.
The social app was founded by former Minnesota Viking’s star Robert Smith to inspire healthier lifestyles. FHN will feature select active NFL players that will provide tips, dietary advice, workouts and motivation to pursue healthy lifestyles through various tools.
“Athletes are the best natural ambassadors for promoting healthy lifestyle choices, and our players’ involvement with Fan Health Network can tremendously impact the wellness of many different groups of people including company workforces,” said Ahmad Nassar, president of NFL Players Inc. and board chairman of the OneTeam Collective. “To have world-class athletes join together and devote their efforts to inspiring people to be fit and healthy is central to our mission of transforming fan experiences.”
FHN is the ninth NFLPA partner secured through the OneTeam Collective and the first partnership with a company founded by a former NFL player.
Michaels Expands Kids Crafts, Toys
Specialty crafts retailer Michaels, in an effort to appeal to former TRU consumers, is expanding its assortment of creative toys and activity products and rebranding the effort as “Michaels Kids.”
The new in-store section, which will merchandise hundreds of products with stronger and more organized displays, bodes well for licensed brands such as Crayola, LEGO, Play-doh, Nerf, Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Orb. In addition, Michaelskids.com will offer thousands of exclusive products.
This is a smart move for Michaels which recognizes the opportunity to expand its business, become more relevant for parents, and grab a piece of the retail sales left behind by the liquidation of TRU.
“One of the most powerful tools to inspire creativity is playtime, and we are proud to make it easier for customers to find toys, activities and supplies that are engaging and family-friendly,” said Chuck Rubin, chairman and CEO. “At Michaels, our goal is to be the preferred omnichannel destination for creative play, and we’re committed to making it easy for parents to provide their kids with more mindful, screen-free fun.”
Michaels will a host a kickoff event at stores nationwide on October 6, featuring a scavenger hunt, toy giveaways and pumpkin decorating demonstrations, a 20% off coupon, free Kids Club passes and other online specials.
Amazon Opens GH Lab and Four-Star Store
Following the news last week that 3,000 “Go” stores will open over the next several years, Amazon continues to test other new store concepts. Amazon has partnered with Hearst’s Good Housekeeping brand to launch the GH Lab store at Mall of America and the retailer opened a new store in Manhattan that features its four-star rated products.
The first Pop-up Shop & Digital Boutique will feature more than 40 products that represent the lab’s best across several categories including wellness, beauty, lifestyle, smart home, kitchen, and toys.
Featured brands include: Affresh, Ballerini, Casabella, Cole & Mason, Cybex, Dyson, ecobee, Ember, Erin Condren, Eucerin, Fishers Finery, Garnier, HoMedics, Innit, Instant Pot, iRobot, Joule, Joy Mangano, Kenmore, Marriott, Microsoft, Moen, Nespresso, Olay, OSMO, OtterBox, PackIt, Panasonic, Poo-Pourri, Riedel, Ring, Samsung, simplehuman, Simple Pleasures, Singing Machine, Spin Master Toys, thinkbaby, thinksport, Thoughtfully, Tile, tulo, Vitamix, WE, Wine Away, Xbox and Zwilling.
In addition to the 2,800-square-foot GH Lab store, which will be open through year-end, Good Housekeeping launched an online boutique on Amazon.com.
“We’re beyond excited to work with Mall of America and Amazon to bring the power of the Good Housekeeping Labs to life through a new retail experience,” said Jane Francisco, editor-in-chief of Good Housekeeping. “Each day, our expert scientists test hundreds of products to ensure they perform as promised and the GH Lab helps take the guesswork out of shopping. This innovative store showcases a genius selection of products for the home, new technologies and inspired holiday gifts. Everything in the store has been carefully curated and vetted by GH experts—so shoppers will not only be excited by the fabulous finds but leave with confidence in their purchases.”
Amazon also opened a new store in New York City that features its most popular products across key categories including electronics, travel, books, and games as well as amazon’s popular private label brands.
A Wall Street Journal report stated: “Amazon has seen the future of retail and it looks something like a refreshed version of a Brookstone store, the gadget purveyor that filed for bankruptcy last month.”
That’s not the most flattering description or endorsement considering the demise of Brookstone, but the format is exciting and innovative. It further exemplifies Amazon’s commitment to retail innovation as well as its ability to showcase its products and test new formats.
Other deals of the week
• J. Crew and Nickelodeon partnered for ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ kids Collection based on the new series, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
• kathy ireland worldwide partnered with CBD Consumer Products for cannabis products that will be marketed and sold through KIWW’s health & wellness brand.
Stat of the Week
According to the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, Americans will spend a record $9.1 billion this year, up 8.3% from last year’s previous record of $8.4 billion. According to the survey, consumers plan to spend $3.4 billion on costumes (purchased by 69% of Halloween shoppers), $2.7 billion on candy (95%), another $2.7 billion on decorations (72%) and $410 million on greeting cards (37%).


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The 35th Eastern Lighting Collectors' Meet, hosted by Tom Small and Tom Millman, was held at the Quality Inn of Somerset, PA with 147 collectors attending the event.
The Rushlight Club was well represented with about 20 Club members attending the show. The event was marked by a number of new attendees, as well as the return of some individuals who had not visited the meet for several years. Reports of room and lamp show sales were very good.
It is something of a tradition that people bring interesting items to show in the Somerset hospitality room the evening before the lamp show. Dan and Nancy Mattausch brought and burned a P. Baker, Feb. 6, 1872 patent model, four rope-wick kerosene burner. Heinz and Ursula Baumann brought a large 1851 Webb patent solar lamp which Heinz burned at the dinner table on Saturday. This solar lamp is expected to be the subject of an upcoming Rushlight article. Thanks to Tom and Linda Millman, who hosted the hospitality suite, the tables were well stocked with good things to eat and drink.
The Rushlight Club had a table at the show, providing information about the Club and the benefits of membership. The Club attracted three new members and sold several books during the show. The Club also donated several lighting books and tote bags as show door prizes, joining items donated by Bill Courter, the Aladdin Mantle Lamp Company (AMLC), and many others. Dick O'Connell won the major prize, a cobalt-blue "Alexandria" model mantle lamp, donated by the AMLC.
Saturday evening program presenters Tom Small and Jim Christner have been researching the people and companies involved with the introduction, manufacture, and sales of kerosene mantle lamps in the U.S. during the early 1900s. The seminar shared some of their research, tracing the Practicus mantle lamp to the company that imported the lamps from Germany. Supporting documentation exhibited included a Practicus sales case with a lot of original paper, a lamp, and the accessories that came with it.
The 36th Eastern Lighting Collector's Meet has been scheduled for April 3rd-5th, 2014, again at the Quality Inn of Somerset, Pa.


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Infinity partners with Cáceres Chamber of Commerce for local energy sector accelerator program
Infinity Lithium’s Spanish subsidiary Extremadura New Energies has teamed up with the Cáceres Chamber of Commerce to jointly invest in a local energy sector accelerator program.
The idea is to facilitate innovative and sustainable early-stage businesses in the lithium, energy storage and renewable energy sectors.
The direct allocation of funds from Extremadura New Energies will be convertible to equity in the selected start-up companies to collaborate in their growth and future.
The agreement complements other collaborations with major local and regional stakeholders which includes lithium-ion battery supply chain focused training and educational programs.
Infinity Lithium (ASX:INF) CEO Ramón Jiménez said the focus is on prioritising opportunities aligned to the San José Lithium Project to the locality of Cáceres.
“[The objective is] generating an ideal ecosystem for economic growth, the fight against unemployment, the generation of opportunities and the social benefit of the population of Cáceres and Extremadura,” he said.
Cáceres Chamber of Commerce president, Gabriel Álvarez Arroyo, said the agreement “aims to meet the challenges of energy transition, retain the talent of Cáceres and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Cáceres, giving impetus to business ideas that correct the serious industrial deficiencies that the province of Cáceres has been experiencing for decades.”
In recent months the company has seen the momentum really starting to roll in favour of lithium-ion battery developments in Cáceres, with Spain’s Federal Government spruiking the creation of a lithium-ion battery value chain in Extremadura in June.
Cáceres’ mayor noted that he does not oppose the new underground development plan, which will have less impact on the local environment, and appears to be distancing himself from groups that remain opposed to the project without allowing for objective discussions.
The project hosts the second largest lithium bearing hard-rock resource of 111.2 million tonnes, containing more than 1.6Mt of lithium carbonate equivalent in the EU.
The company favours the underground extraction of this resource as it would reduce surface tailings and leave no material visible impact from mining operations.
This article was developed in collaboration with Infinity Lithium Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.


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HP has announced two smartphone/tablet hybrids, the Slate 6 VoiceTab and the Slate 7 VoiceTab. It's taking its return to the smartphone market slowly, deciding to measure the response in India before potentially widening the release later on.
Hewlett Packard is apparently keen to get back into producing smartphones, according to a senior director. We're not sure this is a good idea, as not only has HP made a mess of its smartphone efforts before, but also because PC manufacturers just can't seem to…
In addition to built-in wireless connectivity that lets you print from anywhere or from a smartphone, HP's new Envy 4500 and 5530 multifunction printers also feature a new subscription service that ensures you never run out of ink.
A new rumor suggests Hewlett Packard is working on a new tablet project, which could use Google Android as its operating system and a Nvidia Tegra 4 processor, and be aimed at the higher end of the market.


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The online education market size in India is poised to grow by USD 14.33 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 21% throughout the forecast period, according to the latest report by Technavio. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The report also provides the market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Download a Free Sample of REPORT with COVID-19 Crisis and Recovery Analysis.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201015005566/en/
Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Online Education Market in India 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)
With digitization, the adoption of the Internet and smartphones in India is increasing. High Internet penetration has led to the creation of a significant tentative customer base for companies operating in the e-learning market to acquire and monetize this opportunity. As the traditional education system in India is insufficient in providing services to all the segments of the education and skill development market, prospective learners are looking for alternative education sources, leading to the growth of the online education market in India. The country offers significant opportunities for players providing products or services based on digital platforms. Moreover, the government and the private sectors are moving rapidly to spread high-speed connectivity across the country and provide hardware and services to put Indian consumers and businesses online. This increment in internet penetration and increased use of smartphones is anticipated to aid market growth.
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The major online education market growth in India came from the content segment. The content-based online education is anticipated to witness a gradual growth and will dominate the online education market in India during the forecast period. A major driver behind this dominance in the market is the ease of accessibility of content. The acceptance of this segment is not dependent on infrastructure or any other vendor-based services. Content-based products provide customized content to customers with the help of tools such as big data.
The online education market in India is concentrated. Dexler Education Pvt. Ltd., Educomp Solutions Ltd., Indiavidual Learning Pvt. Ltd., Indira Gandhi National Open University, Info Edge (India) Ltd., MPS Interactive Systems Ltd., Next Education India Pvt. Ltd., NIIT Ltd., SMU-DE, and Think & Learn Pvt. Ltd. are some of the major market participants. To help clients improve their market position, this online education market in India forecast report provides a detailed analysis of the market leaders.
As the business impact of COVID-19 spreads, the online education market in India 2020-2024 is expected to have Positive and Superior growth. As the pandemic spreads in some regions and plateaus in other regions, we re-evaluate the impact on businesses and update our report forecasts.
Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free.


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Processing plant will serve animal feed, human food and fuel markets
Cargill has broken ground on its new $350 million canola processing facility in Regina, Saskatchewan.
The new facility is projected to have an annual production capacity of 1 million metric tons and will support the growing global demand for canola products in the animal feed, human food and fuel markets. Cargill anticipates the project to be completed by 2024.
“We’re excited to be building a new state-of-the art canola processing facility in Regina,” said Jeff Vassart, president, Cargill Canada. “We see strong potential in the growth and competitiveness of the canola processing industry and look forward to helping farmers across Saskatchewan access the increasing market demand.”
The new Regina facility will be Cargill’s second canola processing facility in Saskatchewan and third in Western Canada.
“Our government is grateful for Cargill’s investment in Saskatchewan and further supporting sustainable supply chains around the world,” said Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. “The investment will enhance our agricultural sector profile by bringing welcome jobs and increased value-added production, and bolster Saskatchewan’s position of becoming a global canola crush powerhouse.”
In April, Saskatchewan sold $38 million in land, 247 acres in all, at the Global Transportation Hub (GTH) for the facility. Vassart has previously said the location would give farmers easy access for deliveries, as well as allow the company to efficiently deliver agricultural goods to end-users.
Cargill first announced plans to build a new $350-million canola processing facility in Saskatchewan in April 2021. The facility is expected to create 50 full-time jobs and process one million metric tons of seed each year.


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NFTs (non-fungible tokens) have consistently proven to be a great investment option for crypto traders and investors. Ripple (XRP), EOS (EOS), and Big Eyes Coin (BIG) are some of the best tokens that are supporting and investing more in the NFT industry.
Even Amazon, one of the biggest tech companies in the world, is delving into the world of NFTs and Web3, launching fifteen collections under the Amazon Digital Marketplace tab on March 24th.
Although only US residents have access to this feature, Amazon will gradually expand it for the whole world to enjoy, including Europe. Such NFT projects can be positive news for the future of the crypto industry.
XRP, EOS, and BIG are also joining the NFT trend with the goal of providing their investors with more profits.
Ripple Partner Flare Goes Live
Ripple partner Flare, a Layer-1 EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) blockchain, is showing signs of success after it went live on January 10th. Recently, it launched two core protocols for decentralized interoperability applications.
On March 2nd, Flare introduced Sparkles, an NFT platform on its Layer-1 Oracle network. Sparkles’ main goal is to incorporate the interoperability of native Flare protocols to improve use cases for NFT utility.
Since its launch on Songbird, Flare’s canary network, Sparkles has hosted 3,200 NFT collections and operated 90% of NFT sales, which equates to $3.5 million! Surely, the future of NFTs is brighter than we think.
EOS Blockchain Project Makes a Comeback
Meanwhile, the EOS blockchain project had its setback in the past due to a lack of funding and development. However, EOS is looking for things to turn in a different direction, with the community-controlled EOS Network Foundation (ENF) making ecosystem and protocol improvements.
Their upgrades include enhancing not only NFT marketplaces but also DeFi applications, gaming applications, and more features. Its network’s primary NFT marketplace, AtomicHub, has over 5,000 collections with a $1,400 sales volume every day! This is another great piece of news for NFT buyers and sellers.
Big Eyes Coin: Love, Buy, Own Cute NFTs
Big Eyes Coin is backed by a supportive community that shares a passion for anything cute—including NFTs. Aside from its goal of creating a token that generates wealth for its community called the Cat Crew as well as charity, Big Eyes is on a mission to build a blockchain ecosystem that all NFT enthusiasts can enjoy.
Their NFTs can be used to give the Cat Crew access to more events, content, and rewards in the future, which makes the BIG hype worth joining.
According to their whitepaper, the digital asset will host NFT events, where profits will be poured into a burn or not to burn vote. But for their very first NFT project, they will host an NFT art beauty contest. Big Eyes will transfer all of its profits into ocean-saving charities, while the NFT art will serve as access to Big Eyes Events in the future. This heavily motivates investors whose goal is not only to generate wealth but to help the environment as well.
Big Eyes Coin is still in Presale Stage 12 but has already raised over $31 million, which means this presale stage is almost over. If the coin launches and becomes a success, the coin’s price would increase, which is a great long-term investment. NFTs are also coming soon after the coin’s launch. This is a chance you should not miss!
If you want to know more about Big Eyes Coin, check out their website and social media.
Big Eyes Coin (BIG):
None of the information on this website is investment or financial advice and does not necessarily reflect the views of CryptoMode or the author. CryptoMode is not responsible for any financial losses sustained by acting on information provided on this website by its authors or clients. Always conduct your research before making financial commitments, especially with third-party reviews, presales, and other opportunities.


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CAMBODIA: Minimum wage to rise for garment factory workers
The minimum wage for factory workers in Cambodia's garment and footwear sector is to be raised to US$75 a month from 1 May.
The Ministry of Social Affairs announced the new minimum wage last week, after four rounds of talks between Cambodian garment and footwear industry unions and businesses broke down last month.
Local unions in Cambodia who took part in the negotiations had called for a wage hike to between US$89 and US$150 a month.
The minimum wage for garment workers in Cambodia is being increased from US$61 a month. However, the Asia Floor Wage Alliance says the new figure is still just one-quarter of the monthly living wage of US$274 a worker and her family in Cambodia need to cover basic needs. In addition, the minimum wage looses purchasing power due to annual inflation.
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Italy-based HURRICANE ON SATURN have released a new video for the title track of their upcoming debut album “Killing Field”, watch it here:
“Killing Field” debut album is coming out on November 13th, and will be available on all digital stores! “It’s gonna be huge!”, unveils the band. More details will be revealed shortly, so stay tuned!
Watch the first 2 singles
Buy and stream the singles here:
Apple music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/till-we-die-single/1531562101?uo=4
and many more…
HURRICANE ON SATURN is a new Italy-based project started in 2019 by musicians coming from various musical genres with both national and international live/studio experience, named Dakm, Maydx, Antares, Rastaban, Menkib. The proposal out of any classification is based on a unique use of electronics combined with rock and metal influences.
Hurricane On Saturn line-up
Maydx – vocals
Dakm – vocals
Antares – guitars
Rastaban – bass
Menkib – drums
More information at:
BAND: https://www.facebook.com/hurricaneonsaturn | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCWoKGIC8EDhK8LfXJkUsZw
MANAGEMENT: https://alphaomega-management.com | https://www.facebook.com/OfficialAlphaOmegaManagement


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20% of consumers have error on credit report, FTC finds
WASHINGTON — One in five consumers had an error in a credit report issued by a major agency, according to a government study released Monday.
The Federal Trade Commission study said that 5 percent of the consumers identified errors in their reports that could lead to them paying more for mortgages, auto loans or other financial products.
The study looked at reports for 1,001 consumers issued by the three major agencies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The FTC hired researchers to help consumers identify potential errors.
The study closely matches the results of a yearlong investigation by The Columbus Dispatch. The report said that thousands of consumers were denied loans because of errors.
The FTC says the findings underline the importance of consumers checking their credit reports.
Consumers are entitled to a free copy of their credit report each year from each of the three reporting agencies.
The FTC study also found that 20 percent of consumers had an error that was corrected by a reporting agency after the consumer disputed it. About 10 percent of consumers had their credit score changed after a reporting agency corrected errors in their reports.
The Consumer Data Industry Association, which represents the credit reporting agencies and other data companies, said the FTC study showed that the proportion of credit reports with errors that could increase the rates consumers would pay was small.
The study confirmed “that credit reports are highly accurate and play a critical role in facilitating access to fair and affordable consumer credit,” the association said in a statement.
In September, the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau gained the authority to write and enforce rules for the credit reporting industry.
and to monitor the compliance of the three agencies. Prior to that, the reporting agencies weren't subject to ongoing monitoring by federal examiners.
The CFPB hasn't yet taken any public action against the agencies. However, it is accepting complaints from consumers who discover incorrect information on their reports or have trouble getting mistakes corrected. The agencies have 15 days to respond to the complaints with a plan for fixing the problem; consumers can dispute that response.
By contrast, the FTC can only take action if there is an earlier indication of wrongdoing. It cannot demand information from or investigate companies that appear to be following the law.
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The CPSC will never again allow companies to call their voluntary corrective actions anything other than a “recall,” Elliot Kaye, Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced. This announcement comes in response to IKEA’s use of the term “repair program,” rather than “recall,” in addressing furniture tip-over hazards associated with their MALM line of dressers. Rather than stopping production and allowing consumers to return the MALM product such as in a standard recall, IKEA simply issued “repair kits” for consumers. In light of continued IKEA MALM tip-over accidents, including a tragic toddler death, Kaye agreed with consumer advocates that IKEA’s “repair program” terminology has not had the same effects on consumers as the word “recall” would have.
Kaye has also indicated that the CPSC would sue IKEA if they didn’t take additional steps to address the issues with the dressers’ stability. The dressers are still on the market despite the fact that they don’t comply with industry voluntary standards when unanchored. The announcement shows that the CPSC is willing to reopen compliance investigations and take additional actions if they believe previous corrective efforts were insignificant.
Parents of any child injured by a dresser that has overturned — whether IKEA or any other brand — are urged to contact Feldman Shepherd to share their story and discuss their legal options. The firm can be reached at (844) 480-0100 or by filling out the form below.


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Rural Airbnb hosts in Minnesota have seen an upswing in profits since the start of the pandemic
Airbnb estimates that individual hosts in rural Minnesota have earned more than $6,900 each on average since the pandemic was declared last March. Over that same time period, rural hosts in Minnesota have earned $23.3 million in total, which is nearly twice as much as the average from 2019.
BEMIDJI -- Since it first began, the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the travel landscape, with travelers nixing old vacation habits to make way for new trends that promote better health and safety.
Last year was dubbed the summer of road trips and RV rentals, but according to new data from Airbnb, the pandemic also created a demand for more rural travel, especially here in Minnesota.
This uptick, a release said, is providing a “new economic lifeline” for local Airbnb hosts in rural parts of the state.
“As visitors seek out a safe change of scenery -- and the chance to reconnect with nature -- unique and remote outdoor spaces have never been more precious or more valuable,” the release said.
In fact, Airbnb estimates that individual hosts in rural Minnesota have earned more than $6,900 each on average since the pandemic was declared last March. Over that same time period, rural hosts in Minnesota have earned $23.3 million in total, which is nearly twice as much as the average from 2019. Based on Airbnb data from 2019, a host in rural Minnesota may earn nearly $3,300 in one summer.
According to the release, rural hosts make up a quarter of Airbnb hosts in the U.S., and on average, the typical one has earned a total of $8,448 since the start of the pandemic -- more than $2,000 more than the average from 2019.
With Memorial Day weekend just a month away, Airbnb said this trend of staying in rural, off-the-beaten-path locales is still desirable to vacationers, with site searches for more remote destinations in the country over the holiday increasing by nearly 40% in the past month.
Short-term vacation rentals, such as Airbnbs and VRBOs, have not been allowed in Bemidji city limits or Northern Township since the Greater Bemidji Area Joint Planning Board passed the ruling in 2018.
Prior to the ruling, there were four rental units in the city of Bemidji and Northern Township. When an application was submitted for a fifth unit, concerns from nearby neighbors led JPB members to see little benefit from the rentals, and a motion was passed directing staff to create an ordinance to prohibit them, according to a 2018 Pioneer article .
In the article, JPB member Michael Kelly described the situation as "a can of worms,” citing monitoring rental-type situations as a time-consuming effort with not enough benefit.
“I think there was a lot of push back from a group of residents that attended every meeting, and I think at that time the board felt compelled to prohibit them (because) there was basically no support for short-term vacation rentals,” Jamin Carlson, JPB planning director, told the Pioneer earlier this week.
Yet with short-term rentals comes a double-edged sword for communities.
Hosts can reap a sizable profit from them, and tourism and the local economy can benefit when visitors staying in the rentals spend money in the community.
Carlson said there’s been research to show that short-term rentals may also provide some financial benefit to a city through lodging taxes, but he said he was unsure how it could currently affect the city of Bemidji.
In general, there is widespread concern that short-term rentals can transform quiet neighborhoods into noisy vacation districts, which some long-term residents fear will disrupt their property values and way of life. In bigger cities, there are worries that the rentals could cause unavailable housing and skyrocketing housing prices.
Various cities across the country have attempted to reign in and regulate short-term rentals. For example, some have imposed taxes on them as well as limiting them to certain neighborhoods or building types. And some, like Bemidji, have banned them altogether.
Carlson said there has been some unofficial discussion in JPB meetings about revisiting the topic of reintroducing short-term rentals to the city of Bemidji and Northern Township. But for the time being, he said, it’s all still up in the air.
“There has been some interest from certain elected officials who I think would at least like to discuss it,” Carlson said. “I don't know where it's going to go because at the end of the day it's up to the board.”