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29 September 2022
We can reveal that we have signed up as a social partner for World EV Day on Thursday 29th September. We will be honouring the global movement driving change by renewing our commitment to supporting businesses with a complete EV solution.
To help businesses make the transition to EV, we offer Kinesis vehicle tracking solutions to assess fleet usage and suitability for EV. Businesses can then obtain the vehicles, install charge points and be supported with on-road charging through our 360-degree approach. Businesses can assess a fleet for EV readiness, obtain electric vehicles, install charge points, be supported with on-road charging and unlock the power of their fleets with telematics solutions.
With 32% of vehicles sold in the first five months of 2022 either BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) or PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), compared to 21.7% during the same period in 2021*, it’s clear there's an appetite for EVs like never before.
Bill Holmes, CEO and founder of Radius, commented: “This World EV Day, as our customers in the transport sector seek to embrace the rise of sustainable mobility solutions, we are proud to offer an all-in-one solution that helps our customers with the EV transition from start to finish. Whether it’s that first step in hiring an EV or harnessing the power of telematics to unlock EV fleet insights, we are here to simplify the process for your company.”
Saul Furse, Managing Director – eMobility and Vehicle Solutions at Radius, added: “A year on since we acquired Radius Vehicle Solutions, we are thrilled to be partnering with World EV Day to reaffirm our commitment to playing a role in the EV revolution. We look forward to working alongside the rest of the sector as we continue to pursue more sustainable modes of business.”*SMMT statistics, Hybrid Electric Vehicle May 2022
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How to Drink a 'Green' Beer on St. Patrick’s Day
By Susan Bird
Your St. Patty’s Day beer may be tinted an amusing and pretty shade of green this week, but have you ever considered how eco-friendly and sustainable your beloved brewskies really are? If you want to ensure you’re maintaining your environmentalist credentials while hoisting a few brews, keep these considerations in mind:
Keg, Can or Bottle?
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
The keg is king. Besides being handy for large gatherings, rented beer kegs are reused about twice a month or 22 times a year. Kegs are durable enough to last two decades. Using them means that about 58,000 fewer beer cans and bottles get tossed into the trash every year.
Even in a restaurant or bar, beer on tap from a keg is almost always the more eco-friendly choice than from an individual bottle or can. This is true even after taking into account the need to truck the beer from brewery to bar, as well as the need to wash the glasses.
The Bottle vs. The Can
If your choices are limited to bottled or canned beer, your instinct might be to choose a bottle. They can be washed and reused, so they seem to be the greener choice, right? Not so fast. This is a subject of some debate.
“Generally speaking, every time you drink a can of beer and you recycle it, some part of that can will be back up in a shop within the next 60 days,” Kim Moratta, MillerCoors’ director of social sustainability, told OPB.org. “The other part that’s interesting is that if you make a can out of recycled content, it requires 95 percent less energy.”
Fans of the bottle, however, say that if you consider a container’s entire life cycle and the manner in which it is made, bottles clearly win. In part, this is because most of the bauxite required to manufacture aluminum cans comes from environmentally damaging mining operations in Jamaica, Guinea and Australia.
“Recycling 100 beer bottles requires more energy than recycling 100 aluminum cans, but making the aluminum cans requires a lot more energy,” David Allaway, a solid waste policy analyst at Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, told OPB.org.
No clear winner here, then, which is why drinking locally produced beer winds up a greener choice than either bottles or cans.
Think Globally, Drink Locally
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
If your goal is reducing the carbon footprint of the beer you drink, choose locally brewed beverages. Many craft brewers now source their hops and grain locally, reducing the pollution that inevitably results from shipping beer ingredients across the country or around the globe.
Look for craft brewers who go the extra mile to respect the environment in ways like these:
- Using heat from the brewing process to heat office space and other structures
- Using spent grain as a co-fuel for beer production, which can reduce energy consumption by as much as 70 percent a year
- Using organically grown ingredients
- Using wastewater creatively, infusing it with microorganisms that turn it into gaseous fuels like methane or hydrogen
- Using water efficiently, such as harvesting rainwater and minimizing evaporation
- Preventing spent sediment, yeast, proteins and grains from ending up in landfills by sending them to special processing facilities instead
- Using wind or solar energy to power production
Now that you have the facts, get out there and enjoy a few eco-friendly beers. Remember to drink responsibly, designate a driver and minimize your impact on Mother Nature.
Visit EcoWatch’s TIPS page for more related news on this topic.
At first glance, you wouldn't think avocados and almonds could harm bees; but a closer look at how these popular crops are produced reveals their potentially detrimental effect on pollinators.
Migratory beekeeping involves trucking millions of bees across the U.S. to pollinate different crops, including avocados and almonds. Timothy Paule II / Pexels / CC0
According to From the Grapevine, American avocados also fully depend on bees' pollination to produce fruit, so farmers have turned to migratory beekeeping as well to fill the void left by wild populations.

U.S. farmers have become reliant upon the practice, but migratory beekeeping has been called exploitative and harmful to bees. CNN reported that commercial beekeeping may injure or kill bees and that transporting them to pollinate crops appears to negatively affect their health and lifespan. Because the honeybees are forced to gather pollen and nectar from a single, monoculture crop — the one they've been brought in to pollinate — they are deprived of their normal diet, which is more diverse and nourishing as it's comprised of a variety of pollens and nectars, Scientific American reported.

Scientific American added how getting shuttled from crop to crop and field to field across the country boomerangs the bees between feast and famine, especially once the blooms they were brought in to fertilize end.

Plus, the artificial mass influx of bees guarantees spreading viruses, mites and fungi between the insects as they collide in midair and crawl over each other in their hives, Scientific American reported. According to CNN, some researchers argue that this explains why so many bees die each winter, and even why entire hives suddenly die off in a phenomenon called colony collapse disorder.

Avocado and almond crops depend on bees for proper pollination. FRANK MERIÑO / Pexels / CC0
Salazar and other Columbian beekeepers described "scooping up piles of dead bees" year after year since the avocado and citrus booms began, according to Phys.org. Many have opted to salvage what partial colonies survive and move away from agricultural areas.

The future of pollinators and the crops they help create is uncertain. According to the United Nations, nearly half of insect pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, risk global extinction, Phys.org reported. Their decline already has cascading consequences for the economy and beyond. Roughly 1.4 billion jobs and three-quarters of all crops around the world depend on bees and other pollinators for free fertilization services worth billions of dollars, Phys.org noted. Losing wild and native bees could trigger food security issues.

Salazar, the beekeeper, warned Phys.org, "The bee is a bioindicator. If bees are dying, what other insects beneficial to the environment... are dying?"

EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
Australia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. It is home to more than 7% of all the world's plant and animal species, many of which are endemic. One such species, the Pharohylaeus lactiferus bee, was recently rediscovered after spending nearly 100 years out of sight from humans.
Scientists have newly photographed three species of shark that can glow in the dark, according to a study published in Frontiers in Marine Science last month.
- 10 Little-Known Shark Facts - EcoWatch ›
- 4 New Walking Shark Species Discovered - EcoWatch ›
- 5 Incredible Species That Glow in the Dark - EcoWatch ›
FedEx's entire parcel pickup and delivery fleet will become 100 percent electric by 2040, according to a statement released Wednesday. The ambitious plan includes checkpoints, such as aiming for 50 percent electric vehicles by 2025.
- Which Is Worse for the Planet: Beef or Cars? - EcoWatch ›
- Greenhouse Gas Levels Hit Record High Despite Lockdowns, UN ... ›
- 1.8 Billion Tons More Greenhouse Gases Will Be Released, Thanks ... ›

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Articles tagged ‘lumia’
We take a closer look at Nokia's latest 6-inch smartphones, the Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1320.
Here's our quick hands-on with Nokia's latest flagship smartphone, the Lumia 925, that's slated to be available sometime after June this year.
On May 14 in London, Nokia detailed where the story of the Lumia product line goes next.
With two more Windows Phone 8 devices going on retail today - the much awaited Nokia Lumia 920 and 820 of course, we rounded up the telco price plans and made some comparisons for your easy consumption. Happy shopping!
We took the Nokia Lumia 920, its PureView technology, 8.7-megapixel sensor and f/2.0 Carl Zeiss lens for a nice walk to capture its photographic qualities. Here's the outcome!
One year after announcing its partnership with Microsoft to adopt Windows Phone 7 as its main mobile platform, Nokia stole the thunder away from the competition at MWC 2012 with a nifty trick up its sleeves. We round-up all the news and developments on the Finnish company.
Besides the attention grabbing 808 PureView, Nokia also unveiled four other new handsets which are the Lumia 610, Asha 202, 203 and 302. The DC-HSPA variant of Nokia Lumia 900 will also be shipped to more countries in Q2 2012.
- Spotify announces Spotify Family – music sharing for your entire family
- Which Android phones will be getting Google's Lollipop update?
- Replace all your passwords with images using Passage
- Fitbit's Surge aims to be the smart watch for hardcore fitness aficionados
- Rob Riggle to play Frank West in Dead Rising movie
- Apple will require all iOS apps to use 64-bit code starting in February 2015
- IBM to offload semiconductor tech business to Globalfoundaries for US$1.5 billion
- Jabra announces the release of the Jabra Move Wireless – headphones inspired by the city


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Apple’s big tax break is about to unleash an avalanche of spending from the iPhone-maker. In a public statement earlier this week, Apple revealed its plans to contribute $350 billion to the U.S. economy over the next five years now that the fee for repatriating its mountain of overseas cash has been significantly lowered.
In this week’s issue, you’ll find that story and more. Tim Cook has revealed that a future iOS 11 update will let users disable their iPhone’s throttling feature. Learn how to get the best battery life from your MacBook. It’s the last week to get your preorders in for Juuk’s new three-think Velo Apple Watch band! Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes. Or read on for this week’s top stories.
Cult of Mac Magazine, Issue 228
Apple says it will add $350 billion to economy
Apple’s big tax break is about to unleash an avalanche of spending from the iPhone-maker. In a public statement this morning, Apple revealed its plans to contribute $350 billion to the U.S. economy over the next five years now that the fee for repatriating its mountain of overseas cash has been significantly lowered.
Apple employees get big bonus thanks to Trump
News of Apple’s payout to employees comes the same day the company revealed it will contribute $350 billion to the U.S. economy over the next five years, building a third campus and adding 20,000 new employees.
Soon you can disable iPhone’s throttling feature
With Apple facing mounting pressure, Tim Cook has revealed that a future iOS 11 update will let users disable the feature that was causing their iPhone to throttle performance. Cook said that, “We’re going to give people the visibility of the health of their battery so it’s very, very transparent. This hasn’t been done before.”
Seemingly innocent link causes big problems on Mac and iOS
Another strange bug has been discovered in Messages for Mac and iOS. Following a certain URL causes all kinds of issues on both platforms, including freezes, restarts, and even battery issues. You don’t even have to open the link to suffer the problems.
First HomePod shipments en route to Apple before launch
Apple suppliers have begun shipping the first HomePod units ahead of the smart speaker’s much-anticipated launch. Just 1 million devices are on the way initially. However, Apple is expected to receive as many as 12 million by the end of this year.
How to speed up your iPhone if Spectre slows it down
Spectre is the worst kind of security flaw. Not only do the partial fixes not even protect against attacks, but they also slow down your iPhone, or other device. But things aren’t quite as bad as they seem. You can take steps to speed up your iPhone once again, and one of the fixes not only makes the web faster, but also fixes Spectre’s biggest attack vector.
How to get the best battery life from a MacBook
Did you know that leaving your MacBook plugged in all the time is a sure way to ruin its battery? That instead you should use your notebook computer on battery power for an hour or two each day? That’s the advice from battery health app FruitJuice, which will help you to keep your battery in tip-top condition.
Deck out your Macbook with great add-ons
Once you’ve got your shiny new MacBook, it’s time to outfit it with the add-ons that’ll make it yours. We’ve gathered some of the best deals on add-ons: a neck-saving laptop stand, powerful drive repair software, a USB connection expansion, and more.
Save $5 on Just Mobile’s Apple Watch stands
Now’s the time to take advantage of Just Mobile’s design-award-winning accessories for Apple Watch. For the next two weeks, the company is slashing their regularly priced stands and chargers for Apple Watch by $5. At already-modest prices, this is a steal. Show now.
New Juuk Apple Watch bands ready for preorder!
The Velo is the latest style in Juuk’s lineup of steel bands. Redesigned and reengineered from the ground up, the Velo Apple Watch band features a three-row link design. This band comes in five different finishes — Midnight, Obsidian, Silver, Ruby and Cosmic Grey. Reserve one by preordering now for delivery at the end of January.
AudioStretch slows down songs and videos
AudioStretch is a “music transcription tool.” It’s a universal iOS app that slows down music, and/or changes its pitch, so you can learn to play songs. We’ve covered another of these, Capo Touch, before on Cult of Mac, but AudioStretch is easier to use. Plus, a recent update added the ability for the music transcription app to work its magic on video.


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USB-C has been mainstream for a couple of years at this point, and one of its huge advantages is that it can allow faster charging on a wide variety of devices. Today, Samsung is announcing two new USB-C PD controller chips that can be used in smartphones, tablets, laptops, and more.
To enable safe fast charging, a device with USB-C needs a controller chip to ensure it doesn’t try to pull too much power from the source charger. Samsung’s new chips support USB-C PD speeds up to 100W (20V/5A) with support for the latest USB-PD 3.0 spec.
Samsung has included flash memory inside of both chips to enable firmware updates, and the SE8A is the first controller chip like this with a Secure Element Integrated Circuit. This allows for further protective measures such as “security key storage, and encoding and decoding of sensitive data within a device.” The SE8A is already in mass production.
What’s also notable about these chips is that Samsung talks about them in reference to smartphones quite a few times in the press release. While the company says that these chips can be used in tablets, laptops, and monitors too, smartphones are the more compelling use case.
It’s unlikely anything close to 100W would be used in phones, but this could hint that Samsung wants to bring USB-C PD fast charging to more of its smartphones. After all, the Galaxy S10 5G has been the only Samsung phone to support the standard properly, while others are left with the aging Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 standard.
More on Samsung:
- Report: Samsung Galaxy Fold release won’t happen until July at the earliest
- Samsung debuts Disney/Pixar-themed ‘Infinity-O’ wallpapers for Galaxy S10 [Video]
- Samsung announces new 64-megapixel ISOCELL smartphone camera sensors
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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Textile, specialty chemical and floor covering manufacturing company, Milliken & Co., has been named a 2017 “Gold Supplier” by office and home furnishings giant Herman Miller, Inc.
This prestigious annual award honors key suppliers for excellence in service to the company, community and environment.
To qualify, suppliers must meet rigorous performance standards in the areas of product quality, on-time delivery, cost savings, diversity, sustainability, business compliance and company culture.
With its long-standing corporate commitment to responsible manufacturing, eliminating waste and delivering innovations that do good, Milliken scored high marks across all categories.
“Milliken is fortunate to work closely with leading brands and manufacturers across all areas of the interiors industry,” said Jennifer K. Harmon, vice president for Milliken Specialty Interiors. “However, getting this award from Herman Miller, a company known for its exacting standards, extremely high quality and corporate social responsibility, is a major honor for Milliken. We share these same values and believe this award will serve as further evidence of the value and service Milliken brings to the table for each of our customers.”
This recognition comes on the heels of Milliken’s expansion of its Specialty Interiors business through key talent acquisitions from the furniture and textile industries and the successful launch of Breathe by Milliken, the world’s first fluorine-free performance fabric compatible with synthetic and natural fibers. The group has also recently launched its own website, www.millikenspecialtyinteriors.com, as well as new social media channels, including a Facebook page, a LinkedIn showcase page, an Instagram page and a Twitter feed, to serve customers across all relevant interiors industries.


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Vietnam has invited Indian companies to invest and set up their manufacturing units in pharmaceutical, petrochemical and auto space in the South East Asian country.
Speaking at an interactive session organized by MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai on Wednesday, Pham Sanh Chau, Ambassador of Vietnam to India, said, “The first bilateral project close to our heart is a proposed USD 500 million pharma park in Da Nang city. We are willing to provide incentives for Indian pharma companies to invest in this park, which is set to be the largest park of its kind outside India.”
The Ambassador also invited Indian companies to set up petrochemical complexes and crude oil refineries in Vietnam and highlighted potential for bilateral cooperation in auto components and tourism sectors.
“Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland have shown interest to invest in the automobile sector in Vietnam. In future, we invite investment from Indian auto component manufacturers as Vietnam does not have a strong manufacturing base of auto spare parts,” he said.
In the tourism sector, the aplanning to launch direct flight connectivity between New Delhi and Vietnam's capital city of Hanoi, the ambassador said.
The two countries will be celebrating 50 years of bilateral ties next year and to mark this occasion the Vietnamese Prime Minister will visit India along with a delegation of 200 people, including 100 businessmen in March 2022.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai pointed out, “The current level of $11 billion bilateral trade is far below the true potential. I feel there is scope to enhance this trade volume to $25 billion in the coming years.”
Vietnam can be a hub for India’s exports to EU, USA and other markets with a tariff benefit of upto 9 percent by using Vietnam’s free trade agreements (FTAs), Kalantri said.
WTC Mumbai is also planning to hold a seminar with trade missions of all the ASEAN countries in future and Vietnam can play an important role in this event as it accounts for 15 percent of India’s exports to the ASEAN countries, Kalantri added.


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Apple is again rumored to be adding a square camera housing on the back of all three of its 2019 iPhone models, with Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman tweeting a photo allegedly showing case molds for the trio of upcoming handsets.
Similar to the two high end iPhone 11 models, dubbed the iPhone XI and iPhone XI Max, Gurman reinforces earlier claims made by OnLeaks that suggest Apple will put a square shaped camera bump on the back of the next-generation iPhone XR, which unlike the current model is expected to launch with dual-camera system, much like that found on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.
The authenticity of the molds are unknown, but third-party accessory makers usually produce units such as this based on leaked information from manufacturing partners such as Foxconn, allowing them to produce accessories for the new handsets ahead of their official launch.
Alleged next iPhone case moldings show what we discussed in our story last week in terms of new cameras. 3 on the high end, 2 on the new XR. Plus all models apparently getting a square, at least based on this one mold floating around. https://t.co/BhAFTZZL6u pic.twitter.com/QlNJTsApzX
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) May 13, 2019
The design of the camera bump expected to arrive with the 2019 iPhone models has been criticised as looking “ugly” and “obtrusive” in a recent flurry of early-stage concepts and visualizations.
It is unclear why Apple would use a square bump for the next iPhone XR if rumors about the device featuring dual-lens rear camera are accurate. Apple has used a vertical camera design for the iPhone X, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max and one would assume that the same design for the next-generation would be sufficient, so perhaps the new design is simply to keep all three 2019 iPhone models consistent.


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News tagged 16GB
Last update: Tuesday 4 September 2012 [17 news items]
Asustek, HTC back off from new Chromebook
May 31, 01:00
Although Google recently unveiled its second-generation Chromebook device, jointly developed with Samsung Electronics, Asustek Computer and High Tech Computer (HTC), seeing Acer and...
NAND flash contract prices rise in 1H March
Mar 17, 01:50
Average contract prices for mainstream 16Gb and 32Gb MLC NAND chips rose 4-5% to US$3.66 and US$5.66, respectively, in the first half of March 2011, according to DRAMeXchange. Meanwhile,...
NAND flash contract prices flat in 2H December
Dec 29, 01:25
Late December 2010 contract prices for most MLC NAND flash chips have remained flat with mainstream 16Gb and 32Gb parts quoted at US$3-3.50 and US$4-5, respectively, according to...
NAND flash contract price decline intensifies
Nov 17, 01:45
NAND flash contract prices have continued to decline in early November 2010. Prices for 64Gb and 16Gb MLC products dropped more than 7% and 8Gb MLC products fell 10-14% largely due...


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As McNicholas’ most recent fundraiser, members of the McNicholas community are voting to win money for the school as a part of the Give With Target program. The money from the promotion is raised by voting for McNicholas on Give With Target’s website. For every 25 votes, Target will donate a $25 gift card to McNick. Voting is limited to once a week per person and is tracked through each voter’s Facebook account. The last day to vote is Sept. 21.
Give With Target is an annual charity promotion that allocates $5 million to schools across America, and each participating school has to opportunity to receive up to $10,000 in Target gift cards. Principal Patty Beckert is hoping the school can collect enough votes to raise at least $1,000.
“I would like for the money to go to Rocket Relief,” Beckert said. “Any gift cards we receive from the endeavor can be given to families in need or be used to purchase items of need for those families.”
Rocket Relief is a program founded in March of 2012 to raise money for McNicholas families who were impacted by the series of tornados that blew through the Ohio Valley that month. Since then, the Rocket Relief initiative has continued to support McNicholas families in need. Beckert said that most of the original $8,000 that was raised in 2012 has been distributed and that she would like to replenish that fund.
McNicholas still needs hundreds of votes to meet Beckert’s goal. Look below to learn how you can contribute to this cause.


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nike's public relations aren't idle. Later, Gino Fisanotti, vice president of Nike's North American brand, said in an interview that he believed Capernick was one of the most nike inspiring athletes of his generation and praised him for using the power of sport to help push the world forward. Obviously, Nike has made a choice in the face of protests and doubts on the Internet.
MWWPR, the brand reputation and crisis management company, studied the views of companies that took a stand on social issues, and Carreen Winters, the company's chief strategist, said it appeared to be a deliberate engagement in controversy. "They are good at marketing and know their customers. Consumers will reward them. "
Her research shows that a third of consumers spend more money on products from companies with similar ideas, and consumers who are less concerned about this are less likely to change their NIKE AIR MAX 97 ULTRA 17 METALLIC SILVER.
In addition, Nike in the "patriotic war" Nike received a total of 43 million dollars worth of media exposure. Immediately after that, there was good news from Nike's sales. Nike's online sales grew by 31%.
It wasn't the first time Nike used a controversial endorser. As early as 1984, Nike invited Black Star Michael Jordan to become a brand endorser. No company had cooperated with celebrities of "colored race" before, so the move caused a lot of stir and discussion in the United States at the time.
What's more, Nike has been widely criticized for promoting gang culture and profit from the release of a Balaclava headset some time ago. Unhappy with the brand's use of black 2018 NEW NIKE AIR MAX 97 PURPLE BLUE POWDER models to demonstrate the head cover covering the entire head and neck, with only the eyes exposed, the image is thought to reinforce racial prejudice. Under pressure from public opinion, Nike removed the Balaclava headgear from the website, while Nike had to temporarily close all its stores in South Africa because of racial problems.
So this time Nike chose a controversial spokesman, because Capernick's story is particularly suited to interpret the "Just Do It" connotation, by the way to save the South African market, with such behavior to strengthen the brand's racial position of commercial considerations, or for national and justice? Only the benevolent, the wise see wisdom.
In fact, spokesmen are mostly the marketing strategy means of brand choice. Brand strategists employ or mold spokesmen to make people have a good impression on the brand by associating their popularity, professional personality and conduct. The role of brand spokesperson is to transplant the emotion and promote the influence of the brand with the influence of the NIKE AIR MORE UPTEMPO TRIPLE WHITE 921948 spokesperson.
But sometimes there are risks in using celebrity endorsement, if the endorsement accidentally become a "negative textbook" may be the first time, its endorsement brand will be the first time to suffer. Therefore, most brands will abandon their spokesmen for their reputation to safeguard their brand image.
Therefore, compared to Nike, these brand spokesmen's "feats" make the brand side more passive.
I am just a micrometer of a Jersey.
I am just a help worker, so that more fans can pay more attention to information.nfl


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GillTrading.com, Inc. will be exhibiting spray systems with JBI Water and Wastewater, Inc. at the California WEA 2011 Annual Conference. . Both the WeirWasher Automated Cleaning Systems and the Eco-Blaster Biological Control Systems will be on exhibit. To preview any applications you may visit www.weirwasher.com for video or other information. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Scientists Create Plants That Produce Their Own Fertilizer
Plants will be able to produce their own fertilizer in the future meaning farmers will not have to purchase and spread fertilizers for their crops anymore. The resulting increase in food production will also benefit countless numbers of people across the globe, who would otherwie go hungry. While statements like these may sound more like something out of a science fiction novel, a new study performed by scientists in Washington University in St. Louis demonstrates that plants could possibly be engineered to...
World champions rely on Redexim at World Cup Russia
On June 12 the German national team, the current world-champion, arrived at their basecamp in Watuniki. ”There we will find optimal conditions”, teammanager Olivier Bierhoff said prior to departure from Germany. Fieldmanager Roman Kafafjan and his team did the upmost to bring the trainingsfield in the best possible condition. the Verti-Drain aerator model 7215 loosens the soil up to 25 cms deep The Verti-Drain aerator (model 7215) is intensively being used on the new pitch, loosening the soil a...
Green Tech expands, turning trash into fertilizer
Abigail O’Neal high fives a resident at the launch of a major recycling project in Road Town on Wednesday. Looking on is Lynette Harrigan of the BVI Tourist Board. If all goes as planned, the British Virgin Islands could become a model for transforming waste into resource for food security as early as 2019. “We can be an example to the world. I really think we can,” said Abigail O’Neal, Managing Director of Green Technology (Green Tech) BVI. O’Neal, along with Canadian partners...
Global Market Insights Report that Micro Irrigation System Market to hit $12bn by 2024
The Micro Irrigation System Market is set to grow from its current market value of more than $5 billion to over $12 billion by 2024; as reported in the latest study by Global Market Insights, Inc. Rising concern for depleting water resources will drive micro irrigation system market. As per United Nations report, water availability is projected to decrease in various regions with global agriculture water consumption estimated to increase by over 19% by 2050. Growing environmental awareness and increase in...
How to Make Cow Dung Fertilizer
Currently, the most common and valuable processing method is to turn cow dung/manure into sellable organic fertilizer. Cow dung is a derived product from wastes produced by cattle, providing high levels of organic materials and rich in nutrients, including about nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium as well as many other essential nutrients. According to the data, daily cow dung contain 12.9% DM and excreting a total of 0.15kg N, 0.04kg P and 0.08kg K. Moreover, cow manure also contains high levels of ammonia that...


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In spite of a couple of fire accidents which took place eventually putting a question at Nano’s safety, Tata is all set sell the world’s cheapest car overseas. The car is doing pretty well in India and to attract more sales figures the company had to think “out of the box”.
The credit for thinking out of the box solely goes to Mr. Ratan Tata urging the company to consider other global markets. Mr. Tata has also stated that the Nano may be offered with a diesel heart and a more powerful 3-cylinder petrol engine and could also consider Tata Nano CNG variant in the near future.
Other than the Indian market the Nano will be sold in the following markets:
- Latin America
- Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
We hope that the new markets contribute to the company’s sales figures and make it more successful.


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Mark Phelan: Car, truck of year contests gain steam
As summer winds down, competition for the North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year Awards is heating up.
Just as movie studios release some of their best films late in the year for maximum Oscar consideration, some of the best and most interesting vehicles coming this year aren’t on sale yet. NACTOY jurors — including me — have yet to evaluate such vehicles as the Alfa Romeo 4C, Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Mustang and F-150, Lexus NX and Mercedes C-class.
With all those new wheels fighting for consideration, this week Chrysler gave NACTOY jurors a refresher course on the 200 midsize sedan that went on sale in the spring. The program included a short drive and presentations on what a leap the car is from its predecessor. New features include a very appealing interior, all-wheel drive, a V6, adaptive cruise control and brakes that can apply themselves if the driver is unaware of an impending collision.
The next step for the 59 jurors — journalists from newspapers, the Internet and broadcast outlets across the U.S. and Canada — is to narrow the field from the 60-odd new cars and trucks that went on sale this year to a “short list” of about 15 cars and a similar number of trucks and SUVs that get a closer examination this fall.
We’ll announce three finalists each for car and truck or utility of the year in mid-December. Then there are yet more tests before we vote for the winners, which will be announced at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center in January.
What would you pay for a crash-proof car?
Well before autonomous, self-driving cars become common, advanced safety systems could make it nearly impossible for you to crash your new car or truck.
How much will that advanced electronic security blanket cost? Will it be widely available or limited to expensive luxury vehicles? Those are key questions for automakers, regulators and consumers.
As researchers and regulators fill downtown Detroit for the Intelligent Transportation Systems conference this week, some folks are trying to calculate how much new automotive safety systems will cost.
Toyota’s “in the final stages” of figuring out how to package and price an ambitious suite of safety features it will offer across its model line within the next couple of years, brand general manager Bill Fay said this week. The plan includes some vehicles with active systems to prevent collisions.
Such features are becoming common on mass-market vehicles. The Chrysler 200, for example, combines radar and other sensors to tap the brakes to get the driver’s attention if a collision is imminent and brings the car to a complete halt to avoid parking lot scrapes.
The technologies will become more common and in the near future.
“Suppliers are bringing down the cost of sensors and computer processors,” said Richard Wallace, director of transportation systems analysis at the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor. “We’ll see fairly significant reductions in accidents and fatalities well before fully autonomous vehicles become common.”
In addition to reducing accidents, “sensor fusion” will weave a safety net around the vehicle, improve fuel efficiency and serve as a sort of autopilot during highway driving, said Jeremy Carlson, IHS Automotive senior analyst.
“It’s now financially feasible to put it on a Chevrolet Impala, not a Cadillac,” Wallace said.
A combination of cruise control, automatic braking, blind-spot alert, and automated parking and lane-keeping assistance that adds a couple of thousand dollars to a vehicle’s cost today may fall to a couple of hundred dollars by 2020.
Truth, justice and pickup towing capacities
Hats off to Automotive News. The publication recently did truck buyers a considerable favor by forcing some automakers to close a loophole the size of a semi-trailer in how they advertise their pickups’ towing capability.
Automotive News hounded Ford and GM into revealing the practice and then changing it.
The saga began when Chrysler’s Ram brand and Ford got into a spat over whose heavy-duty truck could tow more. In a nutshell, Chrysler said Ford’s figures didn’t add up. Ford showed its work to the class and revealed it had taken a shortcut that raised eye brows.
It turned out Ford calculated how much its F-450 pickup could tow by using not a base pickup, but one from which the company removed several key items, including the center console and rear bumper. Ford began doing this in the 2011 model year.
GM followed suit earlier this year. Ram, Toyota and Nissan — the other manufacturers of fullsize pickups — used standard base-model pickups rather than lightweight strippers to calculate how much their trucks can tow and haul. Heavy-duty pickups like the Ram 3500 and F-450 that precipitated the argument account for about a quarter of pickup sales this year and cost an average of more than $50,000, according to Automotive News.
The issue made most people’s eyes glaze over, but Automotive News reporter Larry Vellequette realized the practice was at least somewhat misleading to pickup buyers, for whom towing and cargo capacities are vital statistics. After several reports explaining the practice, GM changed its test procedure to use base pickups like those on dealer lots.
Ford followed suit last week, and went a step further by promising to use a new industry standard to calculate how much an F-450 can tow. The Society of Automotive Engineers J2807 test procedure defines exactly how well a truck must be able to climb a hill accelerate and do other jobs while towing a load.
“Good on them for doing the right thing,” Vellequette told me.
The story had a happy ending for Ford as well as for truck buyers. Even after replacing 150 pounds of parts Ford removed for earlier tests, the F-450 still claims the highest towing capacity in its class at a whopping 31,200 pounds.
Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan.


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united arab emirates led lighting market was strong growth trend ceiling light tongdeng panel lights demand
As the economic leader in the Middle East, the UAE has trade relations with 179 countries and regions, enjoying the reputation of “economic engine” in the Gulf region. Foreign trade occupies an important position in the economy. In recent years, China’s exports to the UAE’s merchandise growth momentum. According to statistics, China’s accession to the WTO for more than a decade, exports to Afghanistan increased by nearly seven times, much faster than China’s growth in exports to other countries in the Middle East.After several years of real estate bubble crisis, the UAE’s construction industry has entered a stage of full recovery. In a large number of projects launched on the occasion, the lighting market is full of spring. At the same time, the United Arab Emirates began to pay attention to environmental protection products because of the increasing population and the rapid development of urbanization, in order to control carbon dioxide emissions and save energy.LED market analysisAccording to GSC Research monitoring data, in 2012, the UAE LED light market size of about 46 million US dollars to 54 million US dollars, equivalent to sales of 100 million units -120 million units in 2013, the United Arab Emirates LED lighting share of about 60 million US dollars to 68 million US dollars in 2014, the UAE LED lighting market size compared to the previous year increased by 23%, LED lighting market share of about 78 million US dollars to 82 million US dollars. Some companies such as Philips, General Lighting Co., GE Lighting and Osram maintain their respective leading positions, with more than 60% market share in 2014.The first quarter of 2015, China’s exports to the UAE’s LED lighting total of about 70.916 million US dollars, accounting for China’s total exports in the first quarter of 1.9%, the United Arab Emirates main products accounted for the top three are ceiling lights, LED downlights, LED panels Lamp, accounting for 23.8%, respectively, 19.7%, 17.6%.UAE LED market is showing a strong growth, is expected to 2019 market size of about 224 million US dollars, 2014-2019 year compound annual growth rate will reach 20%. Philips continues to dominate the UAE LED lighting market, followed by General Lighting Co., GE Lighting and Osram.
LED products related policiesFor the UAE’s LED market demand, the Government which have positive measures to promote?1. The Government of the United Arab Emirates declares energy conservation regulations for lighting products to prohibit the sale of inefficient bulbs and to ensure the promotion and use of energy-efficient, safe and high-quality light bulbs. This rule is effective July 1, 2014.2, the United Arab Emirates Standardization and Meteorology Agency (ESMA): ① ESMA lighting products have been identified in the United Arab Emirates certification and registration requirements. The relevant parameters of lighting products have been identified, including electrical safety, energy efficiency, functional and safe disposal. ③ All lighting product packaging will display the energy logo to show the details of the energy efficiency rating. ④ Illumination products that do not comply with the regulations do not allow entry into the UAE market.3, the new law provides since July 1, 2014 began to phase out inefficient lighting, and standardize the implementation of the recovery and disposal methods. The UAE led the entire Middle East lighting standards and regulations to implement. In accordance with the United Arab Emirates Standardization and Metrology Authority (ESMA) directive, December 31, 2014 officially ban the sale of standard incandescent bulbs in the UAE.Market potential is greatUAE’s LED lighting solutions sales are expected to increase significantly due to restrictions on the use of the UAE’s new regulations for the import and sale of incandescent lamps in residential areas. The implementation of the new regulations is expected to save energy bills nearly $ 200 million a year, reducing carbon emissions equivalent to 165,000 vehicles on the road each year. At the same time can also be seen, the UAE’s LED market potential is still great. Dubai, the United Arab Emirates in 2020 will host the World Expo, for the LED industry to bring sustained growth in the size of the huge demand. With the implementation of the “one country, one road” strategy, the relationship between China and the United Arab Emirates will become more and more close, and more and more cooperation on infrastructure will also be reached.


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Dallas, TX (PRWEB) May 12, 2017
Restaurants experienced a third consecutive month of negative same-store sales in April, with results essentially unchanged vs. March. Sales declined by -1.0 percent for the month, which is only a 0.1 percentage point improvement from March. This insight comes from data by TDn2K™ through The Restaurant Industry Snapshot™, based on weekly sales from over 27,000+ restaurant units and 155+ brands, representing $67 billion dollars in annual revenue.
Same-store traffic declined -3.3 percent during April, also a very modest improvement of 0.1 percentage points over March’s results.
Through April, 2017 sales are down -1.5 percent vs. a -2.3 percent sales decline in the fourth quarter of last year. If sales remain at April levels for the balance of the second quarter, it would be the best quarterly performance in over a year.
“There are some reasons to be cautiously optimistic about the second quarter, at least in terms of improvement over what we’ve seen in the recent past,” stated Victor Fernandez, Executive Director of Insights and Knowledge for TDn2K. “The move of the Easter holiday meant that April’s results were likely softer than they would have been without this shift, meaning spending in restaurants was probably a little stronger than the numbers show. Furthermore, sales started softening considerably starting with June of last year. This translates into easier comparisons when calculating this year’s sales growth rates.”
“Unemployment remains very low and there are indications of wage growth given the tight labor market. Consumer confidence dropped in April, but still remains strong compared with recent years. However, as many have pointed out, the generally strong economy has not yet translated to sustained growth for the industry.”
The Macroeconomic Environment
“The economy grew slowly in the first quarter, led by mediocre consumer spending,” explained Joel Naroff, President of Naroff Economic Advisors and TDn2K Economist. “The key was a cutback in big-ticket purchases after nearly two years of binging on things such as vehicles. The rising household debt load is likely to suppress consumption, including eating out. But the real issue for the economy is expectations. After the election, companies and individuals starting counting on tax cuts to drive the economy forward. Those cuts are not expected to be passed until the end of the year. And given the political uncertainty, it is not clear how extensive they will be.”
“The hope that consumer and business spending will surge is probably just that, hope. That said, the economy should rebound this quarter but it looks like we are in for another year of 2.25% growth. While that pace is not likely to make anyone happy, it is enough for the labor market to tighten further and the Fed to continue raising rates, possibly as soon as June.”
Industry Segment Performance
The best performing segments in April, and the only ones with sales increases, were fine dining, upscale casual, and family dining. As has been the case for over a year, upscale casual and fine dining are at the top of the average guest check scale and are aligned with a more experience-based dining proposition for a less price sensitive consumer than mid-scale industry segments. It is important to note that sales for all three of these segments appear to have been positively affected by the shift in the Easter holiday.
The weakest segments in April were fast casual and quick service. After years of positive growth and being one of the top performing industry segments, quick service has experienced a downturn in 2017. Additionally, the Black Box Intelligence Market Share Report shows that fast casual is the fastest growing segment, which indicates a possible cannibalization effect occurring in the segment.
Struggles continue for casual dining, although the rate of decline has lessened somewhat. Average same-store traffic growth for 2017 was -2.9 percent vs. the -4.1 percent drop in the last six months of 2016.
The Restaurant Workforce
Staffing woes continue for the industry as hourly employee and restaurant management turnover rates continued to rise, according to the latest data from TDn2K’s People Report™. While it may seem impossible for things to get any worse, restaurant operators continue to predict increasing recruiting difficulties for upcoming quarters based on the People Report Workforce Index.
Almost four out of every five restaurant terminations in 2016 were employees leaving their jobs voluntarily, and about 40 percent of all hourly employee terminations are within 90 days of hire. This obviously speaks to the tight labor market and increased competition for employees.
It is particularly challenging to fill back-of-the-house vacancies. Companies responding to a recent People Report survey said they typically receive three times more candidates for front-of-house positions than for back-of-house. Back-of-house positions also take about 40 percent longer to fill. Changes in the immigration landscape will undoubtedly add uncertainty to an already-volatile labor market.
TDn2K™ (Transforming Data into Knowledge) is the parent company of People Report™, Black Box Intelligence™ and White Box Social Intelligence™. People Report provides service-sector human capital and workforce analytics for its members on a monthly basis. Black Box Intelligence provides weekly financial and market level data for the restaurant industry. White Box Social Intelligence delivers consumer insights and reveals online brand health. TDn2K membership represents 38,000 restaurant units, 2.3 million employees, and $67 billion in sales. They are also the producers of leading restaurant industry events including the Global Best Practices Conference held annually each January in Dallas, Texas.


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Dutch hotel brand CitizenM has entered into a collaboration with German project developer GBI to plan its debut in the country.
The focus for CitizenM's expansion in Germany will be on four cities: Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Berlin, where the company plans to open several hotels in each city. GBI and CitizenM will search for suitable properties and plots of land for the brand to acquire, and then develop turnkey CitizenM hotels together.
CitizenM has been expanding its global portfolio across Europe, North America and Asia. In March 2019, citizenM welcomed its third investor, GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, raising the value of the company to €2 billion. GIC joins citizenM’s two other investors, KRC Capital (the private investment vehicle) and APG (the Dutch Pension Fund). Together, they have committed to invest €750 million of new equity for future hotel developments.
"It had been clear for some time that Germany, as Europe's strongest economic country and a sought-after travel destination, would be one of our next targets," Klaas van Lookeren Campagne, CEO at CitizenM, said, "but we needed the right partner and consultant for our expansion. We are delighted to have found this with GBI."
In the spring of 2020, the GBI Group of Companies was named Germany's largest project developer of hotels by bulwiengesa,a major independent real-estate consulting company in continental Europe. GBI’s hotel developments cover 140,000 square meters of usable space altogether. GBI has held its top bulwiengesa ranking for four years in a row.
"For GBI, the new mandate is a perfect addition to its development activities," Reiner Nittka, CEO of GBI Holding AG, said. "In terms of brand positioning and location requirements, this is an ideal fit."
CitizenM currently has 20 hotels open in eight countries as well as a confirmed pipeline of 25 properties.


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Salesforce.com: The company's software suite is now available on the iPhone. Customers can check the status of sales efforts or inventory from anywhere, at a cost of $50 per user.
TD Ameritrade: The online stock broker hired an Argentine developer to create its mobile software—and paid nothing upfront. Instead, the developer gets a cut of commissions from trades using its program.
Pelago: Its software lets you see on an iPhone what friends think of nearby restaurants or hotels. The company just scrapped plans to adapt Pelago for other phones because of Apple's success.
Tapulous: More than 5.5 million people have downloaded this game, which tests iPhone owners' ability to tap to the beat of the music. The startup turned a profit in December, six months ahead of schedule.


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Is Dodge ending the Hemi?
We discussed in a previous blog the news that FCA was ending Hellcat production in 2023 and going to replace the product line with a new series of all muscle car EVs. Now the latest news is shortly after that happens, FCA will cease gas burning Hemi V8 production totally in production cars and trucks.
Is Dodge going to stop making the Hemi?
Dodge performance cars and Hemi V8 engines are a powerful combination, but the Dodge CEO says that the Hemi will be retiring in the near future for electrified models instead. According to Autoblog, since there's a squeeze for emissions control, most automakers are going down the electrification path nowadays.
Is Ram dropping the Hemi?
It's rumored that Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM Trucks will drop the naturally aspirated HEMI V8 from their vehicles. In its place, the performance versions of certain Stellantis models could receive the new GME T6 twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine.
Is Dodge getting rid of V8?
Article content. Dodge will show off its new electric concept vehicle early in 2022, and discontinue its roaring Hellcat V8 engines, after 2023, the brand's chief executive recently confirmed to an automotive news outlet.
What engine will replace the 5.7 Hemi?
In this latest update, Allpar claims the 5.7L Hemi will be replaced by a high-tech turbocharged I-6 engine, featuring many of the same features as the GME I-4. Exact displacement is unknown, but will likely be between 3.0 and 3.6 liters, with output of more than 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque.
Chrysler Just Shut Down Production of the HEMI Engine Forever (No More V8 Engines)
Is Ram coming out with a new engine?
Is Ram coming out with a new engine? The 5.7-liter HEMI V8's days are numbered. In March 2022, Stellantis unveiled an all-new engine, a twin-turbocharged straight-six for its full-frame Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles.
How many miles will a Hemi 5.7 last?
5.7 Hemi engines are good for 250-300 000 miles and more if properly cared for and regular maintenance is carried out. Early models suffered from valve seat issues which were rectified after 2008. It's not uncommon to find high mileage 5.7 Hemi trucks running around today.
Is Ram discontinuing the 5.7 Hemi?
Big news out of Stellantis today as it officially releases details on the new Hurricane 3.0-liter twin-turbo I-6 engine, which will be the primary engine for its Ram trucks and commercial vehicles. This means, the 5.7-liter V-8 Hemi is very likely dead for the upcoming, refreshed 2023 Ram 1500.
Is Chrysler killing the Hemi?
Dodge, Jeep, Ram and parent company Stellantis have begun the painful process of shedding the brash, loud powertrains that have made the marque famous. It's been announced that the brand's sublime 6.2-litre Hemi V8 is set for the knackers yard in 2023, with Stellantis to axe it across its respective model lines.
Is Ford killing the V8?
The world is on a trend shift from large displacement brawny engines to smaller efficient turbo-petrol motors with lesser cylinders and electric driven future.
What engine is Dodge getting rid of?
Replacing the Hemi V8 will be the GME T6 or the Global Medium Engine Turbocharged 6, a name which just rolls off the tongue. It will be used for all Stellantis Global medium platform models, which include the Dodge Challenger and Charger.
Is Dodge discontinuing the Hellcat engine?
Dodge is ending production of its iconic, V-8-powered Hellcat Challenger and Charger muscle cars models by 2023 as the brand transitions to a mix of electrified EV, hybrid, and plug-in drivetrains in the face of government regulations forcing battery-powered vehicles.
Will Dodge make a new V8?
THE HEART OF THE BEAST. The 2022 Dodge Challenger isn't one to be messed with. Thanks to its Supercharged 6.2L High-Output HEMI®
V8 engine, the SRT®
Super Stock has the highest horsepower of any production car and is the most powerful muscle car( Disclosure3).
Is Dodge ending the Challenger?
Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis recently confirmed to Motor Authority that the Charger and Challenger — and their Hellcat engines — will cease production by 2024. Motor Trend, who also spoke to Kuniskis, offered further details on the three new Dodge vehicles that will replace them.
Will the 2023 Ram have a Hemi?
2023 Ram 1500 powertrains
The 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar engine is likely dead, the EcoDiesel and Hemi V-8 engines will live on while the 8-speed automatic transmission won't see any changes. There will also be a new 3.0-liter inline-6 engine dubbed the Hurricane making its Ram debut.
Is Dodge Ram better than Ford?
Ram 1500 vs Ford F-150 Conclusion
RAM 1500 is a better deal. It has a better V6 and a great V8 with the interesting eTorque mild hybrid system available. Both trucks offer however much you'd like of performance, capability and luxury, but the Ram is a more modern truck both aesthetically and mechanically.
What year did the 5.7 HEMI have issues?
2005 Dodge Magnum: Engine Stalls After Refueling
Multiple 2005 Dodge Magnum owners have reported that the car's 5.7L Hemi engine frequently stalls after refueling. One NHTSA report from February of 2020 maintains that this issue occurs every time the car receives a full tank of gas.
Does the 5.7 HEMI require premium gas?
5.7L Engine (With Automatic Transmission)
This engine is designed to meet all emissions regulations and provide satisfactory fuel economy and performance when using high quality unleaded gasoline having a posted octane number range of 87 to 89 as specified by the (R+M)/2 method.
Why is Ram still making the classic?
Ram unveiled a new fifth-generation of the Ram 1500 in 2019, but decided to build a brand-new version of the older fourth-generation truck as a way to let consumers purchase a new but more affordable pickup. The 2019 Ram Classic was a strong seller and that is why Ram continued it for 2020 and 2021.
Is Ram coming out with a midsize truck?
Ram won't have a midsize pickup in America until 2023 at the earliest and possibly as late as 2024. Despite the lengthy wait, Ram taking its time is probably not the worst idea.
How much horsepower does Ram 1500 5.7 HEMI have?
The available 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 with eTorque will check all the boxes with 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. The mild-hybrid system will help upgrade performance with fuel-economy ratings that stand at 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway and a maximum towing capacity of 12,750 pounds.
Is the V8 engine dying?
The V8 engine is likely on its way out of existence, as many countries move to implement regulations that could make new gas-powered vehicles illegal as early as 2030. In the meantime, fuel economy regulations are getting continuously stricter, which also takes a toll on the notoriously not-so-efficient V8.
Is the government banning V8s?
It's no shock to be told, in 2021, that in the near-future gasoline engines will start to disappear from the landscape. Nor is it much of a surprise to hear that V8s will be the first to go. But when you hear it from the CEO of an automaker that still relies heavily on those big guns, you sit up and pay heed.
What is replacing the Hellcat?
That's why the Detroit-based automaker has found a way around the forthcoming ban on gasoline-burning vehicles, as it has today announced plans for an 800-horsepower hydrogen-combustion muscle car that will replace the Hellcat in the automaker's lineup, to be called the SRT Hydra.
What is replacing the Dodge Hellcat?
Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis told Motor Authority that production of the supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 will end and be replaced by its upcoming eMuscle EVs.


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Hong Kong, April 20 (ANI): The heavy toll that chip shortages have inflicted on global auto industry is now broadening to other sectors, S&P Global Ratings said in a report released on Tuesday.
"The chip shortage may cap the revenue growth of some PC and smartphone makers, and impede their ability to capitalise on surging consumption," said S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Clifford Kurz.
Chip vendors also need to manage rising costs as fabs increase prices amid a surge in demand for their services. They should be able to largely pass on these higher costs to customers.
Original equipment manufacturers that are unable to procure sufficient components to meet orders for their products will feel more pain.
The report said supply issue is most severe in auto industry. Many carmakers have announced factory shutdowns and prioritised production based on an entity's ability to procure critical parts.
Other sectors now also being squeezed include some smartphone manufacturers. Even some home appliance producers in China are reporting production issues related to chip shortages.
"Our base case is that the spike in demand will ease in the second half of 2021, returning the supply chain to equilibrium. However, there's always a chance that demand does not abate or that a fresh supply shock could trigger yet more acute shortages," said Kurz.
While we anticipate no ratings change related to the shortages for now, chip shortfalls will be the major variable affecting the revenues and profits of key global entities for at least the next 12 months. (ANI)


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Ad Age Next: Streaming
Mega-media mergers, sports on streaming, the measurement faceoff and buzzy, new ad-supported subscriptions. The digital entertainment world has been a flurry of ever-innovating change as more platforms enter the competitive streaming market—perhaps even brands themselves.
On Nov. 10, Ad Age will host a state of the streaming industry, featuring conversations with media goliaths, niche streaming services and the brands that are populating their emerging ad-tiers.
Tickets will be available to purchase soon.
For more information, please email [email protected].
To inquire about available sponsorship opportunities, email [email protected].


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Micromax Canvas A88
Micromax is in news with their new device that is “Micromax Canvas A88”
It looks like micromax wants to be dominant in Indian mobile market,so it is launching
new flagship in their canvas series every month.
Micromax depends on its Canvas series as only this series gave it a stand in the Indian market.
Now Micromax launch a new device and according to them it is for those one ,who like music.
With this,Micromax offering unlimited songs download from their Mlive! store which is pre-installed in Canvas series.
they are also providing a JBL tempo headset with this Smartphone.JBL is well-known name in audio brands.
If we take a look at other features then it comes with 1GHz dual-core processor(Mediatek) along with 512 MB of RAM.
It is equipped with the 4.5 inch display and OS on this device is Android 4.1
Some other Specification of Micromax Canvas A88 :
Processor 1GHz Dual-core mediatek processor
Display 4.5inch that supports a resolution of 480*854p
RAM 512 MB
OS Android 4.1(Jelly Bean)
Memory 4GB internal(1.93 GB for user),Expandable up to 32GB
Camera 5MP rear camera with dual LED flash and front camera is VGA
It is priced at 8,499 Rs and it will be available on 16th May on all retail outlets and
There will be two variants black and white.


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By Festus Okoromadu
Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) Plc, Friday notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) of discussions and negotiations with the board of one of its subsidiaries, Niger Flour Mills Limited with regards to merging their respective businesses. Currently, FMN Plc holds 99.97 per cent equity in Niger Flour Mills. The proposed merger according to the notification sent to the Exchange will facilitate the consolidation of the operations of both individual entities and processes into a single enlarged entity.
Part of the document obtained by ‘thepost’ from the Exchange reads, “The board of Flour Mills believes that the enlarged entity will consolidate Flour Mills’ leading position in the flour milling industry, accessing positive economies of scale and realizing significant synergies through enhanced operational and a unified product delivery platform, and thereby providing immense benefits to the shareholders and customers of Flour Mills.
Accordingly, the purposed merger is expected to create a more efficient company, positioned to create potential savings through the optimization of overhead cost, particularly administrative cost relating to maintaining two distinctive entities.The proposed scheme of merger will be undertaken pursuit to Part XII of the Investment and Securities Act No, 29 of 2007. The scheme according to the notice, will be achieved by the transfer of all of the assets, liabilities and undertakings of Niger Mills to Flour Mills or alternatively a cash consideration in lieu of the allotment of the said Flour Mills shares be made to the minority shareholders. The scheme, upon becoming effective, all shares held in Niger Mills will be cancelled.
Meanwhile, a court ordered meeting has been scheduled to hold February 20, 2013 at Eko Hotel and Suite in Lagos in a bid to ratify the merger.


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We’re proud to be a leading commercial mover in New York City. But for us, not only does that mean completing top-notch office relocations throughout the metropolis, but also movement of a different kind: progress
The Tory Burch Foundation, which was founded by the namesake fashion designer in 2009, works to advance women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship. Earlier this month, the foundation held its annual Embrace Ambition series, a week-long, multi-city set of intimate events featuring talks on topics including empowering women, unconscious bias, using your voice for change, entrepreneurship, and more.
The series’ closing event was held at the Brooklyn Museum, and, unlike a typical office move in New York City, we provided three of our main services: relocation, storage, and delivery for it. As such, the project involved several components, including pickup of event items at both the foundation’s office and the Tory Sport store in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. Between the event and the return of event items at the foundation’s office and the store, we also stored the items overnight at our newly opened warehouse in Secaucus, New Jersey (read more about our unique office storage program here)
As an top New York City office mover, as well as a woman-owned business, we are proud to have played a part in making this year’s Embrace Ambition series run as smoothly as it did. You can watch highlights from the series here.
To have Eagle Transfer help with your upcoming New York City office move, call Niko Krommydas at 212-741-0404 or send an email to email@example.com


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Globe International, the Australian-based multi-brand skate company, saw its net income soar during its fiscal first half, partly due to a favorable comparison base with the same period last year, when the U.S. introduced extra tariffs and the strengthening U.S. dollar weighed on profits. The group also benefitted from good economic conditions in Australia and New Zealand, since these countries resisted better to the Covid-19 pandemic than most nations.
Globe’s net income for the six months ended Dec. 31 reached 15.3 million Australian dollars ($9.9m-$11.0m), up sharply from AU$3.9 million for the same period a year ago, in spite of lower extaordinary gains.
Sales jumped by 60 percent to AU$124.8 million (€80.8m-$97.2m), fueled by the brands Impala, FXD, Globe and Salty Crew, with double-digit growth recorded across all the regions where the group operates.
Sales progressed everywhere despite Covid-19 restrictions in place across the world, which the group attributed to a momentum behind its brands, its global spread, a diverse category mix and growing online sales.
North America was the fastest-growing area with sales climbing by 82 percent to AU$41.9 million (€27.1m-$32.6m). Australasia, Globe’s largest region, rose by 55 percent to AU$65.7 million (€42.5m-$51.2m). Europe saw a lower 37 percent improvement in sales to AU$17.3 million (€11.2m-$13.5m), but its operating results turned around to a profit of AU$2.9 million (€1.9m-$2.3m).
The group’s gross margin jumped by 5.6 percentage points to 43.2 percent, driven by higher online sales, a weaker U.S. dollar and a shift in the product mix toward higher-margin hardgoods.
The management said its decision to focus on its main outdoor brands paid off. Last year, it sold U.S.-based Dwindle to Highline Industries, with Globe International retaining distribution rights for the brand in Australia, New Zealand, the U.K. and Spain. The brands marketed by Dwindle include Almost, Blind, Dusters California, Kryptonics and Enjoi.
Globe explained that the sale of this business division was part of an ongoing strategic overhaul of the group’s brand mix, aimed at reducing the number of smaller brands in its global operations, while giving the company a much better balance of apparel, footwear and skateboard hardgoods brands proportionate to the revenues of each product category.
Looking ahead, Globe expects sales to remain strong in the second half of its fiscal year, depending on a reliable supply of products, primarily from China. Profitability is also expected to remain high, but lower than in the first half of the year, as investments are being made to fuel the continued growth in sales. The gross margin should be a few basis points lower due to increased landed costs and a different sales mix.


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Alorica is looking to hire 675 more full-time employees at its Tulsa call center.
The center is located at the Eastgate Metroplex, 14002 E. 21st St.
The announcement comes following a similar announcement last year in which the company said it was hiring an additional 300 full-time employees at its Tulsa office.
There are more than 900 employees currently working at the Tulsa location, said Melissa Mosley, talent acquisition senior recruiter at the Tulsa site.
The company announced it was hiring 150 more people at its Tulsa location in 2017.
Alorica, based in Irvine, California, has more than 100,000 employees in about 130 locations worldwide.
The company entered the Tulsa market in late 2005 when it acquired contracts and assets from DecisionOne and moved into Eastgate Metroplex in 2009.
Positions available include customer experience associates (tech support, customer service, sales), team managers (supervisors), operation managers and trainers, Mosley said.
“Based on position, Alorica team members can take advantage of flexible schedules and competitive benefits including paid training, medical and dental insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, sick time, 401(k) and an assortment of employee discounts,” the release said.
Those interested in applying can visit the contact center during walk-in hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to meet with an Alorica representative or visit jobs.alorica.com.


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Update: Adobe has now released the public beta of the application for developers and is available here. They have however left out browser integration and there is no personalisation with screensavers either. For more on this jump over to The Nokia Guide. For a complete How-To on getting FLV to work read on.
Nokia PC Suite has been updated to 6.85 and with the updated has come quite an ovehaul and is available from the PC Suite page. The new UI looks great and here’s a rundown of some of the new featues it brings. I’ve been beta testing it for the past few weeks and must say I find this even better than the Nseries PC Suite!
Update: The New Firmware is out.
The new Nokia N95 firmware v21 is generationg a lot of hype. The new firmware is suppossed to bring:
– Demand Paging
– Close to 30 MB free RAM on bootup
– Ngage Platform Support
– Integrated Search (On the Standby Screen)
– You Tube Playback directly from the browser! (More Info Here)
– New N95 8GB like Icons
– Grid view in the Camera options
– Music Store and Podcasts in a new Music Folder
– Camera Activation with the Capture button (Useful for the front cam)
– A new lease of life for the N95!
Trackback URL is here.
The N82 was launched yesterday after much anticipation, rumors and spy shots. Full Techical Specifications are available here. The virtual event and the product manager chit chat has been widely appreciated the world over and I myself love the idea thoroughly. It a great concept and I do hope continues with it, but what I really want is the idea being extended and given a new dimension.
Generally companies launch products with much fanfare and then their commitment dips to an extent. What I would love to see is such programs even after the device is shipped. We’d have way better Firmware upgrades this way and better overall consumer satisfaction and what not.
The Google Mobile Phone OS ‘Android‘ has just gone official. Android, is named after the start-up company that Google bought in 2004 for its mobile software. Google has also made it clear that it won’t be making or marketing any phones. It is more significant and ambitious than a single phone. In fact, through the joint efforts of the members of the Open Handset Alliance, Google hopes to make Android the foundation for many new phones and create an entirely new mobile experience for users, with new applications and new capabilities. The entire theme for the Platform is ‘Innovation’.
Android will deliver a complete set of software for mobile devices: an operating system, middleware and key mobile applications and because Android will cost nothing, it could undercut rivals who charge handset makers to install their operating systems. It also promises to make smart phones less expensive since manufacturers won’t have to pay for software.
Well this has nothing to do with Symbian directly but is far too important to miss. According to a post over at C|Net google is going to announce a new platform, a new mobile operating system that runs on Linux and is called Android! Such an announcement has been expected for long and now we have just one more day to go. On Monday Google is expected to reveal details on the mythical Gphone.
Google is calling the venture an “Open Handset Alliance” and it includes partners like KDDI and NTT DoCoMo and 30 others including Qualcomm, Broadcom, HTC, Intel, Samsung, Motorola, Sprint, and Texas Instruments.. The platform will supposedly be open source falling under the Apache License, Version 2.0. The flavor of Linux that Android will be built on top of looks to be that from Wind River.


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WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Danaher Corp. DHR, +0.96% reported first-quarter net income of $215.7 million, or 67 cents a share, up from $188.3 million, or 58 cents, earned in the same period during 2005. The manufacturer of industrial tools, components and instruments pegged its adjusted profit for the latest quarter at 66 cents a share, up about 20%. Sales reached $2.14 billion, up 17.5% from $1.83 billion in the 2005 first quarter, including growth from existing businesses of 7.5%. Analysts, on average, had been looking for earnings of 65 cents a share on revenue of $2.1 billion, according to estimates compiled by Thomson First Call. Shares of Danaher added 90 cents, or 1.4%, to end Wednesday's trading at $67.61, after setting a 52-week high at $67.98 earlier in the session.
Danaher's adjusted profit up 20% on 17.5% sales growth


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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCAU) said late Thursday it will distribute special bonuses to US employees and add 2,500 new jobs as a result of the tax reform bill signed by President Donald Trump. The company also plans to offer special bonus payments to 60,000 FCA employees in the United States, moves it said were made possible in part by the passage of USA tax reform legislation late previous year.
Another factor in the FCA move is the Trump administration's threat to walk away from the American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Chrysler is coming back to the United States of America, from Mexico and many others will follow. The truck is now made in Saltillo, Mexico.
Fiat/Chrysler is the latest company to offer bonuses to employees in the wake of the passage of President Trump's and Republicans' tax cut law, and they're big ones.
The automaker will invest $1 billion in its Warren Truck Assembly Plant to make the Ram Heavy Duty Truck starting in 2020. "That's wonderful", Farquhar said, noting that the investment and bonuses tell her the company is doing well. Early previous year, the company announced that they would invest a billion in the Toledo South plant for the new Jeep pickup and Warren Truck for the new Wagoneer. Fiat Chrysler is programmed to present a new light pickup truck, the Ram 1500, on Monday. The announcement on Friday (12 January) comes after multiple minivan owners filed complaints a year ago, saying their vehicles abruptly shut off while driving including, in some cases, at highway speeds.
Pulp and paper industry in NL braces for Trump administration newsprint duties
It has asked the World Trade Organization to examine the American use of punitive duties, alleging that they violate global law. Anneberg said that's a "small price to pay to preserve American manufacturing jobs" in Washington, Mississippi and Georgia.
"I'm just elated at this news", Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said.
"It's all taking off here in Macomb County", Hackel said. "This is an awesome statement".
The company since June 2009 has invested $10 billion in USA plants.
More notable recent Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (NYSE:FCAU) news were published by: Twst.com which released: "Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV: November 2017 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Sales in ..." on December 14, 2017, also Usatoday.com with their article: "For Fiat brand, a disastrous end to a hard year" published on January 08, 2018, Seekingalpha.com published: "Fiat Chrysler: Undervalued And Improving" on December 29, 2017. FCA had pledged to invest $5.3 billion in American plants to guarantee additional union jobs as part of that agreement.


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American and European officials are working together to set joint standards for the development and regulation of future electric vehicles, a move that should further solidify the EV’s increasing prominence in the automotive market.
European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht was in Washington D.C. yesterday where he gave a speech and stated that the shared rules should help both sides “avoid moving into different directions and risk creating new market barriers.” Bloomberg reports that details still need to be worked out and will like be released later this year, but we expect a large chunk of the discussion will rest over batteries and motors.
The two sides will also likely address the issue of sound (or lack thereof), which was heavily debated among American lawmakers last year. Aside from the faint whine of electric motors and regenerative braking systems, EVs and hybrids are almost completely silent at low speeds. Last December, congress passed a bill that would require all EVs and hybrids to be equipped with a “noise maker” to alert nearby pedestrians. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is approximately six months into its 18-month long study of researching and developing requirements for reasonable alert sounds.
While the true benefit of the EV noise makers are still debatable, the same could be said of many of the automotive regulations the U.S. government mandates. American consumers are often left lusting for European-market cars that automakers decide not to export to our shores due to the excessive bureaucratic red tape and modifications needed to meet U.S. standards. Volkswagen, for example, offers the sleek Scirocco two-door hatchback in Europe, but claims they would lose money by making it U.S. ready (and it would likely eat into GTI sales). So, while the planned collaboration is certainly great news for the future of EVs, it won’t do much for us fans of the good ol’ internal combustion engine.


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Canada’s New Beef Paradigm
May 20, 2003
It was the first Tuesday after the Victoria Day and across the country, Canadians were getting back to work after the long weekend. The distant promise of summer seemed real, and a carpet of new, green grass was spreading across cattle country in the West. And then everything changed.
That day, the government solemnly announced that BSE (Mad Cow Disease) had been discovered in a beef cow from Alberta. Ranchers were called to pick up their animals from auction because no one showed up to buy them.?Around the world, one market after another sealed their borders to Canadian beef. The most devastating closure was the United States, where 80 per cent of Canada’s beef and cattle exports would typically end up. The Canadian public rallied behind the industry, lining up to buy burgers in the aftermath in organized shows of support. Industry and government worked together to develop financial assistance programs, and to re-open markets as quickly as possible. Rural communities reached out to support their neighbours in any way they could?—?sharing chores, food, and shoulders to cry on.
Still, the suffering was immense. Family dynamics were forever changed. There were divorces, and young adults who found work in cities instead of at the family ranch. Families who had nurtured the same pastures for generations had no choice but to leave the land they loved, or to break it to seed it to grain. Cowboys looking forward to retirement went to town to find jobs pumping gas, just to hang onto their land and their cattle which the market said was now worth next to nothing. There were suicides, bankruptcies, lost dreams and broken hearts.
From the ashes of the crisis, a new Canadian cattle industry emerged. Some would say it came out stronger and wiser. Others might disagree, believing the heart and soul of the business was broken. But there was consensus on two things?—?the beef business had changed, and it had shrunk. In 2001, there were 122,066 farms with cattle, and by January 2012, there were fewer than 95,105 farms with either beef or dairy cattle. Many of the changes allowed Canada to become a global leader in beef production in areas such as animal health and welfare. The advances were seen as necessary to reopen foreign markets, and cattle producers were investing in technologies like radio frequency identification tags to track and trace individual animals.
Head-first, Canada’s remaining beef producers have plunged into this brave new world, only to face new perils. The U.S. and Canadian dollars were almost evenly matched, which decimated the profit margin that had made the north-south trade so profitable in the past. If the Canadian cowboy and the precious rangelands he rode were going to survive, trade paradigms were going to have to change.
November 13, 2013
The busy streets are lined with shiny cars, most of which came off the line within the last three to five years. The only vehicles that look older are the taxicabs, which are almost all Volkswagen Santanas made within the last decade. The frustrated driver behind the wheel of a BMW honks at the slow-moving traffic in front of him?—?a rickshaw carrying caged chickens. This is Shanghai, the economic epicentre of the new China.
Over the next three days, more than 90,000 people will attend the largest food trade show in the world, held in the heart of the newly-established Shanghai Free Trade Zone. The 28.78 square kilometre area is the only place in Mainland China where Facebook and other sites deemed politically sensitive can be accessed. It is a booming metropolis packed with modern architecture and five-star hotels. When it is a clear day, it is beautiful. When the air hangs heavy with smog, it is suffocating. But it is always moving. If Shanghai sleeps, it is in short naps between trade openings across time zones.
The FHC China trade show is where big boys of branding display trade booths as elaborate as Disney World rides. Campbell’s doesn’t have a booth?—?it has a giant can of soup, open on each end like a tunnel. Inside the red cylinder, buyers can travel through time as they examine advertisements and photographs documenting Campbell’s evolution. Heinz, Aunt Jemima, Spam?—?every flavour of the American dream is on display and for sale.
But the 580,000 square foot floor space doesn’t just house the best America has to offer?—?more than 45 countries have some skin in the game. They’re all after one thing?—?China’s emerging middle class and its new wealth. There are 1.35 billion people in China. That means for every one Canadian, there are 38 Chinese. There are 1.3 million millionaires in China right now, and just a hair fewer than 300,000 in Canada. Everyone wants a piece of the action, and Canada is no exception.
Usher in Canada Beef Incorporated (CBI), which was created in 2011 after Canada’s existing agencies responsible for beef research, marketing, and promotions were restructured into a new single and independent agency. Funded by cattle producers, their investment is leveraged to access development funds from the Canadian and Alberta governments. Canada Beef’s booth is in the meat building of the trade show. It is dwarfed by Australia, which is more of a destination than a booth, easily four times the size, which is indicative of their much-larger marketing budget. Despite its relative small stature, Canada Beef’s booth has impact. The look is modern, clean and clearly Canadian. A display case features bright red beef streaked with marbling so white that from a distance, it could be mistaken for roast-shaped candy canes. Two Chinese chefs are behind the grill, and an audience accumulates, drawn by sizzle and smell. The tender bites of beef are cooked just enough to brown the sides before they are stuck with Canadian flag toothpicks and distributed, sometimes to applause.
Behind the display case, the grill and the audience are cafe-style tables. CBI’s president, Rob Meijer and its chairman, Chuck Maclean, sit at one table with a potential buyer. This conversation is brief?—?the buyer asks only about price points and nothing about quality or how the beef is raised.
“You have to screen them out,” Meijer says. “Many are fly-by-night operators who only care about price points. That’s not who we are. You can’t deliver value like that.”
Meijer has led CBI?since its inception in 2011, and he’s all about building the brand to create value. In many ways, it’s a new way of thinking for the Canadian industry. When the U.S. dollar was high, Canada could deliver very attractive price points, and that’s often how business was done. But that strategy didn’t utilize Canadian beef’s strongest selling points?—?it’s among the best-tasting, most consistent beef in the world. It’s tender and grain-finished, and Canada’s health and safety standards are exceptional. It’s a premium product, the crème de la crème of the beef world, the Cadillac of steaks.
Alan Sarkin comes to the booth. He’s from New Zealand, but he’s been working in the Chinese market for years . He’s on a first-name basis with CBI’s Chinese staff members, and he smiles widely as he shakes hands with Meijer and Maclean. He’s in the process of sourcing beef directly from Canadian producers, and he deals only in gourmet. Price points don’t enter the conversation, and Sarkin is a straight-shooter.
“I’m a simple man. We focus on premium protein. I’m ready to commit to Canada, and to plant expansion to make it happen,” he said.
Meijer asks Sarkin why he wants Canadian beef, and what the brand stands for.
“The brand is Canada, and Canada is the brand. It represents quality, a pristine environment and wide-open spaces. It’s a cold weather beef?—?there’s a freshness associated with that,” Sarkin says.
In China, that perception is important. While only five per cent of China’s population consumes beef, that number is rising. And even at five per cent, that translates into more than 65 million people?—?nearly twice the entire Canadian population. That segment has money, and they want the fine things in life. They want what developed nations have and take for granted. They want fast cars, diamond rings and the latest fashions. They want expensive wine and gourmet cheeses. They don’t just want beef?—?they want the best beef. And most importantly, they want it to be clean and safe.
China’s economy is growing so fast, it’s almost cancerous. As the country opened to investment and opportunity, it was largely unregulated and when it was regulated, it was enforced ineffectively. That has meant an endless stream of food scares and scams. Recently, police seized 20,000 kg of fake beef, which was really pork that had been treated with chemicals and dyes to change its appearance.
December 15, 2013
The holidays are fast-approaching and Canadians are busy buying turkeys and hams for the festivities. Most people aren’t spending a lot of time thinking about foreign markets, live cattle prices, or domestic beef consumption. But Canadian cattle producers are. They worry whether the cow herd has finally stopped shrinking, and what would become of Canada’s remaining natural grasslands if it hasn’t.
But Canada’s cowboys and cowgirls aren’t throwing in the towel just yet. Across the country, they’re volunteering to serve on industry organizations that work with, and through CBI. Some producers are adapting their herds for European and Asian market preferences. Cowboys with iPhones are tweeting about the health benefits of Canadian beef?—?at least that’s one chore that can be done from the saddle. The modern cowboy is a multi-tasker, and his survival depends on how well he can tell his story.
But it’s not just his tale to tell. It belongs to anyone who has loved a horse, from afar or from right up-close. It’s for all those who would rather watch a sunset than a television, or shake a hand rather than sign a paper. Sarkin is right. The brand is Canada, and Canada is the brand. And at the end of the day, we’re all riding for it.


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Got $250 to spend this summer? Rent an island.
Imagine sitting on a beach with a drink in hand, staring out into a blue ocean. Pale sand stretches out on all sides, a gentle wind rustles the trees overhead and behind you a quaint little bungalow peeks out from a grove of tropical foliage. You’re the only person on the whole island. At this point in the dream, you might wake up, roll over in bed and smell the freshly brewed coffee that will propel you to work.
But renting an island is more plausible and more affordable than one might think. Not all island rentals are like Virgin Airlines owner Richard Branson’s famous Necker Island, which boasts a luxury resort and rents for $322,000 a week. Over the past few years, private island rentals have become increasingly popular. Web sites like privateislandsonline.com and vladi-private-islands.de, which dominate the online island-rental industry, tout more modest islands—in size, location and price.
And as the economy turns sour, these serve as affordable alternatives for the average vacationer who is unwilling to spend thousands on far-flung island adventures, but who wants an island adventure nonetheless.
“The concept of island rental and ownership is really becoming better known,” said Alexis Pappas, director of operations at Private Islands, Inc., a Web site that has specialized in island sales and rentals since the late 1990s. “A few years ago a lot of people were discovering it for the first time.” Now, she said, “there are a lot of celebrities that are also renting and buying islands and giving it more prominence. That’s sort of sparking people’s imaginations.”
Even an affordable island-rental scenario still boasts the main attraction: complete solitude. “It’s not going to be a luxury villa in the Caribbean, but it still lets you have that experience,” said Pappas. “When you’re on an island, you have the feeling that you can do whatever you want. It’s something that people have a lot of fantasies about.”
And with some flexibility on timing and location, these fantasies don’t have to break the bank. For instance, Private Islands is renting out an island off the coast of Croatia for only $250 a week. Of course it will cost nearly $2,000 to fly there and back from the U.S. Flying to Vanuatu, just west of Fiji, where the company has other affordable offerings, costs about $3,000.
The cheapest option is to pick a place closer to home. There are more than one million islands in the lakes and waterways of northeastern United States and southeastern Canada alone, and several hundred thousands of them are used as resorts, especially in the late spring and summer months. Take the two-acre Republic Island, located in the Michigamme River in northern Michigan. The heavily wooded island houses a cedar log cabin with a stone fireplace, three bedrooms and a full kitchen. A fire pit and lawn chairs sit outside. At $525 a week, it’s probably one of the more affordable island rentals in the country.
For those looking to save on climbing airfare and rising gas prices, local islands have a special appeal. “Just in the last couple years, people have taken more to the idea of staying closer to home, so they’re doing more research for local unique places,” said Judy Redfern, who manages a 32-acre island property called Sand Island’s Refuge, off the coast of North Carolina. Redfern said that more than 50 percent of last year’s visitors were repeat customers, many of them from the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee—all within short driving distance.
Sand Island’s Refuge is $2,500 for a weeklong stay, and includes a 17-foot boat, two kayaks and a canoe. “Once you rent the place, it’s just groceries pretty much,” said Anna Erwin, a grants officer from Wilmington, S.C., who has vacationed on the island with her husband for the past 12 years, leaving their kids with the grandparents for the week to come and fish for flounder and spot. “I like that it’s really private,” she said, even though it’s only a 90 minute drive from home.
Experts say that the desire to spend time on an island is common. “When we go to these kinds of places, it’s really on our own terms,” said Sheila Backman, a tourism studies professor at Clemson University, who tracks consumer behavior. “We’re hooked up with cell phones every day. So the need to escape is an important one.”
And for the owners of these private islands, renting is a way to offset the cost of maintaining their property. A.J. Longmaid, a 30-year-old boat captain, inherited Spectacle Island, a 5-acre island off the coast of Maine, from his family, and just started renting it out last summer. “My parents had bought it 30 years ago and for me to hold onto it, I had to make it also a business,” he said. “I decided to incorporate the island into something that other people can enjoy too.”
Longmaid, who stays on the island to provide transportation and guidance to guests, expects to be fully booked this summer.
For some renters, the magical quality of a simple residence on a small, undisturbed island with just a boat connecting you to the mainland turns out to be irresistible. Renting, Pappas of Private Islands says, sometimes leads to buying.


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USA / Global
ford racing Articles
Mustang EcoBoost to be tuned by Ford Racing by the end of 2015
Ford has announced plans to offer a factory tuning program for the Mustang EcoBoost.
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Ford Mustang RTR teased, goes on sale early next year
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Aug 19 2014
Ford Focus ST TrackSTer by fifteen52 heading to Chicago Auto Show
Ford Racing, Ken Block and fifteen52 will debut the Project ST campaign tomorrow in Chicago with the TrackSTer.
Feb 06 2013
Ford Fiesta ST for Global RallyCross Championships and X Games announced
Ford Racing and OlsbergsMSE will unveil the Fiesta ST GRC tomorrow at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show.
Feb 06 2013
Ford introduces global racing livery at SEMA - forgets WRC bow out
Ford Racing has unveiled their new livery that will be used on a global basis. It features a white or black exterior with black and blue stripes.
Nov 01 2012
Formula Ford laps in the Nurburgring in 7 minutes, 22 seconds [video]
Driven by Nick Tandy, the specially designed model averaged a speed of 169 km/h (105 mph) and posted the ‘Ring's 11th fastest lap.
Sep 04 2012
Ford Racing Focus ST-R to make racing debut
It's exciting times for the folks at Ford racing as a year of development for their latest model will be concluded upon its competitive debut during the Grand-Am weekend at Daytona International Speedway.
Jan 26 2012
Ford Focus ST-R hits the track with Tanner Foust [video]
Ford has released a new promotional video for the Focus ST-R. See the footage inside
Jan 20 2012
Car Buying Service
Get upfront price offers on local inventory.
Ford Focus ST-R gets detailed [video]
Ford Racing has released a new video which provides are pretty good overview of the 2012 Focus ST-R.
Dec 22 2011
Ford Focus ST-R priced at $98,995
No, it's not April fool's day. You're really looking at a Ford Focus with a $98,995 (€76,320 / £64,100) price tag.
Dec 14 2011
Formula Ford races into Frankfurt
Dressed in traditional blue and white lively, the Formula Ford has a tubular steel chassis, side intrusion panels and carbon fiber crash structures.
Sep 14 2011
Ford Racing 624hp supercharger kit for 2011 Mustang 5.0 announced
What's wrong with the pricing of the 624 hp supercharger kit from Ford Racing? Find out inside.
Aug 23 2010
2011 Ford Mustang BOSS 302R for the Ractrack
Ford has unveiled a new factory-built race car for Grand-Am, SCCA and NASA events.
Dec 28 2009
Vehicle Imagery licensed from EVOX Images
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