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When Knockout Pizza opened in April, it was the return of an old area favorite — sort of.
The pizzeria's story began 18 years ago.
"It was my 16th birthday," owner Eddie Hendrix said, "and my dad said, 'Get your butt up and get a job.'"
"I gave him my (Chevrolet) Blazer and said, 'I'm not paying for insurance or gas,'" Hendrix's father, Eddie Sr., said.
To fortify himself for the job search, Hendrix stopped by K.O.'s Pizza on the Mesa to get some pizza bread and commiserate with owner Kurt Bekke.
"He reached under the counter and threw me an apron," Hendrix said. For the next nine years, he worked at the pizzeria, rising through the ranks to manage the restaurant in Bekke's absence. "He was like my childhood mentor."
All that changed nine years ago.
"One day, out of nowhere, he was out running and had a massive heart attack," Hendrix said.
Bekke's ex-wife took over the pizzeria after Bekke's death, and Hendrix left to pursue other work, including selling cars, a firewood business and wheeling and dealing on Craigslist. In January, Bekke's restaurant closed its doors after 24 years in business.
Hendrix stuck his head in after hearing rumors of the pizzeria's closing and ran into the landlord, who urged him to come back and take over the location — but he had to decide quickly, since other restaurateurs were eyeing the location as well. Three days later, the Hendrixes were in the pizza business for themselves.
They didn't want to use the previous name, since they didn't want trouble with K.O.'s creditors, but wanted one that paid homage to the original restaurant.
"People always thought it was 'Knockout,' so let's call it that," Hendrix said. (The original restaurant's name actually stood for "Kurt Oden Bekke.")
Hendrix's entrepreneurial streak came in handy: They ended up getting all the tables and chairs for $750 on Craigslist when a Covina restaurant went under. Electronics auctions supplied the videogames and jukebox.
"All I can say is thank God for family," Hendrix's wife, Crystal, said. Friends and family helped move furniture, paint the walls and all the other tasks required to open a business.
The Hendrixes sold off all the assets they could and were able to open a business without going deeply into debt: In all, Knockout Pizza only cost the Hendrix family $10,000 to open.
"It's like buying a cheap used car," Eddie Sr. said.
The family focus also includes the menu, which mixes Hendrix family recipes with the classics Hendrix still has in his head from his days working for Bekke.
Long-time customer Jenene Green says the restaurant measures up to the glory days of K.O.'s Pizza before Bekke's death.
"Eddie's doing a fabulous job. I'm so proud," she said. "Their lasagna is really good, but their pizza is excellent. ... I couldn't tell you what's better (to eat) than the other."
Green's not alone: The Mesa community has embraced Knockout Pizza, according to the owners.
"We are already back to where Kurt was, and that's without the beer and liquor license," which is coming soon, Hendrix said. "Every day, we watch the business get a little better and better."
Beau Yarbrough may be reached at (760) 956-7108 or at Beau@HesperiaStar.com. Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Hesperia.Star.


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U.K. Stocks Decline for a Second Day as Tesco, ITV Drop
Tesco fell 2.7 percent after Oriel Securities Ltd. said Britain’s largest retailer failed to announce the measures needed to turn around a decline in its same-store sales at yesterday’s investor day. ITV Plc (ITV) dropped 2.2 percent after the broadcaster’s advertising revenue disappointed some analysts. Weir Group (WEIR) Plc rose 7.1 percent after the supplier of pressure pumps reported operating profit that beat estimates.
The FTSE 100 retreated 31.35 points, or 0.5 percent, to 6,799.15 at the close in London. The benchmark has still gained 4.4 percent in February, putting it on course for the best month since July. The broader FTSE All-Share Index also lost 0.5 percent today, while Ireland’s ISEQ Index slid 0.8 percent.
“The lack of a positive catalyst has cast a shadow over the market,” Richard Hunter, head of equities at Hargreaves Lansdown Plc in London, wrote in an e-mail. “Tesco remains under pressure after its recent strategic update. Analysts are less concerned with the details of the strategy, such as pulling back on some of its U.K. investment, but rather are more interested in what will likely be a further delay in the company fully achieving its transformation.”
The Office for National Statistics confirmed that Britain’s gross domestic product expanded 0.7 percent in the final three months of 2013, matching its initial estimate. The U.K. economy grew at its fastest pace since 2007 last year.
In the U.S., the Commerce Department reported that sales of new houses climbed 9.6 percent to a 468,000 annualized pace in January, the most in more than 5 1/2 years. That beat the median economist forecast of 400,000 in a Bloomberg survey.
Tesco slid 2.7 percent to 326 pence after Oriel downgraded the shares to hold from add. The brokerage said that yesterday’s announcement of 200 million pounds ($333 million) in price cuts would prove too small to prompt a recovery in sales.
ITV retreated 2.2 percent to 201.5 pence. Britain’s largest commercial terrestrial broadcaster forecast that net advertising revenue will climb 2 percent in the first quarter. Oriel said that fell short of its estimates.
Barclays Plc (BARC) declined 1.8 percent to 253.2 pence. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said after the close of European trading yesterday that the U.S. bank’s trading revenue has fallen about 15 percent this year.
Weir Group rose 7.1 percent to 2,519 pence. The company reported full-year operating profit of 467 million pounds, exceeding the average analyst estimate of 462.4 million pounds. The board recommended a dividend increase of 11 percent to 33.2 pence per share.
AO World Plc surged 33 percent to 378 pence in the first day of trading following the online retailer’s initial public offering.
Heritage Oil Plc (HOIL) jumped 14 percent to 239 pence after saying that its joint venture in Nigeria has successfully concluded tax-rebate negotiations with the local authorities.
“Shoreline and Heritage are currently quantifying the impact and expect the benefit of this to be recognized in the 2013 year-end results,” Heritage said in a statement.
International Personal Finance Plc (IPF) rallied 11 percent to 557.5 pence after the lender of small, high-cost, unsecured loans posted pretax profit of 130.5 million pounds for 2013, an increase from 90.3 million pounds in 2012.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan Morgan in Frankfurt at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Cecile Vannucci at firstname.lastname@example.org

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Digital TV News: CyberLink
CyberLink PowerDVD certified for Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc playback
Dec 1, 2016 – CyberLink (5203.TW) has announced that its flagship media player, PowerDVD, has achieved certification from the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) for the playback of Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs.
News categories: CyberLink, Blu-ray Disc Association, Dr. Jau Huang, Blu-ray, Digital TV, Media Player, Worldwide
DLNA certifies first wave of products supporting 'Trick Modes'
Feb 3, 2015 – The Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) has announced that it has certified the first wave of products from its members that support advanced fast-forward, re-wind and frame-by-frame playback capabilities which are now a mandatory feature of DLNA Guidelines.
News categories: Digital Living Network Alliance, Scott Lofgren, Digital TV, Middleware, Smart Home
CyberLink Announces Development of H.265 Video Codec
Jun 5, 2013 – CyberLink (5203.TW) has announced the development of a codec supporting the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard. HEVC (H.265) uses new compression techniques to enable delivery of HD video content that requires only half the bandwidth of H.264.
News categories: CyberLink, Mobile, Streaming
ITU gives first-stage approval to H.265 video coding standard
Jan 25, 2013 – The International Telecommunication Union has announced that its ITU-T Study Group 16 has agreed first-stage approval to Recommendation ITU-T H.265 or ISO/IEC 23008-2, known informally as 'High Efficiency Video Coding' (HEVC).
News categories: International Telecommunication Union, Digital TV
UltraViolet™ Begins B2B Deployment in U.S. Market
Jul 13, 2011 – The Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE), the consortium dedicated to facilitating the development and operation of UltraViolet™, has announced the launch of its licensing program for content, technology and service providers.
News categories: UltraViolet, Content Protection, DRM, Streaming, USA
CyberLink to integrate SENSIO® Hi-Fi 3D technology into media player software for PC market
Jan 7, 2011 – SENSIO Technologies (TSX.V: SIO) and CyberLink (5203.TW) have announced an agreement through which SENSIO's 3D decoding technology will be integrated into the Cyberlink PowerDVD media player software for retail sale and in custom versions for the OEM market.
News categories: SENSIO, CyberLink, Media Player, Metaverse, Streaming
Intel Brings 'Eye Candy' to Masses with Newest Laptop, PC Chips
Jan 5, 2011 – Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) has introduced its 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ processor family at CES 2011. New features include Intel® Insider™, Intel® Quick Sync Video, and a new version of the company's award-winning Intel® Wireless Display (WiDi).
News categories: Intel Corp, CES2023, ICs, Semiconductor, Streaming
Tru2way® Home Networking Event Demonstrates DVR Content Sharing Between STBs and DLNA Devices
Aug 3, 2010 – A CableLabs® interop has demonstrated sharing of premium DVR content among multiple tru2way® set-top boxes and DLNA Certified® devices, such as connected TVs, game consoles, PCs and mobile devices, over a home network in a secure manner.
News categories: CableLabs, Cable TV, DVR, Middleware, Set Top Box, Smart Home, USA
CyberLink Demonstrates Blu-ray 3D on PCs at Computex 2010
Jun 1, 2010 – At Computex 2010, CyberLink (5203.TW) is demonstrating its PowerDVD 10 ULTRA 3D that enables Blu-ray 3D movie playback on PCs. With PowerDVD, consumers will be able to enjoy full 1080p high-definition stereoscopic video on Blu-ray 3D movies.
News categories: CyberLink, Blu-ray, Media Player, Metaverse
- Major U.S. pay TV providers lost ~1,925,000 subscribers in 2Q 2022
- Pay TV revenues in Australia to continue to decline
- Samba TV enters Spanish market via partnership with Smartclip
- Ad-supported Disney+ tier to launch in the U.S. on December 8th
- Foxxum launches RDK-based OS for Connected TVs
- Gracenote enables optimized program metadata distribution
- VIZIO Account simplifies subscriptions for its Smart TV customers
- Discovery+ launching on Sling TV and Dish TV
- FAST Channels TV provides linear channels for Digital TV Cyprus OTT platform
- Video streaming services lost further playtime per user in H1 2022
- BARB releases Establishment Survey data for the UK for Q2 2022
- Simulmedia and TiVo renew data-licensing partnership
- Paramount+ joins Roku Channel’s Premium Subscriptions lineup
- Altice USA residential video RGUs down 85,000 in 2Q 2022
- DISH Network pay TV subscribers down 257,000 in 2Q 2022
- Over six million Android TV OS deployments for iWedia
- RTL Deutschland and Seven.One Entertainment to create addressable TV JV
- Charter residential video customers down 240,000 in 2Q 2022
- Access Advance adds further patent owners
- Disney+ app integrated on Foxtel set top boxes


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Amazon is removing Just Walk Out tech from all of its Fresh grocery stores in the US, . The self-checkout system relies on a host of cameras, sensors and good old-fashioned human eyeballs to track what people leave the store with, charging the customers accordingly.
The technology has been plagued by issues . Most notably, Just Walk Out merely presents the illusion of automation, with and the like. Here’s where the smoke and mirrors come in. While the stores have no actual cashiers, there are reportedly over 1,000 real people in India scanning the camera feeds to ensure accurate checkouts.
It’s also incredibly expensive to install and maintain the necessary equipment, which is likely why Just Walk Out technology was only adopted at around half of Fresh stores in the US. There have been plenty of frustrating issues for consumers when using this system, from receipts being sent out hours after purchase to completely mismanaged orders. In other words, it took a vast array of sensitive equipment and 1,000 people staring at video feeds to do the job of one or two people sitting behind cash registers at each store. Ain’t modern innovation grand?
There’s also some major privacy concerns here. Remember those cameras and sensors? They are constantly collecting biometric information as people shop. This goes beyond , as the cameras and sensors measure the shape and size of each customer’s body for identification and tracking purposes. This led to a that accused the company of collecting biometric identifier information without properly disclosing the practices to consumers.
The suit says that Amazon ran afoul of the state’s Biometric Identifier Information Law, which requires businesses to tell customers if they are collecting data used for identification purposes. Peter Romer-Friedman, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, told The Seattle Times that “Amazon owes its customers an explanation about how it’s operating these systems before people enter — so that people can decide for themselves whether they want to provide measurements of the size and shape of their body as a condition of getting a sandwich.”
Amazon tried to , but didn’t get too many bites. It teamed up with Starbucks in a few locations and there was a small launch in hospitals for medical staff, but that’s about it. One sticking point? These systems require high ceilings to accommodate the cameras and sensors. Reuters also suggested that many retailers , souring them on a technology partnership. Those 1,000 off-shore cashiers probably didn’t help with the sales pitch either.
Just Walk Out technology will continue to be offered in select stores in the UK. As for the US, Amazon says the removal of these systems is part of a larger effort to revamp its retail grocery arm. The company plans on bringing its Dash smart carts to retail locations, after a test at several Whole Foods and Fresh stores. These smart carts are equipped with scales and sensors to track spending in real time and, of course, allow consumers to skip the checkout.
This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.


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- Federal inspectors did not inspect any of the largest baby formula plants for 2 years, per The Associated Press.
- The baby formula shortage exposed how three companies control 90 percent of the market, The AP said.
- A bill introduced to Congress aims to prevent another shortage by ramping up inspections.
US regulators did not thoroughly inspect any of the biggest baby formula manufacturers for two years — including Abbott Nutrition, according to federal records reviewed by The Associated Press.
The Abbot Nutrition baby formula factory shutdown in Michigan has, in large part, contributed to a nationwide shortage of formula.
Recent records reviewed by The AP revealed a two-year inspection gap at Abbott and two other major baby formula manufacturers: Reckitt and Gerber.
When federal inspectors gained access to the facilities missed during the height of the pandemic, no formal warnings were issued although violations such as standing water were evident, per The AP.
The Abbott Michigan factory shut down in February for four months due to bacterial contamination found inside the factory. The four-month shutdown subsequently prompted a crisis nationwide as parents become desperate to find baby formula or alternatives such as breast milk banks.
The AP said 15,000 U.S inspections were skipped at dozens of factories due to pandemic-related staff shortages. According to the records, the FDA has yet to return to a key plant owned by Reckitt and two owned by Gerber.
The FDA did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. The agency told The AP that makers of infant formula were "consistently identified as a high priority during the pandemic." The agency also told the outlet that it has made up about 5,000 of the inspections missed during the pandemic.
The two-year gap in inspections and contamination, however, has been criticized by lawmakers. Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro introduced a bill in June to address the inspection gap.
Under current law, the FDA is only required to inspect formula facilities every three to five years. The bill, obtained by Bloomberg Law, aims to expand FDA authority — mandating the FDA to inspect facilities every six months and conduct an unannounced inspection to prevent another shortage.


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On Tuesday, CNBC reported that President Trump was looking to double the tariffs on Chinese goods after China slapped tariffs on $75 billion worth of American goods. Will the trade war intensify?
Why Trump wants higher tariffs
Apparently, China’s retaliation made President Trump very angry. However, better sense prevailed. Some collogues and executives warned President Trump about the devastating impact that the escalating trade war would have on the market and economy.
Starting on September 1, the US started levying a 15% tariff on $110 billion worth of Chinese goods entering the US. The first tranche of China’s retaliatory tariffs on $75 billion worth of US goods entering China also came into effect. More tariffs from both sides will follow on December 15 if the trade war continues.
Trade war reaches households
The new tariffs on Chinese goods impact consumer goods. For the first time, the trade war has impacted Apple (AAPL). The tariffs starting on September 1 impacted Apple Watch and other products. Contractors like Foxconn manufacture most of the Apple products in China. Tariffs on iPhones will go live on December 15. Apple lost 2% in August due to trade war concerns.
Lately, Ford (F) and General Motors (GM) have been in President Trump’s line-of-fire. Last month, he targeted Ford for making an emission deal with California. On August 30, President Trump targeted General Motors for moving plants to China. Notably, China’s 25% tariffs on US cars will be effective on December 15. The tariffs could hurt Ford and General Motors.
The ongoing trade war hurt Tesla (TSLA), which had to hike prices in China due to the weakening Chinese yuan. China resorted to weaken its currency to help its exporters. Tesla is building a Gigafactory in China to produce the Model 3 locally. The China-made Model 3 won’t attract the 25% Chinese retaliatory tariffs.
What could happen if the tariffs double?
Double tariffs would make Chinese goods more expensive. Notably, creating an alternative to everything Chinese would take time. US consumers will pay more for a lot of things. As a result, other countries would get flooded with Chinese goods, which would hamper their own manufacturing sectors. Companies that produce in China but sell in the US will look for alternatives. Recently, the Nikkei Asia Review reported that Google (GOOG) (GOOGL) is shifting the production of its Pixel phones to Vietnam from China. In May, Google decided not to do business with Huawei after President Trump placed a ban on the company. Google resumed its business with Huawei after the ban ended. Notably, Huawei is the world’s biggest phone manufacturer running Google’s Android.
Doubling tariffs would also anger China. A tit-for-tat trade war could cost US chipmakers and carmakers dearly. For companies like Qualcomm (QCOM), Micron (MU), and Broadcom, China is the biggest market. In 2018, US component makers including Qualcomm, Micron, and Intel generated $11 billion in revenues from Huawei alone, according to Reuters. Qualcomm, Micron, and Broadcom generate over half of their revenues from China. Notably, China accounted for a quarter of Intel’s revenues in 2018.
In the event of a prolonged trade war, the task of boosting the US economy would fall on the Fed. However, the Fed could run out of options. The yields are already running low and the yield curve is inverted. President Trump wants deep rate cuts.
Would double tariffs be good?
There are a few good things that could come out of the tariff war. First, fuel prices could decrease as the global economy slows down and crude oil prices drop. Second, as the Fed loosens its purse to revive the economy, you might pay a lower mortgage. However, a slow economy also means job cuts and uncertainty. As a result, the benefits aren’t good enough.
Did Trump have second thoughts?
At the G7 summit towards the end of August, President Trump said that he had “second thoughts about everything,” which confused the market. White House spokesperson Stephanie Grisham and other members of the Trump administration clarified that President Trump only regrets not raising the tariffs higher. The latest update confirmed that President Trump was serious about escalating the trade war.
President Trump warned China that the trade war will get tougher if he is reelected in 2020. Not having a deal with China before the election could hamper President Trump’s reelection chances.
Is Trump losing the trade war?
President Trump might have underestimated China’s resilience in the trade war, which escalated in May. China reported its lowest GDP growth in 27 years in the second quarter. China’s official PMI is pointing to a manufacturing contraction. While China’s economy is visibly hurting from the ongoing tariff war, it hasn’t given in to President Trump’s pressure tactics. From rare earths to crude oil and from trillions in Treasuries to the forex chest, China still has plenty of options open to counter President Trump’s trade threats.
The US economy is also paying a price for the trade war. The US manufacturing PMI in August fell to the lowest level in a decade, which points to weakness in the sector. The construction spending, an important indicator of economic health, is also subdued. The US dollar’s strength is also hurting exporters.
Unlike the US, which is a democracy, the Chinese government doesn’t really answer to its citizen about economic decisions. As a result, China can keep playing the trade war until President Trump’s approval rating falls with the US economy.
President Trump’s frequent U-turns and threats could be a sign of weakness. He expected China to give up long ago.


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Following the news of Virgil Abloh’s appointment to Louis Vuitton, media and fans were quick to highlight the announcement as a step forward for fashion’s race relations — some outlets reported the move as “radical” while others considered the positive implications for the industry. Yet, Abloh’s crown as the third black designer to ever head a French fashion house is more cause for worry than celebration.
The eager desire to fixate on this hire as a sign of progress — with next to no debate on why representation of black creatives in the industry still remains limited — recalls the first time Barack Obama was elected president. Certain corners of the media responded by describing America as “post-racial,” a phrase that was used with increasing irony as events in the country showed it to be anything but. While Abloh’s appointment is in no doubt significant, it highlights the industry’s long-standing inherent racism.
Fashion’s own structure is prey to the systematic racism that dominates society at large, but amplified through the industry’s elitist and exclusionary tendencies. “Generally speaking, blackness and some of its attendant vernaculars of representation have been white-washed, then made highly visible in serving to enhance mainstream fashion styles with a “street” or “urban” or “ghetto (fabulous)” avant garde edgy lefty revolutionary ethnic aesthetic,” explains Laura Harris, Professor in Africana Studies at Pitzer College.
“Black diasporic people are not invited to be the boss or in artistic control.”
Harris sums up fashion’s relationship with race as a one-way street that ensures companies are able to pay lip service to diversity while not engaging in it behind the scenes. As tastemakers, fashion executives and creatives have a responsibility to further equality, but have long failed to actively do so. As a result, fashion’s utilization of black culture has often resulted in some of the industry’s most tone-deaf moves, ranging from Miroslav Duma and Ulyana Sergeenko’s slur-ridden notes to H&M’s hoodie controversy.
As onlookers have begun to wage a more scrutinous eye, using social media to call out brands in ways not previously possible, the industry has been forced to change. Diversity on the runway has quickly come under fire and brands, casting directors and agencies have begun to adjust accordingly. “The industry has discussed in depth the lack of black faces on the runway,” says Joe Casely-Hayford, the head of label Casely-Hayford and former creative director at Gieves and Hawkes. Focusing so heavily on only half of the industry’s racial representation has resulted in overlooking behind-the-scenes operations.
Indeed, the improvement of diversity on the runway is more a sign of the industry’s reactionary attempts to save face rather than making strides toward proper representation. Improvements to one of the most visible parts of the industry, modeling, reflects fashion’s tokenistic approach to race, calling on inspiration while failing to recognize progression. “This heightened visibility commercially almost always results in ignoring the corollary political invisibilities, i.e. black diasporic people are not invited to be the boss or in artistic control,” adds Harris. For young creatives of color, their place in the industry is often locked out of the key part of the creative process.
This power dynamic is all too apparent for those working within the industry. “You’re totally fine to be on moodboards, perform at the latest Milan shows after party or maybe be in a campaign,” says Joshua Kissi, founder of diversity-centered creative agency TONL. “But as far as to ideate and create based on the legacy of a 100 plus year luxury brand, that’s where it gets complicated,” he adds.
On one hand Abloh’s appointment – placing a black designer in a coveted design position at a French legacy fashion house — signals a departure from this way of thinking. On the other hand, the appointment calls into question exactly what level of racial transparency the industry is welcoming, and whether this move is more a sign of acceptance or a commercially-driven play.
“Black designers have only been accepted in very narrow and predetermined roles: street style, sportswear and afro-fetishism are the main, easy to digest categories,” adds Casely-Hayford. Louis Vuitton’s appointment is not a sign of acceptance for all black designers, but a sign of acceptance for the sector of designers the white-dominated industry has deemed appropriate. Abloh himself played a vital role in bringing these styles into acceptance, as he is largely responsible for catapulting streetwear into luxury fashion.
“Nobody at that level of fashion has to talk about race or politics if they don’t want to.”
Abloh has the unique ability to tap into the emerging streetwear market that luxury brands are desperate to capitalize on, with the added brand benefit of representing an inclusionary move. In representing streetwear while pushing its boundaries, but not necessarily sending it down the catwalks, Abloh’s hire is a best-of-both worlds scenario. While
“Before our interview, I’m told Abloh will not talk about race or politics,” reveals Morwenna Ferrier in The Guardian. “It seems an odd thing to censor,” she adds. HYPEBEAST too has come across this first hand in a 2016 interview, asking the designer if he experienced a different kind of pressure as a black designer and having kids look up to him. “The only pressure is myself. That’s how I would answer that,” he said and did not respond when asked to elaborate.
“Nobody at that level of fashion has to talk about race or politics if they don’t want to, and I don’t think Virgil Abloh is any different in that regard,” fashion writer Melvin Backman tells HYPEBEAST. Expecting Abloh to yield a politically or socially charged agenda without imposing the same expectations on all other designers is in itself a double-standard that lets white designers slide by the wayside.
“If all the white designers who don’t speak on race and politics want to take his appointment (and the world’s current political state) as an opportunity to start doing so, that’d be delightful,” adds Blackmon. In fact, society best positions white designers, not minorities, to discuss diversity: a study by the Harvard Business Review reports that women and minorities are penalized for speaking out to promote diversity in the workplace. Abloh’s reluctance to speak about race was likely a key factor in making him an appealing choice and in turn, openly speaking about race and politics could’ve hurt his chances.
Ozwald Boateng, one of only two other black designers to hold such a position, took a similar approach to Abloh when it came to discussing race and politics. “I didn’t want the image of myself to get in front of me as a creator,” said Boateng in a BBC HardTalk interview on why his race was irrelevant to his success.
That two of the three black designers to hold a French luxury design position stray away from openly discussing social issues is more an indication of the racism that fills the industry than reason to question the designers’ morale. Abloh’s biggest contribution toward furthering racial equality is being tactful enough to navigate a white-dominated industry in a white-dominated society and break barriers landing this position.
“The industry must move towards fully embracing and supporting talent, without bias.”
There’s no denying Abloh is a unique talent, just as there is no denying the path he took to stardom would be incredibly difficult to emulate for other black designers, especially those who aren’t able to access the inside world of celebrity friendships. “He’s worked really hard to get where he is, but Kanye West took him to intern at Fendi,” adds Blackmon. “That’s not going to happen for most people.”
The fact that Abloh’s path appears attainable is part of what bolstered his success — but Abloh is an exception not the norm. The greatest potential of this appointment is to actually drive open opportunities for young creatives of color, so that Abloh is no longer an exception. While Abloh has played a fundamental role in these advancements, the industry needs to abandon its history of entrenched practices and adopt proper representation full-throttle.
“The industry must move towards fully embracing and supporting talent, without bias. Without inclusion, collectively, especially from the behind the scenes, a glass ceiling will remain for independent entrepreneurs and designers who are black,” says designer Victor Glemaud, recently named a finalist in the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund.
Breaking this glass ceiling requires a great deal of internal reckoning for companies and, even if they are willing to do so, won’t result in immediate change. Taking Abloh’s positioning as an opportunity to work toward racial equality means moving further than initial hype and surface-level excitement. “Fashion, much like Hollywood, is insular and slow moving. Fashion brands must not only adapt but be forward thinking leaders or they will become passé,” adds Glemaud.
While Abloh’s appointment is cause for celebration, it is not a sign of systematic change. Stamping this as a landmark moment for racial equality, without amplifying the conversation that scrutinizes the industry, is short-sighted. Abloh’s appointment should not allow for a break from the industry’s path toward inclusivity, but act as a catalyst toward equality. The true breakthrough comes when appointments such as this are the norm rather than cause for celebration and when we can no longer count the number of black creative directors at luxury houses on one hand.
This article was originally posted on April 5, 2018.


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The Carrefour distribution group has reached an agreement to acquire the Supersol supermarket chain, which is owned by the Lithuanian group Maxima. The deal, which, according to both companies, is valued at 78 million euros, we be finalised the beginning of 2021, both companies said in a statement.
In particular, the transaction involves the acquisition of 172 of the chain’s supermarkets in Spain, mainly in Andalusia and the Community of Madrid. The deal would allow Carrefour to consolidate its position in Spain, where it currently operates 205 hypermarkets, 111 Carrefour Market supermarkets, more than 850 Carrefour Expresses and 25 Supecos.
Read the full article in Spanish


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Parliament must subpoena IT giants: Choice
news Consumer group Choice has called for the Federal Parliament to use its powers of subpoena to force recalcitrant IT vendors such as Apple, Adobe and Microsoft to give evidence about their price setting practices in Australia, due to the vendors’ reluctance to voluntarily appear before a committee into Australian IT price hikes.
In May, following a public campaign on the issue by Labor backbencher Ed Husic, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications called for submissions to help inform an inquiry into pricing of technology goods and services in Australia, publishing the terms of reference for the initiative on its web site. The results have so far demonstrated a strong groundswell of public anger about ongoing markups on technology goods sold in Australia.
Many of the submissions from users focused on the fact that online stores such as Apple’s iTunes, Valve’s Steam, Microsoft’s Xbox Live, Sony’s PlayStation Network, Amazon’s Kindle store and Adobe’s software store charged Australians higher prices for the exact same software and content than residents of other countries, particularly countries such as the US. Companies such as Microsoft have previously justified the charges based on the increased cost of doing business in Australia.
However, not all companies whose products have been mentioned by the inquiry have volunteered to attend to give evidence. US software giant Adobe, for example, declined to appear to give evidence to the inquiry, although it participated in a submission by the Australian Information Industry Association. Adobe has a practice of commonly marking up software products for the Australian market such as its popular image editing application Photoshop — despite the fact that the software is often downloaded from the same site in Australia and the US.
The reluctance of major vendors to appear in front of the inquiry has resulted in public displays of anger by members of the committee. In September, for example, Husic publicly raised the prospect of compelling recalcitrant technology vendors to appear before a parliamentary committee on IT price hikes in Australia, alleging that some suppliers are “treating the Parliament with contempt”.
In a statement released overnight, consumer group Choice called on the committee investigating the issue to “make international tech giants front up and explain the high prices paid by Australians”.
Choice said it had been six months since the inquiry began, and the continued “stonewalling” from Apple, Adobe and Microsoft was a snub to millions of Australians who paid higher prices for their digital products.
“Choice has provided evidence showing Australians pay around 50 per cent more than US consumers for identical music, software, games and hardware,” said Matt Levey, Choice head of campaigns. “With the industry unwilling to volunteer any detailed or public response, it’s time for the Committee to use the full powers of the Parliament and compel these businesses to front up and explain why they think it’s alright for Australians to pay higher prices.”
Choice said it welcomed the Committee’s attempts to shine a light on IT price discrimination, but the must go beyond rehearsing a list of rip-offs and create real pressure for lower prices.
“Just last week, AC/DC finally hit iTunes with a 54% difference, that’s $80 difference, between the local and US prices for the ‘complete collection’,” said Levey. “Unfortunately for those about to rock, this is far from an isolated example, and it is one reason why some music fans have taken to setting up US iTunes accounts to access legitimate, cheaper music.”
He added: “We are calling on the Government to investigate whether measures used to sustain international price discrimination, like geo-blocking, are anti-competitive, and an important step towards that is for this inquiry to call the industry’s bluff on their pricing excuses.”
Choice’s comments on the issue come a month after both sides of politics — Labor and the Coalition — blasted the IT vendors who were reluctant to appear before the commitee.
Committee chair Nick Champion told the House of Representatives that to date the committee had received “only qualified and sporadic cooperation from industry groups and major IT companies” during the proceedings. In general, Champion said, “to one degree or another, there has been a real unwillingness to submit evidence in public or to appear before the committee on the part of both industry associations and major companies in the area of IT”.
Nationals MP and deputy chair Paul Neville agreed with Champion, in a rare show of unity between the major sides of politics.
“I rise to support the chair of the committee as his deputy,” Neville told the chamber. “It is obvious from the evidence we received from members of the public and people on the consumer side of this agenda that the public has had enough of this pricing, which puts Australia at a disadvantage in a whole range of areas, such as IT hardware and software and things that spin off them—music downloads and engineering, medical and educational software.”
I agree wholeheartedly with Choice. It is time for the Parliament to compel these vendors to come forward. As I wrote in late October:
“I’ve enjoyed a long-running relationship with the local offices of major technology vendors such as Microsoft, Adobe and Apple for the better part of a decade now. Good people work at these companies, and I admire much of the work they do. Certainly I continue to use and write about their products almost every day. I simply could not do the work I do without Microsoft Office and Windows 7, Apple’s Mac and iPad products, and Adobe’s Creative Suite.
So it is with respect, and conscious of that long relationship, that I say, enough is enough. These companies are treating the Australian consumer and the Australian Parliament with contempt right now on this issue, and need to pull their head in. Strength and pride can be virtues at times, but so can humility, and right now a little humility is needed from these companies, before both sides of Federal politics decide that they are tired of being treated like they don’t have any authority and start making the vendors’ lives very, very difficult indeed.”
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Enterprise IT, Featured, News - May 22, 2013 16:02 - 0 Comments
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Five Social Media Predictions for 2014
In recent years, social media has gone from something that people used for their personal lives, to an essential business tools that every business owner, corporations, and Internet marketer needs to know how to use. Because of this shift, social media and the way it is viewed has changed drastically, particularly in the last two years. As a new year has dawned, many are wondering what the future of social media will be for the businesses and marketers. Below are five predictions regarding social media in 2014.
Disappearance of the Social Media Specialist
Much like the specializations we see in search engine optimization, companies have employed individuals with the title of social media manager, social media specialist, and the like for several years. However, as the need for social media knowledge becomes more and more essential to the life of every business, these specialists will disappear. This is not to say that a specialist level knowledge of social media will disappear, but that every employee will be required to know the ins and outs of social media and how it relates to the business. HootSuite CEO Ryan Holmes recently stated that even in 2013, positions with the title “social media manager” and other similar titles had decreased by 50 percent, and this decline should continue into 2014.
In recent years, it has become all but common knowledge that employers regularly check the social media profiles of potential candidates before making their decisions in the hiring process. In 2014, this trend is expected to continue, and branch into the world of education. Not only will social media profiles be considered when deciding on an applicant to universities and other schools, but schools will likely begin to teach social media and how to use it in a business environment. Instead of social media being the distraction to students that teachers loath, it may now be part of the curriculum.
In 2013, Twitter went public in an effort to compete with Facebook. By all accounts, this decision is paying off. Additionally, Instagram now allows advertisements, which is something they were adamantly against for a long time. Everyone by this point is well aware of Facebook’s advertising campaigns, remarketing efforts, and other features that play into the hands of corporations and small businesses. This trend of social media sites becoming more and more commercialized is expected to continue into 2014. This will likely revolutionize the way that advertising is done, and its impact on traditional means of advertising will be interesting to observe.
It is very likely that social media will become one of the most important tools in obtaining feedback from customers and employees alike. Companies large and small will likely begin to rely almost solely on social media to find out what customers are saying about their products and services. This cannot only help with brand recognition and accurate analytics, but it can also help ensure that companies will be obtaining accurate feedback from their customers. For instance, while in a focus group people might be more likely to speak positively about the company in question, on social media they are more than happy to divulge all of the ills of the company, as well as what they love. Since it is relatively easy to track a company or a product name on social media, companies will be able to listen in on conversations that they were not able to put for. While this is already being done, is expected to continue and become almost the sole method of obtaining customer feedback. Employees will also be encouraged to talk amongst themselves and network with each other on social media, so that companies can become aware of what their employees want and need, and can cultivate productive and positive environments.
Social Media As an SEO Imperative
Already in 2013, having a social media presence on a website has become almost imperative to obtain high search engine rankings. However, the way things currently stand in search engine optimization, lack of social media does not exactly omit a website from search engine results. Going forward 2014, however, this will likely change. Because society and business is becoming more and more social, it will be an absolute imperative to utilize social media on websites in order to obtain a high search engine ranking.
While nobody can predict the future, trends often continue on into future years, and based on what we have seen from 2010 to 2013 in the realm of social media, the above predictions are very likely to become a reality in the coming year. How these changes will affect the rest of society how people do business and learn is yet to be seen, but it is almost certain that social media will be an imperative in the coming year.


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Google reps have been spotted demonstrating Google Wallet to customers in central London department store Selfridges, NFC World has learned. As part of the demonstration the Googlers paid for the shoppers’ purchases, echoing the initial promotion of the NFC payments system in the US.
- US merchant groups call for creation of open tokenization standards
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- Nestle runs NFC marketing campaign in 480 Woolworth stores across Australia


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In a realignment of its consumer finance operations, National City Corp. of Cleveland said Friday that it will close 69 retail loan stores, get out of automobile leasing, and consolidate its wholesale mortgage origination business into a subsidiary.
The banking company said it expects to record pretax fourth-quarter charges of between $43 million and $46 million to cover severance and asset writedowns, including lease residual values and goodwill.
National City plans to cut 200 jobs, though executives said they hope some proportion of the affected staff can find positions elsewhere in the company.
Peter E. Raskind, executive vice president and the head of consumer finance, said that the company has been looking at ways to boost its financial performance by exiting or scaling back from marginally profitable business lines.
In each of the cases, these three businesses simply did not meet our objectives with respect to profitable growth in the foreseeable future, he said. This is really just an attempt to take advantage of our strengths within the organization.
The reorganization is Mr. Raskinds first major move as head of consumer finance, a job he took in September after 17 years with U.S. Bancorp of Minneapolis. Before joining National City he had been in charge of improving customer service in U.S. Bancorps branch and telephone banking operations.
Though National City is jettisoning its auto leasing business, it will retain its dealer finance operation, which lends to dealers of automobiles, boats, RVs, and manufactured housing.
The company said it remains committed to originating wholesale subprime mortgage loans through correspondent mortgage bankers and brokers.
But last year it found itself with two subsidiaries Altegra Credit Co., which it formed, and First Franklin Financial Co. of San Jose, Calif., which it bought that were originating wholesale nonconforming mortgages in essentially the same way. Under the realignment, First Franklin will originate loans and Altegra will service them.
Generally speaking our nonprime mortgage business has been quite good, said Mr. Raskind. But these changes will help us gain focus, both on the origination side at First Franklin and the servicing side at Altegra. Those two units will have a very clear point of focus, and that leads to better business results.
National Citys consumer finance business will be made up of five business lines. Three of them education finance, national home equity, and credit cards are not affected by Fridays announcement.
Analysts said they were pleased that National City is instilling more financial discipline.
What theyre doing is taking some businesses that were marginally profitable at best perhaps even marginally unprofitable and getting rid of them, said Kenneth Puglisi, an analyst at Sandler ONeill & Partners. To the extent that you can free up capital to put it where its going to produce a better return and get rid of staff in areas that arent contributing to the bottom line, that always makes more sense.
The retail loan branches to be closed, called Loan Zone stores, are located in 20 states. Mr. Raskind said the stores, which are operated by Altegra, are basically consumer lending outlets, like those of a finance company. We did not feel that we had the scale to be competitive on a long-term basis, he said.
Though National City is exiting the automobile leasing business, it will retain and continue servicing its $1.8 billion portfolio until it runs off, which observers said should take place over the next two years.
Observers said the changes are essentially trimming deadwood, and while not monumental in scope, they represent a positive step for the company.
This is really just further rationalization of their businesses, but the rationalization is a positive, said Susan Roth, an analyst with Credit Suisse First Boston. The earnings impact is going to be pretty nominal, given that the businesses were not profitable or not terribly profitable.
The only residual risk seems to come from the auto lease business, on which the company took a writedown in the second quarter and may take another soon, Ms. Roth said. Several other banking companies, including Bank One Corp. in Chicago, have had to contend with auto lease portfolio writedowns in recent quarters.
This is positive streamlining, said one observer who asked not to be identified. I dont see this as being a major departure or exit from their major business lines. I see it as fine tuning.
From Our Archive:


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This time of year, there’s nothing like the anticipation of waiting on a package to be delivered – or the anxiety you feel when it disappears from your porch.
According to the U.S. Postal Service’s website, approximately 950 million packages are expected to be delivered this holiday, and they are cautioning consumers to be alert to potential thefts by porch poachers.
The smart way to protect your purchases is a security system with a video doorbell from Bates Security that lets you know when your package is delivered.
With the advent of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there became a need for an event that would raise awareness of package theft and help homeowners protect themselves. And just like that, Package Protection Day was created to raise awareness and prevent package thefts.
First celebrated in 2016, Package Protection Day has been responsible for paving the way for numerous state laws targeting parcel theft.
In 2020, an estimated 90,000 parcels were stolen in the U.S., which translated into roughly $6 billion in stolen deliverables.
This holiday season – and every season – protect your home with solutions from Bates Security and Resideo Premier Security. They offer a number of options, like outdoor cameras and video doorbells.
Here are some tips to reduce package theft:
- Install a video doorbell to keep watch on any activity on or around your porch.
- A planter or hidden alcove can obscure packages and keep them from being seen from the street.
- Sign up for text message delivery alerts, so you’ll know when packages are delivered.
No matter how you celebrate the holidays, we’re here to help keep your home or office protected and safe! Contact us for a free consultation today!
From our family to yours, best wishes for a safe and happy holiday.


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Since the UK’s vote to leave the European Union last June there has been much talk about the process of Brexit and the impact of the negotiations on the UK and on Europe, particularly in relation to financial services and fintech.
With the threat of Brexit, and the changing regulatory environment, fintechs that are looking to expand their offering in the future are having to deal with constant challenges. As outlined in previous blog posts, there are ways around these challenges, but how should your fintech plan for future challenges?
The fintech industry has been in the ascendancy for years now, and hundreds of small businesses have taken the sector by storm. Countless challenger banks have sprung up over recent years, many of them offering different services. However, there are still a number of challenges that fintechs face as they look to scale up and grow their business. Here are two of the most common issues encountered by challenger banks, and some potential ways to solve them.
It’s been widely reported that the Prime Minister will trigger Article 50 this week, formally beginning the process of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. As we enter the negotiations we do so with the understanding that, in all likelihood, it will be two years until Brexit is finalised and we have actually left.
At the start of February, the Competition and Markets Authority published its final order for banking. But while the report does talk about open banking and refers to the use of open APIs across the nine largest banks in the country, it does not focus on FinTech solutions.
While Brexit rolls on, and we edge nearer to the start of the negotiations, the government gave a little more of its position away at the beginning of February. After Parliament voted, by a huge majority, to give Theresa May the authority to trigger Article 50, the government presented its white paper outlining the proposals for the negotiations.
The world is awash with new payment systems. We have ApplePay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay, innumerable wallets and plenty of other new systems. But we still continue to do most of our shopping with cash and cards just as we always have.


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Originally Published in the October issue of BLOOMBERG
The October 4 Bloomberg article “The Big Hack” alleges that China added tiny spy chips to servers made by Supermicro that reached almost 30 U.S. companies, including Amazon and Apple. While all three deny the allegations, a new article from the publication this week shares new evidence of hacked Supermicro hardware found in a US telecom company.
Read more: Bloomberg Claims Chinese Exploit in World's Servers
General Micro Systems Launches Apex, the Highest Performance Upgradeable Secure Server under ITAR Control
Read more: Introducing Apex
Originally Published in the October issue of SENSORS ONLINE
Tailored for live video-based sensor system transmission over terrestrial, RF, and satellite networks, General Micro Systems’ GMS S1202-HS Golden-Eye IV ruggedized, small form factor workstation system provides both advanced video coding (AVC/H.264) and high efficiency video encoding (HEVC/H.265).
Read more: Video Workstation Is Compact And Rugged
General Micro Systems Selected for Rugged, Deployable, Video Conversion and Compression System
Read more: Introducing the S1202-HS
General Micro Systems Brings Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from the Data Center onto the Battlefield with Industry’s First Rugged Deep Learning System
Read more: Announcing the X422


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Postmaster General John Potter described a grim future for the U.S. Postal Service this week. The number of pieces moving through the mail peaked four years ago at 213 billion. It dropped to 177 billion last year. It's projected to be 150 billion by 2020. The Postal Service lost $7 billion last year and is projected to lose $238 billion over the next decade.
The reasons for this are as plain as the electronic screen — computer, smart phone, etc. — on which many of you are reading this editorial. Americans are migrating to the Web to communicate, pay bills, send love letters, and share photos, business plans, legal documents, party invitations and everything else. Some of the post office's problems are due to the economic downturn, but this fundamental change in how people communicate will only accelerate in years ahead. That means less dead-tree mail will be sent each year.
Potter said Tuesday that the USPS wants to drop Saturday delivery and raise prices beyond the rate of inflation, if necessary. It will be necessary. But that still requires government approval, and the Saturday delivery option has been shot down by Congress and the unions in the past, as has the idea of closing some of the more inefficient U.S. mail offices. (The USPS has more than 36,000 offices, stations, branches, distribution centers, etc.)
Last summer we asked: Is there a better way to deliver the mail than the expensive, plodding, unimaginative Postal Service? Nobody else can try because the USPS has a monopoly on handling first-class mail. So why not try competition? Open the doors. Let companies bid for the right to deliver first-class mail, nationally or regionally. Let's see what innovations they propose.
Who knows what a 21st century mail system should look like? One guarantee: We won't know as long as we discourage creative minds from getting in the game.


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It is clearly a transformative time for Lidl, who is digging into markets across continents, the latest being in Peterborough, England. News hit that the retailer recently started up operations on a new distribution center August 1 after a sizeable £70 million investment—or about $91 million USD.
“As a supermarket, it has been our priority over the past months to ensure that the communities we serve continue to have access to much needed food supplies and essentials,” said Matthew Heslop, Chief Operations Officer, Lidl Great Britain. “This is very much still our focus, and with the addition of our new Peterborough distribution centre, we are further strengthening our logistics and operations to ensure that we can continue to serve as many customers as possible with quality food at Lidl prices.”
According to the news source CamridgeshireLive, the new DC is planned to serve 48 stores in the area, employing 400 workers to start with plans to create 50 more openings before the year is out.
In addition to the move, which equated to over eight football fields of space, the report also teased that even more is on the horizon for the retailer. This latest opening already confirms Lidl’s promise to flood Great Britain’s market with 100 new stores in 2021 and 2022, which was reported by our sister publication last month.
Now, with even more facilities planned in both Luton and Bolton, as well as additional expansions for existing operations in Belvedere and Bridgend, we are certainly keeping an eye on what Lidl is up to on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond.
As to whether we will see a similar approach Stateside, be sure that Deli Market News will report.


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he Carroll Adams Group, a top hospitality interiors purchasing company, has opened an office in High Point, NC to meet growing demand for high-quality, American-made custom furniture. With an office located in the furniture capital of the United States, Carroll Adams will expand its approach to buying furniture to support its global sourcing efforts. By proactively engaging with American manufacturers, the company hopes to help grow the industry, engage smaller manufacturers to support the region, contribute to adding jobs and play a more hands-on role in ensuring high-quality furniture standards.
“Our clients look to us for quality, custom furniture that fulfills their unique design vision,” says Ted Carroll, Carroll Adams President. “Our new High Point office will allow us to source customer furniture from smaller craftsman who don’t typically have a channel for serving hospitality clients like ours.”
The office is currently located in “the Factory” in the heart of the downtown furniture market in High Point before moving into “Plant Seven”, High Point’s new center for design, culture and innovation this Spring.


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Pediped: Young kicks be free
Minimal footwear is all the rage. Pediped is turning the trend into kids’ stuff
The human foot is a marvel of Darwinian engineering — 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments of one-of-a-kind ambulatory innovation, the very advancement that enabled Homo erectus to erectus and stand head and shoulders above primate peers.
Only recently, though, has the lowly foot gotten some respect. We’ve spent centuries trying to “fix” it with all manner of shoes and boots, but now many experts argue that footwear isn’t the solution to our problems. Footwear is the problem.
Barefoot and minimalist-footwear movements are taking off. You’ve probably heard of the 2009 bestseller “Born to Run,” which extols the unshod sole. These days, on just about any jaunt through Red Rock, you can expect to see a hiker with those strange toe-glove things that look like alien feet. Even shoe giants like Nike are trying to co-opt the anti-shoe mantle with purportedly minimalist lines.
Barely-there options exist for running, walking, hiking and climbing — but what about taking your first steps?
Angela Edgeworth heard about the benefits of barefooting it back in 2004 and sought a forgiving first pair of shoes for her baby, Caroline. Even with Santa Monica boutiques at her disposal (not to mention the Internet), she came up empty-footed.
“There was nothing,” she recalls. “Everything was very rigid, very hard. A lot of the styles were basically adult styles that were taken down and shrunk.”
Into that void steps Pediped footwear. The start-up that Angela launched with her husband, Brian, to provide minimalist footwear for the most minimal of feet has quickly become the second-largest kids’ shoe brand in the country. Last year, they shipped more than a million pairs.
Years before the birth of Pediped, Rudy Glocker, the avid hiker who would become the company’s COO, commemorated his graduation from business school by tackling Mount Kilimanjaro. He ascended in top-shelf stiff and sturdy hiking boots, only to be outpaced by local guides in five-dollar drugstore flip-flops.
Perhaps they were on to something. New research suggests that maybe we should blame our aching insteps, trick ankles and gimpy knees not on the ravages of time, but on the shoes of our youth.
“(The guides) didn’t wear shoes, so their feet had developed — their feet are wider, their toes are so much stronger, they’re much more athletic,” Glocker says. “The science is basically that if you let your feet grow naturally, they’ll be great.”
Feet can be molded into adulthood and are particularly malleable in the first five years.
“If you squeeze a baby’s foot, it feels very similar to your ear, because all those bones are still cartilage and can be shaped,” Brian explains. That’s why you can’t cram a kid’s toes into an adult-style shoe, and why most foot problems are a fait accompli by age 18.
Pediped partnered with researchers at Harvard Medical School to make sure their ergonomic designs are breathable, flexible, adjustable and roomy. These kicks retail in the $50 range, but they’ll mold to your kid’s feet, not the other way around.
And just because Pediped earned a stamp of approval from the American Podiatric Medical Association doesn’t mean they look like orthopedics for babies. Nor do they feature the cutesy cats and dogs typical of baby brands. Under Angela’s creative direction, Pediped issues two versatile collections a year and keeps pace with fashion — martial touches are out this season, indulgent bows and appliqués are in.
No mean ‘feet’
Coupling science and style with adult-sized durability (“they use this material in the U.S. military for desert boots,” Angela notes, dangling a pair of pink shoesies) is a straightforward concept. Making it happen, however, was no mean feat.
Angela was just 31 when she decided to launch into a industry dominated by multi-billion-dollar multinationals. She had some entrepreneurial moxie — she started a cosmetics company in Taiwan right out college that was a valuable learning experience (“It failed miserably,” she says) — but had zero background in clothing or footwear.
“Starting up a company is an immense amount of work. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody,” she says, jokingly.
Maybe half-jokingly. She and her husband still remember when — after 18 months of designing, producing, and pitching their teeny prototypes — the first batch revealed a critical weakness in the soft-sole stitching.
“We had to mulch them,” Angela recalls. “We couldn’t even save them, it was that bad. And then we had to start over again, and that was a very painful decision.”
“We thought the company was over,” Brian adds. “It was devastating.”
Angela immediately hopped a flight to the factory in China; Brian sat down with a heap of fabrics and threads. They tried every kind of material they could think of, even fishing line. In the end, the solution turned out to be in keeping with their ambitious little enterprise: They over-ruled the old wisdom, chucked out the patterns, and simply invented a whole new method of stitching things together (the patent is pending).
They were off and running. By 2006, the need for space and the desire for a better quality of life for themselves and their employees lured the Edgeworths from Los Angeles to Southern Nevada. Many of their workers happily made the trip with them. (Take that, L.A.)
The nearly all-female staff of more than 40 (it’s a mom-oriented company, Angela explains) does just about everything in-house and under one roof. Their Henderson headquarters handles everything from shipping and service to design and marketing, and now retail, with the opening of what they hope will be the first of many company stores.
The Edgeworths credit this close-knit culture with allowing their company to be nimble enough to expand rapidly and then endure the downturn that doomed many independent shoe stores that carried their product. At the end of their first year, Pedipeds were sold in 350 retail stores, the next year it was 1,200, then 2,500 … and then still 2,500. Even amid tough times, they’ve managed to donate more than $1 million in products and cash in their company’s young history, and they celebrated the grand opening of their company store by awarding the first contribution from their recently established Pediped foundation to a local charity, the Children’s Heart Association of Nevada.
Meanwhile, Pediped keeps growing in step, quite literally, with the Edgeworths’ daughters, Caroline and Lauren — after starting with only baby shoes, the range of sizes and styles has expanded to accommodate their feet.
“We couldn’t have started with shoes any bigger because we didn’t have kids that big,” Angela says. “Who would we test them on?”
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Read these related stories at
May/June 2010: “ You run this town.” Get your feet on the city streets with these urban runs
April 2011: “ 15 Great Hikes (practically) in your own backyard.” These quick jaunts are perfect for both hardcore hikers and families alike


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Mobile phone subscriptions, internet and social media usage in Africa are expected to continue surging to record levels in the next five years. This will occur as the continent's people vigorously embrace communication technologies, writes Standard Bank Group (SBG) research analyst Simon Freemantle in his latest in a series of reports about key trends that will change Africa.
The first two reports in the series - aimed at unpacking what Mr Freemantle sees as the five most prominent trends driving Africa's on-going economic and commercial reinvigoration - dealt with Africa's rising, youthful, and urbanising population.
In the latest report, Mr Freemantle argues that the increase in the usage of communication technologies will significantly boost Africa's economic growth prospects.
He notes that mobile phone subscriptions are expected to grow by about 60% to just under 1-billion by 2015. By 2015 there is expected to be about 800-million subscribers - up from 500-million in 2010, with east and central Africa enjoying the highest mobile subscription growth rates in the world. Already, Nigeria is the world's 10th largest mobile market.
Mr Freemantle also notes that more Africans are connecting to the internet and are eagerly embracing social media faster than populations in other regions.
There are presently about 120-million internet users in Africa. While penetration is relatively low, he says, growth rates have been profound with internet usage in Africa growing by a whopping 2,527%, compared to a world average of 480% between 2000 and 2011.
"Much of this growth has been inspired by elevated mobile penetration. While overall subscriber numbers are comparatively small, Africa is also one of Facebook's fastest growing markets. There are currently around 32-million Facebook users in Africa. In all, 27% of African internet users have Facebook profiles, compared to 18% of internet users in Asia. Of Egypt's 6.5-million Facebook users, almost half joined in the first six months of 2011," writes Mr Freemantle.
He points out, however, that despite the growth internet costs remain exorbitantly high, limiting uptake. He notes that in 2010, the cost of a fixed broadband subscription basket in Africa was 291% of gross national income (GNI), compared to 27% in Asia, and 2% in Europe.
"The availability and affordability of mobile and broadband services can, as it already has in key markets, support economic growth and provide one of the means through which Africa's human capital advantage can become pronounced. The pace of change is likely to continue to be robust; those actors - be they firms, development institutions, or governments - approaching these alterations innovatively will be rewarded.
"Through embracing telecommunications with such vigour, Africans have bridged a gap in the developmental trajectory with much of the emerging world, creating solutions based on local market fundamentals, suited to the proclivities and pockets of African consumers, and geared towards broadening the beneficiaries of nascent socio-economic gains," says Mr Freemantle.
Standard Bank Group facilitation of Woolworths' ground-breaking acquisition wins Deal of the Year ....
Standard Bank Arranges USD 1.25 Billion Eskom Bond Sale to International Investors


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If you've bought Cheddar Goldfish snacks in the past four years, one fed-up Lake Worth mom wants to help you get your money back.
And her multimillion-dollar effort has put South Florida on the forefront of a national debate over genetically modified foods.
Disgusted by what her complaint calls false advertising, Palm Beach County elementary schoolteacher Lisa Leo has taken Pepperidge Farms to court, accusing the mammoth food manufacturer of mislabeling its popular fish-shaped crackers "natural" when she contends they contain genetically modified soybeans.
Her lawsuit, filed June 11 in federal court in Fort Lauderdale, seeks class-action status, new labels and at least $5 million in damages to reimburse Florida consumers who purchased the snack since June 2009, claiming the product violates Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
"Consumers have a right to know what they're putting in their bodies," said Joshua Eggnatz, Leo's Weston-based attorney. "You may not think GMOs are bad for you, but others may, and the consumer has a right to know and to choose."
Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are plant or animal products that have been re-engineered in a lab with the DNA of bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals to increase crop yield or make them heartier, more tolerant of herbicides, and resistant to insects, drought and other environmental factors. General estimates are that about 90 percent of the corn, cotton, soybeans and sugar beets grown in the United States are genetically altered, and they are most often used in highly processed foods like crackers and cereals.
The FDA has not officially defined what "natural" means in terms of food labels, but its website says the agency "has not objected to the use of the term if the food does not contain added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances."
Eggnatz said Leo did not want to comment for this story, and he offered few details about why she filed the action.
But according to the complaint, Leo purchased the snacks monthly from three stores in the suburban Boynton Beach area and "paid a premium" for them, believing that the "natural" label meant they contained no GMO ingredients.
Leo, whom Eggnatz described as a middle-aged mother of two and grandmother of one, would have gone with cheaper, non-GMO options for her family's snacks had she known about the Goldfish's modified soybeans, according to the complaint, which does not allege that anyone in Leo's family was sickened by the product.
Pepperidge Farms officials did not return calls for comment.
Though the complaint targets one product, it speaks to a growing concern over the long-term health consequences of America's ever-evolving food supply.
Recent studies have suggested that re-engineered foods can create new unintended toxins and increase the risk of allergies. But the body of evidence is limited and not considered definitive.
Still, more than 60 countries around the world — including Japan, Australia and the European Union — ban or significantly restrict the sale and production of the lab-concocted ingredients, and the companies that make them have felt a stinging backlash in recent years.
One of the most visible protests erupted in May, when more than 2 million people around the globe rallied in coordinated demonstrations against St. Louis-based Monsanto, the world's largest manufacturer of genetically modified seeds.
Amid the uproar is a national outcry for mandatory food labels in the United States. Congress is considering a bill that would direct the Food and Drug Administration to "clearly label" genetically modified foods. Florida and 14 other states are seeking to require the labels at the state level.
"I grew up at a time when a tomato was a tomato, and a piece of corn was a piece of corn," said Florida Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach. "Science, or technology, has changed that, and there's been a huge shift in our knowledge of what we're ingesting."
Pafford co-sponsored the bill considered during the 2013 Florida legislative session, but it died in committee. He and other co-sponsors plan to try again.
The food manufacturing lobby has so far been successful in beating back labeling mandates, arguing that consumers will assume that just because a product contains GMOs, it is somehow inferior or not as safe.
"It's a hugely controversial topic, and when you look at both sides, they seem to make a lot of sense," said Lillian Craggs-Dino, a registered dietitian with the Cleveland Clinic in Weston. "There are no easy answers in this one."
Part of the concern over GMOs, Craggs-Dino said, is that many are modified with DNA from other species. Genes from an animal or shellfish, for example, can be added to a seed — a problematic scenario not just for allergy sufferers but for those following a vegan or Kosher diet.
"I think, ultimately, this is about education, consumer choice," she said. "People want to be educated by what they see on a food label and make an educated decision on whether to buy the product or not."
The groundswell of public pressure for labels has persuaded Whole Foods to become the first major supermarket chain to require suppliers to add GMO labels to their products, setting 2018 as the deadline. Florida-based Publix, meanwhile, is following the lead of the Food Marketing Institute, a large industry association that is "calling for education, labeling and standards for genetically modified foods," Publix spokeswoman Kimberly Reynolds said.
While the debate rages on, consumers can take certain steps to avoid GMOs without having to rely on labels, accurate or otherwise, Craggs-Dino said: They can buy products certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as organic.
And then there's another method, endorsed by Carol Sherman, a registered dietitian in Boca Raton.
"Just use your common sense," she said. "In reality, if you think Pepperidge Farms Goldfish are natural, you have to be kidding yourself. Goldfish are a highly processed food," the most likely candidate to have genetically altered ingredients.
What's a GMO?
A genetically modified organism is a product that has been changed in a lab to add DNA of bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals. The process involves crossbreeding of organisms that would not naturally occur in the environment. The modifications are intended to increase crop yield and make products more tolerant of herbicides and more resistant to pests, drought and other factors.
For more about GMOs
Go tonongmoproject.org, a site launched by a nonprofit advocacy group, or gmoanswers.com, funded by agribusinesses.


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Buzz Bites: Halsey’s Ex Is Allegedly P*ssed She Hasn’t Gotten Her Sweatshirt Back
Ahhh it’s Christmas Eve! Where did the time go?? Let’s see what’s buzzing online before Santa hits your house!
Just when we got excited about the possibility of Halsey and Ruby Rose dating, the buzz was kinda killed by Halsey’s alleged ex coming out of the woodwork to complain that Halsey still has a sweatshirt of hers…QIR. UPDATE: Halsey responded directly to Buzznet about this via Twitter. Read her response and our apology HERE.
Hailey Baldwin did a dramatic reading of “The Grinch” and it’s pretty freakin’ great. Click to take it for a spin below!
See how Hailey Baldwin stole Christmas in “Off Book” on #M2Mtv.
Posted by M2M on Monday, December 21, 2015
Gigi Hadid posted a pretty adorable video of her and Kendall Jenner doing their own version of carpool karaoke while out doing a little bestie bonding and holiday shopping.
Looks like Calvin Harris is home for the holidays with the Swift family. Taylor posted a cute snow day pic of her, Calvin and brother Austin building a snowman to her insta. Awww the cuteness is kinda out of control.
A photo posted by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on
Annnd Lea Michele has come out with news that Harry Styles MIGHT be making an appearance on I! Whaaaat?!?!? Let’s all keep a finger crossed we get to see Harry show off his acting chops next season!


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As the Omicron variant throws another proverbial wrench into the travel industry, Outdoorsy, a global peer-to-peer RV rental platform based in Austin, Texas continues to flourish. When the pandemic first hit the U.S. borders in 2020 and travelers avoided airlines and hotel stays, Outdoorsy saw demand for its RVs skyrocket. From April to October of that year (generally viewed as RV season), the company saw a 4,000% increase in booking revenue. Nearly two years later, Jeff Cavins, co-founder and CEO of Outdoorsy is betting his business will keep growing even if hotel and airline travel returns to normal.
A survey by Go RVing, a trade group for the recreational vehicle industry, estimates that 65 million U.S. leisure travelers are planning on taking an RV vacation in 2022. The trade group attributes the surge partly to a “fundamental change in the workplace with the amount of telecommuting and remote work [which] will play a much larger role even as we exit the pandemic.” The pandemic fundamentally changed how travelers approach trips, reportedly preferring to travel in smaller groups with family and friends. This trend will probably continue now that the new Omicron coronavirus variant has set back the reopening of international travel. That’s good news for the RV industry, and Outdoorsy, in particular.
This summer, the company raised a $120 million round led by Moore Strategic Ventures, ADAR1 Partners, Monashee Capital, SiriusPoint Ltd and Convivialite Ventures, valuing the company at $1.8 billion according to Cavins. The company has 48 million users offering more than 40,000 vehicles for rental across eleven countries, and hit 1 billion transactions earlier this year (i.e. amount of bookings through their platform). This year 85% of its RV renters are first-timers. Rental prices can range from $50 a night for a small camper van for two, and as much as $1,375 for a luxury vehicle for six.
“We are the only company that offers [RV rentals] on an international level. Nobody does this globally,” says Cavins.
Forbes first spoke with Cavins and his wife and co-founder, Jennifer Young, last year when the company was inundated with new business. In formulating the idea for Outdoorsy, the couple hit the road to visit RV parks and talk to motorhome owners. They saw an opportunity for the RV rental business but also realized insurance policies typically prevent such transactions from occurring. So, in 2014, they launched Outdoorsy, and in 2016, they founded Roamly, an insurance company created exclusively for RVs, travel trailers and camper vans.
Cavin explains they plan to use the $120 million they raised to drive the expansion of Roamly, which now provides insurance solutions beyond the commercial use exclusion clause they were initially trying to solve. Now they can offer roadside assistance and collision coverage. Roamly operates as a subsidiary of Outdoorsy, accounting for nearly 20% of its booking revenue. It also offers insurance solutions to cover RV renters off the company’s platform, a segment of the business which is expected to reach $20 million in written premiums in 2022. “We have the only recreational insurance company that exists on the planet,” says Cavins.
On average, Jeff says an owner of a single camper van can make about $50,000 per season (usually from April until September) by renting it on Outdoorsy’s platform. Some owners are purchasing entire fleets of RVs to rent them out on the platform, and profiting handsomely. Garr Russell, who owns The Camper Connection, a property management company for RVs, started with seven trailers in 2016, and has since expanded to more than 125 units, resulting in more than $4 million in rental income in the last five years.


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Growth prospects fuel investor appetite for Australia’s large format retail sector17 May 2023
Investors are turning their sights to large format retail centres as strong population growth forecasts and a limited supply pipeline enhance the sector’s income and value prospects.
LFR assets are traditionally the most tightly held sub-sector in retail, with a limited number of assets transacting each year, despite strong buy side demand.
A new CBRE report shows institutional buyers accounted for 55% of Australia’s large format retail (LFR) acquisitions in 2022, compared to just 29% of the purchasing activity in 2021, with ongoing buyer interest expected to be fueled by housing demand, projected LFR rental growth and a limited supply pipeline.
CBRE Research Analyst Darcy Badgery noted, “Australia has one of the second highest projected population growth rates in the developed world at 15.3% between 2023 to 2033, which is likely to drive significant demand for housing and an associated tailwind for LFR sales figures. This could also lead to a chronic LFR shortage, with just 711,845sqm of space currently in the development pipeline between now and 2026 – equivalent to just 0.41sqm per additional person.”
Mr Badgery said the capital city supply situation was likely to be exacerbated by the lack of LFR centres in infill suburbs, particularly on the Eastern Seaboard.
“Particularly in Sydney, where the industrial vacancy rate has hit a record low of 0.2%, it may be more feasible for some developers to rework proposed or existing LFR centres for industrial purposes, which will further impact the supply outlook,” Mr Badgery said.
That shift was highlighted last year with Goodman’s $200 million purchase of the Alexandria Homemaker Centre in South Sydney to add to its development pipeline.
Notable recent transactions in the LFR sector included the $282 million acquisition of Sydney’s Crossroads Homemaker Centre by LaSalle Investment Management, Ashe Morgan’s $78.9 million purchase of Homemaker Prospect in Sydney and the $265 million sale of Homeworld Helensvale in South East Queensland to interests associated with Taiwanese-backed developer Shayher Group.
James Douglas, CBRE Senior Director, Retail Capital Markets, noted, “LFR assets are traditionally tightly held and rarely traded, as investors are attracted to strategic landholdings, which may offer a higher future use, transparent and reliable cashflows and higher than average expense recoveries.”
From a rental perspective, CBRE’s report forecasts that Sydney and Melbourne will maintain the highest growth rates of 5.1% and 3.9% respectively in 2023, supported by these cities having the highest expected migration intake and associated population growth.


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Delaware State Police are investigating a convenience store robbery that occurred Nov. 14.
The robbery happened at 9:09 p.m. at the Uncle Willie’s BP Station at 17580 Coastal Highway, Lewes, when a man entered the business and waited inside the store until other customers left, said Master Cpl. Heather Pepper of the Delaware State Police. He then approached the store counter, gave the clerk a plastic bag, and displayed a handgun while demanding the clerk put money in the bag, Pepper said. The cashier complied, and the suspect fled the store on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured during the incident, Pepper said.
The man is described as black, 6-feet-2-inches to 6-feet-5-inches tall with a thin build, wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt and pants.
Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact Detective K. Wideman with Delaware State Police Troop 4 Criminal Investigative Unit by calling 302-752-3832 or emailing Krystle.Wideman@delaware.gov. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.


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Today we are watching…
1. Uber (#uber)
The last thing investors want to see is a founder and billion-dollar shareholder selling shares. Thomas Kalanick, formerly the CEO of Uber, has done just that. He’s cemented over half a billion dollars to his name by liquidating, leaving the rest of Uber’s investors to wonder why he didn’t want to hold on. Technically, Kalanick couldn’t sell anything until a lockup period ended in which insiders were barred from selling. The markets had a hunch that after 180 days, the dam would break and sell orders would come rushing through. That’s why Uber was traded lower last week, so it may be a short opportunity to look out for in the future.
2. Restaurant Brands (#qsr)
Burger King, under the umbrella of Restaurant Brands, is gearing up for its biggest ever product launch in Europe. The fast-food chain is making a run at plant-based foods, with Unilever winning a contract to cook up its new ‘’Rebel Whopper” burger in over 2,500 kitchens. Price was Unilever’s big selling point, as the burger won’t be the most expensive item on the menu in most places. A Beyond Meat or Impossible Foods burger would have been at-least two dollars more expensive, which is shocking to Burger King regulars. Concerns over the health and environmental impact of eating meat have created a plant-based mania. It’s spreading to eateries everywhere under different names, with Unilever now a leader!


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When Apple introduced the iPhone 5s last year, it also discussed a new co-processor called “M7.” The chip allows the iPhone 5s to track motion and is capable of collecting data from the phone’s compasses, accelerometer and other sensors to show how far you’ve moved and more. We haven’t heard much about Apple’s next-generation processor, but a set of alleged schematics shows us what the M7’s successor might be capable of.
GeekBar, which has published other schematics, revealed a document that appears to detail the M7’s successor, which is code named “Phosphorus.” GeekBar jumps quickly to conclusions and says that there’s data here that shows that Apple’s A8 processor and Phosphorus co-processor will be able to link to third party accessories to sync up with HealthKit. Of note are several references to “Oscar” throughout the schematic, which was the codename for Apple’s M7 processor last year. Perhaps Phosphorus is a separate co-processor altogether.
The iPhone 6 is expected to make its debut during a rumored press event on Sept. 9. We’ll learn about all of its features, including any potential new co-processors, at that time.


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Lionsgate and Samsung Join Forces on 3D Movie Releases
The indie studio will use Samsung's proprietary technology to release "Crank," "Gamer" and "Bangkok Dangerous" in new formats.
TORONTO -- The 3D phenomenon has Lionsgate teaming up with Samsung Electronics to make theatrical 3D titles available in the home entertainment market.
The Consumer Electronics Show announcement will see the indie studio use Samsung's proprietary 3D image processing technology to deliver new 3D versions of Lionsgate action films like Gamer, Crank and Bangkok Dangerous.
Other theatrical titles will also be put in the pipeline for 3D conversion and release on DVD, Blu-ray, EST and VOD platforms.
"The home entertainment market is ripe for a premium technology like 3D, and consumers have consistently demonstrated their willingness to pay for added value," said Jim Packer, Lionsgate president of worldwide television and digital distribution, in a statement from Las Vegas.
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High prices turning dog tucker into dinner
The traditional Kiwi meat and three veg dinner appears doomed.
Ever-rising prices are forcing Kiwi families to look for bargains and get creative in the kitchen, sometimes resorting to meat cuts usually reserved for pets.
Last week Statistics New Zealand revealed food prices rose 2.2% in October. But the hike in fruit and vegetables was double that average – up 4%. And meat, poultry and fish were also up more than the average – by 2.9%.
Fruit and vege prices normally fall in October with warmer weather, making the October rise worse than usual. The blame has been put on the GST rise and bad weather.
But looking back to the start of the year paints an even starker picture. For the year to October, total food prices (including booze and the cost of dining out) rose 5.1%, but fruit and vegetable prices rose by 16.4%.
Last month the Ministry of Health released the first national survey of children and young people's physical activity and dietary behaviours.
It found that only a third are eating the recommended five servings of fruit and vege a day.
The price hikes are driving changes in eating habits.
Families are moving from expensive steak cuts to mince and lamb shanks, says William Eriksen, director of Auckland's The Neat Meat Company.
"They're getting the cheaper frozen cuts to try to stretch the budget out over the week, to try to feed their family.
"They're moving to cheaper cuts like oxtail, things that traditionally they wouldn't have fed to their dog a while ago."
It doesn't mean meals have to be any less appetising, though.
"The fact is, the cheaper cuts of meat are actually the most flavoursome, but you just have to have more time to cook them," Eriksen says.
"Having said that, there are a lot of cooking shows and it's becoming quite cool to cook."
The rising cost of food has also seen more families turn to food banks.
The Salvation Army's Captain Gerry Walker says it is a concern. "It's a different group to that we've experienced in the past."
He says they try to ensure food parcels are balanced, but fresh meat and veges are rare.
"In the cities that just isn't a reality. It's a luxury and often reserved for Christmas."
Arrowtown Butchery's Evan Dennison, working in the trade for 28 years, says: "Ten years ago I used to be able to sell a quarter of mutton for $10.50. Now a leg of lamb costs between $30 and $40."
He says his customers are turning to smallgoods like sausages and mince.
New Zealand Beef and Lamb chief executive Rod Slater says people are far more conscious of specials and price promotions.
"I still believe smart Kiwis can find a good value meal for their family," he says.
Nutritionist for 5+ A Day Bronwen Anderson says it's possible for a family of four to buy a week's fruit and vegetables for $40 or 28c a serving.
She suggests buying what's seasonal and sensible, making smart choices, and using veges as "inexpensive extenders" to make the meat go further.
"I picked up two chips of strawberries for $4," she says. "Tell me where you can get a snack for $2."
Sunday Star Times


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When we think of NFTs, we think of many popular blockchains like Ethereum, Solana, and so on. But interestingly, we hardly hear of Bitcoin, despite it being one of the top blockchains in the industry. All that might be about to change, however, as a new protocol called ‘Ordinals’ has been launched on the Bitcoin mainnet which promises the dawn of Bitcoin NFTs.
BREAKING: NFTs ON #BITCOIN
Ordinals are taking up most of the BLOCKSPACE pic.twitter.com/Gxwq4vV8MI
— Bitcoin News (@BitcoinNewsCom) January 29, 2023
NFTs Coming to Bitcoin
This protocol is the brainchild of software engineer Casey Rodarmor and it officially went live on January 21, 2023. The digital assets to be created through this protocol are called digital artifacts and these represent one of the first instances of the blockchain being used for NFTs.
With the potential for all sorts of content from images to video and audio, some see this as a step in the right direction for Bitcoin and believe that it expands on its use cases. After all, Bitcoin is known almost exclusively for its native token and this could show another side to its technology. This is a position that has been taken by such industry players as Dan Held. At the same time, some believe that the use of NFTs goes against the vision of Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin.
As they put it, the idea of Bitcoin was to promote economic equality and access and the often speculative nature of NFTs defeats this purpose. Given that this protocol is still so new, we will likely see more of these debates moving forward.
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