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Study Predicts Solar Prices to drop 28%
By: Jasun;Solar panel prices to plummet
Jun 2nd 2009
The average price of solar panels will drop by over a quarter this year, as falling demand and increased supplies of polysilicon combine to drive down prices.
That is the conclusion of a new study from research firm IC Insights, which predicts that despite the reduction in upfront prices, global solar photovoltaic installations will fall by 22 per cent this year as a result of the recession and the scaling back of some European incentives.
However, the report also forecasts that the expansion of new incentive schemes in the US, China and Europe combined with the fact that the polysilicon supply shortages that dogged the industry in recent years have been largely resolved means that the sector will …
From: Study Predicts Solar Prices to drop 28% this year – Solar Panel Forum


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An email, pretending to be a reminder from An Post to renew the TV Licence, leads to a phishing website that steals payment card details. An email from a Brazil-linked address has been landing in Irish mailboxes lately, claiming to come from An Post, the subject stating “Your TV Licence is about to expire”: “Dear … More TV Licence scam email targeting Ireland
ESET Ireland warning about scammers claiming they’ll release videos of victims watching illegal pornography unless paid 5000 GBP in Bitcoin. ESET Ireland has registered several related emails being sent to Irish mailboxes, threatening recipients with releasing videos of them watching illegal pornography online, unless they immediately pay the blackmailers 5000 GBP (5,611 EUR) in Bitcoin. The … More Email sextortion scam, claiming victim’s paedophilia links, hits Irish mailboxes
With an average of 200 online accounts to create passwords for, using a password manager is a modern necessity. Research from Dashlane in 2015 estimated that the average internet user in the UK had 118 accounts registered to a single email address. That number is thought to be growing by 14% per year, so in … More Why you need a password manager
One of the most prevalent forms of cyber-attacks, phishing takes the form of an email or a text message designed to trick us into giving up our personal information. A phishing email may be disguised to look as though it comes from a financial institution such as a bank. The aim of the email … More What is Phishing and why is it a problem?
If exploited, the security hole in Exim could allow attackers to run arbitrary commands on vulnerable mail servers. Exim, the popular mail transfer agent (MTA) software, contains a critical-rated vulnerability that can, in some scenarios, enable remote attackers to run commands of their choice on unpatched mail servers, researchers from Qualys have found. Tracked under CVE-2019-10149, the remote … More Critical bug found in popular mail server software
Losses emanating from Business Email Compromise (BEC) and Email Account Compromise (EAC) scams reached nearly US$1.3 billion in 2018, which was nearly double the amount (US$675 million) lost in the year before, according to the annual Internet Crime Report (ICR) by the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The figure is based on over 20,300 BEC/EAC … More Business Email Compromise fraud losses almost doubled last year
ESET research uncovers Microsoft Exchange malware remotely controlled via steganographic PDF and JPG email attachments. Due to security improvements in operating systems, rootkit usage has been in constant decline for several years. As such, malware developers – especially those working in espionage groups – have been busy developing new stealthy userland malware. Recently, ESET researchers … More Turla LightNeuron: An email too far

domain: news


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A new study has found that banana peels can now be included in our daily diet, that too in the most delicious way possible. Read on to know more.
Banana peel is extremely nutritious and should be included in your weight loss diet. Susie Burrell is a savant of nutritional science who believes in healthy eating and shuns diets promoting deprivation.
This inventive cooking hack shows that banana peels can actually be of great use in a particular recipe. See how you can convert them into a delicous meal.
Banana peels can be used in more ways than one. If you haven't known its many uses, it is time you know what's in store.
Banana Peels Benefits: Bananas are known to be one of the most fulfilling and healthy fruits, but not many are aware that even banana peel can prove to be extremely beneficial for our body.
Banana peel chutney recipe: Raw bananas are often used to make pickle, kofta and other Indian sabzis. Use the raw banana peel to make this chutney.
If you thought just having bananas was good enough, we have some news for you. Presenting: banana peels. Oh yes! You will be surprised to know that it is loaded with nutrients and helps in ...
Bananas are a powerhouse of many essential vitamins and minerals and often act as instant energy boosters. They are an excellent source of vitamins like B6 and B12 which can prove to be quite beneficial ...
Japanese researchers have invented a robot that can peel a banana in just 3 minutes. Twitter users had a lot of questions about this!
Kevin Bacon shared the video on his official Instagram handle where he demonstrated the whole hack in a hushed voice so as to not disturb his sleeping wife.


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Nobody ever imagined that the web which began in the early 90’s, would have this type of bright future. This will have a confident and a robust affect the lives people humans. Internet is really a system of interconnected networks which was designed to serve billions of people worldwide, irrespective of where they live, their cast, creed, and religion that’s replaced all standard conventions of the daily lives. Accordingly traditional media has already been reshaped.
Ben Network is this type of new and a future online news portal that began its journey in Kolkata. Ben Network offers you seeking to get all the headlines in a single basket 2023 election, then you definitely have chosen the right news portal online news that’ll always keep you updated irrespective of time and incident. Ben Network is headquartered in the city of Joy – Kolkata, West Bengal.
All our sections in the portal are informative including crime, drama, world, politics, country, state and religion. If there is any trending news that is making headlines in the state or world, you will find it here on our online portal at Ben Network. Ben Network is the future of online news and is regarded as being among the fastest online epaper in Kolkata and India.
Although Ben Network is quite a new comer to the web marketing world of news portal it’s taking aback the media and all media using their quick and prompt website news. Kolkata’s fastest online news portal – Ben Network was made with cutting edge technology. Coders and designers worked day in and day out to produce this amazing site a success. They have it all here on this lively and updated online news portal in Kolkata.
Ben Network is regarded as being one of the finest and among the fastest online news portals in Kolkata, west Bengal. Although Ben Network is new in the market, it’s gained in stature and is making waves all throughout the headlines industry. With a large number of visitors and traffic to this particular website, this online new portal, often brings content that is certainly caused by in the vicinity of Kolkata.
This sort of coverage, gives all the required focus that is required for any news related purposes and choice to the people. This promise is reflected in the entertainment and sports portion of such sites like Ben Network, where in fact the videos too are often from the area milieu thus keeping the preferences and interests of individuals in mind.
Ben Network’s strategy of online news portal includes a thorough potential for succeeding in the long run with the television and online media still lagging behind compared to online media. You will find blogs, feeds and podcasts that’ll supplement a newspaper or a news channel. Thus moreover any news related content can be obtained to the consumer the moment it’s live. Ben Network serves local public along with the younger generation who may be interested in politics.
There’s absolutely no delay in reporting as any news is live on the internet site in real-time because they happen. The major focus in to engage audience in the shape of polls, attract attention with blogs and also maintain an eye-catching photo gallery. In terms of almost any entertainment, such portals offer content to readers at their convenience in a definite and precise format with great sound quality thus making user experience a thrilling one. We at Ben Network have our task cut right out as online news is becoming a well known one.
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While the cryptocurrency and Blockchain space may have begun as male-dominated space, there is every opportunity and reason for more and more women to enter the space. This new area of technology has no real barrier to entry, no old boy’s clubs or traditional prejudices, and can benefit from a whole other side of society pushing its growth.
A number of women are staking a claim in the bustling ecosystem, entrenching themselves in different facets of Blockchain and cryptocurrency. Women able to enter the space without the same issues as other traditional spheres of business, such as banking and IT, and as such, are able to add some much needed muscle.
Still male dominated
It may have something to do with its technological roots, but the Blockchain and cryptocurrency space has a male domination of around 91 percent, according to Coin Dance. But there is a big drive for that to change.
“There’s a lot of wealth being generated, and a lot of times we're left out of the conversation. It's left to the males, the husbands, the partners, significant others, etc. But it's just as easy for us to get involved,” said Shanah Walton, an investor in crypto.
"My primary goal is… to promote diversity in the space, and get women involved and let them know it's not as hard or as nerdy or as techy as you would think it is.”
Flexibility, fast-paced and freedom
The Blockchain and cryptocurrency space also offers a lot of bonuses that are particularly beneficial to women. The evolving space does not adhere to 9 - 5 office bound work, and is rather far more global, flexible and fulfilling.
“Most people I think that I've interacted with are working from home or a coffee shop or wherever is most expedient. So for moms, that's a huge opportunity,” Meredith Davis, a former US Marine who also worked in government for years, and is currently seven months pregnant, said.
For pregnant women, mothers of young children, or even stay at home moms, there is opportunity to work in a busy and burgeoning space just with a laptop from any location.
“It’s a global market. It’s 24 hours. So after the kids go to bed, you can get on your computer and do anything,” Walton added.
Using it to their advantage
The Blockchain environment is also offering women a chance to enter a business space that they can dominate in, and design to their own needs and wants. The rules are not hard and fast, and as such, there is room for women thought leaders to utilize the technology.
Adryenn Ashley, CEO and founder of dating app Loly, spoke to Cryptocomes about the ‘bro culture’ that is still prevalent, but is being challenged with more women entering the space.
“If we create the infrastructure and the environment where women feel safe, they will thrive. We already know that women are a better investment. They're a better long-term risk. They're gonna make more money, they're going to fail less, they're going to work harder, they're going to put more into it,” Ashley said.
“We already know this, so women should be getting more investment, but they're not– just because of the way the system is designed.”
Additionally, Leah Callon-Butler, co-founder and Chief Impact Officer of Intimate, a cryptocurrency and platform aiming to facilitate payment and trust for the adult industry, also notes how women in the space can being a lot more in terms of different skill sets.
“Blockchain is a space where it's all about decentralization, it’s about giving power to the least represented and the most vulnerable,” she told Cryptocomes.
“I guess I'm relatively new to this space and sometimes it's hard because you think - if I'm not a computer scientist or an engineer or a mathematician or a cryptographer, then maybe I shouldn't be here,” Callon-Butler added.
“But I have different skills that I bring to the space and the social impact is something that I'm really passionate about - seeing more women in technology, more women recognized for what they do. Diversity and inclusion is one of the most powerful mechanisms of competitive advantage that we have.”
Blockchain and cryptocurrencies have long threatened to disrupt a number of different sectors from finance to technology and everything in between. But this new space also offers an opportunity for the male-dominated and directed working environment to be put on its head.
This disruption opens up new avenues for women to enter a work space that suits them far more than what has been seen in the past.


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There’s a big wide world of HR out there – here are some of the most fascinating headlines that caught our eye this past week.
VR training; coming to a workplace near you
Victorian paramedics will now be trained using virtual reality equipment in a progressive initiative by the Victorian Government.
The first of its kind for Australian emergency services, “Occupational violence prevention education program” will be used to train front-line staff and ensure they are better protected from violence when responding to an emergency.
Far from a gimmick, VR is now a genuine option for anyone looking to create workplace training, explains Russell Francis, CEO of Australian e-learning company Velpic, whose company is rolling out similar technology to its clients.
“One of the fundamental benefits of VR is that the immersive experience can simulate hazardous situations without putting anyone in real danger. The immersive simulations can be made to be very real in look and sound and thus give an extremely life-like training simulation that can be repeated over and over again without any danger to the trainee.”
Education is the perfect use case for VR with its safe, effective, immersive experience to train people with highly realistic simulations.
And it’s only the beginning, says Francis.
“Workplace training in hazardous industries is the first wave of VR training making way for mass adoption for VR Training for everything from an introduction to the office before your first day to how to operate the coffee machine”.
(Want to invest in more employee training? Watch our video on how one company built a training program people love).
Mutt-ernity and Paw-ternity leave now on offer at Scottish brewery
Scottish beer company BrewDog announced via a one-minute video that they will give their 1,000 global employees one week’s paid leave if (or when) they bring a new puppy into their lives.
“It’s not easy trying to juggle work and settle a new dog into your life,” says BrewDog’s co-founder, James Watt. “We wanted to take the stress out of the situation and let our teams take the time they need to welcome their new puppy or dog into their family.”
Having a dog lover for a boss has meant that 50 “office dogs” regularly accompany their owners to work at the company’s Aberdeenshire headquarters.
Along with the overwhelmingly positive response on social media, BrewDog said the publicity had also resulted in an uptick in applications from people keen to work at the company.
(Story got you thinking about your own employment branding? Here’s a run-down on how to do it well).
Japanese Government calls Friday drinks
In the hardest working country in the world, it’s proving difficult to get employees to slack off. So much so that the Japanese government is introducing a new initiative to encourage companies to close their doors at 3pm on the last Friday of every month.
The goal of the nationwide marketing campaign, called “Premium Fridays”, is to improve work-life balance for employees, as well as encourage consumer spending. Nearly 4,000 companies have applied to take part – using the campaign logo in some cases to promote their own goods and services, such as travel companies promoting tours that start on Fridays.
“We hope that “Premium Friday” will trigger a shift from the deflationary trend and activate consumption,” says Hiroshige Seko, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.
(What are other companies doing to improve work-life balance? Read this story about one company’s new initiative).
Winner of the best bonus, 2017
Loyalty paid off for Indian employee Shyam Kumar.
The 42-year-old low-level employee became a rupee millionaire when the start-up company he had worked at since 2010 was sold last year.
Mumbai-based mobile wallet startup Citrus Pay was sold last year to PayU for $130 million, meaning the stocks he possessed as part of the stock ownership plan he bought when he began his employment were now worth Rs. five million ($75,000).
Kumar, who has lived in a one-room shanty for the last seven years with 10 family members has now purchased health care for his family and plans to purchase a house on the outskirts of the city.
Be part of the AHRI conversation at the 2017 AHRI Convention and Exhibition
So, have you heard registration for the 2017 AHRI Convention is now open?
Australia’s flagship event for HR and people managers, this annual event for HR practitioners, people managers and business leaders showcases the leading business thinkers on the global stage.
The accompanying 100+ stand exhibition will provide delegates with the latest products and services in the HR field for new ideas to take back to the workplace.


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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is banking on the new Stelvio SUV to provide a big spark to the low-volume brand's U.S. sales, which have slumped 23 percent this year to 441 vehicles, most of which are the 4C Coupe and 4C Spider.
Alfa Romeo returned to the U.S. in late 2014 after a nearly two-decade absence and is betting on the Stelvio to help draw a new generation of buyers as well as fans of rival German brands.
"American drivers are still getting to know the Alfa Romeo brand, and the introduction of the Stelvio is the best way to gain exposure to consumers in the bustling premium utility segment," said Eric Lyman, chief analyst for TrueCar.
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio -- the first crossover from the resurrected brand and key to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' hopes of restoring Alfa Romeo to global relevance -- features a trim lineup that puts German competitors squarely in its sights. The crossover was unveiled last week at the Los Angeles auto show.
The Stelvio, named after a harrowing mountain pass in the Italian Alps, is built on FCA's new Giorgio platform, which also underpins Alfa's Giulia compact sport sedan.
It will be built at FCA's plant in Cassino, Italy, and is expected to begin appearing in showrooms in 2017.
Alfa is the latest luxury marque -- after Porsche, Jaguar, Bentley, Maserati and Lamborghini -- to expand beyond a traditional car lineup and market increasingly popular SUVs and crossovers.


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According to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, American Airlines was an early adopter of tablet computers. As a result, it learned a lot about how best to use tablets—and where it could go wrong.
Here is a list of the top five mistakes that companies like American Airlines have learned, as early adopters of tablets:
No. 1: Failing to have a plan before rolling out the devices
No. 2: Not understanding what tablets are—and are not—good for
No. 3: Expecting to easily obtain all the apps you need
No. 4: Thinking tablets are cheaper than laptops
No. 5: Misjudging the ease of support and security
Ultimately, companies need to recognize that tablets are a new breed of devices that require new methods of management. Says Lars Kamp, strategy lead for Accenture Mobility Services, part of consultants Accenture. "Don't think tablets are an extension of existing legacy IT systems. They are not."
Click here to read the complete article.
For more information on the use of tablets for your business, contact one of our Technology Partners by leaving a comment below or by calling 440-449-6800.


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MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Minnesota House Democrats who successfully pushed to legalize some THC edibles and beverages say they worked quietly to avoid negative attention that could've torpedoed the bill and set back their ultimate goal to legalize recreational marijuana.
"We absolutely did this on purpose. It was an intentional step forward," House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, told reporters at a Tuesday news conference.
The law allows Minnesota retailers to sell gummies and drinks with up to five milligrams of THC per serving, or 50 milligrams per package. It took effect July 1, catching much of the public off guard. Customers packed hemp shops in the Twin Cities this weekend and reacted with surprise to the new law.
The legislative effort did not follow the usual script of how a bill becomes law. Democrats said the lack of publicity campaigns filled with press releases, news conferences, and testimony from advocates was intentional because unwanted attention from critics could have pressured Republicans to block the bill.
"Sometimes legislation benefits from a lot of publicity, and sometimes legislation benefits from the ability to do the work more quietly," Winkler said. "But it was all done in the public eye."
The THC provision was part of a 400-page health and human services bill that passed the Republican-controlled Senate unanimously on the second-to-last day of the legislative session in May.
Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller nodded his approval of the new law, calling it "bipartisan" in a statement and predicting that it would keep THC products away from children.
But fellow Republican Sen. Jim Abeler, who chairs the Senate Human Services committee, has told reporters that he was surprised by what the bill had done. On May 19, after the conference committee he co-chaired approved the THC provision, Abeler said, "That doesn’t legalize marijuana. We didn’t just do that, did we?"
The measure does not legalize marijuana, a point that advocates for full legalization were quick to point out Tuesday. It allows retailers to sell low-dose THC products to adults ages 21 and older. The law prohibits companies from marketing to children.
A question over the regulation of candy-like gummies underscored the confusion that exists over the law.
Democrats said their goal was to prevent stores from selling candy-like gummies. But the law doesn't do that, said Jill Phillips, the executive director for the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy. While the law prohibits retailers from injecting THC into commercially available candy, companies can manufacture their own, she said.
Breweries cannot sell THC-infused beer on-site or in to-go containers. But a brewery could sell a CBD-infused product through its distribution channels after federal regulators sign off on the formulation and labeling, Phillips said.
The Legislature did not spell out who will handle enforcement, and lawmakers will likely not be in session to clarify the matter until next January. The Board of Pharmacy has posted a complaint form online, though the enforcement task will likely fall to cities and counties that license businesses in their communities.
State Rep. Heather Edelson, DFL-Edina, said she was talking with municipal officials and planned to say more about local enforcement options later this week. She declined to outline those plans on Tuesday.
"It was a wild west before, let's be clear," Edelson said, when reporters asked if the lack of clarity would create an anything-goes environment.
Board of Pharmacy officials were initially involved with crafting the provision in March, according to emails between the board's then-executive director, Cody Wiberg, and House staff.
Democrats later added the current language allowing up to 5 milligrams per dose, but did not do so at the board's request, Phillips said. Board staff did not object to the higher limits, she said.


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The developer of the iconic game PUBG, Krafton Inc, has revealed that a new battle royale game will be released in India. Battlegrounds Mobile India will be a game exclusive to India, and it is essentially PUBG Mobile reimagined for the region.
Battlegrounds Mobile India is set to debut soon in India, with a new name and an India-centric logo featuring tricolor hues. Here’s what we know about the latest game so far, ahead of its release. But first, in case you missed it, here’s the game’s short teaser.
The game returns with a new title and geo-locking in reaction to the Indian government’s ban on Chinese companies and applications. Tencent released the first version of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) Mobile.
Pubg mobile is the most popular game among all of the online android mobile games available right now in India which is why every mobile gamer is waiting patiently for the release of the game.
PUBG Corporation, headquartered in South Korea, announced in September that it would establish an Indian subsidiary to launch an India-specific version of the game.
PUBG Corporation has announced that Battlegrounds Mobile will maintain the same free-to-play mobile interface as its ancestor without specifying a specific launch date.
The geo-locking, on the other hand, would make hosting international e-sports competitions impractical, with the game only supporting India-specific tournaments and leagues.
As a consolation, the company offers India-exclusive clothes and in-game activities.
India Only Pre-Registration:
Before the game’s launch in India, Battlegrounds Mobile India will be available for pre-registration. The game’s pre-registration will allow players early access to the game before it launches, and it will be exclusive to Indian players only.
New Restriction For Kids And Teenagers:
In Battlegrounds Mobile India, players under the age of 18 will face new constraints. Below the age of 18, players would need to register for the game using their parent or guardian’s phone number.
Furthermore, players under the age of 18 will only be allowed to play the game for three hours a day. In-app sales will also be limited to Rs 7,000 per day for these players. However, it is unclear how the game will determine each player’s age.
Last year, the global version of PUBG Mobile India was blocked in India and a host of other Chinese games due to data privacy concerns. This included claims that Indian players’ data are being sent to servers in other countries. Battlegrounds Mobile India aims to address these concerns with a new game that places a strong focus on privacy.
“If your information is transferred to another country or territory, we will take action to ensure that it is sheltered to the same extent as if it stayed in India,” it added.
Battlegrounds Mobile India:
On 6th May, official social media pages of battlegrounds mobile India release a short teaser saying the game will be coming soon.
On 7th May, Battlegrounds mobile India reveals the logo of the game.
The official teaser didn’t say anything about the game, and the 10-second clip ended with a “COMING SOON” tweet.
There is no official word about when Battlegrounds Mobile will be released in India. However, players should expect a trailer for the game and a release date to be announced shortly.
The official Battlegrounds Mobile India logo has been unveiled on the game’s official YouTube channel by South Korean gaming powerhouse Krafton. Fans and players of PUBG Mobile are buzzing about the latest title’s launch.
The game’s avid fans have been hoping for an official report on the game’s prospects in the country for a long time, and they finally got it on 6th May. Aside from the launch, the channel has unveiled a new teaser/trailer for the game, which has been trending for quite some time.
The excitement about the game’s comeback has reached new heights. For this version, a new website has been introduced. This link will guide players to it. The age limit on players under the age of 18 is one of the most critical aspects of this.
Furthermore, the Indian version’s exclusive Esports environment would most likely have a lucrative professional career choice. Krafton, on the other hand, has not confirmed any precise dates for pre-registration or the launching of Battlegrounds Mobile India.
To stay up to date with all the latest news and updates about Battlegrounds Mobile India, players can follow the game’s official social media handles.
It’s difficult to say whether the game tailored to India would be better or worse than the original. It is contingent on PUBG Corporation’s an engineering and production efforts for the Indian version of its famous battle royale title.
However, except for the manufacturing industry, its $100 million investment in its Indian subsidiary is the largest by any Korean company.
A few days ago, Krafton said that PUBG Mobile would be released in India and very likely. Krafton is optimistic about PUBG’s return to India and is working hard to bring the Indian version of the game to the world. In a recent case, Krafton’s corporate development manager, Sean Hyunil Sohn, said that the company is working hard to make a comeback. As a result, the launch of PUBG Mobile in India will take place.
PUBG Mobile India was first teased in November during Diwali, but it has been repeatedly postponed due to Indian government problems. The government is yet to permit Krafton to issue PUBG Mobile India in India due to the country’s border tensions with China.
The company’s CEO made it clear that the Indian market is crucial to them and that they are working hard to make it possible. Unfortunately, we don’t have an official PUBG Mobile India release date yet, but the developers are doing everything they can to get the game to India. Krafton recently stated that their newest game, PUBG: New State, will not be released until PUBG Mobile India is launched in India.
The release after unbanning of the game, previously named pubg mobile, is now relaunching as battlegrounds mobile India, increasing the hype of the online battle royal game. pubg mobile is the leading battle royal game banned in September 2020 in India, and now it is back in the Indian market. It is all set to relaunch as battlegrounds mobile India.


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Below is a recap of this week’s blog posts including how device reuse can help protect the environment, what kinds of e-waste are often disposed of improperly, how improper IT asset disposition can harm the environment and lead to chemical fires, and the do’s and don’ts of old phone chargers and other e-waste.
Device reuse plays a key role in a circular economy, providing an alternative purchasing channel to new devices and helping to protect the environment. Keeping IT assets up to date can become costly over time, especially when new models are released each year. IT asset disposition provides a second chance for some electronics through device reuse, which is increasingly preferable to purchasing new devices.
Electronic waste is a problem. Though many businesses are increasingly more environmentally aware and implementing sustainability goals and policies, a significant portion of e-waste is still disposed of improperly, especially those classified as invisible or not recognized by users as e-waste.
This year’s annual E-Waste Day took place over the weekend, a global initiative to recycle electronic household waste no longer in use, such as e-scooters, e-bikes, laptops, old smartphones, tablets, smoke detectors, and loose cables,, but responsible IT asset disposition doesn’t have to be restricted to a single day. ITAD facilities such as HOBI collect retired IT hardware year-round to ensure they are disposed of properly via electronics recycling.
Smartphones are an essential part of most people’s daily lives. With most people replacing their smartphones as often as every three to four years, older models rapidly become outdated. As electronic devices are frequently changing and advancing, upgrades don’t just mean getting new devices but also purchasing new cables and chargers suitable for the latest device model.


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On 13 April 2013, Australian Businesswomen’s Network (ABN) member Tina Tower was announced as the winner of the 2013 Australian Small Business Champion Awards in the “Educational Services” category. Congratulations on a great achievement, Tina! Tina Tower has been a member of the Australian Businesswomen's Network since November 2012 and is the Director of the [...]
ABN Media Library
eBook Reveals Technology and Innovation Secrets of Businesswomen
Sydney, 23 April 2012 -- The Australian Businesswomen’s Network (ABN) has released a new eBook showcasing how businesswomen have tapped technology to propel themselves to the top of their industries. Sponsored by Optus Business, the eBook is titled Innovation Through Technology: The Innovation Secrets of 10 Women-Owned Australian Small Businesses.
“The world’s most successful businesses are harnessing the power of technology,” said Suzi Dafnis, Community Director at ABN. “Regardless of the size of your business, you too can use all the cool technology tools to generate leads, communicate with clients, fine-tune business proceeds and manage virtual teams – even if you’re not a computer geek!”
The eBook features interviews with 10 businesswomen who share how they have leveraged technology in innovative ways. For example, Mandi Gunsburger, CEO of babyology, explains how her company’s remote workforce operates “entirely in the cloud.” Using cloud-based technology and open-source software, Gunsberger circumvents the high costs associated traditional office space and traditional office software.
Other featured businesswomen reveal how they employ technology to track the success of marketing campaigns, get the most out of social media and smart phone apps, balance business and motherhood, enhance productivity, reduce overhead and manage cash flow more effectively.
ABN is a membership organisation that provides networking opportunities, business education, and access to mentors to businesswomen throughout Australia.
1300 720 120 or +61 2 8332 5400


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Apple's latest ARKit platform offers improved AR experiences, and The Walking Dead app experience is one of them.
Augmented reality as a concept isn’t new. Just like a lot of other concepts in technology, augmented reality (AR) has been through an evolutionary journey, growing and adapting itself like any other. The term was conceived in 1990 when researcher Tom Caudell at Boeing postulated it for use on the factory floor. A couple of months ago, at WWDC, Apple announced it was looking at AR in a huge way with ARKit.
If I had to ponder over the past few years, I observe three distinct variants – virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality. And pioneering these three areas are – Facebook, through its acquisition of Oculus; Google, through its Glass project; and Microsoft, through its HoloLens project. It’s a pity though. Despite being impressive concepts by themselves, I don’t find them mainstream worthy just yet.
Over the past three years, I’ve experienced the Oculus Rift developer edition and the HoloLens at ease. I’ve only been able to see the Google Glass briefly. But I’ve had a few friends in the developer circles who’ve described their experience at length to me. Alas, there was just one common denominator in the sluggish adaption of these impressive attempts – high cost of associated hardware.
At worldwide developer conference (or DubDubDeeCee) in June this year, Apple announced a slew of features in its next version of its mobile operating system. But towards the end of the event, Apple demoed its trump card in its battle for sealing its grip over the next wave of tech innovation. Meet ARKit.
There are two reasons why ARKit has immense potential. One, the need for an AR headset or wearable has been obviated. Two, given that iOS has a longer support cycle and lesser fragmentation than Android, it already seems to have an edge over ARCore. I’ve seen the past of AR. And I believe there’s scope to improve. With cool new apps developed for iOS 11 implementing ARKit, I’ve seen the beginning of the future of AR. And it’s pretty damn interesting. Here’s a demo of just what’s possible with Apple’s ARKit.


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Buying a home isn’t like going to the store and buying your groceries. Hopefully, the store you go to has everything you need — enough for everyone. You’ll walk out of there with what you’re looking for, at a price anyone else would pay.
In housing markets across many of America’s cities today, you’d be lucky to buy a house for the price listed: In some places, homes are going for hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more) over the asking price. Those sky-high sale prices are likely the result of a fierce bidding war, where multiple buyers compete by offering a series of increasing bids.
Bidding wars can be frustrating not only because they drive up the price of your dream home, but because winning isn’t guaranteed. Is there anything worse than the feeling of going above your budget for a home because you want it so badly, only to lose out anyway?
So how do you win a bidding war for a house? As part of our #AskOrchard series, our in-house expert Rachel Bennett has a couple of timely tips for you in the video below:
Of course, there’s more to the home buying process than submitting the highest bid faster than your competition. Check out our resources on negotiating tactics for home buyers and for navigating a hot housing market.


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Japan's tech giant, Sony is all set to become profitable again under CEO Kaz Hirai. The company which reported its biggest loss ever in 2012, of more than £3bn, aims to set a new high this year.
According to The Guardian, the company is on track to record a new annual profit and is expecting to beat its previous corporate best of £3.5bn by 20 percent.
Investments in PlayStation, TV Production and the company's partnership with tech rival Apple are the main reasons behind its recovery.
Sony also stated that its film unit is one of the company's strongest performers and the driving point behind the expected profit margins.
Business is looking up for Sony Pictures in 2017, which is most likely set for its best year at the box office since 2014, owing to popular films such as Spider-Man: Homecoming, Baby Driver, and Blade Runner 2049.
Moreover, Sony Music, whose artists include Beyonce, Shakira and AC/DC, has also benefited from the rise of digital services such as Spotify and Apple Music.


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Tackling monopolies one at a time
In the past four weeks alone, at least 19 emails from the Competition Commission landed in our mailbox, each making some sort of an announcement of the work that goes on within its offices.
The notices range from decisions on collusion by construction companies in tender at a paper plant in KwaZulu-Natal; boat operators colluding to fix prices on a Robben Island tender; and pay TV channel DStv Media Sales admitting guilt and paying a fine, to tender collusion relating to padlocks in Cape Town and the approval of mergers and acquisitions.
In the past two weeks, the commission held public hearings into grocery retail because it believes there are “features in the sector that may be preventing, distorting or restricting competition and, ultimately, adversely affect consumers and households”. The focus included the impact of national supermarket chains on townships, peri-urban areas and rural areas, and the informal economy. The outcomes are awaited.
It further announced that it had launched a probe into three big drug manufacturing firms for excessive pricing, discrimination and exclusionary conduct of breast cancer, lung cancer and other cancer-related medicines.
The commission deserves applause for becoming an activist for the citizenry, and taking on industries and shaking up long-established practices that were regarded as normal. It proves that if you want to take on monopolies, of whatever hue, it can be done.
Don’t decry “white monopoly capital” rhetorically. Use the instruments at our disposal.


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Arican Media Agency (AMA)/- Africa.com is proud to announce the addition of Mobile Sites to its collection of online tools and services. “This is a new category of service that will transform website access across Africa. The mobile service works with all mobile devices, providing a great mobile experience to customers on all digital devices including feature phones, smartphones, mid-range and budget phones” says Africa.com CEO and Chairman, Teresa Clarke.
The mobile sites are easy to access and browse, so millions of users with a mobile phone can use the 1-click features. The mobile sites are fast and user friendly and load information up to 8 times quicker than a full traditional website. The mobile sites are designed specifically for the mobile user. Easy to
navigate and quick to get to the information you need.
Africa.com is helping to get more Africans online as creators of content by offering a complete “we do it for you” experience. With easy and affordable monthly payments and no set up fees, every entrepreneur and blogger can get online within a few days.
“We’re providing our customers with tools to make their lives better” said Nero Ogheneovo, CEO of T-Shirt Factory Africa. “For them, better means simple and convenient. The Africa.com Mobile Site solution is another exciting move in that direction.”
“Mobile Sites are the kind of innovative thinking that brings the worlds of online and offline business closer together,” said Dr Adesina Iluyemi, NEPAD Council Board Member. “We’re excited to work with Africa.com to offer our audience a simple way to connect with us.”
In mid 2013, Africa.com began offering domain names for those businesses seeking a pan-African audience with a globally recognised web address. The addition of full service mobile websites is among the many tools expected to launch this year.


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On the heels of Verizon’s LG Lucid Ice Cream Sandwich announcement comes word that the Motorola Droid Bionic Ice Cream Sandwich update has been approved by Verizon which means that a roll out should finally be taking place soon.
The update finally appeared on Verizon’s website today which means that the carrier has approved it for roll out which means Droid Bionic owners should be getting their taste of Ice Cream Sandwich in the near future. No date is known but it shouldn’t be more than a few days.
Previously, we had been told that a soak test would be rolling out tomorrow, October 19, and it appears that this might be the case as Verizon generally rolls out its updates in phases with the initial recipients essentially being used to test the update. Then, if all goes well, the update generally rolls out to everyone a few days after that.
So, it could be that the approved update starts hitting devices tomorrow.
The update will take the Droid Bionic up to Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich and will bring all of the goodies that come along with any old Ice Cream Sandwich update. This means the new user interface, the new launch bar, a better camera application, improved browser, Face Unlock, better multitasking and more. It’s a huge step up from the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update that was previously running on the Droid Bionic.
There will also be stability and performance enhancements that will be coming with the update which should shore up any issues that Droid Bionic owners have been having with Android.
Droid Bionic owners should know that the update is around 370MB in size which means that it will take a bit to download and install.
The update, which was originally supposed to be out in Q3 of this year, was pushed to Q4 due to unknown reasons. The assumed reason was because of similar issues that arose with the Droid RAZR and Droid RAZR MAXX updates. Those devices have yet to receive a bug fix update for Ice Cream Sandwich.
So, be on the look out soon Droid Bionic owners, it looks like the Droid Bionic update is coming soon, maybe even at the same time as the LG Lucid ICS update.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


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World Health Organization urges every country to tax sugary drinks
The advice comes as more and more countries are considering fiscal measures to dissuade people from buying large quantities of sugary soft drinks, which have been identified as a major cause of the global obesity crisis.
According to a WHO report, a tax of 20% or more results in a drop in sales and therefore consumption of sugary drinks. This results in people consuming fewer ‘free sugars’ such as fructose and glucose, taking in fewer calories and reducing their risk of tooth decay.
According to Dr Douglas Bettcher, director of the WHO’s department for the prevention of non-communicable diseases, a major factor in the global increase of people suffering from obesity and diabetes is the consumption of free sugars, such as sugary drinks. He says: ‘If governments tax products like sugary drinks, they can reduce suffering and save lives. They can also cut healthcare costs and increase revenues to invest in health services.’
The WHO has previously published nutritional advice reporting that sugar isn’t required in anyone’s diet. Its guidance says we should restrict our intake of free sugars to a maximum of 10% of our energy needs, preferably 5%.
The UK government’s scientific advisory committee on nutrition and health echoed that advice, which led to the decision to introduce a sugary drinks tax in the UK in 2018. Other countries, including the Philippines and South Africa, are now looking at introducing similar measures.
Mexico’s 10% tax on sugary drinks appears to have successfully reduced sales and consumption.
The WHO says a tax has most impact on the young, those on low incomes and others who consume a lot of sugary drinks and will have the greatest positive effect on the health of those groups.
Other effective fiscal measures include subsidising fresh fruit and vegetable prices by 10-30% and taxing food and other drinks that are high in saturated fats, trans fats, free sugars and salt.


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Is a ban on facial recognition and a return to cash showing backlash against Big Tech coming from its home turf?
As Facebook plans on rolling out a cashless payment system, San Francisco is banning credit-only stores, requiring businesses to accept cash.
District Five Supervisor Vallie Brown, who introduced the legislation, said that not allowing cash was unfair to immigrants and the homeless.
Brown wants to go further and ban Amazon’s cashless stores.
The SFGate added:
Some people also prefer to use cash because they don’t want to leave a digital trail of where they have been and what they have bought.
San Francisco has also banned government use of facial recognition technology.
San Francisco’s ban comes amidst a series of proposals that highlight tensions between the city and tech companies that call it home. On Tuesday, the city also unanimously approved a ban on cashless stores, an effort aimed at Amazon’s cashierless Go stores. Waiting in the wings? A so-called “IPO tax,” in response to the endless march of tech companies going public, which would authorize a city-wide vote to raise the tax rate on corporate stock-based compensation.
The Chinese social credit system utilizes cashless payment to control individuals who have a low score.
Multiple individuals in the United States have been banned from banks for their political views while Big Tech purges and censors their content online.
This article was sourced from Old Thinker News.
Be Free and Independent! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


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Drone deliveries are getting closer to being a reality as Google's drone delivery division, Wing Aviation, received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate as a small airline, Bloomberg reports.
The certification allows Wing to begin dropping packages to customers in limited areas, per FAA regulations. Wing will begin delivering small consumer items in two Virginia counties within the coming months. With the FAA's blessing, Wing will be allowed to apply for permission to expand to other areas as the pilot progresses.
Current drone regulations prohibit them from flying over crowds or urban areas.


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War looms over the Wizaridng World in the new trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore! As promised, Warner Bros. Pictures has released a brand new trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore, giving us a magical new look at the upcoming Harry Potter prequel. The latest trailer for The Secrets Of Dumbledore …
Warner Bros. and Wizarding World have announced that Hogwarts Legacy, the upcoming open-world Harry Potter RPG, has been delayed to 2022.
Good news for all the Harry Potter collectors out there, a new collection of celebration wands is on the way...(read more)
After years of waiting, Warner Bros. has officially announced a new open-world Harry Potter game, which has been officially titled Hogwarts Legacy!
Wizarding World has revealed their new collectable range of Harry Potter pin sets, which celebrate each of the Hogwarts houses!


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Evolution Studios has commented on the accidental release of DriveClub PS Plus version and confirmed that it was not supposed to go live today, hence they have removed the game from the store.
DriveClub PS Plus version was announced almost 2 years ago and it is still missing in action. Evolution Studios had earlier teased that they are still updating the servers in order to get the game ready for the PS Plus release, but nothing worthwhile came out of it until today, when the game made its surprise appearance on the PlayStation Store with a full game trial exclusive to the PlayStation Plus subscribers. This later proved to be a mistake and was quickly rectified.
Check out what Evolution Studios had to say regarding this mistake below.
We’re preparing to launch DRIVECLUB PS+ Edition & will have news for you soon.
The Store update today with the DRIVECLUB PS+ Edition was premature. The servers aren’t ready yet, so it’s been removed while we get them ready. Apologies on their behalf for any confusion and inconvenience caused.
Let us know what you think about this news in the comments below.


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Shoppers react to the closing of Tom’s Market in Freeburg
Don Norrenberns doesn’t want to close his supermarkets in Nashville and Freeburg, but he says the "crushing" costs of union pension funds left him with no other choice.
“This was something we had hoped to avoid,” Norrenberns wrote in an email Feb. 14. “Letting go of these stores has been very emotional. We love the people we serve, and the talented team that works with us.”
Two days after Freeburg employees found out their store was closing, Tom’s Market publicly announced plans to leave Freeburg and Nashville.
When inventory runs out the stores will close for good. Norrenberns did not give an exact date.
The company operated 12 different stores in Southern Illinois in recent decades. When the Freeburg and Nashville stores close, the Mascoutah location will be the only one left.
Tom’s Market served the Freeburg community for more than 32 years, and the Nashville community for more than 12 years. Norrenberns said the company couldn’t handle the weight of the union pension funds, which led to the decision to close Freeburg and Nashville stores this year.
The Freeburg and Mascoutah stores are a part of the Local 881 United Food and Commercial Workers union. The Nashville store is not. A representative from Local 881 UFCW declined to comment.
Union workers at his stores, Norrenberns said, aren’t to blame. Instead, he is convinced that union pension funds are “killing small businesses across this country.”
“That’s the story,” Norrenberns said. “It’s not just me.”
Under federal law, multi-employer union pension funds that are underfunded can make assessments on contributing employers to make up for funding shortfalls. For the Norrenberns family, those assessments were for millions of dollars.
Preparing for the final days
Freeburg Village Administrator Tony Funderburg said the village has made plans with local churches to get groceries delivered to seniors and people in need. Days before the closure was officially announced, Funderburg started looking for ways to close the gap between residents and the loss of their supermarket.
“Please know that we are doing everything possible to continue to have a supermarket in Freeburg," Freeburg Mayor Seth Speiser said in the statement. "We know this is vital to our community. We are currently researching all available options."
Speiser went on to explain that the village "has been in close contact with Joe Koppeis, the owner of the building, to come up with a viable solution to resolve this situation."
Freeburg resident Sue Bald said she heard talk of the store closing before it was officially announced. For her, losing the store is inconvenient.
“I live in Freeburg, and yes this will be a hardship," Bald said. “I don’t like to drive to Belleville for everything; I do my regular shopping here.”
Gene Vonderheide, of Freeburg, said he depends on the store as well.
“I’m in at least three times a week,” Vonderheide said “I’m in my 80s. My wife cannot get out. I’m a caretaker. We’re going to have to drive into Belleville now.”
Belleville is eight miles away from Freeburg, but the drive feels dangerous to Vonderheide and other elderly residents, who would rather shop in town.
There's a chance a new grocery vendor will move in, but Norrenberns doesn’t think anyone will move in until the store goes completely goes dark. In the meantime, local churches are stepping in to help seniors in Freeburg.
What will happen to the pharmacy?
Freeburg Pharmacy, a fixture in the community, plans to purchase prescriptions from Tom’s Market. Byran Schneider and his wife, Frances, own the pharmacy at 10 Southgate Center, where there’s room to add coolers and food items if the town needs them to do that.
“We could add grocery to the pharmacy,” Bryan Schneider said. Schneider said he plans to wait and see what happens to the building Tom’s occupies.
In the meantime, he plans to focus on the influx of prescriptions at the pharmacy where residents can purchase toiletries and other supplies.
Freeburg residents in need of a ride to area grocery stores can call St. Joseph Catholic Church at 618-539-3209, or St. Paul's United Church of Christ at 618-539-3262.
“We are family of tremendous faith and we know God has a plan for this, “ Norrenberns said. “We're not sure what that is, but we continue to operate with faith in his providence.”


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July 13, 2018 10:30
When asked to compare themselves to their competitors, 84 % of canadian businesses say they would be more ready than the average or even very effective to deal with cyber risks, according to a survey of the consulting firm cyber security FICO. The same survey conducted last year revealed that this proportion was 52 %.
“Despite the growth of violations of data protection, the managers responsible for the safety of canadian companies are incredibly confident in their preparedness to cyber security “, argued the analyst ofOvum, a firm commissioned by FICO to conduct the survey.
44 % are ranked among the best companies
The survey, conducted among 500 companies in Canada and in ten other countries, reveals that the canadian respondents are the most confident of all regions where the study was done, while 44% are ranked among the best companies in the field of protection of cyber security.
The company explains that this excess of optimism on the part of companies surveyed is caused by a “lack of ongoing assessment and objective” of their positioning in the field of cyber security.
38% use of assessment tools
Although they say they are confident, only 38% of companies use tools to provide an “assessments” of their risks in the area of cyber security, says FICO.
“It is alarming to learn that the organizations are too confident in their preparation to cyber security, says Kevin Deveau, vice-president and managing director of FICO Canada. This level of confidence can lead to complacency, which is dangerous. Cyber security is a constant struggle that requires attention. The fact that the overwhelming majority of companies feel above the average shows that there is a lack of understanding of the true industry averages. “


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The top casino gaming developer further strengthens its games and systems sales management.
The 2019 edition of NIGA took place last week and Konami unveiled its largest mix of KX 43 game options shown to date.
The leading casino systems developer initiates joint collaborative efforts with the industry’s first self-learning, artificial intelligence platform
Konami’s latest slot cabinet shows strong results and popular reception moving into its official market release
(Exclusive interview).- Eduardo Aching, Vice President, International Gaming Operations at Konami Gaming Inc, talked with Focus Gaming News after this year’s ICE London.
(Exclusive interview).- ICE 2019 is only a few weeks away, and Steve Walther, Senior Director, Marketing & Product Management at Konami Gaming Inc, talked with Focus Gaming News about the show.
The new oversized Konami slot cabinet carries strong momentum into its official release and roll-out.
Multi-channel “cardless” player loyalty solution earns gold for advancing customer experience and convenience in the 2019 Gaming & Technology Awards.


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Info from Brazil / UK on possible threat from Vegan foods
Thought this worth sharing not becauseI’m anti Vegan but because I believe we should try and eat as healthy as possible in order to stay fit, an essential prepper requirement.
Ben Chapman senior digital producer
Published monday 17 January 2022 – 11:41
Veganuary has caused a stir in the plant-based sphere, as thousands of people across the UK drop their regular diets to adopt a meat and dairy-free consumption plan.
High street brands often latch onto the yearly January event, releasing new plant-based options. Subway, for example, have released a new T.L.C (Tastes.Like.Chicken) option, while KFC have launched plant-based nuggets.
The meat alternatives prove popular as corporations look to tap into the market, but research has shown that they are unhealthy, and can be classed as ‘ultra-processed’ foods.
This was first identified by Brazilian academics as part of the NOVA classification.
Ultra processed foods are accepted by health experts to be unhealthy and probably addictive, and a reason behind increasing rates of obesity and poor health worldwide.
NOVA has four different classifications for food, ‘Unprocessed food or minimally processed’ being reserved for raw ingredients such as fruit and vegetables.
The third, processed foods, includes the likes of cheese and tofu.
The fourth and final category, being ultra processed foods, is reserved for a great deal of the vegan alternatives on offer from fast food chains and supermarkets.
NOVA describe this classification as: “in particular flavours, colours sweeteners, emulsifiers, and other additives used to imitate sensorial qualities of unprocessed or minimally processed foods and their culinary preparations or to disguise undesirable qualities of the final product”.
The research from NOVA suggests the swathe of vegan options readily on offer this month fit into this category, meaning they are often much unhealthier than their meat counterparts.
While a grilled chicken breast would count as minimally processed, or in some cases ‘processed’ if salt and oil is added, ‘plant-based chicken goujons’ can be classed as ultra processed, containing over 30 ingredients, including methylcellulose, maltodextrin and dried glucose syrup.
Despite this, the food industry has continued to push the products, with even the term ‘plant-based’ being adopted to give more positive connotations.
The word ‘plant’ can be associated with nature, health and fresh air, and the Sainsbury’s Plant Pioneers range reinforce this, as a green leaf peeks out from the logo.
Despite this, it is argued by companies offering meat-free options that the food on offer is better for the planet, as well as health.
A Quorn spokesperson told the Independent in 2021: “We don’t recognise the label of ‘ultra-processed – our protein is cultivated from a natural nutritious fungus, using the age-old method of fermentation, and then steam-cooked, chilled and frozen to create Quorn products”.


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One of the world’s biggest cloud service providers has developed an asset disposition process that uses machine learning and other tools to handle more used material on-site.
Software and computing giant Microsoft this month announced new electronics recycling and ITAD efforts, with a write-up from Brad Smith, the company’s president, detailing new protocols.
The ITAD shifts fit into a commitment the company made at the beginning of the year connected to four major environmental sustainability initiatives throughout 2020, company spokesperson Chris Brown told E-Scrap News in an interview.
“Waste” is the current initiative the company is highlighting, and the data center asset disposition shift falls under that umbrella.
Connected to Azure
The operation of data centers has become a huge part of Microsoft’s business, through the company’s Azure cloud services sector. Currently, when the company moves to decommission equipment from a data center, the hardware is pulled out and shipped off-site immediately, Brown said.
Material moves to a separate facility where it is evaluated. Sometimes equipment is dismantled and harvested for components; other times it may be reused elsewhere within Microsoft’s network or sold externally.
Moving the equipment around so much takes “a lot of energy to make it happen,” Brown said. So the company now wants to deploy a system in which it processes the materials close to the source, developing locations called Microsoft Circular Centers to handle equipment.
“These will be located on-site or very near to new major data center campuses,” Brown said.
Circular Center pilot projects took place recently in Amsterdam, and Microsoft is currently building one of the processing sites at its data center campus in Virginia, Brown said.
The idea is to install tools that use machine learning and intelligent scheduling to sort through equipment quickly and figure out how each asset should be handled, Brown explained. The evaluation tools will “figure out what can be reused by Microsoft or sold to other partners,” he said.
The company is on track to increase its reuse of data center components by up to 90%, Brown said.
Data security upsides
Performing initial processing and sorting of devices on site allows Microsoft to tighten up data security practices.
“Data center security is a huge deal,” Brown said. When transporting that equipment, which includes many components that could contain customer data, security is even more important.
“The ability to wipe on-site” is key to the company, Brown said.
Beyond the data center development, Microsoft announced goals to make its Surface devices 100% recyclable by 2030 and to use 100% recyclable packaging in countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), also by 2030.
Additionally, Microsoft recently announced a $30 million investment in Closed Loop Partners, an investment firm that provides capital to recycling and sustainability companies.
“One of the things they are talking about a lot is supply chain digitization and e-waste collection,” Brown said. “They’re going to be making investments on our behalf with other co-investors, in interesting moonshot companies.”
Finally, Microsoft announced it wants to enhance its data platforms to track the e-scrap chain of custody, although the company has offered few details on what that will entail.
More stories about OEMs
- Microsoft names price for Windows 10 extended support
- Oregon sends broad right-to-repair bill to governor
- Battery recycling tech aims for fully domestic production


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Students rock their free iPads at IIT
A few select schools across the country have embraced the iPad, and it's easy to see why. The smart-looking tablet computer can do everything a laptop can do -- even more -- with thousands of available apps. Plus it's compact, connected, fast, user-friendly and just plain cool.
September 16, 2010


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Check out the latest breaking UFC NEWS
Conor McGregor just made a proper donation.
In celebration of the first anniversary of the launch of his whiskey brand, Proper No. Twelve, McGregor, who initially said for every case sold his company would donate $ 5 to first responders, was happy to announce that he’s already hit the $ 1 million dollar mark.
McGregor took to Instagram to write a heart-felt message thanking his fans and his team for his business success, as well as affirming that in the new year, his team will be donating $ 1 million to first responder organizations as promised.
View this post on Instagram
Happy 1st birthday to @properwhiskey!!! What a journey it has been so far! We are now in 8 countries to date, with many more planned for 2020! I am so thankful to you all for your support and love of PROPER No. TWELVE! I also want to thank the fine Irish women and men who have worked so diligently at the distillery and beyond…what an amazing team we have! When we started this business, something very important to me was to give back. For every case we sell, my company donates $ 5 up to 1 million dollars per year to first responders. I am very proud to announce that we have already hit the 1 million dollar mark! This is all thanks to you! Our fans! Thank you all In the New Year, we will begin donating the first million dollars to first responder organizations. My team is vetting it all out now to be sure it goes into the proper hands. Thank you all for the support! Sláinte #ONEFORALL @properwhiskey
Proper No. Twelve has already launched in eight different countries around the world, as McGregor continues to expand his business. With the announcement of a UFC return seemingly imminent, all signs are pointing to a fight with Donald Cerrone on Jan. 18, but nothing has been made official.
The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.
News | MMA Junkie


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Biometrical data is becoming an increasingly frequent way to log into phones and tablets, due to it being quick and unique to each person. What’s more, with the popularity of cashless payments exploding in the last couple of years thanks to contactless, a need for secure authentication methods is being driven at hard – after all, cards can be stolen. So far there are two favoured methods of payment that utilise biometric information: mobile and online.
Apple Pay pioneered the use of a biometric fingerprint scanner to pay for mobile purchases such as apps, with Samsung and Google since following suit. Not only this, but with mobile banking on the rise, some high-street banks are incorporating biometric data to log-in to their services. So, what’s next for biometrics being used for online payments?
Biometrical payments are likely to grow over the next few years thanks to the recently implemented GDPR laws. Thanks to this, data protection is becoming a top priority for businesses. As biometric data is unique to the person using it, such security threats and data breaches are minimised. Not only this, but it’s arguably also more reliable as a form of payment due to not having to rely on pin numbers, passwords or physical cards.
While EPOS and POS systems such as the ones used in restaurants and retail are being updated all the time, biometrics aren’t quite standardised as a form of payment yet; the best we have is contactless, with 52% of in-store transactions being contactless in July 2018. With customer satisfaction at the forefront of company decisions and developments, it’s likely that biometrics will eventually be accepted as payment.
Growth in mobile payments
While the e-commerce market is ripening at an exponential rate – in 2017 there were 45.36 million e-commerce users in the UK alone – the mobile market made up only 10% of this. In the future, it would be unsurprising if biometrics helps to popularise this form of payment as companies and individuals alike start to push for tighter financial security.


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Apple’s iPhone 8 could come in a striking copper colour known as “blush gold”, if new leaked photos are to be believed. The pictures, shared on Twitter by prolific leaker Benjamin Geskin, allegedly come straight from Chinese iPhone manufacturer Foxconn.
Apple iPhone 8 to be offered in “Blush Gold”?Phone Arena
This is the new iPhone 8 colour, Blush GoldT3
iPhone 8 may launch in a brand new colorTechRadar
Gizbot -Blasting News -PhoneRadar -TechShout!
all 16 news articles …read more


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Welcome to the Small Business Run Down. Each day, we bring you stories that impact small business owners and their workforce.
October 1 marks the start of National Women’s Small Business Month, so watch for interesting facts and cool stories about female SBOs in the days to come. In the meantime, Amazon and friends are headed to Washington, DC, to testify, Arizona is helping its small businesses cross the border(s), and a closer look at the DOL’s new overtime rule.
Big tech firms face congressional scrutiny for their impact on small biz
Big Tech trifecta Amazon.com, Google, and Facebook will appear before the U.S. House Small Business Committee to answer questions about their impact on the nation’s small businesses. The companies, already under investigation by the House Antitrust Subcommittee and the Department of Justice, face criticism for thwarting SMB attempts to compete in the marketplace.
The Number: 50,000. In 2018, more than 50,000 small and medium-sized businesses had more than $500,000 worth of sales on Amazon.
The Quote: “Chairwoman Velázquez believes that small businesses deserve to compete on a level playing field and hopes the hearing will be an opportunity for the committee to examine how small businesses are faring given the dominance of big tech companies in areas ranging from e-commerce to internet traffic.”
Arizona Commerce Authority poised to help AZ business owners expand their reach
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) began enrolling participants yesterday in their Stated Trade Expansion Program (STEP). ACA teamed up with the U.S. SBA to acquire matching funds to help small businesses receive training and tools to market and eport their goods to international markets.
The Number: 41. ACA is one of 41 state-level agencies promoting international trade for U.S. small businesses.
The Quote: “These grants are especially helpful as our country is in the midst of negotiating a number of trade agreements, including the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).”
New DOL rule sets $35K threshold for non-exempt and OT pay
Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a revised rule setting the salary threshold for overtime at just over $35,000. The new rule means that approximately 1.3 million Americans will be eligible for overtime after the new rule takes effect on January 1, 2020. This rule implements the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) mandate and raises the threshold from the current cutoff of $23,600 annually.
The Number: $684. Starting on January 1, 2020, employees making $684 or less will be classified as non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay.
The Quote: “This can be a moving target — this is something employers need to revisit periodically and take a look at every once in a while to make sure they’re still classified correctly.”


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BASF has introduced new busbar holders featuring a newly developed thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) overmolding.
Elastollan R 2600 FHF is a halogen-free and UL 94 V-0 compliant TPU. It has an optimized thermal linear expansion coefficient which “reduces the risk of cracks occurring during temperature changes.”
BASF says Elastollan R 2600 FHF offersseveral advantages in comparison to polyphenylene sulfide—it can be processed at a lower temperature, is less dense, and can be easily colored.
“Like several other Elastollan grades, the new Elastollan can be simulated by our Ultrasim tool,” said Segment Marketing Manager Dr. Thomas Bayerl. “We use this tool to support our customers in the design of components. As a result, production steps can be saved and the full potential of the material can be utilized.”


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TMG, which has previously championed free content online, is understood to be drawing up plans for paid content models for introduction by next summer.
The source of the information has denied the plans are a u-turn on its previous free-content stance, citing its current view as a “process of evolution”.
A TMG spokesperson, however, played down the report, saying: “Absolutely no decisions have been made on the introduction of a paid-content model. Like all publishers, TMG continually evaluates the developments in the digital sector.”
The Telegraph is the latest general news title to look at ways of testing appetite for paying for online content.
Earlier this month, The Guardian, Mail Online and The Independent, all advocates of free content, launched paid-subscription apps, underlining an industry-wide shift to find ways of delivering digital content that consumers will pay for. Current industry understanding is that consumers are more willing to pay for content through apps.
Independent digital MD Zach Leonard recently told said that titles had to offer readers value either through design, functionality, portability or convenience.
Differentiation through comment wasn’t enough, he said.
In October, Mirror Group indicated that it was exploring the appetite for paid content by building loyalty through social gaming.
The publisher, which has traditionally been opposed to paywalls, said that while it wouldn’t charge for “ubiquitous news”, which sites like the BBC provide for free, it was looking into a range of options for growth, including testing appetite for paid-for content around its sport and entertainment verticals, 3am and Mirror Football.
The Telegraph recorded 33.9m monthly and 1.72m average daily browsers – incidents of the application through which web access is recorded – according to the latest ABCE audit for October.
This story first appeared on newmediaage.co.uk


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The Occasions Group, a Taylor Corporation company, has agreed to buy the assets of Accu Copy of Greenville, North Carolina.
Accu Copy does business under the AccuLink name to deliver commercial print, direct mail, and promotional marketing products, while its AccuFlex division focuses on the production of flexible packaging products.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Like us, AccuLink has invested heavily in the digital print space,” says Nate Mullikin, enterprise leader at Taylor, which is headquartered in North Mankato, Minnesota. “They operate one of North Carolina’s leading white-label e-commerce fulfillment facilities, as well as a wide range of binding, finishing, and direct mail services in-house, something we believe to be a long-term growth area.”
AccuLink also has the ability to produce dye sublimation products in quantities as low as one.
“Their ability to efficiently and profitably produce personalized giftable items is a game-changer for us,” says Cory Hanna, president of The Occasions Group. “All of our customers are asking for more capacity in this area, and it’s especially gratifying to be able to offer this capability to our many trade partners. It’s something we’ve been wanting to expand upon for a while, and we’re thrilled to see that type of talent and expertise join our team.”
While AccuLink was founded in 1980, the AccuFlex division was created in 2020.
“Taylor is aggressively growing its flexible packaging business, and AccuFlex offers an obvious growth opportunity for our prime labels and packaging group,” says Troy Barnes, president of Taylor’s consumer labels business unit. “We see a big growth curve ahead for flexible packaging, and we’re especially intrigued by what they’re doing in regard to sustainability.”
Barnes notes that AccuFlex is leading the way in the use of bio-based packaging films and closures along with e-beam curing technology, resulting in flexible packaging products that are both recyclable and compostable.
Tom O’Brien, founder and owner of Accu Copy, says that Taylor has been one of his company’s suppliers since 1980.
“Our respective product lines and technologies mesh perfectly, but there’s also the cultural element,” O’Brien says. “Taylor has an entrepreneurial spirit and is privately held, just like Accu Copy, so they’re always investing for the future.”


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We’ve long known smartphone owners live in a largely bifurcated world of Android and iOS. However, new research paints a dramatic picture where three out of every four smartphones shipped are powered by Google’s mobile operating system. Apple’s mobile OS is the only other to have double-digit market share: a hair under 15 percent.
In the third quarter of 2012, Android accounted for 136 million of the 181 million smartphones shipped, according to IDC. By comparison, 26 million iOS-powered smartphones shipped during the same period, giving Apple 14.9 percent of the market. While both OS makers grew faster than the industry’s 46.4 percent, Android’s 91.5 percent year-over-year growth handily overcame the 57.3 percent growth of Apple’s iOS…
Since its 2008 introduction, “Android has effectively outpaced the market and taken market share from the competition”, IDC research manager Ramon Llamas said. A combination of smartphone vendors, mobile operators and consumers all adopting Android has helped Google’s market share continue to climb.
Leading the smartphone vendors is Samsung.
The South Korean firm’s Galaxy S III is largely credited with spearheading Android’s dramatic growth. The firm has 31 percent of the smartphone market, but it’s dominance is diminishing as more companies introduce Android devices, according to the research firm.
Another key for Android’s rise is Google’s creation of an entire mobile ecosystem.
“The smartphone operating system isn’t an isolated product, it’s a crucial part of a larger technology ecosystem,” Kevin Restivo, IDC senior researcher, said. “Google has a thriving, multi-faceted product portfolio. This factor and others have led to loss of share for competitors with few exceptions”, he said.
What about Apple and the iPhone?
Although the late quarter introduction of the iPhone 5 and discounts of older phones prevented the Cupertino, Calif. firm from losing ground, IDC felt it wasn’t enough.
“But without a splashy new OS-driven feature like Siri in 2011 and FaceTime in 2010, the iPhone 5 relied on its larger, but not wider, screen and LTE connectivity to drive growth”, IDC announced.
As for the also-rans, the trend was downward. Blackberry’s 4.3 percent marketshare was down nearly 38 percent compared to a year ago. The upcoming BlackBerry 10 “will continue to rely on its aging BlackBerry 7 platform, and equally aging device line-up”, the analyst firm opined. Inexplicably, the BlackBerry and its BlackBerry Messaging service remain “wildly popular” among an increasing number of subscribers, according to IDC.
IDC’s report only highlights the advantage an open operating system, such as Android, has over iOS. Although technically deficient in some ways, Android proves the power of scale. There is no way Apple can beat Android in unit sales. As it has in the early desktop days, Apple must position iOS as the premium choice for mobile devices.
Eventually, it will also need to confront its manic desire for high margins. The need to maintain high margins (and high stock value) could cost it a slice of the enormous emerging markets, hungry for Apple’s prestige but unwilling to pay Apple’s higher-than-Android prices. Apple was late to the smaller tablet market, but hopefully won’t forego the bonanza of low-priced smartphones.
What do you think?
How can iOS compete with Android’s sizable lead?


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Zhangjiagang branch: the amendment of the articles of association was approved
Kwai 616 Shopping Festival ended, and the epidemic policy helped more than 110000 businesses to resume work and production
hibobi: Unlocking Global Success with Localization Strategy in Diverse Markets
The market in the Middle East has recently gained considerable attention from entrepreneurs worldwide. The hibobi Group, a pioneer in this emerging market, has unique insights in branding and supply chain construction.
Updated 2 hours ago
The problem of "blocking points" was gradually loosened, and the car related market began to increase in volume. The sales of related products of the company increased significantly
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The national flood control and drought relief headquarters decided to start flood control level IV emergency response at 17:00 on May 27
Kwai and Tencent signed a 2022 game cooperation framework agreement
Suhua: Kwai has launched a number of measures to help users, businesses and advertisers jointly cope with the epidemic
Netease's revenue in the first quarter was 23.56 billion yuan, with an estimated 22.64 billion yuan.
Rui Rui Intelligence: it plans to add 70 million yuan to its subsidiary to implement the construction project of Anhui Rui Rui production base
Nanjing mortgage interest rate cut again, and some banks fell back to the prefix of "4"
Xu Jiahui rose the limit again and walked out of the 9-day 8 board
Huawei Hu houkun: limited smartphone business makes Huawei think about the development of terminal business
Kwai: the relevant Winter Olympic content is over 154 billion 480 million.
Northeast Securities: Wang Anmin applied to resign as chief risk officer of the company
Kwai's 2022 advertising revenue target of 59 billion, plans to achieve breakeven by the end of the year.
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Canadian poultry processing plant closing doors
Exceldor, a Quebec poultry processing co-operative,
has announced that on 1 August it will close its plant at Grenville.
Grain News reports that the co-op, which bought Volailles Grenville in
March 2007, announced to the plant's employees in June 2007 that it would
consolidate its fresh poultry slaughter and processing operations in its other
two facilities, at St-Anselme and St-Damase, and explore other avenues for their
The co-op, whose total stated slaughter capacity is about 1.4 mln chickens
per week, announced in October 2007 that it would spend $18 mln to modernise the
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ASUS Service Month is happening from 1 June until 30 June 2019 with up to 10% discount on spare parts
In conjunction with ASUS’ 30th year anniversary along with the upcoming Raya celebrations, they will be hosting the ASUS Service Month, starting from 1 June until 30 June 2019. During the aforementioned campaign, ASUS will be offering spare parts for any laptops, tablets, All-in-One PCs, Tower PCs as well as smartphones with up to 10% off at all authorised service centres in Malaysia.
Do take note that the discount is only applied towards the replacement parts, while labour costs, as well as transportation fees for it, will still be charged in full. To those who unfortunately have damaged their devices while conducting their own repairs, will be eligible for the discounts as well. To find out more information regarding this offer, ASUS insist that you give them a call at 1300-88-3495 and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


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BEST Group, one of the largest debt collection companies in Poland, is launching its first TV advertising campaign for Payhelp, an innovative service for business owners and SMEs that allows them to easily and effectively get back the money they owe on unpaid bills.
Payhelp is an intuitive online platform that enables companies to get back money owed from defaulting counterparties under outstanding invoices. After registering an overdue invoice to be processed by Payhelp, interest for late payments will be charged immediately. At the same time, measures are taken to win back money: initially in an amicable manner and, if necessary, in court. The money collected with Payhelp is transferred directly to the company account. The service was started by the BEST Group, one of the leading providers of the debt collection market in Poland.
The advertisement for the service with the slogan “Nie proś się o swoje – wrzuć to do Payhelp” (Do not ask for your help. Register with Payhelp) will be shown on TV and on the Internet. The ad shows a business owner with a series of unpaid bills asking a business partner to pay the money owed as they have no money to pay their employees and contractors. Since the debtor is unwilling to pay, the creditor decides to use Payhelp. The message of the online version of the ad is a little stronger as it shows what the unreliable partner could do with the unpaid bills.
– In recent quarters we have clearly seen that maintaining liquidity means “to be or not to be” for many entrepreneurs and small businesses in Poland. With Payhelp you can easily entrust your unpaid bills to professionals whose job it is to collect outstanding debts every day. With our television and online campaign, we hope to reach business owners with information on where to find help to get the money owed back – said Aleksandra Murawska, who is responsible for communications and marketing at BEST Group.
Cases submitted to Payhelp are processed by an experienced team of around 120 consultants in the BEST Group’s call center, which is supported by several dozen lawyers. The company transfers a total of around 2 million cases. So far we have collected debts worth over PLN 1 billion. In recent years, the BEST Group has invested heavily in the automation of debt collection processes. This makes it a technology leader in the industry today and offers services for individual customers at attractive prices.
MovaFilm, a production agency from Gdansk, was responsible for the script and production of the videos promoting Payhelp. The purchase of the media was handled by the Warsaw-based agency Performance Media. The TV spots will be broadcast on the Polsat and TVN group channels from February 8th to the end of March this year.
The advertisements created as part of the “Nie proś się o swoje” campaign can be viewed on the Payhelp channel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vip3DCpr0Oc,
Disclaimer of liability
BEST SA published this content on February 08, 2021 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by the public, unedited and unchanged, on February 11, 2021 7:34:01 AM UTC.


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Herd Expansion? BEEF Readers Say It’s “Go” TimeHerd Expansion? BEEF Readers Say It’s “Go” Time
According to a July survey of BEEF readers, herd expansion is well underway. See what readers have to say about their cowherd plans for 2014 in this exclusive BEEF report. Download the entire report, which contains much more demographic detail.
September 4, 2014
As the old cliché goes, if the good Lord’s willing and the creek don’t rise — or go dry — the beef industry is poised for some significant restocking and expansion. That’s the take-home from a BEEF survey of readers conducted in late July that shows the pent-up desire to restock and expand the cow herd is already underway.
BEEF emailed slightly more than 30,000 readers, asking them to share their thoughts and plans regarding their marketing and herd expansion plans this fall. A few more than 1,000 responded, for a 3.3% response rate. Here’s what you told us.
Stocking up on heifers
Based on survey results, enthusiasm for expansion is high. When asked about plans in 2014-15 concerning their cowherd, 51.7% of respondents say they plan to expand by 1% to 10%; 19.4% plan to grow by 11% or more; and 17.1% plan to keep their herd size about the same (Figure 1).
Those results show a marked increase in optimism from the 2013 BEEF survey published in December. Then, 38% of respondents said they planned to stay with the same number of cows they carried in past years. Another 33.5% indicated they planned to expand by 1%-10%, and 13.4% planned to expand by 11% or more.
As we enter fall 2014, the “girls” will lead the charge as cattle producers restock. When those who plan to expand were asked how they will accomplish that, 84.2% said they’ll hold back heifers, while 36.7% say they’ll buy replacements. The numbers add up to more than 100% because some producers plan to do both. Only 12.8% plan to sell fewer cull cows, perhaps because there just aren’t many cull cows left to sell (Figure 2).
Those who plan to retain heifers from their 2014 calf crop will, as a general rule, keep quite a few. In fact, 36.1% indicate they’ll keep more than 20% of their 2014 heifer calves. The remainder are fairly evenly distributed, as 15.1% plan to keep 15% to 20% of their heifers; 14.4% plan to keep from 10% to 15%; 18.3% say they’ll keep back 5% to 10%; and 16.1% will keep 1% to 5% (Figure 3).
And why are cattle producers keeping heifers? Because the market is telling them to, according to 52.6% of respondents. In addition, more producers have pasture this year, with 46.7% saying the drought is over. Further, 18.4% say they bought or leased more land, and 15% are adding a partner or family member to the operation (Figure 4).
Not all respondents plan to expand, however. In fact, some are looking to cut back, as 6.4% of respondents plan to contract by 1% to 10% in 2014-15, and 3% plan to contract by more than 10%. An additional 1.2% plan to retire, and a similar percentage plan to get out of cattle production but not retire from their ag operations.
That’s slightly fewer than the results from the end of 2013 indicate. Then, 4.8% indicated they planned to get smaller by 1% to 10%, and 2.5% planned to cut back by 11% or more.
Of those who plan to reduce herd size, the majority (52.7%) say they’re getting older and want to cut back. Another 26.9% are still fighting drought, while 8.6% say feed costs are too high. In addition, 6.5% say feeder prices are too high, and 6.5% say land is too expensive. However, 22.6% have other reasons. “Run the opposite way of the majority,” one respondent said. “High prices of calves; I don’t expand during high prices, I expand when prices are low,” said another (Figure 5).
For those who plan to grow numbers, green grass and high prices are the biggest incentives. “Have extra pasture if it continues to rain,” said one respondent. “More cattle equal more money,” said another.
What’s more, BEEF readers say they began retaining heifers in earnest last year, with 75.2% saying they retained heifers from their 2013 calf crop (Figure 6). Of those who kept heifers, 32.2% kept more than 20% of their heifer calves; 12.9% kept 15% to 20%; 13.2% retained from 10% to 15% of last year’s heifers; 19.9% kept from 5% to 10%; and 21.9% kept from 1% to 5% (Figure 7).
And it appears that many of those heifers have stayed in the breeding herd. Of the total number of 2013 heifers they held back as replacements, readers say they kept 69.4% in the herd and sold 30.6% as feeder cattle (Figure 8).
When asked why they sold their 2013 heifers, 42.7% said feeder prices were high and they took the money to the bank. Another 17.3% said they’re still battling drought, and forage and pasture conditions are sparse; and 4.6% are getting older and want to cut back.
However, 44.9% had other reasons, most having to do with herd improvement. “Weren’t the keeping kind,” said one respondent, summing up many of the comments.
For the calves that will head to town this fall, BEEF asked readers how they plan to market their 2014 calf crop. The results show a mix of marketing methods will be used.
About a third of respondents (30.2%) plan to market traditionally, with the calves priced and sold at weaning (Figure 9). However, 31.8% plan to precondition their calves, then price and sell them 30-60 days postweaning. What’s more, 23.1% plan to retain ownership and sell their calves as yearlings, while 17.4% will retain ownership through the feedyard and sell the calves as fed cattle. An equal percentage — 6.6% each — will either lock in a price before weaning and sell at weaning, or lock in a price before weaning and sell 30-60 days postweaning. The numbers add up to more than 100% because some respondents will market their calves several different ways.
The vast majority, 86.7%, don’t plan to change marketing plans for their 2014 calves. Of the 13.3% who do, higher prices and more forage were the driving factors on both ends of the decision-making spectrum. “Forage is available, and heavier cattle sell for more money,” said one respondent. “Money, little interest in holding until they are yearlings. Too much downside risk,” said another (Figure 10).
Sticking to tried-and-true marketing methods, 63.4% will sell their 2014 calves at live auction. In addition, 27.3% will sell through direct trade; 11.8% use an order buyer; 9.4% plan to use a video auction; and 7.8% will use another marketing method. Most of the alternative marketing methods are various direct-marketing channels to consumers, tele-auctions or retained ownership feeding. Numbers equal more than 100% because of multiple answers (Figure 11).
Preconditioning still popular
With record-high calf prices, some analysts have wondered if preconditioning will fall out of favor. According to BEEF readers, however, that’s not going to happen to any major extent. A slight majority, 57.8%, plan to precondition their calves and sell them as value-added animals, while 42.2% don’t plan to do this. However, only 17.6% said they have preconditioned their calves in the past but discontinued the practice (Figure 12).
For those who stopped preconditioning, 53.6% say the premium for value-added calves isn’t enough to make it pay, and 32.7% say the market is high enough for them to change management practices. Beyond that, 7.1% say they couldn’t find a buyer for their value-added calves, while 17.9% had other reasons ((Figure 13).
Has the intense cow liquidation of the past several years meant a younger cowherd nationally? To some extent, yes. When asked the percentage of the cowherd in various age classes, respondents indicate that 43.63% are 3-5 years old; 39.77% are 6-8 years old; and 16.6% are 9 years old and older (Figure 14).
“We are seeing more growth plans in our current survey when compared with our 2013 survey,” says Scott Grau, BEEF’s director of research.
“A more aggressive growth plan — expanding the cowherd by more than 10% — is being planned by nearly one in five operations. This is a 6% increase over our previous study — 19% in 2014, compared with 13% less than a year ago in our 2013 study,” he notes.
Interestingly, the way respondents plan to expand the cowherd remains the same between the two surveys: heifer retention. “Overall, cow-calf operations are looking to maximize long-term profit potential by expanding their operations,” Grau says. “This is driven by two main factors: high beef prices and easing of drought conditions in some affected regions.”
While BEEF surveys have shown a strong pent-up desire for several years to restock and expand, the full extent of any heifer retention remains to be seen, Grau points out. “It will be interesting to see over the next few years if the beef cycle will re-engage, or if a new market paradigm will emerge for the beef industry.”
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