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When analyzing a vertical market’s security needs, talk inevitably turns to the proverbial “what keeps you up at night” question. As trusted advisors and technology experts, security integrators must be cognizant of the biggest and newest challenges in order to create a solution that delivers exactly what is expected.
The problem for the retail vertical is that nobody is quite sure what the next security challenge will be. Yes, there are staples like loss prevention, access control and video surveillance that will always be hallmarks of retail security operation, but when the security dynamic changes in North America, retailers are most often the first to know – and to deal with the situation.
It isn’t hard to imagine burning and looted retail locations when an incident drives Americans to civil unrest. While most people think of the healthcare market first when it comes to workplace violence, retail operators see violent incidents in their workplaces – often with deadly consequences – on an all-too-regular basis. Many retail operations remained open during the first weeks of massive COVID restrictions. The list goes on.
Thus, in your quest as integrators to identify the major pain points for your retail customers and offer viable solutions, here are the four biggest issues based on recent events in America:
As noted, retailers – especially grocers and big box stores – remained open throughout the pandemic and all its restrictions, including social distancing, mask enforcement and capacity restrictions. Many of these organizations deployed video analytic solutions to address these challenges.
As the country slowly marches toward vaccination and a return to “normalcy,” retailers should be looking to these analytic technologies to further enhance their operations.
“Software is going from just pure data visualization to now having analytics behind it,” explained Rhett Asher, VP of Strategy for ThinkLP, a provider of a loss prevention, safety and business management software platform for retailers, during a recent webinar conducted by the Loss Prevention Foundation. “(With so many) data sources – employee files, store location data, POS data, SKU files, HR data, shipping and receiving data – the more data you pull together, you really get this kind of holistic look at your organization, and (you can understand) the risk ranking in all of these different areas and then what do you do about it.”
Another obvious byproduct of the pandemic fallout for retailers is a massive increase in e-commerce. “Buy online and pick up in-store and buy online pick up curbside were developing, but (the pandemic) accelerated it exponentially,” Hedgie Bartol, Retail Business Development Manager at Axis Communications, said in the same LPF webinar. “We are going to see those trends continue, but I don’t think that all of a sudden, this year is going to be the death of brick-and-mortar retail. Actually because of the experience that people have had over the past year, it is driving people back to brick-and-mortar, (because) they don’t enjoy getting something that they were not able to try on or actually look at and waiting for however long for it to be delivered.”
2. Organized Retail Crime
The rise of e-commerce and curbside pickup that exploded with the pandemic has coincided with an established threat in the retail space, Organized Retail Crime (ORC); however, the days of rogue actors infiltrating a retail establishment to target items like laundry detergent, baby formula and over-the-counter medicine evolved with the rise in e-commerce.
“When (pandemic-related closures) happened, these people needed to figure out what they were going to do,” explained John Goldyn, Senior Director of Loss Prevention for retailer ULTA Beauty, during a session at the National Retail Federation (NRF)’s recent Retail Converge event. “They started to investigate the online opportunity.”
For those stores that remained open during the pandemic, ORC gangs exploited curbside pickup and other online-grounded opportunities. They also began targeting new types of products. Todd Isenhour, a Division Director for Asset Protection, Operations and Safety for Lowe’s, explained during the NRF event: “What we began to see at Lowe’s was a shift from the traditional products that (ORC) groups typically targeted – power equipment and tools – to pandemic-related items like safety-related supplies and cleaning supplies.”
Loss prevention technology continues to play a key role in combatting ORC as brick-and-mortar locations have reopened. According to Jack L. Hayes International’s 33rd annual Retail Theft Survey, the average shoplifting case value in 2020 was $310.11, an increase of 13% from 2019 ($274.40).
“While temporary store closures due to the pandemic resulted in fewer thieves being caught stealing in 2020, the average shoplifting case value increased,” explains Mark R. Doyle, President of Jack L. Hayes Intl. “As expected, the pandemic clearly affected apprehensions and recovery dollars in 2020, with shoplifting apprehensions and recovery dollars down 43.8% and 36.5% respectively.”
3. Workplace Violence
Much like healthcare and school verticals, being on the front lines of America means dealing with all sorts of workplace violence. Despite closures, the pandemic, again, brought a lot of this violence to the surface.
In March, a mass shooting occurred at a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder, Colo., where 10 people were killed, including a local on-duty police officer. Recently in June, a triple shooting at a grocery store in an Atlanta suburb left a cashier dead and a deputy and the gunman injured. The incident allegedly started when the cashier asked the shooter to put on a mask.
“With the sharp rise in gun violence across the country, it is essential for the retail industry to work more closely with local law enforcement and seek out new technologies so they can be better prepared to respond quickly if an incident arises,” Paul Mascari, Director of Security Solutions at gunshot detection provider ShotSpotter, said in a recent press release.
Beyond gun-related incidents, the focus on pandemic-related enforcement, as well as an overall spike in violence just because of the situation has led retail security directors to reassess employee training and de-escalation methods.
“We have noticed an uptick in situations that turn into safety risks, so we have started to concentrate our efforts on helping (employees) deal with escalated customer situations,” Kevin Stone, Manager of Organized Retail Crime for Columbia Sportswear Co., said during the NRF event. “We are helping our teams navigate how to deal with people that exhibit disruptive type of behaviors.”
While specific technology may not be brought to bear on this problem, security integrators can certainly leverage their role as trusted security subject matter experts to help retail customers. Look to organizations such as the Crisis Prevention Institute (http://crisisprevention.com) to help with providing de-escalation techniques that can be shared.
4. Civil Unrest
Riots and civil unrest are long-standing pain points for retail establishments, and while some of these incidents remain fresh in the collective minds of Americans, it is the only issue here that is decidedly not pandemic-related.
“I think we are in for a pretty rough summer,” warned Dr. Larry Barton during his NRF Retail Converge session. Dr. Barton is a threat and risk consultant and a Distinguished Professor of Crisis Management and Public Safety for University of Central Florida. “We are going to see more riots, more civil unrest –more people stirring the pot for whatever reason.”
Security professionals in any vertical or related service can benefit by understanding of the causes, warning signs and behavioral dynamics of large crowds and mobs that can be correlated with protests and riots.
“Certainly, after we saw that initial wave of rioting and violence, we saw some organizations take more proactive steps to just sort of shut down operations or board up windows in advance of dates that were expected to prompt unrest,” says Allison Wood, who leads Control Risks’ political risk consulting practice in the U.S. and Canada. “Of course, these types of solutions are costly and disruptive to retailers. What we have seen is a combination of security teams working to ensure that store managers and employees know how to respond in cases of civil unrest but also to try and use analysis and intelligence to understand where these protests are likely to happen so they can be as prepared as possible.”
Social media monitoring is one service that security integrators can incorporate into their retail solutions. Software providers such as Signal Corp. (http://getsignal.info) can efficiently monitor the entirety of the surface, deep, and dark web in real time to provide early warning of potential threats and incidents. This can be an invaluable tool for retailers as well as other vertical customers such as public venues, schools and more.
It’s important to make sure you are protecting your business and employees from potential threats. Central Insurance Agency is prepared to provide you with a custom insurance solution to fit your needs. Read below for clarification and definitions of important codes and terms to know in order to operate your business safely.


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The new MK8 VW GTI is, as expected, a proper evolution of the time-tested recipe.
The World Premier occurred in Geneva last night.
All previously leaked images were spot on.
New GTI will put out 245 PS, or just shy of 242-horsepower.
If Volkswagen keeps its word, this new MK8 Volkswagen Golf GTI will be the last to sport an internal combustion engine. As such, it will be the final “traditional” GTI and because of this, we suspect it will also be the best GTI ever.
As you may or may not know, there are two other GTI variants in the GTE (PHEV with 242-hp and 295 torques) and a long-running GTD (diesel with 197-hp and 295 torques.) Both were revealed alongside the GTI just last night in Geneva. The latter two are not slated for our market but they are nonetheless interesting, to say the least, as they sport all of the typical GTI’s go-fast bits with powertrain variations as the real sole difference.
The GTI will retain the services of the 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection 4-cylinder engine we know and love. It will produce 242-horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque and feed the front wheels via a 6-speed manual or an optional 7-speed DSG. There are other iterations of the GTI planned in the near future such as the TCR however odds are very slim that we will them on our roads.
And so, the new MK8 GTI looks exactly like it should. Anyone vaguely familiar with the car would recognize it without badges and that’s the way it needs to be. This includes the dedicated red stripe that has proudly defined the GTI since the very beginning some 45 years ago. The interwebs is abuzz with some of the seemingly poor wheel selections but as previously reported, there will be plenty of options.
The cabin holds various red accents along with a new multifunction leather sports steering. Most importantly, the classic checked seat pattern is back and is now called Scalepaper. It’s all very good.
Although the new 2021 VW GTI will launch in Europe this year, we don’t expect to see it in Canada for, at the very least, another year.

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Does anyone remember the “dot-com bubble” of the late 1990s? It’s referred to often in discussions of Bitcoin. Critics of cryptocurrencies argue that like Bitcoin, the “dot-com bubble” was an economic bubble fueled by greed, irrational exuberance, and dumb investors. When the bubble burst at the turn of the millennium, many people lost a lot of money when those worthless, Ponzi-scheme-like businesses went caput. Stick with General Motors, General Electric, and other blue-chip stocks, we were told. Invest in real estate. Put your money in your 401(k).
Not so fast.
The tech we have today is a result of value that was inherent in many businesses that existed during the “dot-com bubble.” One of the best-known examples of the “dot-com bubble” was Priceline.com. It had Captain Kirk heading its advertising campaign, and happened to go public at the height of the bubble, offering stocks at $96 per share. The company offered travelers the opportunity to name their price and get a great deal on vacations. In one month, it shot to $974 per share — a 1000% return in one month. It added groceries and gasoline to its travel offerings in the hopes of going even …
Read more at the Faith and Heritage blog
(The opinions in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Southern Nation News or SN.O.)


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Tens of thousands of auto and tech industry executives, designers and analysts kept the product buzz and mobility conversation going today at Industry Preview as they examined products and technologies that will drive the industry’s transformation.
With 750 vehicles on display and a full schedule of AutoMobili-D presentations covering the spectrum of mobility – from connected and autonomous vehicles to ridesharing and urban transport – Industry Preview Day One brought together the best products in the industry and the key minds behind them.
Today included a full lineup of AutoMobili-D programing featuring 16 presentations and panel discussions.
Attendees heard insights from helping manage the energy demands that will come with autonomous vehicles to how the design community will incorporate various methodologies when it comes to autonomous driving. There were shared rides strategy discussions in addition to exchanges about the increasingly electrified automotive market. It was a full day of shared insights in the mobility arena.
Industry Preview continues tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 12 from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., with AutoMobili-D presentations (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.) continuing on two different stages inside Cobo Center. The full listing of speakers can be found here. Tickets to Industry Preview can be purchased here. For those that can’t make it down to Detroit, NAIAS will lifestream all the AutoMobili-D action via naias.com.
CLICK HERE TO BE INTRODUCED TO THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW


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Something that many creators and collectors have been asking for a long time is – how can we bridge the gap between virtual items and physical items? Up until now, there wasn’t really any set answer, other than scanning the original item or taking a photo and tokenizing the digital version.
However, in a brand new press release by Mattereum, it was announced that they have partnered up with Blockchain authentication platform Third Millennia, to bring forth a new initiative to document the authenticity of collectibles on the blockchain.
Mattereum is an expert in designing systems for digitally representing and trading valuable real world assets including fine art, gold, and real estate. Third Millenia is founded by sci-fi legend William Shatner and collectibles expert Paul Camuso. For the launch of the initiative, a series of Real World Asset Non-Fungible Tokens (rwaNFTs) to tokenize prized memorabilia and props chronicling two of Mr. Shatner’s historic roles from his iconic career will be released. These are Captain Kirk of Star Trek and Denny Crane from Boston Legal. Other historic props from the Star Trek franchise, Titanic and Logan’s Run are also included.
The items will be available later this week on auction at OpenSea.io. To sign up and find out more information about the launch and the initiative, click here.
William Shatner said: “I am thrilled that the first authenticated products from my new company, Third Millennia, are coming to auction. These figures, pieces and props represent a bold step into the future of consumer products where, using crypto technology, consumers can be assured of what they purchased. This is the future everybody.”
Its starting to look like the NFT community may have found a new, rather unlikely ambassador in Señor Shatner. Be sure to follow his progress.
Want more? Connect with NFT Plazas
Ivelina is an NFT and Blockchain lover. She has a knack for putting complex concepts into simple words.


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Megan Crozier feels a certain calling, in her role as senior vice president, general merchandise manager of packaged goods at Wal-Mart, to keep food costs down.
Crozier shared her commitment in remarks to a sold out crowd of 750 people at the Jewels of Giving Gala, benefitting the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, on Friday (Nov. 17) at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers. She was honorary chair of the event.
Crozier said her commitment comes, in part, from a video she watched of a crowded Walmart U.S. store that took place at 11:59 p.m. one night. There were people everywhere standing with shopping carts filled with food. She said that there were so many people so late at night, because it was one minute before “SNAP” (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) money was deposited into people’s accounts. She said that “SNAP” is a federally-funded program that provides nutritional assistance for groceries.
“They were waiting for the money to hit their account so they could buy food,” Crozier said.
But, what struck her even more was the number of children present.
“In every one of these shopping carts, there’s a little kid there and this little kid is crying, sobbing, reaching for his mom. He’s mad because it’s midnight and he’s not in his bed sleeping and he’s also hungry,” she said.
“Every time I watch this video, I’m thinking how my heart goes out to this child and you see the clock strike midnight and these people as they rush to check out of our stores so they can get home and they can put food in these hungry kids’ bellies,” Crozier said. “And every time I watch this video, I know I have a bigger purpose when I go to work every single day.”
Crozier said in light of that video and that calling, she works with suppliers to take costs out of the supply chain to make sure Wal-Mart has the lowest cost of goods possible. Crozier told the crowd that because there are families not even able to afford Wal-Mart, agencies like the NWA Food Bank are needed.
One out of seven residents of Northwest Arkansas, or more than 70,000, are food insecure, said Mike Williams, director of development for the Food Bank. In Northwest Arkansas, one out of every four children, or 29,570 kids, are food insecure. Arkansas also has the highest rate of senior hunger in the United States. According to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization, food insecurity is defined as “lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members.”
The NWA Food Bank was founded in 1988 as a non-profit organization to serve Benton, Washington, Madison and Carroll counties “by providing an affordable and credible food source to our partner agencies serving the hungry.”
Williams said the organization projects they will distribute more than 13 million pounds of food this year and partner with more than 150 agencies, including pantries, senior centers and after school programs, to do that. These partner agencies collect food from the food bank to distribute to those in need and serve more than 300 people on average each time they are open. Those served in the four-county area include residents of all ages, from families to school children to senior citizens.
The goal for the gala was to raise enough money for 1.8 million meals, Williams said. Every dollar raised will provide 11 meals. The presenting sponsor for the evening was Tyson Foods. General Mills was the diamond sponsor. Cargill and Sam’s Furniture were emerald sponsors.
During the gala guests enjoyed dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions. Live auction items included a Disney vacation for four, a hog roast for 40 to 50 people, a $10,000 furniture home makeover by Sam’s Furniture and an 11-week old Labradoodle dog.


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Volvo Cars India is all set to launch not one, but two models in India on the 19th of October. The said cars in question are the new 2021 XC60 and the S90 petrol mild-hybrid. So, starting with the new XC60, if the international spec model is something to go by, the vehicle will get subtle changes to the design and this includes a reworked front grille along with a new bumper and alloy wheels. Moreover, the SUV will get an Android-based infotainment system that made its debut on the XC40 Recharge. The said infotainment system will allow access to Google apps and services once you sign up to the company’s ‘Digital Services’ package.
In terms of safety, the SUV’s Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) has also been enhanced. As already mentioned, the company has confirmed a mild-hybrid petrol powetrain but we are yet to see its exact state of tune. The global-spec model gets a 2-litre petrol engine married to a 48V battery and KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) for increased fuel efficiency. The present-day model is powered by a D5 2-litre diesel engine, producing 234 hp of power and 480Nm of torque. The new model will continue its rivalry with the likes of Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, and also, the upcoming new Audi Q5 in the segment and might demand a considerable premium.
Speaking of the other model, the new 2021 Volvo S90 shall also get a 2.0-litre petrol mild-hybrid engine and you can expect to see some subtle exterior and interior changes on it. The engine on the new model should be good enough to produce 407 hp of power and the engine should run up to 40km solely on electric power. The India-spec model is likely to be seen in either 197 hp or 250 hp tune and will come mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Stay tuned with Express Drives for more updates and also, subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest auto news and reviews.
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Four Loko is so last season. There’s a new faddish booze-infused product whipping up interest from public-health experts: alcoholic whipped cream.
The family of a 20-year-old Florida man, who shot and killed himself after binging on the caffeinated malt liquor beverage Four Loko is suing the drink’s manufacturer, Phusion Projects, for wrongful death. The family says the …
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent warning letters to four beverage companies Wednesday, which manufacture popular alcoholic energy drinks, finding that the products combining alcohol and caffeine were not safe.
On the heels of several statewide bans on alcoholic energy drinks like Four Loko and Joose, the Food and Drug Administration is expected to weigh in this week on the safety of drinks that mix caffeine and alcohol.
You’ve probably seen it in gas stations or convenience stores. Four Loko, which comes housed in a tall aluminum can emblazoned with graffiti-inspired lettering, looks just like an energy drink — which it is.


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HUNTINGTON — Construction is coming along on the new West Village Apartments on the corner of 10th Street and Adams Avenue in Huntington’s West End.
“We are working with the Huntington Housing Authority, as well as Huntington Area Development Council and the city of Huntington, who have all been very supportive,” said Jodi Rhoads, the regional manager of Pison Management, the company developing the project.
An open house has been scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 17, and applications for the pre-wait list will be accepted.
The West Village will feature 47 apartments for adults age 55 and older. Rents range from $475 to $550 for one- and two-bedroom units, Rhoads said.
Amenities include a semi-secure building entry, elevator, community area, furnished kitchen and a washer and dryer in each unit.
“We have hopes of being open by the end of this month or the beginning of August,” Rhoads said.
The project is being developed through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program, which generates low-income residential rental units by encouraging private investment through federal tax credits. The federal program is sponsored by the U.S. Treasury Department and administered in West Virginia through the West Virginia Housing Development Fund. Since its inception, this program has produced more than 15,200 affordable rental units in West Virginia, according to the fund’s website.
“We did our own market studies and concluded there is a need for quality and affordable senior living units in the Huntington market,” said Chris Kosarek, president of Charleston-based Pison Management.
Pison Management develops real estate properties, including mixed-use buildings. The company was incorporated in 2002.
The company also built Shrewsbury Village, a senior living facility in Charleston, in 2014.
“The people that live there are very happy, and that’s what is most important to us,” he said.
For more information about West Village Apartments, call Rhoads at 304-610-0776 or email her at firstname.lastname@example.org.
ANTIQUE MALL CLOSES: Add the Antique Mall on 4th Avenue in downtown Huntington to the list of small businesses that closed its doors permanently due to the coronavirus.
Last week, the business posted a sign on its door that said, “Due to COVID-19, the Antique Mall will be permanently closing for business on August 15, 2020.”
The store’s management says anyone who has personal property or inventory for sale at the location is to pick it up by the closing date.
“All personal property remaining in the building after that date will be considered abandoned property and will be disposed of according to the law,” the sign reads.
CHRISTIAN CLOTHING: A student at Marshall University has started an online Christian clothing company.
DIVINEPLAN was created by 23-year-old Christian Villers, of Ashland, who is currently finishing his marketing degree at Marshall. Villers also played basketball for Marshall and was a member of the 2018 Conference USA championship team that played in the NCAA tournament.
DIVINEPLAN sells T-shirts, hoodies and hats that have designs meant to share the Gospel.
“I first thought of the idea last year when I was shopping for Christian clothing myself,” he said. “I kept finding clothing brands that had a good message but didn’t have a very good design or had a great design but didn’t share a good message. I thought to myself that I could create my own company that fuses both together to honor and glorify the Lord.”
Villers said he felt like it was the perfect time to create and build the company.
“From March to June I spent about 12 hours a day creating the designs and building the company website,” he said. “After three months of working, I finally decided to launch the company on my birthday, which was June 25.”
For more information about the company, visit the website at www.mydivineplan.com.


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The Pavilions at East Lake Shopping Center in East Cobb is losing two tenants.
A going out of business sale is underway at Atlanta Ski and Snowboard, which is located two doors down from Kroger in the Roswell Road retail center.
The Pavilions also has available restaurant space following the departure of Panera Bread during the holidays. The eatery has relocated to Barrett Parkway.
We're still trying to find out when renovation of the designated J. Christopher's space will be taking place; a sign for the breakfast and brunch spot has been hanging for nearly a year, but no work has been done to convert the former Smith Ace hardware store.
A T-Mobile store has recently opened at the Pavilions.
What businesses would you like to see coming into the Pavilions at East Lake? What does this retail center need?


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- You are here:
- senkaku islands dispute
senkaku islands dispute
A political dispute in 2012 between China and Japan over a group of islands in the East China Sea dealt a beating to sales of Japanese cars as Chinese consumers decided to back their government's stance with a boycott. It got so bad that Japanese automakers cut production by up to 50 percent, ...
Some background: if you've scanned news headlines over the past few weeks, you've probably come across mentions of a spat between China and Japan over some islands in the East China Sea. The territorial controversy isn't new, as both countries have claimed ownership of the group of uninhabited ...


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Every single day, moments of horror unroll in pockets, handbags and hands across the world. A smartphone, the dear companion of our digital lives, falls. The sound is lost in the hustle and bustle, but the dread remains. Picking it up, you see it – the spiderweb pattern of a broken screen. The image of a broken phone screen has become a daily reality for countless individuals worldwide, echoing the fragility of our prized possessions. These broken phone screen images animate the dark side of technological progress, a reminder of the delicate boundary between usability and technology.
The Rise of Broken Phone Screen Images
Our reliance on smartphones has never been greater. According to a report by Pew Research Center, about 97% of Americans currently own a cellphone of some kind, with 85% of adults owning smartphones specifically. As the reliance grows, so does the inevitable risk of drops, slips, and accidents. Broken phone screen images have started to gain their unique niche in the digital world, creating a sense of shared suffering and commiseration among victims of shattered screens. These images have become an integral part of our consumer culture – a symbol of the cost we bear for our technological obsession.
Breaking Down the Damage
There’s something alarmingly beautiful about broken phone screen images. People can’t help but be fascinated by the kaleidoscopic pattern of cracks, the rainbow sheen interrupted by stark lines of breaking. Yet, it’s more than just a spectacle. Broken screen can limit the functionality of the smartphone. Unresponsive touch, distorted display, and sometimes an increased risk of electric shocks are just some of the hazards associated with a cracked smartphone screen. Statistically speaking, a report suggests that Americans alone spent $3.4 billion replacing broken smartphone screens in 2024.
Industry’s Response to Broken Screen Crisis
The significance of broken phone screen images hasn’t been lost on the industry. Major smartphone companies are continuously working towards creating screens that can endure everyday clumsiness. Technology like Gorilla Glass, used by brands such as Apple and Samsung, promises improved durability. Concurrently, other solutions like tempered glass screen protectors have also proliferated in the market.
The Social Complexities of Broken Phone Screen Images
Beyond the practicality stands the psychological grasp of these broken phone screen images. In a consumer culture driven by technology, a broken screen can be a status symbol portraying a casual disregard for materialistic norms or symbolizing an inability to replace the broken screen due to economic constraints. For some, it’s a badge of honor, showing off their ability to persevere despite the inconvenience, whereas for others it might be a wake-up call to their tech dependence.
The Future is Shattered – or is it?
The visual narrative that broken phone screen images have imprinted in our digital zeitgeist is undeniable. It’s a remarkable paradox how the symbol of our tech dependence has become a pop-culture icon. Yet as manufacturers race to deliver unbreakable screens and users explore more protective measures, only time will tell how these representations of shattered dreams and broken screen images evolve in the shared human experience.
Wherever we go, we are bound to see a broken phone screen. They embody the contradictions of a society that seeks technological perfection, yet often finds itself in the shattered ruins of its own creations. Whilst the fascination with these cracks in our digital lives continues, the broken phone screen images whisper a tale of shattered illusions, reflecting the vicissitudes and frailties of the human condition itself.


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Richmond Heights Police Officer Nabs $100,000 Prize
A Richmond Heights police officer recently uncovered a $100,000 cash prize on a Missouri Lottery Scratchers ticket. William "Bill" Comer Jr., 51, said he plans to use his prize winnings to buy a car and take a vacation. Comer said he bought his winning ticket on Aug. 25 at Shell, 1402 S. Hanley Road in St. Louis. He stopped there to get a drink and to redeem a $5 winning Lottery ticket from a previous purchase. He bought a $5 ticket with his prize money, and then he decided to buy another ticket. The second ticket was the big winner.
"Something just told me to do it," he explained.
Comer said he may use the prize money to buy a Lincoln Town Car, a model he has always wanted.
"Viva Las Vegas," a $5 Scratchers game, officially went on sale on July 31. In addition to a top prize of $100,000 cash, a total of 60 trips for two to Las Vegas are available to be won instantly.


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When Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A 0.55%) (BRK.B 0.49%) CEO Warren Buffett speaks, Wall Street and investors pay close attention. That's because the Oracle of Omaha, as Buffett has come to be known, has a remarkable history of making money.
Since taking the helm as CEO of Berkshire in 1965, Buffett has overseen the creation of more than $760 billion in shareholder value. In terms of percentages, the aggregate value of Berkshire Hathaway's Class A shares (BRK.A) is up 4,184,213% since 1965. In other words, riding Warren Buffett's coattails has long been a moneymaking strategy.
At the moment, Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio consists of nearly four dozen securities. While many of these investments should perform just fine over the long run, three of these Buffett stocks stand out as screaming buys in April.
The first surefire Warren Buffett stock that can drive investors to solid gains in April and likely well beyond is auto giant General Motors (GM 2.71%).
There are a couple of factors weighing on GM at the moment. To begin with, the entire auto industry is contending with semiconductor-chip shortages and other supply-chain issues. These supply concerns have caused GM and its peers to scale back production or halt/slow expansion opportunities.
There's also concern about the rising-rate environment and what that might do to auto loan demand. Though these are tangible worries for short-term traders, they're not something that should be of any concern to patient investors.
For General Motors, its long-awaited shot in the arm of organic growth has arrived. The electrification of consumer vehicles and enterprise fleets presents a multidecade vehicle-replacement cycle that should lead to above-average sales and profit growth for GM and the industry. Understanding how important this pivotal shift to electric vehicles (EVs) is, GM upped its investment in EVs, autonomous vehicles, and batteries to $35 billion through 2025.
General Motors' goals are ambitious but well within the realm of achievable. According to CEO Mary Barra, the company aims to launch 30 new EVs globally by the end of 2025, with the goal of producing more than 1 million EVs annually in North America by mid-decade. A majority of these EVs will be trucks, which generate juicier margins than sedans and are the perfect pivot with gasoline and diesel prices soaring.
Something else to consider is that General Motors has a well-known brand in markets outside the United States. In particular, the company has delivered 2.9 million vehicles in China, the world's No. 1 auto market, in back-to-back years. GM's deep pockets, well-known brand, and existing infrastructure should allow it to become a major player in China's nascent EV market.
Even if near-term profit estimates fade a bit due to chip/part shortages and/or interest-rate uncertainty, General Motors remains an absolute bargain at roughly six to seven times Wall Street's forecast earnings for 2022 and 2023.
Another surefire Warren Buffett holding that's begging to be bought in April is telecom stock Verizon (VZ 0.52%).
Many of the big names in telecom have come under pressure over the past year on the idea that interest rates will need to rise significantly to corral historically high levels of inflation. Since Verizon is lugging around quite a bit of debt, and access to cheap capital could quickly dwindle, investors have taken a cautious stance. But this trepidation can be your opportunity to nab a great deal.
Although Verizon has been a slow-growing company in recent years, it does have two clear organic growth catalysts in plain sight that could reasonably lift its valuation.
First, there's the ongoing rollout of 5G wireless infrastructure. Verizon noted in January that it was planning to spend between $5 billion and $6 billion this year to build out 5G in initial markets and prepare for the next round of 5G expansion. Keep in mind that it's been a decade since wireless download speeds were meaningfully improved.
Access to faster download speeds should entice a multiyear consumer and enterprise device-replacement cycle. Since Verizon generates its juiciest margins from data consumption, 5G is an investment that shouldn't take much time to pay off handsomely for the company's wireless segment.
The second big catalyst for Verizon is its acquisition of 5G mid-band spectrum last year. Buying this mid-band spectrum is essential for the company's 5G at-home broadband services push. The company's goal is to have its 5G at-home broadband services in 30 million homes by the end of 2023. Even though broadband isn't the high-growth trend it was in the 2000s, it's still a steady producer of cash flow and can encourage add-on sales for existing wireless subscribers.
If you need a few more good reasons to buy Verizon right now, consider its valuation and dividend. This is a company that's averaged a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 11.5 and a dividend yield of a little over 4% over the past five years. Investors can currently buy shares of Verizon for about nine times forward-year earnings and will receive an almost 5% dividend yield for their patience.
Bank of America
The third surefire Warren Buffett stock that stands out as a screaming buy in April is Bank of America (BAC 0.50%). BofA is Berkshire Hathaway's second-largest holding.
Not to sound like a broken record, but bank stocks have been under pressure in recent weeks as a result of interest-rate movements. But rather than worrying specifically about a rising-rate environment, Wall Street and investors appear most concerned about the inversion of the two-year and 10-year U.S. Treasury yields. While not every yield-curve inversion is followed by a recession, every recession dating back multiple decades has been preceded by a two-year/10-year yield-curve inversion.
Interestingly, though, the cyclical nature of the banking industry can actually be viewed as a positive if you're a long-term investor. Despite recessions being an inevitable part of the economic cycle, periods of contraction often last for only a few months or a couple of quarters.
By comparison, economic expansions are measured in years. This means bank stocks like BofA tend to benefit from the natural expansion of the U.S. economy over time.
What makes Bank of America such an intriguing investment opportunity at the moment is its interest-rate sensitivity. No big bank stands to benefit more from a rising-rate environment than BofA. When the company reported its year-end results in January, it noted that a 100 basis-point parallel shift in the interest-rate yield curve would bring in an estimated $6.5 billion in added net interest income over the next 12 months. With the nation's central bank forecasting north of 100 basis points in cumulative hikes in 2022, Bank of America is potentially set for a windfall of extra interest income.
Also, as I've previously pointed out, Bank of America's digitization efforts are progressing nicely. Over the past three years, the company has increased its active digital banking users by 5 million to 41 million and has seen the percentage of sales completed digitally jump from 31% to 49% over the same stretch. Digital transactions are substantially cheaper for the company than in-person or phone-based interactions.
With profits expected to jump considerably over the next two years, Bank of America's recent pullback is the ideal time for opportunistic investors to go shopping.


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January 10, 2020
Disney’s much-anticipated entry into the streaming video on demand SVOD marketplace has caused a record launching for such a ceremony on cellular. 28 million Google Play users and App Store around five states, which include New Zealand Australia, and the Netherlands. Sensor Tower estimates that 4 million of those installs have transformed into paid subscriptions to the support so far from an initial trial. 30 times than SVOD programs that are competing did in precisely the exact identical period after their own sticks. 835,000 which HBO switched from trials in its launch. –and significant room for expansion. Close to 82% of people who have installed the program so much hail in the U.S. Data on rival Netflix.


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Computers are often problematic certainly very disturbing your busy day with work or just play using the computer.
Problems that occur on a computer is often assumed to be a problem we can not solve yourself, so you often bring the problematic computer [...]
Review TechBoom this time about the arrival of new notebooks from ASUS that has been fully supported Windows 8 OS, VivoBook X202E.
What kind of sophistication? Consider the following short review.
Simple yet beautiful look. That first impression [...]
You look forward to welcoming the Microsoft Office applications on Android and iOS seems to be more patient.
Because, the latest news says that Microsoft is delaying its release until 2014.
Quoted from ZDNet, Thursday (11/4), the largest software producer [...]
Apple is reportedly preparing a new MacBook Pro is equipped with Intel’s Haswell and will be introduced at the WWDC 2013, 10-14 June 2013 in the U.S..
Never heard about Intel Haswell? This is the latest generation of Intel processors, which will [...]
Promoting tourism and economic development to the outside world with more easily.
Google began to introduce the features of Google Street View in Indonesia after Friday afternoon (11/23) symbolically release two special cars that will record the roads [...]
Good news came over the user’s smartphone Sony Xperia J. That is because, the smart phone made by Sony’s got a release update 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.
Through the release of this time, the Xperia J users can now be able to enjoy the advantages [...]
Linux developers, Canonical, claims a new version of Ubuntu 13.04 or so-called Raring Ringtail more efficient.
According to the Canonical claim, Raring Ringtail has improved performance. Among other uses fewer resources, faster boot times, lower [...]
Moscow – Thousands of Russian citizens were mobilized to clean up the damage caused by the meteor hit near the Ural mountains failed to find the space rock fragments. Failing that later sparked a conversation about the conspiracy theories about [...]
Angry Birds Seasons seems to immediately have a theme and a new level in the near future.
The new version is expected to take the theme of spring.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, Monday (15/4), Angry Birds Seasons this will be the 16th series.
Rovio is often [...]
A man named Jim Stickley so far recorded more than 1000 bank he had robbed.
Uniquely, the hacker genius was never arrested let alone sent to prison.
Yes, Stickley is a ‘tester‘. His job is to penetrate and break through the security of computer [...]
Hewlett Packard (HP) as one of the printer manufacturers claim the new printer, the HP Officejet Pro X Series X476 and X451 Color MFP, the fastest printer in the world.
Recorded in the Guinness World Records, the printer is capable of printing 70 pages [...]


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With an elaborately staged show worthy of a Las Vegas revue, General Motors unveiled a new Buick concept vehicle as Shanghai Auto 2011, China’s largest auto show, was getting underway.
The Buick Envision SUV is a plug-in hybrid concept vehicle merging Buick’s global design language with Chinese aesthetics – and a variety of high-tech features.
“The Envision has inherited Buick design DNA and taken the Buick global design language to a new height. It makes a significant statement for Buick styling and technology, and will influence upcoming models from the brand,” said Ed Welburn, GM vice president of global design, who was on hand for the official debut.
The resurgent Buick brand now sells more cars in China than the U.S., and that has led GM to rely more and more on the Asian nation’s designers and engineers when developing new products for the marque. Envision inherits the essence of Buick’s “fluid dynamics and peaceful comfort,” said Holt Ware, director of design at Shanghai GM’s PATAC technical center.
“It introduces the development direction for Buick’s future SUV products for the China market,” added Shi Hong, Director of Buick Marketing at Shanghai GM


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Handset maker BlackBerry recently applied to US Patent and Trademark Office and added one more patent to its portfolio that shows out a new concept technology wherein a wearable would help to unlock a smartphone.
This is basically a presented concept wherein the proximity of a wearable would bypass a lock code on the smartphone. However, this ides has been earlier presented at the Google I/O conference where it was shown to be implemented via the Android Wear.
The difference that lies with the patent is that it would be a stand-alone device having a physical clip that should be closed for the wearable to function. This would certainly provide an added security as it would eliminate concerns that someone would have about their device being unlocked in the proximity of a wearable when the wearable is not worn.
From this patent filings, no conclusion for the device-in-work could be drawn at the moment, but it seems that the handset maker is putting in efforts for its future products to integrate with its flagship products ahead.


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1. Bitcoin price suddenly soared to 27,390 USD in the official Bitcoin wallet BitcoinOfficial.org According to some users, they were able to sell…
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text: With a new Silent Hill game nowhere to be seen for this coming generation, the next best thing is to introduce a whole new IP from creator Keiichiro Toyama called Slitterhead. This is a new survival-horror title from new indie developer Bokeh Game Studio. This game is currently an enigma for many gamers out there and, needless to say, it has piqued some interest. There’s not an awful lot of information to glean with this new game, but it’s a sure bet that it will provide the same chills that the Silent Hill games are known for. However, Toyama is trying out a new angle to horror by introducing a new threat called the Yakushi. Evidently, the Yakushi is some kind of creature that can disguise itself as a human and perfectly mimic them. Based on stories from the theatre during ancient times, the Yakushi has been a prevalent presence throughout many plays. For whatever reason, it never really reached other mediums until now.


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Latest KBA Report 40 Spotlights New Expansive drupa Technology
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Press release from the issuing company
KBA North America announces that its latest corporate Report 40 focuses on the upcoming Drupa 2012 trade fair in May 2012 with several pages dedicated to the raft of new sheetfed offset, digital, industrial ID, packaging and newspaper presses being exhibited by KBA at Drupa and the user benefits they offer. Recent North American customers such as CardPak, Specialty Finishing, and the Albany (NY) Times are also featured in the Report.
“Because we are press manufacturers, we prefer to develop our own product,” writes KBA president and CEO Claus Bolza-Schünemann in Report 40’s editorial page. “It was the only way we could offer our customers the system best suited to their production needs from an impartial perspective. For many applications an offset press may still be the best solution, while for ultra-short runs or personalized prints it may be our new RotaJET digital press or, in some cases, a hybrid offset/inkjet system such as the offset Rapida 105 we are showcasing at Drupa with an additional inkjet unit.”
Other new KBA Drupa exhibits include the 17,000sph Rapida 145, the new medium-format Rapida 105 and its high-tech Rapida 106, which will be shown at as a long perfector with perfect coating capability. The Rapida 106’s maximum rated output will soon be raised to 20,000sph straight and 18,000sph in perfecting mode.
KBA Report 40 also features three of KBA’s many satisfied customers in North America. CardPak, Inc., a leading supplier of packaging products to consumer brand companies across the globe, installed a new KBA Rapida 106 41-inch ten-color perfecting press with coating tower and twelve foot extended delivery at its headquarters in Solon, Ohio.
CardPak’s new Rapida 106 41-inch ten-color perfecting press features a high press speed of 15,000 sph output, ultrafast makeready times, and expanded automation and productivity. The press provides a wide choice of automation options, including the KBA DriveTronic dedicated drives, as well as the DriveTronic feeder, with its presetting capabilities. The press also features the PIA InterTech award–winning sidelay-free infeed, DriveTronic SIS. Its KBA LogoTronic system allows for presetting of ink fountains. New technology on press also includes the KBA DensiTronic Professional closed-loop color management scanning spectrophotometric system and QualiTronic In-Line Color Control. The substrate range runs from lightweight papers to heavy board, from plastic films to corrugated—all without adjusting any grippers.
Specialty Finishing, an Omaha, Nebraska full service folding carton manufacturer, purchased two large format presses from KBA North America at Chicago’s Graph Expo 2011 in early September. The new presses are a six-color and a seven-color equipped with KBA’s unique automation and inline quality control features and coaters. These are the first KBA presses purchased by Specialty Finishing.
“We chose to purchase two large-format presses from KBA because they could offer the highest level of automation and productivity as well as a custom-configured press for our particular needs,” says Mark Wright, Specialty Finishing president. “These presses will allow our company to continue its rapid growth and offer our customers the highest level of productivity and quality that they expect. We needed the added capacity because we’ve been experiencing 25% growth year-over-year for the past several years.”
The two new KBA Rapida large-format presses will incorporate many inline quality control systems as well as the latest automation to ensure efficiency in large format printing. They will join two additional six-color 40-inch presses from a different press manufacturer. An existing 56-inch sheetfed press will be replaced with the two new KBA models.
The Albany (NY) Times Union ordered a new Commander CL, bucking thetrend in the North American newspaper industry and reaffirming its commitment to print. The H-unit web press with four reelstands, four four-high towers and two folders is destined for the major U.S. media’s upgraded plant in Albany and will print the Times Union, the leading newspaper in New York state’s capital region.
“The Times Union has been the Capital Region’s most trusted source for news and information for more than 150 years,” says Hearst Corporation CEO, Frank A Bennack, Jr. “This announcement continues that mission for readers and advertisers, and greatly enhances the vibrancy of the newspaper. The capital investment affirms our commitment to a printed newspaper while we invest in cutting-edge digital technologies at the same time.”
To read the complete 40th edition of KBA Report, Koenig & Bauer’s corporate magazine featuring trends and print applications from around the world, please download it at: http://www.kba.com/en/news/detail/article/new-kba-report-focuses-on-drupa/back/15/
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- Related Games:
- Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Sony has updated the PS3's system software to support 3D games and Blu-ray playback, pledging over 30 3D games before the end of the year. Nintendo has built their latest handheld console centered around glasses-free 3D. It's clear that the video game industry is pushing 3D as the next big thing. So why isn't anyone biting?
3DS sales are good, but much less than Nintendo and analysts projected. 3DTV adoption is significantly slower than with HDTVs. Right now the technology is expensive, but more importantly, it's because there just isn't anything out there that's justifies the exorbitant price tag.
MotorStorm: Apocalypse was the first example of how 3D can elevate your enjoyment of a game. But developer Naughty Dog firmly believes that Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception is going to be the game to prove just how "awesome" 3D in games can get, says Jacob Minkoff, Lead Designer on Uncharted 3:
People are only going to buy 3D when there's awesome stuff in 3D. We're making the awesome stuff that'll drive people to adopt that technology.
If you happened to read our Uncharted 3 GDC preview, you'd know that we agree. We spent a short amount of time with Uncharted 3 in 3D, and were blown away at what the team at Naughty Dog have been able to accomplish, especially the depth added to the environments and the way it assists with aiming and platforming.
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception is set to release this November exclusively on the PlayStation 3, and we'll finally get to see if it's as "awesome" as they say it will be.


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Dairy & meat lobby kicks in when sales fall short. CEOs of meat-related associations asked President Trump to seek restored access for US beef to China
Americans cut their beef consumption by 19 percent between 2005 and 2014, according to a new study by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). For a quick visualization, you — a person of average appetite somewhere in the U.S. — ate five whole cows in 2005; in 2014, you ate four, plus a few bites of a fifth. … read more.
by Niv SultanSource: Where’s the beef? When meat’s in trouble, lobbying expands


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Panasonic has obviously been encouraging its VIERA plasma HDTV range to hit the gym, as the company showed up at IFA 2008 with two new prototypes measuring just 24.7mm deep. The screens, in 50, 58 and 60-inch sizes, are a mere quarter of the thickness of current Panasonic plasmas.
They’re also half the weight, which makes wall mounting all the more straightforward. Panasonic has included Wireless HD, meaning the plasmas could potentially only require a power cable in order to work.
The 50-inch prototype was first shown at CES 2008, but the 58 and 60-inch versions are apparently worlds-firsts. Panasonic has given no suggestion of when we could see production screens based on this super-skinny technology.


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By Lucia Moses
Traditional media are still valued for their quality content and ability to amass big audiences, but they're increasingly undermined by their limited ability to target their audience, negative perceptions among advertisers and uncertainty about technology's impact on their future.
Those points got wide agreement at Advertising Week's three-part panel "Are Legacy Media Going the Way of the 8-Track?" The panel brought together advertising and media execs from magazines (above), newspapers and radio.
For magazines, technology has been a foe as well as friend, panelists said.
Advancements in printing have helped magazines get to newsstands faster, while e-reader devices stand to transform how publications reach audiences, said Mark Ford, president and group publisher at Time Inc., predicting that an e-reader that would be a "game-changer for the magazine industry" was only 18 months away.
Yet in addition to expanding their workload, the Web also has forced magazine employees to adapt their culture and content to a new platform, others said.
"It's a cultural change, and I'm not sure publishers have their hands around what that means," said David Steinhardt, president and CEO of Idealliance, a nonprofit alliance designed to promote best practices in media.
As people get more of their information online, magazines also need to evaluate their long-standing annual subscription and circulation-based ad sales models, panelists said.
Donna Campanella, executive director of global media for Avon Products, criticized magazines for being slow to provide granular audience measurement data on a par with electronic media.
"What can you do to tell me if someone gets the magazine, if they're reading it . . . what percentage of my specific target audience read my ad?" Campanella said. "When you're able to do that, you have my money."
She also called on magazines to come up with an audience measurement that takes into account readers' multimedia usage.
"Magazines are hurting now," she said. "This is the time to change your model."
Campanella singled out Reader's Digest and TV Guide, both of which have dramatically slashed circulation in their struggle to stay relevant, as having "gone the way of the dinosaur."
But Myrna Blyth, the former editor of Ladies' Home Journal and More magazines who now edits the women's lifestyle site Betty Confidential, pointed to Real Simple and Men's Health as evidence that magazines can still succeed by taking a basic service and providing it in a new way.
Newspapers also are poised to benefit from technologies like e-readers, participants in the following panel said. But the devices leave plenty of questions unanswered, such as how ads will be delivered and how the devices themselves will be distributed.
Panelists acknowledged that the newspaper business, which is suffering its worst ad decline in decades, has fundamentally changed.
"We don't think it'll ever come back the way it was," admitted Don Meek, president of national media sales for interactive and publishing at Tribune Co., parent of the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times.
As ad revenue drains from print and the need to grow paid content also loom for newspapers.
Papers have traditionally relied on advertising for some 80 percent of their revenue. But Susie Ellwood, CEO of the Detroit Media Partnership, which operates the business side of Gannett's Detroit Free Press and MediaNews Group's The Detroit News, said she saw that ratio for Detroit getting to 60/40 next year and inching closer to 50/50 as the papers rely increasingly on consumer revenue.
"Content's very valuable, and we need to figure out what to put behind pay walls," she said.
Despite the growing adoption of digital platforms, panelists still saw a strong role for printed newspapers, given half the adult population reads newspapers.
"We're the only ones that report our death prematurely," Meek said of negative press coverage of the industry. "I don't know if it's Stockholm syndrome, but we do this to ourselves. I think we're much healthier than people think we are."
Radio industry execs, speaking on the third panel, also bristled at negative perceptions of their medium, which faces declining ad revenue and rivalry from Internet radio, iPods and other devices that compete for consumers' time.
Radio also has suffered from difficulty in attracting creative talent and from the negative connotation of being a passive medium, noted Charlie Rutman, president of End Zone Communications and former president of MPG North America.
Yet contrary to terrestrial radio's perception as old-fashioned, Clear Channel is adapting to new technology, making its stations available on mobile platforms, president and CEO John Hogan said. "There's growth for everybody," he said. "It's about the ability to connect with consumers."
Yet Hogan and other panelists also acknowledged that it's critical for radio, like all traditional media, to improve audience measurement and demonstrate accountability.
"Advertisers want to see results, and they don't care about the platform," he said. "There's an old saying: Nobody ever got fired for buying network television. Now, they might."


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- Overall shop prices reported deflation of 1.4% in August unchanged from July.
- Food reported annual inflation of 0.2%, up marginally from the 0.1% rise in July 2015.
- On a 12-month average basis, the Shop Price Index reported deflation of 1.7%.
- Non-food deflation accelerated further to 2.4% from 2.3% in July.
LONDON, 2015-9-11 — /EPR Retail News/ — BRC Director General, Helen Dickinson, said:”Shop prices fell by 1.4 this month as a result of intense competition and falling commodity prices, which is good news for consumers who have seen 28 consecutive months of prices drops.
“Annual food prices rose for a second month but once again the rise was marginal, by just 0.2% year-on-year, and is likely to be a temporary fluctuation in a longer term downward trend driven by ongoing competition.
“August marked the 29th month of falling non-food prices. Clothing retailers discounted heavily in an attempt to shift stock with prices falling on average by 5.4 per cent. Furniture and Flooring saw a sharp deceleration in deflation to 1.2%. Great deals could be found in Books, Stationery and Home Entertainment. Prices throughout this category fell on average by 5.2 per cent.
“The latest CPI rate turned positive, after hovering around zero for the last six months. Although this inflation rate – which includes services, utilities, leisure and petrol – could fall back again, partly due to the drop in the price of oil, which has slumped by nearly a quarter in the past two months.”
“A relatively benign economic environment and a fiercely competitive market will see retailers continue to respond to their customers with prices and promotions to maintain market share.”
Mike Watkins, Head of Retailer and Business Insight, Nielsen, said: “Consumer confidence continues to increase but many shoppers are still unable or unwilling to spend freely, so retailers are continuing to offer high levels of promotions and price cuts. The underlying trend is for price deflation across both food and non-food retail and with shoppers now back from summer holidays we can expect some good deals and attractive pricing for shoppers over the next few weeks.”
British Retail Consortium, 21 Dartmouth Street, Westminster, London, SW1H 9BP. 020 7854 8900. firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Despite impressive gains by its Industrial Products Group – including the group’s 27th consecutive quarter posting revenue growth and a nearly 10 percent increase in its sales force –Systemax Inc. swung to a third-quarter loss.
Reporting Monday on its FY2016 third quarter, the Port Washington-based supplier of brand-name and private-label computers and other consumer electronics – largely through e-commerce platforms – reported net sales of $414.8 million, a 2 percent drop from the $423.3 million reported for 3Q FY2015.
The consolidated sales loss came despite a 4.1 percent sales increase by Systemax’s Industrial Product Group. Undoing the IPG’s solid performance was a 6.3 percent decline in sales among the company’s European Technology Products Group.
That European slip, in part, led to an operating loss of $3.5 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30 – a significant swing from the $3.4 million in operating income the company reported in 3Q FY2015 – and a diluted net loss of 15 cents per share, down from the 5 cents per share earned in the year-ago quarter.
Systemax CEO Larry Reinhold accentuated the positive Monday, noting the Industrial Products Group’s revenue-growth streak continued “despite a somewhat soft market,” and pointing out the group has “more than doubled [its] size and scope of operations” in just five years.
Even the European Technology Products Group’s performance wasn’t as bad as the numbers suggest, according to the CEO, who noted that France – the ETPG’s largest market – recorded its 11th consecutive quarter of double-digit sales growth, while the company’s Netherlands Solutions business has generated double-digit growth in every quarter of FY2016.
“Efforts to improve [ETPG] business included adding nearly 20 new sales representatives and expanding our solutions team and offerings,” Reinhold said. “During the quarter, we further sharpened our focus on key markets.”
Systemax also announced Monday the appointment of Thomas Clark as the company’s new chief financial officer, a position previously filled on an interim basis by Reinhold. Clark has served the company in a number of senior financial positions over the past decade, including director of finance and, most recently, as controller of the IPG.
Clark is “a proven leader who possesses extensive knowledge of our business,” Reinhold noted.
“He has been an invaluable member of our team with direct responsibility for financial reporting, budgeting, mergers and acquisitions and strategic planning,” the CEO said. “I look forward to his continued contributions as we execute on our strategic plan for the company.”
The Clark promotion, along with the strong performance by the company’s IPG and in certain European sectors, show Systemax is “strategically well positioned,” according to Reinhold.
“We are making additional investments that will enhance our ability to capitalize on our growth,” he said. “These include improvements to logistics and internal systems, expansion of customer service and sales capabilities and deeper supplier partnerships.
“While these investments will continue to impact our near-term performance, we believe we are on the right path to efficiently support future growth and improve long-term profitability.”


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Berlin-based AAZZUR is pleased to announce its recent investment from Tyr Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Sierra Madre, CA. This investment will support AAZZUR's mission to revolutionize embedded financial services through the development of an innovative platform that connects banks, fintech startups, and companies.
AAZZUR's platform provides financial institutions and companies with a unified API that allows them to integrate with multiple financial products and services easily. The platform is designed to help create the perfect solution, whether it's standard banking or specialized financial tools.
Tyr Ventures invests in technology, content, and services that amplify the power of communities. The Sierra Madre-based VC firm's investment in AAZZUR will help accelerate the company's growth and provide valuable support as it works towards empowering consumers to become better informed and richer, in every segment of life and society, through better financial services.
“Tyr Ventures is an ideal investor for us as we look to continue building our platform and innovating embedded financial products,” said Philipp Buschmann, CEO of AAZZUR. “Their support will help us take our business to the next level and enable us to offer our services to more banks and companies than ever before.”
Tyr Ventures’ General Partner, David G. Wilson added: “The AAZZUR team is relentlessly customer focused and second to none. They are creating community between market participants that have been underserved and new business opportunities for the entire industry.”


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Digg Google Bookmarks StumbleUpon Reddit Newsvine Live Bookmarks Technorati Yahoo Bookmarks Blogmarks Del.icio.us ApnaCircle Google Plus Pinterest... ...https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/expert-view/plant-closure-to-have-6-or-more-impact-on-vedanta-earnings-rakesh-arora-go-india-advisors/articleshow/64367487.cms
What was Bollywood up to on Maharashtra Day? So how did Bollywood spend a midweek holiday? Did they go about their business as usual -- shoots,... ...http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/kareena-janhvi-eshas-day-out/20180502.htm
Hundreds of eminent academics have written an open letter to the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi . The academics have directly said that... ...http://www.catchnews.com/india-news/eminent-academics-open-letter-to-the-prime-minister-of-india-on-the-kathua-and-unnao-rape-cases-109544.html
After trying every possible way to get their shops de-sealed, traders of Amar Colony's Old Double Storey market decided to be hawkers for a day... ...http://www.dnaindia.com/delhi/report-sealing-drive-traders-turn-hawkers-for-a-day-2599897
Dr Rakesh Tiwari â Pediatrician...


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Google on Tuesday unveiled a set of enhanced features to bring alive the Olympic mood among Indian fans which will help them to know more about their favourite athletes and sports disciplines.
On Google, when you search for “Olympics” or a similar query, an in-depth search result will be displayed at the top of the Search page or in your Google app, allowing you to get information for a specific country, sport, event or athlete.
You can also discover the event schedule, medal counts, results and trending athletes on Search page, the company said in a statement.
Google will also showcase some Olympics-based search trends and insights with data visualisations.
With Street View in Google Maps, even if users are far away, they can preview the places where the athletes will make history and explore the beauty of Brazil.
To give a glimpse into the Games, you can watch video highlights on YouTube from official broadcasters in more than 60 countries around the world.
As an added bonus, YouTube is sending 15 top creators to the Games, giving users a taste of what it’s like to be in Rio with mobile live streaming.


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If this pricing leak is accurate, Google’s new streaming device will come at a great price.
The price is right for Google’s new Android TV device
Over the past few weeks, rumours and leaks about Google’s Android TV-powered dongle (and its 5G Pixel 4a) have been building to something beautiful. The new streaming device is currently known as “Sabrina” looks like a budget media streaming dongle that could replace your Chromecast (even your Apple TV) at a generous price.
As spotted by 9to5Google, Home Depot recently listed a Google “Sabrina-Abbey” bundle for US$49.99.
The rest of the listing featured placeholder Google Chromecast imagery and flavour text, but considering early leaks already pegged the cost-friendly Chromecast successor as “Sabrina”, the product title and timing can’t be a coincidence (unless some cheeky developer at Home Depot is trying to stir up news-hungry tech journalists).
Earlier leaks suggested the new device will have a redesigned UI that’s more in-line with what Google offers on its latest Nest/Home products.
Home Depot's removed listing of a Google "Sabrina/Abbey" Bundle"
What is Google Sabrina
Images and details of Google’s new streaming device first leaked back in June via XDA Developers. The new device, code-named “Sabrina”, is reportedly the successor to Google’s popular (and wallet-friendly) Chromecast Ultra device coming this year alongside the Google Pixel 5 and Google Pixel 4a 5G handsets.
The leaked images show a device that looks like a natural evolution to the Chromecast Ultra design and form factor. However, there’s one important distinction between the Sabrina and the Chromecast family, and that’s specifically the “cast” part of its nomenclature.
Image Source: XDA Developers
The Google Sabrina is said to be a standalone Android TV media streaming device with its own dedicated remote (possibly the Abbey component to Home Depot’s leaked product description?). Better yet, it’s a media streaming device that retains the humble form factor of a Chromecast device, taking up less space than an Apple TV or Roku.
There may still be the option to cast from your smartphone or tablet, but most importantly, the device won’t depend on it as current Chromecast devices do. Meaning you’ll be able to stream any Android TV-compatible app or streaming service (e.g. Netflix, Shudder or Disney Plus) directly from the Google Sabrina. In that sense, it’s more akin to Apple TV, or a Roku streaming box, but at a more generous price.
The leaked US$49 price tag of the Google Sabrina device makes it cheaper than the Chromecast Ultra 4K (US$69). In Australia, that might translate to somewhere between $69 to $79 for a Google Sabrina.
These leaks should be taken as a grain of salt. It’s possible the listed pricing was placeholder data that was never meant to see the light of day, but Google does have a history of offering decent deals on its Chromecast range.


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U.K.: GM tomato efficiently produces disease-fighting compounds
Scientists at the John Innes Centre discovered a way to produce large quantities of potentially useful natural compounds, phenylpropanoids, by growing them in tomatoes.
The compounds include Resveratrol, which is found in grapes has extended lifespan in animal studies, and Genistein, the compound found in soybean which has been suggested to play a role in the prevention of steroid-hormone related cancers, especially breast cancer.
Dr. Yang Zhang and Dr. Eugenio Butelli have been leading research in Professor Cathie Martin's laboratory at the Centre.
They have discovered one tomato can produce the same quantity of Resveratrol found in 50 bottles of red wine. One tomato has also produced the same amount of Genistein as found in 2.5 kilograms of tofu.
The scientists have been studying the effect of the protein AtMYB12, commonly found in Arabidopsis thaliana, a plant found in many gardens in Britain and used as a model in scientific investigation.
AtMYB12 activates a broad set of genes involved in metabolic pathways responsible for producing natural compounds of use to the plant, acting like a tap to increase or reduce the production of natural compounds depending on how much of the protein is present.
Introducing both AtMYB12 and genes from plants encoding enzymes specific for making Resveratrol in grape and Genistein in legumes, resulted in tomatoes that could produce 80mg of novel compound per gram of dry weight.
According to the scientists, this means industrial up-scaling is a possibility.
They said as 500 metric tons (MT) of tomatoes were produced per hectare in countries delivering the highest yields, production of valuable compounds like Resveratrol or Genistein in tomatoes could be more economical than relying on artificial synthesis in a laboratory or extracting tiny quantities from grapes and soybeans.
In the study, recently published in scientific journal Nature Communications, the researchers suggested the tomatoes could potentially become the source of increased nutritional or medicinal benefit.
"Medicinal plants with high value are often difficult to grow and manage, and need very long cultivation times to produce the desired compounds", says Dr. Zhang in a release.
"Our research provides a fantastic platform to quickly produce these valuable medicinal compounds in tomatoes.
"Target compounds could be purified directly from tomato juice. We believe our design idea could also be applied to other compounds such as terpenoids and alkaloids, which are the major groups of medicinal compounds from plants."


text: Casting a longing eye at Portland's many vibrant corners where burgers, gyros, and poutine are served from wagons and carts into the wee hours of the morning, the Seattle Department of Planning and Development decided over a year ago that our city should have something similar. Bolstered by the success of Skillet and Marination Mobile (among others), and the high turnout at recent mobile-food fairs, the DPD now wants to change city laws to allow street vendors to set up semi-permanent shop on sidewalks and in city parks. The only problem is finding a place to put them. Last week, DPD planning advisor Gary Johnson pitched the Pioneer Square Preservation Board on allowing vendors in Occidental Park, as well as streets and sidewalks around the 'hood. The Board's reaction was ambivalent, bordering on hostile. To make food trucks en masse possible, the city would have to overturn laws dating back to the '80s that restrict street vendors to private property—with the exception of a strip near the stadiums on game days and for occasional one-time events. And even there they're tightly regulated. Under the proposed new rules, food carts could get a permit to regularly occupy designated public areas. The city is considering possible test sites in urban parks, like Occidental and Westlake, and on wide streets or sidewalks, including a stretch along Broadway and in Pioneer Square. But finding support for the pilot project hasn't been easy. "As the project is feeling more real to people, concerns—particularly in this economy, with retail businesses struggling—concerns are elevating," Johnson says. "I think people are, unfortunately, seeing it as a threat." Pioneer Square resident and former Preservation Board member Sara-Jane Bellanca certainly does. Following Johnson's presentation, she wasted no time getting to her feet to declare her opposition. She said mobile eateries tend to show up with tables, chairs, signs, and condiment stations, cluttering up the park and streets. The city already does a bad job of keeping in line the vendors who line Occidental Avenue before Mariners games, she claims. Board member Erin Doherty added that there's a fine line between vibrancy and chaos. Gallery owner Catherine Person said she is concerned that carts on streets or sidewalks would block her small storefront, keeping people away. Johnson came ready to respond with the results of a survey from Portland, which he says shows that 58 percent of business owners in the Rose City's downtown found the food carts increased foot traffic. But what he didn't mention was the vitriolic relationship in Portland between food carts and restaurants, who say the carts have an unfairly easy permitting process, undercutting traditional establishments. Johnson assured the board that nothing has been decided. The plan would require city council approval, and if there's mass opposition, that's unlikely. So if you were hoping to start selling sliders out of your van in Occidental Park, you might want to first send a few to the people who run Pioneer Square, because they're ready to resist.


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Tiger Brands, South Africa's leading consumer goods manufacturer, recorded a solid performance in its 2015 financial year, driven by its core South African business. This, however, was partially offset by underperformance in certain of its international operations.
Issued by Tiger Brands 19 Nov 2015 15:14
One of the largest suppliers of biltong in South Africa has issued an offer that is sure to put a smile back on the faces of South Africans after the weekend's Rugby World Cup heartbreak.
Issued by Just Perfect 2 Nov 2015 11:02
The global FMCG sector is constantly under enormous pressure. Regulators and consumers demand full product traceability across the supply chain while retailers insist on quality stock on demand at profitable prices. For manufacturers, the focus is on ensuring that production environments are lean and highly efficient.
Issued by Pyrotec 28 Oct 2015 09:43


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Last week Voicebot reported that the Amazon Alexa skill count has surpassed 15,000 in the US as of June 30,..
Amazon is having a 24-hour flash sale on refurbished Echo Dots, slashing the price from $44.99 to $29.99 – the lowest price the Dot has been since its launch in 2016.
On Friday, Amazon announced the winners of its Devpost Amazon Alexa Skill contest. All three top prizes were awarded to..
Amazon Alexa skills in the U.S. passed 15,000 for the first time on June 30, 2017. Voicebot was first to..
As promised at this year’s I/O conference, Google is silently rolling out a Bluetooth streaming feature for Home. Users are..
Yahoo News noted that Apple has a job opening for a “Speech Scientist/Engineer” for the Siri team in Seattle, home of..
Digital marketing firm 360i developed a new proprietary software that “aims uncover precisely what smart assistants Google Home and Amazon..
ll of these multi-Echo households have led to a common feature request: an intercom. The wait is over.
On Thursday evening, the AWS Lambda in US-EAST-1 that runs many US-based third-party Alexa skills was down. Alexa developer James..
The Amazon Dash Wand effectively brings the price down to zero for acquiring Alexa access…sort of. While the $20 cost..


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One of five merchants charged with buying and reselling stolen cigarettes in 2018 was sentenced to two months federal prison Wednesday and ordered to pay $2,285 in restitution.
According to United States Attorney Richard Moore, 45-year-old Thy Touch pleaded guilty in December to trafficking in contraband cigarettes. Touch formerly operated a Pride convenience store on St. Stephens Road that was raided by law enforcement agencies.
In response to several reported burglaries that appeared to only target cigarettes, the Mobile Police Department and other agencies began investigating what Chief Lawrence Battiste described as a theft ring.
Following a raid on Nov. 6, Battiste said the ring was fueled by store owners who knowingly purchased stolen cigarettes to avoid paying state tobacco taxes.
Eventually, five merchants and one employee of several stores in the area were indicted and charged with trafficking stolen cigarettes.
In addition to the prison sentence and restitution, Touch must also serve two years of formal probation.
The store he operated in the Campground area was also temporarily seized and boarded up by the city of Mobile.
It does not appear to have reopened at this time.
According to a press release from Moore’s office, a cooperating citizen identified Touch as
an individual he had previously illegally sold cigarettes to in the past.
After that, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms launched an undercover operation that included selling significant quantities of contraband cigarettes to Touch.
According to Battiste, retail cigarette vendors like Touch know that properly obtained cigarettes have notifications confirming that all applicable state taxes have been paid. Yet, on multiple occasions during a four-month investigation, Touch purchased roughly 1,359 packs of untaxed Newport and Kool cigarettes. At another store, police say he purchased as many as 10,000.
According to federal prosecutors, the schemed resulted in a tax loss to the State of Alabama of around $917 and a loss to the Internal Revenue Service of about $1,367.
Also implicated in the same stolen cigarette scheme were Mobile residents Reginald Lyons, Sakhoeuth Khan, Khalil N Al-Mashni, Shahid Abassi, and Shameka Mallory. Lyons and Al-Mashni were both previously sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay $1,008.96.
When the raids occurred, Moore commended the joint effort of the ATF and local police.
“Trafficking in illegal contraband of any kind hurts honest businesses that follow the law. I have encouraged all law enforcement to be on the lookout for these kinds of crimes that undermine our economy,” Moore said. “We will prosecute these cases to the fullest extent of the law.”
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Parodies or infringement
By Pankaj Ladhar of Manos • Alwine P.L.
Parodies are protected under the First Amendment, according to a Florida Company accused of infringement against a popular singer. With the increasing popularity of casual gaming on smart phones, the gaming industry reaches out to those who are not hardcore gamers. Films, albums, and other arenas often include a smart phone app in their advertising arsenal.
A Florida company released a game with a name and a cartoon likeness similar to Justin Bieber. Bieber’s attorney handed the company a “cease and desist” notice, which gave the developer two days to remove the app from the market. The notice threatened legal action by Bieber if the gaming company did not remove the app within two days.
The gaming company refused to do so. It also argued that its title was protected under the United States’ First Amendment. It based its claim on a United States Supreme Court ruling that said video games were products of expression, just like movies, music and books. When that ruling came out in June 2011, it received a great amount of press coverage because it knocked out another state’s law restricting violent game sales to minors.
The Florida company maintains that the app is not an infringement, but does poke fun at the singer. The game is available on the App Store, and allows “Beaver” to sign “otter-graphs” and tilt against “photo-hogs.”
Source: GameZebo, “Joustin’ Beaver drama continues as RC3 files pre-emptive lawsuit against Justin Bieber” Nadia Oxford, Feb. 28, 2012


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Amidst headline retail inflation coming down to a 5 month low in July, 11 States, including big states such as Maharashtra and Gujarat, have recorded higher growth rates than the national number. Another important factor is rural inflation continues to be higher than urban in many of the 22 States and Union Territories, for which inflation number is released every month.
Telangana continues to lead with the highest rate of overall retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the third month, while Delhi recorded the lowest rate for the second month. All India CPI recorded 6.71 per cent in July, which is the lowest in five months. However, experts feel rupee depreciation and uneven monsoon are likely to put pressure prices. At the same time, uneven monsoon and higher input prices also affect rural inflation.
Data from National Statistical Office shows that 11 States and Union Territories showed retail inflation in the range of 8.58 to 6.89 per cent in July. Apart from Telangana, these States/UT include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan. However, one positive development is that number of States/UTs with retail inflation above the upper band of targeted inflation (2-6 per cent) has come down.
Higher rural inflation
A research report by SBI says there were 21 States and UT with retail inflation above 6 per cent, but now the number is 15. Meanwhile, the worrying factor is higher inflation in rural areas. Data shows as many as 13 States and UTs have higher retail inflation in rural areas than in urban areas. West Bengal leads the race with rural inflation at 9.34 per cent, the highest number across two sectors in all the States and UT.
Now the concern is that the erratic movement of monsoon may impact food prices which in turn have some impact on rural and overall inflation. A report by QuantEco Research, authored by Yuvika Singhal, Vivek Kumar and Shubhada Rao, maintains retail inflation estimate at 6.5 per cent for Fiscal 2022-23 (FY23) for many reasons. One says “Uneven distribution of rainfall with significant shortfall in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand has led to lower acreage sown under paddy in the ongoing Kharif season down by close to 13 per cent compared to a year ago (as of 5th Aug-22). While Rice stocks with the Government remain sufficient so far, a sizeable shortfall in rice production could trigger price pressures given price of close substitute i.e., wheat and wheat derivatives has already seen a run-up in domestic prices since the outbreak of the Ukraine-Russia war (ban on wheat exports notwithstanding).”
Dharmakirti Joshi, Chief Economist with CRISIL Ltd feels the gradual moderation in inflation suggests there remains some pressure across major categories despite the recent fall in global prices and benefits from the government’s tax cuts on certain items. “Food inflation faces risks from lower rice sowing, tight wheat supplies, and elevated input costs,” he said.
Upasna Bhardwaj, Chief Economist, Kotak Mahindra Bank, expects the coming few readings to be a tad above 7 per cent, with inflation likely to hover above RBIs upper threshold limit of 6 per cent until January 2023. “We expect Repo rate at 6% by end of 2022 followed by a pause and a shift to neutral policy stance.”


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SilverStar Mountain Resort announced it will be opening ‘Putnam Creek’ this Saturday, Dec. 15.
With an abundance of snowfall over the past two storms, SilverStar will open the ‘backside’ of the Mountain to skiers and snowboarders this weekend. The annual ‘ribbon drop’ will occur 8.45 a.m. at Bergerstrasse Gate to officiate the opening of Putnam Creek — this includes Powder Gulch and Home Run Tee Lifts.
“We will have a mix of winch groomed, and knee-deep black diamonds ready to go,” said Operations Director Brad Baker.
There will also be an additional 40 runs available for skiers and snowboarders.
Snow reports Wednesday indicated that SilverStar received over 12cm of snow over the 24 hours prior, with a total of 124 cm snowbase in its Alpine Village. It remains the highest snow base for a ski resort in the Okanagan.
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Pepsi is replacing Sierra Mist, a lemon-lime soda brand that launched in 1999, with the new lemon-lime soda brand called Starry.
The new caffeine-free soda is the latest beverage brand in Pepsi’s portfolio. The company describes as “great-tasting soda bursting with lemon lime flavor.”
Starry is marketing its brand primarily to Gen Z customers with the slogan “Starry Hits Different.”
The company has released a regular and zero sugar option of the lemon-lime drink.
According to CNN, Pepsi made the decision to ditch Sierra Mist, a competitor to Coca-Cola’s Sprite, because it had less than 1% of the soda market. Also, sales had been declining steadily since 2018.
Pepsi attempted to revive their lemon-lime soda offering in the past. There was a brief time where Sierra Mist underwent a name change in 2016 and was called “Mist Twist.”
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March 13, 2020
Clover Sonoma, a third-generation, family-owned and operated dairy in Petaluma, California, has introduced the first fully renewable milk carton.
It's the first U.S. dairy to use such an environmentally friendly milk carton. This year, the dairy will use an estimated 10 million renewable cartons, and continue to convert to the new packaging until all cartons are renewable.
The paperboard for the new carton will be Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, so consumers who purchase the renewable milk carton will support responsible forest management and help protect forests for future generations.
The lining inside and outside of the carton will be made of fossil-fuel-free plastic made from non-GMO sugar cane. Bio-ethanol made from sugar cane is used for a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) coating inside and outside of the carton.
The carbon footprint of Clover Sonoma’s renewable plant-based milk carton is 50% lower than conventional cartons, according to a European study by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research. Both the paper board and liner materials are also traceable to their origins.
Clover Sonoma’s new packaging will be available this summer in organic half-gallon and quart milk cartons.
In addition, the company renewed its certification for B Corporation with a score of 100.5, up from 96.9 when it became a B Corp in 2016.
The B Corp assessment process measures a company’s performance in five categories: governance, workers, customers, community, and the environment. Certified B Corporations also amend their governance structure so that, by law, they can make decisions and implement practices that consider not just shareholder value, but the impact on all stakeholders—employees, customers, society, and the environment.
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Trade show veteran Karen Chupka has succeeded Chris Brown as managing director and executive vice president of global connections and events at the National Association of Broadcasters. Brown announced in July last year that he would transition out of NAB following the 2024 NAB Show after 25 years of service to the organization.
Chupka comes to NAB after more than three decades of leadership experience with the Consumer Technology Association, including executive vice president of CES and chief strategy officer. In her new role at NAB, Chupka will set the strategy, manage the business and inspire the people that produce NAB Show, NAB Show New York and NAB Amplify, an online community of innovators and content creators.
“The future of the NAB Show is bright with Karen at the helm, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the NAB team,” said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt. “With her long track record of exemplary leadership managing and growing one of the largest trade shows in the world, NAB Show exhibitors and attendees will be well-served by her unparalleled expertise and experience. As the NAB Show continues to grow, we look forward to the extraordinary experiences Karen and her team will create for our community. “I also want to again thank Chris Brown for his more than two decades of service to NAB. His leadership has been critical to the growth and success of the NAB Show. I am grateful for his many years of dedicated service and his role in shepherding a smooth transition.”
“I am excited to step into this role and work alongside the incredible team at NAB to produce the premier trade show serving the media and entertainment industry,” said Chupka. “NAB Show is a widely respected and unrivaled marketplace of innovative products, services and ideas that are driving the future of the media industry. I look forward to leveraging our collective expertise and passion to continue to provide a remarkable experience for our exhibitors, attendees and partners.”


text: HNA said to sell Minneapolis office tower to Samsung for $320m The HNA Group Co. building stands in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg Prudence Ho June 7, 2018 PremiumHNA Group Co. sold a Minneapolis office tower to a unit of South Korea’s Samsung Group for $320 million, according to a person familiar with the matter. Continue reading this story with a subscription to DealStreetAsia. Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in Should your colleagues be reading this article too? Contact us for corporate subscriptions at email@example.com.