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Mobile technology has increasingly become an everyday part of the connected consumer’s life. Not only are apps becoming more central to our lifestyle, they are also considered the new battleground for brand loyalty. If businesses want to retain customers and capitalise on their digitally savvy behaviour, they must build a compelling mobile presence through apps.
App creation is a long and rigorous process and even with all the hard work and dedication involved, success is still not guaranteed. Mobile app downloads will cross 269.69 billion by 2017 according to a recent study published by Statista, and in this competitive landscape, it is of utmost importance to understand and measure the… Read more »
In the last year alone, the flurry of technological advancement in mobile devices has been truly astounding. Aside from the functionality that these devices now offer to users, these developments have also caused a paradigm shift in the publishing industry.
We won the ANZ Made in Brisbane Award for High-Growth Business Start-Up at the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards! Now some of you might have already heard about it, but nothing feels official until it’s on the blog.
Here at Liquid State, ‘the cloud’ is essential to the way we operate. Our cloud-based digital publishing system is only possible because of the revolutionary technology that is cloud computing for startups. Just a few years ago, we couldn’t have existed.
As I and so many others have said before, the publishing industry has been offered a way of remaining relevant in an increasingly technological society, in the form of mobile publishing.
Recent research from global market intelligence firm, IDC, indicates that Android devices have seen a rapid increase in popularity in 2012 and 2013. According to IDC figures, Android tablets are set to dominate the market in the near future, even surpassing their biggest competitor, the Apple iPad.
I was very excited to hear European tech startup blog Venture Village wanted to feature Liquid State as their Startup of the Week. Many of the Venture Village team are, like us, Australians who love Berlin – so there’ll always be allegations of favouritism.


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QDOBA Adds Citrus Lime Shrimp Option for Limited Time
A new protein will be on the menu at QDOBA for a limited time with the fast casual Mexican chain’s new Citrus Lime Shrimp option.
The shrimp is sustainably sourced featuring AP (Best Aquaculture Practices) rated shrimp, all freshly sauteed in-house in a tangy citrus lime sauce.
"In our successful market test, we learned that our guests want a lighter protein alternative they can feel good about eating," said QDOBA's Chief Marketing Officer Karin Silk. "Our Citrus Lime Shrimp is tossed in a tangy lime sauce and sauteed right...
To Read Full Story Login Below.

domain: news


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It’s history in the marketing for three hotels undergoing Manhattan condo conversions.
Market watchers believe that the Plaza and Stanhope hotels on the edges of Central Park will probably set sales price records this year, with prices going as high as $5,000 a square foot. The Sutton Hotel, a few long blocks to the east, will sell for considerably less, but all three conversions are quick to use history as a selling point for these old-is-new-again dwellings.
When it emerges as a condominium, the Sutton Hotel wants to appear as though it arrived in a time warp. The 17-story hotel at 330 East 56th Street, built in 1929, will reopen in March as the Sutton East Condominium, but will retain as much of its late Jazz Age aesthetic as possible in the high-stakes world of 21st-century condo development.
“We wanted this to look like a 1930s hotel as much as possible,” said Kenneth Horn, CEO of Alchemy Properties, which bought the Sutton for $52 million in March 2005 from Glenwood Management.
All the Sutton’s leases – it was an extended-stay hotel – expired by last autumn, and the approximately $6 million conversion has been going on ever since. The condo is expected to open with 76 one- and two-bedroom units going for about $1,100 to $1,200 a square foot and ranging from the middle $700,000s to more than $2 million for penthouses with terraces and East River views.
The Sutton’s main selling point, though, seems to be the allure of its history as a fancy crash pad for celebrities, diplomats, and the business elite. The 1930s motif – manifested in touches like the mahogany floors, striped wallpaper and beveled ceilings – will give the Sutton a distinct look in the hypercompetitive luxury condo market, Horn says, but will also save it from being too over-the-top.
“What attracted us to this property was, first of all, the location,” Horn said. Alchemy’s previous building buys were all 34th Street or below. “But we also like the exclusivity this can provide. This is for privacy for residents, not glitz. People who are buying at the Plaza are not going to buy here.”
Indeed. To buy at the Plaza is to make a conspicuous statement.
Purchasers of the 182 condo units at the Plaza will pay from $3 million for one-bedrooms to as much as $33 million for penthouses overlooking Central Park, according to a spokesman for the sales office. Sales started in December at the 99-year-old hotel, when a 1,202-square foot, one-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom condo was going for $5.1 million – or, about $4,242 a foot – and a 2,857- square-foot condo with three bedrooms and three bathrooms hit the market for $14.65 million – about $5,127 a foot.
The prices stem from the location of the iconic hotel snug at the southeastern corner of Central Park as well as the simple appeal of the Plaza’s history itself. It is, well, the Plaza: “I think that one of the things about the Plaza is that is has so many wonderful souvenirs for so many people,” said Elizabeth Stribling, president of Stribling & Associates, which is exclusively marketing the condo conversion. “It’s just a mythic place.”
The sales office is located in a corner room, where buyers get a taste of the luxury within. The sales pitch includes an interactive walk-through, where individual condo layouts can be called up on a screen. Buyers can touch a particular window on the screen, Stribling says, and get the view from that window; they can also touch a particular room on the layout, triggering a virtual tour of that room.
At least 25 percent of the Plaza’s condos had been sold by late January, with buyer interest rolling in from such faraway locales as Alabama and Italy.
About 20 blocks up from the Plaza, opposite the south wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue, the Stanhope’s 26 condos may ultimately trump the Plaza’s in price, with units starting at $10 million and going as high as $47 million. As of January, five units were listed for sale as renovations continued.
No contracts have yet been signed, says Deborah Grubman, a senior vice president with the Corcoran Group who is brokering in the Stanhope. Because of the holidays, she says, sales did not start in earnest until January, nearly three months after the Stanhope’s offering plan was approved.
For the Stanhope, the location and the size are among the biggest draws. “It’s interesting,” Grubman said, “we’re having a lot of interest from New York buyers. I think, by virtue of the location, we’re going to get a lot of New Yorkers. It’s a very residential part of the city.”
The size of the Stanhope’s condos may distinguish it from this residential part, namely the coops and rentals that dominate the Upper East Side. The Stanhope will offer half-floor units just over 4,000 square feet and full-floor units of 8,300 square feet. While she didn’t rule them out, Grubman says the size of these spreads may preclude pied- -terre buyers – and should ultimately draw families, not just from the city, but from well beyond.
“I think we’re having several different profiles [of buyers],” Grubman said. “I think you’ve got New York families. I think you have people from other parts of the country. And then you also have overseas buyers. You have people from London, the people who love art, and who want to be at the location.”


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Latest Blog Stories
The CONNECT2Sell Blog, Written by Deb Calvert of People First Productivity Solutions, Debuts on International "Best of" List for Sales Blog San Jose,
eReflect shares some insights on the significance of building and maintaining relationships with other bloggers and how this could help a brand or professional strengthen their online presence
Business bloggers can now read the latest blogging tips by eReflect, creator of the Ultimate Vocabulary™ program.
eReflect, maker of Ultimate Vocabulary™ software, shares their latest guest blogging tips with business owners worldwide, helping them expand their online presence and improve their brand awareness.
Blog frequency impacts customer acquisition. 92% of companies who blogged multiple times a day acquired a customer through their blog.
Creative video production company, Sierra Media, has released an article educating savvy businesses on how to effectively use their videos for improved marketing. Seattle,
Blogging is one of the best ways to get exposure on the web, but Chicago Reputation Management Firm Reputation Maxx is sharing some common mistakes to be aware of.
Until now, smaller companies and professional service groups have stood on the sidelines while bigger corporations benefitted from the reach and interactivity of social media and the influence of search
Annual awards ceremony celebrates the world's best fashion bloggers. NEW YORK, July 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloglovin', a platform that pulls users' favorite blogs into a single,
MarketingRoundup is proud to announce its new website helping people who want to become better at online marketing at no cost. (PRWEB) July 13, 2014
Image Credit: Photos.com A blog is a written discussion or information posted on a website over the Internet. The blog is posted with the most recent one first, dealing with any subject or topic within the constraints of the website administrator. Before 2009 most blogs were written by an individual or small group of people. Today, most websites use multi-author blogs (MABs) where a large number of authors write and submit content which is edited professionally. Information gathered for...
- The horn of a unicorn considered as a medical or pharmacological ingredient.
- A winged horse with a single horn on its head; a winged unicorn.


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Istanbul: A Turkish court today ordered the arrest of the chairman of a famed pastry manufacturer and the CEO of a clothing company as well two dozen other businessmen for alleged links to the failed July 15 coup.
Faruk Gullu, the chairman of the Faruk Gulluoglu chain of sweet shops and restaurants, was remanded in custody by an Istanbul court on charges of being a member of the group of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen which is blamed for the failed coup, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.
Faruk Gulluoglu is one of Turkey’s best known suppliers of baklava, the traditional sweet pastry that rounds off meals, and its main shop is a magnet for tourists in Istanbul.
Nejat Gullu, Faruk’s brother and the chairman of the similarly-named but rival Gulluoglu baklava firm, had also been detained but was ordered to be released by the court, the agency added.
But the court also remanded in custody Omer Faruk Kavurmaci, CEO of the Aydinli Group clothing retailer, one of the most prominent business figures detained after the coup.
Kavurmaci is the son-in-law of Istanbul mayor Kadir Topbas, a ruling party member and close associate of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The company owns the rights to the brands US Polo Assn, Cacharel and Pierre Cardin in Turkey and across the region.
Kavurmaci is charged with “membership of a terror group”, Anadolu said.
Twenty-five other suspects linked to the business world were also placed under arrest ahead of trial, the agency said, without giving their names. Thirty-seven suspects were released under judicial control.
All had been detained in raids in mid-August with their detention periods prolonged in line with the three-month state of emergency imposed after the coup.
Turkey has pressed a relentless crackdown after the coup, with some 20,000 people from all professions including the military, education and journalism detained.
In a separate development, Istanbul prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 92 more people, including six generals, on suspicion of links to Gulen and the coup, Turkish media said.
Gulen has ridiculed the accusations that he masterminded the coup bid aimed at toppling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
But Ankara is pressing Washington for his extradition, accusing Gulen of leading a “terror” group.
Meanwhile two fugitive Turkish admirals were detained late on Wednesday after almost two months on the run, the Dogan news agency said.(AFP)
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As textile plants have continued to close across North Carolina, the state is seeing a number of food producers step in and open or expand facilities in those areas of the state.
One of the byproducts of the decline in textile manufacturing in the state is that a number of counties now find themselves with an abundance of water and sewer capacity not being used.
If there's one thing textile manufacturers and food processing plants have in common it's that they both require a lot of water and sewer capacity to operate their businesses.
Ed Reser, CEO of Reser's Fine Foods, said this week that among the reasons his company picked Halifax in 2000 was its abundance of water and sewer capacity.
In Randolph County, where cereal-maker Malt-O-Meal has opened a plant, economic development officials are using their water and sewer capacity as a major selling point in trying to land food processing companies.


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SAN FRANCISCO — Shoppers in San Francisco will have to pay 10 cents per bag and more retailers are now banned from handing out plastic bags under a proposal approved Tuesday by the city's Board of Supervisors.
San Francisco already bans large grocery stores and chain pharmacies from using plastic bags, which are blamed for clogging landfills and waterways. The proposal extends that ban to restaurants and to gift shops, hardware stores, boutiques and other retailers.
The 10-cent charge would apply to any type of bag, such as paper, that stores give customers at the checkout counter. The stores would keep the money.
The goal is to discourage the use of single-use bags and encourage people to bring their own bags to retailers.
San Francisco became the first city in the country to ban plastic bags at grocery stores and drug stores with an ordinance passed in 2007. Since then, other California cities, Ireland, Taiwan and the District of Columbia have enacted more stringent polices.
The supervisors approved the proposal despite concerns from some small businesses that it could drive customers away.
"The intent was never to nickel or dime anybody," Mayor Ed Lee told the San Francisco Chronicle (http://bit.ly/wFQznB) on Monday, expressing his support for the measure. "But if it takes 10 cents to remind somebody that their habits are in their control, I think that's something we're willing to consider doing."
But Tony Liu, who owns four Chinatown shops frequented by tourists, said the charge may be particularly off-putting given the state of the economy.
"Things are different now," he said.
City officials have been meeting with business owners to explain the proposal. Stores that violate the law would face fines of $100 for the first infraction, $200 for the second and $500 each time after that.
But Lee said at least initially, city officials would focus on educating store owners, not fining them.
The proposal, which would go into effect in October, is backed by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, the California Grocers Association and the city's Small Business Commission. It would exempt the use of plastic bags for items such as loose nails, dry cleaning and bulk candy.
Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com
What they say about Steve Baxman
“I love Steve. He’s our local hero. I jokingly say he sleeps with his boots on. He’s always ready to come out and take care of people.”
Diane Barth, longtime Monte Rio resident
“He’s no stranger to controversy. I’ve defended him a number of times. (But) I tell people if you’re the one who goes over a cliff or find yourself in a perilous situation of any kind, he’s the face you want to see.”
Andy Pforsich, former Gold Ridge fire chief
“As good or bad or difficult as some of the calls might be, he finds a way to lighten the mood. He doesn’t take away from the seriousness, but he lessens the heartache of people involved, patients and responders.”
Sean Grinnell, Bodega Bay fire chief
“I think my brother has done a tremendous amount of good but he doesn’t do this alone. He has a wonderful supporting cast that never gets any credit.”
Deanna Baxman, retired Cal Fire division chief
“Sometimes you have to realize when politically you have to watch what you say. Steve doesn’t care.”
Dan George, Gold Ridge fire chief
“It’s very helpful when Steve shows up. He can keep a crazy situation calm. If we get a call at three in the morning chances are he’s there. I don’t think the guy sleeps.”
Dan Mori, Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy
“Some people love to hate him. But they call him, not 911. What does that tell you?”
Max Ming, Russian River fire chief
“He’s a true legend. I don’t know what he’s made of but he’s definitely made of something else.”
Efren Carrillo, Sonoma County supervisor
“He can never be replaced. He’s been doing it over 40 years now. No one can fill those shoes.”
Marshall Turbeville, Cal Fire battalion chief
“He’s a character. It leads people to not think he is the real deal. He is the real deal. He’s one of the legends of Sonoma County.”
Jack Piccinini, chief of Windsor and Rincon Valley fire districts
“He’s not talking out of the side of his mouth. You get what’s in front of you. I think he’s been a remarkable resource for the county.”
Ray Mulas, Schell‑Vista fire chief


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Apr 23, 2012 The New York Times reports that Wal-Mart's Mexican subsidiary paid millions of dollars in bribes in order to put its stores all over Mexico.
Apr 10, 2012 Wireless carriers will be able to disable a stolen phone, making it useless to resell.
Apr 3, 2012 A man deported to Mexico struggles to be reunited with his kids, now in North Carolina foster care.
Mar 16, 2012 The news that didn't quite make the headlines. This week: using pink lights to deter criminals, an interspecies iPad game you can play with your cat, Google replacing ringtones with ads.
Mar 12, 2012 Despite official denials, France is accused of being too ready to pay ransoms for hostages -- and so encouraging kidnappers to abduct its citizens.
Feb 7, 2012 Call it "elder financial abuse," the largely unreported crime claims hundreds of thousands of victims each year.
Feb 3, 2012 Tess Vigeland and economics editor Chris Farrell discuss the possibility of more transparency on 401(k) fees. Plus, callers ask questions about supporting retired parents and the pros and cons of uprooting a family for a new job.
Jan 27, 2012 Journalist Patrick Symmes had a bicycle. Then it got stolen. So he got another bike, and that got stolen, too. He discusses his journey delving into the underground economy of stolen bikes.
Jan 17, 2012 Chinese companies buying up factories in Mexico: one example of how skilled manufacturing is changing.


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TOKYO: Dentsu, the Japanese advertising group, has revised its profit forecast for the twelve months to the end of March, slashing its previous income predictions by two-thirds to ¥6.5bn ($71m; €55m; £49m), with net revenues also set to fall by 5.4% to ¥1,427 billion.
This seems to confirm estimates made earlier this year that the Japanese advertising market is set to contract by around 2.3% at current prices during 2009.
A statement issued by the company reported that one of the main factors behind the decision was "the increasingly cautious approach to advertising spending of its clients in response to the steep downturn in the economy."
Other factors Dentsu identified behind the decline include a loss incurred after a "revaluation of securities" at the end of last year, during the third quarter of the company's financial year.
Data sourced from Dentsu; additional content by WARC staff


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Giving truth to Memphis youth
By Khari Bowman (Overton High School)
On Christmas Day last year, many people had received their new Xbox and PlayStation systems and games, but a cyber attack on the two companies prevented anyone from accessing the online gaming world. A group called “Lizard Squad” claimed to have hacked the two gaming networks on one of the busiest and most-accessed days of the year.
Customers were devastated when they woke up to find that they couldn’t access the online networks of their gaming consoles. Some gamers furiously blamed Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation for not taking better security precautions. One teenager, James Owings, shared his thoughts on the two systems’ hackings.
“To me, the companies have been careless when it comes to security. Customers enter credit card numbers and a lot of other private information into the database in order to use the gaming systems,” he said. “I think the sole purpose of the ‘Lizard Squad’ hack was to create a wake-up call for Sony and Xbox so that they’ll start protecting customers’ information better. ”
Another gamer, James Kidd, shared his thoughts on the attack, “I was initially angry with Sony because I had just bought a bunch of new games and wanted to play them online. I eventually learned that PlayStation was hacked, so I had no choice but to wait patiently like the rest of the game console users.”
The attack on the Sony and Microsoft gaming networks occurred after the hacking of Sony Pictures’ computer network that was linked to North Korea by officials, although there is no evidence as of now to prove that the two hackings were connected. The United States blamed the attack on North Korea, partially due to release of controversial Sony film “The Interview” which infuriated the North Korean leaders, as the film parodies Kim Jong-Un. The film’s December 25 release was initially cancelled, but Sony ultimately decided to present it to a small number of theaters and it has since been released online.
Both companies immediately took to Twitter to inform customers of the mishap. Days later, Xbox and PlayStation online services were restored and gamers were reunited in the gaming world, although many were left with a bitter taste in their mouths.


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Packers fans wrestle with idea of attending game, watching on TV
WEST ALLIS -- It's almost unprecedented to hear Lambeau Field isn't sold out for a playoff game. But with tickets still available as of Thursday afternoon, fans have a chance to go, but bad weather and high prices might hold them back.
\"Oh yeah. There's nothing like Lambeau. It's the experience of a lifetime,\" Bryan Brickner said.
\"Nope looked at the forecast and no go,\" season ticket holder Tim Graf said.
\"Nah, it's cold, I've been up there. It gets cold up there and it's a late game, not in to it,\" Art Kronenberg said.
\"It's funny you mention that, because we would,\" Jacob Michael Cowan said.
It depends who you ask, but Packers fans seem split on whether they'd attend Sunday's playoff game.
\"We were looking at Ticketmaster last night,\" Cowan said. \"We're flying out this afternoon but if we were in town, we would definitely be getting dressed up and going to the game.\"
Dressed up is the key. You'd need a winter hat and winter coat to battle the frigid weather. But cost plays a part too.
\"I think it has to do with the prices,\" Cowan said. \"Not only for the tickets but parking and when you get there you're going to spend money. The cold defniitely adds to it.\"
Graf has four season tickets. He passed on playoff tickets because Aaron Rodgers was out. He doesn't regret it either.
\"In today's modern era, you have huge televisions, with HD in the basement,\" Graf said. \"It's almost as good as going to the game. I think people weigh that when they decide to spend a lot of money on playoff tickets.\"
Art Kronenberg thinks they'll sell it out. But believes the short notice hurts sales because people have to change their schedule.
\"They've got thousands of people showing up on a week's notice,\" Kronenberg said.
Most think the tickets will sell. And the diehard fans don't want to hear about cold weather.
\"No not at all, it's Wisconsin, it's Green Bay,\" Brickner said.


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Apple has once again left tech enthusiasts buzzing with excitement after its recent ‘Scary Fast’ Mac event. With a series of groundbreaking announcements, it’s evident that Apple is pushing the boundaries of innovation in personal computing. Let’s dive into the four most significant revelations from this remarkable event.
The event’s star players were undoubtedly Apple’s new M3 chips. The M3 lineup includes M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max, representing the world’s “first personal computer chips” created using the highly efficient 3-nanometer process. These chips boast a “faster and more efficient CPU,” along with a revolutionary GPU supporting ray tracing, mesh shading, and Dynamic Caching, a feature optimizing memory usage during tasks.
For those craving powerful computing, the M3 Max chip stands out with up to 92 billion transistors, a 40-core GPU, and a 16-core CPU. Plus, all M3 chips offer a whopping 128GB of unified memory. Apple’s commitment to pushing the envelope in terms of chip technology is evident, promising a new era in computing performance.
Apple unveiled a revamped 24-inch iMac with the M3 chip, promising a performance leap that’s twice as fast as its predecessor, which was equipped with the M1 chip. Alongside the new chip, this iMac sports a 4.5K Retina display that dazzles with over a billion colors. It supports Wi-Fi 6E for lightning-fast connectivity and boasts a 1080p webcam for crisp video calls.
The new iMac is not just a powerhouse; it’s a visual masterpiece. It comes in seven vibrant colors, including green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and silver. Apple even offers color-matched accessories, although they still feature Lightning connectors. With prices starting at $1,299 for the eight-core CPU model and $1,499 for the 10-core variant, this iMac is an irresistible upgrade. Preorders have already begun, and it hits the market on November 7th.
Apple doesn’t stop at iMacs. They’ve also revamped their MacBook Pro lineup. The 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are now equipped with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, ensuring they’re future-proof and powerful.
Both laptops feature Mini LED displays, 1080p cameras, and a six-speaker sound system, ensuring an immersive experience. They’re also incredibly portable, with a remarkable 22 hours of battery life. To top it off, you can max out these laptops with up to 128GB of RAM, delivering unmatched performance.
You have two stunning color options to choose from: space black with fingerprint-reducing coating and a classic silver. The 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,999, while the 16-inch model starts at $2,499. You can already pre-order these beauties, and they will be available on November 7th.
Entry-Level MacBook Pro:
Not to forget the budget-conscious consumers, Apple has released an affordable 14-inch MacBook Pro. This model features the base M3 chip, starting at $1,599. It replaces the 13-inch MacBook Pro equipped with an M2 chip, providing up to 60% faster performance.
The most significant change in this entry-level model is the removal of the Touch Bar, returning to beloved physical keys. While it may lack the variety of colors seen in the higher-end models, offering only silver and space gray, it’s a powerful and budget-friendly alternative. Preorders have already begun, and it officially launches on November 7th.
In conclusion, Apple’s ‘Scary Fast’ Mac event was a tech extravaganza, redefining what’s possible in the world of personal computing. The M3 chips promise unparalleled power and efficiency, while the new iMac and MacBook Pro models showcase stunning design and performance.
And with an entry-level MacBook Pro, Apple ensures that everyone can experience the magic of the M3 chip. The future of computing has arrived, and it’s undeniably thrilling. Get ready for a new era of innovation with Apple’s ‘Scary Fast’ Mac lineup.


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Hulamin has announced its interim results for the period ended 30 June 2021. The Company’s condensed interim financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2021 were published on 31 August 2021.
- Group sales volume increased by 44% to 102 000 tons for the period ended 30 June 2021
- Revenue increased by 50% to R5.5 billion
- Operating profit improved by 166% to R78.61 million
- Free cash flow of R128 million
- Basic earnings per share increased by 139% to 29 cents per share
Richard Jacob, Hulamin Chief Executive Officer said: “The Group improved profit performance and generated free cash flows despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Hulamin Rolled Products sales increased by 43% and Hulamin Extrusions sales by 58% compared to the same period in 2020.
Both Rolled and Extruded Products continued their turnaround actions.
These include improvements to capacity utilisation, cost management, tight controls over working capital and a focus on sales growth and distribution. I am particularly pleased with the improvements shown by Hulamin Extrusions.”


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SINGAPORE: Petra Foods names director of cocoa sustainability
Cocoa manufacturer Petra Foods has appointed Marc Donaldson to the newly-created role of director of cocoa sustainability.
The Singapore-based cocoa supplier and chocolate manufacturer said Donaldson would head the firm's recently established Social Economic Environmental Development for Sustainability programme (SEEDS). The company said it has been promoting cocoa sustainability in several producing countries around the world and it has decided to group its efforts under a single programme.
Petra Foods CEO John Chuang said today (26 August): "The creation of this new position reflects the tremendous importance with which Petra regards the issue of sustainability."
"SEEDS is now the global master-plan that will drive the group's cocoa sustainability initiatives, and we believe that Marc is the right person to head up this initiative for Petra. Marc has more than 25 years of experience in the cocoa and chocolate industry."
Donaldson previously served as head of Petra's operations in Europe, overseeing Delfi Cocoa (Europe)'s operations and its subsidiaries from 2008 to 2009.
Last month, Petra announced that it would team up with Nestle to work on improving cocoa production in Indonesia.
Last year, Petra signed a deal with US peer Blommer Chocolate Co. and French chocolate maker Cemoi to improve cocoa production in Cote d'Ivoire.
The three companies formed a venture dubbed PACTS, or the Processors Alliance for Cocoa Traceability and Sustainability, to set up 30 fermentation centres in the African country.
CAGNY, the annual industry investment conference in the US, was once again full of debate on the challenges and opportunities that the global food sector is confronting and exploiting....
This week, just-food was kept busy with news from the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference, held in Florida....
Pfizer has insisted claims it has allowed Mead Johnson and Danone to table a joint bid for its infant nutrition business is "speculation" and said no decision has been made over the future of the divi...
Heinz chief executive Bill Johnson has suggested the US food giant would be interesting in buying any assets that could emerge if Pfizer's infant nutrition unit is sold....
US infant nutrition firm Mead Johnson and French food group Danone, the owner of Aptamil baby formula, is reportedly set to table a joint bid for the baby food business of pharma giant Pfizer....
- Nestle catering for an ageing global population
- Unilever is "working harder" in tough environment
- What post-Brexit trade with the EU could look like
- What next for Nestle under new CEO Schneider?
- What delay means for UK child obesity strategy
- Job cuts imminent as General Mills restructures
- Kerry Foods sets its sights on C-sector
- Greencore pays GBP15m for Cranswick sandwich unit
- Lindt organic sales miss market expectations
- Kraft Heinz launches new Creationz range


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As a result of the deal, Jon Russell, the son of Celadon co-founder Steve Russell, is expected to leave the company for a management position with the acquiring firm.
Synovia Solutions, known for its Here Comes the Bus app, has been acquired by a transportation technology company based in Irvine, California.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. on Friday won a shareholder vote to approve its takeover of Celgene Corp., paving the way to close the largest pharmaceutical merger in history and create a cancer-drug giant.
Software maker Determine Inc.'s investment bankers contacted dozens of prospective suitors as the company racked up millions of dollars in losses and burned through cash.
Indianapolis-based accounting firm Katz Sapper & Miller has sold a majority stake in KSM Consulting to Philadelphia-based private equity firm Renovus Capital Partners.
The Indianapolis-based trucking company said the divestitures are part of its larger plan to streamline operations and reduce its debt load.
Health insurer Centene Corp. has agreed to buy managed-care provider WellCare Health Plans Inc., expanding in the market for government insurance plans just as politicians in Washington, D.C., appear to be gearing up for another health-policy clash.
More than 20 years after founding his tech consulting and development firm Studio Science, Kristian Andersen has sold the company to a group of investors led by CEO Steve Pruden.
Berry Global Group CEO Tom Salmon, already coming off a string of acquisitions, is making the company’s biggest purchase amid a rapidly consolidating market for plastic packaging.
Martinsville-based For Bare Feet Inc., a 35-year-old manufacturer and distributor of novelty socks, has been sold.
Anthem and Cigna are battling in court over whether one owes the other billions in damages for the collapse of their proposed merger.
The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., came Tuesday in the high-stakes competition case, approving one of the biggest media marriages ever.
U.S. Democratic lawmakers challenged top executives of T-Mobile and Sprint on Wednesday over their pledge not to raise prices for wireless services or hurt competition if their $26.5 billion merger goes through.
Canvas Talent Inc. will continue to operate as an independent business unit in Indianapolis, and company officials said they expect the number of employees to grow significantly because of the acquisition.
When the Indianapolis-based drug giant made its initial offer Dec. 20, it said it wanted to seal the deal before the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, which ran Jan. 7-10 in San Francisco.
Portland-based InDinero’s purchase adds 36 employees, including 17 CPAs, to its 200-person workforce.


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A new bookstore is expected to open in Blacksburg this summer.
Laurie Kelly has wanted to open a bookstore for years. When a friend pointed her to a discussion in a popular Blacksburg Facebook group in which members said they’d like to see a bookstore come to town, Kelly decided it might finally be time to do so.
“That sort of gave me the push that I need to see that there really is a desire from the community,” she said.
The business will be called Blacksburg Books, which reflects Kelly’s goal of being community-oriented. Kelly said she felt strongly about opening the store in Blacksburg, where she lives and works.
Kelly, an attorney, said she has always loved books and studied literature in college. She is excited to bring to fellow readers the used bookstore that she has long felt the town needed.
The bookstore is going into the former Alligator Alley space on South Main Street. Kelly said she wanted to be as close to downtown as possible for foot traffic and high visibility.
Blacksburg Books will offer both new and used books. Kelly said she expects to offer some kind of trade-in program. Since putting the word out that she was collecting inventory for the store, Kelly said people have come out of the woodwork to contribute used books.
Though the store is small, at about 1,200 square feet, Kelly said she wants to have some seating and partner with other local businesses to offer prepackaged snacks and beverages. The space does not have a kitchen, so nothing would be prepared on site.
Kelly said she also hopes to have authors at the store for readings and signings. Fitting rooms in the back of the store will be removed to create a children’s nook.
Blacksburg Books is expected to open its doors at 401 S. Main St. in July. Kelly said she definitely wants to open prior to Steppin’ Out, which is scheduled for Aug. 6-7.


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Ireland's alcohol excise duty is the second highest in the EU, according to a recently published report, ‘Tax on Alcohol in Europe: Where Does Ireland Rank?
The report which commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI), also said that Ireland has the second highest excise duty (a specific tax levied per unit of alcohol in a drink) on beer, the highest wine excise, and the third highest spirits excise (behind Finland and Sweden) in the EU.
The report’s author and DCU economist Tony Foley outlined: "When compared with the rest of the EU, Ireland’s alcohol excise duty is very high across all drinks categories; only Finland ranks ahead of us. Put another way, Ireland’s alcohol excise duty is 150% higher than 24 of the other 27 EU member states. Combined with VAT and retail price, this means alcohol is comparatively more expensive in Ireland than it is in many other European countries."
According to Maggie Timoney, Chair of DIGI and managing director, Heineken Ireland, Ireland’s excise tax is ‘an anti-competitive tax on one of Ireland’s largest employers and risks Ireland becoming less attractive to investment and overseas visitors.’
“Ireland’s drinks industry and hospitality sector play a critical role in Irish tourism, with the sector credited among the major attractions for overseas visitors. Post-Brexit, British tourist numbers dropped by 55,300 in the period January 2017—March 2017 compared to the same period in the previous year. We are dependent on British tourism with more than 40 percent of all visitors to Ireland originating in the UK. In a post-Brexit environment which is uncertain, we need to invest in sectors which draw tourists to ensure we remain attractive over other, more affordable destinations," Maggie Timoney said.
© 2017 - Checkout Magazine by Donna Ahern


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cbdMD submitted National Hemp Month (2019) to promote the benefits and dispel the myths surrounding hemp-based products.
cbdMD founded National CBD Day to bring awareness to what CBD (cannabidiol) brings to millions of people annually.
cbdMD founded National Hemp Day in 2019 to celebrate the hemp plants’ illustrious past. You can visit www.cbdMD.com for more information!
cbdMD founded National CBD Month to celebrate the increased availability and plentiful products helping people around the world. The first observance of the month takes place in 2020.
paw cbd founded National Pet CBD Month in October to celebrate the increased availability and plentiful products helping pets around the world.
cbdMD is the Official Founder of National Hemp Month, taking pride in creating premium CBD products for people and their pets. They only source their CBD from U.S. hemp grown with organic farming methods to ensure that all products are pure, high-quality, and THC-free.
cbdMD founded National Hemp Day, first observed on Feb. 4, 2019. Other CBD retailers and news outlets picked up on it in no time, raising the profile of CBD and other hemp products for millions of Americans.


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Manchester United Plc Reports Quarterly Basic Loss Per Share 22.36 Pence
Roma Signs Christopher Smalling From Manchester United For EUR 15 Mln
Manchester United PLC Reports Qtrly Adjusted Basic Loss Per Share Of 4.42 Pence
Manchester United plc is engaged in the operation of a professional football club together with related and ancillary activities. Its football operations primarily comprise various activities, such as its first team, reserve team, youth academy, global scouting networks and other operations, such as its sport science, medical and fitness operations at the Aon Training Complex. It operates in three sectors, including Commercial, Broadcasting and Matchday. Within the Commercial revenue sector, the Company monetizes its global brand through approximately three revenue streams, such as sponsorship; retail, merchandising, apparel and product licensing, and mobile and content. It monetizes the value of its global brand and community of followers through marketing and sponsorship relationships with international and regional companies around the world. It markets and sells sports apparel, training and leisure wear and other clothing featuring the Manchester United brand on a global basis.
Old Trafford, Sir Matt Busby Way
Avram A. Glazer
Executive Co-Chairman of the Board
Executive Co-Chairman of the Board
Executive Vice Chairman of the Board
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Group Managing Director, Director
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Premier League soccer club Manchester United have agreed a partnership with e-commerce giant Alibaba in an effort to extend the club's engagement with fans in China.
Premier League soccer club Manchester United have agreed a partnership deal with Alibaba which will see the Chinese e-commerce giant provide club content on its online video company Youku.com and develop a future store on the company's business-to-consumer platform Tmall.com...
Manchester United <MANU.N> forecast annual revenue would fall for the first time in five years after its failure to qualify for this season's UEFA Champions League but backed manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to rebuild the English soccer club.
Frankfurt-listed shares in Manchester United climbed in early deals after manager Jose Mourinho left the Premier League football club, an indication investors welcomed the move after a dismal start to the season.
English soccer club Manchester United <MANU.N> forecast revenue for 2018-19 to rise to record levels, helped by increased broadcasting revenue as a result of UEFA's new revenue distribution system coming into effect.
English Premier League soccer club Manchester United forecast higher revenue and core earnings for 2019, even as the company reported lower results for the fourth quarter of 2018.
* FOR FISCAL 2018, MANCHESTER UNITED CONTINUES TO EXPECT REVENUE TO BE £575M TO £585M
A return to the Champions League came at a price for Manchester United as a related increase in player wages crimped core quarterly earnings for the Premier League soccer club.
German roaster Melitta said on Monday it had signed a deal to supply coffee to British soccer club Manchester United.
English soccer club Manchester United <MANU.N> posted a 17 percent rise in first-quarter revenue, helped by strong growth in broadcasting income as the team returned to the UEFA Champions League this season after a one-year absence.
English soccer club Manchester United posted a 17.3 percent rise in first-quarter revenue helped by strong growth in both broadcasting and commercial businesses.
Quote and financial data from Refinitiv. Fund performance data provided by Lipper. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes.


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Today we woke up knowing that the value of bitcoin has exceeded $ 14,000 for the first time. Taking into account the increased value of cryptocurrency, it is not surprising that it generates interest among friends of others. This seems to have been the case with NiceHash, a very popular platform among all those who mine cryptocurrencies that would have been the victim of the theft of 64 million dollars in bitcoins.
Specifically, this equates to approximately 4,700 BTC, an amount that would have disappeared from the portfolio of bitcoins company without a trace. It is important to keep in mind that the exact scope of the attack is still unknown, although in NiceHash they are already investigating the incident. As expected, the company has temporarily suspended all operations on its website and encourages its users to change their passwords immediately.
At this point, it is important to note that this is not the first theft of money related to Bitcoin. In fact, last month startup Tether (whose main activity is related to the cryptocurrency sector) announced having been the victim of the theft of 31 million dollars in bitcoins. Undoubtedly, it deals with situations of extreme gravity, especially if we take into account the magnitude of the quantities. As always, we will remain attentive to any developments that may occur in this regard.


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Earlier this 12 months, Ohio’s Lordstown Motors teased the thought of getting the primary electrical pickup within the U.S. market. However now, with Rivian R1T deliveries already taking place, the Ford F-150 Lightning due in Might, and the GMC Hummer EV in between, that window of alternative has lengthy handed.
On Thursday, Lordstown confirmed a stunning plan proposed in September. With it, the corporate is promoting its former GM plant to Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Trade—higher referred to as iPhone maker Foxconn—for $230 million. And it confirmed that its long-awaited Endurance electrical pickup is now pushed again to the third quarter of 2022 for first deliveries.
Lordstown blamed the delay—one other certainly one of many—on “part and materials shortages, together with different provide chain challenges.” It mentioned that it has now made about 100 pre-production automobiles.
As a part of the deal, Foxconn made an extra $50 million fairness funding in Lordstown in October, and Lordstown agreed to pursue a joint-venture settlement with Foxconn underneath which it’s anticipated to function as a contract producer for the Endurance.
The businesses will collectively design and develop future commercial-market automobiles, too. However these future automobiles can be on Foxconn’s “Mobility in Concord” platform, not on the platform shared with the Endurance electrical pickup.
“Working collaboratively with Foxconn, we count on to have the ability to convey future automobiles to market quicker and extra effectively,” reported Lordstown on Thursday, alongside a third-quarter monetary report.
Below its founding CEO, Steve Burns, who was pushed out in June over allegedly inflated order claims, Lordstown deliberate to construct an entire household of automobiles on the Endurance platform, together with an electrical van due in 2022, plus a midsize pickup truck and an “industrial-strength” SUV—all together with in-wheel hub motors, which it rallied round as a singular promoting level and packaging energy. However throughout a name Thursday following the monetary announcement, the corporate’s new CEO, Daniel Ninivaggi, reportedly downplayed the significance of the know-how—which Ford shortly nixed for the F-150 Lightning.
Foxconn hasn’t supplied a transparent affirmation on what it intends to do with the remainder of the Ohio plant, however Fisker CEO Henrik Fisker final month urged that the ability could permit Foxconn to make Fisker’s $30,000 electrical car, known as Venture Pear. Though the success of Lordstown Motors may stay unsure, there’s nonetheless a very good probability one thing fascinating and all-electric will emerge from Lordstown, Ohio.


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MOST multivitamins aimed at children fail to provide enough vital vitamin D, a study claims.
Scientists even discovered one product contained zero levels of the nutrient, which strengthens bones.
Getty – Contributor Scientists have discovered some multivitamins sold by UK retailers to contain zero levels of vitamin D
Oxford and Southampton University researchers tested 67 products labelled as containing vitamin D or promoting “healthy bones”.
However, only one in four provided the daily 400IU (International Units) recommended by Public Health England.
Of 24 specific vitamin D products, only five had the recommended amount.
Low levels are common in UK kids, particularly during winter, and deficiencies can lead to rickets — soft, weak bones.
Known as the “sunshine vitamin”, it is created by the body when exposed to sunlight.
Dr Benjamin Jacobs, of the Royal College of Paediatrics, said the findings were “highly concerning”.
SUN, SEA AND STIS Teenage lad claims he’s had sex with 60 girls – and never used a condom DEADLY EPIDEMIC Plague dubbed Disease X could kill millions of HEALTHY people, experts say IMPO-TANNED Man left with agonising 22-hour erection from illegal tanning jab ONE GP FOR 500K Just one GP is covering home visits for 500,000 patients DOWN AND DIRTY Sex Clinic fans horrified as man admits he hasn’t cleaned penis for 24 YEARS ExclusiveGIFTS OF LIFE Parents save son’s life twice as both donated a kidney — 24 years apart
He added: “These products are misleading parents who think they are protecting their children.”
But the Health & Food Supplements Information Service said they should be a top-up, and not “replace the nutrients in food”.
Shocking moment mum spoonfeeds vitamins to her gaming addict son amid fears he’s wasting away playing games for 48 hours a time


text: Google has just updated their Android Market to offer more than just apps. Users can now purchase books from the Android Market itself, making it easier than ever to obtain access to reading material on your Android device. All you have to do is head over to the Android Market and click on the Books link near the store’s search field. Google Books users now have another way of purchasing books – it never hurts to have alternative sources right? Well it looks like NOOK and Kindle’s competition has gotten a little tougher, with Google Books offering some books at lower prices than the two big shots. How many of you use Google Books for your eBook reading habits?


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This excerpt taken from the CY 8-K filed Oct 30, 2009.
Cypress Will Retain CY Ticker Symbol
SAN JOSE, Calif., October 30, 2009 Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY) today announced that it will voluntarily transfer its stock exchange listing from The New York Stock Exchange to the NASDAQ Global Select Market, on November 12. The companys stock will continue to trade under the symbol CY. This transfer will be seamless to Cypress investors.
Cypresss President and CEO, T.J. Rodgers and other members of Cypresss executive team will mark this occasion by opening the NASDAQ trading floor via live remote on November 12, 2009 at 6:30 a.m. PST.
Cypresss innovative programmable and proprietary technologies such as PSoC® and TrueTouch have transformed the company, and are changing the way our customers change the world. Thats why Cypress is in so many highly visible products, ranging from touchscreen phones and MP3 players to personal computers, automobiles, servers and microwave ovens, said Rodgers. We are excited to join the NASDAQ which is globally recognized as the leading exchange for growth-oriented technology companies.
For the past 27 years, Cypress and its CEO T.J. Rodgers have become a symbol of Silicon Valley innovation and market leadership from its unique programmable products to the recent spinoff of its SunPower subsidiary, said Robert Griefeld, CEO of NASDAQ OMX Group Inc. Cypress has consistently outpaced its market competitors as a result of these innovations. We are pleased to have this distinguished Silicon Valley icon listed on NASDAQ.


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In a report issued this week, research firm IDC reports that demand for online community software solutions in the workplace is growing steadily. According to the study, titled "U.S. Online Community Software 2009-2013 Forecast: Strong Growth Despite Recession," companies that are not providing these types of solutions for their employees are being trumped by employees who are doing it themselves, thus breeding security and privacy issues. This is not for lack of options -- there is a crowded market of online community software providers. It's due to delays in corporate culture evolving to embrace such communities.
Despite this, and despite a slow-down in technology spending due to recession, IDC forecasts that the U.S. online community software market will grow from $278.4 million last year to $1.6 billion in 2013, at a CAGR of 41.8%. IDC states that dominant vendors in the space reported double-digit growth rates in 2008 and higher than expected growth rates thus far in 2009.
According to the report, online community software came to be a market based on the recognition that customers, employees, partners and suppliers have emerged as the most valuable assets to a company. Online community softare is centered around social networking applications and leverages the interactive functionality of Web 2.0 technology including blogs, discussion forums, wikis, micro-messaging, bookmarking and tagging, creating a competitive market.
IDC expects this market to continue growing due to the following market forces:
Web becomes more social and businesses want to participate
Consumerization of IT
Worker demand for Web 2.0 tools
Global competitive pressures to innovate
"The lesson that technology is only as good as its user will be a hard lesson learned for many companies needing to focus more on community strategy and management than on the technology solution," says Caroline Dangson, IDC research analyst. "Online community software enables new ways of working that require a shift in mindset and culture. IDC finds that traditional corporate culture acts as a major barrier to adoption today, even more so than the economic downturn."


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Samsung Galaxy S10 has been recently finalized at the stage of R & D department work . So, the Koreans have ready-made hardware projects, and recently they have even opened a little bit of a secret about the planned housing colors . We know that in the international version, the new Exynos will be the heart of the phone. SoC will be presented next week.
Samsung announced that it will show the new Exynos processor exactly on November 14. Graphics attached to the information you see below do not reveal much to us. We see, however, that the manufacturer announces “intelligence from within”. Yes, the Galaxy S10 will get a specialized, dual-core coprocessor that we have just mentioned to you . He will be responsible for tasks based on artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Samsung Galaxy S10 with the new Exynos chip only on selected markets
The Samsung Galaxy S10 with the new Exynos processor will be available only on part of the markets. In the United States or China, phones will be sold with new Snapdragon. Here, in Europe, it will be models with the original SoC layout. We will know the details of this processor in a few days.
The Galaxy S10 is expected to debut without an iris scanner . In addition, it is likely that Samsung will also deprive phones of the classic headphone connector, because such prototypes are also tested . Everything will be explained in a short time. Confirmation should be obtained with renderings that will be developed by Onleaks.


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YouTube says has 1 billion monthly active users
REUTERS - Google Inc's (GOOG.O) YouTube said 1 billion unique users were now visiting the video-sharing website every month, or nearly one out of every two people on the Internet.
"If YouTube were a country, we'd be the third largest in the world after China and India," YouTube said in a blog post on Wednesday. (r.reuters.com/dev76t)
Expanding high-speed data networks across the world and increased availability of internet-enabled smartphones have helped to connect billions of people to the Internet, fuelling growth in social media and video-sharing websites.
Facebook Inc (FB.O) reached 1 billion active users in September, a level of global penetration that has made its quest for sustained growth more challenging.
The popularity of music videos such as South Korean singer Psy's "Gangnam Style" has contributed to an explosion in viewership on YouTube. The video has so far clocked up 1.45 billion views. (r.reuters.com/dep82t)
YouTube was an instant success after its founding by three former PayPal employees in 2005, adding millions of users in its first year. Google bought it for $1.65 billion in 2006.
The fast-growing video site, which had about 800 million unique monthly users a year ago, now represents one of Google's key opportunities to generate new sources of revenue outside of its traditional internet search advertising business.
Google does not break out revenue from advertising on YouTube, which is a free site, but its contribution in terms of Google's overall revenue is relatively small.
AdAge reported in January that Google planned to offer paid subscriptions to some content later this year.
YouTube had reached out to several video producers, asking them to submit applications to create for-pay "channels," AdAge said, adding that the first such channels could be available by the second quarter for between $1 and $5 a month.
(Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee and Saynatnai Ghosh in Bangalore; Editing by Miral Fahmy and Ted Kerr)
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The half-sister of actress Drew Barrymore was found dead in her vehicle parked on a suburban San Diego street, the San Diego County Coroner said on Wednesday. Full Article
Celebrity news including reports of a showdown between Justin Bieber and Orlando Bloom. Video


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- Minor tweaks to its looks
- New cabin technology
- On sale in the UK in early 2018
Ford unveils 2018 Mustang facelift
There’s a new front end, new tech, and new gearboxes for Ford’s pony car.
The 2018 Mustang gets a few changes up front, with a new angular bumper, new chin spoiler, some new air intakes, and a slightly lower bonnet. At the same time, the headlights have been tweaked and are now slimmed down with new indicators, and new thin and rectangular fog lamp clusters.
At the back, there are some new C-shaped rear lights, and a new, lower black diffuser, housing two or four exhaust tips. And, if you opt for the Performance Pack, you’ll get a rear spoiler on the boot lid.
Inside, the interior looks the same, apart from the option of a new 12-inch LCD digital instrument cluster with customisable layouts.
Drivers can save their favourite driving setups with the new MyMode function, and there’s some new safety tech, with Pre Collision Assist with pedestrian detection, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Keep Alert, and a Driver Alert system.
The flagship Mustang GT will be offered in the UK with a reworked 5.0-litre V8. Ford says it will produce more power and be more free-revving, but is yet to release any specific details yet. The 2.3-litre four-cylinder Ecoboost engine will be available in the entry-level model.
Ford has changed the gearbox line-up, too. A new ten-speed automatic gearbox is now optional, replacing the current six-speed unit, and the six-speed manual gearbox has been tweaked for optimal torque.
There are no official prices and specs available for the 2018 Mustang yet, but the facelifted car is expected to go on sale in the UK in early 2018.


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IVSomehow, a rapper on an independent label topping the Billboard 200 wasn't even the most surprising charts story this week. That's because 'Led Zeppelin IV' -- the album with "Stairway to Heaven" on it, among other classic rock radio mainstays -- was back on the Billboard 200 for the first time since 1987. According to Billboard.biz, the LP sometimes called 'ZoSo' reentered the charts at Number 166 after selling 3,600 copies last week, a 273% sales bump compared to the previous week. It helps that both iTunes and Amazon MP3 Store were offering 'IV' at a discount rate -- $6.99 and $5.99, respectively -- but why the sudden Zep fever?
Did "Rock and Roll" show up in another commercial? Did everyone just realize "Going to California" was the closing song on 'Entourage'? In fact, November 8th marked the 40th anniversary of 'IV', and Zeppelin fans celebrated by digitally re-purchasing an album they've already owned for four decades. Or maybe junior high school students decided to buy the album after the classic rock radio stations no doubt spent hours playing and replaying "Misty Mountain Hop."
'IV' wasn't the only album from our dad's record collection to reappear on the charts this week: Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' reissue also popped up at Number 33. 'The Wall' reissue also settled in at Number 164, two spots ahead of 'IV'.


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July 26th, 2005, 12:40 Posted By: wraggster
In a presentation at the PlayStation Meeting 2005 held in Toky, Sony Computer Entertainment has revealed that 91.62 million PS2 units have been shipped around the globe so far.
Of that total 37 million were sold to North America, while the figure for Europe stands at 33.21 million. The remaining 21.41 million units were sold in Japan and Asia.
North America also leads the way in the area of PS2 software sales, with more than 395 million of the 863 million games sold worldwide being purchased in the US and Canada. Figures for Europe and Japan and Asia stand at 292 million and 176 million respectively.
When the figures are combined, the total number of PSone and PS2 games sold is 1.822 billion - 767 million in North America, 594 million in PAL regions and 461 million in Japan and Asia. Both consoles are now available in more than 120 different countries and there are more than 7700 PSone and 5200 PS2 games for consumers to choose from.
SCE observed that the PlayStation demographic is changing in Japan - most of those buying the new slimline PS2 consoles are aged between 40-44, whereas most regular sized PS2 owners are 25-29. SCE also noted that there are more women buying consoles.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean that the older and female demographic are actually playing on the consoles they buy; it could be an indication that the platform has become more mass-market with the launch of the slimline model, to the point where a lot more parents are buying them for younger children.
The Japanese giant then took the opportunity to show trailers for forthcoming PS2 games such as Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII, Dragon Ball Z Sparking!, Shin Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams, Resident Evil 4, Tales of Legendia, Shadow of the Colossus and Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence.
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GridPoint, which has raised a lot of money, and has changed its strategy many times of its nine year lifetime, has closed another round of $23 million according to a filing.
Proving that the venture model is working for at least a few select brand name venture capitalists, NEA announced on Wednesday that it’s closed a massive $2.6 billion new fund. The firm describes the fund as “one of the largest venture funds ever raised.”
For the occasion of Siemens’ swallowing eMeter, we have pulled together our recurring smart grid acquisitions list, including the new ones we have seen in recent months.
The future of clean power and greener transportation is being carried by FarmVille and online coupons — at least in terms of venture capital portfolios.
GridPoint — the smart grid startup that’s raised lots of money and has a lot to prove — has now raised yet even more funding: a $23.6 million round according to a filing. That brings 8-year-old GridPoint’s total financing to over $240 million since its founding.
There’s been so many acquisitions in the smart grid sector as of late, we’ve been updating the tally every couple of months. Since September there’s been at least six more, so we’re updating our list once again.
GridPoint has replaced founding CEO Peter Corsell with a veteran of the software and communications industries. The thrice-reincarnated smart grid startup has $220 million, tons of acquisitions and a lot to prove.
Along with eager smart grid acquirers EnerNOC and GridPoint, looks like Honeywell is becoming yet another firm to sell your smart grid startup to. On Thursday, building automation giant Honeywell said it has acquired E-Mon, a thirty-year-old company that sells submetering hardware and software.
How long should you expect a plug-in car battery — the most expensive part of the vehicle — to last before dwindling storage capacity or other problems leave you longing for a replacement? This question opens a hornet’s nest of vehicle emission regulations.
Just last week we noted how Cisco had one official smart grid product on the market, which was basically hardened networking gear for utility substations. Yeah, well scratch that. On Tuesday morning Cisco launched its all-out smart grid assault, including a home energy management product.


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Williams-Sonoma partners with Golden State Warriors SAN FRANCISCO & OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The back-to-back NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, Chase Center and Williams-Sonoma, Inc., a leading specialty retailer of high-quality products for the home, announced today a partnership for Williams-Sonoma to be the Official Furniture and Home Design Partner of the Warriors.
Williams-Sonoma partners with Top Chef Williams Sonoma, a member of the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (WSM) portfolio of brands, announced today a partnership with Bravo Media’s Emmy and James Beard Award-winning “Top Chef” which includes a series of branded in-store events around the premiere. This season, the winner of the coveted title of “Top Chef” will also receive a Williams Sonoma prize package and a spot on the Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage at the 2019 BottleRock Music Festival in Napa Valley. Additionally, through their Watch n’ Win Sweepstakes viewers can enter to win a trip to the 2019 BottleRock Music & Food Festival in Napa Valley and meet the winner of “Top Chef” this spring. Viewers can enter by tweeting the secret hashtag that will be revealed during the “Top Chef” season 16 premiere on Thursday, December 6 at 9pm ET/PT.


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Is Apple still working, as once rumored, on integrating a fingerprint scanner into the screens of its phones, or does the company plan to put Face ID in all future iPhones?
According to a report from usually accurate analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, via 9to5Mac(opens in a new tab), Apple hasn't really decided yet.
If the user response to iPhoneX's Face ID is positive, the report claims, Apple will likely add the technology to all 2018 models. If it "fails to impress consumers," the company will probably resume its efforts to embed Touch ID into iPhone screens.
It's definitely possible to place a fingerprint scanner into a phone screen -- Vivo and Qualcomm demonstrated their take on this technology back in June. But Kuo claims that Apple is having trouble embedding the fingerprint scanner into the screens of its iPhones due to its 3D Touch technology, which makes the display panel thicker, reducing the accuracy of a fingerprint scanner placed under the display.
This might be a tough call for Apple. The company put a lot of effort into convincing the world that its face scanning technology is perfect, but numerous rumors claimed Apple had desperately tried to launch the iPhone X with an under-the-display fingerprint scanner, with Face ID being a last-minute replacement. If real-world use shows that Face ID isn't all that great, it could be back to the drawing board for Apple.
The iPhone X is scheduled to start shipping to customers on Nov. 3, but rumors claim the phone is in very short supply, meaning that most users won't get it until 2018.


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The traditional commercial leasing structure must be revised if businesses are to survive, says Rent Reform managing director David Abramson
The news from the high street is indeed grim. Chains such as Blacks and La Senza have folded and even Tesco reported a disappointing Christmas.
In the catering sector the outlook is equally bleak. When disposable income is squeezed, the hospitality industry is one of the first to suffer as hard up families stay at home to save money. It's easy to see why so many retail businesses feel there is no escape from the icy finger of recessionary doom.
In this economic climate there is one often overlooked factor which, if reviewed and updated, would mean the difference between bankruptcy or survival for many struggling restaurants and hotels.
As it stands, the traditional commercial leasing structure is no longer fit for purpose and needs a serious overhaul. Most businesses are locked into 15 or 20-year leases which are reviewed in five-year cycles. At those reviews rents only go up or at best stay the same.
The system may have worked five years ago but today it is ridiculously out of touch with the economic climate and is bringing businesses to their knees. It is even a false economy to think that this process benefits landlords, because if they do not lower rents they are faced with empty properties as more and more businesses go bust.
Because rents no longer mirror economic conditions, properties in many areas are now over-rented by up to 50%. It is fair to say that 95% of leases are over-priced. There needs to be a national review of the rental structure to rectify this system before it is too late.
Landlords are out of touch with the financial climate and if they fail to grasp the simple fact that there is no longer as much money in the kitty for rents as there used to be we will see increasing numbers of high streets die.
Businesses can do their part too. Many fail to realise that they can renegotiate their rents more favourably, even if it is just for the short term. In some cases, retailers can secure up to 60% reductions in rent. Even if this is for just a year or two it gives businesses the breathing space to continue trading.
People are waking up to the possibility of lower rents. It will be the only way for some to survive. Lease restructuring will be at the forefront of the property industry for the foreseeable future and is vital if businesses are going to weather the storm.


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In the spirit of Women's Month paramedical skin care specialist, Najma Khan, urged women to love the skin they’re in and avoid the damage that comes with bleaching.
Khan said the devastating effect of skin bleaching leaves a lot to be desired and ought to be abhorred rather than encouraged.
“Beauty is not defined by only outer looks but the entirety of one's personality and therefore light skin cannot set the benchmark for beauty. Skin bleaching is an evolving practice that is gaining participants on a daily basis.
“The trend stems from a bad mindset that’s rooted from years of discrimination and hatred. Uplifting others is essential to growing as a whole, we may not reach a total consensus on diminishing colourism but it’s always worth a try,” said Khan.
Khan, co-owner of Danné Montague-King (DMK) SA, said she aimed to highlight the dangers of banned substances such as Hydroquinone and others which can cause major damage to skin and the body as a whole.
She said societal issues and pressures drive women to not see the beauty of their skin causing them to harm themselves through bleaching. “Your skin is critical to your self-identity and is the largest organ in the body. We have seen this revolution with natural hair where some women would think of their natural hair as a burden. People are offered harsh chemicals in order to make it sleek, but it is often left damaged. These harsh chemical are often similar to the ingredients in many skin bleaching products.”
Listen in on her advice:


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Two of the largest newspapers in the country have Front Page stories about domain names and its all about new gTLD and new ccTLD’s like .Co and .Me
Yes I know a LOT of you are getting tired of stories about new gTLD’s and .Co but this is what the mainstream press is covering and covering hard, so on to the stories
The New York Times article entitled “For Countries That Own Shorter Web Site Suffixes, Extra Cash From Abroad” talks about some of the new ccTLD’s.that always seem to be in the news, Yes .Co, and .Me.
Interesting the The article sites Facebooks recent acquisition of FB.Me but not of FB.com.
“Logging on to Facebook? You can use the social networking site’s full Web address, or you can type www.fb.me.”
The most interesting part of the story for me is about the financial relationship between the .Co registry and the Colombian government.
I know there has been a lot of interest in what the government gets out of all these .Co registrations and now we know as the article quoted Juan Calle CEO of the .Co registry:
“Colombia, for example, gets 25% of the revenue from sales of the “.co” name under its deal with .CO Internet.”
We also now know how much money is being generated by the .Co registry and its impressive:
“Last year, the company generated a total of $20 million from the sale of “.co” domains; this year, that is expected to rise to more than $30 million, Mr. Calle said.”
Finally there has been a lot of conjuncture of how many .Co registrations there will be over the next few years and today Mr. Calle made a bold prediction:
“The company predicts that the total number of “.co” registrations will rise to five million within five years.”
5 Million in 5 Years?
The Washington Post Story story entitled; “Rush is on for custom domain name suffixes”
Talked about the new gTLD program saying:
The trusty .com domain, is about to face vast new competition that will dramatically transform the Web as we know it. New Web sites, with more subject-specific, sometimes controversial suffixes, will soon populate the online galaxy, such as .eco, .love, .god, .sport, .gay or .kurd.”
“This massive expansion to the Internet’s domain name system will either make the Web more intuitive or create more cluttered, maddening experiences. No one knows yet. But with an infinite number of naming possibilities, an industry of Web wildcatters is racing to grab these potentially lucrative territories with addresses that are bound to provoke.”
The article raises some points that we have talked about before like who gets an extension like .amazon the Internet company or the country of Brazil?
What happens when several groups apply for religious extensions like .Jewish or .islam who is entitled to those
Other possible new extensions the article mentions are .sport, .lawyers.gay, aids., .hotels, .music .paris and .nyc
The article goes on talk about the “first “.nxt” conference in San Fransisco this week in which “hundreds of investors, consultants and entrepreneurs are expected tfor the first “.nxt” conference, a three-day affair featuring seminars on ICANN’s complicated application guidelines.”
(Speaking of that show, I’m heading off this morning and have another busy week full of meetings and a sessions so I’m going to apologize in advance for not jumping into the comments that are sure to follow.)


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Headquarters of Volkswagen in Wolfsburg.
Although it may seem an irony, Volkswagen has managed to become the world’s largest manufacturer precisely in the worst year of its history. , overtaking Toyota two years before the target proposed by the brand in 2009.
That the German firm had a great year already knew, you already have every detail just a few days ago, but had yet to confirm the results of Toyota in 2016 to be able to support that. As with all data in hand, the brand from Wolfsburg can celebrate have become the first manufacturer in the world.
In total, the German group has sold 10.312.400 vehicles in 2016, although it is worth pointing out that in this figure include all the group’s brands, including the division of commercial vehicles of Volkswagen, and the signatures of trucks MAN and Scania.
The new Volkswagen Atlas R-Line, currently only for north America.
With regard to 2015, this has of course to achieve an increase of 3.8 percent, enough to outrun the japanese giant, which has had to conform by 2016 to sell 10.2 million units. If a year ago we would have asked about the possibility of this outcome, the vast majority of the people related with the sector would not have bet on this success.
In fact, many augurábamos a 2016 lousy for the German brand, however, has reached the top in all the key markets. As we told you in your day, Volkswagen has achieved better numbers in the major key markets, including the united states, where he is meant to be a drastic drop. Finally, has managed to improve the figures of 2015 by 0.8 percent in that market, in addition to a 4.0 percent in Europe and a magnificent 9.7 percent in the Asia-Pacific region.
The range 2017 manufacturer’s German has been strengthened rather, with the
arrival of new models like the Atlas or the Tiguan Allspace, as well as the
premiere of several SUVs in some of its brands, such as the Audi Q2 or the
Skoda Kodiaq and Seat Ateca, for what this new year has all
the ballots to be another great year for the group.


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Swiss athletic footwear brand On has unveiled the second addition to the Roger Federer franchise in the form of a bold statement sneaker that aims to target a younger audience.
The debut sneaker from Federer, the ‘Centre Court’ marked the performance running brand’s first tennis-inspired style. It was minimalistic in design and featured On’s award-winning CloudTec sole.
The new Roger Clubhouse has been designed to make a statement and has a much chunkier look and feel than the Centre Court style. Described by the brand as an “ode to youth culture: to be worn, torn, stained and just lived in”.
The upper has been made from vegan leather and is tailored with textured layering for more robustness and durability. In addition, the Clubhouse also still features all of On’s performance DNA including the signature Speedboard and CloudTec technology.
On states that these sneakers have been made to be “functional” and they’ve added a herringbone pattern for better traction so they can be worn “wherever you see fit”.
“For those who tend to shy away from an all-white silhouette and still believe that collectables should remain in immaculate condition, it’s about living in them,” added On in the press release. “Every crease should take you back to a moment in time you celebrated being you. Paint them proud!”
The On Roger Clubhouse will be limited to just 2,000 pairs worldwide and will be available online via a raffle running from October 19 until October 21 and via 18 Montrose.
Images: courtesy of On


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National Rifle Association President David Keene says the NRA has been discussing all of the the various options available to protect our children at a news conference, after the Newtown school shootings.
More top news
Freezing, frosty and icy again tonight as temperatures fall.
Fashion giant Michael Kors Holdings announces that it is phasing out real fur over the next year.
The little boy cried for help but began making the two-mile journey home on his own when there was no response.


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Office, Retail & City Centres – What Does The Future Hold? / January 2021
Business Eye linked up with leading law firm TLT to stage a virtual round table discussion event to look at what the future holds for office working and for the retail sector as Northern Ireland emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.
When will we see a large-scale return to office working? Will patterns of work change for ever? What are the implications for the city centre? How can retail work to recover from the devastating effects of the pandemic?
Richard Buckley of Business Eye and TLT’s real estate partner Kevin Murphy hosted the discussion from NIAVAC’s studio in East Belfast and were joined remotely by:-
Brian Lavery, Managing Director, CBRE Belfast
Simon Hamilton, Chief Executive, Belfast Chamber
Niall Borthistle, Business Development Manager, Glandore
Laura McCarthy, Senior Asset Manager, Killultagh Estates
Cathy Reynolds, Director of City Regeneration & Development, Belfast City Council
Brexit – Customs Clearance Made Easy / November 2020
With the end of the Brexit transition period getting closer every day, Northern Ireland business are being urged to ensure that they’re prepared for new customs arrangements.
Business Eye’s Richard Buckley talks to Ryan Kelly, Operations Director at Derry Brothers Customs Clearance. The Co. Armagh-based business is one of our leading specialists when it comes to guiding a wide range of companies seamlessly through the new customs regime that 1st January 2021 will bring.
NI Family Business Forum / October 2020
Northern Ireland’s family businesses have been weathering the storm of the pandemic. That’s according to a survey carried out by Ulster University on behalf of the NI Family Business Forum which shows that while almost all businesses are concerned about the effect of the crisis on turnover and cashflow, relatively few are worried about losing their businesses and most say that tough times have united their management teams. Richard Buckley talks to Darren McDowell, Senior Partner at Harbinson Mulholland and chair of the Forum alongside Ian Smyth, a family business expert and business lecturer at Ulster University.
SME Support Forum / September 2020
The SME Support Forum Northern Ireland was established by three leading local firms – McKees, Harbinson Mulholland and Kerr Henderson – as a direct response to the Covid-19 crisis. The Forum, established as lockdown was introduced back in the early spring, was able to provide immediate advice to business owners and managers across the key areas of law, finance and insurance.
Business Eye’s Richard Buckley chats about the SME Support Forum to Chris Ross, Managing Partner, McKees; Darren McDowell, Senior Partner at Harbinson Mulholland and John Kerr, CEO of the Kerr Henderson Group.


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SHUTER and livinbox trade show attendance in 2020
Save the date alert!
New and classic SHUTER and livinbox storage products for the home and office will be on show in across the world in 2020. Do not miss your chance to see our newest release storage solutions first hand!
Visit our booth: details TBC
POSTPONED TO AUTUMN 2022*
Keep an eye out for our 2020 catalogs, too, very soon.


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Sir Richard Branson, founder of the multinational Virgin Group, has decided to give his employees as much vacation time as they want. His inspiration? Netflix, which did away with scheduled vacation days in favor of giving its workers all the downtime they need. “It is left to the employee alone to decide if and when he or she feels like taking a few hours, a day, a week or a month off,” Branson wrote on Virgin’s corporate blog
, “the assumption being that they are only going to do it when they feel a hundred per cent comfortable that they and their team are up to date on every project and that their absence will not in any way damage the business.” Click here to find tech jobs that offer unlimited vacation.
Branson and his executives will roll out their version of the initiative to Virgin’s parent company in the United States and the U.K.; depending on how that goes, they could expand it to subsidiaries at some future point. Netflix and Virgin aren’t the only companies experimenting with unlimited vacation time: tech firms such as Zynga and Evernote have offered the perk for years
. But not all employees greet such policies with enthusiasm. On Glassdoor and other forums, more than a few have complained
that ultra-flexible schedules can guilt-trip employees into taking even less vacation, lest they be seen as “slacking” in comparison to their colleagues.
Upload Your ResumeEmployers want candidates like you. Upload your resume. Show them you're awesome.
And despite the tantalizing prospect of limitless vacation, many of those enrolled in such programs find that tight deadlines and demanding production schedules mean they take roughly the same amount of days off as when their paid time off was metered out. From an employer perspective, unlimited time off for employees can translate into tangible benefits, provided those employees actually leave the office: Exhausted workers are less productive and more prone to illness. With that in mind, many startups now insist that employees use their vacation days
—even if those vacation days are limited to 10 or 14 per year.


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Cash tolls for cars crossing the city’s bridges could go up from $6.50 to $7.50.
Tickets on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North will likely rise by about 8 percent.
The base subway and bus fare could go up from $2.50 to $2.75. And the seven-day unlimited pass could jump from $29 to $34.
One proposal calls for eliminating the 7 percent MetroCard bonus customers receive for putting at least $10 on a pay-per-ride card.
The MTA will hold public hearings on the proposals in November. The MTA board will vote on a final budget in December.
More breaking news
- Righting wrongs
- Strong start
- Power to (and from) the people
- Uber to pay $28.5M to settle safety ad lawsuits
- US retail sales rise as consumers shrug off stock price drop
- Sea of red as more than 1,000 attend AHA fundraiser
- Proposals sought to revitalize Republic Airport
- Magazine publisher Time Inc. buys what’s left of MySpace
- Priciest home sales in Lloyd Harbor
- Authorities reach $3.2B settlement with Morgan Stanley


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AUSTRALIA: CCA posts 16% growth but fears persist
Net profit in the six months ended June 30 rose to A$109.5m (US$72m) from the year-earlier A$94m, just ahead of its forecast of 10 to 15% growth.
The rise was driven by sales of Vanilla Coke and other new products in Australia and New Zealand. And the CCA reiterated forecast for full year growth of 10 to 15.
The company said its strong hopes for Australia and New Zealand gave it confidence to make those estimates.
However, falling earnings in South Korea and Indonesia were enought to worry investors and prompted the fall in share price. Earnings before interest and tax slipped 30.9% to A$23.9m at its South Korean business while the Indonesian operation reported a 46.2% fall to A$5.
But chief financial officer Mike Ihlein said: "We have no intention today to get out of Indonesia or South Korea."
Coca-Cola Amatil produced decent first-half results but speculation that it may sell some of its international operations and its determination to look beyond the core soft drinks sectors for growth i...
Coca-Cola Amatil said yesterday (10 August) that it has agreed to purchase the business and assets of the Grinders Coffee Group (Grinders)....
Following a review of its operations, Coca-Cola Amatil has announced its intention to restructure its Asian business activities through the creation of an Asian Beverage Division (CCA Asia)....
Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has seen its net profits increase 16.8% to A$145.2m in its first half, driven in part by growth of non-carbs and innovation, the company said today (10 August)....
Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) is poised to shake up its Indonesian and South Korean bottling operations, according to an investment bank....
Coca-Cola Amatil is to issue a five-year A$250m (US$192m) domestic debt issue....
SPC Ardmona has signed an agreement with parent company Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) to supply it with apple juice....
The managing director of Coca-Cola Amatil's (CCA) South Korean unit has taken extended leave, according to press reports....
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- Pernod Ricard's FY Performance by Region, Brand
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Perrigo acquires JB Labs
ALLEGAN, Mich. Perrigo announced Tuesday that it had acquired JB Laboratories, a Holland, Mich.-based manufacturer of over-the-counter and nutrition products for healthcare suppliers.
The acquisition, for which Perrigo paid about $44 million in cash, is expected to add more than $70 million to annual sales.
“The acquisition of JB Laboratories will further expand our high-quality manufacturing base and provide additional FDA-approved production capacity to help us service our current and future customer needs,” Perrigo chairman and chief executive officer Joseph Papa said. “And in addition to the immediate top-line sales contribution, this investment will be accretive to earnings this year and beyond.”
Perrigo gets exclusive U.S. rights for generic Xyzal
ALLEGAN, Mich. Perrigo last week acquired the exclusive U.S. rights to sell and distribute levocetirizine tablets, the generic version of UCB’s Xyzal tablets, from Synthon Pharmaceuticals.
“This is a prime example of Perrigo’s strategic focus on introducing new products which will make quality healthcare more affordable to American consumers,” stated Perrigo chairman and chief executive officer Joe Papa. “Given Perrigo’s unique model of leadership in both over-the-counter and generic prescription businesses, we can leverage this first to file opportunity whether the brand product stays behind the pharmacy counter or if it switches to an over-the-counter status, a likely scenario.”
Xycal is a prescription-only remedy for the treatment of indoor and outdoor allergies, with annualized sales of $200 million on growth of 15 percent per year, Perrigo stated, citing figures from Wolters, Kluwer.
Synthon and UCB are currently engaged in litigation over Synthon’s abbreviated-new-drug-application filing of levocetirizine, Perrigo noted in its press release.
Walgreens to carry Neptune’s omega-3-heavy Schiff MegaRed
LAVAL, Quebec Neptune Technologies & Bioressources on Monday reported that its distributor Schiff Nutrition has launched Schiff MegaRed containing Neptune Krill Oil in Walgreens.
“We continue to execute on our expansion strategy to seek strong penetration in mass retail channels, and now with distribution in Costco and Walgreens, the consumer mass market represents a fast growing sales segment for Neptune driven by brand recognition and consumer acceptance,” stated Thierry Houillon, Neptune’s vice president of nutraceuticals. “Premium products within the worldwide marine omega-3 market such as Neptune Krill Oil are gaining major market share driven by consumer demand for natural health and wellness products with proven therapeutic benefits,” he said, noting that the high-end omega-3 market is growing at an annual rate of between 20 and 30 percent.


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BlueLoop Concepts just published a new report on the future of the eBook market called,
Slicebooks was one of the companies profiled. Money quote:
Not surprisingly, professional and educational publishers have been quick to embrace theSlicebooks service, while traditional trade publishers have been more cautious about the conceptof slicing and remixing. But bottom-up customer demand for more flexibility and choice in gaining instant, searchable access to micro and customized content is pushing trade publishers to slice and remix their catalogs as well. Given the massive demand for fractional works in educational and professional publishing, and itsresulting trickle-down to personal (trade publication) reading, it shouldn’t be long before we see theslice concept taking a significantly more aggressive hold across the ebook landscape at the author, publisher and retailer levels.


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The European Central Bank at the end of yesterday's session to save the parameters of monetary policy unchanged. Namely, the refinancing rate at a record low of 0.05%, the deposit rate at -0.30%.
With the December meeting of the external environment has deteriorated significantly, continuing fall in oil prices, intensified concerns about the deepening of China's problems and their negative impact on the global economy. This all leads to the fact that the efforts of the ECB to bring inflation down to the 2% target, in fact, be reduced to zero. Annual inflation in December stood at 0.2%.
During the press conference, ECB President Mario Draghi said that the next meeting be held on March 10, it will be necessary to review the monetary policy. He also noted that the decisions taken at the last meeting have been timely, moreover, pointed to the increasing volatility in commodity and financial markets, as a factor of pressure in deciding on the rate. In addition, according to Draghi, the credibility of the central bank will be undermined if it is ready to review its policy after its disposal will be all the information.
According to data released yesterday, the number of initial claims for unemployment benefits in the United States in the week of 10-16 January, adjusted for seasonal variations increased by 10 thous., To 293 thousand., And it was the highest level since the beginning of July. It was expected that the figure will be 277 thousand. The number of initial claims for the week of 3-9 January was revised up to 283 ths. To 284 ths.
The number of initial claims increased for three of the last four weeks, but the data for this period are usually volatile due to the winter holidays. However, even taking into account this factor, the number of applications was very low by historical standards.
Last year, the number of initial claims was at a minimum level since 1973. The rate of recruitment of new staff in the last month were quite high, in spite of the unstable situation in the world economy, which has deteriorated since the beginning of the year.
The euro / dollar yesterday dropped to a mark of 1.0777 on Draghi's comments, and then played the part of the loss.
The following week, on January 26-27 will be held this year's first meeting of the Fed. Changes to the parameters of monetary policy will not be in December, rates were already raised, so US regulators will need time to assess the consequences of these decisions. The tone of the statements, with high probability, will be designed in a manner Committee closely monitors the incoming economic data and monitors the risks in commodity markets and the risk of slowing down the Chinese economy, if necessary, appropriate decisions will be taken.
The composite index of purchasing managers in the euro zone in January, fell to 53.5 from 54.3 in December, which is the lowest value in 11 months. It was expected the index to decline to 54.1.
The company reported a drop in purchase prices, and this decline was the second largest since July 2009. This suggests that declining oil prices could increase the company's profitability in the near future. At the same time, the company reduced selling prices at the fastest pace in 10 months.
The ECB is likely to take account of these data as they confirm the validity of concerns about the prospects and the need for additional stimulus measures.
According to a survey of the ECB, published today, the forecast for the harmonized consumer price inflation (HICP) in the euro area this year was reduced by 0.3 percentage points to 0.7%. The forecast for next year, compared with a forecast of the fourth quarter of last year was reduced by 0.1 percentage points. Experts' forecast also assumes that inflation in 2018 will be only 1.6%. This means that the ECB has for some time will not reach its target.
According to the presented today by the National Statistics Office (ONS), retail sales in the UK in December fell by 1% compared to November, but rose by 2.6% in annual terms. Expected deterioration in sales, but not so significant.
Disappointing indicators of sales in December, which accounts for the celebration of Christmas and the preparations for the New Year, have become further evidence that the UK economy faces serious challenges, while the construction sector is going through difficult times, and the manufacturing sector of the country is suffering from falling demand in world markets. This means that the dependence of the UK economy from consumer spending at the beginning of 2016 has increased.
Pound drops on weak data on retail to 1.4251 against the dollar and 0.7606 against the euro before.
Today, it is worth paying attention to the consumer price index and changes in the volume of retail sales in Canada, the index of business activity in the US manufacturing sector.


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Delia's Corp., a multichannel retailer to teen-age girls and young women, said last week that it settled a class-action lawsuit brought against it by shareholders in August 2000 relating to its $86 million acquisition of iTurf Inc. and its iturf.com portal.
The settlement calls for Delia to provide more than $3 million in newly issued stock to former iTurf shareholders. The company will issue 1 million shares in the first quarter, the price of which will be adjusted if necessary to provide a minimum value of $3.25 million to shareholders.
CEO Stephen Kahn said in a statement that he's glad the shareholder lawsuit is behind him.
“We continue to believe the suit is without merit, but feel resolving it allows us to eliminate the risks, expense and disruption of continuing litigation and will enable our team to focus exclusively on running the Delia's business,” he said.
A week after it merged with iTurf in August 2000, Delia's shut down the company, putting 25 people out of work. As a result of the closure, Delia's took a one-time charge against earnings of $100,000.
Kahn said at the time that “prohibitive investment costs” prompted the decision to close iTurf.
“In conducting a comprehensive review of our online businesses, we decided that the disproportionately high cost of running iTurf.com prohibited ongoing investment,” he said.