text:
Twitter’s recent metamorphosis into X has ignited a whirlwind of discussions across the online sphere. Elon Musk, the brain behind Twitter’s evolution, surprised the masses with this announcement over the weekend. The iconic blue bird has given way to the bold, single letter “X,” symbolizing a major shift for the platform.
This article delves into the motivations behind Twitter’s rebranding, examines the public’s reaction to this momentous change, and explores the potential impact on Twitter’s identity and brand.
Introduction: A Journey Towards X
Twitter’s decision to rebrand itself as X represents a strategic endeavor to transcend the confines of a mere social media giant and emerge as a formidable online messaging and payments hub. Guided by Elon Musk’s vision, Twitter aspires to introduce cutting-edge AI technology and venture into the realm of online banking. This shift in focus is a conscious move to position the company as a dynamic and innovative player in the digital landscape.
The Public’s Response: A Kaleidoscope of Emotions and Opinions
The public’s reaction to Twitter’s new identity has been a diverse spectrum of emotions, mirroring the complexity of such a significant transformation. Users have expressed a gamut of feelings ranging from playful ridicule to genuine bewilderment, and a mix of sentiments in between. While some embrace the modern and fresh look of the X logo, others remain nostalgically attached to the familiar blue bird. Additionally, uncertainty looms over the future nomenclature for Twitter posts, leaving users pondering the fate of “tweets.”
The Impact on Marketing and Branding
The sudden and dramatic change in Twitter’s logo has raised eyebrows among marketing and branding experts, who fear that it may inadvertently harm the platform’s reputation and business. The absence of a clear explanation behind the rebranding could pose challenges in connecting with the existing user base and attracting new users.
Unveiling the Motives Behind Twitter’s Rebranding
Though Twitter’s exact motivations for rebranding have not been explicitly disclosed, subtle hints point towards their strategic intentions. The pursuit of becoming an online messaging and payments hub aligns perfectly with Twitter’s vision to provide users with versatile services. With the inclusion of AI technology and online banking, the rebranding symbolizes Twitter’s unwavering commitment to exploring new horizons.
Why Twitter Changed to X: Unraveling the Rebranding Strategy
The Transformation into X: A Calculated Move Twitter’s transition into X forms an integral part of a meticulously planned strategy to realign the platform’s core focus. Elon Musk’s ambitious vision of expanding Twitter’s capabilities through AI technology and online banking necessitated this bold rebranding, heralding a new chapter for the platform.
The Public’s Response to the X Logo Mockery: An Outpouring of Humor The introduction of the X logo sparked a humorous outpouring from users. Memes and jokes flooded social media, playfully teasing the unexpected metamorphosis.
Bewilderment: The Quest for Meaning The sudden shift from the iconic blue bird to the enigmatic letter X has left many users scratching their heads, seeking to decipher the rationale behind the logo change and its alignment with Twitter’s identity.
Mixed Reactions: Appreciation and Nostalgia Opinions stand divided among users. Some embrace the modern and invigorating X logo, while others find themselves wistful for the comforting familiarity of the beloved blue bird.
Confusion about Terminology: The Tweets Dilemma The new logo has given rise to confusion surrounding the term “tweets.” Users are unsure if the platform will retain the original moniker or introduce a new label for Twitter posts.
The Marketing and Branding Implications
Marketing and branding experts speculate that Twitter’s sudden rebranding could potentially dent the platform’s image. The lack of clear communication may hinder effective user engagement and invite skepticism from potential new users.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What prompted Twitter to adopt the name X?
Twitter’s rebranding is part of a strategic maneuver to evolve into an online messaging and payments hub, bolstering its capabilities with AI technology and online banking.
How has the public responded to the X logo?
The public’s response has been a rich tapestry of emotions, with some users humorously mocking the change, while others express bewilderment, appreciation, or nostalgia for the old logo.
What potential impact could the rebranding have on Twitter’s brand?
Marketing and branding experts worry that the sudden change might have adverse effects on Twitter’s brand and business.
What other transformations are expected with the rebranding?
Twitter aims to venture into online banking and enhance its AI technology capabilities, offering users a diverse array of services.
Will Twitter’s content still be referred to as “tweets”?
The change in logo has caused confusion about whether Twitter posts will retain the label “tweets” or adopt a new terminology.
How can the rebranding benefit Twitter in the long run?
The rebranding positions Twitter as a more dynamic and innovative platform, attracting users with enhanced offerings and experiences.
Embracing the Evolution of Twitter into X Twitter’s transformation into X marks a momentous leap for the platform, pushing the boundaries of its capabilities. The public’s response reflects the deep emotional connection users have with the platform, signifying both the challenges and opportunities Twitter may encounter during this transformation. Embracing change, Twitter embarks on a journey to forge ahead in the digital landscape as a versatile and groundbreaking platform. Only time will unveil the success of this daring evolution.


text:
OWEGO, NY – A small boutique shop in Owego has officially opened it’s doors.
Local Utopia is a lifestyle retail shop which offers apparel, accessories, and more.
The store, located on Lake Street, also sells locally sourced products such as Owego Soap Company soaps as well as Crystal City Olive Oils.
The store is owned by Elizabeth Skovira , who was working at in the diamond district in New York City prior to the pandemic, and says the idea for the store came from the fictional Rose Apothecary in the hit T.V. show, Schitt’s Creek.
Skovira, originally from Owego, says it’s a thrill to be able to start a business in her hometown.
“It’s exciting, because a lot of my friends came back too. So, it’s kind of like a rekindling of all of our friendships, and we’re all doing things we wanted to do now. So, for a lot of people, COVID was a big disaster. I feel like, in Owego, it’s just like making everything better, and more exciting, and bringing a new generation and new things here,” says Skovira.
If you’d like to check out Owego’s latest shopping spot, Local Utopia is open Monday and Wednesday through Saturday from 10 to 5, as well as Sunday from noon to 5.

domain: news


text:
New Regulations Launched When It Comes to Vape Sales
Some new regulations when it comes to the sale of vapour products come into effect today.
As of July 1, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit says several changes strengthen the restrictions on youth access to flavoured and high nicotine vapour products geared towards youth under 19 years of age.
Under the amended Province of Ontario has amended the Smoke-free Ontario Act of 2017:
Restricting the sale of flavoured vapour products to specialty vape stores and licensed cannabis retail shops.
Retail stores can only sell tobacco, menthol, and mint flavoured vapour products moving forward,
Restricting vapour products with high nicotine concentrations of greater than 20 mg/ml) to specialty vape stores.
Specialty vape stores will also no longer be permitted to have indoor displays and promotions that are visible from outside the shop.
These new regulations will limit the settings in which these high-nicotine flavoured products can be sold to those under the age of 19, according to WECHU.


text:
- The Magazine
Cars are becoming increasingly exposed to hackers as we demand greater connectivity from our vehicles
Jeep’s baby SUV is a bold new entry for the brand at the lower-end of the market
Compared with the relatively tepid New York Auto Show, China got all the goodies. Concepts, teases, launches — the Beijing Auto Show had it all,...


text:
If you’re thinking about importing a late-model left-hand-drive vehicle, here’s some essential information to help with your decision.
NZV8 readers may recall hearing about moves to ease the restrictions on importing late-model left-hand-drive (LHD) cars. After six years of campaigning by enthusiasts, those rules have changed at last. The result is that it is now a lot easier for lovers of modern American muscle cars and the like to import them.
The change is part of an amended Steering Systems Rule, which previously required people to either own the car overseas for 90 days or convert it to right-hand-drive (RHD). Those rules have now gone, and in their place are new criteria tailored specifically for car enthusiasts.
The new criteria come under the definition of Special Interest Vehicle (SIV), a vehicle category first introduced by the NZ Transport Agency in 2008. For most people the changes mean they no longer have to contemplate spending time overseas or an expensive conversion to RHD.
The creation of the SIV category is a windfall for those of us who cherish modern enthusiast, sports or unusual cars, and a major win for industry groups like the Left Hand Drive Enthusiasts Federation, Federation of Motoring Clubs, and others who have lobbied long and hard for it. (more…)


text:
Realme smartphones will have ads (content recommendations) with the newest software update at the start of 2020. This system of content recommendation will “promote apps and commercial links” in the base operating system, through the Phone Manager app and Security Check page after installing new apps. Major brands like Google and Samsung have released ads in phones like these in the past.
You might’ve noticed advertisements for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker on your smartphone over the last several weeks – through YouTube. That’s Google’s deal, and it’s not the first time similar sorts of ads have appeared in Android smartphones. Given Google’s position as a very ad-forward company, it’s not a shock to find “encouragement” for “engagement” in smartphone notifications.
Samsung devices – Galaxy S and Galaxy Note, as well as others – have been dropping advertisements for their own products in-phone for years. This year pestering for upgrades was but one method of encouraging users to use their smartphones in the way in which Samsung will make the most profit.
Back in 2016, we saw some aggressive lockscreen ads from a variety of apps on Android devices. That business was mostly smashed – but the latest move by Realme has a similar smell.
In a Realme official update in the Realme Community forum, “Team realme” made note that they “introduced commercial content recommendations in the OS,” and that “realme phones with Color OS 6 and above will receive such recommendation updates.”
These ads appear in the “Phone Manager app” as well as the “Security Check page after installing new apps.” According to the official release, “it will also ensure protection of your privacy and compliance with relevant laws and regulations.”
If you’re not excited about advertisements on the device you’ve already purchased full-price, you can turn them off. You’ll need to go to Settings – Additional Settings – Get Recommendations – and switch them off. If only every company that wanted to advertise to you would give you the option to switch said advertisements to off mode.


text:
It was a cold, snowy day as a line formed just outside Midway Dispensary in Chicago.
Cannabis sales became legal in the state of Illinois on New Year’s Day. This makes the state the 11th to legalize recreational sales and 33rd to legalize medical sales of the plant.
Upon entering the dispensary, a security guard greets customers through two power-lock glass doors that lead to a waiting room. The immediate feeling once sitting in the waiting room is comparable to a doctor’s office or pharmacy—very clean and professional.
Once allowed in the purchasing area, customers are greeted by a single clerk in front of an individual buying space at a counter. On the counter at each of the four buying spaces is an iPad with an extensive, color-coded menu displayed.
Listed by column on each menu is the title of each product, price, grower and percentages of THC and CBD in each product. The color of each product on the menu signifies if it is a sativa, indica, hybrid, CBD or THC product.
Cannabis dispensaries are beneficial to consumers because labeled menus create a sense of confidence and education for cannabis users. Normally, users do not have such a choice in seeing what they are getting with their product because they have to purchase through the black market.
In-state and out-of-state residents are both limited to the amount of product they can purchase; however, out-of-state residents are limited to an even lesser amount.
Medical patients are first priority. Customers with a medical cannabis card can show their card at the front door of the building and are immediately led back to the purchase area.
Take all this into account and what do you get? A phenomenon that is far past due its time of legalization in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
A recent Kentucky Health Issues Poll interviewing just under 1,600 Kentucky residents concluded that 59% of Kentuckians believe cannabis should be available for purchase under any circumstance and that 90% believe the plant should be available for medical purchases.
Hemp, the close relative of cannabis, became legal in Kentucky under the 2018 Farm Bill which removed the plant from the controlled substance list. Another sign of progress for legal cannabis in Kentucky came from democratic State Representative Cluster Howard.
Kentucky House Bill 148 states that money from wholesale taxes of legal cannabis go to the permanent pension fund. Kentucky’s pension crisis includes just under $43 million in debts, which makes the state’s pension system one of the most badly funded in the country.
Simply put, this state needs money.
Illinois sold almost $11 million worth of recreational cannabis in the first five days of legalization. That’s the most money any state has made off of legal cannabis sales in that time span.
According to MarketWatch, in 2018, legal cannabis sales in Colorado reached $1.2 billion. The state raked in $270 million of that in taxes alone, compared to just $45 million gained from tax on alcohol.
Legal cannabis is ideal for Kentucky not only from an economical standpoint — from a criminal reform perspective it is positive as well. According to The Guardian, Illinois granted more than 11,000 pardons for low-level marijuana crimes with its legalization bill.
Those pardons would be life-changing for thousands of Kentucky residents. Job opportunities would open, and financial burdens would lift.
Kentucky has its economic strongholds, such as the bourbon and tobacco industries. But with the recent surge of cannabis legalization among so many other states and the significant economic benefit in these states, this only continues to plague Kentucky, one of the poorest states in the nation.
Columnist Casey Warner can be reached at [email protected]


text:
Heng-Ray Technology Limited held the fifteenth anniversary ceremony on Children’s day in 2018.
It has been 15 years since the founding of the company.
Developed from a small company, the boss of Heng-Ray Technology Limited expressed great gratitude to all the employees in the company and also our cooperative partners.
It could be said that without them, without today's Heng-Ray Technology Limited.
Our story will still continue...
Really warm and sweet.
On this day, many pink ballons were decorated outside and inside the company.
Happy birthday to Heng-Ray Technology Limited!
We were making salad together.


text:
XOJET, Inc. has partnered with Lyft, a rideshare platform in the United States, and its adoption of Lyft Mobility Solutions as an added benefit to XOJET pilots and employees, the company said.
Lyft Mobility Solutions introduces a new category of convenience to XOJET´s front line personnel by providing safe and affordable rides
Through this partnership with Lyft, XOJET is looking into how it can expand Lyft services to its distinguished private flier clients.
XOJET, a TPG portfolio company is a private aviation services company, serving more than 7,000 clients worldwide.
Lyft is a rideshare company in the US and is available in more than 200 cities.


text:
Companies Making Upward/Downward Moves in Stock Markets
The stock prices of different companies and sectors are constantly moving upwards and downwards. This is a trend that is observed with any company being publicly traded. However, only a few companies manage to make it to the top similar to the companies that experience the plunge in terms of stock prices.
There are several companies that have experienced a high or low performance in terms of their stock prices. The stock prices of these companies have been observed either in the form of shockers or surprises for the investors and stakeholders.
The first company that has given a shocker to the investors is CrowdStrike Holdings. The company ended up facing a downtrend in terms of its stock prices on Tuesday, August 31 trading. According to stats, the company’s stock prices experienced a 3.5% drop for the particular day trading. The company has surprisingly experienced a fall in its share prices even after sharing a promising earnings report for the last quarter.
According to the cybersecurity tech firm, the revenue and earnings it generated for the last quarter of 2021 were higher than analyst expectations. The company reported that it generated earnings worth 11 cents per share, which translates to $337.7 million. However, data analyzing firms including analysts from Goldman Sachs have advised that the company’s shares are highly profitable in near future.
Then there is Ambarella, which is a major designing company for semiconductors. The company has given a huge surprise to the investors on Tuesday, August 31 trading as it has experienced an 8% rise in its share prices. The company recorded a surge in share prices following the release of data around its earnings and revenues report for the fiscal fourth quarter.
The company reported that according to analysts, the revenue estimation was $75.7 million. Whereas, the company successfully generated revenue worth $79.3 million for the said quarter. In other words, the company managed to achieve earnings worth 35 cents per share, compared to the 10 cents per share estimation made by analysts.
Ambarella is constantly experiencing a rise in its revenues due to high demands in solutions it has been providing in the chips. So far, the company has reportedly provided several supporting products in terms of imaging solutions for GoPro, Apple, and several third-party companies.
The owner company of brands such as Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, PVH Corp also experienced a rise in its stock prices. The company recorded a 6% rise in its stock prices following sharing the earnings report for the last quarter. The company reported earnings of $2.72 per share versus $1.52 per share estimation. As a result, the expected revenue was $2.14 billion, while the company achieved $2.31 billion.


text:
Boston's TA Plots $3B Fund
This article appears courtesy of Institutional Investor
Source: Corporate Financing Week
TA Associates plans on investing $1.5-$2 billion in recapitalizations and buyouts of technology companies over the next four years, and it's also gearing up to begin raising its next fund, a $3 billion vehicle, in March, said Brian Conway, managing director in Boston. TA's current fund is the $2 billion TA IX, raised in 2000.
The spending is driven in part by higher deal prices, as well as the firm's keen interest in software companies. An M&A wave is beginning its sweep through the software industry, Conway said, citing a recent report from Gartner which predicted that consolidation will trim the current roster of 6,000 software companies down to 1,500. TA is doing its part, agreeing to buy Information Technology Solutions from Intuit for $200 million in a deal announced last week. Conway said TA has few competitors among private equity firms for these businesses besides Golden Gate Capital in San Francisco.
Last week, TA announced another technology deal: a combined $739 million investment alongside Madison Dearborn Partners in MetroPCS Communications, a wireless company.
Conway wants to build up ITS' customer base and add product lines that can be packaged as part of a software suite.


text:
The federal government is seeking comments on a new report highlighting what it learned a from Canadian organizations about the effects of forced labour.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates there are nearly 25 million victims of forced labour worldwide. Of those, the ILO says 16 million are exploited in the private sector doing domestic work, construction or agriculture; 4.8 million persons in forced sexual exploitation, and four million are in forced labour imposed by state authorities.
The government has made a commitment to ensure that goods produced by forced labour do not enter Canada and that Canadian companies operating around the world observe responsible business practices.
“Forced labour is unacceptable in Canada or anywhere in the world,” said labour minister Seamus O’Regan.
“Our government will eliminate forced labour from our supply chains and make sure that Canadian businesses do not contribute to human rights abuses.”
The Labour Exploitation in Global Supply Chains: What We Heard Report is the result of consultations with stakeholders. They made it clear that labour exploitation, including forced labour, is unacceptable and that the Government of Canada should take further action to prevent it.
Participants agreed that the goal of any legislation should be to increase business awareness around forced labour and to improve practices. There was also a general consensus that legislation should be seen as one piece of a broader approach to addressing labour exploitation in supply chains.
While participants did note short-term costs associated with addressing forced labour, the long-term benefits were highlighted, particularly as more and more consumers are prioritizing ethical and transparent businesses.
Stakeholders are invited to review the Report and share any additional feedback by April 8, 2022.
Forced labour is a complex problem that requires considerable work and collaboration between governments, industry and civil society. The International Labour Organization defines forced labour as all work or service which is demanded from any person under threat of a penalty and for which the person is not a willing participant. Signs of forced labour often include restriction of movement, withholding of wages, charging of prohibitive recruitment fees to at-risk groups, and intimidation or threats.
Over the past two years, the Government has introduced a number of initiatives to help tackle labour exploitation in global supply chains, such as a prohibition under the Customs Tariff on the importation of goods produced in whole or in part by forced labour and an updated Code of Conduct for Procurement to outline expectations for suppliers regarding human and labour rights.
The Government of Canada is also examining global best practices and analyzing key elements that are often part of supply chain legislation, in order to determine the appropriate approach for the Canadian context.
The initial consultations that formed the backbone of the report were conducted between May and July 2019, through an online survey and roundtable meetings.


text:
New Delhi: Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover on Friday reported 34% jump in retail sales in July at 44,486 units. The month’s performance has been driven by strong sales of Land Rover Discovery Sport, Jaguar XE and F-PACE, the company said in a statement.
During the month, Jaguar Land Rover has delivered a particularly solid performance in China and North America with retail sales increasing by 64% and 51% respectively compared to the previous year, it added.
“Retail sales were up year-on-year across all other regions—38% in the UK, 24% in Europe and 2% in other overseas markets,” it said.
Jaguar Land Rover Group sales operations director Andy Goss said: “This has been another record month for Jaguar Land Rover with impressive sales across both of our brands.”
Discovery Sport and Jaguar XE have delivered record July sales performances and Jaguar F-PACE is in popular demand with our customers, reflecting the global appeal of our strongest ever vehicle line up, he added.
Land Rover’s SUV sales were up 19% in July at 31,288 vehicles. The Jaguar brand also recorded its best July ever, delivering 13,198 vehicles, up 91% on the previous year, the company said.


text:
Unilever is ‘committed’ to further investment in Nigeria, according to a report published by The Nation.
South Africa’s Competition Commission has issued fines to two major specialty chemical suppliers for engaging in ‘cartel-like behavior’, according to a report published by All Africa.
A US$20 billion joint venture set up between Dow Chemical and Saudi Aramco, Sadara Chemical Co, has kicked off production at its propylene glycol plant.
PZ Cussons has launched a range of deodorants under its Imperial Leather banner on the Nigerian market, according to a report published by Nigeria Today.
Procter & Gamble is gearing up for an expansion in Nigeria, according to a report published by Ventures Africa. The US FMCG giant has inaugurated a state-of-the-art production line for its Always brand at its manufacturing facility in Ogun State.
Reckitt Benckiser’s Vice President for Africa, Ata Sadfar has indicated that the company is set to open its largest distribution center on the African continent in Ogun, Nigeria, according to a report published by Nigerian newspaper The Guardian.
After eight acquisitions in 2016 and an impressive 12 in 2015, it looks like Frutarom is set to repeat, if not beat its M&A record this year.
The Managing Director of L’Oréal Egypt, Benoit Julia, has revealed to Daily News Egypt that it is set to open one of its signature hair dressing academies, L’Oréal Hair Institute, in the country in May.
L’Oréal is anticipating the launch of the first line to be developed from its Johannesburg research and development laboratory, according to a report published by Bloomberg.
The President of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appealed to the board of Unilever Ghana in a bid to persuade them to relocate production back to the country, according to a report published by Business Ghana.


text:
Google Invested $1.5 Billion in Crypto Sector in 10 Months
Public firms invested more than $6 billion in various blockchain companies between September 2021 and June 2022, 25% of which was invested by Google.
Google invested more than $1.5 billion through its parent company Alphabet in blockchain companies Fireblocks, Dapper Labs, Voltage, and the crypto conglomerate Digital Currency Group. Therefore, Google led the top 40 largest crypto investors among public companies. This is reported by Blockdata analysts.
Notably, Google’s investments in the crypto space from September 2021 to June 2022 increased by 60% compared to the figures of the previous similar period. Thus, from December 2020 to September 2021, the corporation invested only $601.4 million in blockchain companies.
According to the Blockdata report, the ranking of large public companies investing in various blockchain projects also included:
- Blackrock. The international investment company put $1.2 billion into Circle, FTX, and Anchorage Digital;
- Morgan Stanley. The financial conglomerate invested $1.1 billion in crypto projects Figment and NYDIG;
- Samsung Group. The South Korean chaebol invested $979 million in 13 different blockchain startups, including Dank Bank, Aleo, and Flowcarbon;
- Goldman Sachs. One of the world’s largest investment banks had $698 million invested in crypto companies Certik, CoinMetrics, Elwood, BlockDaemon, and Anchorage Digital;
- The Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon). The U.S. holding company invested $690 million in blockchain companies Talos, CoinMetrics, and Fireblocks;
- PayPal. An eBay subsidiary invested $650 million in Talos, LayerZero, TRM, and Anchorage Digital.
The report found that a total of 40 public companies invested about $6 billion in 61 blockchain projects between September 2021 and June 2022. The main areas of focus for these cryptocurrency companies are:
- NFT-based art (19 companies);
- crypto-asset selling and buying markets and NFTs (12 companies);
- gaming services and GameFi (11 companies);
- blockchain development services (7 companies);
- cryptocurrency project infrastructure development (5 companies);
- development of dApps, smart contracts, tokenization, and scaling solutions (4 companies);
- depository solutions and credit protocols (3 companies).
Moreover, the popularity of various NFT projects among large investors is mainly due to the increasing number of companies willing to start a business related to NFTs. For example, the number of trademark applications related to non-fungible tokens increased by 1,026% in 2022.
The GameFi market attracts investors by the potential average annual growth rate of the Play-to-Earn segment, which, according to the latest data, can grow by 20% annually over the next six years.


text:
Will the acceptance of cryptocurrencies grow thanks to video games in near future? Crypto is getting more and more attention lately, so read what the crypto games lead to in the future! The application of Blockchain in this sector is also getting more popular and may lead to a new era of gaming.
Cryptocurrencies grew tremendously in 2021. The global market capitalization of cryptocurrencies is now $ 2.05 trillion.
Thanks to features such as secure and irreversible transactions, inflation protection, high returns, and cheap global funds transfers, cryptocurrencies have become a financial solution for everyone. Several sectors are now joining the crypto train with their excellent decentralized solutions.
Despite their immense popularity, we are still far from everyday use. Although cryptocurrencies appear to be expanding, population-wide analysis shows that users remain a minority. The global cryptocurrency rate was only 3.9% in 2021 and is used by only 300 million users worldwide.
However, industries are evolving, bringing cryptocurrencies to the masses, and one of the critical drivers of this growth is the crypto gaming sector. According to analysts, gaming will be a crucial sector that will offer blockchain and cryptocurrencies a chance to become genuinely exploited by making games more immersive and developing internal economies that educate people about cryptocurrencies. The $ 150 billion industry is poised to push cryptocurrencies to the general public.
If you are interested in cryptocurrencies, click here so you can register an account today, and start earning from crypto.
Possibilities of using blockchain and cryptocurrencies in video games
Crypto and gaming are the perfect combinations that have never taken place before. However, with the advancement in the application of blockchain, people realized the potential of crypto games, giving rise to play-to-earn (P2E) games. These games have proven to be a significant change in the industry, offering users sources of revenue that were not previously available in free competitions.
The P2E combines blockchain solutions such as crypto and unmistakable tokens (NFT) to provide additional value and an excellent user experience. Specifically, crypto is used as a currency to reward users for playing them. Even the NFT is changing how we handle gaming items and making them easily accessible outside the gaming ecosystem for real-world monetization.
Many games have also made the application of blockchain and crypto available to new users, leading to mass adoption. Most blockchain gaming platforms have already shown the world why crypto gaming is the way of the future. Even media like Citrus play a key role in accelerating game transformation. It offers a wide range of solutions for blockchain and gaming worlds through a combination of decentralized finance (DeFi), NFT, innovative apps, and other technologies.
Mainstream entry with Play-To-Earn and Metaverse
Mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies is possible if everyone can participate in the ecosystem and find value in it. For now, crypto games seem to have stepped up to increase acceptance through the use of play-to-earn and metaverse concepts. Even if cryptocurrencies remain here anyway, blockchain playing could be a substantial driving force to help us start this revolution.
In addition, if people can be persuaded to play games and learn about cryptocurrencies, we could gain widespread acceptance sooner than previously thought. In addition, if gaming platforms such as Citrus continue to thrive and provide a solid foundation for blockchain P2E games, we could see some of the world’s largest economies engage in the crypto gaming industry. Asia-Pacific countries could be the largest gaming market due to its attractiveness among the younger generation.
Therefore, for him, the NFT and metaverse could be another advantage that will contribute to its success. Cryptocurrency video games are expanding, and in a few years, we can expect to see a whole new game world. Thanks to easy access to the gaming industry and its popularity, cryptocurrencies could be widely accepted by the public.


text:
This comes after the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG had decided to reserve the Macan as a fully electric series and will be the first all-electric compact SUV from Porsche when it’s introduced early next decade.
This will add to Porsche’s portfolio of electric vehicles, following the introduction of the Taycan – Porsche’s first purely electric sports car due to be launched at the end of this year – followed by the Taycan Cross Turismo.
“By 2022 we will be investing more than six billion euros in electric mobility, and by 2025 50% of all new Porsche vehicles could have an electric drive system,” said Porsche AG, Chairman of the Board of Management, Oliver Blume.
“Nevertheless, over the next 10 years our focus will still be on optimising petrol engines, plug-in hybrid models, and purely electrically-operated sports cars,” he added.
Porsche will continue to produce the new Macans at the Leipzig plant in Germany, where currently over 90,000 units are built annually to fuel the global demand for the compact SUV.


text:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating a death at a Reynoldsburg, Ohio, factory.
WCMH reported that OSHA spokesperson Larry Johnson said an employee died after getting caught between a conveyor belt and boxes at an L Brands facility Friday afternoon. L Brands is a fashion retailer with brands that include Bath & Body Works and Victoria's Secret.
>> Read more trending news
An incident report from the City of Reynoldsburg Division of Police said the employee, identified at 56-year-old Harvey Beavers, got pinned between boxes holding Bath & Body Works products and the conveyor belt. Beavers and a co-worker were loading boxes of products onto a truck by using an expandable conveyor, according to the OSHA incident report.
Beavers became pinned, facing a wall of boxes with the conveyor belt pressing into his lower back and against the boxes. He was stuck for about 10 minutes before he was freed, according to WCMH.
Beavers' was unable to access emergency controls to the machinery because they were at his back. Rescuers had to unload and move the wall of boxes before they could get to him, according to the OSHA report.
CPR was administered and he was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
WBNS reported that L Brands issued the following statement on Beavers:
"We are deeply saddened by the death of our colleague, Harvey. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this very difficult time.
"Our top priority is associate safety, and we are cooperating fully with OSHA as they work to determine the cause of his death."


text:
Mac Miller's posthumous album Circles has been released.
As we previously mentioned, the new project was finished by his past collaborator Jon Brion, who "dedicated himself" to completing this record, which was intended to be a companion to the late rapper's last album Swimming.
The 12-song record arrived digitally on Friday, including the song "Good News," which was released last week. Physical copies of the album are available now for pre-order, and a limited order of Circles merchandise if also available to purchase through Thursday (Jan. 23).
Coinciding with the Circles release are three pop-up exhibits celebrating Miller's life and music, with one in Los Angeles, New York and his home city Pittsburgh. Entry is free and all net proceeds from the pop-up merch sales will go to The Mac Miller Fund.
Hear the full album below.


text:
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 | 12:16 PM
This is a follow-up to the recent post that Doug Yeum, Director of Business Development, shared last month on mobile trends unique to South Korea.
Three weeks ago, we wrote about mobile in South Korea. We explored 2010 as a tipping point for smartphone growth with a 67x increase in monthly traffic. This growth has led to the emergence of data-rich services and growing mobile media consumption by the South Korean consumer. Since the post, we've received requests to dive deeper into the South Korean market so we've produced a mobile metrics report on South Korea. The report looks at trends in the AdMob network in South Korea and includes data from a localized survey of 524 mobile Internet users. The results of the survey reflect surprisingly strong usage patterns and levels of engagement with the mobile Internet:
- 29% of respondents spend more than one hour a day using the mobile Internet
- 35% of respondents spend more time using the mobile Internet than watching TV; 24% more than using the desktop Internet
- Using the phone for entertainment is more popular than texting, phone calls or social networking
- 58% of respondents access the mobile Internet at least 5 times a day:


text:
3rdFlix Visual Effects Pvt Ltd, which operates education-technology platform Practically, has raised $5 million in strategic investment ahead of its Series B funding round scheduled to begin early next year, from UAE-based NB Ventures, UK-based Earlsfield Capital, UAE-based Almoe Group of Companies and Ncubate Capital, an investment arm of the SAR Group, the company said in a statement on Monday.
The company will use the funds to expand its operations across India, Middle East and Southeast Asia, the company said. Practically said that it will also use the funds to enhance its marketing, for product development, and to scale up its business. Practically will also enhance its sales verticals, and look at tactical hiring to consolidate its foothold in the edtech sector, the company said.
Founded in 2018, by Subbarao Siddabattula, Charu Noheria, and Ilangovel Thulasimani, the company uses interactive methods, such as Augmented Reality (AR), simulations and three-dimensional (3D) videos for teaching. The company claims to have reached a milestone of 1.5 million downloads.
“The Practically application has also enabled continued experiential learning for 1.5M students since its launch during the first lockdown. This strategic investment gives us the stimulus required to enhance learning outcomes in students and empower teachers,” said Noheria, Co-founder, Chief Operating Officer, Practically.
The company had raised $4 million in a pre-Series B fundraise in January led by Siana Capital, a Bengaluru-based fund that invests in companies during their early to middle stages of growth, along with existing investors YourNest Venture Capital and Exfinity Ventures. In its pre-Series A round, the company had raised $5 million from Exfinity Venture Partners, IDFC Parampara Early Stage Opportunities Fund and YourNest also participated in the funding round.
Fundraises by edtech companies are on the rise in India, thanks to the increasing demand for remote learning due to the pandemic-led restrictions. In 2021 alone, three edtech companies have turned unicorns, taking the total number of edtech unicorns in the country to five. Unicorns are private companies having a valuation in excess of $1 billion.
Earlier this month, Delhi-based edtech startup Gurucool raised $150,000 million in its pre-Seed funding round from angel investor Parvez Jasani, chief executive officer of Zulie Venture Inc and startup incubator FreeFlow Venture Builders.
Another edtech firm, NxtWave had raised $2.8 million in its pre-Series A funding led by Orios Venture Partners and Better Capital, earlier this month. In November, Edvizo raised $150,000 in an angel funding round from ah! Ventures.
Meanwhile, in October, vernacular edtech platform Vidyakul had raised an undisclosed amount in a financing round from Dholakia Ventures and other angel investors. Another Bengaluru-based edtech startup ForeignAdmits had raised Rs 3.5 crore in its Seed funding round led by Unicorn India Ventures.
“Edtech has been an extremely important space for us and we believe in working with brands that are committed to revolutionize this industry. We look forward to this association getting stronger as they deepen their commitment to the community of educators and students in the forthcoming year,” said Neelesh Bhatnagar, Managing Director, NB Ventures.


text:
After a PR rep told us that Lenovo had no plans for a rebate for Microsoft's Windows 8 upgrade price on new PCs, the company has apparently changed its mind and is now offering such an rebate.
Giveaway: Win the Logitech G910 Orion Spark mechanical keyboard!
Six Windows 10 features not available to Insiders... yet
All the latest on Windows 10 build 10041
windows 10 technical preview
Microsoft wants to turn Android phones into Windows 10 phones
LG Windows Phone mock-up
How to get Cortana working outside of the US in preview build 10041


text:
UK – Barry Callebaut, through its global decoration brand Mona Lisa, has opened a chocholate 3D-printing studio that will offer personalized 3D printed chocolate at scale.
Barry Calleaut says that the Mona Lisa 3D Studio is equipped with innovative precision technology capable of printing thousands of pieces at a time while retaining a bespoke hand-made appearance.
The studio allows chefs and customers to personalize a chocolate decoration with their own unique design, shape and size preferences, before a team of designers transform the product into a digital 3D prototype with samples.
The chocolatier explains that once the prototype is approved, the final product can be quickly reproduced at scale adding that the creations can be used for desserts, confectionery, hot drinks and pastries.
The company plans to initially introduce the service to chefs and hotels, coffee chains and restaurant establishments in specific European countries.
For the launch event, Mona Lisa teamed up with Jordi Roca, one of the world’s most creative pastry chefs, to help him unleash his creativity through a unique 3D piece made out of chocolate.
“This new way of working with chocolate is going to take consumers by surprise, with previously unthinkable shapes produced at scale and with impressive precision,” Jordi Roca said.
“I’m usually inspired by the things I can’t do as they represent a creative challenge – but now, thanks to Mona Lisa 3D Studio, I can take my chocolate craftsmanship to the next level. I can imagine any new kind of design and it will come to life.”
Pablo Perversi, Chief Innovation, Sustainability; Quality Officer and Head of Gourmet at Barry Callebaut commented: “Innovation is an important pillar of Barry Callebaut’s proven ‘smart growth’ strategy.
“I am delighted that the Mona Lisa 3D Studio allows chefs to create unique consumer experiences at scale.
“This technological breakthrough innovation positions the Mona Lisa brand at the forefront of the industry and strengthens Barry Callebaut’s global leadership in Decorations.”
Barry Callebaut added that the technology will allow chefs and hotels, coffee chains to merger chocolate craftsmanship with advanced technology while creating wowing experiences for millennials and centennials.
A recent Barry Callebaut research study showed that 70% of consumers want to try new and exciting chocolate experiences – and 6 out of 10 want to share it on social media.
“3D printing is addressing consumer desires by pushing the boundaries of what’s possible aesthetically. With the new technology, chefs can develop unseen and unique creations and expand their craftsmanship while working with Belgian chocolate,” the company said.
According to the company, Mona Lisa 3D Studio is the first and only chocolate 3D printing studio to launch at scale.


text:
On Saturday, January 2, 2021, Zimbabwe’s government extended a nationwide curfew, banning gatherings alongside the closure of non-essential businesses for a month to curb a surge in coronavirus infections. This move is likely to hurt its already vulnerable economy.
During a news conference, Constantino Chiwenga, the country’s Vice President who also doubles as Health Minister stated that “people must stay at home, save for buying food and medicines or transporting sick relatives.”
According to Chiwenga, some of the tighter restrictions were effective immediately and included a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in addition to a ban on inter-city travel. But starting Tuesday, 5 January, 2021, non-essential businesses would also be suspended.
In July 2020, during the presentation of Zimbabwe’s mid-term budget and economic review statement in the parliament, Nthuli Ncube, the country’s Finance and Economic Development Minister, mentioned that the country’s economy is projected to shrink by 4.5 percent in 2020 against the 3 percent earlier projected due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
A report also shows that these figures could have been worse if the government didn’t provide a stimulus package of 18.2 billion Zimbabwe dollars (264 million U.S. dollars) to companies to cushion the harsh effects of the pandemic.
The pandemic came against the backdrop of multiple economic setbacks that were necessitated by an economic sanction and unfavorable climate conditions such as drought and a cyclone which created food insecurity, lowered energy supply and caused the country’s GDP to contract. Meanwhile, the agricultural sector remains the largest single source of export earnings, contributing about 40-45 percent of total exports in most years.
Although borders have been shut down to interstate travels, air travels would still be allowed, with arrivals and returning residents being required to present negative COVID-19 certificates. This is bound to pose a great challenge for the landlocked country since nearly all trading activities with neighboring Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa are carried out by road.
According to experts, the new restrictions will further affect Zimbabwe’s economy, creating a drop in economic activities, exports and travels. It would also invariably translate to a drop in cash circulation and lower foreign earnings.


text:
What color pulse oximeter goes best with your favorite jacket?
That might seem like a crazy question now, but just wait. Wearable medical devices could be a big deal in the near future. ABI Research projects that 100 million wearable medical devices will be sold on an annual basis by 2016. IMS Research says that the market could top $2.9 billion within the next three years. And that's just the beginning for this new "fashion trend."
The technology is already here. For example, the Metria Wearable Sensor from Avery Dennison (NYSE:AVY) includes a stylish sensing device that sticks to the skin. The device captures data such as breaths per minute and sleep time and then sends the information wirelessly to a smart phone or other electronic devices.
Need an EKG and EEG to go? That's no problem with Belgian firm Imec's electroencephalography, or EEG, headset and its EKG patch. The headset might not be the most attractive fashion accessory, but it's quite functional. The prototype can capture EEG and EKG data and send it to a receiver system.
Preventice developed the BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System in collaboration with the renowned Mayo Clinic. The system uses a small sensor attached via adhesive to the chest area to collect ECG, heart rate, respiration rate, and activity level data. Physicians can monitor these biometric data while patients go about their regular daily schedules.
AiQ Smart Clothing takes a different spin on wearable medical devices. The company blends textiles with electronics to make devices that are actually clothing. AiQ's BioMan vital signs monitoring system, for example, is a machine-washable T-shirt. Vital signs are collected from the shirt and sent via Bluetooth to a smartphone.
Are there any fashionable stock tips that investors can consider? Many of the innovators in the world of wearable medical devices are privately held. There are possibilities for investors to ride this wave, though.
Avery Dennison was the lone publicly traded company included in our examples of wearable medical-device makers. No financial details are available on how profitable the Metria sensors have been, but Avery's products are on the cutting edge. The big company has also partnered with smaller companies such as Preventice and Prometheus Biomedical.
Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) recently unveiled its Quark chip. Calling it the "smallest chip we've ever built," Intel says the tiny chip is ideally suited for wearable devices. Quark is one-fifth the size of Intel's low-end Atom chip and uses only one-tenth of the power.
Another big company jumping into the fray is Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM). The San Diego-based technology giant recently introduced its Toq smart watch. Qualcomm also joined with Palomar Health earlier this year launched Glassomics, an incubator focused on exploring uses of wearable technology in medicine.
Wearable medical devices hold the potential to transform how care is provided. In the process, they could help lower the overall costs of health care. I wouldn't necessarily hold my breath on seeing medical devices included in any fashion show runway for the foreseeable future. A remake of the TLC series What Not to Wear for wearable medical-device fashion faux pas might be a different story.


text:
Smallbiz-kikwear/25" with box/mike1st/mark2nd
By DANIEL TAUB
Recently posted on Kik Wear Industries' Web site was a message from Christy, an 18-year-old fan of the company's youth-oriented clothing. She requested that Kik Wear start making wide-legged pants with orange stripes and yellow flames running down the legs as well as pants with colored mesh sewn on the outside.
"That would be PHAT!!" she wrote.
Christy is not your typical corporate decision-maker she describes herself as having a nose ring and green hair, and few executives use the word "phat" to describe something they like. But her suggestions are likely to carry great weight.
Sitting in front of a laptop computer at Kik Wear's headquarters a 25,000-square-foot warehouse off the Santa Monica (10) Freeway in an industrial district just southeast of downtown Los Angeles Alex Berenson says he spends many evenings browsing through messages like Christy's.
"I actually do read through all of them," said Berenson, who founded the company with friends Gregg Ostrow and Dusty Cohen in 1991. Reading such messages as well as going to clubs, concerts, amusement parks and shopping malls where teen-agers congregate are ways he and his employees stay connected to customers.
"We want to be the leader in this industry, not the follower," he said.
That seems to be case, especially when it comes to jeans that have incredibly wide legs. Kik Wear jeans have gone as wide as 69 inches (compared with less than 20 inches for conventional jeans), and after demand subsided for a while, Berenson says that things are again picking up.
"We never really went away from it completely, but we certainly lessened the amount of styles available," he said.
The baggy jeans craze has helped catapult sales, from just $350,000 in 1992 the first full year in business to $18.8 million last year. Berenson expects Kik Wear's '99 revenues to surpass $25 million.
Not hurting is a celebrity clientele that company officials say includes George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino and Leonardo DiCaprio and members of rock bands 311, Korn and Limp Bizkit.
Cindy Levitt, divisional merchandise manager at City of Industry-based Hot Topic Inc., said Kik Wear's success is largely the result of being able to quickly jump on new fads sometimes coming up with a new design within a week.
"They're open; they're not big egos," Levitt said. "They're like, 'Great, that's a good idea.' I think they will have some longevity in that they are listening to the buyer customer and the kid customer, and they have not let their egos get in the way."
The company's success so far is quite an accomplishment for the three partners, considering that they had no experience in the apparel business. (Two partners have been added, Todd Bachenheimer and Scott Freedman.)
At first, Kik Wear made just one item: boxer shorts with longer legs than those found in stores at the time. The three hired a sewing house to make the boxer shorts, called "Longy's," and sold them to friends for $10 apiece. Before long, the company branched out into T-shirts, pants and hats all the while operating out of a 100-square-foot former sound studio behind a Westside house near Pico Boulevard and Beverly Drive.
In the meantime, Berenson was teaching himself the rag trade, and hawking clothes at the massive MAGIC apparel trade show in Las Vegas and other such venues.
Aside from its baggy jeans, the company puts out a variety of pants, jackets and shirts under its Kik Wear, Kik Girl and Greed Girl lines. Clothes in its Greed Girl line are more likely to be made of stretch fabrics, and to have a tighter fit. One pair of Greed Girl pants has a ladybug embroidered on the back pocket.
"It's more fun, more cutesy it's a little sexier," said Lorraine Getz, one of the company's designers.
The Kik Wear and Kik Girl lines, meanwhile, are baggier and make greater use of utilitarian fabrics, like nylon. Items in that line feature hidden "stash" and cargo pockets; and one skirt has a built-in wallet on the waist. Many pairs of pants in that line also feature plastic piping down the legs.
They have been consistently popular with teen-agers. (Kik Wear is "my most requested brand name," said Levitt of Hot Topic.) Nonetheless, the company is considering returning to its roots by reintroducing its Longy's boxer shorts.
"We're actually talking about bringing them back for spring 2000," Berenson said.
Kik Wear Industries
Year Founded: 1991
Core Business: Designing and selling pants, shirts and other apparel for juniors and young men
Revenues in 1997: $10.5 million
Revenues in 1998: $18.8 million
Revenues in 1999: $25 million (projected)
Employees in 1997: 30
Employees in 1999: 50
Goals: To stay on the cutting edge of the teen clothing market; to reach $50 million in annual revenues by 2001
Driving Force: Demand from teen-agers and clothing buyers for interesting, cutting-edge clothes
For reprint and licensing requests for this article, CLICK HERE.


text:
SEOUL, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's financial watchdog on Friday called for credit card firms to improve their risk assessment processes, as economic uncertainties at home and abroad grow.
Yoon Suk-heun, governor of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), made the remarks at a meeting with chief executives of credit card firms earlier in the day.
"Competition is intensifying as the local credit card market is in a stage of saturation," Yoon said at the meeting. "Credit card firms need to focus on risk management amid growing external and internal uncertainties surrounding our financial industry."
Earlier this year, the government cut credit card processing fees to support self-employed business owners at a time when the nation's economy is showing signs of weaker growth in the face of slowing exports and private consumption.
To offset a decline in commission income, credit card firms have made efforts to cut costs and diversify their income sources.
In the first half of this year, credit card firms reported a 0.9 percent on-year decline in their combined net profit.
The credit card firms posted a combined net profit of 957.8 billion won (US$800 million), down from 966.9 billion won a year earlier, according to their earnings results.
BOK again faces rate cut pressure on new coronavirus risk
BOK to keep policy rate steady amid signs of recovery
Wealth management service increasingly popular in S. Korea
BOK tipped to continue monetary easing, at least another rate cut in offing
BOK to be on hold this time, but possible rate cut ahead


text: This article originally appeared on ABACUS In the film Darkest Hour, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill refused to surrender, determined to fight against Nazi Germany at all costs. Chinese bike-sharing startup Ofo says it’s in a similar war. In an internal meeting, Ofo’s CEO Dai Wei bizarrely compared the company’s situation to wartime Britain, as portrayed in Darkest Hour. The South China Morning Post reports that he told his staff that they can leave the company now if they do not want to fight until the end. Ofo was one of the two major players in China’s bike-sharing industry -- which in truth is more like bike rental than bike sharing. It exploded in 2016 but soon declined as competitors flooded the market and crammed China’s streets with littered bikes. Its biggest rival Mobike was bought by the country’s consumer giant Meituan in early April . The startup reportedly refused a potential acquisition offer from China’s ride-hailing giant Didi in late April. With the domestic market full, China’s bike-sharing firms are looking overseas for expansion. Ofo says it’s already in 25 cities across the US, and aims to be in 100 by the end of 2018. But judging by what happened in one American city , it looks like their problems are following them across the Pacific. For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters , subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast , and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report . Also roam China Tech City , an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus .


text:
GDPR Data Breach Notification Requirements
The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, went into effect on May 25, 2018. These regulations apply to companies doing business in the European Union or to companies who have data of EU citizens for any reason, demanding compliance with stringent, uniform data regulations. GDPR creates a brand new framework with high expectations for the companies that it impacts. For many companies, compliance with GDPR is daunting. Tanya Forsheit, Chair of the Privacy & Data Security Group at top law firm Frankfurt Kurnit Klein + Selz, a privacy and cybersecurity attorney with over 20 years of experience advising on these issues, says, “GDPR is completely different than anything we have in the US. There is really no comparison in the US to the GDPR.”
Forsheit elaborates: “GDPR requires companies who are subject to it to have very robust that allow individuals, consumers, employers to certain rights to access their data, to see their data, where it goes and how it is used.” In many ways, GDPR was a wake-up call to companies--and in order to comply, the companies had to take a hard look at their data flows and processes. Additionally, Forsheit points out, “Under GDPR, you don’t do anything unless you have a lawful basis for processing the data, or consent from individuals to do certain kinds of things, requiring a legitimate interest.” (For more information on consent under GDPR, check out our article GDPR on Consent)
Data Breaches: Inevitable?
Even before GDPR, companies lived in fear of a data breach. Consumers are more sensitive to the cybersecurity of the companies that they interact with, and large companies have felt consequences--litigation, as well as a lack of trust and a decline in the public’s willingness to offer up their information of these data breaches. With the increasing prevalence of our lives online, and the value of information has increased--hackers and data breaches are a part of doing business in today’s world. In many instances, data breaches aren’t a matter of “if” anymore, it’s a matter of “when.”
In response, companies have begun to create cybersecurity action plans to streamline a response to a data breach incident. In the United States, many states have implemented legislation requiring companies to inform consumers of data breach incidents within a set timeframe upon discovery of the incident. As of now, all 50 states have a data breach notification law—Forsheit says, “US has had data breach laws since 2003, California was first, Alabama was the last” and the result is a patchwork of regulations companies must follow to remain compliant in the event of a data breach.
GDPR on Data Breach Notification: A High Standard
However, GDPR has kicked things up a notch by creating a sense of urgency with data breaches, requiring a 72 hour notice period after discovery of the breach. Data Breach notification under GDPR creates a high standard for notifying individuals of a data breach. Article 33 of GDPR states the data breach notification requirements as:
- In the case of a personal data breach, the controller shall without undue delay and, where feasible, not later than 72 hours after having become aware of it, notify the personal data breach to the supervisory authority competent in accordance with Article 55, unless the personal data breach is unlikely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons. Where the notification to the supervisory authority is not made within 72 hours, it shall be accompanied by reasons for the delay.
- The processor shall notify the controller without undue delay after becoming aware of a personal data breach.
GDPR goes on to explain that the notification of the data breach to the regulating authority should include broad information about who was affected by the breach as well as approximate numbers of records concerned, and the contact information for a point of contact where the regulator can obtain more information. Additionally, the data controller should also provide the possible consequences of the data breach, as well as efforts taken by the controller to rectify the situation, including any mitigating offers to those affected by the breach. If this information is not available immediately, it should be provided in phases in a timely manner. (For a discussion of some of the terms related to GDPR, please see our article on GDPR compliance.)
In some ways, the US is prepared for the data breach notification provision under GDPR. Forsheit says, “We do have those kinds [data breach notification] obligations under state laws, so that part of it is not new, however, it is completely different under GDPR. GDPR has a 72 hour notification regulation to regulators, while in the US you must notify individuals.” Additionally, GDPR has the wrinkle of not requiring notification if “the personal data breach is unlikely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons” requiring an additional level of analysis.
The Wisdom of a Cyber-Incident Plan
These factors increase the importance of a Cyber-Incident Response Plan for companies and organizations. Forsheit says that many cyber-insurance providers require an incident plan before offering coverage. With GDPR, such plans have only become more important.
A cybersecurity incident plan should start at the beginning, and outline the way that a data breach will be detected or even what constitutes a data breach. Forsheit also says a cybersecurity response plan should contain information on what to do when a breach is discovered, who to call, what vendors to contact and perhaps even have plans in place or companies on retainer for such an incident to avoid confusion and to save time. Forsheit says, “There are benefits to negotiating with vendors before you have a problem.” A bit of preparation can be helpful during a stressful situation, and having a plan in place can help eliminate mistakes. For more information on Cybersecurity response plans and their key components, check out our article Preparation and Practice: Keys to Responding to a Cyber Security Incident.


text:
But chances are you haven’t tried a beer made like this.
Created by Atwater Brewery in Detroit, Artificial Intelligence IPA is a brew made completely by an artificial intelligence software. The 6.5% IPA is made with a blend of Centennial, Citra, and Amarillo hops, which results in tropical and citrus flavors and aromas.
“I can’t wait for everyone to try one of the first artificial intelligence designed beers,” Atwater Quality Manager Joe Platt, who came up with the idea, said. “AI technology has the potential to impact and revolutionize many industries, including the brewing industry, in the future.”
“We asked the AI to create an IPA recipe for us and it was able to create a recipe to the scale of our brew system and created an AI-designed, human-brewed IPA. I’m excited for Atwater to be on the forefront of innovative brewing. We have more ideas and new beers coming in the very near future.”
Atwater will be charging $2.001 for each pint in homage to HAL 9000 from Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film “2001: A Space Odyssey,” on Thursday.
The beer will then be sold exclusively on tap at Atwater’s taprooms in Detroit, Grosse Pointe Park, and Grand Rapids.
“As far as we know, this is the first beer of its kind in Michigan,” Atwater President Katy McBrady said. “We are fortunate to have a team of innovators, like Joe on site in Detroit, and I encourage you to keep your eyes peeled for more great news and brews in 2023. Cheers.”
About Atwater Brewery
Atwater was founded in 1997 in Detroit’s Riverfront District. Originally known for its German lager styles, the brewery has expanded to include more contemporary styles in recent years.
For more information please visit https://www.atwaterbeer.com/
For Brewing fun facts, trivia, movies and more, Click Here.


text:
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The newly released chicken sandwich at Popeyes is taking the internet and nation by storm.
A piece of fried chicken, pickles, mayo, all on a toasted bun; it's apparently so good it has been causing traffic backups in Grand Rapids.
Over the last week, traffic has been backed up as cars have been jamming into the drive-thru at the Popeyes on Division Avenue.
"The traffic when I first came here, it was wrapped around all the way, everybody was trying to get in, there were people getting out their cars walking in, it was pretty crazy," Tmarr Gray, said.
Delivery drivers are also having trouble keeping up with the demand.
"The line is usually wrapped all around the corner on to Burton Street and every time I come here I’m waiting 40 minutes for the chicken sandwiches people are ordering," Uber Eats Driver Len Austin said.
Though on Saturday, customers from Muskegon to Wyoming faced the same problem: there are no more sandwiches.
"I sit in line all this time and they are out. My feelings are hurt," Tasha Cooper said.
Many of the locations are hoping to be stocked up on Monday.
By the looks of it, the hype around this sandwich is not dying down anytime soon.


text:
After a photoshopped CoverGirl ad went viral over the weekend showing a CoverGirl model with a black eye, the beauty company issued a statement to For The Win when asked about the photoshop:
As a brand that has always supported women and stood for female empowerment, COVERGIRL believes domestic violence is completely unacceptable. We developed our NFL program to celebrate the more than 80 million female football fans. In light of recent events, we have encouraged the NFL to take swift action on their path forward to address the issue of domestic violence.
The makeup company is one of many sponsors left with questions about their support of the league after the controversies surrounding the league’s handling of domestic violence cases, though one expert told USA TODAY Sports’ David Leon Moore he doesn’t see any real trouble coming for the league.
“I think the sponsors are monitoring this, but I don’t think we’ve seen any negative effect on the league’s business to date,” said Irwin Raij, a sports industry expert and and co-chair of Foley & Lardner’s Sports Industry Team. “The shield, as the NFL likes to say, seems to be as strong as ever from a business standpoint.”
For CoverGirl, however, the situation could be problematic for a company that unlike other sponsors depends nearly solely on a female market. As Jezebel pointed out, CoverGirl is the “official beauty sponsor” of the NFL and has an entire collection dedicated to the league including a line of NFL makeup looks for each team.


text:
Plans to establish pharma & medical technology zone at Bengaluru
14-Feb-17, Business Standard
The government is planning to establish an exclusive zone for pharmaceuticals and medical technology at Bengaluru to give a boost to domestic production of these products under the Make in India initiative.
Image: Business Standard
“Bengaluru, being the hub of information technology and skilled manpower, will prove to be the ideal location to set up a pharma and Med Tech zone,” said Ananth Kumar, Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers.
Mansukh Lal Mandaviya, Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers, said that the recent approval of the pharma and Med Tech zone in Andhra Pradesh has attracted over 30 investment proposals from domestic and international pharma companies which has the potential to reduce the manufacturing cost of drugs and medical devices by around 30 percent as compared to global prices.


text:
While Guitar Hero and its spin offs have been relegated to history, Rock Band – though it hasn’t received a retail release since Rock Band 3 in 2010 – has lived on through constant song DLC; every week for the last 275 week. In some sad news to those who still rock out using their faux plastic instruments, Harmonix have announced that their weekly music updates will cease, and they’ll be releasing their last DLC in April.
In a message to fans on the Rock Band forums, Harmonix has detailed why its dialling its DLC output down to zero.
As you may have seen in our recent announcement regarding the release of Rock Band Blitz tracks as singles, Rock Band DLC production has gradually slowed over the past 5 years. We’ve managed to maintain a consistent release schedule for a staggering 275 consecutive weeks, releasing over 4,000 songs for the Rock Band Platform, but in recent months we’ve scaled production down as we’ve transitioned resources onto other projects. With several new titles in development and developers needed to usher these new games along, April 2nd will be the last weekly DLC release for Rock Band.
While there is no content currently scheduled beyond April 2nd, we still have DLC releases lined up for the next few weeks, including the remaining tracks from RB Blitz, several Pro guitar upgrades, and a handful of artists who have not yet appeared in Rock Band. We’re incredibly proud of the DLC milestones we’ve set, especially producing the largest music library of any game available, and we wouldn’t have been able to release as much outstanding content without the support of our amazing community. As thanks to the community, we’re going to continue the ongoing DLC sale of 50% off over 1,100 songs so fans can continue to build their personal libraries from our back catalog.
Everything else – from the forums, Rock Band Music Store, the leaderboards and Rock Band Network (on the Xbox 360) will continue as normal. This saddens me. I can’t honestly say I’ve bought a ton of the DLC, but Rock Band has been a staple in my household – and probably will continue to be, seeing as I have just a third of the available songs; I’m just sad that Rock Band Led Zeppelin, Rock Band The Rolling Stones and Rock Band Pink Floyd are just never going to happen.
Harmonix is instead busy with other projects – including something that might just make its way to next-gen consoles, and isn’t called “Dance Central 4.”
Last Updated: February 19, 2013


text:
Apple has taken over Microsoft Windows Mobile and now has the third largest market share of global smartphone OS sales. Symbian OS still leads with a 46.9 per cent share and is closely followed by Research In Motion with 19.9 per cent, according to a report released by Gartner.
Click to enlarge
|Mobile Sales Chart, courtesy of Garner|
Nokia still leads in mobile handset shipments with 36.4 per cent, followed by Samsung (19.5 per cent), LG (10.1 per cent), Motorola (4.8 per cent), and Sony Ericsson (4.5 per cent). However, Gartner says that the top five vendors continued to lose market share to Apple and other vendors, with their combined share dropping from 79.7 in 2008 to 75.3 per cent in 2009.
In the smartphone OS market, Symbian continued its lead (46.9 per cent), but its share dropped 5.4 percentage points in 2009. Competitive pressure from its competitors, such as RIM and Apple, and the continued weakness of Nokia’s high-end device sales have negatively impacted Symbian’s share, says Garner.
Click to enlarge
The two best performers in 2009 were Android and Apple. Android increased its market share by 3.5 percentage points in 2009, while Apple’s share grew by 6.2 percentage points from 2008, which helped it move to the No. 3 position and displace Microsoft Windows Mobile.
Carolina Milanesi, Research Director at Gartner, expects 2010 to be a strong year for strong mobile phone sales.
“Looking back at the announcements during Mobile World Congress 2010, we can expect 2010 to retain a strong focus around operating systems, services and applications while hardware takes a back seat. Sales will return to low-double-digit growth, but competition will continue to put a strain on vendors’ margins,” said Ms Milanesi.


text:
At the heart of New York-based luxury brand SemSem is founder and creative director Abeer Al Otaiba’s mission to support and invest in women’s and children’s well-being around the world. In this spirit, the brand is helping to combat the global Covid-19 pandemic by supporting non-profit organisations based in New York – Egyptian-born Al Otaiba resides in America where her husband is the UAE Ambassador to the United States – as well as creating reusable protective masks from unused fabrics in their New York atelier. “We believe in the power of supporting our community and protecting all those who are on the front line every day,” says the founder.
SemSem is supporting the Afya Foundation with USD20,000 in aid (approximately DHS75,000), which will be put toward distributing donated, unused medical supplies to healthcare workers battling Covid-19 on the front line. It is also supporting the NewYork-Presbyterian Patient Care Fund to the same value, to support general patient care needs including the purchasing of ventilators and personal protective equipment such as masks, the hiring of additional clinical staff, capacity expansion and clinical research.
The fashion house – popular among celebrities such as Blake Lively, Taylor Swift and Drew Barrymore – is also offering hand-washable face masks to essential workers.


text:
… SON, experts warn of danger adulterated agrochemicals The growing market for agrochemicals in Nigeria has attracted counterfeiters whose fraudulent activities are flooding the country with huge quantities of fake products. Over 70% of Nigeria’s 190 million people are said to be farmers. Agrochemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides as well as fertiliser are commonly […]
The post Farmers worry as fake, adulterated agrochemicals flood markets appeared first on Agrobusiness Times.
Source: Agric Business


text:
Blocky endless-runner Jones On Fire goes premium after 'abysmal' launch weekend
We've seen plenty of examples of mobile game developers trying to reverse the fortunes of their ailing premium games by removing the price tag and going free-to-play.
Indie dev Glass Bottom Games has opted to fly in the face of this conventional wisdom, though, choosing to turn its F2P endless-runner Jones On Fire into an IAP-free premium title in the hope of boosting sales.
"Our launch weekend was abysmal," Glass Bottom Games's Megan Fox admitted in a recent press release.
Fox is talking about Jones On Fire's App Store launch debut last week. The blocky endless-runner, in which you control a firefighter rescuing cats from an approaching blaze, has failed to trouble the App Store charts, you see.
Now, the developer has decided to launch Jones On Fire on the notoriously freemium-friendly Android without any IAPs and with a £1.33 / $1.99 price tag.
"For me, it's an ethical issue," Fox said of the decision to remove IAPs.
"I simply don't believe you should double-dip. Either you put a price on the game or you make it free with IAPs, period."
Since the Android launch of Jones On Fire, the iOS version has been updated with the new premium payment model in place.


text:
Malaysian lottery operator Magnum Bhd reported a 4.6-percent drop in revenue for the third quarter of 2014, to MYR670 million (US$193million), down from MYR702 million a year earlier.
Profit attributable to equity holders of the parent fell by 29.9 percent year-on-year to MYR45.4 million, the company said in a statement.
The group, formerly known as Multi-Purpose Holdings Bhd, undertook a demerger of its core businesses into gaming and non-gaming businesses in June this year.
The move resulted in the creation of two separate and independent listed entities – Magnum Bhd, which holds the gaming business, and MPHB Capital Bhd, which holds the financial services, hospitality and property investment businesses.
Magnum recorded a lower pre-tax profit for the three months ended September 30 of MYR74.7 million when compared to MYR77.1 million achieved in the previous year corresponding quarter.
“The decline, due to losses incurred by Investment Holdings segment, was mainly attributed to fair value losses of quoted investments,” the firm said.
Pre-tax profit from gaming dropped by MYR0.2 million from a year earlier to MYR76.8 million in the third quarter of 2014, “due to lower gaming sales as a result of the weaker consumer spending and competition from illegal operators but mitigated by lower prizes payout ratio,” it added.
Profit in the first nine months of 2014 dropped by 8.8 percent year-on-year to MYR196 million. Revenue for the period was MYR2.2 billion, down 4 percent from a year ago.
“The government’s ongoing subsidies rationalisation programme has led to cautious consumer spending which has a moderating effect on our sales,” warned the firm’s board of directors, adding, “The aggressive discount and higher prize payout structure offered by illegal operators remains a challenge to the industry.”
It added: “With the launch of the new 4D Jackpot Gold game on November 8, 2014, the company is committed to continue its marketing and product branding strategies for the remainder of the current financial year to address the decline in its revenue.”
Jan 18, 2018The rise in Macau casino stock values in 2017 has contributed to the growth in the fortunes of some of the sector’s best-known entrepreneurs, according to Forbes’ latest ‘Hong Kong’s 50...
Jan 18, 2018
Jan 18, 2018
Dec 29, 2017It could be 2024 before a casino resort is opened in Japan,...
Dec 27, 2017The year 2017 could prove to have been a turning point in...
Oct 25, 2017The deployment of radio frequency identification (RFID)...
”The casino [at Jeju Shinhwa World] has been totally finished since December”
Executive vice president, casino, at Landing Entertainment Korea


text:
Apple’s ResearchKit, an open source initiative that turns your iPhone into “a powerful tool for medical research by helping doctors, scientists and other researchers gather data more frequently and more accurately from participants,” is now enabling new research studies on autism, epilepsy, and melanoma. Apple made the announcement of the new studies on Oct. 15, adding that more than 50 researchers are already adding to the open source framework.
Early detection of autism
Duke University and Duke Medicine have launched “Autism & Beyond” for parents with concerns about their children related to autism and other developmental issues. Using a special app for the iPhone, researchers from Duke are evaluating whether or not the front-facing camera on the device can be used to detect signs of developmental issues at an earlier age. Emotion detection algorithms will be used to meausre a child’s reaction to videos shown on the phone.
Studying and monitoring epileptic seizures
In epilepsy research, Johns Hopkins has developed the EpiWatch app, the first study of its kind to be conducted with Apple Watch using ResearchKit. The study will try to determine whether the wearable device’s sensors can be used to detect th eonset and duration of seizures. A custom complication on Apple Watch will provide patients with one-touch access to trigger EpiWatch, which will then capture accelerometer and heart rate sensor data to “capture the digital signature of their seizure and send an alert to a loved one.”
Improving skin health through early melanoma detection
Last but not least, Oregon Health and Science University is conducting research into using digital images taken on an iPhone to learn about mole growth and melanoma risks, possibly helping people better manage the health of their skin.
It is definitely refreshing to see the iPhone being used for something other than Candy Crush Saga, and I’m excited to learn what researchers are able to do using iOS devices and Apple Watch. ResearchKit is a terrific initiative, and it’s fascinating to see the various sensors and other components of the iPhone and Apple Watch being used for medical research.


text:
Innovation in healthy eating at two Charlton House sites scoops industry award
The innovative approach to championing healthy eating demonstrated by CH&Co Group, Charlton House’s parent company, was recognised and celebrated with the Healthy Hospitality Honours at the Health & Vitality Honours 2016.
The Healthy Hospitality Honours focuses on the unique challenge of encouraging a positive shift in customer eating habits towards healthier options.
The award was for the Social Norms Messaging study, in collaboration with Birmingham University, which identified a new, successful way of influencing customers to eat more vegetables.
Piloted at two Charlton House sites, Gatwick Airport and Sopra Steria in Newport, the study aimed to prove that ‘normalising’ healthier eating with Social Norms Messaging could be more effective than the Government’s 12-year ‘Eat 5-a-day’ programme.
The activity utilised suggestive rather than directive posters that stated ‘Most People Here Eat Vegetables with their Lunch’. This tested the theory that people generally like to ‘blend in’ and follow the crowd, over being told what to do. In the two weeks that the posters were visible in the restaurants uptake of vegetables rose by almost 10%. And, in the following two weeks when the posters were removed, the positive effect continued to be felt.
The team at Birmingham University has written up the full results of the study to be published later in the year.
Caroline Fry, Deputy CEO of CH&Co Group, comments: “We are thrilled to have received the Healthy Hospitality Honours. The Social Norms Messaging study has been fascinating to work on. It just goes to show that creating a healthier eating culture is so much bigger than simply putting healthier dishes on the menu. It’s also about generating long-term customer behaviour change. Our study realised significant results in a short space of time and this has caught the attention of our industry and Government healthy-eating bodies. We very much look forward to using our learnings to create more innovative programmes that will change eating habits across our sites for the better.”


text:
CCJ Indicators rounds up the latest reports on trucking business indicators on rates, freight, equipment, the economy and more.
Trucking conditions jump, expected to continue to gain: FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index jumped 56 percent in June from May, FTR reported this week, pushing it to signal the most positive conditions for trucking companies in 2015. Freight slowed in the second quarter, FTR reported, but rates remained strong.
Tightening regulations and continued economic gains should push the index readings even higher through this year and next, FTR says.
“It was a positive sign for trucking that the index rebounded in June. May was the lowest level in 3 years, but June was the best month so far in 2015,” said FTR’s Jonathan Starks. “Continued declines in fuel prices during July and August should help to keep the index elevated as the industry prepares for the fall shipping season.”
Shipments, freight spending down in July: Both the number of freight shipments and the amount of freight expenditures in July fell from June, according to Cass’ monthly Freight Index reports, continuing their recent downward trajectory.
However, the recent downslides are in line with seasonal trends. Both shipments and expenditures in July 2015 were below July 2014’s numbers, though that’s a tough comparison, Cass says: “There should be an element of caution when comparing 2015 results to 2014 since last year was the best year the freight sector has experienced since the recession.”
A stronger outlook for consumer spending, however, could reverse the trends in the coming months, Cass says.
Van, reefer see rate declines, flatbed up: Though the amount of freight for the week of Aug. 2-8 increased for van and reefer segments, rates in both fell, according to DAT Solutions’ weekly rates report. Reefer saw a sizable 8 cent week-to-week drop, while van rates fell 3 cents. Flatbed, however, rose 2 cents in the week.
DAT blames declining fuel prices and subsequent fuel surcharges as the culprit for the rate declines. They and others continue to report an uptick in the linehaul portion of truckload rates.


text:
NEW YORK — Bongo is preparing to step up the beat in 2003.
The company, which became wholly owned by Candie’s Inc. in April, has various plans for growth in 2003, including a new ad campaign concept, a fresh merchandising scheme and a long list of new licenses.
Neil Cole, Candie’s Inc.’s chief executive officer and president, said Bongo is on the fast track to becoming a megabrand 20 years after its launch.
“The Bongo brand is one of the fastest-growing names in the industry due to the success of the jeanswear business, and we believe that this is an ideal time to be moving forward with product expansions,” Cole said of Bongo’s plans for more licensing. “We believe that our strategy of continuing to pursue licensing opportunities for key categories for both brands will translate into growth and profitability for our company and shareholders.”
According to Gary Bader, president of Bongo, the company has doubled its annual volume in 2002 to reach $100 million, not including revenue from licensed products. Bader said during the course of 2002, Bongo became a true department store brand, while still keeping it in specialty stores such as Wet Seal, Charlotte Russe and Gadzooks.
Bader said he expects to reach about $180 million in volume for the year ahead. While the label has been known as a jeans brand since its start, Bader said the company’s biggest challenge has been how to translate the denim trend into the next big thing on the denim floor.
“Denim really isn’t doing so well anymore, it’s not selling the way it was,” Bader said. “I think that for the next back-to-school season we are going to see other items in the denim departments. We are starting to offer denim washes and fits in non-denim fabrics. I really think that this is going to be the answer, since the customers are already going into the junior departments and picking up numerous bottoms in nondenim fabrics.”
That’s exactly the way Bader wants the new Bongo to grow in the next year. While it offers these nondenim bottoms in stores now, Bader said he has begun to see other vendors beginning to offer the same types of products that Bongo has. In the past, Bader said Bongo was more of a follower in the junior apparel business and now it is preparing to be a leader.
“We are keeping the same edge that Bongo has always had, but working really hard to stay one step ahead,” he said.
In the licensing arena, the brand signed several deals in 2002 and plans to launch a series of others next year. Its existing licenses include knit tops, handbags, infant’s and children’s wear, belts, socks, small leather goods, eyewear, cold weather accessories, fashion hats and rainwear. Bader said he is close to signing an intimate apparel license and hopes to sign one for young men’s wear in 2003.
The newest ad campaign to launch in the spring features a much different look than in the past. Styled by Hayley Hill and photographed by Michael Muller, the campaign is sexier and more sophisticated than in the past. Bader said the company decided to go with a model rather than a celebrity, since they were looking for “the face of Bongo,” something they didn’t see in pop star Willa Ford, who modeled for the ads last year.
Bader said he is attempting to reach an audience between the ages of 15 and 18, so ads are planned for the larger teen publications such as Seventeen and Teen People. He that since Candie’s purchased the company, it has made business run smoother and allow it to react more quickly.
“It used to be that the Candie’s people only paid attention to the brand when they had the time,” he said. “When it was owned by Azteca and Candie’s it was hard because it was unclear of who was responsible for what. Now that we are fully owned by Candie’s, it’s their baby, too, so we get more attention.”


text:
Streetwise: New Ashwaubenon shop embraces CBD trends
ASHWAUBENON - CBD oil helped Jason and Kayla Tokarczyk with their health issues, so they decided to help others out, too.
The Tokarczyks opened Happy Trails CBD, 2202 S. Ridge Road, Ashwaubenon, on Jan. 25. It's their second location in northeastern Wisconsin, the first opened in Kaukauna in June, as they embrace the growing popularity of cannabinoid oils derived from industrial hemp to treat a variety of conditions.
Advocates of holistic and natural healing remedies say CBD helps reduce inflammation, can help minimize seizures and spasms, and can serve as an effective antidepressant. Consumers use it for conditions including chronic pain, cancer, anxiety and diabetes.
It does not cure any conditions or maladies, but scientists continue to study the chemical compounds to gauge impact on a variety of health problems.
The lack of research showing CBD oil's efficacy and the variety of products out there can leave a lot of people unsure about what to buy and why. That's where Happy Trails comes in. Store manager Alex Kropp said the staff is happy to spend time educating customers about considerable details about CBD oil.
"People walk in and tell us, 'I heard this works. Tell me about it.' We strive to educate our customers so they find something that best suits their ailments," Kropp said. "Our biggest reward is having customers come back because it helped them."
Happy Trails carries more than just CBD oil. The shelves and display cases are lined with bath bombs, topical creams, gummies, crumbled CBD for vape pens, transdermal pain patches, coffee, honey, tea, and even pet treats.
But there are a few common questions and concerns Kropp and the Tokarczyks can answer before you even decide to walk in their shop or any of the other health food stores and head shops that now carry CBD products. Here's a look at three:
Will it get you high?
Let's just go ahead and get this out of the way now: CBD-infused products will not, we repeat, NOT get you high. In fact, that might be the only thing CBD does not do.
"There's endless possibilities," Kropp said. "We just hope people learn there's an option that could help where a prescription didn't. It's a natural, more holistic approach to helping people."
Is it legal in Wisconsin?
Yes, if the oil in question is derived from industrial hemp rather than plants with a high concentration of THC, the chemical that gets you "high." Industrial hemp has a THC concentration of less than 0.3 percent.
You do have to be 18 to purchase any CBD products, though.
What can I ask to make sure it's a good product?
Kropp said it's good to ask whether the oil you want to buy is "full spectrum," which means it contains all cannabinoid compounds found in industrial hemp. He said those really concerned can ask to review a shop's certificates of analysis or third-party reports on the product's content.
"We welcome anyone," Kropp said.


text:
China needs to focus on structural reforms, it said
"I look at tax revenue instead, it's been dropping rapidly these past few years."
At 149 trillion yuan, China's money supply is now 73 percent higher than in the United States, an economy about...
While its economy continues to face daunting challenges, "the doomsday predictions for the Chinese economy look like stopped clocks."
China’s regions increasingly split between winners and losers
China's fiscal expenditures rose 13.6 percent in the first five months of the year, far outstripping the 8.3...
A government spending spree on infrastructure projects and a continuing recovery in the housing market have boosted demand for materials.
China would promote the "orderly opening" of other service fields including finance, education, culture and health
He said China's traditional international competitiveness has weakened
Overall investment, factory output and retail sales all grew more slowly in April than expected.
Industrial output, retail and investment all miss estimates
The government will not use excessive investment, or high rates of credit growth to stimulate growth
It is continuing with tough reforms in its transition to a services-oriented economy from one powered by manufacturing.
IMF urges 'prompt action' to address corporate weakness
China's economy may be steadying as a flurry of government measures begin to take effect


text:
Recently K.media’s team succeeded in partening Maserati and The Economist.
The three teams (The Economist, Maserati and K.media) have worked hard to create an exclusive dedicated hub: http://passionforcraft.economist.com/.
This exclusive Maserati campaign is aimed to associate the Maserati brand with The Economist’s credibility conglomerating priority topics such as passion, performance, quality, design and craftsmanship.
The campaign will run mostly on digital, across a media amplification campaign with an integrated presence on economist.com and an audience extension via programmatic.
The campaign will also include printed advertorials on The Economist’s lifestyle supplement: 1843.
The hub will be online for 6 months and will cover China, US, Italy, UK, Korea, Germany, Japan, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, UAE and France.


text:
As tech giants try to figure out their place in the future, they're giving more autonomy to founders of companies they've swallowed up.
The most important things to know when shopping for a cell phone.
The Silicon Power Armor A60 is a great deal for those needing a portable drive that can withstand rough handling and tough environments.
Samsung will produce 75 percent of the processors Apple needs for its next slate of iPhones, according to a report out of South Korea.
The Korean electronics giant has been making a big push in California over the past couple years. CNET lays out its successes -- and what it still needs to do.
The Korean electronics giant has been making a big push in the Bay Area. CNET lays out some of the key businesses and players.
"If I owned a studio, I'd make movie theaters pay me," says Dana Brunetti, producer of "House of Cards" and "The Social Network."
Nevermind the surveillance spat between the US government and the tech titans of Silicon Valley: NSA Director Mike Rogers wants to mend fences.
Excessive heat and degraded performance make the Silicon Power Thunder T11 appropriate only for casual Mac users.
The network gives the tech hub a sneak peak at the new comedy series created by the man behind "OfficeSpace" and "Beavis and Butt-head."


text:
Intel chairman Barrett to step downFormer CEO to leave in May, ending a 35-year career at No. 1 chipmaker.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Intel Chairman Craig Barrett will step down from his post in May, ending a 35-year stint at the world's No. 1 chipmaker, the company announced Friday.http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/23/technology/barrett_retirement/index.htm
Barrett, who joined Intel in 1974, also served as the chief executive of the company from 1998 through 2005.
"Intel became the world's largest and most successful semiconductor company in 1992 and has maintained that position ever since," said Barrett. "I'm extremely proud to have helped achieve that accomplishment."
Barrett said he was confident that Intel has the right management in place to continue its leadership in the chip making industry.
Jane Shaw, a board member since 1993, will replace Barrett as non-executive chairman in May.
Earlier this week, Intel CEO Paul Otellini announced that last quarter's profit tumbled 90% to $234 million, and reportedly told employees that he couldn't rule out the possibility that Intel might actually lose money in the current quarter. It would be the first time that's happened in more than 20 years.
The company also announced Wednesday that it will be cutting production at two U.S. silicon wafer facilities and closing three facilities in Asia, affecting between 5,000 and 6,000 workers.
Shares of Intel (INTC, Fortune 500) rose 3% in mid-afternoon trading, but the company's stock has lost more than 40% since August.
Don't forget to watch his video interview from September