text:
It’s common knowledge that teenagers are among the riskiest drivers, but they often end up behind the wheel of vehicles that are old, small, or lack modern safety features, as it’s customary for parents to pass down a family car that’s been in use for a while. Smaller models don't safeguard as well as larger ones in crashes, and older cars typically don’t have newer technology like side airbags and electronic stability control (ESC) that can prevent or lessen the impact of collisions and help save lives.
But a new list of used vehicles for teens that aims to strike a balance between cost, reliability and safety was released on Thursday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports to give parents peace of mind.
It is the first time the two groups have teamed up to recommend used options for teens that minimize risk by evaluating factors that include crash worthiness, performance standards and how well vehicles hold up over time.
"Our focus has always been safety, as reflected in our vehicle ratings, but we recognize that a lot of other factors go into families' purchasing decisions," David Harkey, the Insurance Institute’s president, said in a statement. "This partnership with Consumer Reports will help new drivers and their parents zero in on the best used vehicles overall."
For example, what parent wants his or her child stranded because of a breakdown?
In recent years, both organizations have released lists of suggested vehicles for teens based on slightly different criteria. By joining forces, the goal is to make it easier for young drivers and their parents to find a vehicle that “checks all the boxes.”
The list of 65 recommended used vehicles, ranging from $5,300 to $19,600, the groups said, “shows that safety can be both affordable and practical.”
Absent from the list are sports cars or other vehicles with excessive horsepower, and minicars or other vehicles under 2,750 pounds. “The biggest, heaviest vehicles, including those in the large SUV class, have also been left off the list because they can be hard to handle and often have increased braking distances,” the groups said.
Cited vehicles in several size classifications are divided into Good Choices and Best Choices, which offer a slightly higher level of safety. For example, vehicles in both categories offer standard ESC, but the top tier excludes vehicles that have substantially higher than average insurance claim rates under medical payment or personal injury protection coverage.
"Injury claims provide another window onto safety in the real world and may capture things that crash tests don't," Harkey added.
While the list is intended specifically for teen drivers, it can also be a resource for any consumer looking for a used car, the two groups emphasized, but added that before purchasing a specific used vehicle, prospective buyers should check for outstanding recalls and have it inspected by a qualified mechanic.
Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center, said in a statement that her organization is delighted to team up with the Insurance Institute “to jointly develop a list of used vehicles for teens that deliver a smart and effective combination of safety technology and reliability, all without breaking the bank."
Vehicles on this list, she added, “can help teens stay safe as they gain driving experience."


text:
If you browse the iOS app store today, you'll find Twitter under a new category. Rather than being listed as a social networking app, it's now labelled a news app.
The Twitter app is currently top of the news category's free apps chart knocking the Reddit app into second place. The site is known as a place where people find out about and keep up with breaking news, so the move is fitting.
Twitter's app remains a social app on the Google Play store.
This move comes just days after Twitter reported a period of sluggish user growth in its quarterly earnings report. Despite adding a wealth of new features and measures to tackle user abuse, it's struggling to grow its userbase significantly.

domain: news


text:
SURAT: In yet another shock to the gems and jewellery industry, Eurostar Diamond Traders, one of the largest diamond companies in Antwerp has been declared bankrupt by the Antwerp Corporate Court. The manufacturing company, established in 1978 by Kaushik Mehta, said to have debts reaching up to half a billion dollars.
Industry sources said that with yet another diamond company going bankrupt, bank finance in the industry is going to be tougher.
Anirudha Lidbide, diamond industry analyst said, “Diamond industry has lost its glitter after the series of bankruptcy and frauds committed by big diamond company owners. The bankruptcy process against Indian companies in foreign countries will make bank financing in diamond companies tougher.”
Eurostar Diamond Traders, owned by Jain diamantaire Kaushik Mehta, owes an estimated $500 million (Rs 3,500 crore) to the banks and financial institutions. Sometime ago, the company lost its sightholder status with De Beers because of its financial problems.
Industry sources said that Eurostar company owns an office in the Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) in Mumbai and is member of the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). The company has close business relations in Surat and Mumbai and that most of the company’s diamond stocks was manufactured in Surat.
Last month, the company had filed an appeal with the Antwerp court, requesting for protection from creditors. The court, however, rejected the request questioning some of the financial data presented before the court.
Earlier, the company had admitted in November 2018 that its diamond stocks were only worth $25 million, despite valuing them at $148 million in September 2018. The company lost the trust of its most important creditors and is indebted to them for huge sums of money.
A senior official of Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) seeking anonymity said, “After the banking fraud worth Rs 13,000 crore involving Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, the bankruptcy proceeding against Indian company in Antwerp will further tighten the bank advances in the diamond sector.”
Kirti Shah, diamond exporter said, “Banks have lost confidence in financing the gems and jewellery companies. We are facing lot of hardships for obtaining finance from the banks. Nowadays, we have to furnish 100% collaterals against the bank advance.”


text:
The website of the upcoming HTC ViveCon event claims that the company will present “virtual reality headsets that will change the rules of the game” at the exhibition next month.
Announced earlier in April, ViveCon is a free two-day event that will take place on May 11 and 12. The company has already promised news for the show, and a recent teaser suggested that we will also see a new headset. On the official website of the event, the company asks the audience: “Take a seat in the front row at the event of the year in the field of virtual reality, as HTC VIVE introduces headsets, software and platforms for virtual reality that change the rules of the game.”
New VR headsets will appear at ViveCon
This confirms that we will see a new VR headset during the show next month, but it also confirms the speculation that there may be two headsets. Earlier this year, it was already reported that HTC plans to release another standalone VR headset in 2021. This is something that is likely to be targeted at corporate clients if it enters Western markets.
If HTC is planning to talk about another device, could it be the Project Proton concept headset, which was first discussed last year? An ultralight device was presented with several possible form factors and options, such as connecting to external devices via 5G or connecting to a smartphone.


text:
The meat production industry is one of the leading contributors of greenhouse gas emissions. Cultured meat presents itself as a potential eco-and animal-friendly meat substitute which has the potential to eradicate animal cruelty and reduce both the environmental footprint and the risk of zoonotic illnesses, while delivering a nutrient-dense product. A new, Danish study, which was published online on 14 April 2021, is examining whether consumers on the Mediterranean are keen to buy lab-grown meat.
A more sustainable approach
Efforts have been made for consumers to turn towards more plant-based diets, since excessive and frequent consumption of meat, especially red and processed meat, has been linked to multiple adverse health effects in humans, namely cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and some kinds of cancer. Even though there is an increase in both the production and acceptance of plant-based alternatives, numerous meat consumers refuse to decrease or abandon their meat consumption. According to the European Vegetarian Union, only 6% of the European population follow a non-meat eating diet. Cultured meat is therefore a potential solution for consumers who do not want to remove meat from their diet.
Although cultured meat is not yet available in the EU market, some companies are aiming at introducing the product in the Common Market by 2023. The market for cultured meat was valued at $118.8 million in 2020 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 14.9% to reach $352.4 million by 2028.
Mediterranean diet and lab-grown meat
The purpose of the study from the University of Copenhagen was to investigate how consumers perceive cultured meat and if the frequency of meat consumption is related to their intention of trying or purchasing cultured meat. Especially consumers in areas that have a very well-established traditional dietary pattern such as the Mediterranean diet, where whole foods or minimally-processed foods are recommended, but where animal sourced food intake has increased dramatically in the past 50 years.
From a public health nutrition perspective, there is consensus on the fact that consumption of foods of animal origin should be reduced dramatically in most countries for environmental and public health reasons. Given that this transition requires innovative solutions, a way ahead could be that large segments of the population would consume cultured meat, in small quantities as recommended.
Unfortunately, evidence indicates that adherence to the plant-rich Mediterranean diet is low, even in countries such as Spain and Greece, and that consumption of fruit and vegetables is below recommendations in EU countries.
Consumers prove skeptical but not adverse
Data were collected online in 2020 from Croatia, Greece, and Spain. Among the 2,007 respondents, three segments were identified according to meat consumption and variety, plus an a priori identified group of “non-meat eaters”. Sixty percent perceived cultured meat as kind to animals, 57% as unnatural, 45% as healthy and environmentally-friendly, 21% as disgusting, and only 16% as tasty. Although 47% of the respondents had not heard of cultured meat before, 47% would taste it and 41% would purchase it for the same price as conventional meat. This indicates that consumers from Croatia, Greece and Spain might be likely to purchase cultured meat if sold at an affordable price.
According to the research, non-meat eaters are less likely to try or purchase cultured meat, while the segment with high frequency of moderately processed meat consumption might be more prone to shifting towards cultured meat alternatives in the future.
DISCOVER MORE: Consumer trends


text:
Sony reported Thursday a loss for its fiscal year ended March 31, hit by the slowdown of the global economy, the appreciation of the yen, and a decline in the Japanese stock market.
Online-classifieds site Craigslist said on Wednesday that it will remove the "erotic services" category of advertisements from its U.S. Web site in a week, after the site was criticized by law enforcement agencies as providing a forum for prostitutio...
Verizon Wireless will begin selling the HP Mini 1151NR netbook on Sunday for $200 after a $50 mail-in rebate and enrollment in a new two-year mobile broadband plan.
Apple on Wednesday started selling its iPhone 3G online, the first time in a year that consumers have been able to get their hands on the device without making a trip to an Apple retail store or buying from AT&T.
The Internet has been abuzz about widespread trouble with Google Inc.'s Google Apps service this morning.
As expected, Adobe patched a zero-day vulnerability in its popular Adobe Reader software Tuesday, marking the second time in three months that it delivered an update on the same day Microsoft issued its monthly fixes.
Although Microsoft's next operating system is months away from release, the recession is already having an impact on Windows 7, a survey of 320 corporate administrators said today.
U.S. consumers are warming to Blu-ray disc players in a big way, according The NPD Group, a market research firm. First quarter 2009 sales of standalone Blu-ray players in the U.S. topped 400,000 units, a significant 72 per cent increase over Q1 2008...
Clearwire has selected Cisco to supply equipment for its 4G mobile WiMAX network buildout. The deal appears to be Cisco's biggest WiMAX win, though terms weren't disclosed.
Digieffects has released FreeForm AE, a warping plug-in for Adobe After Effects that allows users to manipulate a flat object using a mesh in 3D space.
Zenprise is adding a BlackBerry device management option to its flagship MobileManager application.
Epson has launched the Stylus Photo TX700W, its wireless all-in-one, six-color photo printer for photo-enthusiasts to print their photos from anywhere in the home. The press release said the Stylus Photo TX700W is a winner of the highly acclaimed Int...
Toon Boom Animation has launched Toon Boom Studio 5, a new version of the Toon Boom Studio 2.5D animation software that adds stop-motion animation tools to its existing array of animation capabilities.
Canon has introduced two new printers for professional and advanced photographers, the ten-colour Pixma Pro9500 Mark II and the eight-colour Pixma Pro9000 Mark II Photo Printers.
To some fans, 3D Realms' closure Friday came as something of a surprise. After spending nearly 13 years planning and producing Duke Nukem Forever, the veteran publisher abruptly shut down.
There's never been a better time for a business to refresh its devices. Intel offers a range of business solutions, from Servers to SSD, but also 2 in 1 products and also the NUC unit which is set to revolutionise your desktop. Click here to read more information on these products.
Most Popular Reviews
- 1 Sony Xperia Z3 review: The no-frills flagship
- 2 Samsung's Galaxy Alpha review: A peek into the Galaxy S6
- 3 Samsung Galaxy Note 4 review: The busiest, biggest and best Samsung phablet
- 4 Aldi's $279 Bauhn Sphere review: Disappointing
- 5 Nokia Lumia 735 review: Perfectly ordinary
Best Deals on GoodGearGuide
Latest News Articles
- Staples says hack may have compromised 1 million-plus payment cards
- Judge questions evidence on whether NSA spying is too broad
- Three ways enterprise software is changing
- T-Mobile to pay $90M for unauthorized charges on customers' bills
- Companies battle for control of Italy's national fiber network
GGG Evaluation Team
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.


text:
Google Bard: ChatGPT competitor announced
It has been rumored for quite some time that Google could soon come up with its own competitor to OpenAI's popular language model ChatGPT.
Now the company has officially announced that this competitor is indeed in development. It is currently considered experimental by Google and is called "Bard".
Bard is a language model optimized for dialoge, just like ChatGPT. Bard was, however, trained with data sets provided by Google and powered by LaMDA, Google's Language Model for Dialogue Applications.
Bard "seeks to combine the breadth of the world’s knowledge with the power, intelligence and creativity of our large language models" according to Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai.
The conversational AI service "draws on information from the web to provide fresh, high-quality responses" according to Pichai. The public version of ChatGPT lacks these capabilities, as its data set is limited to data from 2021 and before. New versions of ChatGPT are already available that are not limited in this regard.
Microsoft started to test one of these improved ChatGPT implementations on the company's Bing search engine recently. Available to a small subset of Bing users only, it transforms the Bing search engine into a chat-like interface that has Bing users communicate directly with the language model.
Bard, according to Google, can be an "outlet for creativity" and a "launchpad for curiosity". Google users may use Bard to "explain new discoveries from NASA" or the "best strikers in football", and more.
Bard is released with a lightweight model version of LaMDA, which is optimized for scale as it requires less computing power. Google launches Bard to a small set of users initially and plans to combine feedback from these early testers with data from its internal tests. The company wants to make sure that the AI's responses "meet a high bar for quality, safety and groundedness in real-world information".
Bard, just like ChatGPT, comes with a disclaimer. It reads "Bard may give inaccurate or inappropriate information".
Microsoft has the edge right now regarding the integration of language models. ChatGPT is publicly available, and a more advanced version is already being tested in Bing. Google Bard won't be available publicly for some time and it remains to be seen whether it was hastily put together by Google to counter Microsoft's advancement in the area, or a real-contender.
Another thing that needs consideration is how users will react to ChatGPT and Bard, and how the actual integration in search, or co-existence on Bing and Google Search, will look like in the future.
Language models may produce inaccurate results, and there has to be a way to research topics on the Internet the old-fashioned way.
Now You: What do you expect of Google Bard?
“What do you expect of Google Bard?”
The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men, Gang aft a-gley, And leave us nought but grief and pain, For promised joy – Robbie Burns
I think that Bing search finally takes better place than it had the past years, and also with
ChatGTP web search has more safety and reliable that current search algorithm.
With Google Bard start, is sure that better things coming.
What do I expect of Google Bard?
For myself, nothing given I block system-wide access to Google servers. Side-note : haven’t tried ChatGPT.
For itself, for others than myself : “Bard, just like ChatGPT, comes with a disclaimer. It reads “Bard may give inaccurate or inappropriate information”.” I’m afraid many of us will forget this warning, as always.
I’m still in the curiosity stage concerning AI in general but haven’t quit (yet, if I ever will) the caution stage when it comes to AI delivered to masses via dedicated tools. I think as well that virtual reality heavily relies on AI and in this area AI may prove to be harmful : fake images, fake videos, fake audios. We’ve never at the same time denied fake news and venerated virtual reality as we are nowadays, a strange paradox when obviously what is virtual is basically fake.
Basically, I’m not excited.
It has been shown some people accept fake news as fact. Bard and like tools will be clever enough to lull even more people to trust this kind of babble.
Ah, so Google Search will be the next Google product to be retired. We’ll use Bard now. lol
Exactly. You nailed it. Using your own earlier searches in the database, to produce irrelevant links or even small novels, to change our minds.
Good thing to have in coming government elections. I lift my hat, to the bold attempt.
Nope, probably Bard will be another project that will be killed by Google and take its place in Google Graveyard.
I expect from Google Bard to become a Google Bard Simpsom. In other words, not too much neither.


text:
The proposed Cornerstone of Centerville project is economically viable despite ample competition from other area retail and multiuse centers, but needs to set itself apart from those other centers to truly succeed, Dayton-area retail-market specialists and development officials said.
Plans call for Cornerstone to be built near I-675 and Wilmington Pike on more than 220 acres that once belonged to the Dille family. The project would include retail, commercial and residential components and would be built in phases over 10 years, according to preliminary plans submitted by developer George Oberer with Centerville city officials.
Ground could be broken as early as this fall, pending Centerville’s approval of final plans.
The proposed project ups the ante for the interchange at the Centerville-Sugarcreek Township border that already offers many stores, including Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, Home Depot and Lowe’s. And it would add another retail-commercial destination along the I-675 and I-75 south corridor that includes the Mall at Fairfield Commons, the Greene Town Center, Cross Pointe Shopping Center, the Dayton Mall, and the partially completed Austin Landing — all large-scale projects that already draw thousands of shoppers on a daily basis.


text:
HEALTHBEAT Learning from the TV doctors
You couldn't help feeling a twinge of sympathy for Dr. Tyler Wilson in the opening episode of "Monday Mornings", TNT's new medical drama.
Wilson, a neurosurgeon, has made an error in judgment that re... Posted on 2/20/13 at 2:36 PM
STAFF BLOG BEYOND THE PAGE Happy Monday and some fashion advice
Normally, being Monday isn't something to be excited about. In fact, most of the time, it's the most dreaded day of the week.
I would have to disagree.
The way I look at it is like this: Monday is a... Posted on 3/12/12 at 9:52 AM
STAFF BLOG LAGNIAPPE Monday mania
To quote The Bangles: Its just another Manic Monday.
For a while this weekend, I thought there was a chance I wouldnt be here. Hubby Bryan and I encountered some vehicle troubles on our weekend trip... Posted on 4/11/11 at 4:23 PM
ALL ABOUT FOOD Mimi's (Bragday) Monday: Lamb Cake Tradition
There are many theme days for food bloggers. Most are tied to alliteration. There are Meatless Mondays, Wordless Wednesdays and Farmer Fridays. Those are just the ones that pop right into my mind. B... Posted on 4/5/10 at 8:55 AM
REPRINT 1959: Black Monday in Worthington
In 1959, Black Monday didn't refer to a shopping day of any kind or a stock market crash; it referred to an electricity blackout that had people shivering.... Posted on 12/3/09 at 7:00 AM
WORTHINGTON — Mailboxes have been relocated, new striping is complete and the signs are going up all along the detour route as Minnesota Department of Transportation officials gear up to reroute traffic from Minnesota 60 onto the Nobles County State Aid Highway system.
WORTHINGTON — From a fifth-grade twist on an iconic Sinatra tune to the “Fanfare & Flourishes” that will honor this year’s graduates, those looking to sample the District 518 band program need look no farther than the first-ever Band Bash.
WORTHINGTON — Repairs to the City of Worthington Aquatics Center have been completed, and the pool is set to reopen Monday morning, said Andy Johnson, executive director of the Worthington Area YMCA-DeGroot Family Center.
View your ad here! Cost effective targeted advertising. Contextual advertising starting as low as $79/month. This includes targeted ad delivery and search results! Add your business to the Marketplace »


text:
Mobile enterprise startups are like unicorns. Nearly every VC I talk to wants to have a bet in this space, yet there really aren’t that many new candidates each year.
Everyone knows that workers are bringing their own devices to work and want to use their personal tablets or phones instead of clunky, employer-mandated devices. Yet employers want to make sure that corporate data remains secure and trackable.
Enter Workspot, a startup backed by Kleiner Perkins, Norwest Venture Partners and Redpoint, that’s debuting today at TechCrunch Disrupt in New York.
“We’re simplifying bring-your-own-devices for the enterprise,” said co-founder Ty Wang. “The biggest problem that most companies have is that people love these devices. They’re bringing them into work, but they can’t get their work done because the apps the they need like Microsoft’s Sharepoint, are still behind corporate firewalls.”
Wang said older competitors that do mobile device management have solutions that lock the entire device down, that make them unusable in other situations.
Instead, Workspot’s solution is a consumer app that an employee can download through the regular iOS app store. It gives them streamlined access to all of their work apps, requiring just a basic log-in with password. (That’s after a one-time authentication with their work’s network security appliance.)
The company supports four of the leading VPN providers like Cisco and Juniper, which cover about 80 percent of the market and let workers log-in remotely into corporate networks. Employers can easily add in new apps for their employees to use from a control dashboard. Wang said the process takes a few minutes.
“With most of the solutions today, you’d need to set up this system, go through a whole new testing cycle and all kinds of process to add apps,” he said.
The product is actually free for end-users, and Workspot monetizes through offering employers two paid services. One is something called Insights, which gives them analytics into how their workers are using their software and the other is called Events, which gives the employer total visibility into all end-user activity for compliance and auditing.
For those two services, the company charges anywhere from $150 a month for 0 to 25 users to $4 per user per month for companies with more than 250 employees.
The company has raised $1.9 million from Kleiner, Norwest and others and has 11 employees. Their team has a wealth of experience in enterprise. The CEO Amitabh Sinha previously oversaw the integration of acquisitions at Citrix after being a general manager of Enterprise Desktops and Applications. The CTO and co-founder Puneet Chawla spent seven years at VMWare before working as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Redpoint Ventures. Wang, who is also another co-founder, was a vice president of business development for Twilio after being a senior director for platform product marketing at Oracle.


text:
Just before Christmas, the U.K.’s Competition Commission announced that they had approved the proposed merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation. At the time, Tiny Mix Tapes was too busy fawning over our 2009 year-end feature to have bothered noticing. The decision by the Competition Commission was a surprise, since back in October they had made a preliminary ruling against the deal. They now say that if the deal was blocked it would harm “German ticketing firm CTS Eventim, which signed a deal with Live Nation to expand into the UK in 2007.”
Industry watchers (who are these people?) now wait with bated breath to see how America’s Department of Justice will rule on the deal. Their decision is due early this year. However, “of the 1,726 mergers reported in 2008… the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division challenged only 16.”
Concern has been raised about the merger since Ticketmaster is the world’s largest ticket vendor and Live Nation is the world’s largest concert promoter. Visions of an out-of-control corporate empire abound with Ken Solky, President of the National Association of Ticket Brokers, saying the merger would create a behemoth that “could control every part of a live concert, from artist management and promotion to venue management, merchandise sales, and ticket sales and resales.” The two companies see the deal as “creating a new kind of live entertainment business,” according to Chris Edmonds, managing director of Ticketmaster U.K.


text:
Sign in to comment on this article
Not logged in before? Register for FREE guest access today.
You will be able to:
The British Cheese Board has launched a campaign with celebrity chef Gary Rhodes to educate consumers about country-of-origin labelling on Cheddar. The Check Your Cheddar campaign is encouraging shoppers to check whether Cheddar is...
Wensleydale Creamery has launched a new Continental-style blue Wensleydale cheese. Jervaulx Blue is named after Jervaulx Abbey where Wensleydale cheese was first made. "It would appeal to people who historically don't like blue because...
Wensleydale Creamery has reported a huge increase in orders this Christmas. The company said it had produced 50% more cheese across its portfolio in the run-up to Christmas this year on the back of new contract wins and a stronger market...
Site powered by Webvision Cloud


text:
Managing social media strategy requires training, proper software
The role that social media plays in today’s business world is gaining more ground with each passing day, making it crucial for companies to manage their online presence proactively and virtually in real-time.
But to get it right, the strategy should encompass staff trained to provide expert customer service, backed by appropriate software to help keep track of all platforms, especially Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and online communities that provide companies the most direct connections with their customers.
“Our perspective on social media is that it’s still very new, even though its been around for years,” said Bryan Sheppeck, senior vice president of Aspect Social, a firm dedicated to building customer-company relationships through a combination of customer contact software and workforce optimization.
“However, it’s a very dynamic space right now and there are a number of tools that have come out to help companies manage their social media interactions,” he said.
Most companies today monitor social media conversations on marketing campaigns or promotions on the social web, sometimes responding to them but, more often ignoring them.
But as customers increasingly turn to social networks for customer service response and interaction, organizations need to embrace social media as a vital, two-way channel that can amplify their ability to deliver a differentiated customer experience.
“We see companies doing one of two things right now when it comes to social media. They’re either relying on social media as part of marketing campaigns to keep their finger on the pulse of what customers are saying about their brands and measure general trends,” Sheppeck said.
“The other is set more along the line of emotion and campaigning via social media; running a contest, a survey or a poll or promoting events or activities or news, using it as an extension of public relations handled by a marketing department,” the executive said.
Aspect Social comes in to provide software that effectively addresses a growing trend among customers who use social media as their preferred method of engagement with their favorite companies or brands, with trained staff capable of providing good customer service.
Ideally, that service should come from a company’s customer contact center, where personnel is trained to respond to issues over the phone.
“What we have developed with Aspect Social is a product, a software tool, to help brands and enterprises establish the connections that they’ve made in contact centers and offer rapid responses that are accurate because it becomes a function of all the training given to agents,” Sheppeck said. “By incorporating social media management into contact centers, you essentially ensure that they’re giving high quality responses and getting things right the first time.”
Ideally, companies will use this type of software to respond to customers via the same channel through which it was received, said Sheppeck, who was on the island recently meeting with current and potential Aspect Social customers.
“I believe that the vast majority of companies will ultimately have social response capabilities in place. Puerto Rico companies are not the exception,” he said. “Typically, Aspect Social is for any company with a contact center, be it hospitality, government, utilities and banking.”


text:
L&W Supply Names New Branch Managers in California and North Carolina
L&W Supply, a nationwide distributor of interior building materials and construction supplies, has announced that Ken Wong has been named branch manager of its San Francisco, California, location.
Wong joined L&W Supply in 2013 at the San Francisco location, bringing over 12 years of industry knowledge to the team. Wong has held many roles at the company, including branch supervisor and region operations manager.
“Ken’s local experience and in-depth knowledge make him a great fit for the San Francisco market,” said Northern California and Nevada District Manager; Dave Hovekamp. “We are excited to have him as part of the Northern California team.”
As branch manager, Ken will be responsible for managing daily branch operations, cultivating customer relationships, guiding associates and growing the business. Visit L&W Supply’s website to learn more about its products and services and to find your nearest location.
L&W Supply also announced that Mike Packer has been named branch manager of its Fayetteville, North Carolina, location.
Packer joined L&W Supply in 2021 as an outside sales representative. He brings over two decades of industry experience in construction distribution to the team.
“As a life-long resident of Fayetteville, Mike’s knowledge of the market will be invaluable to the success of his new team,” says District Manager; Dan Hinkle. “We look forward to seeing him and his team continue to provide exceptional service to Fayetteville-area contractors.”
As branch manager, Mike will be responsible for managing daily branch operations, cultivating customer relationships, guiding associates and growing the business.
About L&W Supply
Since 1971, L&W Supply has been recognized as a world-class interior products company and is one of the nation’s largest distributors of wallboard, suspended ceiling systems, steel studs, joint treatment, insulation, fasteners and related building products. L&W Supply was acquired by ABC Supply in November 2016. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, L&W Supply operates over 250 branches in 42 states. More information about L&W is available online at www.lwsupply.com.
About ABC Supply
ABC Supply Co., Inc. is the largest wholesale distributor of roofing and other select exterior and interior building products in North America. Since its founding in 1982, ABC Supply’s sole focus has been serving professional contractors and “making it easy” for them to do their jobs by offering the products, support and services they need. Headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin, ABC Supply has over 900 locations across the U.S. and Canada. More information is available at www.abcsupply.com.
Ana Medina – Media Contact – email@example.com – (608) 256-6357
Source: L & W Supply Corporation


text:
Here’s a letter confirming where Trident Seafoods Corp. now stands on its proposed $4.35 million purchase of troubled Wrangell Seafoods Inc.
The deal is off.
Trident president Paul Padgett seems to blame WSI representatives for the purchase falling apart.
His letter to WSI chairman Douglas Roberts says certain labor-related allegations weren’t disclosed to Trident at the time the sale agreement was put together.
Hmm. Wonder if this will get messy? A lot of lawyers already are involved.
Wrangell city officials were hopeful the sale would go through so the plant, now mired in bankruptcy proceedings, could operate this summer.
The Wrangell Sentinel has reported that another suitor for WSI might be in the wings now: E.C. Phillips and Son Inc. of Ketchikan.


text:
We've all searched a product online only to be targeted by similar ads for weeks to come, and while seeing the hair dryer you recently googled is annoying and creepy, it's easy to gloss over. But if you've had a miscarriage, you know just how heartbreaking it can be when ads for cribs and onesies follow you around the internet for months after your loss. This is something that an important new initiative out of Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital is hoping to change.
Many expectant parents start researching and planning for their new arrival as soon as they find out they’re pregnant, with ad networks collecting data from each search in order to send ads of similar products for up to 540 days (the maximum amount of time an individual can be “remarketed”). This means baby ads can follow you for more than a year after a loss, which is not only extremely triggering but can also prolong the grieving process. To help protect parents, Sunnybrook's Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) network introduced an ingenious new tool in mid-June as part of the #UnsilenceTheConversation campaign: the Baby Ad Opt-Out.
The opt-out tool is a browser plugin that can be installed on your computer and phone from the #UnsilenceTheConversation website. Once downloaded, you can open the browser extension to get instructions on how to update your advertising settings and unsubscribe from any parenting and baby-related ads. You can select which platforms (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and/or email) you'd like the opt-out to apply to, but each platform must be done individually. Although this may sound tedious, it's actually quite simple and only takes about a minute per platform. “This will hopefully give people the ability to start their grieving process more easily and gain support," says Heather Ricard, a volunteer with PAIL and mother of two living and one deceased child. "Without it, you would be too scared to go online because you didn’t know what was going to pop up.”
And while the #UnsilenceTheConversation initiative hopes to shield bereaved parents from insensitive ads, it also hopes to make the subject of pregnancy loss less taboo. After all, 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss, but the fact that so few people talk about it makes it harder for those struggling to cope and grieve. According to PAIL program manager Michelle LaFontaine, the campaign is "a way to invite people into the conversation about pregnancy and infant loss.”
By normalizing this conversation, Ricard hopes that parents will be able to gain support earlier in their pregnancy and become more aware of the possibility of a loss. People tend to wait until their second trimester to share that they're pregnant for fear of losing the baby and having to explain this to everyone they told. “It’s kind of become a new trend to hold off on your pregnancy announcement, which is super sad!" she says. “People should be excited from the get-go, but instead, we close that off to try and avoid the headache and pain of [having]."
Another tool in the #UnsilenceTheConversation initiative is an Unbirth Announcement that can be shared on social media for anyone who is grieving a pregnancy loss but unsure how to tell their friends and family. This short video, which can be downloaded on the PAIL website, is intended to normalize the conversation around loss while offering an easy way to share the sad news.
PAIL also offers resources for friends and family unsure of how to help a loved one going through a loss. “Something that we always talk about is just being there and that it’s about presence, not perfection,” says LaFontaine. “There are no perfect words for you to say that will take their pain away. There’s nothing that you can do that will change what’s happening to them. So, just showing up and not having expectations of the bereaved person… and giving some concrete steps that you plan to take with that person.”
Ricard adds that it’s really important to be mindful when supporting someone who is going through a loss. “From the second you find out you’re pregnant, you have all sorts of life plans started in your head,” she says. “What will my baby look like? Will my baby be a doctor? A professional skier? Will they like music like me or wear glasses like their dad? These parents are no different, and no matter if they have their loss at seven weeks or at full term, the baby is still their child. So, just let them know that you’re there anytime and that speaking with you is a safe place.”
Now, thanks to Sunnybrook's innovative new opt-out tool, the internet can be a safer place for parents experiencing a loss.
Keep up with your baby's development, get the latest parenting content and receive special offers from our partners


text:
The largest T-Shirt design contest in history needs your help: choose from among eight epic finalists to see who will be the lucky winners. Stereosonic, the host of one of the biggest music festivals in Australia, recently launched a T-Shirt design contest on 99 designs. Out of nearly 4,000 entrants, eight finalists have made the cut. If you ask us, all eight designs are amazing, but, alas, there can only be two winners. The two winners of this contest will each receive $1,500, and the shirts will be sold at the festival, which have as many as 45,000 attendees. A "People's Choice" runner-up will get $500. Not a bad consolation prize.
The contest is open through this weekend, so vote now! You can vote here, registration-free!


text:
New Year’s Day will be a good day to be in Illinois if you like marijuana and you are an adult 21 and over with valid photo identification.
“On Jan. 1, 2020, as early as 6 a.m. Central Standard Time, the doors open on a new era for cannabis, as the Prairie State initiates commercial sales to all adults over 21 and older with valid ID,” David Downs at Leafly writes.
The United States’ 11th legalization state is also the first to regulate retail sales through a legislative process. That makes this rollout among America’s most fully baked, since it relies on the existing medical cannabis system to serve adult-use customers swiftly and reliably. (…) Thirty stores have state licenses to start adult-use sales on Jan. 1, 2020, and 27 are ready to go with local approval on opening day.
Here they are in a Leafly list:
Where to buy: Illinois dispensaries open New Year’s Day
— David Downs (@davidrdowns) December 18, 2019
A classic robotics video from Boston Dynamics in 2015. Think of how much more developed the robots are now! Yikes. [YouTube]
UPS driver Bruce Slette found a goat in the back of his UPS delivery truck, and the images he snapped and sent to his daughter have now gone very viral. They’re really quite funny.
It’s hard to find a web-based profession — or any profession, for that matter — that doesn’t require you to deal with PDFs. They’re universally recognized, they’re used for tons of official documents, and they’re stubbornly resistant to editing. That’s by design, of course. But technology always finds a workaround. And if you’ve got a […]
When real athletes train, they clearly don’t go into it blindly. Balance is important, and the recovery is just as important as the workout itself. As for the rest of us, we barely have time for the workout, much less a professional massage afterward. That’s why a professional-grade hand-held massage gun like the DEEP4s might […]
Digital marketing in the coming decade will be a battle fought on multiple fronts. Companies are finding their customers on more web outlets than ever, and they’re not getting any less fickle. It can all be pretty confusing for anyone looking to make their brand breakthrough, but the 2020 Full Stack Digital Marketing Certification Bundle […]


text:
New research has shown that happier orang-utans live longer which may shed light on the evolution of happiness in humans.
Advanced crafting of stone spearheads contributed to the development of new ways of human thinking and behaving.
US videogame publishing titan Electronic Arts is merging blockbuster titles with social play, popular new gadgets and downloadable content in a changing world of interactive entertainment.
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study that has identified a right-handed dominance in gorillas may also reveal how tool use led to language development in humans.
Whether you just bought an airline ticket or a pair of jeans online, chances are an Internet search preceded the transaction. Now Facebook hopes to make its vast web of online social connections another central ingredient ...
US videogame titan Electronic Arts (EA) on Tuesday announced it is buying the Australian mobile game maker behind hit titles "Flight Control" and "Real Racing" for play on iPhones or iPads.
(AP) -- Faded social networking site Friendster will soon delete nearly a decade's worth of user photos, blog entries and other data in a revamp to set it apart from Facebook, a company official said Thursday.
Across many groups of animals, species with bigger brains often have better cognitive abilities. But it's been unclear whether overall brain size or the size of specific brain areas is the key.
(PhysOrg.com) -- Swinburne researchers have developed a scale that identifies four different types of personal blogging styles.
With the help of two sets of brothers with autism, Johns Hopkins scientists have identified a gene associated with autism that appears to be linked very specifically to the severity of social interaction deficits.


text:
Carlos Carbonell, 37, is CEO of Echo Interaction Group, a mobile app and interactive media development company based in Orlando. Echo developed the upcoming Buy Local Orlando app, as well as CourseMob, an app inspired by a UCF Business Incubation Program winner that sends study items to students on their cellphones throughout the day. He spoke recently with staff writer Walter Pacheco.
CFB: What attracted you to the technology industry in metro Orlando and app development?
It's my home! It's also a fantastic home base for a tech business. We have customers all across the U.S., and even Australia and Ireland. Orlando is a hub for business, politics and entertainment. Between UCF, Full Sail, and Valencia, we also have access to some of the best talent. We're committed to playing a part in growing the local economy and produce jobs that stay right here in Orlando.
CFB: What challenges do you encounter when developing an app?
You have to be flexible and dynamic with the whole process, from concept to programming. You often have to force hardware to execute a certain function. In turn, that might enhance an app, making it completely different than originally envisioned.
CFB: What's the best advice you can share with a company trying to launch an app?
Move quickly! The mobile market is quickly taking shape. The window for getting your product to market is finite. If you don't launch an app, your competitor will.
CFB: What makes Orlando such a social-media connected city?
It's a growing city where people are eager to connect with each other. Orlando residents already live on Facebook. Local entertainment events, protests, networking groups, niche communities — they are all connecting via social media. If local marketers can add value to their message on social media, people will interact.
CFB: Social media played a large role in gathering more than 400 Occupy Orlando protesters outside Orange County Regional History Center last week. Can you explain why social media is capable of mobilizing people so effectively?
When I was in Egypt this summer and witnessed how activists organized against the regime, I learned firsthand why Egyptians called it the Facebook Revolution. Even if the cause is seemingly insurmountable, like taking on a despot in Egypt or the financial giants of Wall Street, regular people feel empowered by having a voice in social media. Social media can help folks without any other type of cohesion, save for a common cause, to self organize. It's inexpensive and can spread information faster than other online or offline alternatives.
CFB: What is Echo's next big, innovative product?
Our next big apps will be in the gaming world, health care, and government. Gamification, or engaging users to interface with a brand for fun, is very popular. Users can enter contests without having to purchase anything. Health-care agencies are scrambling to digitally standardize recordkeeping to comply with a federal mandate requiring them to switch to electronic health records by 2014. In general, many aspects of government agencies, from recordkeeping to training, are archaic. Mobile technology could help streamline the challenges they face.
CFB: What role will Metro Orlando play in the future of app development?
City government has shown a commitment to new media and technology, and that will continue to attract companies like ourselves. We are hoping that my involvement in Full Sail's advisory board will help shape a great mobile-development program that will create and nurture the area's existing talent, budding companies and serve as a training ground for businesses clamoring for that type of technology. In turn, that will attract hardware manufacturers, government service providers, and others to Orlando's growing technology industry.


text:
Hotels across the U.S. are following new health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) announced industry-wide coronavirus safety guidelines on Monday called “Safe Stay.” The guidelines are designed “to prepare America’s hotels to safely welcome back guests and employees as the economy reopens,” the association said in a statement.
The guidelines include social distancing measures such as remaining six feet apart, contactless check-in and self-parking options when possible, and keeping housekeepers out of occupied guest rooms unless specifically requested. There will also be hand sanitizer stations and health and hygiene signage in high-traffic areas.
When it comes to dining, guests will find traditional room service procedures replaced with no-contact delivery methods. Buffet service, while limited, will be served by a worker in personal protective equipment and sneeze and cough screens will be present at all food displays.
Employees will keep a physical distance from each other in dining rooms and other shared spaces and front desk workers will use every other station.
Cleaning protocols will be stepped up, especially in high-touch communal areas like elevators, vending machines, and gym equipment, and high-touch guest room areas such as remote controls, light switches, and water faucet handles.
“Safe Stay was developed specifically to ensure enhanced safety for hotels guests and employees,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA, in a press release. “While hotels have always employed demanding cleaning standards, this new initiative will ensure greater transparency and confidence throughout the entire hotel experience. The industry’s enhanced hotel cleaning practices, social interactions, and workplace protocols will continue to evolve to meet the new health and safety challenges and expectations presented by COVID-19.”
The standards were developed by an advisory council comprised of industry leaders from companies such as Accor, Hilton, Marriott International, and Omni Hotels & Resorts. They are based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control.


text:
Press Association 2020
Oculus, a Facebook-owned company, has released a new version of its Quest virtual reality headset that includes several technical upgrades.
Quest 2 is Oculus & # 39; "Display with the highest resolution ever" with 50% more pixels and weighs less than the original device released in 2018.
Processor and memory boosts will offer enough to "enable even more impressive experiences," the technology giant announced on Wednesday.
The controllers have also been redesigned to ensure better ergonomics and longer battery life.
The headset starts shipping October 13th from £ 299.
Titles that will be available on Quest 2 include Star Wars: Tales from the Edge of the Galaxy, Beat Saber Multiplayer, Jurassic World Aftermath, The Climb 2, Myst and Warhammer 40,000 Battle Sister, as well as two new VR entries in the Assassin & # 39; s Creed and Tom Clancy & # 39; s Splinter Cell Universes.
Oculus used its Facebook Connect event to highlight a number of developments in virtual reality, including a new VR fitness experience called Oculus Move that people can use to exercise at home.


text:
Australian supermarket giant Woolworths is set to roll out 30,000 contactless payment terminals across more than 3,000 stores in 2012. The move follows a trial where the company saw a 50 to 75% decrease in transaction times compared with non-contactless transactions. Customers will be able to make purchases of up to A$100 without a PIN or signature. Earlier this week, rival Coles Supermarkets said it would also switch to contactless in 2012.
- Amazon begins delivering parcels to consumers’ cars
- Copenhagen Business School lets students make payments with just their finger — no card or smartphone required
- Contactless payments are now used for half of all public transport journeys in London
- Samsung Pay to go live in South Africa in June
- Walmart files blockchain payments data storage patents


text:
The Article: Black Friday epitomizes American Culture by Michael Williams in The North Wind.
The Text: Black Friday has become more reflective of American cultural values than Thanksgiving.
The irony of Black Friday is clear, perhaps cliché. If we are celebrating gratitude and contentment on Thanksgiving, then is overconsumption the day following appropriate? Is the concept of Thanksgiving thus disingenuous? What stinks of gratitude and contentment less than incessant dissatisfaction manifesting itself as consumption?
Black Friday weekend of 2012 grossed $60 billion in sales in the United States. That’s 10 times the amount of money spent in the 2012 presidential campaign, which, by the way, was the costliest presidential run in U.S. history. Yes, more money is spent for nondurable goods in this country than for the institution of democracy.


text:
You may have seen the photos of a jam-packed Malaga Airport on Saturday and hundreds on Irish people rushed to Spain over the weekend.
The surge in Irish holidaymakers dashing to the airport for a longed-for break away has naturally caused confusion amongst those of us who thought international travel restrictions were not lifted until July 19th.
As it happens, the EU digital Covid Certificate - which allows for travel within the EU as long as you have one of three requirements - was introduced across Europe on July 1.
As so, the past weekend was the first chance for many Europeans to get away.
However, Ireland has chosen to delay its introduction of the travel certificate until July 19 - meaning holidaymakers could still face a €2,000 fine if they are found to be travelling for a non-essential reason.
In addition, anyone who is returning to Ireland will still need to have proof of a negative PCR test, regardless of their vaccine status, until July 19.
As travel expert Eoghan Corry explained to RSVP Live: “Europe jumped, and we didn't, it’s still illegal to travel for a non-essential reason until the 19th of July and you can be fined €2,000.
“All those people you saw arriving to Spain are supposed to be on essential travel. Does topping up your sun tan merit as essential?”.
The latest info on Citizens Information on international travel also advises: “You should only travel outside Ireland (including Northern Ireland) if you have an essential reason for doing so. There are penalties for people who travel abroad for non-essential reasons”.
Eoghan added that the reality is people from outside Ireland are free to travel here, but we’re not free to leave.
He said: “It’s an interesting one because people arriving in Ireland cannot be restricted from arriving in Ireland, citizens of other countries have a legal right to travel to Ireland since July 1st”.
Eoghan says Garda checkpoints are still at Dublin Airport “as far as I know” however there are ways around it, for instance a Fast Track Pass that can be purchased for €5.95 will avoid the checkpoint.


text:
Appalachian Sun Brewery eyes opening date in Elizabethton
Published 5:27 pm Monday, July 23, 2018
A dream roughly five years in the making is starting to become a reality for James Kerr.
Work is underway at the Elk Crossing Shopping Center as Kerr and his wife, Traci, work to bring Appalachian Sun Brewery to Elizabethton. The facility, which is located behind the shopping center on West Elk Avenue, is in the process of being renovated as the Kerrs seek approval from the state to officially sell their product.
“There’s been a lot of cleaning and deciding on where to put different things,” Kerr said. “We’ve also been prepping the brewing area since that’ll be the most important part. The goal is to get it ready so I can start brewing in there. I can’t, officially, brew to sell until I get all the federal permits and everything finalized.”
As remodeling continues at the facility, Kerr indicated that he can’t sell yet, but he is able to host taste-testing events to get the word out about Appalachian Sun. One idea, he explained, is to get involved in some upcoming events to help spread the word about the brewery, which is expected to be able to sell its product either in late Fall or early Winter.
But while the name of the business brings up the sun, it was actually a trip to the typically rainy area of Washington state that helped spur the idea of the business.
“I never was really a big beer drinker,” Kerr said. “I just didn’t like commercial beer all that much. Where I work at NFS, we do a lot of traveling. I was able to try some different craft beers on the road, and I thought it was different. I liked it.
It was after visiting a brewery near the Seattle area that Kerr knew he wanted to try brewing as a hobby. Since that time, the Appalachian Sun owner was able to make different batches at home, ultimately coming up with around 25 different recipes. Kerr uses a computer system and goes through different ideas when coming up with a brew.
Now the goal is to bring the hobby to the public and be an economic driver for the area, Kerr said.
“I’ve been talking to the city planner for about five years to bring one in,” he added. “The whole process was about finding the right building for the right price. I don’t have any income coming in right now while we wait. The owner of the building, Charles VonCannon, was all about bringing something into this building and helping the town.
Kerr added that the economic impact Johnson City has received from the breweries in the area could easily be replicated in Elizabethton. According to Kerr, the area that he visited near Seattle, which is smaller than Elizabethton, actually has five breweries.
“I would love to be able to start something like that in Elizabethton,” he said. “The area could easily handle more than just one. We’re hoping this will be successful and that people will enjoy the atmosphere.”
And the ability is there to possibly help drive up the numbers for dollars coming into the city.
Bart Watson, Ph.D., is chief economist for the Brewers Association, a national 501(c)(6) not-for-profit trade association made up of over 4,100 U.S. brewery members and 46,000 members of the American Homebrewers Association. During a recent event with the Elizabethton Star, he indicated breweries have helped bolster economies from areas across the country.
According to information provided by the Brewers Association, the brewing industry has provided more than 456,000 full-time equivalent jobs, with more than 128,000 jobs directly at breweries and brewpubs, including serving staff at brewpubs.
“There are many benefits that come with a brewery coming to an area,” Watson recently told the Elizabethton Star. “It brings an additional business to a community, which equals more jobs and causes a ripple effect by partnering with other businesses. There’s also the ability to bring in outside money and assist with redevelopment of a stretch where it could be located.”
Watson also added that information from Brewers Association, which date back to 2016, indicated Tennessee is one of the fast-growing brewery states with a reported $1.1 billion impact for the state.
For the time being, individuals wanting to learn more about the business can stay up to date by visiting the Appalachian Sun Brewery LLC Facebook page. Kerr stated the page will feature updates on progress of the building and various taste-testing events. A web page is also in the works.


text:
DiaSorin on Thursday announced revenues of 1.01 billion euros ($1 billion) for the first nine months of 2022, an increase of 18% from 858.9 million euros for the first nine months of 2021.
The Saluggia, Italy-based firm said that for the nine months that ended September 30, it saw strong performance in its immunodiagnostic and molecular diagnostic businesses.
Growth was driven by including Luminex, an Austin, TX-based diagnostic testing firm DiaSorin acquired last year, in its financial results. Luminex contributed 277 million euros overall during the first nine months of 2022.
Immunodiagnostic revenues not related to COVID-19 grew 10%, and molecular diagnostics revenues not related to COVID-19 grew 90% compared to the first nine months of 2021.
However, in parallel with many diagnostics companies reporting recent quarter sales, DiaSorin's growth was partly offset by an expected decline in COVID-19 product sales. For the first nine months, COVID-19 serology and molecular diagnostic test sales of 201 million euros were down 27% year over year, the firm said.
For the third quarter of 2022, DiaSorin reported revenues of 326.8 million euros, down 5% compared to 343.5 million euros in the third quarter of 2021. Within the quarter, COVID-19 product revenues of 51.6 million euros were down 48% from 98.4 million euros in the third quarter of 2021.
The company posted a third-quarter net profit of 62.1 million euros compared to 79.3 million euros during the third quarter of 2021.
For the full year 2022, DiaSorin expects revenues to grow 2% to 3% on 2021 revenues. For all of 2022, COVID-19 product revenues are expected to be about 225 million euros, and non-COVID-19 product revenues are expected to grow 22% year over year.


text:
An explosion at a Japanese chemical plant could trigger a diaper shortage.
Nippon Shokubai is one of the world’s biggest makers of acrylic acid, which is the main ingredient used in diapers.
The incident occurred Saturday at an acrylic acid residue tank and the fire spread to nearby tanks.
Several online reports say the explosion could slow production of disposable diapers and possibly increase the cost.
Click here to read more about the explosion and potential shortage.


text:
Melania Trump, the First Lady of the United States, is mourning the death of fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, the Daily Mail is reporting. Trump posted tributes to both Twitter and Instagram where she praised the “creative genius.” She also shared with her social media followers photos of herself modeling his creations and even posing with on a red carpet with him. In addition, Trump posted an exclusive sketch of Lagerfeld’s that depicted an outfit she wore for an official White House appearance in 2017.
She also posted a sketch Lagerfeld made of a suit coat with a firm, standing-up collar and matching pencil skirt. She posted a photo of herself modeling the garment after it was brought to life. Trump also wore an outfit designed by Lagerfeld for her first official White House appearance in 2017. Melania wore a white skirt suit designed by Lagerfeld to greet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu at the White House.
Trump and Lagerfeld’s relationship goes back before her she was even a Trump, however. Back when she was just President Donald Trump’s girlfriend, she was known as model Melania Knauss. While attending the Chanel Spring/Summer 2005 haute couture show during Paris Fashion Week in 2004, the future First Lady posed with the legendary designer for a photo. While many fashion designers refused to dress Trump due to her controversial husband, Lagerfeld always stepped up to the plate.
“Fashion people are fashion, they are not politics,” Lagerfeld said in an interview back in 2017.
“I knew Trump before, when he was not in politics. I’m not American, but he’s a democratically elected president of America, so people have to deal with it.”
Lagerfeld passed away on February 19 in Paris, France after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Trump is one of the many people who has paid tribute to the 85-year-old designer. Other big names who have made social media posts dedicated to the late Lagerfeld include Victoria Beckham, Donatella Versace, Marc Jacobs, Diane Kruger, Anna Wintour, and Claudia Schiffer.
“He was one of the most influential and celebrated designers of the 21st century and an iconic, universal symbol of style,” read a statement on the late designer’s Instagram.
“Driven by a phenomenal sense of creativity, Karl was passionate, powerful and intensely curious. He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy as one of the greatest designers of our time, and there are no words to express how much he will be missed.”


text:
Most online video companies are little more than YouTube vassals, dependent on the Google-owned juggernaut for traffic, promotion, even monetization. Funny or Die has chosen a more independent path, which increasingly looks like the right move.
The comedy site has become one of the most lucrative video websites online without having to depend on YouTube for traffic. Funny or Die sees just a fraction of its traffic on YouTube, but that hasn’t hurt it all that much. The company is expected to bring in more than $40 million this year because its avoided having to make such a bargain. By directing viewers to funnyordie.com, it retains more advertising revenue. Funny or Die’s direct traffic has also made the site alluring to advertisers looking to funny up their image. The site has created commercials for brands as small as Old Milwaukee and as large as Miller Lite.
“We were fortunate that we started our site at a time that you could create a standalone site and not rely on a third-party distribution platform,” said Chris Bruss, Funny or Die’s VP-branded entertainment.
That stands in contrast to other video creators. Machinima and Maker Studios, for instance, rely on YouTube for most of their distribution. While YouTube offers publishers access to more than 1 billion unique users each month, it also retains 45 percent of all advertising revenue earned on its platform. And there are the standard risks of building on a platform. As many companies dependent on Facebook and Twitter have found, things can change quick when you’re a renter, not an owner.
Funny or Die had fewer than 4.3 million unique visits in October, but nearly 80 percent of those came from Funny or Die’s own site, according to comScore. On the other hand, Vevo, YouTube’s largest partner, had more than 47.8 million unique visitors in October. But Vevo own’s website constituted only 11.2 percent of that traffic.
While Funny or Die is currently an outlier, its success suggests to some that well-known video publishers might not need YouTube as much as YouTube would have them believe. Some say media companies have equal footing when it comes to negotiating with YouTube. “It’s symbiotic. Without the video content, why would you ever go to YouTube?” said Gian LaVecchia, U.S. digital lead at MEC.
Lavecchia said YouTube’s reliance on quality video is why YouTube is enhancing its so-called “sweetheart” deals. YouTube once convinced Hollywood to post on YouTube by allowing them to keep 70 percent of ad revenue earned there. Now, YouTube is offering premium video publishers a lower share of ad revenue upfront (55 percent), with the caveat that publishers can retain 100 percent of ad revenue sold above YouTube’s rate card. YouTube’s sweethearts have the opportunity to earn more, but the onus is on them to upsell advertisers. (YouTube declined to comment for this story.)
But Funny or Die proves that Hollywood doesn’t necessarily need YouTube to make money off video.
“We always wanted to have complete control of our own product, whereas other people chose to use the resources available via the YouTube platform,” Funny or Die CEO Dick Glover told Digiday. Glover added that Funny or Die has an “excellent” relationship with YouTube.
To be sure, not every digital video property can tout Will Ferrell as a co-founder. But as venerated publications like The New York Times double down on video production, they have to decide whether trading ad revenue for audience is a worthwhile bargain.
If publishers must insist upon calling themselves “established brands” and “tech platforms,” perhaps before long they too will demand viewers, and advertisers, go directly to them.
The Washington Post invests in climate coverage as its team expands to over 30 journalists
The Post's climate team continues to expand as the publisher makes big bets on the beat drawing younger audiences.
Inside one media company’s strategy to monetize the Fifa World Cup
Soccer media business Footballco has spent most of 2022 trying to make hay while the sun is shining.
Member ExclusiveMedia Briefing: Publishers’ Q3 earnings reports show promise, but not without sacrifice
Publishers' third quarter earning reports are in.
SponsoredHow brands are measuring incremental performance on CTV
Connected TV is unique among other advertising channels because it combines linear television’s storytelling capabilities with digital marketing’s targeting and measurement. As more marketers leverage CTV advertisements to reach relevant and engaged audiences, they also want to understand the real value they are generating with their investment. Incrementality reporting and measurement allow advertisers to measure […]
Publishers continue to evaluate cost-cutting in Q4, with economic and budgetary pressures mounting
The wave of cost-cutting measures in Q3 is still flowing into Q4, with publishers under pressure to keep expenses down at a time of continuing economic uncertainty and budget planning.
A new entrant in the data-driven linear TV measurement space aims to fill a gap left by Microsoft’s Xandr
As Xandr shuts down its Clypd platform, datafuelX's M3 SaaS product aims to solve some of the multi-currency, multi-platform problems with investing in convergent TV today.


text:
When looking back at the top real estate stories from 2017, I listed HQ2 as No. 1 and for this year’s list, Amazon’s search for a second headquarters gets to that position again.
There’s a sense of relief the high-stakes gambit is over but there should be a self-analysis to determine what Philadelphia and the region learned from that exercise, what were our strengths and weaknesses and where do we go from here to stay competitive as companies consider locations to expand or move. At a recent Philadelphia Business Journal event, Anne Fadullon, director of Philadelphia’s Planning and Development Department, said when Amazon officials came to visit the city after submitting a response to its RFP, they revealed Philadelphia wasn’t even on the company’s radar. It sounded as if Amazon officials hardly knew the city existed.
While that may be an exaggeration, the sentiment is the same. If Philadelphia isn’t top-of-mind to Amazon officials conducting a nationwide search, how many other companies share a similar view of the city and region? It was good to hear that once they got here for a visit, Amazon officials were impressed but still, that disconnect is a problem.
The other takeaway came in the form of incentives. While Pennsylvania was willing to give $4.6 billion and Philadelphia offered to create a 20-year tax increment financing district valued at $1 billion, the role of those funds didn’t play as big of a part as expected in Amazon’s decision. Can those funds be redeployed in some fashion to help spur economic activity now? Why wait for the next Amazon to come along when fledgling businesses here and across the region could use some extra capital to get to the next level? Perhaps they will become an Amazon of our own making….
To read more, visit Philadelphia Buisness Journal.


text:
Chrysler-badged Lancia Delta for the UK Unveiled
text size: A- A+
Chrysler’s Delta is actually going to be sold in the UK and presumably Ireland. The facelifted model was shown at this year’s Geneva Motor show in March, where the tweaked model impressed with its exclusive colors.
In Britain, the Delta will come with a number of petrol and diesel engines, starting with a choice of two 1.4-liter four-cylinder units delivering 120HP and 140HP respectively. There’s also a 120 HP 1.6-liter, but the pick of the litter is the 200HP 2.0-liter turbo diesels delivering up to 61.4mpg on the combined British cycle and emissions as low as 120g/Km.
UK pricing has yet to be released and will likely come with the actual market debut of the model, which is expected to take place shortly.
There's no official word on the group's US plans for the Delta hatchback, but we would like to hear your thoughts on the matter and in particular, if the Delta's styling fits in the Chrysler model range and if you want such a car to be sold in America. Tell if you want the Chrysler Delta to make it across the pond in the comment section below.
Meanwhile, European dealers will have a number of Chrysler models they sell under Lancia badges: the new 300C sedan, the restyled Voyager large minivan and even the 200.
❐ Check out the Chrysler-badged Lancia Delta for the UK Unveiled photo gallery
UP NEXT: NYC's Mayor Goes Forward With Red Light Cameras on Every Corner Tip: navigate with ← and →
comments written so far
On 26 August 2011 at 16:01 UTC, Lancia Larry said:
Fiat is really making a big mistake selling the Lancia Delta as a Chrysler in the UK. Chrysler sells hardly any cars in the UK at all (Dodge pulled out last year) and those after a stylish Italian hatch really have no interest in a Chrysler badged vehicle. Ironic that Alfa is selling like hotcakes in the UK and a relaunched Lancia could easily have shared this enthusiasm for Italian cars.
Cars we've tested recently
all testdrives →


text:
Everybody’s Talkin’ at ERA and BPI
No doubt prompted by last week’s Tipping Point feature on smart speakers and machine learning, The BPI and ERA have announced details their latest joint Insight Session that will explore the growth of voice-activated speakers and their impact on the music industry.
The event, entitled “Everybody’s Talkin'” (I see what you did there) is curated by Music Ally, hosted by its CEO & Founder, Paul Brindley, and will feature presentations by Amazon Music and Futuresource alongside a panel discussion with representatives from 7digital and The Orchard.
The event will take place from 4-6pm on Tuesday March 20th at the BPI offices in County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road.
The session will consider how people are discovering and playing music on smart speakers, and what this is likely to mean for labels and streaming platforms. It will also explore how smart speakers and virtual assistants may impact music consumption and encourage more mainstream music consumers. Another topic will be how the technology can help shape marketing campaigns in future.
NPR and Edison Research shows that 16 per cent of Americans indicated they owned a smart speaker by the end of 2017, with over two thirds (70%) of these claiming they now listen to more music in the home as a result.
© Generator 2024 - All rights reserved.
Delivered with Cargo Creative


text:
Russian President Vladimir Putin To Soon Have Electric Motorcycle 'Aurus Escort' In His Motorcade
As the trend of electric vehicles grows around the world, EVs are finding their way to almost every use-case for vehicles. A recent and glaring example of this is the new electric motorcycle being inducted into Russian President Vladimir Putin's motorcade.
Called Escort, the electric motorcycle by Aurus will be used to escort the Russian President Putin as part of his motorcade. The EV was recently unveiled by the state-backed luxury carmaker for the purpose.
As for the maker itself, Aurus Motors has been known to make special armoured variants of its vehicles for President Putin. The offerings by the firm to date include an armoured limousine, van, and an SUV.
Though the company has had its marquee on many vehicles until now, Escort motorcycle will be the first in the Aurus lineup to go fully electric. The company is expected to bring them to production only by 2022, in collaboration with the Russian State Scientific Research Center (FSUE NAMI) and the Kalashnikov Group.. There is, hence, not much information available about the motorcycles as of now.
There are, however, some things that can be deduced from the EVs latest patent images. One, for instance, is that the electric touring motorcycle will come with a big, adjustable windshield and hard case panniers.
Seen to have a bulky built, the electric motorcycle will sport an aluminium frame. The front end can be seen having a central shock absorber, enabling a high riding position with wide handlebars and a hollowed-out saddle for the rider. Disc brakes can be seen on both the ends.
Some reports mention the Escort to have a 112 kW electric motor that will be able to churn out a top speed of 240 kmph. Not much badging can be seen on the patent images except for one mentioning “Escort”.
Once out, Aurus Escort will be the first of its kind electric vehicle to grace Putin's motorcade. With the unique concept, it might just be the first ever electric two-wheeler to be inducted for such use anywhere in the world. At the least, this is a stark reminder of the fact that the future of vehicles on Earth is electric.
The Conversation (0)
Start a conversation, not a fire. Post with kindness.


text:
GB liveweight cattle prices fell marginally in the week to 14 March, despite a decline in throughputs.
Values lost 1.19p/kg on the previous week, averaging 196.54p/kg, with numbers through markets down by 5.11% to 3,973 head.
The producer share of the beef retail price eased in February on the back of a decline in farmgate values and a rise in retail prices.
As a result, the producer share of the final retail price was down one percentage point compared with the previous month, at just over 50%.
Beef production is forecast to be marginally lower in the coming year, so the farmgate price outlook is more favourable than it was at this time last year, said a report by AHDB Beef and Lamb.
In European markets, the latest figures show Polish beef production increased during 2016 compared with 2015, up about 30,000t to 501,400t.
While overall export figures did not increase – staying at about 360,000t – Polish beef is now reaching more countries.
Exports to the UK are small but growing – increasing by more than 60% between 2014 and 2016. However, total volumes of Polish beef accounted for only 5% (14,800t) of total UK beef imports.


text:
Update: Looks like the app got another small bug fix update for the second time today, bumping up the version number to 22.214.171.124.
Original story Facebook Messenger for Windows Phone got a new update today, but don't get too excited as it just bumps up the version number to 126.96.36.199 with what appear to be just bug fixes.
In other words, this update isn't nearly as significant as the last one that was released last week, which added a way to forward messages and photos. Still, feel free to grab the new version and see if it works any better for you. Thanks to the many folks who tipped us!


text:
By Emily Black, Content Executive and Analyst at IMRG
As we near the second quarter of 2022, the geo-political climate around us is changing. The pandemic lockdown comparisons, that have made understanding the regular Year-on-Year (YoY) growth measure (in the IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index) so difficult will start to ease from around April, but with the cost of living increasing, the Russo-Ukraine crisis, and gas and electricity spikes, will April really signal the light at the end of the tunnel for online retailers?
Here at IMRG, we’ve heard some interesting observations, as well as concerns, from our retail community, with data to back their various claims. In this article, we’ll be focussing on three major trends which might define Q2 of 2022, as we explore how the next quarter of the year could play out under these major social and economic pressures. Our three focuses will lie with the average basket volume (which is rising for the first time since August), Month-on-Month growth (and whether it’s suggesting a return to normal trading patterns, as we recently thought), and growth predictions for the rest of the year (what might the market look like?).
Key trends for Q2, 2022:
Average basket volume
Across most of 2021, the average basket volume (ABV) shot up compared to the same months the year previous, but by August, it had reached its peak. The average spend dropped from almost £150 in August, to under £110 by December, but in January 2022 it began to rise again for the first time. Our February 2022 data shows that this trend has continued, and it may well peak further in March. Reasons for this could be due to inflation, and the rising cost of living, as retailers bump up the prices of their stock, in order to keep up with the increasing costs of supply. We might expect to see continued increases in ABV, as prices are driven upwards by economic factors such as the Russo-Ukraine crisis, rising petrol prices, and inflation reaching its highest rate in 40 years. However, reasons for a potential drop could include people spending less due to this squeeze on personal finances or holding out for discounts even more, but history tells us it is more likely to creep, or even shoot, up at the expense of conversion. We’ll be paying close attention to March’s results at the end of the month, to indicate where the spend might be heading.
Month on Month growth
Month on Month growth is definitely one to watch at the moment, as February showed signs of a return to normal spending patterns, however, this may not last. Whilst February’s MoM growth was at -7.7%—marginally outside the normal range between -3.5% and -5.5% (a minor difference when it comes to growth patterns at times during the pandemic)—we have since heard from many retailers that they’ve seen a drop in spending. Once again, this may be linked to financial fears regarding a market crash, as the result of inflation and European conflict. Whilst retailers seem to be worried about revenue and spending, this drop has not yet produced a significant impact on index growth data, as last month’s results can be considered relatively normal given the circumstances.
Overall market growth for the next quarter
So, with all this uncertainty and turmoil, what might the next few months look like for online retail. Sign up for our Weekly Data Show #94, in order to review our March findings with us, once we have the data from over 200 household name retailers, we’ll be seeing if there really has been a significant drop in revenue and traffic by this point. Our data analysts here at IMRG took a look at the figures back in January, in order to predict what might happen in the year ahead. They ran models of three different scenarios, based on the performance of the market as either ‘average’, ‘good’, or ‘bad’. Our average predictions for March show that the market might come in around -23.4% YoY revenue growth overall, as the high growth rates from the pandemic are still exerting an influence, however, with the current situation, it may be closer to -28.4%.
Then, when we take a look at how the next quarter might play out, the best case scenario shows growth between -6% to +18% as the months progress, whilst the worst case scenario could be -16% to +8%, perhaps where we might end up, if the economy continues to struggle.
The forecast figures for overall growth for the entirety of 2022 came out at +0.3% with average results, 5.3% for a good year, and -4.7% for poor performance. Only time will tell where the next few months will take us in both the UK, and globally.
It seems that with the unstable state of the global economy, and volatile prices for gas, petrol and the cost of living, we’ll be seeing some major shifts in the market in the coming months. Whilst we can conclude that the next few months will be a crucial time for online retail, we spoke to some of the experts within our community, in order to find out how retailers can best prepare for what lies ahead.
“As economies reopened, the omnichannel experience has evolved. It’s no longer purchasing in-store or online. Shoppers have blended the experience to create a journey that personally suits them. This has massive implications for omnichannel retailers optimising the digital shelf to provide access to the information consumers want when they want it through brand pages.” said Vijayanta Gupta, SVP of Growth Strategy at Salsify, summarizing the results of Salsify’s latest consumer research “How to Meet the Demand of Omnichannel Shoppers”, which looked into how online product details and images as well as brand trust, impacts online and in-store purchase decisions.
Barley Laing, the UK Managing Director at Melissa, argues that, “As the pandemic abates it’s not surprising that people are increasingly venturing back to the high street.
“Those e-tailers who will experience significant sustained global growth today and in the future, will be the ones that have clean and accurate customer data. This will help ensure they deliver a strong customer experience, with fast, accurate deliveries, while avoiding costly return to sender scenarios. Such data will also improve the ability of retailers to personalise customer communications, and therefore help drive customer value. Additionally, clean data will aid retailers to gain insight they can use to improve their product range or services.”
Monica Eaton-Cardone, COO and Co-Founder of Chargebacks 911, suggested, “Following the turbulence of the last two years, we expect further acceleration of ecommerce and online retail. However, online retailers must be aware that more sales means more chargebacks, and an overall uptick in online fraud. It is because these are both so damaging to companies and require so much effort to counter effectively, that it is essential that retailers look to the market for help in stopping fraud and successfully dispute chargebacks. This will help them grow revenue at an essential time.”
Matt Furneaux, Director of Location Intelligence, Loqate said that, “It would appear this influx of online shoppers we’ve seen in the past two years could potentially plateau. For this reason, the retailers who will thrive moving forward will undoubtedly be those who have the most accurate view of their customers and do not rely on models from this exceptional period.
Understanding the nature of how a customer behaves boils down to an appreciation that their behaviour isn’t what’s changing, but rather, their behaviour remains consistent, but responses vary depending on the situation. While these two approaches would appear to yield the same result, the former doesn’t allow the retailer space to consider what has brought about those changes.”
Thomas Kasemir, Chief Product Officer at Productsup, observed that, “While the return of in-store shopping is partially responsible for the dip in ecommerce growth, the inability to provide a seamless online shopping experience is also to blame. Most brands and retailers aren’t equipped to manage a strong online presence because their product data is siloed and they’re reliant on manual processes. To sustain long-term growth, they need to radically rethink their ecommerce operations with an entirely new strategy – product-to-consumer (P2C) management. With a P2C strategy, 39% of UK decision-makers feel they’ll be able to develop best practices globally and grow internal ecommerce knowledge.”
Lee Metters, from Awin, says that, “The increased adoption of digital commerce has made it easier for shoppers to discover and try new brands. Online product reviews, relatable influencer recommendations and advances in AI technology have reduced the demand for an in-store experience. Such an unquestionable shift in consumer behaviour cannot be undone. And this is chapter one of the new normal. To ensure sustained growth, retailers will need to work harder to convert and retain customer loyalty in the face of increased competition both on and offline.”
Will Ashton, CEO of Nest Commerce, noted that, “Although we saw an acceleration in growth in 2020 and spikes in online sales during national lockdowns, we still see at Nest that the baseline percentage of online sales remains 10% higher than pre-pandemic, which displays a shift in consumer behaviour towards shopping online.
We expect that there will be an economic crunch due to inflation and the rising cost of living, which will lead to a subsequent squeeze on consumer spending. This will likely take effect in the second half of the year and will impact retail in general. This issue could deepen depending on how the crisis in Ukraine unfolds.
That said, it is possible this could result in more people shopping online as they search for the best deals. This will particularly impact mid-priced consumer brands, and I expect consumers to be more price-sensitive and reactive to sales and discounts, especially throughout Q4.”
Jennifer Griffin Smith, Chief Marketing Officer at Brightcove, said: “As we begin to emerge from what has been a turbulent period for the global retail industry, we expect to see retailers offering a more sophisticated digital shopping experience. Gaining the consumer’s attention in a crowded digital space will be key, and we expect to see digital video ads, interactivity, and live ecommerce making gains. As video empowers brands to showcase their products in action, these assets are critical for delivering the new ecommerce experience that consumers seek. Through video, retailers can showcase products in engaging ways, increase cart value and conversion, and ultimately boost online sales.”
Kim Johal, Senior Retail Lead UK&I, at Infobip, said that, “Retail brands that set up digital-only shopping alternatives during the pandemic should now focus on setting up a hybrid experience. The goal is to provide highly personalized, safe, and stress-free experiences that transcend from online to offline – and vice versa. Brands should develop omnichannel communication strategies that enable them to continue conversations from one channel to another. Based on the interactions that took place on our platform during Cyber Week 2021, we see that customers continue to gravitate towards rich, interactive two-way communication with brands. Having an omnichannel communications provider can help you connect all your channels, campaigns, and data in one place – making it easier to personalize and track each interaction.”
Katharine Biggs, Head of Marketing and Communications EMEA, at parcelLab, said that, “With the hybrid working model looking set to remain as we recover from the pandemic, online retailers must embrace flexibility – providing choice to their customers at all stages of the order process. Retailers must offer flexible delivery options as people split their time between home and the office – including the often neglected click and collect option – as well as offering a seamless returns process. With high street stores now reopened and seemingly not set to shut, online shopping experiences need to be even better, but from parcelLab’s recent research we found that surprisingly brands are ending communications with customers following dispatch at higher rates than previous years. Online retailers must strive to improve the whole online experience and create a lasting positive impact in the mind of their customer, encouraging them to shop online rather than on the high street.”


text:
Aramex announces Q2 revenues of $146.8 mn
Global logistics provider Aramex announces that its revenues grow from $119.1 million to $146.8 million in the second quarter of 2008.Updated: Aug 04, 2008 12:17 IST
Global logistics provider Aramex has announced that its revenues grew from 437.5 million dirhams ($119.1 million) to 539.3 million dirhams ($146.8 million) in the second quarter of 2008, which ended June 30, a rise of 23 percent compared to the same period last year.
Second quarter net profits climbed 15 percent to 38.4 million dirhams ($10.4 million), compared to 33.5 million dirhams ($9.1 million) for the same period in 2007.
"Our growth potential is positive, particularly in our core Middle East market, where we are benefiting from the unprecedented economic boom," Fadi Ghandour, founder and chief executive of the Dubai-based logistics major, said in a statement.
"We continue to take advantage of outsourcing trends in the region, particularly in third party logistics, whilst managing the inflationary pressures on our operating and overhead costs," he added.
Overall, net profits for the first half of 2008 climbed by 18 percent to 74.6 million dirhams ($20.3 million) from 63.4 million dirhams ($17.2 million) for the first half of 2007.
Revenues for the first six months of 2008 also registered a 23 percent growth, climbing to 1.03 billion dirhams ($280.3 million), from 837 million dirhams ($227.8 million) for the same period in 2007, according to the statement.
However, because of spiralling global oil prices and escalating operating and overhead costs, Aramex's total overhead as a percentage of revenues increased to 41 percent in the second quarter of 2008 compared to 39 percent for the same quarter of 2007.
"Despite inflationary pressures in the region, we continue to perform well and remain optimistic that the remainder of the year will produce similarly consistent results," Ghandour said.
The first half of 2008 saw Aramex launching a number of sustainability-related projects, including the introduction of hybrid cars in its ground fleet, and the adoption of eco-friendly packages across all operations, according to the statement.


text:
Updated from 4:54 p.m. ET
missed analysts' expectations for the fourth quarter by a penny Thursday, booking 25 cents a share in earnings, excluding extraordinary gains, as the company's revenue came in below its anticipated level.
In addition, the San Jose, Calif.-based company lowered revenue guidance for 2001.
Analysts expected Altera to report earnings of 26 cents a share, down from the 28 cents a share it reported in the previous quarter but up from 17 cents a share in the year-ago quarter, according to
First Call/Thomson Financial
Revenue fell 7% to $368 million from $395.4 million in the previous quarter and was below the expected $402.31 million. It was an improvement over the $237.32 million in the year-earlier quarter.
Chief Financial Officer Nathan Sarkisian said on a conference call that the company fell short of expectations because of a much worse than expected increase in inventories in December. The major culprit for the inventory increase was the
poor market for digital subscriber lines, a type of broadband service. Altera supplies DSL providers.
In late November, Altera
warned Wall Street that fourth-quarter revenue was expected to be flat from the third quarter. It also said that it saw first-quarter revenue rising less than 5% and 2001 revenue increasing 35%.
But Altera Thursday lowered its outlook for first-quarter revenue to a decrease of 5% from the fourth quarter, citing continuing inventory issues both at the company and in the supply chain. For 2001, Altera now expects revenue growth of 10% over 2000. Sarkisian said that the potential effect of a slowing economy on demand during the second half, when the company expects growth to resume, contributed to its lowered outlook.
Sarkisian did offer hope that Altera has turned the corner. "The first few weeks of January seem to indicate that things have bottomed, but unfortunately, at a pretty low level," he said.
Altera makes programmable logic devices, or PLDs, which are chips that customers can program. These chips are used primarily in the telecommunications sector, which experienced a spending slowdown during the fall as worries about the weakening economy settled in. That created an inventory build-up that affected not only Altera but also other PLD makers. Other makers of chips that go into other telecommunication applications, as well as the personal computer, wireless and consumer markets, also have been hit by high inventories and light demand.
Altera's news came one day after competitor
missed Wall Street expectations by a penny,
reporting fiscal third-quarter earnings of 31 cents.


text:
A new Google ad service was launched on Wednesday, March 11. Google will track Internet usage and display targeted ads based on each person’s specific site visits. For example, if you visit a website that sells a specific type of golf club, you might later see an ad for the same website when you are browsing an unrelated site that displays Google ads. The full article can be found at… http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5887701.ece
Just as advertisers can track a person’s Internet usage, they can do the same with a smartphone. As well, advertising systems can use GPS technology to track smartphone location, allowing advertisers to combine location information, personal preferences, and personal identification information to display ads specifically targeted for an individual. As smartphones increase in popularity, this type of data collection is becoming more prevalent. The full article can be found at… http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/03/11/business/11target.php?page=1
Will consumers find this targeted advertising creepy? Or will they find it useful to find a “receive 5 percent off” coupon on their Blackberry for a nearby store?


text:
July 2012 saw the average sale price for Coal Harbour condos down to $966,000 from $1,161,000 in June. and is down 26% from a year ago, having peaked at $1,766,000 in Nov’11. Coal Harbour Sales in July were 19, down 50% from a year ago. 60% sold under $1M and no sales over $1.4M, taking an average of 63 days to sell. The average price psf flat at $857. Coal Harbour condo listings dropped to 200, equal to a year ago. Coal Harbour sellers on average moved 7% off List Price.
Coal Harbour Sales Vs A Year Ago
- 2011 sales 242
- average sale price $1,211,000
- 39 sales over $2M
- 7 sales over $4M
- 2012 sales 149
- average sale price $1,134,000
- 20 sales over $2M
- 5 sales over $4M
How Much Have Prices dropped in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour?
Coal Harbour’s average $psf is 8.6% lower than a year ago, now at $857psf, but higher than July 2010 at $822psf. Lower priced sales in 2012 is bringing down the average sale price
Early 2008 Coal Harbour condos had the same average sale price, with prices roller-coastering since then. I believe we won’t see the big drop that buyers are hoping for, as they can now purchase at 2008 prices and sellers are not desperate.
P.S. I am your Vancouver real estate condo realtor! hyper-local info and decades of experience!