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"You can talk about Millennials and the changing character and diversity of the population in the same breath, because as the Millennial population is the largest group that we’ve ever seen, so will be the minority population. It’s young people who are the diverse population, so we think about what needs and desires this group will have that’s going to be different from my age demographic, what we wanted. It starts with the product, so we have to first understand that we have to tweak certain products a little bit or emphasize certain brands
On a recent "Real Time With Bill Maher" show, Maher responded to the announcement that Time Warner Cable would merge with Comcast Corp. in a $45 billion purchase. He noted that, combined, the two cable systems represent 19 of the 20 largest U.S. markets; and, apart from suppliers like Dish and DirecTV, they have no competitors in these metros. Further, Maher said, the two companies have the lowest customer satisfaction ratings of any cable system. So, as he asked his panelists, where is the value for customers in this merger if both companies are known to have questionable service performance?
The politics of the blogosphere are a lot like the politics of the White House: Hunt or be hunted. It's a ruthless world out there, teeming with movers and shakers, hand-wringers, whistleblowers, and intimidating rule breakers and followers, all posting top-notch content with countless followers hanging on their every word. How are you going to set yourself apart? A cutting-edge strategy? A tactful approach? A swift game changer? Read on to learn what Netflix's pulsating political drama, "House of Cards," can teach you about becoming the master of the chess game that is blogging.
Yahoo has 196.6 million unique visitors each month. Yet Yahoo generated zero new revenue in 2013. My opinion: Yahoo CEO No. 6 (in as many years), Marissa Mayer, is hanging on by her fingernails. Any person with 196.6 million names unable to generate new revenue should seek some other line of work. What triggered this column was a Feb. 17, 2014 Time magazine story, "THE MAYER EVENT:It's crunch time for Yahoo's turnaround strategy."
Advertising already subsidizes much of the Internet's content. Soon, marketers may underwrite access to it, as well. As the Internet loads up on data-heavy content like high-definition streaming videos, companies that transport that content to consumers, such as Verizon and AT&T, are looking for ways to offset the higher carriage costs. The Federal Communications Commission has tried to prevent them from passing the buck to consumers or media companies by forcing broadband providers to treat all Internet traffic equally, an effort called "Net neutrality." The Net neutrality fight received a stomach-punch on Tuesday.
"If the 'Made of Stars' bra fell under a Netflix-esque, uber-specific category tag, it might read 'Bras for the Bustier Woman Who Fears Bulges.,' " says Michelle Lam, cofounder of True & Co. True & Co. used a Netflix model of Big Data mining to create a new bra line. Does this finally mean perfect undergarments for all? … There’s nothing sexy about big data. Then again, for anyone who has ever spent time in a lingerie dressing room, there’s nothing sexy about bra shopping. That very experience of letting a stranger feel you up before spending hours half-naked trying
Imagine heading to a local café and ordering hot chocolate. They serve it to you in a white cup. Chances are, you won't like your drink. That's not an indication of the quality of the café or the hot chocolate, but rather the color of the cup. This conclusion is based on a study by the Polytechnic University of Valencia and the University of Oxford. The universities served hot chocolate in white, cream, red and orange cups. The drinks were identical, but volunteers claimed that the flavor was better when the drink was served in an orange or cream
Earlier this year, senior members of President Barack Obama’s campaign team took a trip to Las Vegas. Nevada holds a special place in Obama-wonk lore as the place where his months-long strategy of defeating Hillary Clinton by slowly and surely amassing delegates emerged. But the operatives were not there in March for any political reason. They were there to make money—specifically to land what they hoped would be the first corporate client for their new advertising business, Analytics Media Group (A.M.G.). Its bland name obscures its relatively grand promise: to deliver to commercial advertisers some of the Obama campaign's secret,
Sharing your Netflix account with a friend or lover who has dramatically different taste in movies than you do? Soon, there will be no need to worry about getting your Netflix recommendations all mixed up with theirs. Netflix will allow subscribers to set multiple user profiles on a single account starting later this summer, according to Netflix Vice President of Product Innovation Todd Yellin. Now in testing but expected to launch by the end of August, the service will let either five or six (that's still up in the air) different users store their taste preferences on one account, so
Not all that long ago, television went through a "dark age" full of cheesy reality shows and dull sitcoms. But as the market has continued to fragment over the last decade, competition has increased the quality of TV programming across the board. With film-quality offerings like "Game of Thrones" and "The Walking Dead" on cable and producers like Jerry Bruckheimer creating captivating shows for the top networks, consumers can now easily justify time in front of their 52" LEDs. But as the market continues to fragment, traditional networks are going to have


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So far there’s been uncertainty and doubt cast as to what availability of the iPhone 12 lineup will look like come this fall but most reports suggest Apple will still launch the new hardware in the early fall like normal even if production is delayed due to the coronavirus. However, this afternoon, a new report suggests the timeline for the iPhone 12 is becoming more unclear.
A Reuters report today highlights that Apple’s engineers are normally frequently flying to China this time of year to start figuring out the assembly process for the upcoming iPhones that traditionally launch in the fall. However, with travel bans in place due to coronavirus, that isn’t happening.
While a full production ramp for the flagship iPhones usually starts in the summer, the report notes that the early part of the iPhone production validation process being delayed could postpone device availability.
One of Reuters’ sources that was a former Apple employee said:
Are Apple’s engineers with the Foxconn engineers? If they are, they’re probably making progress. But if they’re not, if they’re quarantined, that could be bad.
Notably, Foxconn had to push back the reopening of its factories in China. The most recent goal is to bring them back online at 50% production by the end of this month. Time will tell if that pans out. This morning we learned Foxconn is offering bonuses, free meals, and more to get employees back to work.
A New York Times report today on the status of the coronavirus highlighted US officials warning that we could see an outbreak in the United States. Italy and other countries have also recently seen concerning outbreaks.
As for the iPhone 9, production of that is also said to be delayed, although it’s reported that Apple will still launch the device as planned in March.
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By Bonnie Culverhouse
A south Webster Parish man is behind bars on multiple charges.
Roy E. Jackson Jr., 39, of the 100 block of Melvin Thomas Rd., Doyline, was arrested by Minden Police for felony theft; possession of marijuana, ecstasy, 2 counts of clonazepam, hydrocodone and drug paraphernalia; and obstruction of justice.
Police Chief Steve Cropper said Off. Jared McIver was dispatched to a hardware store on Homer Road just after noon Monday in reference to a theft.
“The officer made contact with the store owner who advised that a suspect stole a set of keys and was currently inside the store,” Cropper said. “The same subject had returned to the store multiple times over the past few days, using the keys to steal items from the store.”
Cropper said the stolen items had already been reported to Minden Police.
“When the officer entered the store, the owner pointed out the suspect who was later identified as Jackson,” said the chief. “The officer placed him under arrest. He voluntarily handed McIver the keys to the store. A search of Jackson’s person produced a stolen lithium battery and assorted pills. While searching Jackson’s belongings, the suspect obtained the pills where they had been placed on a shelf and tried to destroy them.”
McIver reportedly recovered the pills.
The chief said Jackson’s vehicle was in the parking lot. A search reportedly showed a suspected marijuana cigarette lying on the dash.
“Several items were reported stolen from the hardware store,” Cropper said. “Camera footage showed each incident.”
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.


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Irish authorities say pork products contaminated with toxic chemicals could have been exported to as many as 25 countries.
The scare has prompted authorities to issue a mass recall.
In Britain supermarkets are clearing their shelves and consumers are being urged to dispose of any pork product sourced from Ireland since last September.
Although health authorities say consumers would have to eat enormous quantities of the contaminated meat to become ill, they are taking no chances.
It is believed animal feed used on a number of farms was mixed possibly with oil containing dioxins although it is still not clear exactly how it happened.
Affected animals will have to be destroyed and talks have begun about how farmers will be compensated.
The Irish farmers association says with all the suspect farms identified, safe supplies of pork should be available in a few days.


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My Samsung Galaxy blew up my Jeep! Father-of-one left in shock after brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 7 bursts into flames and torches his family car
- Nathan Dornacher said he was charging phone in car when it caught fire
- Said he left car running after returning home while he went inside to get his daughter, eight, and pet dog to head back out again
- But when he returned to the vehicle there were flames inside, he said
- Dornacher was unaware of the recall on Note7 phones having bought it just five days earlier, but says he now wants to help warn others
A Florida father has been left devastated after his brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 7 burst into flames and torched his family car.
Nathan Dornacher, from St Petersburg, Florida, said he was charging the phone inside his custom Jeep Grand Cherokee when it caught fire, burning both to a crisp.
Samsung have issued a worldwide recall for the Note7, saying problems with the battery can cause it to explode or catch fire.
Nathan Dornacher, from St Petersburg, Florida, said his Samsung Galaxy Note7 burst into flames and burned his Jeep Grand Cherokee to a crisp while charging inside
Dorancher said he left the car running in the driveway with the phone inside after a shopping trip as he went inside to get his daughter, eight, and their pet dog before going back out
While fire officials have not said whether that was the cause behind this fire, Dornacher told Fox 13 News that the blaze started around the charging phone.
The father-of-one said he had not heard about the recall, which was issued just five days before the fire broke out.
Posting pictures of the blaze on Facebook, he said: 'We went to a garage sale to grab a desk for my daughter, got back to the house and unloaded the car.
'I left it running with the AC on to keep the car cool as we were planning on grabbing the dog and heading to Petco.
'I went back out to the car to grab my phone which was on the charger (me and Lydia always fight over the house charger), went to open the door and saw flames inside.
When he returned, Dornacher said the phone, which was plugged in here, was engulfed in flames which quickly consumed the rest of the vehicle
'I opened the door and the car is engulfed. I ran inside to get extinguisher and of course it's not to be found. I yelled at Lydia to call Fire Department and here is the end result.'
While Dorancher says the basic cost of the vehicle was insured, he said that will not cover the thousands of dollars worth of upgrades he made to the car.
On top of that, the family are also missing their main means of transportation until the claim is settled.
Dornacher (pictured with partner Lydia) said he got the phone five days before the blaze and was not aware of the recall
However, Dorancher says he is grateful the incident was not worse because his eight-year daughter often uses the phone.
Samsung say they are aware of Dorancher's case, are investigating the cause of the fire, and say they are providing assistance to the family.
In a subsequent update, Dorancher said Samsung have sent a representative to investigate, and that all of his family are doing OK.
He added that the family are not seeking damages from the incident, and are trying to promote the recall to stop other from being hurt.
Samsung has suspended global sales of the Note 7, which was unveiled last month, due to a 'battery cell issue', and issued a recall notice for all handset already sold.
The company said: 'For customers who already have Galaxy Note7 devices, we will voluntarily replace their current device with a new one over the coming weeks.
Samsung say they are investigating the incident, and providing assistance to the family. The firm has recalled all Note7 handsets over the issue and suspended sales
For more information customers need to contact the customer service team on 0330 7261000.
'We acknowledge the inconvenience this may cause in the market but this is to ensure that Samsung continues to deliver the highest quality products to our customers.
'We are working closely with our partners to ensure the replacement experience is as convenient and efficient as possible.'
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From taking determined action to help the EU recover from the financial crisis to protecting citizens' rights, the Commission has been at the forefront of developing EU policies and on delivering benefits for all EU citizens.
Today, EU citizens enjoy and perhaps take for granted, common rights to live, travel, study, work and retire anywhere in the EU.
But the benefits of EU membership don't stop there.
Today, the Commission is working on issues such as banning extra credit card charges and pre-ticked boxes for online shoppers and making it easier to register a car in another EU country. Whilst mobile phone users have been benefitting from cheaper roaming charges for a number of years.
Yet many people continue to face obstacles when exercising their EU rights.


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This is a huge civil-rights victory for the LGBT community, as the court's ruling also extends to sexual orientation the same broad protections against discrimination that were previously reserved for race, gender and religion. It's also a very personal victory for many of us -- especially those of us in committed relationships -- as it now means that we can tie the knot with our loved one just like anyone else.
And as the dust begins to settle, many are starting to realize that this landmark decision presents a significant economic opportunity as well.
Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was only half-kidding when he said, following the ruling, "You know, I'm wishing everyone good luck with their marriages and I hope that California's economy is booming because everyone is going to come here and get married."
Since California has the largest population of same-sex couples in the country, and because the ruling allows for same-sex couples from out-of-state to be married in California, the Governor may be on to something. One recent UCLA study estimates that gay weddings could pump up to $370 million into the state economy over the next three years.
Indeed, smart companies and organizations are already looking for ways to reach gay consumers to promote their wedding-related products or services. Within minutes of the Supreme Court's announcement on May 15, the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau issued a press release hailing the justices' ruling and inviting gay couples to get married in San Francisco, "where LGBT history continues to be made." Macy's has already run full-page ads for its wedding registry in the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle with the caption "First comes love. Then comes marriage. And now it's a milestone every couple in California can celebrate." Hats off to Macy's!
A gay married friend of mine, actor Alec Mapa, told me that from his personal experience, the retail industry is already at the forefront in the fight for gay rights. He said that when he and his partner registered for their commitment ceremony at Williams Sonoma, Crate & Barrel and Macy's, no one batted an eye. In fact, he said that on the registration forms at all three of those stores it didn't just say "bride" and "groom;" it also listed "registrant or co-registrant." And that was two years ago, long before the recent California Supreme Court decision.
Gay couples planning to get hitched in the Golden State will need many if not all of the same products and services that straight couples require -- from dresses and tuxes to rings and flowers to cakes and photographs. LGBT couples will need venues where they can host their nuptials and places to visit on their honeymoons.
But since the LGBT market has some of its own unique needs, there will also be some subtle differences and twists to the products and services that most appeal to this demographic, to say nothing of the marketing surrounding them. Think bride-bride and groom-groom statues for the top of the cake and extrapolate from there.
With legal gay marriage just a few days away in California, companies interested in pursuing this potentially lucrative market will need to start tailoring their outreach to LGBT consumers and differentiating their offerings.
For companies new to this process, a good place to start is by first asking themselves if they are gay-friendly. Do they have a strong record of equal rights and protections for their LGBT employees? Are they supportive of the gay community and the causes that are important to it? And have their frontline staff received sensitivity training that extends to sexual orientation? No one wants the awkwardness of booking the honeymoon suite at the best hotel in town, only to be met with blank stares at the reception desk when two men show up to check in together.
Second, are the company's products and services tailored to meeting the particular needs of this market? Hers-and-hers wedding bands? Same-sex banking packages and insurance policies?
And finally, is the company talking directly to its gay and lesbian customers? Does it reach out to them in the LGBT media and at gay-oriented events, in addition to mainstream channels? Are its marketing images inclusive of gay couples and their experiences? Is the language appropriate to same-sex couples, as in "registrant" and "co-registrant"? Just like any other consumer, gays and lesbians want to be recognized and spoken to directly by the companies that pursue them.
These are just a few of the initial steps that companies need to take if they want to seriously embrace the LGBT market and capitalize on the huge opportunity that this market presents, but they are steps in the right direction.
Some business people whom I've spoken with recently wondered if it might somehow be perceived as 'predatory' for companies to capitalize on this unique moment in gay history. The answer is no. The recent California Supreme Court decision has the potential to revolutionize LGBT rights and move companies forward in how they reach out and talk to this significant and growing market. And both are great things for the gay community and for society in general.
Steve Roth is principal and founder of Roth Strategic Communications, an independent communications, marketing and event production firm specializing in travel and tourism, cross-cultural communication and the LGBT market. Read more in our bio section.


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Electric vehicle pioneer and renewable energy company Tesla Motors this afternoon reported Q3 revenue roughly in line with consensus, and profit that easily topped consensus, and said it exceeded its own outlook for its operating profit margin, as gross profit expanded.
The company removed a line in its shareholder letter that had promised higher unit growth this year.
Tesla said it delivered 241,391 vehicles in the quarter, above the average Wall Street estimate for 235,000. The number had been previewed in a preliminary release from the company earlier this month. Tesla's final production number for the quarter was 237,823, in line with what it said earlier in the month.
The report sent Tesla shares down 1% in late trading.
The company noted in its shareholder letter: "The third quarter of 2021 was a record quarter in many respects. We achieved our best-ever net income, operating profit and gross profit. Additionally, we reached an operating margin of 14.6%, exceeding our medium-term guidance of 'operating margin in low-teens'."
Revenue in the three months ended in December rose to $13.76 billion, yielding a net loss of $1.86 a share.
Analysts had been modeling $13.7 billion and $1.62 per share.
Also: Tesla Q2 report crushes expectations: $11.96 billion revenue, EPS $1.45; shares rise
Tesla said its gross profit margin was 26.6% in the quarter, compared to 24.1% in the prior quarter, and 23.5% in the year-earlier quarter. Tesla considers gross profit as a key indicator of its success as it seeks to consistently reduce the cost of goods.
Tesla said it expects to produce a 50% increase in deliveries on an annual basis over a "multi-year time horizon." That is the same expectation the company offered last quarter, though Tesla removed a line about increasing production more than that this year.
Today's statement in its entirety reads:
We plan to grow our manufacturing capacity as quickly as possible. Over a multi-year horizon, we expect to achieve 50% average annual growth in vehicle deliveries. The rate of growth will depend on our equipment capacity, operational efficiency and the capacity and stability of the supply chain.
Q2's statement in July read:
We plan to grow our manufacturing capacity as quickly as possible. Over a multi-year horizon, we expect to achieve 50% average annual growth in vehicle deliveries. In some years we may grow faster, which we expect to be the case in 2021. The rate of growth will depend on our equipment capacity, operational efficiency, and the capacity and stability of the supply chain.
Wall Street expects the company may deliver as many as 900,000 units this year. The company is still small compared to internal combustion engine-based manufacturers such as Ford, which sell millions of units every year. Tesla's challenge is to be more than a boutique vendor.
The report follows Tesla's annual shareholder meeting earlier this month, during which CEO Elon Musk confirmed rumors the company is moving its corporate headquarters from Fremont, California to Austin, Texas.
Also: Tesla full self-driving is not what most people call 'full' self-driving


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Shoessee is a developing ecommerce brand that strives to bring back the vintage shoes for women to its patrons at regular intervals. The ecommerce store works day and night in outlining and finding the most recent styles for its clients. Recently, Shoessee owners released a press statement, revealing that their mobile-friendly website has been launched. As of now, the responsive web store is in the final testing phase, the owners confirmed. They said that the online shopping site for mobile, tablet, and laptop users features all of the latest designs of vintage shoes and added that customers can directly order from the website.
Shoessee owners also claimed at a press conference that they offer more affordable options in footwear category than many of their competitors. Since most of their online traffic comes from the mobile shoppers, the owners decided to roll out a mobile-friendly website that would bring a lot of convenience to their buyers.
“In this day and age, the importance of mobile-friendly websites in the ecommerce landscape cannot be underestimated. Although our desktop-friendly web store is in its place, our marketing team realized the need for a fully functional online store. We can say that the mobile-friendly website will help our users buy minimalist sandals and all other types of footwear products without a hitch”, assured a top executive of Shoessee while speaking to the local press.
According to the executive, the mobile shopping website is available now and users can access and use all the features on whatever device they are using. They added that a payment gateway has been integrated successfully to facilitate easy shopping. They also maintained that a shopping app is also under development, which would be launched anytime next year, although the owners didn’t confirm a launch date for the proposed mobile shopping app.
“Mobile commerce is growing rapidly, as more than 50% of online shopping done this year was through mobile phones and tablets. At Shoessee, we completely understand this and we have worked closely with our developers. Customers who would be using our mobile-friendly website can get high discounts and special offers”, the CEO hinted.
About the Company
Shoessee is a reputable supplier of footwear for women.
To know more, visit https://www.shoessee.com/


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Kylie and Kendall Jenners' PacSun Collection Hits Stores This Week. Here's All the Info.
PacSun's latest fashion collection from Kylie and Kendall Jenner will be available in stores and online on Wednesday. On Sunday, Kylie Jenner tweeted a picture of her in a patterned red romper with the caption, "Spring vibes," and a three-day countdown to the Spring 2016 collection.
California natives Kendall and Kylie Jenner have been working with the California lifestyle-inspired fashion site since 2012, according to the Daily Mail. Like its predecessors, the Spring 2016 line is 70s-inspired, filled with florals and denim overalls that have probably been well-calculated for the upcoming festival season.
Prices range from $22.95 to $64.95, according to Teen Vogue.
Kendall Jenner has also been teasing fans about the new collection. Earlier this month, she tweeted pictures of herself in denim overalls posing alone and with her sister. One caption says, "Dreaming of spring."
A Sunday promo video shows the girls donning off-the-shoulder tops, wide-rimmed hats and lots of rompers from the new collection.
Hopefully the latest collection goes well, since Kylie and Kendall Jenner's Fall 2015 collaboration with PacSun hit a wall last October, when Florida-based retailer Island Company sued the two sisters for stealing a trademarked logo, according to Page Six. Island Company's logo, which has been running since 2005, said, "Quit your job. Buy a ticket. Get a tan. Fall in love. Never return," while the PacSun one said, "Run away. Fall in love. Never return."
The promo video for the Spring 2016 collection is below:


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Fat squirrel steals pricey goods left out for delivery folks
MAPLEWOOD, N.J. (AP) — An obese squirrel was caught on video stealing gourmet chocolate and lip balm a family leaves outside as a holiday treat for delivery people.
Michele Boudreaux, of Maplewood, N.J., said on her blog she provides candy, snacks, tissues, hand warmers and other goodies on her doorstep every year. She's never had any issues before, but this year, her basket was raided within hours of being set outside her home.
The thief seemed to be targeting the priciest stuff, including about 25 squares of Ghirardelli chocolate, she said.
The family set up a surveillance camera to see what was going on and spotted the overweight varmint standing on a step stool, digging through the stash Tuesday.
"I mean, this squirrel is so obese – a jolly ol' chap – he must be prepping for a decade of winters," Boudreaux wrote.
Her husband tried to chase the squirrel to see where it was hoarding all the treats, but it made a clean getaway.
Boudreaux said she stumbled upon the thieving rodent in the act Wednesday, and recorded it taking more chocolate and a Carmex lip balm.


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Inc. Magazine announced its annual list of the top 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America, describing the companies as “the most successful companies in America.” The list, which ranks companies by revenue, industry, state and/or metro area, has a history of identifying emerging powerhouses during their early years, like Microsoft, Intuit and Patagonia.
Direct selling companies honored in this exclusive list include:
- Beauty Society, a cosmetics company, ranked #595 with a growth rate of 1,070%, making it the fastest-growing direct selling company on Inc. Magazine’s list.
- Red Aspen, an Idaho-based cosmetics company, ranked in the top 15% of the group at #788.
- Bellame Beauty, a beauty and wellness company, ranked #1,391 and saw growth of 463%.
- pawTree, a specialty pet food and supply company, ranked #1,496.
- Scout & Cellar, which focuses on clean-crafted wine, ranked $1,706.
“I am so honored to see Red Aspen featured on the Inc. 5000 list, and especially within the top 1,000 honorees,” said Red Aspen CEO Jesse McKinney. “We have worked so hard as a team to grow as a company and continue to support women every day. It is so special to be recognized for the growth we have seen as well as our promising future ahead.”


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The Eslite, a 24-hour bookshop based in Asia, “has more night owl visitors than most Western bookstores could dream of during their daytime hours.”
The Eslite Group has designed its stores to cater not only to bibliophiles, but also to people who appreciate fashion, home styling, and restaurants. The company owns 42 stores in Taiwan and 1 store in Hong Kong; the executives plan to open new locations in China.
According to CNN, the organization “reported revenue of around $425 million in 2013, with books accounting for some 40 percent of sales, according to company spokesman Timothy Wang. Sales are expected to increase by almost eight percent this year.” What do you think?


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In its strongest wording to date, Sony Computer Entertainment America emphatically denied that a PlayStation 3 price drop is planned. The terse media statement comes on the heels of repeated rumours that PS3 price drop was imminent.
The brief quote, part of a wide release to news media, once again emphatically denies that a PS3 price drop is planned. Al De Leon, PR manager for SCEA, says that Sony "remains focused on the long-term momentum of the PS3."
For some time, the game industry rumour mill has been relentlessly fixated on a PlayStation 3 price drop. Media sources suggest that the worldwide branch of Sony Computer Entertainment is planning an announcement for tomorrow, Tuesday, March 31st. But Tuesday's announcement is likely a confirmation of a PlayStation 2 price cut to US$99, a story that has picked up momentum in recent days. Considering the tanking international economy, a $99 PlayStation 2 could theoretically keep the aging system alive indefinitely – it still racks up sturdy sales nearly 10 years after its debut, thanks in part to its massive game library. And its technical specifications are largely similar to the mega-hit Wii system, proving that HD graphics aren't necessary for high sales.
Regarding the PS3 price drop rumors, we've posted the full SCEA news release below.
"As we have stated previously, we do not have plans for a PS3 price drop, and any rumours to that effect are false and are the result of speculation. SCEA remains focused on the long-term momentum of PS3. With the industry's best software lineup this year, combined with our most aggressive marketing campaign to date, we remain confident in our approach and the value we're delivering with PS3." Al De Leon, PR Manager, Sony Computer Entertainment America


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H4X.gg, an esports performance wear and street clothing brand, is now the official apparel supplier for ESL and DreamHack Events. H4X is set to begin selling merchandise at ESL events with the Dota 2 event, ESL One Katowice, on Sunday.
In addition to ESL One events, Intel Extreme Masters, DreamHack Open, DreamHack Masters, and DreamLeague 2018, have all been linked to now feature H4X.gg apparel.
Jon Wayne Gurman, CEO of Moniker, and developer of H4X.gg brand, details some of the thinking behind the brand, "Esports pioneer Jens Hilgers and I founded H4X.gg to bridge two powerhouse industries together to create the unique high performance brand that has been needed in esports."
He went on to add, "H4X.gg emphasizes innovative performance gear through attire that not only elevates the level of play for wearers through its functional features, but also makes players look fierce as they walk into the arena.”
Photo courtesy of H4X.gg


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America's 5 Largest ZoosA look at five of the largest zoos in America, based upon size, number of animals or attendance.
Totino’s Reaches Out To Flood Victim In Viral VideoAmid the catastrophic news of devastating rains and deadly flooding in South Carolina, one light-hearted moment has gone viral.
Historic Confederate Flag In Minnesota Also Once Caused DebateGov. Nikki Haley called for the confederate flag to be moved from its post in front of the state house. As it turns out, back in Minnesota a different confederate flag is displayed from time to time.
Winter Fashion Is More High-Tech Than EverWhen it's this cold outside, you have to protect yourself by wearing the right clothes and gear. But dressing for the weather is not what it used to be. It's gotten a lot more high-tech. WCCO went shopping to see what you can find in stores these days. We hear a lot about dressing in layers and covering exposed skin.
10 Rules For The Colombia Vs. Brazil Drinking GameNow that the U.S. has been knocked out of the World Cup, Americans need a new reason to drink.
Are Outlet Malls Really A Better Deal? WCCO Went Shopping To Find OutAlong with many malls and big box retailers, dozens of stores at outlet malls in Minnesota will also be open come eight o'clock Thursday night, but we wondered are outlet malls really a better deal? Beyond Albertville, shoppers can also check out deals in Medford and come next summer an outlet mall in Eagan will open its doors.
Celine Dion to Host 'Home for the Holidays' CBS SpecialThis year, Celine Dion is honoring families of all different types by hosting the 15th annual A Home for the Holidays special on CBS.
Mpls Golf Pro Headed To PGA ChampionshipOne of golf's biggest tournaments, the PGA Championship is Aug. 5-11 in Rochester, New York. A Twin Cities PGA golf pro Jeff Sorenson – who makes his living teaching others how to golf – is playing in it.
Man Charged For Pistol-Whipping Columbia Store OwnerA 29-year-old man is accused of beating a Columbia store owner with the butt of his handgun, and leaving the victim covered in his own blood, according to authorities. Brandon Benjamin Broszko was charged with two counts of first-degree attempted aggravated robbery, according to a criminal complaint filed in Anoka County.
Innovative Therapy Helps Minn. Girl Deal With Traumatic PastA girl scarred by unspeakable horrors in her home country of Colombia is now telling her story. It’s all thanks to an innovative therapy helped her heal – and regain memories of her lost father.
Opinion: Obama Should Release His College TranscriptsForget Romney’s taxes that will simply confirm his wealthy. Let’s see Obama’s college transcripts and find out what is necessary for him to hide.
GOP Candidates In SC Vow To Carry Tea-Party BannerPledging fidelity to the Constitution and vowing to carry the tea party's banner to Washington, the Republicans chasing the GOP's presidential nomination are pitching themselves as the strongest candidate to roll back four years of President Barack Obama's tenure.
Activists Decry Probe Revealed By Found FBI PapersWhen Meredith Aby met with members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in 2006, she asked what it would take to get them to stop fighting. Jess Sundin did the same during her trip to Colombia 11 years ago.
Papers Shed Light On Activist ProbeDocuments federal agents left behind during a September raid of an anti-war activist's home shed some light on the evolution of an investigation into apparent connections between local activists and radical groups in Colombia and the Middle East.
Best Places To Shop For Winter Boots In The Twin CitiesKeep you and your family's feet warm, stylish or flat on the snow at these footwear retailers throughout the Twin Cities.


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On Friday September 21, 2012 Digicel Dominica Limited after launching its spectacular ‘Festival Cash Grab’ promotion of $50,000 in cash and prizes on 14th September had its first draw on Friday 21st September at its Digicentre Store in Roseau.
To qualify in this promotion, customers have to top up $15 and over, pay up their post paid bill in full and on time and join the Digicel family buy purchasing a Digicel handset.
Three lucky winners were selected, Athlyne Gachette of Bath Estate, Anthony Cornelius of Carib Territory and Manuella Gregoire of Coulibistrie. The finalists were given the opportunity to select cards for their winnings. With much anticipation and crowd participation Manuella Gregoire emerged as the lucky Digicel cash prize winner in the first draw. Ms Gregoire had the opportunity to enter the Digicel vault to grab as much cash as possible or to open the Digicel treasure box. She was confident that the treasure box would give her the higher bid so she went for it, winning a whooping amount of $1000 cash along with prizes from our partners, Kubuli, Pirates and Fine Foods. The other two winners walked away with vouchers from Pirates, KFC, Pizza Hut, Kubuli six packs and handsets from Digicel.
At the event, the crowd and participants was entertained by the finalists in the Candence-Lypso competition like The Triumph, Lloydy and more.
Digicel’s Sales and Marketing Manager, Nathalie Walsh commented “Digicel’s Festival Cash Grab promotion since its launch has created much excitement into the market as so many customers will benefit to win cash and prizes. We encourage persons to top up, sign up and pay up their post pay bills in full and on time to qualify”.


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Demand for Husqvarna Group’s products is strong across all core markets and product categories. However, with escalating global supply chain challenges resulting in shortages of certain components and longer lead times, the Group expects reduced production for the first quarter. This development is affecting robotic mowers and lawn tractors in particular and creates a record order backlog. Net sales for the first quarter 2022 is estimated to approximately SEK 15bn (SEK 14.0bn reported in Q1 2021) including Orbit Irrigation.
The ongoing geopolitical situation in Europe has led to further logistical disruptions and increased costs for raw materials, energy and transportation, which will impact the operating result in the first quarter. The Group continues to work with pricing to mitigate the effects.
Henric Andersson, CEO comments:
“The strong demand from the previous record year continues, but the challenging global supply chain situation is affecting us particularly in the latter part of the first quarter. However, the gardening season is ahead of us, we have a record order backlog and we are taking decisive mitigating measures in order to increase production throughout the season”.
All figures in this press release are preliminary and unaudited. The full interim report for the first quarter will be released on April 21, 2022, as previously announced.


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21 September 2020
Christian Kunert has worked as a certified sports scientist and sports teacher in fitness and health sports for more than 20 years. FIBO met him at Meet the Top Physio some months ago and discussed current challenges and opportunities in physical therapy with him.
26 August 2020
For the EuropeActive book “Horizon 2030, The future of the health and fitness sector”*, I wrote the closing chapter “Growth scenarios towards 2030”. The book was finished...
29 July 2020
By Herman Rutgers, FIBO Global Ambassador By the time this newsletter is published, fitness clubs in almost all European countries are again back in business. But just as...
06 May 2020
How the fitness sector may be different and never be the same again - and why this may not be all bad news. Interview with Herman Rutgers.
08 April 2020
EuropeActive and Deloitte publish European Health & Fitness Market Report 2020 BRUSSELS, 2 APRIL 2020 *European health and fitness club memberships grew by 3.8% to...
26 February 2020
Exhibitors and visitors of FIBO can now get a 60-day presence at fitnessjobs.de at a preferential price. The online job exchange focuses on the fitness and rehabilitation industry, from commercial staff to trainers or therapists.
22 January 2020
Corporate values are considered the foundation of corporate culture. Well-formulated and communicated, they’re a clear asset when it comes to finding employees in a time of skilled worker shortages. Let’s take a closer look.


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As a part-time worker in my university days, I took evening classes which afforded me time to work in the early hours of the day. Most of my course mates, who were also part timers, owned new cars which I came to realise were acquired on automobile loans from a diverse range of financial institutions. Coming back to Nigeria, it was a different reality, where even full timers can barely afford a used car unless juggling a side gig.
To afford a new car, one has to be well-placed in a reputable organisation that pays well or inherit that generational wealth. Beyond those classifications, most brand new cars one notices on the road are part of a new government’s procurement jamboree. It’s our public service culture, where every new government seems to need brand new vehicles even when those used by past administrations are in good shape. You may have come across the word ‘ Tokunbo’ tossed around, especially in conversation about car ownership.
For some perspective, Tokunbo is a yoruba word which refers to something foreign, also given to yoruba babies as names. In a different and far more popular context, Tokunbo is known across Nigeria as foreign-used cars. Tokunbo cars are mostly imported from Europe and increasingly from the United States and most smuggled into Nigeria through Cotonou and Lomé ports. The latter recently overtook Lagos as the busiest port in West Africa.
These used and damaged cars are sold at very cheap rates mostly by insurance companies caused by accidents and floods which renders them unsafe for use in the West. According to PwC, the Nigerian tokunbo market is estimated at N840 million compared to new car imports which only account for 30% of the market rummaging an estimate of about N360 million, 30% of the total car import market with a ratio of 1:131 new cars to Tokunbo used cars.
This trend has inarguably created a huge economy which, despite being fragmented, has created a striving market putting substantial income into the pockets of smallholder players. This nonetheless has pushed regulators to increase import tariffs to dissuade the import of used cars in hopes of motivating patronage of local manufacturers like the well-promoted Innoson Motors.
Despite regulations, import of Tokunbo cars have been largely unaffected due to Nigeria’s porous borders, which car dealers and smugglers outmanoeuvre to avoid payment of high tariffs slammed on imported cars. Random stop-and-search operations on the road by custom officials have also done very little to curb illegal imports of used Tokunbo cars, partly due to an established corruption network.
As government continues to regulate and ban Tokunbo imports, its inability to address underlying issues has made its effort result in failure because majority of Nigerians can only afford illegally-imported used cars, of which 63% of the population can afford to own neither a new or a used car. In its 2016 ‘Africa’s next automotive hub’ report, PwC predicts that tokunbo cars will disappear from the market by 2044 as a result of local production. With current government policies that do not support local automobile production, and lack of favourable conditions that afford credit to ordinary citizens by financial institutions, it’s difficult to trace the possibility of phasing out tokunbo cars by 2044.
The binding constraint to phasing out tokunbo cars is economical, most people cannot afford to buy cars at one go in most countries, but the availability of financing for automobile loans by financial institutions allow people to buy cars and pay in installments. Although some private banks do offer these loans, the interest rates are exuberant because of the high risk factor of automobile loan defaults, which prevent individuals from seeking out payment plans.
Automobile loans are high risk because of a systematic identification crisis which results in financial exclusion. Owing to lack of a centralised identity system in Nigeria, ID data collected exist in silos which is peculiar to one sector. This implies that each system is isolated from the other and unable to utilise valuable data sitting on other platforms. This system has proven to create financial exclusion defeating one of the pillars identity systems serve by encouraging shallow uptake and limited access footprints in financial products like automobile loans thereby excluding a greater percentage of the population limiting interoperalitibilty with financial institutions.
Harmonisation of biometric data between governmental agencies and synergising operations inclusive of financial agencies to create a database will aid in devising a social security system, citizen data and information registry. This will help establish a credit rating system that will aid financial institutions in determining credit worthiness and expanding access to financial instruments such as automobile loans at affordable interest rates due to decreased risk factor.
This can impact the tokunbo economy by creating favourable conditions to phase out importation of used cars. This means that individuals will be able to afford to buy new cars by accessing loans that allow them to repay in installments that is favourable to them.


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An international-standard event bringing the best of new technology, creative solutions and innovative thinking to Papua New Guinea’s business community.
The event is over. It took place on Friday 8 November, The Stanley Hotel, Port Moresby.
VIEW GALLERY CONTAINING PHOTOS OF THE EVENT.
Hosted by the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Business Advantage International, Innovation PNG 2019 will be the first event of its kind in Papua New Guinea. It will provide the opportunity for PNG’s wider business and government community to learn from, be inspired by, and engage with the most relevant innovators from PNG and overseas.
The broad spectrum of topics will include developing an innovation culture in your business, how better internet connectivity will transform local business, digital banking and how local entrepreneurs are finding creative ways to solve uniquely PNG challenges.
This Plenary Conference featured international keynote speakers and multiple streams for the afternoon session. The Expo Plus section included company booths and technology-related services/attractions.
The Workshops provided hands-on training for smaller, special-interest groups.
The conference was opened by the Hon. James Marape MP, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.
The conference program combined international keynotes, panel sessions, Q&As and case studies from the smartest PNG innovators (especially SMEs).
Click on the hyperlinked name to view slide presentation.
- Pete Williams (Chief Edge Officer, Deloitte Centre for The Edge)
- Paul Burman (Magatrends Ambassador, Hewlett Packard)
- Mohammad Chowdhury (Telecom, Media and Technology sector leader, PwC Australia)
Speakers and presenters:
- Ramachandran Arunachalam (Vice Chancellor, IBS University)
- Loi Bakani (Governor, Bank of Papua New Guinea)
- Virginia Bruce (CEO, Real Impact)
- Ray Paul (Chief Commissioner, PNG Customs)
- The Hon. Powes Parkop (Governor of National Capital District)
- Charles Punaha (CEO, National Information and Communications Technology Authority)
- Alberto Cimas (IT and cyber security specialist, Deloitte PNG)
- Khafra Kambon (Commercial Director, Digicel Pacific)
- Roboam Kakap (Lecturer, School of Business, Pacific Adventist University)
- Nuni Kulu (General Manager Digital, Bank South Pacific)
- Emily Kula-Lea, eNova Software Solutions
- The Hon. James Marape MP, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
- Steven Matainaho (Acting Secretary, Department of Communications, Information Technology and Energy)
- Alan Milne (Managing Director, Air Niugini)
- Jessie Mitir (Stakeholder Engagement Manager, PNG Biomass)
- Vani Nades, Emstret: Emstret’s business incubator
- Marsh Narawec, CEO, Kumulsoft: Asset management software
- Emmanuel Narokobi, Managing Director, Masalai Communications: The Yua Project
- Jeffrey Noro (Director, Papua New Guinea Science & Technology Secretariat)
- Une O’Ome (GM Commercial, PNG Dataco)
- The Hon. Rainbo Paita MP (Minister for Communications and Energy)
- Reeves Papaol (ICT Manager, Pacific Adventist University)
- Steven Pocock (Senior Program Manager, Economic Governance and Inclusive Growth Partnership, Abt Associates)
- Sundar Ramamurthy (Managing Director, Invoc Pty Ltd)
- Jane Ravusiro (Senior Program Manager – Inclusive Economic Empowerment, Abt Associates)
- Jaive Smare, Jive Market
- Sophia Soli (PNG Flying Labs)
- Will Unsworth (Group TDS Manager, New Britain Palm Oil)
- David Valentine (Chief Operations Officer, Niunet)
- Tony Westaway (CEO, MiBank)
Prime Minister, Papua New Guinea
Deloitte Centre for the Edge
Bank South Pacific
The Stanley Hotel is offering a special event rate on all its room types for the nights of 7 and 8 November, starting from PGK609 for a standard room.
Delegates can email email@example.com quoting promo code: INNOVATION
Alternatively book online here: https://app-apac.thebookingbutton.com/properties/thestanleydirect
In Association With
Official Media Partner
Innovation PNG Awards
Call for entries: Innovation PNG’s Awards now inviting entrants
Is your business an innovative business?
Entries are now invited for the Innovation PNG Awards, new awards created to celebrate and encourage innovation in PNG business, government and other organisations.
Timed to coincide with the inaugural Innovation PNG Conference, the awards are open to both small and large organisations.
What are the awards for?
To enter the awards, businesses and other organisations (including government) will be asked to show how they have solved a particular problem or challenge with some form of innovation.
That innovation can be an invention, a piece of technology, a new way of doing things, a new product or service, or a new business for PNG.
We want people to share their innovations with us, whether they’re working in a small business or a division of a larger business or organisation.
How do I enter?
Entries for the awards are now closed.
What do I win?
The two winners – one for small organisations and one for large organisations – will be announced at Innovation PNG 2019 on 8 November. They will receive a special award and the chance to speak at the conference about their innovation.
Who is judging the award?
The winners will chosen by a judging panel led by innovation expert Pete Williams, Chief Edge Officer at the Deloitte Centre for the Edge.
Who is running the awards?
The Innovation PNG 2019 Awards and the Innovation PNG 2019 Conference are initiatives of the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Business Advantage International. We would like to acknowledge the assistance of Deloitte Centre for the Edge’s Pete Williams in devising the criteria for the awards.


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Cryptocurrency is becoming more popular and widely adopted in Africa, as it offers a potential alternative to traditional banking and payment systems.
According to a report by Chainalysis, Africa’s on-chain cryptocurrency activity has grown significantly since 2020.
Some of the favorite cryptocurrencies in Africa are Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether and Bitcoin Cash, which are supported by BitPay, a platform that allows users to accept and send cryptocurrency payments.
However, cryptocurrency adoption in Africa also faces some challenges, such as lack of reliable internet, lack of financial literacy, lack of regulation and legal uncertainty.
For example, the Nigerian Central Bank recently directed banks to stop offering services to cryptocurrency providers, which affected the volume and accessibility of crypto trades in the country.
Watch in Youtube shorts


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Some 45 million Americans go on a diet each year. Most don't realize that, in doing so, they are changing their microbiomes. “Every time you diet, it’s causing fluctuations in the compositions of...
Less than a year ago, an auto external defibrillator saved 43-year-old Joy Cruz, who had suffered a heart attack while playing soccer. His last memory of that event is that everything in his vision...
Most holiday parties have a lot of food, and it's usually a lot of rich, heavy food. If you're worried about what you're eating, nutritionists say you don't necessarily have to have a fat-free...


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Counterfeiting is becoming an increasingly pressing issue in the United Kingdom. According to the most recent OECD report on counterfeiting, imports of counterfeit and pirated goods to the U.K. accounted for GBP 13.6 billion in 2016 - roughly 3% of total genuine goods imports. More than 86,000 jobs were lost in the country because of counterfeiting and piracy, with ICT devices being the most ‘popular’ counterfeit goods.
The most interesting finding in the report, however, is the fact that 47% of counterfeit goods imported to the U.K. in 2016 were sold to consumers who knew they were buying fake products. That got us thinking, how aware are people in the U.K. of the dangers of counterfeiting? How many of them have purchased something that turned out to be counterfeit in the past year?
We ran a survey to analyze the behavior of online and in-store shoppers in the U.K., to see how aware they are of the dangers of counterfeiting, and what they do to protect themselves from fake products. Here’s what we found.
We wanted to measure the level of awareness when it comes to counterfeiting, so we asked respondents how aware they are of this issue. Close to 48% of U.K. respondents said they were somewhat aware of how widespread this issue is on a global level, with 7% stating that they had no idea. That might not seem like a big number, but it’s an alarming sign that there are many shoppers out there who aren’t aware of the dangers of counterfeiting, and these shoppers are the most vulnerable and most likely to unknowingly purchase a fake item. The good news is that over 45% of respondents said they were very aware of this issue, and it’s more than likely that they’re doing their best to protect themselves from fake products.
We asked respondents from the U.K. whether they (knowingly or unknowingly) bought something counterfeit in the past 12 months. 19% of them said that yes, they did purchase something that turned out to be counterfeit, while 66% said no, and 16% were unsure. The number of respondents who responded affirmatively is alarming, but even more alarming is the number of buyers who aren’t sure whether they purchased an original product or a replica.
Their response emphasizes the fact that counterfeiters are becoming more and more skilled, to the point where it’s incredibly difficult to tell the difference between the original item and the replica. Think of Louis Vuitton bags, iconic Cartier Love bracelets, flagship iPhones, and even sneakers; these are some of the most popular products and product categories that create a lot of revenue for counterfeiters, and cause a lot of headaches for brands and consumers.
Even more troubling, according to our analysis, is the fact that only 24% of shoppers in the U.K. actually reported a purchase they made that turned out to be counterfeit. Close to 46% of respondents said they never reported a fake purchase. The explanation for this is two-fold: either shoppers didn’t want to, or weren’t able to, report and return the item, or they knew they were buying a counterfeit product from the get-go. Interestingly enough, 31% of respondents said they’ve never been in that situation - that they know of. This category poses the most concern, as these shoppers might have actually bought something counterfeit in the past year, but they don’t even know it.
Counterfeiters are highly skilled at what they do, and they know exactly how to lure unsuspecting buyers to buy their products. More often than not, shoppers will be drawn by significant discounts and special offers, high-quality images and detailed descriptions, and product details that look identical to the original.
The fact that counterfeit manufacturers have become so skilled at replicating products is a major cause for concern for brands. Consumers end up buying items that they believe are authentic, and then they lose trust in that particular brand once they realize it’s a fake. Other times, consumers won’t even realize that the product is not genuine, and end up disappointed in the subpar quality of the product. This eventually causes significant damage to a brand’s reputation, no matter the cause. 58% of respondents told us they’d lose trust in a brand if they were to unknowingly purchase a replica of one of their products.
Buying counterfeit items clearly has a massive impact on a brand’s reputation, which also leads to a loss in revenue as consumers lose trust in that brand. Things are slightly different, however, when it comes to shopping from online marketplaces like Amazon or eBay. 39% of respondents said they would return to the same online marketplace after buying a counterfeit item there, and 23% were undecided. What this means is that, while consumers might return to an online marketplace after being deceived, they would probably not purchase again from the same brand that they had problems with.
We asked our respondents to give their opinions on the industries most affected by counterfeiting, encouraging them to add their own answers, as well. As it turns out, respondents picked the fashion industry as the most affected by counterfeiting, followed by the beauty industry and then electronics. Other industries that they chose were automotive, sports goods, and pharmaceuticals. While it’s true that these industries are heavily impacted by counterfeits, in reality, the fashion industry isn’t at the top of the list.
According to the OECD counterfeiting report, which is based on the most recent available dataset from 2016, ICT (information and communications technology) devices were the most counterfeited type of goods in the U.K. in absolute terms. An estimated value of GBP 2.5 billion fakes were imported to the U.K. in 2016 in this category.
In relative terms, however, the fashion and accessories industry, together with toys and games, were the most targeted by counterfeiters. Fakes in these two industries represented 9.3% and 8%, respectively, of U.K. imports in 2016. Consequently, our respondents weren’t wrong when they picked fashion and electronics to be among the most affected industries.
The beauty industry has become more vulnerable and popular among counterfeiters in recent years, following an explosion of new brands and makeup/beauty-related YouTube influencers. The result? Counterfeit cosmetics are the third-most investigated fake products in the U.K., according to an ITV This morning broadcast last fall.
Through our survey, we wanted to see where and how often people in the U.K. shop, so we asked them about their shopping preferences. 76% of respondents said they go to online marketplaces like Amazon when shopping on the web, instead of buying directly from a brand’s website. It could be because these marketplace often boast lower prices for brand items, and special offers and discounts are also commonly available. On the downside, online marketplaces pose more risk of counterfeiting than buying directly from a brand’s official website, so shoppers need to be careful.
When it comes to in-store shopping, things are a bit different, as 84% of respondents choose brand stores over resellers, outlets, or second-hand shops. Nowadays, people do their research online before making a purchase, and they often head over to brand stores to see the product in real life and make a decision. This is the safest way to stay protected from counterfeits, as shoppers get to check the product in-person and make sure that it satisfies their needs.
We ran a counterfeiting-focused survey on Pollfish in January 2021, to gauge the shopping behaviors of people in the U.K., and measure their level of awareness when it comes to the counterfeiting industry.


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With MWC 2019 happening very soon, Sony will be unveiling its latest flagship, the Xperia XZ4. Ahead of the big event, we get to see clear renders of the device thanks to case maker Olixar.
The cases for the Xperia XZ4 was spotted on Mobile Fun and it gives us a better look of the device especially the camera and button placements. It matches the 360-degree renders that were provided by @Onleaks and we could see a triple camera setup that’s aligned vertically in the middle.
If you look on the right side, you’ll notice a huge cutout which is likely to be its side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Placed close to it is a volume rocker button and there’s also an extra button. It isn’t clear if this is a power button since it makes more sense for Sony to integrate it with the fingerprint sensor like its previous flagships.
Also retained is a dedicated camera button which makes it easier to launch the camera with a single push. You can also see a single cut out at the bottom for the USB-C port and the XZ4 is expected to come without a headphone jack like the recent XZ2 and XZ3 smartphones.
Like any Sony product, the Xperia XZ4 is expected to retain a IP68 dust and water resistance. The Xperia XZ4 is expected to be Sony’s first flagship smartphone to come with a triple-camera setup and this comes right after the XZ2 Premium which came with a dual-camera configuration. For the display, the device will get a taller 21:9 aspect ratio and the screen is said to be 6.5″ in size.
Several weeks ago, an alleged benchmark result for the Xperia XZ4 had surfaced online which claims to offer blazing performance compared to other Snapdragon 855 devices. If this is true, it could be the best performing Android smartphone on Antutu with a score of over 390,000.
The Xperia XZ4 is expected to be revealed at MWC 2019 in Barcelona. Sony Mobile has confirmed its press event on 25th February 2019 and we expect them to also reveal their mid-range XA3 series at the same venue.
Unfortunately, these new devices might not come to Malaysia officially. As mentioned earlier, it appears that Sony Mobile has exited the South East Asian market.


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2022 Mitsubishi Pajero imagined as next-gen four-wheel-drive
Once spoken about in the same breath as the LandCruiser and Patrol, we imagine what a new-generation Pajero could look like.
The Mitsubishi Pajero came to the end of production this year, ending a four-decade run as a proven, capable four-wheel-drive.
While it felt its age in recent years, for a long time the Pajero was one of the main family off-roaders available on the market, with the Mitsubishi fighting in the same class as the Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol.
Faced with closed borders, sales of the Pajero saw a resurgence in the latter part of 2020 as Aussies rushed out to buy SUVs capable of taking them across the country with a caravan in tow.
With that in mind, we wondered if Mitsubishi hadn't closed the book on the Pajero a little too early, and started imagining what it would look like if the Japanese car company decided to invest in a brand-new model.
Our resident Photoshop artist Theophilus Chin took inspiration from Mitsubishi's current design language, but with the large, squared-off dimensions offered by the Pajero family over the decades.
But to power the Paj, we have to look outside of Mitsubishi's current range. With rumours the upcoming Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series will be powered by a 3.5-litre hybrid turbo petrol V6 powertrain, it makes sense to look to the wider Renault-Mitsubishi-Nissan Alliance range for something on par.
Perhaps not the obvious choice, but on paper it makes sense to cherry-pick the R35-generation Nissan GT-R's 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 – which is strongly suspected to be offered with a mild-hybrid system in the coming months. Even in a detuned state, it would have more than enough power and torque to keep the SUV moving.
A turbocharged, hybridised version of the new Nissan Pathfinder's 3.5-litre naturally-aspirated V6 could also be an adequate choice.
Mitsubishi hasn't hinted at plans to revive the Pajero, making it unlikely we'll see anything resembling these renders for the foreseeable future.
Let us know in the comments section whether you would like to see a Pajero make a comeback.


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Notre Dame AD: new Under Armour deal largest in college history
Notre Dame officially announced Tuesday that it has signed a new apparel contract with Under Armour, reportedly the biggest in college athletics.
When reports surfaced earlier this month that Notre Dame was set to sever its 16-year relationship with Adidas in order to forge a new partnership with Under Armour, it didn't take a lot of foresight to guess the contract would be a whopper.
And sure enough, at Tuesday's press conference to officially announce the Fighting Irish's all-sports deal with its new apparel supplier, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick called his school's Under Armour agreement "the largest deal of its kind in the history of college athletics."
"We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Under Armour," said Swarbrick. "The most obvious of those relates to quality and quantity of the world-class footwear, apparel and equipment Notre Dame will be able to provide ... And in as much as this represents the largest financial commitment ever made by a brand to a university, it will provide the critical resources we need to enable our student-athletes to compete at the highest levels."
Though terms of the deal were not released, ESPN reported that the total value of the 10-year deal would be "about $90 million" -- trumping the $82 million contract signed by Adidas with Notre Dame's rivals at Michigan, the previous most lucrative apparel deal in college athletics. (That contract has also been rumored to be one of the reasons the Irish went looking for a different suitor for its next contract.)
The Under Armour deal, Swarbrick confirmed, would also give the Irish the option to take some of the $90 million in the form of Under Armour stock -- cementing the strength of the partnership between the growing athletics brand and what its now its most high-profile client.
Notre Dame is Under Armour's 13th FBS "all-school partnership, joining the likes of Auburn, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Maryland, Boston College and various other FBS schools.
"Notre Dame is the standard-bearer of excellence in collegiate athletics and is one of the most recognizable and admired universities in the world," Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank said at the announcement. "It's an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to dedicate our passion and innovation for making athletes better into this game-changing partnership."
Notre Dame had worked with German-based giant Adidas since 1997, when the Irish began wearing Adidas cleats. Adidas began supplying the Irish with uniforms in 2001 -- only five years after Under Armour was founded, and two before its ubiquitous "protect this house" commercial debuted in 2003.
Hurd left Tennessee during the 2016 season
But it worked, and that's what matters
TV viewing and live stream information for the 2017 Alabama spring game
The Dawgs wrap up spring practice with G-Day on Saturday, April 22
The race with his namesake has sold out again, bringing thousands to support his charities
Auston Robertson's charge stems from an alleged incident on April 9


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Poland retail sales accelerate further in SeptemberStaff Writer | October 26, 2017
Retail sales rose 8.6% from the same month a year earlier in September, accelerating from August’s 7.6% increase.
September’s acceleration once again contributed to an uptick in the annual trend, with average annual growth in retail sales increasing from 7.3% in August to 7.6% in September—marking the highest reading in nearly five years.
FocusEconomics Consensus Forecast panelists see private consumption growing 3.8% in 2018, which is unchanged from last month’s forecast. For 2019, the panel sees private consumption expanding 3.5%. ■


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The new version of Microsoft’s card game for Windows 10 can now costs players a few dollars.
Rockstar Games has made the offer available only for “GTA V Online” from July 27 to Aug. 2.
Chinese tech firm Huawei has forged a major deal with the Australian government
Excited "Warcraft" fans were recently treated to its latest teaser at the SDCC.
Recent reports claim the release date of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5.
Lord of all smart watches, Olio has been designed to give wearer a hassle free user experience with latest technology and brilliant look altogether.
Lytro announces the launch of the first studio that allows visitors to experience light field technology.
The new series of bags are designed for professional photographers and are best for rough use.
The March 10 release of online Heists for "GTA V" will reportedly also feature the single player zombie DLC, as teased from the source codes mined from the game.
Blizzard is testing out the combat speed in "Star Craft 2" by decreasing the attack speed of each unit by 40 percent.


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Apple’s profit in the final quarter of 2018 was $20 billion a one per cent drop from the previous quarter which brought in $ 84.3 billion inspite of slow iPhone sales which was down 15 per cent from the same period in 2017.
The revenue growth came mainly from music, movies, apps and other services covering for slow iPhone sales.The full extent of the drop in iPhone sales was not clear because Apple for the first time stopped reporting unit sales for its iconic smartphones.Apple boosted sales of wearables and accessories by 33 per cent from last year.
Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook said,”While it was disappointing to miss our revenue guidance, we manage Apple for the long term, and this quarter’s results demonstrate that the underlying strength of our business runs deep and wide.”
Apple had been under pressure to show it can weather the slump in the global smartphone market and diversify its revenue base, and the latest results appeared to satisfy the market.
“Our active installed base of devices reached an all-time high of 1.4 billion in the first quarter, growing in each of our geographic segments,” Cook said.
“It’s driving our Services business to new records thanks to our large and fast-growing ecosystem.” Apple took a hit in the “Greater China” region, where revenue plunged almost 27 per cent, which had been expected following the company’s latest revenue warning.


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People were still buying VCRs?
Conrad Stoll tells Apple Watch developers what they need to take into consideration with Apple's newest watch OS.
Earlier this year, when Microsoft revealed its augmented reality (AR) device called the HoloLens, the demonstrations blew everyone away. Since then (now that more people have had a chance to try it in-person), the hype has died down a bit, but the de...
Toymaker VTech's poor security practices put customer information -- and the information of children at risk. That's not OK.
This consumer drone accident is the worst-case scenario, but that doesn't mean there isn't cause for concern.


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Software giant Microsoft got a slap on the nose with a rolled up newspaper by founder Paul Allen this morning.
Speaking to Bloomberg , Allen said that Vole was mucking about and not getting enough new products on the shelves fast enough.
Allen is in the press a bit lately for his new biography where, if we have read it correctly, he claims he was out saving the world while Bill Gates was pulling the wings off flies. The book “The Idea Man” more or less claims that Allen was a tortured business artist who was not appreciated by the oiks and riff-raff of the IT industry. .
Allen is not the first one to complain that Vole is taking far too long to get products out there. The common belief is that the outfit is so big that managers are too busy playing politics to get any products out.
He said that Microsoft’s Windows 7 phone software and XBox Kinect sensors were “resonating with a younger audience” as the company tries to “get more momentum.” He seems to have some inside knowledge about Windows Phone 7 that the rest of the world has not seen.
Unlike Ballmer, who has been looking at making incursions into the Kingdom of the Dull people and make business software, Allen thinks that consumer stuff is where it is at.
Allen said that Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs’ transformation of Apple since his return in 1997 has been “unbelievable” – particularly that hat-trick with the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad.
As a result there is now a three horse race for global domination between Apple, Google and Vole.


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Read The Full Article On: Markets
“I think some critical mass of the market has concluded that Tesla will win, I guess. I mean I’ve gone on record already saying I think the stock price is a bit high, and that was well before the current level,” the Tesla CEO said. “But also if you ask me, do I think if Tesla will be worth more than this in five years? I think the answer is yes.”
Tesla is trading 760% higher than it was 12 months ago. The stock is up roughly 400% year-to-date. It currently has a market capitalization of over $380.2 billion – larger than Ford, GM, and Fiat combined.
Shares of the electric-vehicle company have been sensitive to Musk’s public comments. In May, his tweet that the stock was “too high” drove the share price down as much as 12%.
Musk also commented on what some traders saw as a less-than-exciting “battery day” last week. Shares fell as much as 9% last Wednesday when Tesla revealed its next-generation battery cell technology won’t be as cost-efficient as some initially thought.
“The cells we’re talking about- we have produced many of them. We have had cars driving with those cells since May. My premise is never to try to convince people why they should invest in Tesla. Sell your stock, I don’t care,” Musk said.
The electric-vehicle company rose as much as 5% during Monday trading hours.


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tech2 News StaffNov 03, 2015 18:14:36 IST
Huawei has officially released the exact time frame as to when its smartphones will be updated with Android Marshmallow. The company's Indian subsidiary Honor India tweeted out the devices which will receive the update will include the Honor 7, Honor 6 Plus, Honor 6, Honor 4X and Honor 4C.
The company had also announced on its Weibo account that the Ascend P8, Ascend P8max, Mate S, Mate 7, Ascend G7, Ascend G7 Plus, and Ascend G8 will begin receiving the update in China starting this month.
According to an earlier report, Huawei has surpassed Xiaomi as top Chinese smartphone company. According to independent analyst company Canalys, as on Q2 2015, Huawei is China’s top smartphone vendor, while Xiaomi has fallen to the second place. The leap by Huawei has brought it to the leading position for the first time in China’s highly competitive smartphone market. This is backed by an 81 percent year-on-year device shipment growth.
According to a report by Canalys, ‘Huawei’s ascent to China’s smart phone throne is a remarkable feat, especially in the context of an increasingly cutthroat and maturing Chinese smart phone market,’ said Jessie Ding, a Research Analyst based in Canalys’ Shanghai office.
Tech2 is now on WhatsApp. For all the buzz on the latest tech and science, sign up for our WhatsApp services. Just go to Tech2.com/Whatsapp and hit the Subscribe button.


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Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Startup Act
Moran, Warner, Blunt & Klobuchar continue push for innovation, jobs & economic development
Jan 31 2019
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) today reintroduced the Startup Act – bipartisan, cutting-edge legislation to encourage job creation, grow entrepreneurial activity, increase innovation and advance economic development.
The Startup Act would accelerate the commercialization of university research and creative inquiry that can lead to new ventures, review and improve the regulatory processes at the federal, state and local levels, and modernize a critical Economic Development Administration (EDA) program to spur economic growth and promote innovation. The widely-supported legislation also creates both entrepreneur and STEM visas for highly-educated individuals so they can remain in the United States legally to promote new ideas, fuel economic opportunity and create good-paying American jobs.
“America continues to fall behind in new business development and struggles to retain top talent that could grow our U.S. economy,” said Sen. Moran. “With a renewed sense of urgency, Congress must prioritize policies that will help recruit and retain highly-skilled students and innovators, bolster a pro-growth environment and enable entrepreneurs to transform ideas and research into companies and products – creating meaningful, good-paying jobs for Americans in the process. Thank you to Senators Mark Warner, Roy Blunt and Amy Klobuchar for continuing to prioritize this important legislation to help make certain America remains the best place in the world to bring an idea to market and grow a business.”
“I’ve spent most of my career in the private sector so I know the importance of advancing innovation,” said Sen. Warner. “By encouraging entrepreneurship and helping attract and retain talented individuals, this bipartisan bill will help Virginia promote capital investment while boosting our economy and promoting U.S. competitiveness.”
“To compete and succeed in a 21st Century global economy, we have to make our country the best place in the world for entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses,” said Sen. Blunt. “This bill will help promote innovation and small business growth, which in turn will create more jobs and strengthen the economy. The legislation will also increase U.S. competitiveness by making sure we have the workforce we need for high-demand STEM fields.”
“Startups and small businesses are engines of job creation and economic growth,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan bill would make it easier for students and innovators to get their ideas off the ground, encourage new ideas, and strengthen our workforce to keep the U.S. competitive in the 21st century economy.”
Many of the principles included in the Startup Act are based on the research and analysis by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, based in Kansas City, Mo. Kauffman research shows that immigrants to the United States are nearly twice as likely as native-born Americans to start businesses, and first-generation immigrants now make up nearly 30 percent of all new U.S. entrepreneurs.
Data shows that international students studying in the U.S. on temporary visas accounted for nearly two-fifths of all Ph.D.s in STEM fields – that number has doubled over the past three decades. Further, international doctoral students were significantly more likely than domestic students to major and earn degrees in STEM disciplines in the U.S.
The Startup Act is supported by Sprint, Garmin, the Enterprise Center of Johnson County, the Kansas City Startup Foundation, Engine, the UMKC Innovation Center, the KC Tech Council, the Internet Association, the Consumer Technology Association, CTIA, SSTI, CompTIA, the Angel Capital Association, the Computer and Communications Industry Association, National Venture Capital Association, the Center for American Entrepreneursip and the Information Technology Industry Council.
Full text of the bill can be found here.
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HOUSEWARES : Home, Sweet Home Products on View at Chicago Exhibit
What’s new? What’s new? What’s new? The question echoed like a theme song through the exhibit halls, pavilions and meeting rooms of McCormick Place this week as retailers from around the world came shopping at the 98th International Housewares Show that ended Wednesday.
Trailed by trend-hungry TV crews and print reporters, an estimated 50,000 attendees--making this the largest housewares-only exhibition in the world--prowled aisle after aisle of kitchenware, furniture, office equipment, bathroom accessories, hardware, tools and dozens of other merchandise categories that make up the complexity known as today’s American “household.”
The four-day event, sponsored by the 2,000-member National Housewares Manufacturers Assn. (NHMA), is “a reflection of trends going on all over the country, whether it’s a graying of America or a new interest in ethnic cooking,” said Tom Conley, NHMA executive director.
“This show is not so much an emphasis on new products as revamped products,” said NHMA’s Jay Kelly. “We are changing the way we use space.”
The new look emphasizes electronics, lightweight plastics and metals, and high-fashion colors; it is driven by design considerations. Accessories from hair dryers to vacuum cleaners have lines elegant enough to display in the Museum of Contemporary Art.
“They’ve learned how to refine plastic to give it a beautiful high-gloss finish,” said William Morgan, whose line of Morgan Plastics features delicate drinking glasses in sapphire, ruby and coral that glow like crystal. “It’s not like the old dog dishes.”
A line of folding trucks replace bulky dollies for moving heavy boxes and furniture. These devices, made of lightweight steel and aluminum tubing from Reliable Products in Arcadia, have stair glides, elegant handles and pastel safety locks, and they collapse down to a compact square.
The computer loomed throughout the exhibits, not only as an element in high-tech products, but as a factor in home design and furniture.
“We’ve been in business since 1959, and over the last five years there’s been an explosion in home offices,” said Dave Messinger of Bush Industries, whose line of ready-to-assemble furniture typified an evolution that began with a flat slab of particleboard for the new home computer.
“We started with a pullout keyboard with ergonomically designed wrist rest, then the printer on an adjustable shelf,” Messinger said. “Then we added a wider printer and place for a mouse and lots of drawers and cubbyholes. At this show we’re introducing the office armoire.” This handsome oak-trimmed cabinet holds a computer, keyboard and adjustable-height printer and features a side extension that makes a desk and tucks away when company comes.
“The consumer has completely driven this market,” Messinger said, “understanding all the time that the furniture wasn’t cutting the mustard.”
Another emphasis at the show was on the proliferation of storage boxes, bins and shelves.
“I think people have more stuff now,” said Lambert Sheng, 29, tending his family’s Honeyware Inc. booth of hangers, racks, boxes and bins. “We used to have a hammer and a few wrenches and screws, but now with electronics there are a lot more tools and pieces. And kids today boot up computers and have disks, and computer games. If you can’t organize it, you feel out of control.”
“Storage is getting bigger all the time,” said John Clements of Holiday Housewares. “We started with food containers and now are into bins and totes and clear-sided boxes for shoes and clothing. What’s happening is that the baby boomers are having families and accumulating stuff.”
Retailers in sensible shoes and armed with 475-page directories of exhibitors clocked up 12-hour days at the show, beginning early.
A blueprint for “Retailing 2000" was offered in a 7:30 a.m. Monday keynote address by Carl Steidtmann, director of research and chief economist for Management Horizons.
Today’s retailers have a more diverse population of customers than ever in history, said Steidtmann, offering sample categories of consumers:
* A huge growth in ethnicity and desire for culturally specific products.
* Generation Xers who, in their 20s, have less education than their predecessors, are slow to leave home, slow to get to the workplace and face a clogged labor market. “It’s hard to get to their spending power.”
* The baby boom generation, entering midlife crisis, continues to exert a major influence on the economy. “They work an average of four hours a week more than their parents and are very time-pressed,” Steidtmann said. “Their first priority is anything that saves them time and gives them a sense of control over their lives.”
* Mature Americans, who have discretionary spending power and want a high level of customer service.
Not only has the customer changed, so has the retailer, Steidtmann said, tracing a cycle from specialty store to department-store mass merchandising and back to today’s “mass-specialty” stores, such as pet or computer stores that offer a large selection of niche merchandise.
The emphasis on retailing is passing from real estate (the mall) to information (the computer), he said. Although shopping on the Internet is “more hype than reality” at the present, by the year 2000, such “Third Wave retailing” will dramatically change the way we shop.
Steidtmann envisioned the cyberspace consumer creating his own electronic agent and telling it, “The next time Nikes go on sale on the Internet for $19.95 in my size, order me a pair.”
For a more prophetic look at the future of housewares, the show offered a bustling computer-laden Design Oasis, where designers demonstrated the steps from concept to retail shelf for a number of products.
Also in the spotlight were designers of the future--six student winners of the NHMA’s 1995 National Student Design Competition, displaying prototypes of their winning projects.
First-place winner was Californian Brian Lewis, a senior at San Jose State University. His portable outdoor grill, with two cooler compartments for storing food and an oversized hinge for a small propane tank, opens flat like a briefcase to expose a large cooking area. “I live in Santa Cruz, and going to the beach is a matter of dragging stuff up and down cliffs, so this makes it easier,” said Lewis, who has received offers to manufacture the grill.
“I think designers need to consider how people use things, not just rehash products,” Lewis said. “I also like to think transgenerationally: This would be suitable for college students, for a family or for grandparents in their motor home. I made the knob bigger and the fixtures bigger--that might be considered geriatric, but I like to think of it as universal, making it easier for anybody.”


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NYP – Four Hofstra U. hoops players today were charged with burglary for a slew of brazen thefts from fellow students’ dorm rooms, authorities said. The trio of freshmen and one sophomore players systematically stole more than an estimated $20,000 worth of Apple electronics products from six dorm rooms at the Hempstead, LI, university — then sold the boosted gear to “live a more lavish lifestyle,” Nassau County, cops said. “They were particularly fond of Apple products — MacBooks, iPads, iPods, iPhones — and these items are valuable,” said Police Lt. Raymond Cote. “The items were sold on Craigslist, they were pawned, sold to other students, they were sold on the street.”
The Brooklyn resident Hall, 18, told cops that Stokes boosted a laptop from a dorm suite while Hall was in a room in that suite asking a girl he knew whether she would “be down to have some fun with me and my teammates” by having group sex with them, court records show. When the girl, who refused Hall’s offer, later noticed the laptop was gone and asked him to check with his teammates whether any of them took it, Hall denied they had the computer, records allege.
I’ll tell you what, I would give that dude AND his son an iPod each to just drop the jacket and slug this cameraman in the face. What a fuckin twerp that guy was. Get out of my face with that shit twinkletoes. Not like I was out there stealing iPads. It was my dickhead son. Reason #10 billion why you should never have kids.
As for the actual thefts you got to love the criminal minds at work here. Hey you want to have group sex with the team. No thanks. Oh my computer’s gone. Who did that? Shocked they ended up getting caught.