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Valentine's Day is for pets, too
- Pet owners to spend %24815 million this year
- Survey%3A One in 5 Americans plan to give pets Valentine%27s gifts
- Even fish%2C horses and gerbils get presents
Many folks will pamper very unconventional valentines today: their pooches. And their felines. And even their feathered friends.
One in five Americans will show their non-human companions some love, spending a collective $815 million on Valentine's Day goodies for their pets, according to a new survey from the National Retail Federation.
In another survey, the American Pet Products Association says pet owners have treated even fish, horses and "small animals" to Valentine's Day gifts.
It may sound strange to some, but to loving pet owners, these animals are invaluable companions and it makes those owners "feel good" to coddle them, says Kristen Levine, a pet expert and founder of pet-focused marketing firm Fetching Communications.
The physical interaction that comes with taking care of a pet is even more special -- and novel -- in an increasingly digital world, she says.
"You communicate digitally with most people in your life through text, e-mail and Facebook," she says. "But you can't do that with your pet."
Seizing the opportunity to capitalize on these love-struck consumers, pet retailers, manufacturers and shelters have rolled out myriad Valentine's Day-themed promotions that tout everything from adoptions to "be mine"-logoed dog clothing to heart-shaped dog treats.
The ASPCA features $15.99 heart-dotted cat collars and $9.99 heart-shaped dog tags on its site. It also helped those without a furry companion to line up a last-minute valentine by hosting a live-streamed "dating show" on Tuesday that showcased some of their pets up for adoption.
"Adoption is a message that we're always trying to get across," says Olivia Melikhov, social-media manager at the ASPCA. "We thought Valentine's Day would be a perfect time to remind people of that, since everyone is talking about love and meeting their match."
Ahwatukee Commons Veterinary Hospital in Phoenix asked folks to submit pet pictures to its Facebook page as part of its Valentine's Day photo contest. The winner — decided by which picture gets the most "likes" -- will receive a $25 gift card toward services at the clinic.
And NoviPet, a distributor of nutritional supplements for dogs, is using a Valentine's-themed Facebook campaign to market its vitamins. "Omega 3 & 6 promotes heart health in canines, and after all, the heart is what matters on this special day," says its promotion.
As for animal lovers who don't have the time, money or inclination to spoil their pets, there are no worries. Fido or Felix won't feel slighted if they don't get a special treat, reassures Levine.
"The reality is that your pets don't know its Valentine's Day," Levine says. "You're not going to get grief if you don't come home with anything."


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Land Rover is celebrating 25 years of the legendary Discovery SUV this year. To mark the occasion, it first planned to make its own video of the go-anywhere vehicle trekking the planet. Instead, LR decided to get footage from its loyal customers and make the 4-minute video with those clips.
The result is what you see above. It’s a little hokey, but also a little inspiring. The adventures kind of make you want to get out there and explore the world. It was produced using 70 clips from different owners across 24 countries, according to Land Rover.
"To celebrate 25 years of the Land Rover Discovery, we wanted to produce a film about the amazing journeys it has undertaken all over the world,” said Dominic Chambers, Land Rover marketing and communications director. “When we started to look into it, we realized that the people who make Discovery what it is -- our owners -- had already made it. Discovery owners hold their vehicles dear to their heart, and what better way to capture that passion and adventurous spirit than showcasing their own discoveries from the last 25 years."

domain: news


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PESHAWAR, Pakistan - In a rundown market here along the road to Afghanistan, you can buy U.S. Army gear stamped with soldiers' names, booklets marked "for official use only," even a manual that illustrates how "jammers" can stop remote-controlled bombs.
The traders are coy about where their stock comes from, but it's clear much of it is stolen from trucks carrying military supplies over the border. Recent raids on warehouses where the looted goods are stockpiled have even turned up photos mailed to U.S. soldiers from loved ones back home.
Not only is there merchandise here that could aid insurgents, it also illustrates the challenges of securing supply lines into landlocked Afghanistan, a task underscored in recent days by the closure of the main route through Pakistan and subsequent fiery attacks on convoys.
Last week, Pakistan protested the killing of two Pakistani troops by a NATO helicopter by stopping supply convoys from crossing the border at Torkham, along the famed Khyber Pass.
Seven days later, more than 100 oil tankers were lined up along the road into Peshawar, the main city in the northwest. Their drivers and assistants have been sleeping beneath them, waiting in fear of insurgents, who appear to have stepped up their attacks in a bid to further expose the vulnerability of the mission in Afghanistan.
The Sitara Market, on the outskirts of Peshawar, is some 100 yards from the border that separates the tribal regions of Northwest Pakistan from the rest of the country. Across the frontier, there are no courts or regular police. Hashish and heroin, smuggled goods and firearms are big business, and al-Qaida and other Islamist militants have long found haven there.
The market's proximity to the crossing is no coincidence. For more than 25 years, scores like it have sprung up, dealing in Western goods such as diapers, food and electronics either smuggled from, or headed into, Afghanistan.
In 2002, several small shops in the two-story, rundown complex began selling looted goods from the several hundred container trucks that rumble across the border each day. The boots, flashlights, tools, medical equipment, office supplies, food and military uniforms are in demand because they are of better quality and cheaper than similar goods for sale in northwest Pakistan.
"American goods are No. 1," said one shopkeeper who gave his name only as Muhammad. "Everything is the best."
A rummage through some of the roughly dozen market stalls unearthed several documents that would be of potential use to militants, perhaps most alarmingly the booklet on jammers for military vehicles. The 171-page manual is marked "for official use only" and urges the information not be openly discussed and that it should be destroyed rather than thrown away.
The owner of the market, Hanif Afridi, pointed out one shop, closed during a recent visit, that sold army computers and other electronic equipment he said were "so heavy you need a truck" to lift them. Other traders said it was possible to order most goods, including bulletproof glass and fortified vehicle chassis.
And rumor has it that firearms, even American-issued ones, are also for sale. While an Associated Press reporter did not find any, occasional bursts of gunfire could be heard in the distance.
"That is people trying before buying" at stalls just across the frontier, explained one man who asked not to be named.
Earlier this month, Pakistan's Frontier Corps raided warehouses in the tribal regions and recovered helicopter spare parts, medical instruments, flak jackets and family photos of U.S. soldiers. The head of the Pakistani Taliban was filmed last year driving a U.S. Humvee seized from one container.
NATO officials in Afghanistan say the border blockade, militant attacks and looting have no effect on military operations there. The vast majority of goods that arrive in the seaport of Karachi and make the five-day trip to Kabul through Peshawar and the Khyber Pass, or through Chaman in the southwest, arrive safely. Weapons, ammunition and other sensitive materials are flown into Afghanistan.
© 2017. All Rights Reserved. | Contact Us


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Lynch Family Companies is planning the addition of cold storage capacity adjacent to its plant in Luverne.
The cold storage facility will be a constructed on a 47-acre field that hosts the Luverne plant. Lynch sold 13 of those acres to Lineage Logistics, the world’s largest temperature-controlled industrial real estate investment trust and logistics solutions provider. Lineage Logistics will construct and operate the facility, according to a company press release.
Lynch plans to rent one-third of the space in the freezer for product storage, which will intend to alleviate supply-chain issues and allow customers access to fresher pork. The freezer will store products from three Lynch mills and two harvest plants. On-site storage will allow Lynch to ship its product to customers across the country more efficiently.
Lineage Logistics, based in Novi, Michigan, has a global network of more than 400 strategically located facilities totaling over two billion cubic feet of capacity in 19 countries across North America, Europe and Asia.
Lynch Family Companies Inc. is a collection of family-owned, agriculture-focused organizations headquartered in Waucoma, Iowa.


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Canadian innovator Sigmadek launches game-changing 'high-tech' deck design that takes safety to a new level
TORONTO, April 20, 2015 /CNW/ - Sixty percent of Canadian homeowners have a wooden deck but one quarter of those homeowners admit they've never fully inspected their deck for safety to avoid a potential fatal collapse – even though the average deck in Canada today is 10 years old, according to a new Ipsos poll.
Worse, among homes with older decks built 11 to 15 years ago, about one third have never been inspected for deck safety, wood decay and structural stability - and among decks built 16 to 20-plus years ago, one in five or 20% have never been inspected.
"Deck owners are ignoring deck safety. This is a time of year when you hear about potentially devastating and sometimes fatal deck collapses that could easily be avoided," says Mike Holmes, host of the popular television series Holmes on Homes® and Holmes Makes It Right.
The Ipsos poll, conducted on behalf of SigmaDek Ltd. of Calgary, reveals just how significant the gap is today in the need for annual deck safety inspections, with 40% of those surveyed indicating that they don't really think about how safe their deck is. In fact, The state of decay among many Canadian backyard decks is so bad that one in 10 homeowners feel their deck could "collapse any minute,'' and a similar proportion said the state of their deck prevents them from even using it.
SigmaDek™ Ltd. of Calgary is launching a prefabricated and maintenance-free, high-tech decking system – considered the next generation in home deck design and building – which will be available starting May 1 in select home improvement retail stores across Canada.
Designed to eliminate the dangers of collapsing wooden decks, SigmaDek combines an aerospace-grade aluminum substructure with aluminum-and-porcelain deck boards that connect seamlessly.
"Our new SigmaDek system is a breakthrough product that truly must be seen to be believed," said Tory Weber, president of SigmaDek Ltd. "Our easy-to-install, pre-fabricated system features non-combustible components that interlock seamlessly, look beautiful and will never rot, crack or warp. It's nothing less than a paradigm shift in patio deck construction and materials."
SigmaDek is the industry's first painted and prefabricated deck system, with ready-to-assemble components that minimize job site waste while dramatically reducing construction time.
"SigmaDek is a game-changer," added Holmes. "It introduces a whole new product category when it comes to building decks. It dramatically reduces installation time to as little as half a day, is maintenance free and looks great. Homeowners, deck installers, builders and designers are going to love this product!"
SigmaDek's in-store presence will feature an interactive customer experience centre, with live SigmaDek service representatives available instantly via touchscreen at interactive kiosks to provide live consultation and information to Canadian consumers.
Full data from the Ipsos poll are available at www.sigmadek.com. Deck owners in Ontario (29%) and Atlantic Canada (28%) were most likely to say they've never inspected the safety of their deck, followed by residents in B.C. (25%), Alberta (20%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (18%) and Quebec (16%).
Two thirds of deck owners (68%) agreed that treating the wood and repairing their deck "is a pain" and three quarters (76%) said they would "choose prefabricated, non-degradable materials instead of wood if it provided an attractive deck that's safer, non-combustible and maintenance-free."
SigmaDek's aluminum deck system – deck substructure, railing, stairs and porcelain deck boards - carries a limited lifetime warranty. SigmaDek's system is Built Green™ certified and tested beyond Canada's existing building code requirements.
Additional details on SigmaDek's innovative design are available online at www.sigmadek.com, along with amazing videos demonstrating SigmaDek's incredible durability and unique appearance.
Based in Calgary, Canada SigmaDek Ltd. is a privately held company founded in 2008. SigmaDek™ has spent over six years designing and engineering a safe, aluminum component decking system. SigmaDek is using materials that do not deteriorate and can only be installed according to a pre-engineered design. These systems are made from rugged die cast aluminum and extruded aluminum. SigmaDek is taking the lead in providing a Safe, Strong and Sustainable alternative to wood constructions, while improving outdoor esthetics.
ABOUT THE IPSOS POLL
The Ipsos poll was conducted between April 6th and 8th, 2015 on behalf of SigmaDek. A sample of 1,005 Canadian homeowners (including 615 who have a wooden deck) from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/ - 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadian homeowners been polled.
SOURCE SigmaDek Ltd.
Image with caption: "SigmaDek™ is launching a prefabricated and maintenance-free, high-tech decking system which will be available starting May 1 in select home improvement retail stores across Canada. Designed to eliminate the dangers of collapsing wooden decks, SigmaDek combines an aerospace-grade aluminum substructure with aluminum-and-porcelain deck boards that connect seamlessly. (CNW Group/SigmaDek Ltd.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150420_C4187_PHOTO_EN_14423.jpg


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According to previous rumors, Canon will announce 4 new lenses in next few months around Photokina 2018 in September. Now, Nokishita Camera has uncovered these four new lenses at Russian certification agency.
Canon has officially announced two new 70-200mm lenses last week: EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM lens (Amazon/B&H Photo Video/Adorama) and EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM Lens (Amazon/B&H Photo Video/Adorama). So what can we expect next from Canon in the second half of 2018 ? Here is a list of rumored Canon products could be announced next:
According to recently rumors on CR, a new EF-M 32mm f/1.4 lens for Canon mirrorless cameras will be announced around Photokina 2018.


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Fresh Studio’s managing partner Siebe van Wijk will present about developing the horticulture sector of Vietnam during the Asia Fruit Congress in Bangkok on Friday November 4.
This presentation in Bangkok is exactly 15 years after Fresh Studio presented at the first Asia Fruit Congress in Bangkok in 2007. In Fresh Studio’s latest presentation, we will show how the Vietnamese horticulture sector is developing and what more investments are needed to make Vietnam’s horticulture sector more sustainable and successful in both the domestic and export market.
Traditionally policy makers often focus on developing the export sector, but with a domestic market value for fruit and vegetables of US$ 15 billion, the Vietnamese domestic market should not be ignored. Vietnam for example, already has become the 4th largest apple importer in the world.
In the domestic supermarkets imported fruits are taking over the shelf space from the domestic fresh produce. A study of Fresh Studio in 2018, showed that on average already 40% of the shelf space was occupied by imported fruits in HCMC supermarkets, and since then this number has only increased.
For sure a Vietnamese consumer would like to eat an apple or a grape once in a while, instead of a mango or a pomelo, but for the future of the Vietnamese horticulture sector it is crucial that it takes the domestic market very serious. Otherwise it may boast to have over US$ 1 billion of fresh fruit exports, but has lost a big chunk of its much larger domestic market to imported fruits from countries like Thailand and China.
In Fresh Studio’s presentation clear advise is provided for the public and private sector what to do to further professionalize Vietnamese horticulture sector.


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Question: What can you print with a 3D printer? Answer: Almost anything.
Still skeptical? Consider this. Four years ago, restaurant manager Eric Moger, lost almost the entire left side of his face due to emergency cancer surgery. Now, according to The Province, thanks to cutting-edge, three-dimensional printing technology, Eric has his face back.
Surgeons and technicians made scans of what remained of Moger’s skull and used computers to recreate his old face. Using a new type of 3D printer, they were able to build up layers of nylon plastic to produce the missing parts.
The prosthetic face has changed Eric Moger’s life, making it possible for him to drink his first glass of water in years and to taste real food for the first time since his surgery.
The use of 3D printing for prosthetics is only a small part of the world of possibilities developers are considering. In medicine alone, thoughts have already turned to replacement body parts and organs.
CNBC reports that Organovo Holdings, an OTC traded San Diego-based company that focuses on 3D bio printing technology is working on printing functional human tissue for medical research.
And, although, Shaochen Chen, a professor of nano-engineering at the University of California says growing functional organs is at least 10 years away, the technology is under development. In the meantime, Organova, has collaborated with pharma giant, Pfizer (NYSE: PFE [FREE Stock Trend Analysis]), in hopes of using existing bio printing techniques to aid in the development of new drugs.
Other uses of 3D printing, like proto-type modeling, are becoming almost normal. The cost of the printers has been a major sticking point, but even that is coming down. Leading IT research firm, Gartner, forecasts that by 2016 printers will be available for less than $2000.
Digital news outlet, Quartz.com reports two European architectural firms even have plans to print buildings. The first, by Dutch architect Janjaap Ruijssenaars, will cost $6.4 million and is expected to be completed by 2014.
The second, being built by London-based Softkill Design will take 3 weeks to “print” and only a day to assemble. The 3D building printers are large – but not as large as you might think – no more than 20 feet high. They print building components, which are then assembled.
Some of the major players in publicly traded 3D include 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD), currently seen as one of the most promising companies. ExOne (NASDAQ: EXONE) prints in more materials than others, an advantage as the technology advances.
Proto Labs (NYSE: PRLB) specializes in prototype printing, one of the most well understood uses for 3D printers. iRobot (NASDAQ: IRBT) is not, strictly speaking, a 3D printer company, but it is about to get into the market.
Finally, Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS) has merged with companies with connections in aerospace, automotive, medical and military. As 3D technology develops, these connections will prove very useful.
(c) 2013 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Read the original article here


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USA TODAY US Edition
MASTERCARD MAY LET YOU PAY WITH YOUR FACE
MasterCard is trying out a new technology that lets online shoppers authorize a transaction with a snapshot of their face instead of a password.
1. Download MasterCard’s Identity Check app.
2. Go shopping online.
3. When it’s time to check out, you’ll get a push notification to your mobile device, which opens the app.
4. Hold up your phone, like taking a selfie and blink.
5. A facial recognition image taken at the time of transaction is compared with image created at the time of enrollment. No consumer image will be stored


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Sherwood ditches dividend again
Sales and profits at lingerie and lacewear maker Sherwood have continued to decline this year and the Nottingham-based group has again passed on the dividend.
Sherwood, which like many in the downsized British textiles industry has been hit by the competitive pressures on the High Street, said operating profits at its continuing businesses in the six months to 30 June were down 5% at £1.3m on sales off 10% at £42m.
However, goodwill write-offs and losses on disposals sent the group crashing to a £23m loss at the pre-tax level.
The company is attempting to cut debts, and they more than halved in the period to £18m. It said it would review its dividend policy at the full year.
Chairman David Parker added, however, that debt reduction would remain the priority for the company. Sherwood shares were unmoved at 11p, less than a tenth of their value four years ago.
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Help desks and user frustration have traditionally gone hand in hand, but BMC Software is banking on a self-service system to improve end-user productivity and reduce the angst associated with seeking IT support.
Accessible via desktops, laptops and mobile devices, the forthcoming MyIT application allows users to fix many of their own problems, track service requests and locate nearby printers and service facilities.
Other features include the broadcasting of outages, and a facility for staff to book appointments with IT support staff at specific times.
BMC is the leading service desk software vendor, ahead of rivals including CA Technologies and FrontRange Solutions, with a 36 per cent share of the $1.2 billion global business, according to 2010 research from Gartner. It has about 50,000 customers for its Remedy system.
Industry analysts say IT departments have been buckling under the pressure of supporting a plethora of mobile devices, on top of the traditional desktop, and tempering the expectations of users who expect instant fixes for every glitch.
Bring-your-own-device policies, which have found widespread acceptance in recent times, have compounded the issue by forcing IT staff to support a grab-bag of products and systems, on top of their standard corporate issue.
BMC chief executive Bob Beauchamp said the consumerisation of ICT, driven by the relentless spread of the smartphone, had created a cohort of users who expected real-time self-service technology when they stepped into the office.
“Devices in private lives have been transformational,” Beauchamp said. “In their personal life people can order anything, they can buy a coffee … and they can do it from a handheld device … When they walk into the business, they feel like they go back in time, dealing with the old ways where you call the help desk and wait for a call back. It's been dealt with the same way for many years.”
Help desk staff handled an average of 472 contacts a month in 2007, compared with 449 four years later, but first-contact resolution rates dropped from 66 per cent to 63 per cent over the same period, according to Gartner research.
BMC chief technology officer Kia Behnia said the average knowledge worker made between 15 and 25 calls a year to the help desk, many of them dealing with the same simple issues. Rather than taking a ticket and waiting on the line to have a password reset or to learn the whereabouts of the nearest printer, workers could resolve these problems for themselves, using MyIT's automated configuration and trouble-shooting features, he said.
Getting them to do so without human intervention carries the promise of significant economic savings.
The price of a service call ranged from $25 to $50, “just for the help desk to pick up the phone”, Behnia said.
Forrester Research analyst Eveline Oehrlich said BMC had significant dominance in the service support sector and MyIT would make the vendor an attractive option for companies considering an overhaul.
“It is a new and modern way to support mobile people who want to consume IT as a service – meaning they are empowered by IT to consume, act and behave their way,” Oehrlich said.
MyIT is in beta testing phase and is scheduled to hit the market in April 2013. Pricing is not finalised but Beauchamp said customers could expect to pay between $10 and $15 a user; less than the cost of one help desk call.
The system is suitable for organisations with 100 or more users but was expected to do best with firms that had more than 2000 staff and a mobile workforce, he said.
Help desk headaches in your office? Have today's users become too demanding? Will self-service help solve the problem?


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Just in time for Spotify’s fifth anniversary, Radiohead and Atoms for Peace frontman Thom Yorke delivered a birthday message to the streaming service.
The Brit rocker called Spotify and services of similar ilk “the last desperate fart of a dying corpse,” referring to what he said is an imminent collapse of the music industry. In an interview with Mexican website Sopitas, Yorke lashed out at major labels’ partnerships with services like Spotify, which he said siphons money from artists, according to Business Insider.
In July Yorke pulled his solo work and Atoms for Peace songs from Spotify and other streaming services, taking to Twitter with producer Nigel Godrich to air their grievances.
Spotify has been both criticized and praised for its role in a fledgling industry. But the company defends charging royalty rates by noting it pays out almost 70 percent of its revenue to music rights holders, which includes a total of $500 million since its launch.
Critics of Yorke’s fight against streaming services point to Radiohead’s decision to self-release and let fans determine how much they would pay for the 2007 album In Rainbows. The rocker responded and called the move a way for fans to be closer with the artist, noting that streaming services intervene as a gatekeeper. The singer and guitarist are calling on the music industry to push for a better business model that will benefit everyone, especially artists.
But Yorke is not the only artist to decry the online streaming model. Alt-country start Jason Isbell, indie rock band Grizzly Bear, The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney and Four Tet’s Kieran Hebden have also spoken out about the popular service. Even old catalogs from big-billed names like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin have protected their music from streaming.
Nobody ask Yorke about his feelings on torrenting.


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Fitbit updated its iOS app Wednesday with new run and exercise-tracking features.
11 Recent Stories
If you're planning to hit the beach this summer, now is the time to start working out. That could mean losing weight, bulking up or just supercharging the fitness goals you've been working on all winter long. But if you're just getting started, or picking up after giving up on a past resolution, you'll want to pick a fitness program that will stick. After all, you only have so much time and energy each day -- you'll want to be as efficient as possible.
If your 2014 resolution is to get in shape, then "Race Yourself" might just be the app to get the job done. As its name suggests, the Google Glass app allows users to race against themselves, and beat personal-fitness records by completing virtual games. Users can also race against friends or projections of professional athletes, including Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt.
As a kid, Ryan Archdeacon asked his parents for a microscope so he could analyze sewer samples and bits of dental plaque. Now Archdeacon is building a lifestyle app he hopes will help people better connect with their bodies. The One Aura app (free on iOS) pairs with compatible biosensors to give real-time data about your body's metabolism and circulation. Users just have to wear one of the seven approved Bluetooth-connected biosensors (listed in the iTunes app description).
The personal fitness market is full of gadgets to help you stay healthy and in shape -- portable heart rate monitors, activity trackers, pedometers -- but one company hopes to go a step further with a gadget that acts like a real personal trainer. PEAR Sports, a fitness tech company, offers PEAR Mobile, available for $99, which differs from other fitness monitors by actually providing real-time, customized coaching based on indicated fitness levels and exercise goals, the company explains.
Four months ago, a pioneer in tech blogging and a close friend, Allen Stern, passed away. In the last 15 months of his life, Allen lost more than 100 pounds and launched a motivational website called Let's Talk Fitness, complete with recipes, beautiful photos and strides he made in his personal life. Exactly one month before Allen's passing, I mentioned to him that I wanted to follow a similar path.
A startup has designed a platform that aggregates data from select fitness, health and social networking apps you're already using and rewards you with points for healthy behavior. San Francisco-based AchieveMint currently integrates with platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, Meetup, RunKeeper, MapMyFitness and Fitbit.
Nike+ is often the go-to app for active people. You can't beat its name recognition, after all, and it was the first athletic company to really dive into wearable and connected technology -- the first Nike+iPod system predates even the iPhone. But some athletes end up turning away from Nike, since the app is relatively basic, and is aimed mainly at runners. It looks like many of those people are choosing instead to download Runtastic, since the company just announced it's hit 25 million mobile users.
If you're interested in getting into CrossFit -- but you don't have the resources to access a proper "box" -- CrossFit Unboxed is a new iPhone app that may be just the ticket to help you get in shape. CrossFit Unboxed, the latest app from Gain Fitness, lets users go through a customized guided CrossFit exercise program, without having to lay out the cash for a special CrossFit program or gym. The idea behind Gain Fitness is to gamify exercise.
The Bia GPS Sports Watch is made for women by women. It's prettier and stronger for women who run, bike and swim, according to the project's Kickstarter page. Why? Because the watch is "ergonomically designed" to sit perfectly at an angle on a woman's wrist. The lightweight fitness watch records time, current heart rate and calories burned. It also sends fitness data straight to an online profile with one touch (no logging or syncing needed).
Who's up for a friendly game of Nike+ Tag? Let the games begin, Nike+ GPS users -- there's an update now available for your iPhone app, letting you compete against your friends. It's available for download from the iTunes App Store as a free update to existing Nike+ GPS app users, or it'll cost you $1.99 for a new purchase.


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Ever since the last few weeks, updates regarding The Legend of Zelda have become questionable. E3 is on its way and fans are wondering if Nintendo will finally tell us something about this rumored title.
The Legend of Zelda franchise is highly popular among gamers all around the world and it’s quite painful to still not witness any official confirmation on it. This is however, in contrast with the concert that will feature the game’s music and it has already been slated this year.
Since March this year, there have been reports suggesting that The Legend of Zelda is no longer considered a priority by the developers. However, an arrival was supposed to be leaked but it got delayed again. The situation has gotten quite worrisome for Zelda fans that are eagerly waiting for a new update.
Meanwhile, Nintendo America’s Twitter account reports that The Legend of Zelda might not even make it to E3 this year. However, other games from Nintendo like Star Fox for Wii U has been scheduled for a launch in the end of this year and reports indicate that Mario Maker will release on September.
There are other popular titles that will more DLCs like Splatoon, Mario Kart 8 and Super Mario Bros. Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses – Master Quest is a symphony concert that will definitely take place. It will take place in the form of series, scheduled for 22nd November, Sunday in Dublin.
A four-movement work pertaining to the journeys of Link will be among the music to be showcased. We need more official reports from the makers in order to know where The Legend of Zelda currently stands. Even though Nintendo has a lot on its plate, it should consider its fans and decide whether to release it this year or the next.
The Legend of Zelda for the Wii U is one of the most highly anticipated games for this console. The game stands at a controversial position in relation to the upcoming E3 Expo. There are chances that it will be missing from Nintendo E3 2015 Direct Presentation.
In spite of the company’s affirmation regarding this fact, speculations are currently suggesting otherwise. The controversies began when Nintendo announced that they are no longer making it a priority to release The Legend of Zelda for Wii U this year.Even after a statement like that, most Zelda fans and gamers have refused to believe that Nintendo won’t be highlighting one of the most desired titles for the Wii U at the World’s biggest industry event.


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Should Vernon Hills give local company $1.37 million to attract millennials?
In recent years, Vernon Hills has invested millions in economic incentives to protect and enhance its vast retail sales base.
But a pending request to share the cost of interior renovations at American Hotel Register Co. is regarded in a different light by village leaders.
Would interior renovations to attract millennial employees who expect a certain type of work environment qualify for village assistance? Should such a precedent be set?
Village trustees will consider those questions and others Wednesday during a work session following the regular board meeting at 7 p.m. at village hall, 290 Evergreen Drive.
American Hotel Register, a privately held company and the nation's largest distributor of hospitality products, is seeking a sales-tax incentive amounting to $1.37 million over 10 years to fund a portion of "internal improvements" at its headquarters, 100 S. Milwaukee Ave.
As proposed, the company wants to equally split the sales-tax revenue it generates for the village each year. That's expected to be $275,000 in 2019, meaning the company would keep $137,750.
The incentive would fund only a portion of what would be spent, according to Bob Baker, general counsel for the company that's known for its colorful array of international flags outside its headquarters.
"These are not business improvements but renovations to enhance the quality of work life," he said.
Open work spaces instead of traditional cubicles, a coffee bar, a cafeteria with self-paying kiosks and to-go foods, wireless projectors and other features are among employee expectations these days, according to Baker, who will be making a presentation Wednesday to the village board.
"We need to bring millennials out here from the city and are struggling with it," added Baker. American Hotel Register would pay the bulk of the renovation costs, he added, but the village incentive would help.
It likely will be a tough sell as the company this past spring was advised the village was not interested in negotiating such a pact.
According to the village, Vernon Hills has not entered into this type of agreement with an existing business solely for internal building improvements. Traditionally, incentives have been given to projects that would create additional revenue, add employees or involve new construction.
Approving the proposed incentive for American Hotel Register would set a precedent and could lead to similar requests from other businesses, according to the village.
Baker contends the renovations would bring people to the community to eat, shop and eventually to live, once they decide to have families and want to be closer to work. When he addresses village leaders, Baker is expected to emphasize the company's support for community activities since it arrived in Vernon Hills in 1998.


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I know it doesn’t really feel like Spring out there today, but it is technically the first day of, in my opinion, the prettiest season of the year.
The changing of the seasons (no matter what season) always gives me an excuse to shop (Check out Friday’s Scene for a story on my favorite Spring trends).
The ladies at LP Squared have the right — and same — idea to celebrate the season with a little champagne and shopping. The lovely Laurens on Lex are hosting a brunch from noon-5 p.m. Sunday, March 24. They promise mimosas and bagels to fuel the quest to freshen your Spring wardrobe.
Here’s a look back at the story I wrote when the store opened, so you have a better sense of what to look forward to:
The Laurens on Lexington
Friends behind new LP Squared make Lex the most fashionable street in Asheville
LP Squared, the new Lexington Avenue women’s clothing store, wasn’t founded on fad. For the best friends behind the chic boutique, LP Squared is more about fate.
That’s because the “LP” in the store’s name stands not only for the two owners’ shared initials, but also their almost-identical identity.
Meet Lauren S. Powell, 30, and Lauren A. Powell, 32.
Their unrelated parents could have labeled them soul sisters more than three decades ago, but they didn’t meet until five years ago through Lauren A.’s brother. And about three years later, fate recast the Laurens’ dream of opening a shop as reality.
“We had a tarot card reading,” Lauren S. said with a laugh. “And the tarot card reader said that it was time to open a business.”
The two will celebrate their designer destiny with an opening party Friday night at the Lexington Avenue shop, complete with DJ tunes, snacks and drinks.
The addition of LP Squared, as well as women’s accessories shop Twist, on Lexington Avenue solidifies the street’s claim as Asheville’s style corridor, as it’s also home to such stores as Hip Replacements, Honey Pot, Minx, Tops for Shoes and Virtue.
“We are really trying to focus on the experience,” said Lauren A. “We are going to host live events, happy hours. That’s also why we wanted to have a makeup artist in the shop,” she said, referring to About the Face Make Up Artistry by Kayce M. Young. “She’s developed her own makeup line, and she just adds something else to the shopping experience.”
Although the Laurens share a name, an interest in clothing and a hair color (blond), they have distinctive personal styles reflected on the shelves of the LP Squared showroom.
“We are not the designers of clothes, but we’ve picked them; this is what we like to wear and think is cool,” Lauren A. said. “We are opening ourselves up, saying, ‘Here is our closet.'”
Lauren A.’s uniform: skinny jeans, a black top and a rad leather jacket. “I like more classic style,” she said. “I don’t do a lot of prints, but I’ll make my look a little edgier with some jewelry.”
Lauren S.’s closet? Quite eclectic. “I’m a Gemini, so my mood changes,” she said. Menswear is in her style stars right now, and she might step out in a blazer and button-up paired with pinstriped skinnies.
The LP Squared woman, like the Laurens, can be both classic and contemporary.
“We want to appeal to a large range of women,” Lauren A. said. “We serve the 60-year-old woman who is conscious about fashion and wants to look pulled-together; relevant but also age-appropriate. We also want to mix in some edgier pieces, some trendier pieces for our young girls.”
Expect black and gold sequin shorts perfect for your daughter’s New Year’s dance party. And a green long-sleeved origami wrap — meaning the ends can be tied in numerous ways around the body — that your mother would grab for a chilly dinner-and-a-movie date night.
Just like the Laurens’ complementary styles, the duo’s skill sets seem to mesh well.
After 10 years in Charleston, S.C., Lauren A. returned to her hometown to open the women’s boutique Moda in Biltmore Park five years ago with her mother, Sharon (she works part time at LP Squared).
Moda closed just a few weeks ago, and many of that store’s looks and lines (and indeed, some inventory) will move over to LP Squared.
“I like more of the business side of things,” she said, noting that she has a business degree and a range of experience in retail, from customer service to management.
“A lot of the things we picked was based on my previous knowledge of what sold well at Moda,” Lauren A. said. “We tweaked it a bit for what we wanted to wear.”
Lauren S. brings an “innate fashion sense” to LP Squared, said Lauren A. “We do balance each other out in a lot of ways.”
They are continuing to feature local jewelry lines, Amber Hatchett Designs and Jade Stone Jewelry at LP Squared.
When it come to new lines, Lauren A. is most excited about denim lines Blank, and Henry and Belle. “They are good price points,” she said. “Most of Blank’s stuff retails for under $100. We just sold a cute vegan leather motorcycle jacket for $98. With Henry and Belle, the jeans are great quality, and the price point is between $120-$150.”
The Laurens, both Asheville natives, plan to see what sells in the new spot and adjust their offerings as needed.
But no matter if it’s the sequin shorts or the origami wrap, the Laurens believe the Asheville woman is becoming more hip than hippy.
“The Asheville woman is stepping it up,” Lauren S. said.


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The White House sends up early flares, warning that there are likely to be empty shelves in many stores this Christmas, as the on-going supply chain nightmare from China ripples throughout the world.
If you have been paying attention, you are most likely already aware of this change. Used cars cost a lot more than they did only a year ago, new cars are in short supply, and food, electronics, clothes, etc, are as much as two or three times the price they were a year ago.
It is not just Christmas shopping that will be affected. Our missions work has been greatly impacted from this supply-chain crisis.
Let us help explain what is happening by cutting out all the noise. In a nut-shell, here is the problem – China’s quarantine.
At the heart of the global bottleneck is China’s quarantine on all ships coming into dock. It is not just passengers that are arriving on planes who are quarantined, but all of the sailers on cargo ships are forced to go through a dogmatic quarantine before they are even allowed to dock.
This has created a long line of ships circling in the waters, waiting outside of Chinese docks. They are ready to carry the goods to their destination, but Chinese customs officers and port security are firm on their policy. Fewer and fewer cargo ships and cargo ship sailors are willing to submit to this quarantine, so that means fewer ships. Ships that do agree to submit to the quarantine have to take much longer on their delivery time.
This means that more fuel is belched into the environment, more workers are idle and away from their families, and shipping times are ten times longer than before – making everything more expensive.
In 2020, many nations around the world realized that a heavy reliance on China’s supply-chain was not good for national security. Japan, South Korea, and India began massive reductions in the number of items that they brought in from China – especially in terms of electronics and pharmaceuticals.
BTJ felt this during the production of the pill-sized hologram-bible. A special chip is needed for the production of this unit which has not been available in China and has put us behind in our production.
Though this crunch will create short-term pain, an argument could be made that it might be good for the environment in the long-term. Producing goods and services closer to the retail point creates less need for transportation and all that is involved in international shipping.
If the shelves at the stores are empty this Christmas season, we have good news! You can purchase BTJ children’s books and prayer bears for a significant price reduction starting in ONLY TWO DAYS. These make great gifts for any child between the ages of 1-10 years old.
For the older ones, we have books galore! Starting on October 15th, we are launching the single biggest sale we have EVER had. We have a huge overstock of books, bears, and Christmas items that we must clear off our shelves and you can benefit in MASSIVE savings.
The shelves at the stores are empty, but our shelves are full. We need your help to empty them during this Christmas season. DON’T WAIT FOR BLACK FRIDAY TO DO YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. Visit our online store on October 15th for the BIGGEST SALE we have EVER had.


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LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Legislation to close a gap in Michigan marijuana law that has allowed some untested products similar to marijuana to be sold has passed in the state House.
The legislation would include all THC products in the legal definition of marijuana, therefore subjecting all such products to the same level of testing, regulation and restrictions. THC is the main compound in cannabis and marijuana products that gets users high. Michigan legalized medical marijuana in 2008 and recreational marijuana in 2018.
The bills received bipartisan approval. They now go to the state Senate and then to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for consideration.


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“When others say no, we scream build on!” one of the best take away from AWS re: Invent 2017. What a week –lightening 5 days of madness, inspiration, growth, innovation, and learning’s while having fun, for the cloud enthusiast community!
In the company of more than 43,000 peers and another 60,000 glued to the live stream link, I witnessed the roar of the market leader as it unveiled new cloud computing services at the pace of a scratchy start-up.
For those of you who were in Vegas, have you recovered from the madness yet? I thought the only way to get the thrill out of my system is to pen down the summary of my thoughts following the fourth time; I have flown to hear the Seattle Mariners.
AWS – your everything in store cloud platform!
AWS today has more than 300 services to offer, giving us the widest and the broadest options to choose to shape your cloud journey. Andy Jassy quoted, “Customers don’t want to settle for less than half the functionality of the market leader.” ISVs, in turn, also can’t afford to invest in multiple platforms and will pick one default, and maybe another back-up. AWS’ strategy is to be the one-stop shop or, at worst, the first shop an enterprise goes to for its IT needs.”
In keeping with that, the company announced a flurry of announcements from IoT analytics, to serverless databases, to machine learning, to connected devices at the edge; all this coupled with the highest standards of security and compliance that heavily -regulated industries require.
AMI (Artificial intelligence, Machine Learning and IoT) – Favourite Re: Invent Acronym
- AI and ML everywhere: AWS accelerated its pace hereby announcing Amazon Transcribe, Amazon Translate, Amazon Comprehend, and Amazon Rekognition Video which serves as a back-end to Alexa. By putting its AI and machine learning services to consume packages, Amazon made sure in attaining rich shelling shovels and taking on with rivals like Google, which has been busy building its own AI enterprise stack.
- Computing at the edge via IoT: IOT devices are now pervasive, and the density of their deployment is predicted to increase significantly and AWS is focused on helping its customers leverage this trend by unleashing Amazon FreeRTOS, AWS IoT Device Management, AWS IoT Device Defender, AWS IoT Analytics, as well as AWS Greengrass ML Inference.
Serverless deployment and Containerization takes the center stage
Serverless was one of the most talked about cloud services in 2017 and AWS extended the talking points with AWS Aurora serverless, AWS Fargate, and Amazon ECS for Kubernetes (EKS). With the release of the serverless realms of services, AWS aims to cater to its ambition of redesigning the future of coding – “All the code you ever write is business logic”.
Database options flourishes
AWS made bolster efforts in advancing databases options that bring in flexibility and pricing along with performance and scalability. Making the headlines was AWS Neptune, which is a fast, reliable, fully-managed graph database service that makes it easy to build and run applications that work with highly connected data sets. Other highlights included Amazon’s Aurora SQL and DynamoDB NoSQL platform.
Alexa in smart offices: Voice is the future
Werner Vogels touted that voice is the first disruption that will be driven by the capabilities of deep learning tools. He opined that voice will unlock new uses for digital systems and change the architecture of how they are constructed. Alexa will make voice recognition smarter.
Redefining ease and convenience
That is just a brief summary of key highlights of the biggest cloud computing show! By introducing myriads of competing services, AWS has given enterprises a lot more reason to stick with AWS as their default cloud infrastructure provider.
Amazon has reinvented the wheel for enterprises and its ambitions may aim higher.
Lastly, if you are considering cloud, or are there already and seek innovative pathways to build next-gen workloads, BlazeClan – an AWS Premier Partner can shape this cloud journey for you and deliver innovative solutions integrating many leading-edge AWS capabilities.


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Inflation Threat: Not Now, But Soon
Debt is the fuel for bad inflation, and our dysfunctional government is the match.
Almost all economists say that the weakened economy has yielded one major benefit: it has greatly lowered the threat of inflation.
SEE ALSO: Watch Out for TIPS
High prices for oil, gold and other commodities for the past year or so, combined with a couple trillion dollars of lending by the Federal Reserve, had led to worry about runaway inflation, which hasn't been a problem in the United States for 30 years. In August, the Consumer Price Index was up 3.8% over the prior 12 months, the highest rate since 2008.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke dismisses those concerns, arguing that that the abrupt slowdown in the economy since last year will keep wages and prices from rising. As N. Gregory Mankiw, who served as President Bush's chief economic adviser, puts it: “The slack labor market has kept growth in nominal wages low, and labor represents a large fraction of a typical firm's costs. A persistent inflation problem is unlikely to develop until labor costs start rising significantly.”
Bernanke and Mankiw are right: In the near future, probably through 2012, inflation will be on the order of 1% to 2% as the economy continues to struggle and little new appears likely to challenge expectations of low inflation.
Unfortunately, the slow economy doesn’t extinguish the threat of serious and debilitating inflation -- 5 to 6 percent or more -- it merely postpones it. Depending on how the government responds to the slowdown in the coming year, the delay may actually make the coming inflation even worse.
One reason this isn’t obvious is that most of us view inflation in simple terms of the economy overheating — inflation pressure rises during fast growth and eases when growth slows. Monetarists say that the money supply is the key: Inflation comes when the Fed increases the supply of cash and credit faster than the economy is generating things to spend it on.
But neither is essential to inflation. Slow growth and rising prices in the 1970s — “stagflation” — showed that growth isn’t needed to unleash a persistent dose of inflation. Neither is an increase in the money supply. There have been instances of inflation without a growing money supply, and many cases, over the last 15 years of low interest rates, when the money supply grew at a historically fast pace without inflation.
There is another potential and potent source: debt. University of Chicago economist John H. Cochrane lays it out clearly in his paper “Inflation and Debt,” available on his personal website. Cochrane starts out by noting that inflation is really just another form of default on the government’s debt. Dollars are worth less, so the debt is devalued.
The source of the coming inflation is America’s debt problem, which, Cochrane says, is worse than even at the end of World War II because of the looming burdens of Social Security and Medicare. Since more than half of federal debt is short-term, coming due in less than three years, the government must pay out about $5 trillion in cash for maturing debt each year. Even though much of it will be rolled back into Treasuries, that giant pile of money is what will fuel inflation.
The match that will light this fuel is the realization that our government’s usual tools to deal with debt aren’t available. Poisonous politics now make it impossible to use fiscal policy to craft a sensible, long-term plan to reduce the federal debt. Monetary policy is out because conventional measures (interest rate cuts) have been exhausted and other options (bond purchases) seem ineffective.
Most people rightfully doubt that the Federal Reserve would voluntarily raise inflation as a way to ease debt. But it could be forced to do so. As long as the economy appears to be in danger of another bad recession, it is unlikely that Bernanke will raise interest rates, even in the face of surging inflation. After all, he chose not to raise rates when inflation surged past a 5% annualized rate for three months in the summer of 2008.
Remember that $5 trillion in cash? If investors are skeptical about the Fed’s ability or willingness to control inflation, then some of those trillions won’t be rolled over into new Treasuries. Fearing that the value of Treasuries will be eroded, investors will instead shift to other assets — stocks, commodities, or goods and services. As demand for these alternatives rises, prices will escalate. Meanwhile, the government will still have to find buyers for all of its debt, so it will be forced to offer higher interest rates, reinforcing the inflationary pressure.
There’s also going to be upward pressure on interest rates as investors realize that it’s no safer to park money in America than in Europe. The “flight to safety” effect helping to hold rates down in the United States will disappear.
Once inflation starts to take hold, it’s likely to spiral upward, propelled by the popular sense that government has never seemed less capable of responding effectively to economic problems.
Alas, the solutions recommended by Cochrane are those that our leaders are rejecting: big cuts to entitlements, a long-term commitment to shrink government, comprehensive tax reform that boosts revenue, and huge investments to raise productivity.
Cochrane declines to call his analysis a forecast, but I will. Unless something radical changes in politics or the economic climate, a years-long period of inflation is ahead, complicating America’s already severe economic problems.


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Bluefin Chief Innovation Officer, Ruston Miles, was recently interviewed by Ingenico regarding his payment predictions for 2016. This is the first part of a three-part video series by Ingenico covering topics ranging from EMV, NFC, payment security, Omni-channel, unattended solutions and more.
Prediction #1: Greater Focus on Payment Security
“What payment technologies do I expect to survive and thrive in 2016? Well, as a payment security expert I’m going to speak to those technologies. You might have some other people speak other value propositions but from a security perspective we really see that 2015 has been the year of fixing the card and that’s EMV, sort of the counterfeit card situation. I think that going into 2016 we’ll see as the year of fixing the POS, securing the POS if you will. So, we’ll see technologies like point-to-point encryption or end-to-end encryption really come to the fore protecting those software systems and point of sale systems from malware and other attacks like it. EMV makes it harder – virtually impossible to counterfeit or duplicate a card but you really do need a lot of that terminal down. So On-Guard and point-to-point encryption I think really are going to be the technologies that we see going into 2017.”


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MECALUX, a worldwide leader in storage systems, will fully automate the new PETROBRAS distribution facility in Rio de Janeiro, South America’s third largest city.
Petrobras, established in 1953, is one of Brazil's largest companies and one of the world’s most profitable. It currently has over 100 production platforms, 16 refineries, over 18,000 miles of pipelines and more than 7,000 service stations.
The new warehouse built by Mecalux has a 16,000 pallet storage capacity in addition to the set of five double-deep stacker cranes that will allow Petrobras to move 140 pallets per hour. These stacker cranes move the merchandise up to 120 feet.
The crane’s movements will be guided by the EasyWMS® management software, allowing it to all stages of pallet storage in real-time. This software reduces errors and time of the tasks which are usually necessary for warehouse management.
"Mecalux welcomes the fact that a company like Petrobras has put its trust in us and decided to automate its logistics center with our technology," Mecalux Vice President Javier Carrillo said.
Julio Cezar, manager of technology at Petrobras, explained that "thanks to the automation of our logistics center, we can control, more easily coordinate and manage all processes taking place in the store, therefore gaining in speed and efficiency.”
To absorb the flow of pallets, the store will have a rail system approximately 1,970 feet long with 22 cars.PETROBRAS
The company is present in 28 countries on five continents. It acts as an integrated energy
company in the: exploration, production, refining, marketing and transportation sectors of
crude oil and natural gas, petrochemicals, distribution of oil, electricity, biofuels and other
renewable sources of energy.
Interlake Mecalux is one of the leading companies in the storage systems market specializing in the design, manufacturing, sale and services of metal racking, automated warehouses and other storage solutions. Mecalux is a leading storage company in Spain and ranks in the top tier of the world in its field, selling throughout more than 70 countries.
For more information please contact:
Marta Lopez Sevilla
93 419 06 30


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Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov has agreed to curb his record-setting spending on the team going forward in an effort to enhance the value of the club as minority owners seek to sell a 20% share of the franchise, Josh Kosman of the New York Post reports. Prokhorov plans on turning the Nets into a non-taxpaying team by 2015/16 as he seeks a valuation of $1 billion for the club.
A recent report indicated that Prokhorov was listening to offers for his controlling interest, though his intent was apparently to find out just what he could get for it rather than actually selling it. The part of the team that is up for grab is that owned by real estate developer Bruce Ratner’s Forest City Enterprises, according to Kosman, who echoes a report from last month.
The $1 billion valuation that both Prokhorov and Ratner’s company are apparently seeking is just half of what former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer agreed to pay for the Clippers, but the difference is that the Nets are “far from” profitable, unlike the Clippers, Kosman writes. The Nets are predicting a profit of $50MM for 2016/17, according to Kosman.
Brooklyn’s payroll came to nearly $103MM this season, and with luxury tax included, the outlay is in the range of $190MM. The team has more than $45,937,663 already on the books for 2015/16, the year it aims to get out of the tax, not counting a more than $16.7MM player option for Brook Lopez. It’ll be difficult for Prokhorov to achieve his cost-cutting goal, and a source expressed skepticism to Kosman that Prokhorov will stick to his austerity plan.


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O2 UK has announced a Samsung Galaxy S2 price drop, but there is a major string attached. The handset will now cost you just under £400, which is much cheaper than Apple’s iPhone 4. However, the phone has to stay locked for the first 90 days, after that you can get the Google Android smartphone unlocked.
ITProPortal explains that O2 still allows you to use the Galaxy S2 on either Tesco Mobile or Giff Gaff. You still cannot argue that this is a great deal, 3 months is not long to wait, and O2 as a mobile phone network is not that bad. Yes they do have a few issues with their 3G coverage, but their tariffs are some of the best around.
The phone was released back in February, so we can see why O2 felt the need to slash the price. Having said that, the one true rival would be the iPhone 5, but as far as we know the device will be a little later this year. This is certainly great news for the likes of Samsung, HTC and Motorola, as it gives them a little breathing space before Apple releases an onslaught on the cell phone market.
The Samsung Galaxy S2 is considered to be the best smartphone on the market, and looking at a recent review, it isn’t hard to see why. Samsung has worked hard on this design, and have even managed to squeeze a fair amount of life from its battery.
Why do you think O2 is now dropping the price of the Samsung Galaxy S2?
*Identifying Monetised Links - outgoing links that we monetise are marked with an '*' symbol.


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«Display» Design Office», OJSC is pleased to invite you to visit its booth 2E1-1 at International Military-Technical Forum ARMY-2019, 25-30 June, PATRIOT EXPOCENTER, Moscow Region, Russia. «Display» Design Office», OJSC will show its latest technologies in display devices, remote control weapon stations and more than 50 samples of other products.
Our experts will provide you with all necessary information on panel, portable, tablet protected PCs and other display devices with screen size from 0.6” to 110”.
To get the information about the location and traffic time-schedule, please, visit http://www.rusarmyexpo.com .
We look forward to seeing you at our booth 2E1-1.


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School uniforms are expensive but scraping them for home clothes is not an option, says Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga.
The minister said home clothes are a social indicator and would expose which pupils come from rich and poor backgrounds.
Speaking at school governing body (SGB) elections in Ekurhuleni on Monday, the minister announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding by SGB associations and the Competition Commission.
The parties involved agreed to remove exclusive agreements with uniform suppliers and to introduce more generic uniform options.
The memorandum comes after years of investigations into complaints about exorbitant uniform prices. Motshekga said it will curb anti-competitive procurement practices.
“This is very close to my heart. Anybody who comes from a poor background like ourselves or a township will tell you the value of a school uniform.
“Young people are sensitive and if they don’t have designer clothes it embarrasses them. They don’t want to be seen in torn clothes and if they don’t have shoes it’s a big deal and impacts on their image, so they drop out,” she said.
In a statement seen by TimesLIVE, commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele said school uniforms contribute to social cohesion, inclusion and school identity. He said overpricing them can cause exclusion.
Bonakele said the investigations have been ongoing for more than a decade.
Working with the basic education department, the commission was able to guide schools and other stakeholders about the procurement of school uniforms.
Bonakele said among complaints from parents was that schools had recommended exclusive uniform suppliers which overpriced uniforms and made them unaffordable.
“We found the exclusive arrangements between schools and uniform suppliers were pervasive across the country and made uniforms unnecessarily expensive and increasingly unaffordable for many South Africans.
“The commission also found several schools were overly prescriptive in their uniform choices. This limited the choices and bargaining power of parents who were beholden to a small number of suppliers.”
Bonakele said the agreement entered into involves four school groups and two of the largest manufactures and suppliers of school uniforms.


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Spy Chips, The New Security Threat That's Planted Like Tiny Hardware Bugs
At the CS3sthlm security conference in Stockholm, Sweden later this month, security
researcher Monta Elkins, the "Hacker-in-Chief" at FoxGuard Solutions, will demonstrate a proof-of-concept hardware hack involving spy chips implanted onto enterprise IT equipment, with a budget of less than $200.
The idea of implanting spy chips onto hardware is not new. Back in 2018, an explosive Bloomberg Businessweek article claimed Chinese spies had installed malicious microchips the size of a grain of rice on Supermicro hardware at the supply chain level, creating a "stealth doorway into any network that included the altered machines."
This was concerning because (A) of how difficult it would be to detect something like this, and (B) how many companies use Supermicro, including Apple
. Incidentally, Supermicro denied finding evidence
of any spy chips, and both Apple and Amazon did as well.
The report's claims were later shrugged off by the NSA and deemed "overhyped" at the Defcon hacker conference. Be that as it may, the concept of using spy chips is a disturbing one, and apparently possible with a big investment, according to Elkins.
The security researcher created his proof-of-concept hardware kit using a $150 hot-air soldering too, $40 microscope, and a few $2 chips he ordered online. This equipment in hand, Elkins modified a Cisco firewall in a way that would give a remote attacker deep control of a network, and do so in a way that would likely go unnoticed by the majority IT admins, according to Elkins.
"We think this stuff is so magical, but it’s not really that hard," Elkins told Wired. "By showing people the hardware, I wanted to make it much more real. It’s not magical. It’s not impossible. I could do this in my basement. And there are lots of people smarter than me, and they can do it for almost nothing."
Creating A Spy Kit Using Off-The-Shelf Parts
Source: Monta Elkins via Wired
The chip at the heart of this proof-of-concept is an ATtiny85. It measures around 5mm squared, so it's larger than a grain of rice, but small enough to not stick out like a sore thumb. He plucked the chip from a $2 Digispark Arduino
board after having written code to it, and implanted it onto the motherboard of a Cisco
ASA 5505 firewall.
Elkins says he could have used an even smaller chip, but notes the ATtiny85 is easier to program. In this case, he programmed it to attack a network right when the firewall boots up. It essentially impersonates a security administrator, then enables remote access to the affected server.
This proof-of-concept does not mean last year's startling report was accurate. However, it does indicate this is something companies need to be on the lookout for, particularly big ones that operate massive data centers and cloud computing infrastructures.


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NETHERLANDS: FY loss for produce giant The Greenery
Netherlands-based produce supplier The Greenery has filed an annual loss of EUR21m (US$29m) amid falling sales and charges from restructuring measures drawn up to control costs.
The company, which supplies fruit and veg to retailers and food processors, said it fell into the red after a 5% drop in revenue, brought on by "weak" prices in Europe.
A provision of EUR23m allocated to its restructuring plans also hit The Greenery's bottom line. The reorganisation led to the loss of around 350 jobs.
The Greenery believes there will be consolidation in the European retail sector in the coming years, which it says will put pressure on its overheads. It is trying to make its distribution network more efficient, "standardise" its processes and "centralise" the business.
The group, controlled by the Coöperatie Coforta co-operative, said it is already seeing the impact of its early restructuring measures, with more volumes being shipped to its customers direct from growers.
Revenue fell to EUR1.3bn in 2013. The Greenery said that reflected the "disappointing results" seen by fruit and veg suppliers last year amid "weak" prices.
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From WebMD.com to CDC.gov
Searching for symptoms of your sickness online can be a huge hassle, and now there’s another headache to consider: your online privacy.
From for-profit sites like WebMD.com to government sites like CDC.gov, health websites are passing along your searches to third-party websites, according to a report in Motherboard.
The culprit? Many of these sites employ tracking tools that end up forwarding your searches onto big-name companies like Google and Facebook, along with lesser-known data brokers.


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FREDERICTON – A local organic maple syrup producer has found a way to be even more environmentally responsible and save tens of thousands of dollars in the process.
Canadian Organic Maple Co. has reduced its oil consumption by 100,000 litres through NB Power’s Energy Efficiency Program, which represents about $65,000 in costs per year.
Located in Divide, New Brunswick, the company is one of the world’s largest producers of organic maple syrup. The owners, Gus and Sandra Hargrove, started it as their retirement business in 1999.
Gus Hargrove says big maple syrup companies in Vermont, Ontario and Nova Scotia have access to similar programs. They were on the lookout for one in New Brunswick.
“We kept watching and asking about it,” he said.
Hargrove, who has an engineering background, saw an opportunity to save oil consumption and energy through the program, which lasted two years.
Canadian Organic Maple hired an engineering firm to carry out the analysis during the first year and apply changes during the second year.
Changes included replacing 30 diesel-driven oil spare pumps with electric pumps. Before, they had a big diesel engine driving the pumps. Now they have small, aero electric motors driving them more efficiently, says Hargrove.
“Some of the stuff had never been tried before in maple,” he said.
The Energy Efficiency Program has two streams: electric projects and non-electric projects. The non-electric side of the program was launched in October 2017, and Canadian Organic Maple was the first company to participate in it.
Jessica Vihvelin, Brand Lead in NB Power Energy Efficiency, says the federal government provided funding for non-electric projects through the Low Carbon Economy Fund.
Spencer Devereaux, Technical Energy Advisor and one of the NB Power staff that was involved with the project, says it cost a little higher than what they expected. The analysis cost $25,000, and the whole project about $265,000. NB Power gave an incentive of $112,000.
Hargrove and NB Power had set a goal of reducing oil consumption from 125,000 to 25,000 litres. After the program, it dropped to even less than 25,000.
“We achieved the result we were hoping for,” said Hargrove.
The company produces around 250,000 bottles of maple syrup each per year. The Hargroves have an affiliated company that belongs to their son and his wife, South Ridge Maple Company Limited. Hargrove says the two maple syrup companies produce half a million bottles of maple syrup.
South Ridge Maple didn’t participate in NB Power’s Energy Efficiency Program, as they are trying to keep the companies separate. But Hargrove says he believes the company will apply to the program on its own.
Reducing oil consumption means 700 tons of greenhouse gas avoided, he said. Aside from the environmental benefits that came from switching to electric pumps, Canadian Organic Maple has increased its production by seven-to-10 per cent.
“The machines run more efficiently and are more reliable with electricity, and we are able to run them in times when it wasn’t worthwhile to run them,” said Hargrove.
Aside from producing maple syrup, the company produces value-added products such as maple sugar and maple candy. Hargrove says it’s more profitable and there’s less competition for that.
Hargrove’s plans include making more maple sugar and continuing to grow the company.
“We really are proud to be one of the lowest energy consuming producers,” he said.
Devereaux says working with Canadian Organic Maple, who is aiming for a zero-carbon site, was a great experience for NB Power.
“It was great. They are a customer of ours and we were able to support them…It helped them a lot,” he said.
Vihvelin believes it’s exciting to help strengthen New Brunswick businesses that produce quintessential and local products.
“It’s a win, win, win on so many levels,” she said. “There’s a lot of trust and respect, and a lot of appreciation for the help in both financial expenses and advice towards implementing their project goals.”


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Every year, big tech companies such as Apple, Google, and Facebook use developer conferences to entice coders to work on apps, devices, and other software to run on their respective platforms. The pandemic, of course, put the brakes on large gatherings, which makes bringing 5,000 coders together impossible. Rather than canceling its festivities this year, Microsoft is currently putting on its Build conference completely remotely and offering the seminars and presentations for free to everyone.
Attending Build typically requires a $2,000 ticket and however much it costs you to make the trip out to Seattle. This year, however, all you have to do is register for the festivities and then curate a schedule to help you navigate more than 600 sessions. Those cover the breadth of Microsoft’s software offerings—including Windows and Office—and broader technology topics that could be useful for any kind of coder.
The event kicked off earlier this afternoon and goes until Thursday. While Apple and Google typically include more consumer-friendly content in their developers’ conferences, Microsoft’s sessions—including the keynote—typically stick to the stuff relevant to professionals in the field.
There have been a few product announcements already, however, including some new features for the Edge browser, which you can see in the video above.
The era of digital tech events
While Microsoft’s Build initiative seems to be going well so far, there are still plenty more digital versions of live events happening later on in the year. Adobe has moved its MAX conference online, offering anyone who signs up access to its education sessions about using its creative tools.
Google opted to flat out cancel its annual I/O developers conference, while Apple has moved its WWDC event entirely online when it happens in June.
For coders or other potential attendees who didn’t want to—or couldn’t—make the trip, this kind of widespread access to the content could be a real benefit. Conversely, it also means real-time interaction and the potential to meet other people in the field takes a severe hit.
Some live tech events are persisting during the pandemic. The IFA trade show in Berlin is scheduled for September 3-5. Gatherings over 5,000 people are prohibited in the city until October, so IFA will only include four small groups with 1,000 invited attendees each day. It will be one of the first big tests for tech events to happen in-person after the dawn of social distancing, and it could give us a better idea of what to expect for even higher profile events, like the annual CES.


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THE ULTIMATE assassin is back. Hitman: Absolutionsees a betrayed Agent 47 on the run from the police and in the centre of a dark conspiracy against the very people he used to work for.
It’s a triumphant return for a much-loved series with impressive visuals and cinematic story, but it still features the same type of gameplay that made the series so popular. Each mission sees Agent 47 needing to eliminate a new target without alerting anyone. Of course, Absolutionoffers the more ‘run and gun’ gamer the opportunity to make a little noise but traditional Hitman fans will be pleased to see that their stealthy approach will be greatly rewarded.
Players can disguise themselves in costumes to blend in with their surroundings as they dispose of their targets with an assortment of deadly weapons.
Publisher Square Enix are calling Hitman: Absolutionthe ‘last big game of the year’. Leading up to release, the game will be promoted via cinema trailers, plus pre-roll ads on leading Video-on-Demand services. “We believe we are someone to fear this Christmas,” said senior product manager Grant Tasker. “We are the last big release of 2012, spending heavily on media with a first-rate product offering something unique and fresh to the stale market of sequels.” The publisher is also running a high-impact TV campaign and outdoor ads across the UK, which will continue into December. Pre-order customers also got a free game download (see Sniper Challenge), which, according to developer IO Interactive, has been a ‘crazy’ success. “People are playing it a lot,” said game director Tore Bylstad. “The No.1 player in the world has clocked up hundreds of hours so far which is crazy. We’re very happy because that’s the essence of Hitman; it is made to be replayed.” After a six year gap, Hitmanis sure to please hardcore fans and new comers alike when it released on 360, PS3 and PC this November.
40 November 2nd 2012
Lauren Wainwright learns the art of dressing up and assassination


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The Bulgarian ak mag magazines will start to sell a new edition of the bulgari bags.
This year, a new bag design has been chosen, which will become available in Bulgaria from January.
The new design has a more flexible shape, so it will be able to be folded, folded and more.
The ak mag will also be available with different designs and colors.
The ak mag has a folding bag with a different design, and a new color scheme.
Bulgaria has a number of new AK magazines, and the AK mag is not the only one available, as the ak mag is being distributed in several other countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Poland, Hungary and Turkey.
I can’t wait for this to be out.
The AK mag, a bag for weightlifting, has been the favorite of Bulgarian weightlifters, and it has a wide popularity.
The magazine was also popular in other countries in the world, including Germany, and there are many AK mags available for sale.
The akmag, which is a magazine for weight lifting, has a wider popularity than the AK belt, which has been popular in the United States.
In the past, the akmag was available in a few countries, but the ak bag has now been discontinued.


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Organisations are taking unusual steps to ensure they make the right hire for a leadership role, from scrutinising the lifestyles of candidates to evaluating their personal horoscopes.
Disruption has been the buzzword for a while with companies across sectors being jolted by technology and asset-light startups. Even CEOs helming major companies are beginning to shake things up for themselves — and that’s purely by design.
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Home prices in your neighborhood
The Salt Lake Board of Realtors released fourth quarter home-sale data for Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, Weber and Tooele counties today. The report shows that while home sales are up, prices are still falling.
Wondering about home values in your neighborhood? Median selling prices for any Wasatch Front Zip Code area for each quarter starting from 2003 to the fourth quarter of this year is available in the Tribune's home-price database HERE.


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Oscar Mayer is offering up an Airbnb experience quite unlike any other.
The company is giving people the opportunity to book the “27 foot-long hot dog on wheels” for an overnight stay in honor of National Hot Dog Day on Wednesday, according to a news release.
People wishing for all things hot dog-related can hop onto Airbnb’s Wienermobile listing on July 24 to request to book a one-night stay on Aug. 1, 2, or 3, Oscar Mayer said. Chances to score a reservation will be made available throughout the day.
The listing – which places the Wienermobile in Chicago – has a $136 per night rate and a two-guest maximum.
“We can’t think of a better way to celebrate National Hot Dog Day than to give hot dog fans what they’ve been craving: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stay inside the most iconic hot dog out there by making it available to book on Airbnb,” Matt Riezman, the associate director of marketing for Oscar Mayer, said.
Among the amenities on the Wienermobile is a mini-fridge with a ready supply of the brand’s hot dogs, according to the news release. Visitors who stay will also be given a welcome package that features “hot dog-inspired attire,” including “a wiener onesie” to snooze in.


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Building wave of ransomware attacks strike US hospitals
ATO inks $119m SBR platform support deal with IBM
Cosmetics retailer Mecca switches on Amazon Personalize
Orchard worker recruiter exposed sensitive personal data
City of Port Phillip leaks personal details in data.gov.au blunder
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Microsoft criticised for heavy-handed No-IP domain seizure
Update: Four million hosts down.
Jul 2 2014 5:31AM
The rise of the white hat vigilante
Meet the renegades that strike out against the criminal underground.
Sep 12 2013 6:00AM
Obad trojan spreads through Android botnets
Sep 9 2013 6:00AM
Game of Memory could out bots online
Subtle differences in brain function too expensive for bot writers to apply.
Jul 3 2013 5:51PM
Botnets 3.0: Global malware
Thanks to willing accomplices and easy-to-use technology, the threat from linked computers is expanding.
Jul 3 2013 8:53AM
Microsoft, FBI crack Citadel botnets
Australian law enforcement contributes to bust.
Jun 6 2013 1:17PM
Microsoft offers CERTs, telcos real-time threat data
Intel on botnets and malware.
May 31 2013 7:34AM
IIA softens approach on botnets
As code gains international acceptance.
Apr 4 2012 6:30AM
Chinese-built botnets full of bugs
Botnets borrow code, and bugs too.
Oct 6 2011 3:37PM
Botnets go search crazy
Hundreds of searches found to use paging parameter queries.
Aug 17 2011 12:23PM
Humans replace machines in future botnets
Human nodes outsmart conventional defences.
Jul 19 2011 5:10PM
Analysis: Offensive action against botnets
Does a botnet takedown set questionable precedents or is it a viable way to cleanse compromised computers?
May 20 2011 11:19AM
Botnets to 'hide in plain view' in 2011
Botnets will hide within files rather than coming through nasty downloads.
Dec 8 2010 9:24AM
Iranian Cyber Arms shifts efforts toward malware, botnets
Twitter hackers building botnet.
Oct 26 2010 2:06PM
Botnets for hire at $10 an hour
Security firm VeriSign finds control of attack systems is being dangerously
May 25 2010 1:24PM
Grum and Rustock botnets drive spam to new levels
Overall junk email levels rose five per cent in February.
Mar 2 2010 1:27PM
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Claims success in shutting down connections.
Feb 26 2010 6:40AM
Stronger botnets and increased spam detections in 2009
Cybercriminals learn lessons from McColo shutdown.
Dec 9 2009 12:06PM
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Emergence of networks boosts malware numbers.
Sep 30 2009 1:43PM
Standard offers best practices for ISPs to fight botnets
A group charged with developing and promoting internet standards has published a new draft standard calling for measures that internet service providers can use to defeat botnets.
Sep 18 2009 9:54AM
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While there’s much buzz about K-beauty masks, a Pasadena, Calif.-based company is doing its share to bring customers into the mass market for the burgeoning category.
Over the past 24 months, Yes To face masks drove 61 percent of the category growth, according to Ingrid Jackel, chief executive officer. Yes To also claims nine of the top 13 best-selling masks at mass.
Hermès is launching a Laundromat pop-up shop in NYC - dubbed Hermèsmatic - where customers can bring their old scarves to be dip-dyed by an expert. Get all the details on WWD.com. #wwdnews (📷: @donstahl)


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By Steve Alexander, Star Tribune
“Coco, the co-working space for tech start-ups, consultants and entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities, will get its first established software company when its new Lake Street location opens later this month.
Coco, which stands for Coworking & Collaborative Space, already has locations in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul that rent space to technical people whose businesses are tiny or just getting started.
But Coco’s first mainstream client, Navitor Inc. of North Mankato, Minn., said Friday it will locate a dozen software developers in the new 15,000 sq. ft. Coco facility at 1010 W.”


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Huhtamaki's Public Tax Strategy can be viewed by clicking this link: https://www.huhtamaki.com/en/responsibility/reports-and-policies/huhtamaki-public-tax-strategy/
Please click this link to view our Privacy Notice: https://www.huhtamaki.com/en/privacy-notice/
Huhtamaki - Modern Slavery Statement
Environment Minister launches pioneering Gosport paper cup recycling scheme
Environment Minister, Thérèse Coffey, has today launched a new recycling initiative for paper coffee cups in Gosport – the first of its kind in the UK. Created through a partnership between Gosport Borough Council and paper cup manufacturer Huhtamaki, the scheme will pilot a collection and recycling service for used coffee cups for residents and businesses.
It will provide dedicated cup recycling bins at strategic sites across Gosport including the ferry port (used by commuters as well as tourists) and council-owned premises such as the town hall and the leisure centre, with plans to extend collection points to main high street locations, local offices and transport providers in the future.
Commenting on the scheme, Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said: “I am very pleased to see Gosport Borough Council and local industry coming together to take positive action to increase the recycling of cups. Tackling paper and coffee cup waste is a vital way to protect our environment and this is a great example of how collaborative action can have a real impact to make recycling even easier.
“This is exactly the kind of initiative that we would like to see following the launch of our 25 Year Environment Plan.”
Residents simply need to make sure used cups are empty before separating the lid from the cup and placing both items in a dedicated bin. Cups and lids will be recycled into products such as garden furniture, park benches and flower tubs that could be used in and around Gosport. The initiative is underwritten by Huhtamaki and will go live in February 2018.
Cllr Mark Hook, Leader of the Council, said: “We're delighted to be able to support such a pioneering scheme, which makes it easier for residents to recycle coffee cups on the go. We'd encourage all local businesses and residents to get involved and help make this a success."
Neil Whittall of Huhtamaki added, “The cups we manufacture in Gosport are sustainably sourced, responsibly produced and fully recyclable. However we recognise that many are not being recycled and we are actively working to change this. Improving cup collection and recycling infrastructure in Gosport will help local people make a difference and improve recycling rates. We hope this new initiative will create a blueprint for similar schemes across the UK.”


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February 23, 2010
Henrietta recycler eases vexing chore
Bruce Zakett upends his garbage bag full of recyclables onto the table, and Stephanie Bernhardt immediately starts sorting.
Despite the mess of aluminum and plastic scattered across the table, Bernhardt, an employee of the Henrietta Redemption Center, jokes that “this is nothing,” as she quickly goes about counting each can and bottle. Zakett, meanwhile, stands and watches, and gets paid his 5-cents-per-container deposit inside a minute or two.
“You come here and drop the stuff in, and they take care of it,” said Zakett, a Henrietta resident who drops his recyclables at the redemption center about once a month. At the self-serve facility across town, “the machine breaks, and you wait around.”
Located behind Suburban Liquor on East Henrietta Road, the Henrietta Redemption Center takes in between 40,000 and 50,000 cans and bottles each week. Owner Nancy Freeland said that the business gets new customers every week, and they’re often confused about the protocol.
“When people come here for the first time, they kind of don’t know what to do,” said Freeland. “Once they go through it, they’re amazed by how easy it is. They just bring them here and plop them all on the table, and we do all the work for them.”
Plastic bins line the edge of the room, each with its own brand-specific label — Pepsi, Red Bull, Budweiser — and the center will accept any brand of can or bottle. It also offers a free pickup service for restaurants and office buildings. Customer service is key.
“We hire people who say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and ‘have a good day,’ and I think that brings people back,” said Freeland.
Freeland, who works full time as a nurse instructor at Strong Memorial Hospital, started the company with her husband, Tom, an electrician.
Her husband’s work required a lot of traveling and had grown spotty as the economy took a nosedive, so they decided to dip into their savings and open Henrietta Redemption Center in June.
They’re able to turn a profit because New York state requires distributors to provide redemption centers a 3.5-cent handling fee in addition to the 5-cent deposit for every can and bottle collected. That handling fee was raised from 2 cents in late 2009, and with the recently introduced 5-cent deposit on bottled water, Freeland believes the business has plenty of room for growth.
The center employs three other people, but Freeland and her husband spend a lot of time there themselves to keep overhead low. They’re hoping that the business can expand to the point where they could open a second redemption center in another area of town.
And if they can make the Earth a little cleaner in the meantime, all the better.
“There’s a lot of waste that could definitely be handled by returning your cans and bottles,” said Freeland. “People were complaining that we have to pay 5 cents for water bottles, but you do see the environmental perspective of that.”


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EFS Europe to Return to Leicester's Victoria Park for Remembrance Day Event
Posted: Thu, 15 Oct 2015 09:58
EFS Europe will return to Leicester's Victoria Park Remembrance Day event in order to provide specialist temporary flooring solutions.
Having won a competitive tender for the contract, EFS Europe were last year required to supply and install 1,500m2 of its Temp-a-Path™ temporary footpath product, which was used to protect the parks natural ground and provide a safe base for the seated guests.
The company will supply exactly the same products for the 2015 service, following the huge success of the event last year.
Both its Temp-A-Path™ plastic flooring and its specialist red carpet will be deployed at the event. The Temp-A-Path™ will help to protect the parkland and create safe pedestrian access in what can be challenging November weather. In addition, the supplier's red carpet will be used to create a highly presentable approach to the significant areas of the service, including the park's war memorial.
2015 marks the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a key period in World War II that ultimately helped shape the outcome of the conflict.
EFS Europe's Business Development Manager Jeremy Simpson said:
"My grandfather served in both the first and second World Wars within the Leicestershire Regiment, so from a personal point of view I was extremely proud to have participated in last year's service. The 2015 event will once again have huge significance, so we are very proud to be involved again."