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The "cash-for-clunkers" program has been the subject of more negative comments and bad puns than anything an administration has put out for a long long time. Most of the comments have focused on the program's inevitable failure to permanently raise the level of spending for autos and/or anything else. By extension, the reaction is that Obamanomics is a complete bust. Political rage absent of thought to other possibilities is not the best way to go through life, unless your goal is to get crankier as you get older. The chart below plots out auto industry inventories, sales, and the inventory/sales ratio.The cash for clunkers progam moved the auto industry out of depression and into recession at an extraordinarily rapid pace. This saved a lot of investors, public and private, a lot of money,
We can see now that the program was never really intended to be a permanent boost to sales, I think even Larry Summers and Ben Bernanke knew that. The cash for clunkers trade was meant to alleviate an extraordinary overhang of unsold cars under which an entire industry was about to collapse. Normal recession metrics for sales, inventories, and production are now in play and they will be for some time but the government accomplished what it set out to do -- saving an industry and giving it the time to do what's necessary to save itself short-term and for the long haul. It will be a while before we know whether the auto industry finally gets it right, but at least they now have the time to figure it out.


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Dogecoins Are Now Worth More Than $50 Billion, Making Them More Valuable Than These Top American Manufacturers
What started off as a joke is now being taken seriously by a growing number of investors.
Dogecoin's total market value of nearly $50 billion makes it bigger than the market cap of some of America's top manufacturers, according to Bloomberg.
In the past week, the digital currency — modeled in 2013 after the popular "Doge" meme — has spiked 400% and become one of the top 10 cryptocurrencies in the market. Its $50 billion market cap almost rivals that of Twitter ($54.3 billion) and places it above Ford Motor Co. ($48.3 billion), Bloomberg reports.
Related: Dogecoin Maybe Worth More Than $1 At The End Of 2021
Dogecoin continued to climb in the early hours of Tuesday, 4/20, with many fans using #DogeDay to celebrate the smoking of marijuana. As of this writing, however, it has since dipped down to 34 cents per token.
In recent months, Dogecoin has been gaining steam due to support from companies like Slim Jim and tech figures like Elon Musk. Still, several investors have expressed concerns that the digital currency's spike could cause a potential bubble.

domain: news


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DemandTec by Acoustic
DemandTec by Acoustic is committed to taking AI pricing to new heights. With deep and commanding worldwide retail pricing domain knowledge and experience, DemandTec enables retailers and CPG partners to deliver optimal pricing, promotions and markdowns to thrive in today’s hyper-competitive retail landscape. DemandTec addresses retail pricing challenges today and into the future with relentless focus, commitment and ongoing investment.
More than three quarters of consumers say they will be likely to wait for promotional offers post-pandemic before they make a purchase, a Retail Week report reveals.
With consumers still tightening their purse strings, this year could prove to be a rocky road for retailers who don’t have the right pricing strategy. Read Retail Week’s new report to find out how AI could optimise pricing and drive loyalty.
In a hyper-competitive market where retailers are struggling to survive, the right pricing strategy is making and breaking businesses. Read Retail Week’s new report to find out how AI could optimise pricing and drive loyalty.


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Data, and the analysis derived from drone flights, is critically important to a farmer. The most common use case of drone derived data and analytics is early weed and disease detection, which protects crop yield and reduces herbicide use. Farmers also look for plant counting analytics, which can increase yield by improving early-season replanting and better predict yields, in the data they are looking for from a drone system.
Good application is essential in getting the most from maleic hydrazide, which AHDB trials in the UK have shown to be a useful, cost-effective tool for controlling early dormancy break in potatoes. Additional benefits of using maleic hydrazide include a reduction in secondary growth and chain tuberisation, and it also minimises internal sprouting.
The days of swarming drones in Nebraska skies have just begun. Rantizo — a relatively new player in the drone industry — is upping the game with its crop spraying technologies and bringing competition to the traditional aerial application business. Rantizo has shirked the spot treatment status quo, reaching full field capabilities with one drone covering 14 acres an hour. “Within the next two years, our goal is 100 acres per hour,” said David Pieper, Rantizo director of sales.
One of Britain’s biggest arable farming operations will be the first commercial company to roll out the latest precision potato technology developed by Angus-based SoilEssentials. One of Britain’s biggest arable farming operations will be the first commercial company to roll out the latest precision potato technology developed by Angus-based SoilEssentials.
Potato processor McCain Foods (GB) Ltd is using ethylene and specifically the anti-sprouting system Restrain as its preferred replacement for the soon to be withdrawn CIPC, according to a press release issued by Restrain company. According to the release, McCain Foods GB, the UK business of the world’s largest producer of frozen potato products, has been using ethylene for a few years and is now recommending Restrain ethylene generators to its potato growers in the United Kingdom.
There is, perhaps, no vegetable in the world as versatile as the potato. And farmers in Assam, India, are proving this fact by developing numerous innovations to bring new products into local markets. The innovations have been created through Value Chain Schools (VCS) within the Assam Agri-Business and Rural Transformation Project (APART) – a project dedicated to fostering entrepreneurial skills among small and marginalized farmers in Assam.
Keeping late blight out of potatoes is a season long campaign for growers and one that seems to be getting tougher as the years go by, with seven day spray intervals now standard practice, say crop specialists at UK based adjuvant supplier, Interagro. They point out that with resistance to fluazinam now established in the blight populations and a continuing shift towards more aggressive P. infestans populations, such as 36_A2 and 37_A2, a robust resistance management strategy is essential to safeguard crops and chemistry.
Angus based precision farming solutions pioneers SoilEssentials have announced a new partnership with Elveden, a world-class producer and purveyor of local and regional food excellence. SoilEssentials and Elveden are proud to be working together using Tuberzone and Tuberzone CropCast to better manage potato crops for optimum size distribution and crop value, so reducing food waste. The Tuberzone suite of applications use data and not physical inputs to improve potato crops, and so are an environmental win-win.
A new camera that will detect crop disease quickly and at a significantly lower cost has been developed by British researchers. The technology could potentially save farmers worldwide thousands of pounds in lost produce, while increasing crop yields. The camera will cost less than £1,000 – about a tenth of the cost of the crop cameras currently on the market.
Now in Eastern Canada: Unique eco-friendly hydrogel that helps maintain soil moisture, reduces watering frequency
Éco+ is proud to announce the addition of a revolutionary new hydrogel, Stockosorb 660, to its product line.The Stockosorb 660 hydrogel is a unique product that is mixed with fertilizer and put in-furrow to help maintain moisture in irrigation and dryland crops such as potato. Thanks to this technology, a single Stockosorb660 crystal can absorb up to 70 to 120 times its weight in water, which can reduce the watering frequency by up to 50%.
Syngenta unveiled the new TYMIRIUM™ technology platform brand this week. In a press release, the company says it is a novel nematicide and fungicide technology under development for both seed- and soil-applied uses. Based on the active ingredient cyclobutrifluram, Syngenta says TYMIRIUM™ technology provides long-lasting protection against a broad spectrum of nematode pests and diseases across all major crops and geographies.
This month, producer of potato cultivation machines, AVR will be introducing no less than three new planters: the Ceres 200M, Ceres 200H, and Ceres 440. The highlight of the Ceres 440 is undoubtedly its AVR Connect system, which unites all planting information and remote parameters in one digital platform. Get ready for the next chapter in AVR’s precision farming story.
According to a Capital Press report, the Idaho Potato Commission is considering advertising on major online sales platforms such as Amazon, Walmart and Kroger Co. websites. “If we ran a program starting in May through August, it could cost a little over $100,000,” Commission CEO Frank Muir said. Costs would be covered by recently lower spending on travel and on certain promotion and incentive programs. He has not yet made a formal recommendation to commissioners.
Medius Ag announces expanded agricultural data management services, new Director of Business Development
Agricultural data management company Medius Ag is announcing the expansion of its software solutions to a broader range of commodities around the globe through the launch of its new platform, Medius.Re. Medius Ag is also announcing the addition of Ryan Krabill as the company’s Director of Business Development. Mr. Krabill, a 15-year veteran of U.S. agriculture and early collaborator with Medius Ag, will manage outreach to other commodities around the globe from his office in Denver, Colorado.
Jersey’s largest grower, packer and marketer of Jersey Royal new potatoes has seen a significant reduction in labour costs this season thanks to a project undertaken with the Haith Group. Jersey’s largest grower, packer and marketer of Jersey Royal new potatoes has seen a significant reduction in labour costs this season thanks to a project undertaken with the Haith Group.
Two of the most respected and well-known agricultural machinery manufacturers have announced a strategic collaboration for the UK and Ireland. The new relationship is designed to benefit UK and Irish farmers, who will now be able to buy complete solutions from either company’s sales team.
The following letter was sent to Potato News Today by potato storage specialist in the UK, Ray Andrews, and we published it as such. AHDB’s announcement that it is consulting on the future of the Sutton Bridge Crop Research Station, and on potato storage research more broadly, should worry every potato grower in this country. AHDB’s announcement that it is consulting on the future of the Sutton Bridge Crop Research Station, and on potato storage research more broadly, should worry every potato grower in this country.
Ethylene can provide potato producers with a viable sprout-control solution in a range of situations, with one large potato processing company already using an ethylene delivery system in all of its medium- to long-term stores. Adam Clarke of Farmers Weekly in the UK reports.
Indian airline IndiGo has successfully operated the country’s first cargo-on-seats flight, sending fresh food from India to fill some supermarket shelves in the UAE. The flight flew from Kochi to Abu Dhabi over the weekend, transporting fruit, vegetables and other supplies to supermarkets in the UAE, particularly stores that “cater for the large Indian expat community” in the Emirates, according to IndiGo’s CCO Willy Boulter.
BS Cocinados installs the new TOMRA 5B – the efficient vegetable, potato and fruit sorting machine by TOMRA Food
The new plant in Funes (Navarre), which produces ready-made Spanish Omelettes, is an ambitious project which will significantly increase production capacity at BS Cocinados, S.L. Cutting-edge technology is necessary to achieve the desired quality standards, which is why the company has purchased a second TOMRA 5B unit with the latest chassis developments.


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The monthly surge was led by a 28 per cent rise in rents, the Consumer Council said.
An urban family of six now needs US$427 a month to get by – but civil
servants and many private sector employees are earning just US$100 a
month, if even that.
Economist Nyasha Muchichwa of the Labour and Economic Development Research
Institute of Zimbabwe said costs had risen in part due to a tightening in imports from neighbouring South Africa.
Though the rate of inflation at 8 per cent is modest compared with the
astronomical increases in prices in the past, it is a cause for concern
given the limited purchasing power of average Zimbabweans.
In addition, Zimbabwe’s Central Statistical Office recently reported
price decreases. In general prices eased about 3 per cent in each of
the past few months, the CSO said.


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Interconnection between devices through and production seems to have no borders, especially for Xiaomi, which to expand its offer smart home has just detected the actions a Chinese company of home decorations in order to develop new smart products for the casa.
Xiaomi: this is how the smart home will change the purchase of the shares of the home decoration company Dongyi Risheng
So who is the company that the Chinese giant has bought? There Dongyi Risheng, expert in the field of home decoration has yielded well 21 million di actions a Xiaomi for a value of 20.7 million dollars, thus becoming one of the main shareholders of the company.
Here is the official press release of Dongyi Risheng regarding the entry of Xiaomi in corporate mechanisms: "The company will leverage Xiaomi's broad presence in the Internet of Things (IoT) sector, as well as its accumulation in the home decoration sector and its digitization capabilities, to explore how it can integrate with home appliances to deliver. a smart life to consumers".
The framework therefore offered by this acquisition therefore allows a Xiaomi to grow their smart home products, albeit with Dongyi some collaboration already exists from July 2020 and as well as with ZMI, the company's products will arrive on the major sales channels of the brand, or even new products born between the collaboration between the two companies will arrive.⭐ Follow and support GizChina su Google News : click on the star to insert us in the favoritesi .


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A new series of workshops designed to help food and drink businesses sell produce online has launched as part of ongoing efforts to curb the impacts of lockdown restrictions on one of Scotland’s most valuable industries.
The inaugural Scottish Rum Festival due to launch at The Merchants’ Hall in Edinburgh this summer will now be a virtual event. Set to showcase Scotland’s nascent rum movement, the programme can now be accessed by rum lovers across the UK and beyond. The festival will also raise money for The BEN, Scotland’s drinks and hospitality charity.
Based in the East Neuk of Fife, Bowhouse has developed a reputation as a place for making; a hub of local food and drink producers and traders. A new online market place launched this month allows this connection between producers with customers to continue.
The country’s leading digital farmers’ market, NeighbourFood is looking to reach new producers, suppliers and market organisers as Coronavirus restrictions increase online demand for quality local produce.
Since launching their Crowdfunder on the 20th of March, Nourish Scotland, Edinburgh Food Festival, Edinburgh Food Social, Nourishing Change and Slow Food Scotland have raised over £6,000 for the Food for Good Coalition.
Local food and drink businesses are adapting to the challenges posed by Covid-19 to support the local community in a time of need. The Kitchen at 44 King Street and Transition Stirling have been working together to distribute free food during the crisis, helping to...


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Available exclusively through selected JB Hi-Fi stores+ SYDNEY, Australia, August 28, 2013 – Samsung Electronics Australia Pty Ltd today announced the Australian availability and pricing of the Samsung GALAXY Mega, a device that combines the portability and convenience of a smartphone with the power, multitasking capabilities and extensive viewing experience of a tablet. Available exclusively
Kobo Arc 10HD, Kobo Arc 7HD and Kobo Arc 7 tablets and the Kobo Aura 6” E Ink eReader, put reading first with enhanced Reading Life platform SYDNEY, Australia, August 28, 2013 – Kobo, a global leader in eReading, today announced its new lineup of eReading devices, featuring the new Kobo Aura 6” E Ink
Bitdefender Mobile Security keeps an eye on your apps with Privacy Advisor Sydney, AUSTRALIA, Aug. 28, 2013 – Bitdefender, the creator of innovative global antivirus solutions, has released the unique Bitdefender Mobile Security to protect Android devices from malware and keep you up to date on what your apps might be doing with your personal
Kingston Introduces New Enterprise SSD to Support Big Data and Virtualisation Initiatives Sydney, Australia– August 27, 2013 – Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the SSDNow E50, the company’s latest enterprise-class solid-state drive (SSD). SSDNow E50 enables performance-focused organisations that do not have heavy endurance needs to obtain
For the third consecutive year, BenQ has entered into a sponsorship enabling the brand to supply it’s premium range of gaming monitors to the world’s best gamers for the world’s most prestigious tournament – the Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) – which kicked off in Shanghai China late last month. The IEM – Intel Extreme Masters
Samsung Australia Introduces the GALAXY S4 Active Offering Australians a new smartphone companion for exploration, activity and adventure SYDNEY, Australia – August 22nd, 2013 – Samsung Electronics Australia today announced the local availability of GALAXY S4 Active, a new addition to the GALAXY smartphone range designed specifically for active users who want to stay connected
iTunes Festival: 30 nights of free music live or after the performance on your computer, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Apple TV
This September, the iTunes Festival returns with more than 60 artists performing 30 consecutive nights of brilliant live music. The spectacular month long Festival gives music fans a chance to see their favourite artists, including: Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Kings of Leon, Jessie J, Elton John, The Lumineers, Sigur Rós, Arctic Monkeys and many more.
Razer Kraken 7.1 Surround Sound USB Gaming Headset Offers Personalized Positional Audio and Enhanced Digital Microphone For Immediate Release: Koelnmesse, Cologne (GamesCom) – August 21, 2013 – Razer™, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, software and systems, today announced at GamesCom its latest audio product, the Razer Kraken 7.1 Surround Sound USB gaming headset.
Sydney, 21 August 2013 — ASUS has announced the Australian launch of the MeMO Pad™ FHD 10 – an affordable 10.1 inch tablet with a Full HD IPS display. Powered by an Intel® Atom™ processor and Android 4.2, MeMO Pad FHD 10 also features ASUS SonicMaster audio technology for rich and detailed sound from built-in
Conveniently cable-free, BenQ unveil their W1500 – The world’s first 5Ghz Wireless Full HD 1080p 3D Projector
20 August 2013 – Sydney Australia: It’s short-throw, 3D, Full HD 1080p and here’s the best part – it’s wireless. BenQ’s latest Home Entertainment offering, the W1500 Projector, is a world first 5Ghz Full HD wireless wonder. Easy to set up with low maintenance, BenQ boast the W1500 is the answer to uncompromised home entertainment.


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The scandal in which Volkswagen is involved regarding the infamous carbon dioxide emissions is putting the company in the position to pay extra taxes due to an understatement of the aforementioned emissions for around 800, 000 cars in Europe.
As Volkswagen was looking to make some massive spending cuts in order to pay for the emissions scandal, the company’s capacity to do such a thing was challenged by its works council, which only added more pressure to the carmaker that is already facing regulators, investors and upset customers.
The emissions scandal started back in September when the German carmaker admitted it had cheated in the U.S. tests for nitrogen oxide emissions and took bigger proportions this week when the car brand stated it had actually understated the carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption in cars sold in Europe, too.
On Friday, a letter addressed to the European finance ministers by Volkswagen AG’s CEO Matthias Mueller, the head of the brand, asked the European countries to charge the carmaker for any extra taxes related to fuel usage and CO2 emissions rather than the motorists.
Analysts estimate that Volkswagen, which is the biggest automaker in Europe, might have to foot a bill worth $38 billion for different fines, lawsuits and car refits in what is thought to be the biggest business crisis over the past 78 years. In order to meet these high costs, Volkswagen has decided on a program of cutting costs that would account for 1 billion Euros. The decision led to immediate discussions with company bosses as no consulations with workers in factories had been had beforehand. The head of VW’s works council, Bernd Osterloch, has stated that “Management is announcing savings measures unilaterally and without any foundation.”


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According To Sue Marik at fiercewireless.com, Communications CEO Lowell McAdam said that the company's investment in its LTE network is what is making the delivery of that video possible. "With 3G you have video clips but there is buffering. With 4G you can stream video," he said.
McAdam's appearance at the NAB show was interesting considering that broadcasters have always had a fairly contentious relationship with wireless operators over spectrum. Perhaps that was why there were so many empty seats at McAdam's one-on-one discussion with NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith.
McAdam used the NAB show to attempt to sooth concerns that some broadcasters may have about Verizon's plans for LTE Broadcast technology. At the Consumer Electronics Show in January, McAdam publicly discussed his desire to use LTE Broadcast technology to broadcast live events like the 2014 Super Bowl to Verizon's customers.


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By Sebastian Quiroz 0 COMMENTS 11/20/2020 2:51 pm
Once again Amazon France has leaked the existence of a game. According to this site, One of the most anticipated remakes of 2021 will be available on Nintendo Switch. That’s right, we mean NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139, which could hit the hybrid console on the same day as the PS4, Xbox One and PC versions.
According to the international store, NieR Replicant ver. 1.22474487139 would arrive on the Switch on April 23, 2021. However, it is important to mention that neither Square Enix nor Nintendo have commented on this. Similarly, Amazon France has had a pretty bad track record, so this remake may not make it to the hybrid console at the end of the day.
Until now, none of the companies involved in this information, Nintendo, Amazon and Square Enix, have commented on the matter of filiation, and we doubt they will. On related issues, the physical version of DOOM Eternal has been canceled.
Tags: Amazon, Amazon France, leak, leak, NieR, NieR Replicant ver. 1.22474487139…, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, rumor, Square Enix, Switch Revealed the new actors who will join Stranger Things in the fourth season Sony ensures that every PS5 in the world is already sold
23 years. Editor at Atomix.vg. Consumer of pop culture.


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The proposed acquisition of Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) by Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:WBA) has been plagued by stumbling blocks and delays since it was first unveiled in October 2015, and rumors that the Federal Trade Commission was going to block the deal have been in circulation for months. So what happened to RAD stock on Friday, in retrospect, shouldn’t have been that surprising.
There’s a high degree of certainty surrounding the latest chapter in the saga, however, that was spooky enough to Rite Aid shareholders to send the stock down by more than 14% on Friday.
That news? The Capital Forum’s report that the Federal Trade Commission is indeed preparing to argue against the pairing of the two companies in a courtroom.
The Beginning of the End
The Rite-Aid Walgreens saga has become an exhausting tale that fortunately, for better or worse, will soon be over. The crux of the delay was an FTC review panel that was unwilling to make a truly nonpartisan decision until fully staffed, although the active members have expressed concerns that the pairing could set the stage for a monopoly in some markets.
Walgreens Boots Alliance — operator of Walgreens in the United States — offered to sell as many as 1,200 stores to competitor Fred’s, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRED) after the merger was consummated, but the Federal Trade Commission still balked.
In early May, Walgreens delivered a “certified compliance” letter to the FTC, explaining it had supplied all the necessary information it was able to, and needed the regulator to make a decision. The FTC appears to have just made a decision, albeit one owners of RAD stock didn’t like.
Rite Aid has been on the ropes for a while now. While capable of reliably growing the top line, operating income has been slipping since 2014. Analysts expect the situation to worsen going forward, hence the hope surrounding the team-up between Rite Aid and Walgreens.
If RAD can’t get the help it needs, it has no other legitimate options for long-term survival. Rite Aid’s debt load has grown to $7.6 billion (versus a market cap $3.3 billion), and it’s only generated about $4 million worth of net income over the course of the past four quarters.
Looking Ahead for RAD Stock
Investors should bear in mind that as it stands right now, the FTC has neither confirmed nor denied the report from Capital Forum, and Capital Forum has not offered firm details as to its specific source.
Still, in that the news jibes with the consensus that’s been circulating for weeks now, it’s not difficult to believe the rumor.
And as for RAD stock? With today’s move, it’s now down 64% from its January peak … when investors began digesting the possibility the deal wasn’t going to be approved. Rite Aid’s demise since then reflects the gradually-growing acceptance of this worst-case scenario.
Nevertheless, confirmation from the FTC could do further damage to RAD shares.
As of this writing, James Brumley did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.


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Johnson & Johnson has announced its financial results for Q2 2019.
According to the company, net sales during the second quarter of 2019 reached $20.56 billion, a 1.3% decrease from $20.83 billion during Q2 2018.
Consumer sales grew by 2.3% driven by Neutrogena, Aveeno and OGX beauty products as well as international Listerine mouthwash in oral care products and U.S. baby care products.
Alex Gorsky, chairman and CEO, and, "We delivered solid second-quarter underlying sales growth and strong earnings growth that enables us to make investments in innovation to accelerate performance in each of our businesses. Our pipelines continue to progress with the launch of new products and several regulatory submissions and approvals, which positions us well to deliver the next wave of transformational products and solutions. I am proud of our talented colleagues across Johnson & Johnson who continue to deliver significant healthcare advances to improve the lives of patients and consumers around the world."


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Two years in, The Players’ Tribune seeks consistency
When it came time for NBA star Kevin Durant to announce last week he would leave Oklahoma City for the Golden State Warriors, he didn’t hold a press conference or release a statement through his management.
He did it on The Players’ Tribune, a 2-year-old digital publisher where Durant serves as deputy publisher. The post help generate the most sitewide traffic in The Players’ Tribune’s history, with the publisher boasting 5 million views on the site and across social platforms, and more than 150,000 active users on the post within a minute of the story going live.
When the Players’ Tribune entered the sports media world two years ago, it joined an already competitive market, going up against ESPN, Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report. The difference: It boasted an athlete founder in baseball star Derek Jeter and was premised on the idea that athletes could control their own message and media platform. To date, nearly 900 athlete contributors have written first-person accounts for the site.
Durant’s announcement follows a pattern. Kobe Bryant and David Ortiz both also drove traffic spikes when they announced their respective retirements on the platform.
The big question for Player’s Tribune is whether viral hits like Durant can be turned into sustained traffic. After all it’s not something that happens everyday. As Funny or Die saw with its early viral hits like “The Landlord,” one-time, star-driven content is hard to maintain. Building a brand takes time — and consistency — to establish loyalty. And advertisers tend to favor consistent audiences rather than a rollercoaster trajectory.
“The Players’ Tribune has carved out a position as a sort of voice for other athletes,” said Steve Lang, Scout Sports and Entertainment’s account supervisor. “It will be interesting to see how much of that one-time traffic sticks.”
Unlike the normal sports site fare, Players’ Tribune content is more emotive and personal, like New England Patriot’s Martellus Bennett’s poem-like letter, “Dear Black Boy,” following the shootings of Philando Castile And Alton Sterling in Minnesota and Louisiana. Also, former Seattle Seahawks’ Ricardo Lockette contributed “Am I about to die,” where he takes readers through the experience of breaking his neck during a game in November last year, his recovery process, and finally his decision to retire from the sport this year.
“Year one was all about two things: being that trusted athlete platform for the athlete community and developing premium content,” said Raphael Poplock, evp of partnerships and business development. “We’ve nailed those two key elements, and we’re now focused on usage growth and revenue.”
The Players Tribune still has a ways to go when it comes to audience in the competitive sports category. In April, Bleacher Report attracted 28.1 million unique visitors, 79.6 million for ESPN (its entire network of digital entities) and 13.4 million for Sports Illustrated. That said, those properties had big head starts.
Founded by Jeter with investment from Thomas Tull of Legendary Entertainment two years ago, Player’s Tribune has a content team of about 20 people who help produce and edit two to three new written pieces, video, photography, and audio, daily. While it may be the most prominent publisher in the athlete-driven story space, it’s certainly not the only one doing it: publishing platform Medium also has its eye on the sports world, and last year, the NFL Players Association embarked on an effort to take back control over its members’ media value through ACE (Athlete Content & Entertainment) Media.
“There probably is a way to go for the site to establish long term, stable growth as well as consistent audiences,” said Jennie Scheer, director of media at DigitasLBi.
The Players’ Tribune drives revenue through branded content and sponsorships, with about 10 brands currently on board. This week, it announced an advertising deal with Samsung, where contributors Von Miller of the Denver Broncos and Hassan Whiteside of the Miami Heat will create 360 video content at events. It’s also partnered with Budweiser to create an exclusive content studio for social platforms. American Family Insurance, the partner for the publication’s philanthropic arm, TPT Assist, produces content around athletes helping students in communities in need.
Having Durant make his exclusive announcement on the site was bound to boost users and social numbers. The Players’ Tribune picked up 55,000 new Twitter followers and 12,000 more Facebook fans. Using celebrities and their social followings isn’t new, but it’s still effective: GQ’s story on Kim Kardashian, for example, drove its biggest days of online traffic ever, with a million unique views in one day.
“Roughly 80 percent of users coming in for Kevin Durant were new users, and what we’ve seen since is homepage traffic has increased substantially, but it starts first with making sure content isn’t just a one and done,” said Poplock.
‘We’re seeing a wide spectrum of feelings’: Reopening of society and offices is causing unexpected anxiety
The last year of enforced isolation and lockdowns has taken its toll — to the point that many feel anxious at about re-entering the social fray.
For U.S. News and World Report, first-party audiences are in decision mode
U.S. News and World Report is using its rankings of colleges, hospitals and retirement locations to create intent-based audience segments.
Cheat Sheet: At IAB Podcast Upfront, diverse voices take center stage while podcast advertising revenue and audiences boom
Most of the companies that presented at the IAB Podcast Upfront signaled they had or were going to add more diversity to their programming, both in hosts and content.
SponsoredHow brand lift studies and survey ads are shaping marketing campaigns
Before running any digital campaign, it is crucial to align brand messaging and strategy. By doing so, marketers ensure the brand is portrayed in a way that is appealing to its target audience. Ultimately, this alignment encourages engagement that drives consumers to the bottom of the marketing funnel. Data-driven insights are the key to achieving […]
Member ExclusiveMedia Briefing: What media companies’ latest earnings reports say about the state of the industry
Media companies' Q1 earnings reports signaled a continued return to business as usual — for better or worse, depending on the company's digital business.
‘Brands tend to be selective’: OMG report offers options to media buyers facing upfront inventory crunch
With a tight upfront TV marketplace expected, one agency group is recommending alternatives in video and CTV.


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Ever since Google officially unveiled its latest Android iteration, Android Marshmallow, Samsung seems to be the only company that seems to be working hard to update as many of its devices as possible. We have seen a good number of Galaxy devices get the Marshmallow treatment from the high end ones to even devices such as the Galaxy J5. The update started seeding to the J5 a few days ago and we are now getting information that some devices in the Galaxy A family are getting it too.
The two devices in the Galaxy A family that are getting the update are the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) and the Galaxy A7. The update has just started rolling out to some users of the two devices in some parts of Eastern Europe. This update has just started seeding to a few users so be patient if you don’t have it on your device just yet.
The updates bring Android Marshmallow as well as the latest security patches for June. Both updates are available over the air and are over 1.3 GB in size so you should make sure you have a good connection before you start updating.
So far, users in Russia have reported seeing the updates for their devices and we are getting information that it is seeding to users in Serbia, Turkey and some other countries. Over here in Kenya, you should expect the update to be available on your device within a few days or weeks, no official communication has been issued by Samsung so you have to keep of checking if it is available for you to download on your device.


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The Apple Experience
A new report from the Wall Street Journal reveals details of just how seriously Apple takes its consumer experience.From the way the employees speak to people to the more minor details such as the security cables holding the products to the tables, every last factor has been engineered to give the best possible consumer experience.
Some of the details are:
To put a positive spin on bad news, employees at the Genius Bar are asked to say “as it turns out” rather than “unfortunately”.New employees are forbidden to talk to customers and instead shadow more experience colleagues until they are ready – often taking a few weeks or more.To keep things busy its common for Genius appointments to be triple booked.
With Apple’s sales per square foot now at $4,406 (higher than luxury jeweller Tiffany's and Co) they must be getting something right.
Read more here, courtesy of The Huffington Post >>


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When Lesley Mobo presents at the Red Charity Gala on Oct. 16, guests at the annual fundraiser will see a completely different side to the aesthetics of the acclaimed London-based Filipino fashion designer—at least compared to his last show of wispy, gossamer dresses in the Philippines held exactly three years ago this month.
The Red collection will be more bling-y and glittery, in parts kitschy, and, with the Tudor-“Dynasty”-Studio 54 theme as takeoff point, will definitely have a good dose of humor.
It was created largely “to please the people who paid for tickets,” said the designer in a phone interview with Inquirer Lifestyle. Mobo is the eighth featured designer of the annual gala that benefits the Philippine Red Cross and the Assumption High School Batch 1981 Foundation.
Like in the previous years, it will be held at the Makati Shangri-La’s Rizal Ballroom, with direction by Ariel Lozada, styling by Noel Manapat, and hair and makeup by Henri Calayag.
Mobo’s brief was the collection had to be eveningwear, which is not what he typically does in Europe, where, as a ready-to-wear designer, he’s used to making “short things and tailored stuff.”
“It’s a charity event, so it’s hard to be too conceptual,” he said. “There will be fashion people in the audience, but I didn’t want to make it so ‘elite’ and too serious” that it would alienate those who aren’t really into fashion.
He came up with a concept that he feels was a good compromise: not too Mobo, meaning not too edgy, but “not too European, as well.”
The collection started with the Tudor inspiration, a period of English history that has been his longtime fascination, even way back in his student days at Central Saint Martins (he earned a B.A. in Fashion Womenswear, with honors, in 2002, then his master’s in the same prestigious school in 2004).
Then it evolved with some campy details à la “Dynasty” and Studio 54. He went for romantic, Mobo said, with lots of texture and some whimsical elements even in the back of the dresses, so that even those whose tables are far from the ramp would get their tickets’ worth.
“It’s a little kitschy,” he said with a laugh. “It’s my first time to use red fabric in a long time. But I tried to balance so it’s still acceptable to the fashion people. I enjoyed doing it. In the end it’s just for love and charity.”
The 40 pieces were a tall order for the Aklan-born designer, who has had to squeeze putting them together in between his other responsibilities. He does consultancy for several brands and companies, including the British label Ghost. He has also just concluded his 2½-year contract with Uniqlo, for which he designed T-shirts sold by the Japanese brand across its new markets in Southeast Asia.
RELATED STORY: RTW–it’s the way to go global, says Lesley Mobo
His work has won awards in Europe. Shortly after he graduated from CSM, Harrods hired him to design its in-house label, Jasmine de Milo. He also does design collaborations, from the sold-out collection for Diesel early in his career to underwear for Bench, Red’s presenter, which will launch a his and hers Lesley Mobo fragrance and his new underwear collection at the gala.
Mobo has been scaling back on his workload, even putting his namesake label on hold, following the recent death of his father. Losing his dad has had a profound effect on the designer.
“I’ve been chasing my dreams for many years. Fashion is like a baby, it keeps asking for more and more of you. Now I just want to spend more time with my mom, take it easy a little. I’m glad I’m in a position to do it.”
The Red Charity Gala has raised over P12 million in the course of its existence, said Kaye Tinga and Tessa Prieto-Valdes, the event’s organizers. This year, they’re hoping to exceed their minimum target of P2 million, with premium items to be auctioned off at the gala, including a Parisian holiday package courtesy of Singapore Airlines and accommodations at Shangri-La Paris; a membership share at Balesin Island Club worth P2.2 million; Piaget jewelry; Rimowa luggage; and Remy Martin cognac, among many others.
Tinga and Prieto-Valdes said they will also be hosting a postshow/after-dinner party, where they will be serving breakfast to guests. There will also be plenty of swag from sponsors.
While their choices of featured designer—which in the past has included Rajo Laurel, Dennis Lustico, Furne One, Michael Cinco, Cary Santiago, Ezra Santos and Jojie Lloren— haven’t necessarily influenced how much they raised in their past outings, the organizers believe guests will be charmed not just by Mobo’s talent but also by his inspiring story.
RELATED STORY: A bittersweet homecoming for Lesley Mobo
A biology graduate, Mobo left for the United Kingdom in the hope of fulfilling his dream that was nearly prematurely dashed at home: He had won a local design contest and was set to represent the country abroad, but was disqualified on a technicality.
Armed only with his ambition and the proceeds from selling the family’s proverbial carabao, he packed his bags to shoot for the moon.
Even after making it abroad, Mobo has remained modest and self-effacing.
“Don’t talk about me na lang,” he said. “The show’s for charity, I’ll just be entertainment.”
RED CHARITY GALA FEATURING LESLEY MOBO IS PRESENTED BY BENCH,WITH SUPPORT FROM BALESIN ISLAND CLUB, PIAGET, SUNLIFE, MEGAWORLD, OLAY, DOWNY, INQUIRER RED, LIFESTYLE ASIA AND MAKATI SHANGRI-LA. THE EVENT IS ALSO SUPPORTED BY ABITARE INTERNAZIONALE, BLO BLOW DRY BAR, COCA-COLA, FUENTESMANILA, MARIE FRANCE, PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER, PHILIPPINE STAR, REMY MARTIN, ROBERT BLANCAFLOR GROUP, SINGAPORE AIRLINES, VOLVOAND W/17. FOR INQUIRIES, CALL MAGGIE GINETA AT 0917-8325570 OR VISITWWW.REDCHARITYGALA.COM.


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Mercedes-Benz and Via have launched their jointly owned ViaVan service in London, offering a different kind of ridesharing experience that is shaping up to be quite the contender against rival, Uber.
While a lot of the profit and loss depends on the vehicle itself, Lyft and Uber drivers could see some cost savings if they’re driving an electric vehicle, and there’s some analysis to back this up.
The company suspended autonomous car testing in California after pedestrian death in Arizona
From self-driving systems, battery-powered vehicles, and even ride-sharing initiatives that are changing how and why we move, these disruptive trends are moving the auto world into the future.
With the increase in testing at top technology companies, the question of if autonomous vehicles (AV) will roam the streets has turned into a question of when. However, there are still many roadblocks in the way that separate AV’s from the open marketplace.
NADA is forecasting new vehicle sales of 16.7 million units in 2018, a decline of about 2.9% from the 17.2 million sales in 2017.
The Cantin Automotive Insider and the Dave Cantin Group attended NADA Show Expo this weekend. Here's a preview of what happened.
With Ford creating a fractional ownership program, and GM investing heavily in ride-sharing company Lyft, manufacturers are trying to get ahead of major shake-ups in the industry.


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As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, National Design Award winners Design that Matters, threeASFOUR, and Open Style Lab are working to increase access to personal protective equipment for medical workers and face coverings for civilians. This article highlights their distinct strategies.
Design that Matters
In 2012, Design that Matters (DtM) received a National Design Award in recognition for creating products and services to meet the needs of poor people in developing countries, such as Firefly, a cost-effective device to treat newborn and infant jaundice in rural hospitals, and Kinkajou, a rugged tool that provides lighting and reading materials for night time literacy classes.
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, DtM released an open source 3D-printable face shield that anyone can download and print from the National Institutes of Health website.
How did you design and iterate your 3D-printable face shield?
Design that Matters (DtM) recruits students and professional volunteers to design medical devices for global health in low-resource settings—specifically in developing countries. The speed of the coronavirus pandemic is turning all clinical settings into low-resource settings. In response, we have shifted to applying DtM’s expertise in rapid prototyping, human-centered design and medical devices to the domestic shortage of critical health supplies.
Our COVID-19 Solutions project is a 3D-printable face shield PPE (personal protective equipment) for frontline health care workers. We took the Prusa Printer RC2 design as a starting point. Our initial design research with clinicians at MGH in Boston and the University of Washington Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, and a review of CDC requirements for personal protection equipment (PPE), revealed the need for improved protection for the wearer from aerosol and splatter from above, and improved washability and re-use.
Given the urgent demand for this design, how did you quickly conduct clinical testing?
According to representatives from the Washington State Department of Health, there is an urgent need for 500,000 face shields in this state alone.
On Friday, March 20, I brought a 3D-printed Prusa RC2 face shield to the University of Washington Medical Center for the first design review. Over the weekend, we assembled a team of over forty experts in design, engineering and medicine with volunteers from Spark Health Design, Microsoft, and Boeing, and clinical experts from Mass General Brigham, the University of Washington Harborview Medical Center and the UW Medical Center at University campus. Working nonstop in groups spread across the country, we blasted through three very fast cycles of prototyping and clinical testing.
The clinical test included a three-day pilot of the 3D-printed face shields at the Harborview emergency department, led by Dr. Graham Nichol, along with a rigorous clinical effectiveness and materials safety review by Dr. Dmitry Levin at the University of Washington. The final design was also evaluated and recommended for use by the NIH.
By Friday, March 27, we had posted the final face shield, DtM-v3.0, along with instructions for fabrication and assembly, on the NIH website.
What feedback have you received from frontline medical workers who have worn your face shield?
The response from clinical evaluators has been encouraging.
One ER nurse on the front lines at a Seattle-area hospital, wearing the DtM-v3.0 face shield for the first time a couple weeks ago, said: “I love it. It makes me feel safer. I was swabbing someone for a COVID-19 test when he vomited on me. It kept me clean.”
A nurse-practitioner on Twitter wrote, “I feel more confident that I can stay healthy and continue to take care of my patients and family. Plus, it is the most comfortable face shield that I have worn.”
Do you know how many times your mask has been downloaded or printed from the website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services?
I don’t have a number for total downloads, but it was enough to crash the NIH website! We had to scramble early the week of March 30 with the NIH team to put up another post after the original post stopped loading.
We released the design using the CC0 public domain license, and we posted mirrors on PrusaPrinters and Thingiverse. We’ve since seen more than a dozen “remixes,” clever people refining the design for shorter print times or so that it will fit on the bed of smaller 3D printers.
We’ve heard dozens of groups printing this face shield around the country. We even heard from a team in Haiti printing our design in Port-au-Prince, and another group is adapting the design for production at scale in Kenya for use in Africa.
The wildly innovative National Design Award-winning fashion brand threeASFOUR was founded in New York City in 2005 by Gabriel Asfour, Angela Donhauser, and Adi Gil, who hail from Lebanon, Tajikistan, and Israel, respectively.
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, threeASFOUR began selling fabric masks for civilians, using 10% of the proceeds to donate medical masks to frontline healthcare workers.
Why did you decide to use prints from your 2012 collection “inSALAAM inSHALOM” to create one-of-a-kind fabric masks?
We felt that this pandemic had done something new to the world. For the first time in our recorded human history, the virus has united all nations, cultures, religions, races, skin tones, and social classes under one umbrella. Our inSALAAM inSHALOM project united both Jewish and Arabic cultures through celebrating the textiles of these two conflicted worlds by mixing the geometric patterns of BOTH and combining them as ONE.
The one-of-a-kind masks are due to shortage of fabric. We are recycling all the inSALAAM inSHALOM leftover fabric, so each mask is cut differently.
Who sews your masks, and where?
Since our factories are all shut down and all our team is “at home,” we were very lucky that our tailor friend, Marc, was open and excited to use his atelier in DUMBO, Brooklyn to cut and sew the masks.
You are using 10% of proceeds from the sale of threeASFOUR masks to purchase medical masks for frontline healthcare workers.
How many medical masks have you been able to donate through this initiative?
Yes, with that percentage of sales we have been producing “medical masks” with one of our U.S. factories, Onpoint Manufacturing in Alabama.
So far, because of the increased demand for threeASFOUR masks, we are able to produce about 300 “medical masks,” which are made from a high-tech lightweight and breathable bacterial protective silver-infused jersey.
Those are being donated (step-by-step as we produce them) to the medical workers in hospitals in and around New York City.
Now that the masks made from “inSALAAM inSHALOM” fabrics are sold out, will you continue this initiative? If so, how?
Yes, indeed, at the end of this week we will be running out of the inSALAAM inSHALOM fabric leftovers.
We are planning to continue the masks by recycling our 2016 fabrics and project “Quantum Vibrations,” which is based on sound vibration geometries. We feel it is very appropriate since these geometric symbols are commonly found in textiles of varied cultures and races around the world.
Open Style Lab
Open Style Lab (OSL), the inaugural recipient of the National Design Award for Emerging Designer, is an organization dedicated to creating functional wearable solutions for people of all abilities without compromising on style. Open Style Lab is providing tools for people to sew reusable fabric masks at home.
What is the OSL Hackability toolkit?
With the goal to make hacking an empowering design skill for all people, The OSL HackAbility Toolkit is a set of physical tools for people with disabilities to redesign and hack existing clothing. The tools allow the process of sewing and making to be accessible for people with disabilities. It was co-designed with a group of teen girls from NYU IWD during the 2019 OSL Summer Program.
You launched your instructions for creating masks with an article in the Washington Post. What was the response from the paper’s readership?
Placing any design work out to the public is always met with a plethora of opinions and criticisms. This demonstrates the process of design is never complete, but can be accomplished to the best of one’s ability. Given the timely matter of masks, the paper’s readership had a large number of responses with a majority of those responses being positive.
You created a special version of your mask for healthcare workers. How is this mask different from your mask design for civilians?
The vinyl mask cover was not specifically a version for healthcare workers, but rather for anyone needing an extra layer of protection. The special version is a vinyl mask cover that used the same design specs as our fabric version. The mask cover was created to accommodate the following: (1) the use of plastic (vinyl) as a cover to be an alternative in prolonging the use of a fabric mask; and (2) the size of the mask to accommodate the most commonly used masks such as the delta and N95.
Will you continue to iterate your mask design?
Yes, we would like to iterate based on feedback from the community. For example, a practitioner reached out who wanted to use our mask cover design for the sign language interpreting community. They believed the design option our face mask design would allow better access to facial cues. We hope to find more requests like these and iterate our designs for more disability communities.
Hannah Maureen Holden is the Digital Content Editor at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.


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BRUSSELS—The European Union's antitrust regulator is poised to rule as soon as Tuesday that Apple Inc. AAPL -0.11 % 's tax arrangements with Ireland have breached the bloc's state-aid rules, according to people familiar with the matter.
Oreo cookie maker Mondelez International Inc. MDLZ -0.05 % ended its pursuit of Hershey Co. HSY 0.71 % after the famed chocolatier rebuffed its latest acquisition offer, putting an end to a monthslong takeover campaign that would have created the world ...
For years, American businesses have been clamoring for the government to roll out a set of regulations for drone technology so that the companies can legally start using them for everything from agriculture to filmmaking to delivering packages.
U.S. stocks advanced in the lightest day of trading so far this year. Monday's broad gains wiped out Friday's losses, which came after Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said that the case for an interest-rate increase had improved.
The decision by United Airlines to hire a new president away from American Airlines firms up the roster of executives who will contend with fare declines pushing the industry to its worst returns in five years.
It has been a hard couple of weeks for Obamacare. The law's online marketplaces - where people were supposed to be able to easily shop for health insurance - have been suffering from high-profile defections and double-digit premium increases.


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Three textile factories will be constructed in Kutaisi and Poti, West Georgia, by the end of the year. The facilities will import raw material from Turkey to produce clothing that will be exported to Europe, according to Osman Chalishkan, secretary general of the International Investors Association of Georgia.
For the full story, see the June 2016 edition of Textiles Eastern Europe. Not a subscriber? Sign up HERE


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LAS VEGAS - Say goodbye to a free perk in Las Vegas that once used to be as common as slot machines at Harry Reid International Airport.
More and more Las Vegas hotels are nixing free self-parking to visitors.
Most recently, Wynn Resorts, which owns and operates Wynn and Encore Las Vegas, announced the end of free self-parking starting Sept. 27.
"The new parking policy is a result of the anticipated increased demand for parking at nearby attractions, and a higher volume of city-wide events," Wynn Resorts said in a statement. "The program is intended to ensure ample, free parking is available for guests to visit and enjoy the resort's dining, entertainment, and shopping amenities."
The Venetian and Palazzo, which ended free self-parking in July, is now charging $15 for the first four hours for non-hotel guests. Parking for more than four hours will go up to $18 an hour. If you're parking on Friday through Sunday, it goes up even higher to $23 a day. Even hotel guests will have to pay too. It costs $18 to self-park there.
- MGM Resorts’ computer systems down after ‘cybersecurity issue’
- Las Vegas hotels under investigation for Legionnaires' disease cases
- Teen charged with killing online date at Las Vegas hotel before stealing his wallet, car
- Las Vegas' giant sphere eyeball is freaking some people out
The parking change was announced ahead of two major events happening in Las Vegas in the coming weeks.
The eyeball-shaped Sphere, which illuminated for the first time over Fourth of July weekend, is scheduled to open Sept. 29 with "U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere."
Then in November, Formula 1 will take over the city streets. This event will mark the first time Formula One races in Las Vegas since the 1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix. General admission tickets are already sold out.
According to Casino.org, the remaining hotels and venues offering free self-parking are Casino Royale, Circus Circus, Tropicana, Treasure Island, Sahara, Fashion Show Mall, the Shoppes at Mandalay Palace, and Aria’s Shops at Crystals.


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According to The Information, more long-term Netflix members are cancelling their subscriptions. According to survey data obtained by the outlet, users who have been with the service for more than three years accounted for 13% of cancellations in the first quarter of 2022.
According to the statistics, overall cancellations totaled 3.6 million persons in the fourth quarter, up from 2.5 million in the previous five quarters.
The number of cancellations has increased overall, but new customers account for a lesser percentage of them, according to The Information, indicating that Netflix is struggling to keep subscribers for longer periods of time. People who had joined to the site for less than a year accounted for 70% of cancellations in the second quarter of 2021, while long-term members accounted for 6%. Last quarter, newer customers accounted for 60% of cancellations.
Netflix has had a tough start in 2022. The streaming service reported losing 200,000 customers, the first time in more than a decade. Furthermore, Netflix anticipates losing another 2 million customers. It presently has 74.58 million customers in the United States and Canada.
Netflix may undergo a number of changes over the next year or two, as the company has informed staff that it aims to offer a cheaper, ad-supported plan later this year.


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Jeff Horwich: Attention U.S. solar industry: Japan is now open for business. The government just launched billions in subsidies to promote solar energy.
From the Marketplace sustainability desk, here’s Scott Tong.
Scott Tong: It’s like Walmart the day after Thanksgiving: The Japan solar rush is on. Tokyo’s new subsidy pays homeowners and companies a high price for generating and selling solar energy. The program lasts 20 years.
How high a price? Double what the Germans pay, triple the Chinese price. Nathanial Bullard is with Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
Nathaniel Bullard: With the Japanese market offering such generous terms right now, it’s the potential for a real boom.
He thinks Japan’s market could leapfrog Italy for second largest in the world behind China. For consumers, a big new market stirs innovation for the world. Bullard thinks in a decade, we’ll build entire electricity systems from renewable sources. No grid.
Bullard: The question will be, not where do I connect to a conventional grid of the sort that you find in the United States and Europe, but rather, do I connect at all?
For now, solar companies from Germany and China compete with domestic firms in Japan. But the Americans will follow into the booming market. Land of the rising … you know.
I’m Scott Tong for Marketplace.
We’re here to help you navigate this changed world and economy.
Our mission at Marketplace is to raise the economic intelligence of the country. It’s a tough task, but it’s never been more important.
In the past year, we’ve seen record unemployment, stimulus bills, and reddit users influencing the stock market. Marketplace helps you understand it all, will fact-based, approachable, and unbiased reporting.
Generous support from listeners and readers is what powers our nonprofit news—and your donation today will help provide this essential service. For just $5/month, you can sustain independent journalism that keeps you and thousands of others informed.


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Dallas, Texas – In a strategic pivot emblematic of shifting corporate landscapes, Thermomix, a vanguard in the manufacturing of Wi-Fi-enabled kitchen appliances, disclosed plans last Friday to translocate its global headquarters from Thousand Oaks, California, to an unspecified location in Dallas, Texas.
Company’s relocation decision was announced in Austin last week
This revelation was made during an exclusive gathering of the company’s elite sales force in Austin, as per an official announcement disseminated by the firm.
“We are excited to root ourselves in the rich tapestry of Texas, fuel our long-term future and heat up an appreciation for the world of home cooking in new and exciting ways,” Fredrik Lundqvist, the company’s CEO for the U.S. and Canada, said in a prepared statement.
Thermomix didn’t specify the location in Dallas
The enterprise, which garnered in excess of $30 million in sales across the United States during the preceding fiscal year, refrained from specifying the precise Dallas location to which they will imminently migrate.
However, the announcement avowed that the consummation of this relocation is slated for completion by the end of the current calendar year.
Thermomix didn’t provide additional details on number of employees
Neither delineating the quantum of employment opportunities to be generated nor the volume of roles subject to transference, the recent disclosure was notably reticent on the workforce implications of Thermomix’s impending migration. Nevertheless, intertwined with this geographical transposition is an audacious roadmap intended to galvanize the company’s U.S. revenue streams, the company said.
Lundqvist added that the state of Texas emerged as an incontrovertible frontrunner during our methodical selection process for a new headquarters given Texas’s longstanding legacy as a hospitable terrain for direct-sales enterprises.
“We greatly admire the state’s deep history with building connection and culture through food, and for the way Texas supports entrepreneurs and innovative businesses such as Thermomix,” he said in his prepared remarks.
Implementing a unique business model that relies on direct sales through tactile, domestic culinary explorations, Thermomix leverages a network of independent consultants to operationalize its e-commerce ventures. The brand boasts a monumental reach, engraving its presence in over 11 million kitchens across the global expanse, as per internal statistics.
Further amplifying the company’s credibility is its venerable lineage: Thermomix is a subsidiary of the German conglomerate Vorwerk, which recently commemorated its 140th anniversary. As an indication of its prodigious commercial potency, Vorwerk documented an astonishing $4.1 billion in aggregate sales for the fiscal year 2022.
The relocation, thus, not only functions as a tactical maneuver for Thermomix but also potentially augments Vorwerk’s already considerable global commercial clout.
Other companies moving to North Texas:


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Skechers USA, the maker of Kim Kardashian-backed Shape-ups, has agreed to pay $40 million to settle allegations that it deceived customers with false claims of toning and weight loss, government officials announced Wednesday.
A growing body of research has shown that so-called toning shoes don’t work.
“Skechers’ unfounded claims went beyond stronger and more toned muscles. The company even made claims about weight loss and cardiovascular health,” said David Vladeck, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC’s message, for Skechers and other national advertisers, is to shape up your substantiation or tone down your claims.”
The company was sued by the FTC, as well as 44 state attorneys general, including California’s Kamala D. Harris. The settlement tops the $25 million Reebok agreed to pay in September.
Besides Shape-ups, the FTC says Skechers also made false claims about its Resistance Runner, Toners and Tone-ups shoes. Consumers who bought the shoes will be eligible for refunds either directly from the FTC or through a class-action suit. For refund information, click here.
The FTC cited a TV commercial where Kardashian dumps her personal trainer for a pair of Skechers. The agency also mentioned an endorsement from a chiropractor named Steven Gautreau, who recommended the product based on the results of an “independent” clinical study he conducted. The FTC said the study did not produce the results claimed in the ad and that the Manhattan Beach company failed to disclose that Gautreau was paid and is married to a Skechers marketing executive.
Toning shoe sales peaked in 2010, with sales close to $1 billion, the FTC said. Shape-Ups, introduced in April 2009, cost consumers about $100 a pair. Resistance Runner, Toners and Tone-ups became available in mid-2010, and retailed for $60 to $100 a pair.
To learn more about the latest toning trend — workout tops and pants — click here.
What do you think? Will you still wear your toning shoes?


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As university classes resume across the nation, over 86 per cent of UNE’s Chinese students impacted by the COVID-19 travel ban are opting to take up their classes online and continue their studies uninterrupted from China.
This includes over 80 per cent of new commencing students stranded by the travel restrictions, the majority taking up business and law degrees.
UNE’s Vice Chancellor and CEO Professor Brigid Heywood said UNE’s online capability is well established so almost all impacted students have been seamlessly transitioned to online units until they can travel to Australia.
“The vast majority of students are satisfied to start their degrees online and have expressed a desire to be with us in Armidale on campus in time to complete their exams,” Professor Heywood said.
“It’s impossible to say how long students will be impacted by this ban, and it has put the spotlight on the importance of providing solutions to ensure our students’ studies are not interrupted.
“A small number of students are still undecided about how to proceed, but UNE International staff have been reaching out directly to students on a regular basis and are providing one on one support and advice.
“We have the technology enabled solutions in place to offer online exams to our students if the travel ban continues, but the majority have expressed a desire to be in Australia in time to take their exams on campus.
“We sincerely hope we can welcome them on campus as soon as possible.
“We understand that this is a very difficult time for all students impacted by the COVID-19 travel ban. UNE’s student support services are available to look after their mental health and wellbeing as they prepare for their studies,” she said.
In addition to the support offered to UNE students, UNE is also reaching out to the sector at large and offering support.


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Guest blogger: Nat Wood, Associate Director, Division of Consumer & Business Education, Federal Trade Commission
At the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), we say that recovering from identity theft is easier with a plan. The same is true for responding to identity theft victims: it’s easier with a plan. Today, both victims and law enforcement can find roadmaps at IdentityTheft.gov, the government’s free, one-stop resource for reporting and recovering from identity theft.
The Department of Justice’s most recent statistics show that identity theft affected an estimated 17.6 million victims in the United States in 2014, representing 7% of all residents over the age of 16. Given the numbers, the chances are that you’re seeing identity theft victims with increasing frequency in your community.
When you meet them, these crime victims may have just discovered that someone appropriated their most personal information, possibly to get a credit card, open a store account, claim their tax refund, or collect their Social Security benefits. Their credit may be in shambles, debt collectors may be calling, and the IRS may be telling them that the refund they were counting on already has been paid.
They need to act fast to regain control over their finances. They have to clear their credit, close fraudulent accounts, check their credit reports and account statements, contact government agencies, and take other steps, depending on the type of identity theft that occurred. Most likely, they don’t know where to begin.
“Local law enforcement is often the first place identity theft victims turn for help,” said Mary Gavin, Chief of Police for Falls Church, Virginia, and an Executive Committee member of the IACP, which has joined forces with the FTC to encourage law officers to use IdentityTheft.gov to engage with and assist identity theft victims. Why? Because IdentityTheft.gov offers immediate help to victims, aids law enforcement, and can be part of a community policing initiative that can help build community trust.
First, by referring identity theft victims to IdentityTheft.gov, law officers immediately put them on the road to recovery. The website has been newly enhanced with features that provide personalized, interactive recovery plans tailored to each person’s individual identity theft circumstances. Among other things, the plans:
- Walk identity theft victims through each recovery step;
- Track their recovery progress and adapt to their changing situations; and
- Pre-fill, and let them print, the letters and forms they need to help resolve the identity theft with credit bureaus, businesses, debt collectors, and the IRS.
The website has recovery steps for more than 30 types of identity theft, including ID theft involving a child’s information. And, the entire site, including its customized letters and forms, is available in Spanish.
Second, IdentityTheft.gov aids law enforcement, both by making the crime-reporting process more efficient and by helping officers build cases. For example, many identity theft victims need a police report to get fraudulent information removed from their accounts, stop a company from collecting debts that result from identity theft, or get information from companies about accounts the thief opened. IdentityTheft.gov recommends that only victims who need these protections contact law enforcement, and it guides them to gather in advance the information and documents that officers need to create police reports efficiently.
In addition, IdentityTheft.gov is integrated with the FTC’s consumer complaint system, Consumer Sentinel Network. When people use IdentityTheft.gov, they are reporting the theft to the FTC and their information is entered directly into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a searchable database that is available to law enforcement officers nationwide. It’s a resource that helps investigators discover trends, find common elements, locate additional victims, and uncover evidence. In short, it helps investigators build cases to stop identity thieves.
Third, IdentityTheft.gov can easily be part of an identity theft education initiative that brings law officers into community meetings, church gatherings, and other venues for positive community outreach. Need help planning an event? Visit the FTC’s website for tools you can use to help make your event a success. And, order free identity theft educational materials that you can distribute. Our IdentityTheft.gov bookmark, available in Spanish too, may be perfect to have on hand at events or in a station house when identity theft victims come to you for help.
Please, visit IdentityTheft.gov, because responding to and recovering from identity theft is easier with a plan.


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As many as one in five renters says they've fallen behind with rent payments during the pandemic, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. A new Urban Institute report estimates that collectively, consumers owe anywhere from $8.4 billion to $52.6 billion in back rent.
Some Americans have been forced to dig into their savings to pay for housing, and when they couldn't, they turned to credit cards. Instances of people paying rent with a credit card were up as much as 70% in 2020 compared to the previous year, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia analysis.
"Life is really expensive in 2021. [A lot] of people don't have the luxury of putting any money away, and that's why they're having to lean on those credit cards," says Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree.
Leaning on credit cards is causing Americans to accumulate more debt, says Chris Salviati, housing economist at Apartment List. "We did our own survey asking renters about the financial sacrifices they've made since the start of the pandemic, and we found that more than a third of renters have withdrawn from their personal savings accounts, nearly a third have borrowed money from friends or family, and 23% have accumulated credit card debt."
Video by Mariam Abdallah
Here's what to know if you've had to turn to your credit cards for rent payments.
Maintaining a good credit score can help you save thousands of dollars on auto loans, private student loans, mortgages, and credit card interest rates. Charging rent on a credit card, though, has the potential to hurt your score.
The reason: Charging a big expense like rent can jack up your balance quickly and take up your available credit — and using too much of your available credit can hurt your score.
Your credit utilization rate, which is the amount of credit you're currently using divided by the total amount of credit you have available, is the second biggest factor when calculating your credit score. It accounts for nearly a third, or 30%, of your score, based on FICO's model.
If you're struggling financially, you might also have a more difficult time making monthly payments. That, compounded with carrying a high balance, can be difficult to manage. Any late payments could also hurt your score.
If you need to temporarily charge your rent to a credit card, it never hurts to reach out to your bank for help. "People have way more power over their credit card issuer than they realize," says Schulz. One way to test that power is to ask for a lower interest rate.
"The numbers over the years have shown consistently that people frequently get their way when they ask for a lower interest rate, and they do so to a degree that would really surprise people," Schulz says. "The worst thing that can happen is that they tell you no, but if they say yes, then some amazing things can really happen, and that's certainly the case with your money."
Being transparent with your landlord can also be helpful: "If you're in a tough spot, it's definitely best to not have it come as a surprise to them when you miss your rent, and you may be able to work out some form of agreement," says Salviati.
That might come as a reduction in the rent, or a payment plan. When reaching out to your landlord, make sure to be honest and specific about your financial situation. For example, noting that you recently lost your job or racked up high medical bills.
"A lot of folks don't realize that they can negotiate and that landlords are people too," Eva Rosen, a professor at Georgetown University who specializes in poverty and American public housing, told Grow.
More from Grow:


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Challenges aren’t anything new because they are catchy, and showcase people’s creativity. They exist out there and are often associated with hit songs.
Perhaps the popular of its kind is the Jerusalema Challenge that went viral in all parts of the world in 2020. At that time, it was not a big deal because it helped popularize the tune. Heck, even South Africa’s President lauded it, and encouraged more people to make challenges because it helped unify South Africans.
That success of the challenges didn’t go very far in 2021 after the song’s creator Master KG and his production team decided that it was high time they reaped the records’ benefits from companies and brands using it.
The same thing is happening locally because copyright regulator KECOBO has issues a warning to companies that may be planning to take advantage of another local hit called Firirida.
KECOBO says that any commercial use of songs has to follow the law, and through authorization with the song’s owners.
Jerusalema craze now haunts many. Don’t blindly fall for every craze. It may lead you into trouble with the law. The law stipulates that the owner of the copyright has the exclusive right to control the distribution, reproduction and any derivative works
Make sure you are not caught on the wrong side of the law with the current Firirida craze. Get authority from the author if you want to make a derivative work of it. The law stipulates that the owner of the copyright has the exclusive right to control the distribution, reproduction and any derivative works.
Copyright infringement has legal consequences. Infringers may have to pay damages to the right owner, pay a fine, or even be imprisoned. Sometimes even a slight change to a work without permission can be an infringement.
-KECOBO in a series of statements.


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Company Honda Automotive Announced its joint venture with Guangzhou in China, and on this basis, Honda electric vehicles will be manufactured in China from now on.
Honda and Guangzhou joint venture will start operations with a capacity of 120,000 units in 2024. The initial cost of building the plant will be 3.49 billion yuan. Follow us with this news to get acquainted with the details of Honda and Guangzhou self-manufacturing cooperation in China.
Read more: Honda Civic 2020 review; A beautiful, sporty and lovely car!
Honda electric cars in China
According to Honda, the Japanese company has partnered with Guangzhou-based China to build an electric car plant. The plant is located in China’s Guangdong Province and requires an initial investment of about 3.49 billion yuan ($ 522 million) to build, provided by two factories.
According to the statement, the carmaker is scheduled to start operating in 2024. This factory has a production capacity of about 120,000 units.
According to Honda, there is another plant in China that has started a joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group. The plant also produces electric vehicles and is expected to start operating by 2024.
According to the Japanese automaker, China’s annual car production capacity will increase by 16%. With this increase in capacity, about 1.73 million units will be produced in the next two years.
What do you think about Honda electric cars in China? Please leave your comments in the comments section Replicate Share.


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Mark Rogers, a veteran Gasparilla parade goer, says there will be "a lot of walking and be prepared to see a lot of crazy things and interetsing people"
Tampa, Florida - At the Bead Barn in Tampa, last minute shoppers are getting ready for the big day.
"You collect pins from the other pirates and put them on your hat; so I need a hat," says Fawn Meehan, who will participate in the parade with the Peg Leg Pirates.
Photos: Gasparilla through history
More Pictures: Gasparilla Parade 2011
Even though the Gasparilla celebration is more than 100 years old, it's still brand new to some folks like Sherri Hatfield who recently moved to Tampa. Sherri says she's heard all about it. "That it's really crowded, lots of people and just total craziness," she says while picking out beads.
So 10 News asked some Gasparilla veterans to help out the first-timers. Their first big tip - get there early.
"Oh yeah, you definitely have to be there early. It fills up really fast," says UT student Mark Miller.
So just "how" do you get there? "If you get a taxi you can get dropped off real close to the route," advises Mark Rogers of Brandon.
The "drop-off" is also a favorite. "That's what we do," says 9-time parade goer Christi Barli. "We just get a ride early, get dropped off. That way no one has to worry about driving afterwards or getting out of there."
More Info: The 2012 Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest
If you do drive yourself, wear comfortable shoes, because you'll be doing "a lot of walking and be prepared to see a lot of crazy things and interesting people," adds Rogers.
During the parade it's all about the beads so you, "gotta grab, gotta holler," says Kareem McGill.
Here are some "no's" for parade goers: no glass, no large coolers. You will want to bring plenty of cash though, because all the vendors along the route deal only in cash and you'll want to avoid ATM fees.
When you're picking your spot, you don't want to be right next to them, but it's convenient if you're near some of the portable restrooms.
So there are a few tips and here's just one more from McGill, "Be safe and have a lot of fun!"


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East Side House Settlement will host the 13th Annual Gala Preview of the 2012 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) at The Jacob Javits Center on April 5th. Fiat and will offer guests a private preview of the entire New York International Auto Show before it officially opens to the public.
The evening’s dramatic pinnacle is the arrival of the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth, which will be driven in by the Head of FIAT Brand North America, Tim Kuniskis. This will mark the start of an exciting live auction of the “small but wicked” car, as potential buyers vie for the opportunity to own one of the world’s most unique and innovative vehicles. In conjunction with the Italian theme of the evening, Indagare will be auctioning off a “Best of Italy” trip of a lifetime to one lucky bidder. The evening is chaired by Philip L. Yang, Joan P. Young, Chris LaSusa, and Elia Zois and the benefit committee is chaired by Fe Fendi and Mariana Zois.
Proceeds from the Gala will support East Side House Settlement’s highly successful college preparation programs, which are crucial in promoting education and employment for the residents of the South Bronx and surrounding communities. A staff of approximately 300 full and part-time teachers, social workers and other experts serve approximately 8,000 residents in 17 different locations annually. The event is made possible through the generosity of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association and the New York International Auto Show, as part of a proud tradition of dedicated community service.


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May 22, 2010 | by Chris Smith
When Google announced the release of Android 2.2 into the wild, they made mention of the fact that it would be coming to the Nexus One and Moto DROID in “a matter of weeks” (sometime in June). We also assumed that with a full system image that shipped with 2.2 that it would only be a matter of time for all of the Android’s to get some 2.2 custom ROM love. But it looks like some N1 owners are getting their update much sooner than expected.
According to MG Siegler from TechCrunch, Froyo was rolled out to his Nexus One late last night. He didn’t give an extremely in depth review or anything, but did provide system setting screenshots which in fact show that his N1 is running 2.2. He also showed off the new search choices and commented on just how fast it really is:
I can tell you right away, as promised, Android 2.2 is much faster than Android 2.1. During the Google I/O keynote, Google promised a speed increase of 2x to 5x over 2.1 (and did a humorous demo with an iPad to show the speed) – it appears they weren’t lying.
Well that is always good to here.
He and other outlets, including Engadget have reported that other N1 users have also received the update. It looks like this is a very limited rollout as of now, but shows us that Google is serious about getting Android 2.2 out to users quickly. If you have received the 2.2 update on your N1 let us know how it is running in the comments below.


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Saffron Walden Round Table sign up another new partner for the 2011 ‘8-day’ Carnival
SAFFRON Walden Round Table has ended 2010 with some great news – it has another partner on board for next year’s Carnival.
The Tablers have already signed up a number of local businesses and organisations for the event, and it has recently added to that list with Saffron Building Society once again getting involved.
Saffron Building Society’s sales and marketing director John Eastgate said: “We are delighted to be continuing our long association with one of Saffron Walden’s most eagerly anticipated events and look forward to the festivities in July next year.”
There are just 183 days to go before the Carnival – the town’s amazing ‘8-day weekend’ – gets underway, running from July 1 to 9, 2011.
A new website at 8dayweekend.co.uk will go live in the New Year.


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Tom Petters gets 50 Year Sentence for $3.6 Billion Ponzi Scheme
The sentence is substantially lower than the 335 years sought by prosecutors. When Mr. Petters’ massive empire unraveled, the losses were $3.6 billion. Investors include pastors, missionaries, retirees and nursing home residents, among others. Several months ago, a jury convicted the prior owner of Polaroid on 20 counts of mail and wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy.
The scheme has been compared to the Ponzi run by Bernie Madoff, who received a sentence of 150 years in prison after pleading guilty to a scheme that cost investors billions of dollars.
Petters intends to file an appeal. He also disputes that what happened was a Ponzi scheme. Petters testified that he had thought Petters Co. Inc., an arm of his now bankrupt Petters Group Worldwide, was doing legitimate deals.
PCI apparently used fake purchase orders and bogus bank records to persuade investors to finance what they were told would be purchases of electronics such as big-screen televisions that PCI would resell to discount retailer. But the merchandise never existed and the sales never took place.
Petters blamed other business associates, who all pleaded guilty in hopes of leniency and said his biggest mistake was trusting them.
This is an example of yet another Ponzi scheme that was able to operate during the last decade of weak securities regulation.


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NEW ZEALAND— ZIWI LTD, a New Zealand based manufacturer of air-dried pet food, acquired Hastings-based Freeze-Dried Foods NZ LTD (FDF) and its subsidiary Kiwigarden LTD for an undisclosed amount, a move that ZIWI company officials said positions the company to deliver on its mission of “peak nutrition without compromise”.
Freeze-drying is a method of drying frozen foods inside a vacuum at extremely low temperatures, so the product remains in its original uncooked state, creating a highly nutritious offering.
FDF was established in 1997 and is the largest freeze-drying operation in the Southern Hemisphere. Employing approximately 140 people, FDF has more than 12,000 metric tons of freeze-drying capacity and is continuing to invest in technology to ensure it can keep up with the growth for New Zealand produced freeze-dried products, officials said.
FDF has long-term third-party manufacturing partnerships with many high-profile New Zealand brands, including subsidiary Kiwigarden which exports premium children’s snacks to Australia, China and North America.
ZIWI managing director Richard Lawrence says the investment in FDF is about delivering sustainable innovative growth for ZIWI, and its commitment to ZIWI-owned manufacturing providing peak nutrition without compromise.
The investment in FDF is about delivering sustainable innovative growth for ZIWI, and its commitment to ZIWI-owned manufacturing providing peak nutrition without compromise
This can best be achieved with access to FDF’s patented continuous freeze-drying process. This investment builds on ZIWI’s successful brand strategy of owning and investing in processing technology to meet strong global demand for its premium product range, said Lawrence.
ZIWI sustainably sources its ingredients in New Zealand, including from several suppliers in the Hawke’s Bay region, where FDF and Kiwigarden are located. This is another big step in Hawke’s Bay for ZIWI, who recently commenced production at its new state-of-the-art production kitchen at Awatoto Napier.
The kitchen provides processing capability and technology to support the development of new product lines, which will ensure ZIWI maintains its global leadership position in the premium air-dried pet food category, officials said.
ZIWI estimates the plant will be running at full production by late 2022. Once fully operational, the facility will employ 120 people and ship approximately 1,000 containers per year through the Port of Napier.
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It’s been online learning for Wildcats in Shanghai since March! Let’s check out what our resident Chef, Mr. Darrell, has been whipping up with our students at home!
Cooking is so much fun!
If you look at the bright side of being on lockdown, you could argue that now is the perfect moment to put what our Wildcat’s Kitchen students have learned in our Cooking class into practice.
The pandemic has taught the world a new way of doing things. During the lockdown, students developed a passion for cooking and a drive to improve their cooking talents. Cooking at home is about more than just the food; it’s about creating great memories with their families.
The difficulties of obtaining crucial supplies for our cuisine have made the lockdown a struggle for our aspiring cooks. No need to be concerned; the government has come to the rescue with vegetables and food supplies. We’re using our culinary abilities to consider how we may blend the many gifts we’ve received into delicious recipes that we can share at home.
Here are some of the students from Wildcat’s Kitchen in action, right in their own kitchens! Thanks to our great parents for being our food critics and supporting us at home.
-Mr. Darrel M. Desales
*Checkout his cooking videos on our official Wechat account!


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Toyota Has a Hybrid Car Line at the Karawang Factory – PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN) has prepared a special line for the production of hybrid cars. The preparations are okay. It’s just a matter of waiting for the launch of a hybrid car made in Karawang which is planned to start in 2022. According to the Director of Corporate Affairs of PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN), it’s already ready. He added that Toyta was committed to producing hybrids.
Toyota Has a Hybrid Car Line at the Karawang Factory
Bob explained that the Toyota factory in Karawang already has a special branch line or subline for hybrid cars. The changes are not much. The production line is still integrated with the mainline ICE vehicles. Vehicles that have been Toyota’s mainstay of sales in Indonesia.
Bob directly revealed that, the concept is a subline. So the main line is still mixed with the conventional one, but there are sublines. The changes (production line) are also not too significant. He also emphasized that the production of Toyota hybrid cars in Indonesia is just a matter of time.
Bob added that apart from infrastructure, component supply chains are also a concern. This is because products that already have a hybrid line-up have the potential to be even more in demand.
Read more: UNDIP and Toyota Introduce Electric Innova
In addition, Bob also stated that only the supply chain they had to prepare. That’s because the components must be sustainable. Toyota also has experience, in other countries the conventional estimate is 70 percent, the hybrid is 30 percent. But it turns out that after launch, the hybrid is actually 70.
It should be like that (hybrid models can be more in demand in Indonesia, ed), because of fuel efficiency.
Although it has been confirmed that it will produce hybrids in Indonesia. Bob has not specified the exact model of the vehicle that will be made at the Karawang factory. Currently, a number of Toyota models that have been stung by electrification in Indonesia are the Camry, Alphard, Camry, Corolla Altis, Corolla Cross, and Prius.
But some time ago, the Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang, mentioned that the first localized hybrid car was the Kijang Innova.
Toyota has acknowledged that it will produce HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicles) vehicles locally from 2022 for the domestic and export markets.
The Minister of Industry last year also visited Japan to meet automotive principals. In the presentation that Agus presented at the time, there were several leaks of new models that would be launched by Japanese automotive manufacturers. Toyota will produce 10 hybrid cars, including 5 plug-in hybrid cars. One of the hybrid cars that will be produced in Indonesia is the Toyota Kijang Hybrid which is written in 2022.


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01/10/19 11:30 am Mars International
In a world where unexpected occurrences happen every day, Orion distress signals help provide a beacon of light. Mars International and Orion have partnered to create the Electronic Beacon, a high-powered SOS distress signal that works during the day and at night.
Orion marine safety flares and Orion emergency flares are industry leaders in the marine safety products industry, including hand held flares.
12/10/18 2:48 pm Mars International
The annual CES is one of the world’s leading stages for innovation, highlighting companies and products that are on the cutting-edge of their industry. For the CES 2019 trade show, Mars International will be in a booth along with ciqada™ , to showcase our IoT solution and services and meet with fellow difference-makers in the technology industry. You can attend register by clicking on this link.
10/17/18 2:50 pm Mars International
Aerators and drainage systems and well screens, oh my!
Irrigation professionals from across the country will again convene in California this December for the annual Irrigation Show. Hosted by the Irrigation Association, Irrigation Show 2018 will take place from December 3-7 in Long Beach, California at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. The show will offer educational sessions, a comprehensive trade show floor and hours worth of networking for all walks of irrigation professionals.
10/12/18 2:29 pm Mars International
Mars International is excited to announce an upcoming “lunch and learn” with photochemical machining experts from Conard Corporation, one of the top photochemical etching companies in the world today. This lunch and learn will take place at the Mars International office on October 18, 2018, starting at noon. Those who plan to attend are encouraged to show up thirty minutes early.


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Volkswagen Working on smart Rival
While the interior will be pretty reduced as the upcoming model will actually be a two-seater, the engine will come under the form of a 1.0-liter producing around 50 horsepower. Although the German car manufacturer initially tested a two-cylinder engine, the new model is likely to be powered by a three-cylinder variant, the aforementioned source added.
The car “will be based on the up! Architecture,” Autoblog wrote but will also provide a couple of new features that could help it compete with smart, a model which recorded increasing sales in the last few months, especially thanks to the global economic crisis.
Volkswagen plans to launch the new model in the first months of 2010, with larger versions expected in the fall of the same year.
So, after confirming plans to bring up! into mass-production, the German car manufacturer is now planning to develop a new mini car that would provide excellent fuel consumption. Volkswagen's decision is somehow understandable, especially if taking into account the consequences of the global economic crisis which “forced” customers to start looking for fuel-efficient cars, detrimental to high-performance vehicles mostly focused on engine power.


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Kiwi Restaurateurs Tackle RWC Diners
Auckland, 11 July 2011 - As the hospitality sector prepares for the long-awaited Rugby World Cup, a new American Express
Selects Dining survey* shows that while three out of four local diners will continue to hit their favourite eateries,
one in four say they will eat out less often during the tournament.
Restaurants are expecting a bonanza during the 45 days of the Rugby World Cup, says Mike Egan, co-owner Monsoon Poon and
Osteria del Toro and Restaurant Association of New Zealand spokesperson.
"With more than 60,000 international visitors the world cup will provide a welcome boost to the economy and our sector.
We are expecting to be busier than normal, but we're aware that some locals intend to dine out less, particularly in
centres where there are lots of games.
"Armed with this information, restaurateurs can choose to fine tune their approach to attracting local clientele,
particularly in Auckland and Wellington, home to the nation's most frequent diners and where nearly half of the
tournament's games will be played," says Egan.
Based on the survey, strategies which proved most enticing to local diners included special offers and discounts which
appealed to one in two respondents, particularly Aucklanders, students, homemakers and those living in rented
One in five diners would be influenced if the games were screened in restaurants to keep an eye on the score. One in six
said having World Cup themed menus and early and late restaurant sittings that coincided with match times would entice
them to dine out during the tournament.
Brian Waldock, American Express Director of Global Merchant Services says that restaurants should use discounts and
other dining incentives strategically.
"Increasingly diners are looking for value, and restaurant operators can provide that in a number of ways. Don't
discount for discount's sake. Whether it is a year-round programme like American Express Selects or a limited time
offer, incentives have their place.
"Place your offers where customers look for information, but remember that personal recommendations from family and
friends still outrank all other information sources for diners. If incentives are right for your restaurant use them to
bring additional business during quiet times, and consider added value offers before cutting prices," says Waldock.
Egan adds, "Just like the tight five is the foundation of the forward pack, local clientele and repeat business is the
bedrock of our industry. We know that giving guests a fabulous dining experience is the best way to win repeat business.
It's up to restaurateurs to decide what's right for them and make plans now for the world cup period."