text:
Click this link to see the original article
New York Times Articles
search ALL: NYTimes.com Archives, COLLECTIONS>MAIL FRAUD
Jury Finds Customer Put Rat Tail in Meal
Published: December 16, 1997
A New Jersey doctor was convicted yesterday of trying to extort $5 million from McDonald’s by planting a fried rat’s tail in a Happy Meal he bought for his son at one of the chain’s restaurants on Long Island.
The doctor, Michael F. Zanakis of Harding, N.J., took a rat’s tail from the medical research laboratory where he worked and placed it in a package of french fries he bought at a McDonald’s in Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., on Jan. 15, 1996, Federal prosecutors said.
”He planted the tail and thought he would get away with it,” said Leonard Lato, an assistant United States attorney. ”The next day he was on the phone with McDonald’s. We had him on tape demanding money.”
A jury in Federal District Court in Hauppauge, N.Y., convicted Dr. Zanakis of mail fraud, wire fraud and extortion for the scheme.
Dr. Zanakis plans to appeal the verdict, according to his lawyer. He was freed pending his sentencing on Feb. 20, and faces a term of up to nearly five years in prison.
Dr. Zanakis was also convicted yesterday in a 1993 scheme to defraud the Coca-Cola Company and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company by telling them he swallowed ”small bits of greasy particles” from a can of Coca-Cola Classic.


text:
announcements & updates
News and announcements about things that have been happening at the Buddhist Society of Western Australia.
The WA government has just announced the latest Covid restriction: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/restrictions-introduced-perth-and-peel-6pm-tonight Public health and social measures will come into effect for the Perth and Peel…Read more
Bhantes Bodhidhaja and Cunda (currently at Newbury Buddhist Monastery near Melbourne) are offering another Relax & Grow event online via YouTube and Zoom from…Read more
Open Your Heart: Weekend Retreat with Venerable Munissara Bookings have now opened for a weekend retreat from May 7-9 with fully ordained nun Venerable Munissara….Read more
Bhantes Bodhidhaja and Cunda are offering another Relax & Grow BSWA Meditation Day online via Zoom from the 17th to the 18th of April 2021….Read more

domain: news


text:
Update: While the bottom to this barrel may yet be reached, Microsoft chirped up with a word on the reported game price increases were an unintentional mistake.
"We are aware that select regions experienced some incorrect game title pricing in the Xbox Live beta," a statement sent to Eurogamer read.
"This was an unintended error that we are in the process of fixing. We'll be reimbursing impacted beta participants for the difference in what was paid and what the price will be after the update is available to all members."
The company went on to acknowledge that "issues" like this are why beta programs exist.
We'll continue to monitor the situation to see if Microsoft makes good on its promise and fixes this so-called error, or if its bidding time before it changes its mind on policy, like we've seen before.
There was much rejoicing when Microsoft announced that its Microsoft Points currency system for digital games will be canned with the next Xbox 360 update.
But as Microsoft's digital game marketplace converts to real money prices, the prices of digital games will reportedly go up.
That's according to U.K. beta testers on Reddit who have downloaded the next Xbox 360 dashboard update before the general public gets access.
According to one user, games cost more with the update - and to make it worse Microsoft Points are being converted to real money at the old rate.
Reddit user Jackski claimed yesterday that the new dashboard update that adds real money prices to games also jacks up those prices.
With the new Xbox 360 dashboard, games that used to cost 1,200 Microsoft Points - purchasable for $14.92 (£9.99, AU$16.28) - are now selling in the digital Xbox marketplace for $17.91 (£11.99, AU$19.58).
Meanwhile Points are converting at their old rates, i.e. inputting a code for 1,200 Microsoft Points only gets you $14.92 (£9.99, AU$16.28).
So while buying a 1,200 Microsoft Points voucher at retail could previously get you an entire game, now it seems it may not be enough. And users with unused Microsoft Points on their accounts who make the dashboard switch will no longer be able to afford games they could have previously.
Some users are claiming that the new prices will bring digital Xbox 360 games in line with their counterparts on PlayStation 3, though games on Sony's PlayStation Network Store were never locked into the four-tier pricing scheme (400, 800, 1,200, or 1,600 Points) that Microsoft used for its downloadable arcade titles.
A global phenomenon?
In the U.S,. 1,200 Microsoft Points retail for $14.99 (£10.04, AU$16.39), but we've yet to hear from any beta testers there on whether their prices have changed as well.
A gamer in India reported a similar price hike, though, on Indian gaming blog Jetpack.in.
Because these reports come from beta testers, it's possible the price changes are a mistake or that the situation will be different once the dashboard update launches in full.
Of course, Microsoft could also be using the currency conversion as an excuse to hike the general costs of digital games in anticipation of the Xbox One launch, even though Xbox One games reportedly won't go up in price.
If that's the case, it would be nice if they would at least convert existing Points at the same rate.
- In other bad news, did you hear that the Xbox One won't be able to play any Xbox 360 games - including digital titles?


text:
View a Clip from the Film ‘Raze’
Free PR Web Directory
Yahoo’s internal problems have been emphasized after the firing of the CEO Carol Bartz. According to the recent report of the Wall Street Journal, the documents have been prepared for the potential Yahoo bidders.
There are many companies who are planning to buy Yahoo like Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500), which offered to buy Yahoo for more than $47 billion in 2008 but the offered has been rejected. Now the private equity firms Silver Lake Partners and Andreessen Horowitz are considered to be the prospective buyer of Yahoo.
Apply and Google are not showing much interest to buy Yahoo. It will be more sensible for a media company to buy Yahoo. The traditional media companies are struggling to create their online presence therefore it will be beneficial for these types of companies to buy Yahoo.
Although Yahoo still did not disclose the truth and they ignored the comment referring it as “rumors and speculation.” Dobson stated that if a media house buy Yahoo it will not make the company a leader but will definite give wide horizon to become a more eminent player in the market. Yahoo has high traffic due to the content subject like news, sports and finance and it might be beneficial for the traditional media houses.
Yahoo owns 40% shares of a Chinese Internet company Alibaba and it is showing interest to take over Yahoo. Alibaba is the most valuable share of Yahoo’s but the emerging controversies of their recent poor relationship are reverberating in the market.
In May, Yahoo revealed that Alibaba had shifted 100% ownership of Alipay to a new organization controlled by Ma. Therefore, investors penalized Yahoo’s stock after the upheaval.
If Alibaba fails to buy Yahoo then there are other companies who are eagerly waiting for their opportunity to buy Yahoo.


text:
Identity theft can take many forms. It might involve abusing a person’s Social Security Number to apply for loans fraudulently. Maybe a devious individual could utilize the personal information of another to file a false tax return to steal the refund. Identity theft can also refer to attempts to obtain free medical care by posing as another person.
A person can also face identity theft charges if the theft forms the backbone of an even greater criminal operation. Such was the case of one Californian man, who has been convicted of identity theft for his involvement in a nationwide ticket resale scam.
The 48-year-old man admitted using email to steal credit card information from victims nationwide. He then created fake buyer accounts with the stolen payment card numbers to buy tickets to an upcoming Texas A&M football game, which he would put up again for sale on ticket resale sites.
Over 75 victims had their credit card and personal information stolen by the man.
Texas A&M discovered the scheme and moved to invalidate the tickets. But unwitting buyers had already purchased several of the fraudulently obtained tickets, losing money for the university.
A release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas noted that the man faces a mandatory sentence of two years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Aggravated identity theft is a federal crime
Per federal rules, a person who commits a fraud offense by utilizing the identification of another person can be additionally charged with aggravated identity theft. In addition to any punishment the person may face for their specific fraud offense, the convicted must also face a two-year prison sentence.
Texas also punishes credit card fraud
Texas also has a law prohibiting persons from using the credit card information of other people without their consent. The penalties for fraudulent credit card use depend on the number of card information stolen. If less than five payment card details were stolen, a convicted person faces a state jail felony. But if more than 50 details were stolen – such as in the case above – the convicted faces a felony of the first degree. A first-degree felony can lead to life imprisonment or a term not exceeding 99 years.
Regardless of its form, identity theft is a severe offense at both the state and federal levels. Anybody convicted of the offense faces some of the harshest punishments.


text:
The source reports that Xiaomi is working hard on the new smartphone of the Xiaomi Mi Mix series, which will be released this year under the name Xiaomi Mi Mix 2020. We bring to your attention the alleged characteristics and renderings of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2020 or Mi Mix 4. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2020 will get a full-screen Design without cuts and holes. There is no front camera in the images, so it is expected to be located below the surface of the screen. Similar technology was introduced by Xiaomi last year. The display should have a resolution of 2K at a refresh rate of 120 Hz.
On the back panel we see vertically located three image sensors of the main camera. According to the design of the back panel, the smartphone will resemble the previously announced Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha, only the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2020 screen will not bend to the back cover. The main camera will use a 108-megapixel image sensor, a 12-megapixel camera with a wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens are also provided 10x zoom. The resolution of the front camera will be 20 MP. The smartphone will support fast wired and wireless charging, face recognition of users, it will be equipped with an NFC module.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2020 will be released in the second half of this year, the price will start at $ 939.


text:
Maine is already known for its lobsters, but Ocean Approved wants the state to be known for another ocean crop: kelp. Led by new CEO Briana Warner, the company is launching a line of products under the Atlantic Sea Farms brand to bring awareness to this briny delicacy and has new investors and supply chain strategy to support this growth.
Founded in 2009 under then president Paul Dobbins, Ocean’s Approved raised just over a million dollars from its inception through 2017. In later years, the company brought aboard investors including Fresh Source Capital, Maine Venture Fund, and Coastal Enterprises Inc. During this period, the company grew its own kelp and sold the resulting product into food service.
Following Dobbins departure from the company in 2018, Warner, a former board observer, was hired to take over as CEO. Her first step was to raise $2 million from True Wealth Ventures, Maine Venture Fund and angel investors in an oversubscribed round that closed earlier this year. Even with the new investors, the company maintains no majority owner.
“Investors were excited by the idea that we could be cleaning the ocean, providing a new food source and that we were first movers,” Warner said. “Sometimes you show up to investor meetings and have to say ‘actually there’s no market data on this because we’re legitimately the first movers.’”
Next, Warner set out to launch consumer facing brand Atlantic Sea Farms into retail with five products — three new kelp salads (a seaweed salad, a kelp kimchi and a kelp kraut) and two frozen products (kelp cubes and Ready Cut Kelp).
Atlantic Sea Farms launched earlier this month into a handful of stores and will roll out in more Northeast retailers over the course of the year. Warner told NOSH that kelp — which is rich in potassium, Omega 3’s and iodine and has more calcium per ounce than milk — fits several popular dietary trends.
“People want the gut health and probiotics that they can achieve from fermented foods. But they also want the vitamins and minerals of kelp,” Warner said. “And people want to eat American sourced food, they want to know where their food is coming from.”
Although Warner is focused on building the Atlantic Sea Farm brand in retail, the company is still selling via food service and also working as an ingredient supplier. Its kelp cubes or blanched and frozen kelp can be found in dishes served by Legal Seafoods, Flatbread Company, Luke’s Lobster, the award-winning Blue Hill at Stone Barns and in the smoothies offered by subscription service Daily Harvest.
Warner told NOSH these partnerships help introduce consumers to kelp and drive trial. Most consumers have only tried dried, imported kelp — 99 percent of kelp is imported from Asia — and expect a fishy taste. Atlantic Sea Farm’s products are made with line-grown, “baby” kelp that is more tender and has a milder flavor. Additionally, the company goes from sea to processed in under 24 hours and never dries its kelp.
But the biggest advantage to farming kelp, Warner says, is the economic benefits it provides to the fishermen of Maine. Ocean Approved previously farmed its own kelp, but under Warner’s oversight has shifted its kelp growing over to contracted farmers.
Under this new model, the company provides Maine fishermen with seeds from its kelp nursery and establishes contracts at the start of the season. The fishermen, in turn, grow kelp during the off-season for lobster. This year Maine fishermen will farm roughly 350 to 400 thousand pounds of kelp for the company. It’s a relationship, Warner said, that allows the company to focus on its product and brand while also advancing an economic social mission.
And as climate change and shifting marine life populations impact the lobster fishing industry, it’s this potential to help the Maine population that motivates Warner the most.
“We’ve built this company on the integrity of working with these fishermen and the fact that we can mobilize a fairly large group of people to do fairly small scale farming,” Warner said. “We also have a story that people can’t replicate… and now we have a beautiful brand that is getting a lot of cache. Right now we have a sweet spot that we think will sell really well.”


text:
Crytek and Saber Interactive have revealed the first look at Crysis Remastered running on the Nintendo Switch. The classic first person shooter is due out on the platform on 23rd July 2020. The companies haven’t revealed the Nintendo Switch frame rate and resolution, but no doubt it will be announced shortly.
Pingback: First look at Crysis on Nintendo Switch – My Nintendo News - Gamerz-Circle.com
Already hearing that they may delay this due to to poor response to the graphics
Correct, Crytek announced the game would be delayed on all platforms due to the reactions to the leaked footage recently.
Haven’t seen it yet myself, we’ll just have to check into that.
Cool and it’s $30. I think that’s a fair price point personally, some may disagree. I played crysis 3 on ps3 briefly and it was pretty fun since you could approach missions any way you wanted. Hope the first one is good.
Pingback: First look at Crysis on Nintendo Switch — My Nintendo News – N-Switch Info


text:
The publishing giant reorganizes its new media operations and names an eight-year marketing executive as president.
The widely anticipated reorganization comes after long criticism of the print media giant's execution of its online strategy and its Web site, Pathfinder. The company's stable of well-regarded print publications remains profitable, but analysts estimate that Pathfinder continues to lose money.
But competition is intense. Other media giants such as Walt Disney also are gearing up their new media efforts, not to mention software giant Microsoft.
"We are better positioned to become profitable and become the new media leader than anybody else. It's about a war for scale," McCutcheon Conneally, 39, told CNET NEWS.COM today. "One of the fixes were going to make is a clarity to the approach to the businesses."
McCutcheon Conneally wouldn't predict when Pathfinder would be profitable, except to say that it wouldn't be this year. She did, however, say that Pathfinder had been growing.
Site traffic has increased 56 percent since January 1997, measured in page views, she added.
McCutcheon Conneally's predecessors also held the title of editor, as well as president, but she said she doesn't think her lack of editorial experience is a liability. She's leaving the editorial duties to online editor Dan Okrent. "I'm the grubby moneymaker," she joked.
"In this dynamic business, we wanted to better leverage our resources to improve our focus and efficiency," said Norman Pearlstine, editor in chief of Time Warner, in a statement.
A company spokeswoman said it is "too early to tell" whether there will be layoffs, although the staff will be reshuffled.
Under the plan, all new media efforts under Time Incorporated will be centralized. "Budgets will be rolled into one" and costs will be managed centrally, the company said. People assigned to online efforts of Time's magazines, such as People, Sports Illustrated, Money, and Time, will continue to work on their respective titles but will report to Time Incorporated's New Media.
That's a paradigm shift for many print media conglomerates that are expanding on the Web, including trade publications. Many of them run the magazines and their respective Web sites as independent units--but at the same time maintain a standalone "master" Web site that combines all the publications--in this case, Pathfinder. Some employees complain that the structure duplicates costs and can cause political infighting.
The reorganization also separates Time's new media business into five separate initiatives. The first is to continue to expand Pathfinder's audience; the second is to launch syndication efforts for Time's content; the third is to use the Web to market the content to an audience that can't be reached outside the United States; the fourth is to sell subscription renewals online, saving money; and the fifth is to create revenue from Time Incorporated merchandise.
The syndication of Time's content, such as a recently announced deal with AT&T's WorldNet access service, will continue, McCutcheon Conneally said. The company's content is in high demand by Net distributors, she said.
Some opportunities for e-commerce run the gamut: from selling videos from the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition to a database for the Fortune 500, she said.
McCutcheon Conneally will report directly to Perlstein. She replaces Time New Media president Paul Sagan, who resigned last October after less than 12 months.
She joined Time New Media in February 1995 as director of ad sales and marketing and was named vice president sales and marketing in September 1996. She previously held marketing jobs at Time and Money magazines.
McCutcheon Conneally also is a founding member of the Internet Advertising Bureau and serves on the company's the Board of Directors.
Last week, Time New Media's Bruce Judson, one of Pathfinder's first developers, resigned to "pursue entrepreneural-related interests." Pathfinder was founded in October 1994.


text: Talk about a war chest! Coming off the Blu-ray win in the format war, Sony has announced plans to invest more than $100 million in its Terre Haute, IN plant. The facility is used for Blu-ray disc production, and Sony is budgeting for at least 65 more workers, $101 million in new equipment and $7.4 million in property improvements. The plant is mostly staffed by hourly workers, but Sony plans on 15 of those 65 positions to be salaried. The old adage about "spending money to make money" is true, and at this point we're not going to bother with asking whether the money was freed up from the format war or not. All we ask is that the increased Blu-ray disc production capacity helps move titles from the Sony archive to store shelves!


text:
The former advisor to Donald TrumpMade one of the most outrageous claims she has ever made during this process.
“I worked in that White House for four years,” she told Sean HannityShe was referring to Trump’s time. “We never even heard of a such of a thing. It didn’t exist. There was no inflation.”
When Trump was President, supply chain problems were the biggest story of 2020. Conway was in the White House when panic buying sparked by the outbreak of coronavirus. The result was nationwide shortages of all things, including toilet paper and pasta. This caused supermarket shelves to be empty.
“During the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. suffered one of the worst supply chain crises in modern history,” Tinglong DaiJohns Hopkins Carey Business School professor, told NewswiseNoting how many shortages last for months, he said.
Many enforced supply restrictions in supermarkets when they had supplies strict rationingEssentials like flour and meat were not available. Combining the lack of food with lost jobs caused by the pandemic led to miles-long lines at food banks
Additionally, it was impossible or difficult to locate essentials to prevent the spread, such as gloves, masks hand sanitizers, soaps, disinfectant wipes and other items.
Users on Twitter shared photos from 2020 grocery scenes as a way to remind themselves of this past.


text:
Smartphone addiction a big risk
Smartphones have become a staple in the lives of many – they used for personal use, business use and as an educational resource.
However, the risk of ‘smartphone addiction’ is becoming an increasingly big problem around the world, according to TopCounselingSchools.org, an organisation that helps students and counselling professionals.
Both professionals and students can suffer from smartphone addiction. TCS says Nomophobia – an abbreviation for ‘no-mobile-phone-phobia’, is a real fear people suffer from at the thought of being without their mobile device.
The number of smartphone users is expected to reach 2 billion globally by 2016. One in two professional workers check their phones continuously during vacation, and nearly three quarters (72%) of adults say they’re within five feet of their smartphone most of the time.
According to TCS research, 73% of smartphone users feel panicked when their phones are misplaced.
With Bring Your Own Device policies making their way into business offices and onto school stationery lists, smartphone addiction is potentially worldwide problem.
Just like in business, the versatility and internet capabilities of smartphones have lead many educators to praise the upsides of smartphones in the classroom.
However, while the smartphone provides many benefits to teachers and can aid in learning, will the normalisation of this technology in schools and in businesses increase the possibilities of a user experiencing smartphone addiction?
According to some experts, emphasising good digital citizenship in classrooms can go a long way to helping students manage their time spent on smartphones. As for adults, TCS says it is important to acknowledge when smartphone addiction might be making an appearance, and smartphone users should think of some ways to break the cycle.
This can include unplugging from technology for half an hour a day, turn off the ringer on the smartphone, have a smartphone fast, or even consider professional treatment with a counsellor or at a technology-addiction facility.


text:
ASUS is a company that doesn’t shy away from the latest technology, and with the new ZenBook 3 UX490UA, they’ve updated one of their thinnest and lightest machines to include the latest Intel 8th Generation processors. It’s likely no surprise to any of our readers what this means, but for those who are just now dipping their toes into Intel's newest processors, this is Kaby Lake Refresh, which features the first ever quad-core ultramobile Core processor from Intel. ASUS in turn has packed Intel's latest processor into a small, lightweight chassis, with all of the features expected in a modern Ultrabook.
ASUS just announced its first line of Ultrabook PCs under the new Zenbook brand at a press event in NYC. There are a total of five models in the...51 by Anand Lal Shimpi on 10/11/2011


text:
Every innovation that improves lives, advances society, and drives our economy starts with an idea. Strong intellectual property rights—including patents, trademarks, and copyrights—protect and incentivize those ideas. When inventors, researchers, engineers, artists, and entrepreneurs have legal certainty that their work will be protected and rewarded, they can keep the transformative ideas coming. Intellectual property protections also shield consumers from dangerous fake and counterfeit goods, giving people assurances that products—from life-saving medicines to toys—are safe and authentic.
- 4 Things to Know About Intellectual Property and COVID-19 VaccinesIntellectual property enabled the discovery of lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines. Here’s why calls to waive IP rights would undermine medical innovation and our ability to respond to the next pandemic.
- Intellectual Property: A Primer for BusinessesIssues surrounding intellectual property rights in the U.S. have a significant impact on the business community. Here’s what businesses need to know.
- How Can the U.S. Government Better Protect Companies from CyberattacksHere are some ways government leaders are protecting the United States from cyberattacks that could steal intellectual property and personal data.
The U.S. Chamber’s Global Innovation Policy Center champions innovation and creativity through intellectual property standards so businesses can save lives, solve problems, create jobs, advance growth, and enhance society. Our work to protect strong intellectual property rights begins in Washington, D.C., and extends to countries across the globe.
Learn about ways government leaders are protecting the United States from cyberattacks that could steal intellectual property and personal data.
Small business advice from CO—
- InternationalInSTEP: The Ongoing Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Geopolitical ImplicationsMonday, October 0304:00 PM EDT - 05:00 PM EDT
- Health CareHealth ForwardTuesday, October 0401:00 PM EDT - 03:00 PM EDT
- FinanceProlific Regulation: Examining SEC Rulemaking Under the Biden AdministrationThursday, October 0611:00 AM EDT - 11:30 AM EDT
- Dec 09, 20214 Things to Know About Intellectual Property and COVID-19 Vaccines
Intellectual property enabled the discovery of lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines. Here’s why calls to waive IP rights would undermine medical innovation and our ability to respond to the next pandemic.
- Nov 22, 2021Unbox Real Happiness: Don’t Let Counterfeit Goods Ruin Your Holidays
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Customs and Border Protection team up to launch the ‘Shop Smart’ campaign to protect consumers and businesses from counterfeit goods.
- Nov 17, 202110 Tips to Spot Counterfeit and Fake Goods While Holiday Shopping
Worldwide trade in counterfeit and fake goods amounts to more than $500 billion each year. With the holiday shopping season about to kick off, here are some ways to avoid fake goods and shop smart.
- Nov 02, 2021U.S. Chamber Letter on the Nomination of Christopher S. Wilson to be the Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator at USTR
This Hill letter was sent to Members of the Senate Committee on Finance on Christopher S. Wilson’s nomination as the Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
- Oct 12, 2021Medical Innovation Happens Across America
America is where innovation thrives, and cutting-edge medicine is no exception. Right now, scientists are conducting more than 140,000 clinical trials across all 50 states to explore the potential of the therapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics, and cures we need to fight disease—from coronavirus to cancer.
- Sep 15, 2021Intellectual Property: A Primer for Businesses
Issues surrounding intellectual property rights in the U.S. have a significant impact on the business community. Here’s what businesses need to know.
- Sep 02, 2021Novo Nordisk Solutions During the Pandemic
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Novo Nordisk recognized that patients, employees, and the community would be impacted in new and unique ways. The company focused on three key priorities:
- Aug 25, 2021ALI Must Retract its Restatement on Copyright
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, countless people have found solace and even joy in the creative output of musicians, filmmakers, video-game creators, artists, and performers. While these creators’ individual innovations are unique, their dependence on copyright unites them. Copyright safeguards their creations’ value in the marketplace and protects them from malicious reproduction.
- Aug 12, 2021U.S. Chamber: Administration’s Price Controls on Drugs Will Leave America Unprepared for Next Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley released the following statement today after the White House announcement on drug pricing:


text:
Blockchain-enabled supply chain and trade finance firm Envoy Group is reportedly planning to expand its operations beyond Latin America. This, after recently acquiring $13 million in funding from Alcedo Digital Ventures.
Developed on R3’s Corda platform, Envoy aims to enhance the existing $17 trillion annual global trade flows by upgrading legacy financial systems to work with advanced digital platforms. The blockchain development firm is working on initiatives that will reduce or eliminate inefficiencies in traditional financial platforms while improving liquidity.
Envoy Group’s platform has been designed to work seamlessly with traditional data systems and all third-party blockchains or distributed ledger technology (DLT)-based networks. This will allow both buyers and sellers to effectively manage international trade logistics processes and also find new funding sources, which will be supported as a result of increased trust.
This “trustless” nature of blockchain-based smart contracts (automated business logic) are ideal for automating and streamlining many of the workflows of international trade, as well as using the Stellar blockchain-enabled NVOY token for instant tokenized cross-border transactions.
Envoy’s management noted that it’s currently onboarding new customers in Latin America and with the new investment in place, it’s also planning to move into other large trade corridors throughout the world.
Lee Tarone, CEO at Envoy, stated:
“Global trade remains reliant on paper – slow, prone to error and unnecessarily expensive. We use blockchain technologies to cut through these archaic processes to offer a digital trading environment, and instant, low cost and optimum governance.”
The transparency of the Envoy platform aims to reduce the risks involved in conducting trade finance. The platform has been designed to detect and eliminate fraudulent activities which are common in legacy systems that use manual processes and paper documents.
The company noted in a statement:
“Nefarious attempts by both the buyer and seller to double finance a trade will be all too easy to read on the blockchain. Users need only do their KYC due diligence offline thanks to Envoy’s enterprise-grade credit risk rating system.”


text:
Too much sugar leads to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. It dries out our skin and ages us. It’s poisonous and food companies are denying the negative effects while driving us all to an early grave.
Too Much Sugar
In the television series Mad Men, Madison Avenue advertising executives undermine public health by glamming smoking up in the media. But at least they practiced what they preached, lounging in offices hazy with smoke from interminable Lucky Strikes.
A sequel could be made today with Big Tobacco replaced by Big Sugar as grotesquely obese executives dream up ways to make the public think sugar isn’t unhealthy to consume, while they personally gorge themselves on too much sugar, eating cupcakes, cookies, and soft drinks.
The similarities are remarkable. Sixty years ago the tobacco industry denied the health risks from smoking despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Today, sugar manufacturers and their distributors spend millions of dollars on DC lobbyists and PR firms to prevent scientists from coming right out and saying it:
Sugar can kill.
Then there are studies that underscore the addictive quality of sugar. Yes, rats prefer sugar to cocaine 93 percent of the time. Does this mean sugar is more addictive than cocaine?
An Australian study published this past April in the international research journal PLOS ONE concluded that drugs used to treat nicotine addiction could be used to treat sugar addiction in animals. And, withdrawal from chronic sugar consumption is similar to going “cold turkey” from drugs.
According to Neuroscientist Selena Bartlett, lead author of the study, excess sugar consumption elevates dopamine levels that control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers in a way that is similar to many drugs of abuse including tobacco, cocaine, and morphine. Long-term consumption of sugar leads to a reduction in dopamine levels, which induces people to consume higher amounts of sugar to achieve the same level of reward.
Addiction At Its Finest
Cardiovascular researcher, James DiNicolantonio, has also compared refined sugar to cocaine, referring to it as a white crystal extracted from sugar cane rather than coca leaves.
Personal trainer and author of Beating Sugar Addiction for Dummies, Dan DeFigio has seen his share of lumpy sugar bodies. DeFigio warns that you know you have a sugar addiction when you suffer extreme fatigue or have trouble concentrating without it.
“Another telltale sign is you find yourself obsessing over what your next sweet treat will be, says DeFigio. “Or you repeatedly eat too much sugar even though you promise yourself you will never do it again.”
There is also evidence that sugar can have the same negative consequences as alcoholism.
Scientists now believe that one of the most common types of sugar, fructose, which is the kind of sugar we find in all fruits, can be toxic to the liver.
In its natural state, fructose is not a problem. But manufactures are now extracting fructose from beets and sugarcane, removing the fiber and nutrients in the process. This super concentrated form of fructose is added to everything from table sugar to corn syrup. Without fiber to slow it down, researchers believe this type of fructose mainlining is more than bodies were designed to handle.
Soft drinks are the worst. This liquid form of fructose, especially on an empty stomach, slams the liver much like what happens when too much alcohol is consumed.
An estimated 31 percent of American adults and 13 percent of children suffer from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The disease is often characterized by a “sugar belly,” stomach fat that occurs when the liver detects more fructose than can be used by the body for energy.
As with pre-Surgeon General warnings about tobacco, there have been voices no one listened to calling out the dark side of sugar. In 1972 when sugar was still all sweetness, a British professor named John Judkin published Pure, White and Deadly about the dangers of sugar.
While Judkin’s book received scant attention 44 years ago, it is now considered prophetic by many, including Robert Lustig, professor of pediatric endocrinology at the University of California.
“Everything this man said in 1972 was the God’s honest truth,” Lustig was quoted as saying in The Telegraph.
Lustig himself has his share of acolytes from a 2009 lecture he posted on YouTube called “Sugar: the Bitter Truth.” The talk received more than 4 million hits and is seen by some as the genesis of the anti-sugar-movement that calls for sugar to be treated as a toxin akin to like alcohol and tobacco.
So How Much Sugar Is Too Much?
Up to 25 percent of your daily calories can now come from added sugar, according to the U.S. Institute of Medicine.
Many scientists and even mainstream physicians like Morten E. Travel believe that is way too much. Travel, Clinical Professor Emeritus, points to a study showing that people who got 17 to 21 percent of their calories from added sugars had nearly a 40 percent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than those who kept their intake of sugar at or below eight percent.
Travel said this data is at the root of the American Heart Association’s recommendation that sugar be kept in this lower eight 8 percent range. This amounts to a daily intake of six6 teaspoons for women and nine teaspoons for men.
“But achieving these targets are challenging,” says Travel.
Indeed. A frozen stir-fry dinner can contain the same amount of sugar as 16 gummie bears (five teaspoons). A slice of whole-wheat bread can have almost one teaspoon.
“Food companies add sugar to almost three-quarters of all packaged products including nutritious-sounding items,” reports Travel.
Watch Sugar: The Bitter Truth
Tipping the Sugar Scale
Twelve years ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a document called “TRS 916,” recommending that less than 10 percent of your daily calories should come from added sugar, with the understanding that zero percent was the objective since our bodies produce enough glucose from starches and carbohydrates.
Sugar industry lobbyists didn’t like that report, which prompted the secretary of health and human services to fly to Geneva and deliver this message: Publish the report and the U.S. government will withhold $406 million in funding.
And so it goes. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates the average American is consuming more sugar than ever, between 150 and 170 pounds a year. While human bottoms expand, so does the sugar industry’s bottom line. By 2017, yearly profits are expected to hit $97 billion.
Without serious health warnings, Big Sugar continues to enjoy sweet success. And besides, like smoking, it’s hard to convince consumers that something people enjoy so much is not good for them. Or maybe it’s just the addiction talking.
As ”Mad Men’s” Don Draper might say:
“This is the greatest advertising opportunity since the invention of cereal.”
Thomas Ropp is a longtime journalist, environmental advocate and proponent of living healthier. After spending most of his life in Arizona, he relocated to a Costa Rican rainforest 10 years ago.
Submit your story or essay to Buzzworthy Blogs.


text:
Dell Announces 4-Year Plan to Reduce Packaging by 20 Million Pounds
According to a recent press release, Dell is implementing a plan to modify their computer packaging in hopes of eliminating approximately 20 million pounds of packaging material over the next four years. Dell will integrate air-filled cushion technology and renewable materials including molded pulp cushions and 100 percent recycled High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) thermal-formed cushions â€“which will also result in a cost-savings of over $8 million.
Companies of all sizes are finding tremendous cost-savings by changing their packing and packaging options. Switching to small cartons and HDPE provides tremendous cost savings in terms of reduced transportation costs, smaller box sizes and simpler packaging and tooling costs. In addition, these changes reduce the consumption of raw materials, reduce landfills, encourage recycling â€“and saves money.
Reducing excessive packaging is one of the simplest steps any company can take in their campaign to “go green”. Tod Arbogast, director of Sustainable Business at Dell said, “We’re challenging every technology company to join us in implementing a global green packaging strategy”.
We present this challenge to all companies—not just those in the high-tech industry. To create greater awareness for this campaign, we would like to report on how other companies are reducing the amount of packaging they are using â€“ and how they are quantifying the savings both in terms of monetary savings and in landfill waste and packaging reductions.
I welcome your comments on this blog so that I may follow up in future blog postings and articles.


text:
PositionFashion Features and News Editor | The Impression
JoinedJanuary 13, 2018
An industry insider who acts as an agent of change by delivering data-backed fashion, consumer, and socio trends. Angela has spent over a decade working with heritage luxury brands and fashion institutions as an editor and journalist, trend forecaster, strategist, and thought leader for Burberry, Vogue Business, WGSN, Instituto Marangoni, and Edited.
WHERE FASHION GETS CREATIVE
Press ESC to close
Angela Baidoo Fashion Features and News Editor | The Impression


text:
ICP Global Technologies (www.icpglobal.com), manufacturers of the iSun portable solar charger, just came back from the 31st International Exhibition of Inventions held from April 9th to the 13th in Geneva with three awards: The Gold medal with Jury praises in the Environment and Energy category, the International Press Grand Prize and The City of Geneva Prize.
ABI has updated its forecasts for fuel cell vehicle shipments in the study and also updated its analysis of the changing global fuel cell business environment. The study exposes regional characteristics of the automotive fuel cell sector and outlines a timeline for potential fuel cell penetration in the next ten years.
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has recently appointed two new members to its independent panel of advisers.Named to the NREL National Advisory Council were Dr. James Sweeney, professor of Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University, and Bill Baxter, director of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
More than 400 scientists, engineers, industrial leaders, and policy makers are expected to gather for formal presentations, poster sessions and informal discussions about the state-of-the-art technology for producing our consumer and industrial energy needs from sustainable plant and plant-derived materials rather than fossil fuels.
Battery Clinic: 6: PM Tues. May 6 Introduction to Solar: 10: AM Sat. May 17 Introduction to Solar: 5:30 PM Tues. May 20 Grid-Tie: Photovoltaics & the National Electric Code: 10: AM Sat. May 24
Employees at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are doing their part to reinforce the message of Earth Day and "walking the talk" by reducing their impact on the environment at work through the Laboratory's "Sustainable NREL" program.
GE Wind Energy plans to expand its family of wind turbines with the introduction of the 2.x series, which will include 2.3, 2.5 and 2.7 megawatt machines designed for a wide range of onshore applications.
West Roxbury Home Will Be First for Massachusetts Initiative
The number of fuel cell vehicles that will be introduced to the world in the coming decade will reach 800,000 by 2012, according to a new study by research firm Allied Business Intelligence (ABI). "Fuel cell vehicles launched by Honda and Toyota will be contributing critical knowledge for early roll outs in niche markets, in the second half of this decade", explains Atakan Ozbek, ABI Director of Energy Research and author of the study.
Micro fuel cell markets will see their first commercial products in 2004, according to a recent study by research firm Allied Business Intelligence (ABI). Micro fuel cells (MFCs) for consumer electronics will soon be observed in products ranging from wireless handsets to notebook computers to video cameras/camcorders. ABI's study, "Micro Fuel Cell End User Markets," predicts that MFC unit shipments will reach as many as 200 million worldwide by 2011.
Comfort and Energy Efficiency. Step Warmfloor' offers the ultimate in radiant floor heat.
Renewable Electricity Solutions Announces the following sale to readers of Earthtoys Inc. for April 1 to April 30th while supplies last.
The bill provides consumer-based tax incentives for the purchase of battery electric, hybrid and fuel cell electric vehicles in a variety of weight classes, from low speed electric vehicles, to cars, trucks and buses. In addition, the measure provides tax incentives to help buy down the equipment and installation costs of supporting infrastructure.
Chilipepper Sales has introduced it's new improved Chilipepper model CP4000 residential hot water delivery system.
Just under $1.1 billion was invested in 179 emerging cleantech companies in 2002, according to the most recent issue of the CLEANTECH Venture Monitor released today. At 5.1% of overall venture capital activity last year, about 1 in every 20 deals was in the cleantech space, from solar energy to water purification. Cleantech is now the sixth largest venture category.
Records 24376 to 24390 of 24434
Solar & Wind - Featured Product
Now Roof Tech brings you the most innovative, watertight mounting systems ever developed for solar photovoltaic systems. Designed and manufactured exclusively for us by Japan's longtime leader in roofing technologies, Roof Tech products are 100% code-compliant and offer fast, simple installation and huge savings on shipping costs due to their compact, rail-less design. Learn more about our full line of versatile PV mounting solutions now available for residential installations. The next generation in rooftop solar mounting solutions."


text:
Gallery: The retro Supercars field in full
The factory Holden squad has taken its inspiration from the Holden Dealer Team cars of the late ’60s and early ’70s with the font and positioning of logos.
DJR Team Penske has opted for a subtle approach to the Retro Round, re-working the Shell logos to celebrate the long association between team part-owner Dick Johnson and the oil brand.
For the Kelly brothers, Nissan has opted to celebrate the glory days of the Brock Racing Enterprises Datsuns that dominated in The States in 1970s.
Caruso’s Altima is celebrating the famous Calsonic colours that have been so successful in Japanese Touring Car racing, and taken around the world by the early Gran Turismo games.
The record-breaking Nissan R380 Type II streamliner is the unusual inspiration behind Simona de Silvestro’s retro livery.
The name’s Bond. Colin Bond. Triple Eight went 1980s for Craig Lowndes’s Caltex-backed Commodore.
The Jones brothers have gone with a three-pronged tribute to childhood hero Norm Beechey. First up, Tim Blanchard’s car sporting the livery that took Beechey to the 1965 Australian Touring Car Championship title at Sandown.
Nick Percat’s Commodore carries the colours that Beechey ran on his Chevy Nova in 1967.
Tim Slade, meanwhile, looks back at Beechey’s 1970 ATCC title triumph.
Reynolds’s Commodore pays tribute to the Team Brock Torana, which Phil and Peter Brock took to Sandown glory in 1976.
The second Erebus car has gone with a cool 1990s look, inspired by the now-defunct Australian NASCAR scene.
PRA has only opted to dress one car up in retro kit, calling back on two decades of Supercheap liveries to come up with a 1999-inspired colour scheme for Chaz Mostert’s Falcon.
GRM is the Retro Round star. This year it’s a 1998 throwback for Garth Tander’s car, and a tribute to the Commodore that won the opening round of the WTCC in 1987 at Monza for James Moffat (whose dad was one of the winning drivers). The team has even gone with retro whitewalled tyres on its transporter and Tander’s co-driver James Golding is sporting a world-beating mullet.
The former Holden Racing Team has gone with a tribute to Rick Kelly and Garth Tander’s back-to-back title wins under the HSV Dealer Team banner back in ’06/’07 – ironically a year after Tander was flung from Clayton days after winning the Sandown 500.
This seems to be the fan favourite so far. An excellent call back to when Peter Brock joined the Holden Racing Team back in 1994.
Some more 1990s love, this time with the original artwork used when sponsor Plus Fitness launched 25 years ago.
Phil Munday, owner of the car’s primary sponsor Repair Management Australia, started his first panel shop four decades ago – which is being celebrated with this simple retro livery.
and much more!Full story


text:
Fashion brand Telfar designed new uniforms for White Castle workers to celebrate the burger chain’s 100th anniversary. The new look includes a t-shirt, polo shirt, visor, apron, and durag. The pieces will come in light and royal blue and black with the White Castle name and references to the 100 year anniversary. The durag is a totally new addition, and was added at the request of White Castle employees. It’s the first time White Castle has offered the hair accessory and might be the first time any restaurant has done so.
The new uniform collection is captured in an intimate portrait series of White Castle team members in Queens, shot by art photographer Elliott Jerome Brown Jr.
“We wanted something special for our 100th birthday that captures the authentic spirit of White Castle and, as always, TELFAR came through for us,” said Jamie Richardson, a vice president at White Castle. “TELFAR has taken our uniform to a new place, creating something that’s distinctive, attractive and comfortable, and something our team members will feel great in whether they’re at work or hanging out with friends and family.”


text:
Canada’s Magna International is a $40 billion company that employs more than 158,000 people in 28 countries. Yet in the eyes of its CEO, it’s really “a 60-year-old startup”.
“We are still a startup because we are in a $3 trillion industry and it's changing,” says Swamy Kotagiri. “Every time there is change, there is opportunity.”
The Aurora, Ont.-based auto parts manufacturer knows it has to stay nimble to keep pace with the evolving needs of the industry. That’s especially true when it comes to the development of electric and autonomous vehicles.
Kotagiri points to Magna’s “rich heritage of innovation” as the foundation of its extensive research and development activities. But the company also maintains a raft of partnerships with universities, research institutions and fledgling companies.
It’s a “symbiotic relationship”, he says. “They bring the idea, they bring the fundamental science, the tech or the concept. We can take that and find the right application.”
So what can customers expect from Magna when it comes to next-generation electric vehicles?
“I am very optimistic about the next steps that the industry will go through,” Kotagiri says. “This is just the beginning -- and the right beginning.”
Connect with listeners
Podcasters use the RadioPublic listener relationship platform to build lasting connections with fansYes, let's begin connecting
Find new listeners
Understand your audience
Engage your fanbase


text:
Experts: Privacy and security must be ‘baked in’ as IoT grows
Speaking during a panel at CES Wednesday, a number of government officials and private sector experts say privacy and security need to baked into the design of products from their inception.
Sourced through Scoop.it from: fedscoop.com
The IoT startup scene is waking up to the security threats they introduce with their new products. That is a very positive sign, but there is still a long way to go before the whole IoT ecosystem is secure. What about; Product Life Cycle Management, Interoperability, Secure access over insecure networks, etc.


text:
Heads Up For Tails (HUFT), India’s leading pet care company, wins ‘Brand of the Year’ at the special biennial Animalis edition by prestigious World Branding Awards, the ultimate global brand recognition accolade. HUFT has won this prestigious award under the Pet Care Category for the third time in a row. A pioneering pet care brand in India since 2008, HUFT was felicitated as National Tier winners from India at the 13th edition that saw participation from 150 brands from 41 countries.
In a first-ever virtual awards ceremony, World Branding Awards 2020-21 witnessed brands that were nominated by over 115,000 consumers from six continents for the special biennial Animalis edition which focuses on awarding the best pet and animal brands from around the world. The winners were uniquely judged through three streams: brand valuation, consumer market research, and public online voting. Seventy percent of the scoring process came in from consumer votes.
HUFT has been on a constant mission to create and curate innovative products and services that bring joy to pets and their families and in the process enjoys patronage from 500,000 + pet lovers across India. From a single kiosk selling a handful of pet products, the brand has grown into a complete, wholesome pet care provider with standalone stores and online retailers providing a range of more than 5000 products. Over the years, the company has introduced over 100+ Indian first products that provide innovative solutions to pet care problems and help pets lead their best possible lives.
Recognizing the brand’s knack for innovation and consumer solutions for a market that was relatively unexplored in India, HUFT was awarded under the category of Luxury Pet Products India for its premium quality products available at affordable prices.
Speaking of winning the esteemed award for the third time, Rashi Sanon, Founder, Heads Up For Tails said, “Winning the Brand of the Year award at the World Branding Awards for the third time is a huge vote of confidence for us. The victory reaffirms our belief in our past work, propels us to keep growing in the direction we have taken, and motivates us to work harder to take things to the next level.”
The Animalis edition of the awards honors the best brands in the animal and pet industries around the world and recognizes those who have remained at the forefront of consumers’ minds. Now in its eighth year, the awards are organized by the World Branding Forum, a global non-profit organization dedicated to advancing branding standards.


text:
Seeso, NBC’s streaming comedy subscription service, is folding later this year. The service started in January 2016 as a niche alternative to Hulu, Amazon and Netflix, but struggled to maintain a steady subscriber base.
Seeso cost $3.99 a month and offered next-day streaming of NBC’s flagship programs, such as “Saturday Night Live” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” The service also created original programming including “The UCB Show,” starring Amy Poehler; “HarmonQuest,” a show from the “Community” and “Rick and Morty” creator Dan Harmon; and “The Cyanide & Happiness Show,” an animated adaptation of the popular web comic.
But Evan Shapiro, who helped start the service as executive vice president of NBCUniversal Digital Enterprises, departed in May, and the service suffered a round of layoffs in June. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Seeso announced its closing and said that some of its original content would move to VRV, a separate streaming service.
The service’s newest series, “There’s … Johnny!,” which dramatizes the behind-the-scenes action of “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” has been postponed from its scheduled debut this month.
Continue reading the main story


text:
Disneyland Paris has released the closing date for the iconic Aerosmith ‘Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster’ in Walt Disney Studios. The coaster is set to close on the 1st September 2019 to make way for the new Iron Man coaster as part of the wider expansion of the Studios park! So far, it appears as though the re-theming of this coaster is only in Disneyland Paris and not in the other Disney parks!
Disney first announced the re-theming of this attraction at Disneyland Paris at D23 Expo Japan in 2018 as officials introduced the exciting, 2 billion-euro expansion coming to Walt Disney Studios. This expansion will include new lands such as Marvel, Frozen and Star Wars! The new Marvel land will be completed in phases, with the first phase set to open in 2021 and the reimagined New York Hotel is set to open in 2020 as ‘Hotel New York- The Art of Marvel’. Guests do not have to wait until 2021 to experience Marvel at Disneyland Paris… as Marvel Season of Super-Heroes is returning to Walt Disney Studios from the 23rd March to the 16th June! This year seems bigger than ever before… as Groot, Captain Marvel and even Red Skull are set to appear!
This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Also As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Cherry Soft Serve is a treat for your taste buds at Storybook Treats in Magic Kingdom - February 27, 2021
- New Sorcerer Mickey Lego display now appearing at Disney Springs! - February 21, 2021
- Pixar releases this Japanese-style ‘UP’ animation - February 20, 2021


text:
Worcester, UK (PRWEB) February 6, 2006
TxtLocal Ltd (http://www.txtlocal.com) has extended its SMS text messaging service to provide a free customer mobile number collection system to all businesses, services and community groups. A simple number/keyword combination can be printed anywhere to enable the rapid collection of opt-in mobile phone numbers from customers who wish to receive special offers and news on their mobile phones.
”Text message marketing has already proven to be a highly effective communication and promotional tool for many businesses worldwide," said TxtLocal Managing Director, Al Shortland. "TxtLocal Ltd now uniquely offers all businesses the ability to quickly and inexpensively harness the power of SMS messaging in their day-to-day operations. Our free system makes the collection of opt-in customer mobile numbers a breeze."
The impact of this service on the way businesses communicate with customers is already proving immensely successful. Any business will now be able to send an instant, low cost promotion directly into the hands of their best customers.
Jim Taylor, a nightclub manager in Essex says: "We use TxtLocal to send text messages directly to 3000 customers. We target the promotion for 4pm on Friday and say "Show this message on the door to get £2 off the entrance fee". Most weeks we get a 40% response. Far cheaper, more effective and immediate than sending letters, and it brings a community feel to our club."
Chris Penkoks, a Chinese takeaway owner in Leeds says: "We publish our number and keyword on our menus and slip a piece of paper into all orders saying "To hear about special offers text WOK to 07786200350". In the first week we got 80 customer numbers and we get about the same each week. We now send about 400 message offers each week like "Show this message to get 20% discount on Wednesday" and we have a queue of people stretching down the street!"
TxtLocal Ltd offers the most accessible and easy to use text marketing solution worldwide. By providing all businesses with a free mobile number collection system they are improving the way businesses communicate with customers and enable anyone to set up their own text message marketing campaigns in minutes.
TxtLocal Ltd, based in Worcestershire, UK is increasing its customer base by 500 businesses each month, and aims to launch similar international services in 50 countries by Mid-2006. They develop industry leading mobile marketing campaign solutions for businesses and services.
+44 (0)7740 101098
# # #


text:
The world awoke to renewed uneasiness on June 15 as news of brutal clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan valley in Ladakh filtered through. As tensions escalated to the highest levels in decades, the conflict quickly expanded beyond the geographic battlefield. In many ways, this makes the matter infinitely complex as India and China are major trading partners.
In the immediate aftermath of the skirmish on the border, the Indian government fired the first shots in the field of trade. On June 29, 59 Chinese smartphone applications were banned in the country owing to security concerns. On July 3, Union power minister RK Singh announced that India would stop imports of power equipment from China, which forms the bulk of India’s imports from the country, and Pakistan. The ministry had, a week earlier, proposed a Basic Custom Duty (BCD) of 15% and 25% respectively for solar cells and modules imported from China once the current safeguard duty of 15% on solar cells and modules originating from Malaysia and China expires on July 31, 2020. An import duty of 20% has been proposed for solar inverters. Subject to parliamentary approval, the BCD could further be hiked to 40% in 2022.
Like the banning of Chinese apps, the prohibition of Chinese power equipment is also linked to security concerns. Notably though, the move has also been linked with the ‘Atmanirbharta’ campaign of self-reliance that the BJP-led NDA government has put its weight behind in recent weeks. Similarly, the BCD is seen largely as an extension of the safeguard duty that was in effect for the past two years with an objective of promoting domestic manufacturing of solar cells and modules.
According to figures published by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI), electrical machinery and equipment accounted for about a third of the total imports of ₹26.08 lakh crore ($392.29 billion) in the six years between 2014 and 2020. Along with machinery pertaining to nuclear reactors, the proportion of imports related to energy and power to the total stands at a staggering 50% over the past six years. Chinese investments in India, which are skewed towards energy, technology and infrastructure, have also come under the scanner in recent weeks. According to the China Global Investment Tracker (CGIT), a database maintained by the American Enterprise Institute and Heritage Foundation, India received US$14.75 billion worth of investments from Chinese entities during the 2007-19 period with energy and tech ruling the roost. A Brookings report released in April 2020 claims that net Chinese investment in India grew five-fold from US$1.6 billion to US$8 billion between 2014 and 2017.
However after the clash at the border, several states have moved to end existing contracts with Chinese firms, while as many as 50 investment proposals from Chinese companies have come under renewed examination. Additionally, recent funds announced for DISCOMs through the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) will be done with import-dependency on China as a criteria.
Adieu to the record solar bid era?
As the Ministry of Power announced that it would seek to hike the BCD on solar cells and panels imported from China to 40% by 2022, a 2GW solar auction conducted by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) on June 30 managed to attract a record low bid of ₹2.36/unit from Spain’s Solarpack Corporacion to build 300MW of PV projects. Additinally, the auction was oversubscribed by 1.8 GW with nine bidders in total.
Ultimately, all seven winners, after the reverse bidding process, bid lower than the previous record low tariff of ₹2.44/unit. Interestingly, as pointed out by Bloomberg NEF, winners of the SECI auction will effectively be exempt from the BCD under the “Change in Law” clause of their power purchase agreements since bids were placed before the official announcement of the new taxes. The Bloomberg report explains the aggressive bidding in the auction as a result of the temporary window of nil import taxes that has effectively opened up, and the availability of cheaper foreign debt to overseas companies.
With imported solar modules and cells from China set to become more expensive as the temporary window closes, the recent record bid might stand for a while despite costs of modules and cells continuing on a downward trend. “With imports from China becoming more expensive, there is a good chance that we might see an increase in tariff in the near future. Auctions might still be held but the SECI might find it difficult to sell this down the line to DISCOMs. This might have an impact on India’s renewable targets. Demand for PV modules, given the capacity addition targets, is more than what domestic capacity can cater to, and at prices that don’t allow bids of sub INR 2.5 as we’ve been seeing recently” says Kanika Chawla, director at the Centre for Energy Finance at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).
Over a longer term, however, the effects will be marginal, believes National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) CEO Subrahmanyam Pulipaka. “Nobody can say for sure how tariffs will evolve. Even with the reported record bids, there are several nuances of the contract that are not publicised in the media, which actually could increase effective costs. In the short term, module prices will increase and this might get reflected in bids in the near future. Right now, there are 111 projects worth 30GW of energy that have already been bid out. These are eligible for the “Change in Law” compensation, which the government has said it will consider case by case. Similarly, rooftop solar in the pipeline must also be grandfathered,” says Pulipaka. “Over a longer term, how tariffs develop depends on our domestic manufacturing capabilities. After all, energy transition without energy security means little.”
Regarding the proposed BCD regime, the power ministry has clarified that duties will not be imposed retroactively and solar projects with PPAs will be exempt. The government has ensured that it will provide Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to bridge the gap in costs once the new regime is enforced for projects that were signed before the announcement. Although details regarding how the VGF shall be determined and disbursed remain sparse.
The Manufacturing Gambit
Improving the manufacturing capacity of solar cells and modules in the country has been high on the government’s list of priorities for some time now. The safeguard duty, due to expire this month, was put in place two years ago to increase competition between domestic manufacturers and their Chinese and Malaysian counterparts. The measure though has not yielded the desired results as growth in manufacturing capacity has remained minimal. “The safeguard duty failed to accelerate India’s solar manufacturing capacity, since the measure was undercut by the government’s move to grandfather projects that had been affected and provide funding for the price difference due to the duty. Similarly, Chinese manufacturers also managed to offset some of the cost increase from the duty by providing cheaper rates,” says Vibhuti Garg, a senior energy specialist at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
However, this is unlikely to happen with the BCD regime, feels Pulipaka. “The BCD regime is more permanent than the safeguard duty and can be revised upwards, and more countries could be brought into this net, so solar developers and manufacturers will consider the BCD more seriously in their planning processes than they did the safeguard duty. The COVID-19 pandemic has also been a game-changer since supplies from China were the first to be hit, the vulnerability of the supply chain has re-awoken solar developers to the need for strong domestic manufacturing capacity.”
India’s current manufacturing capacity for solar cells and modules stands at just over 3GW and 11GW respectively, with imports occupying about 85% of the current Indian market – most of which are Chinese in origin. Current Indian demand for cells and modules stands at about 20GW and 10GW respectively, manufacturers have failed to scale up owing to high costs of setting up plants, and the competitive advantage in terms of price enjoyed by their Chinese counterparts. Although the manufacturing capacity of modules is higher than the current demand, domestic supply lags demand due to chronic under-utilisation of manufacturing plants. Manufacturers have also claimed that the ‘approved list of models and manufacturers’ (ALMM) regime which involves enlisting at a hefty fee deters upgradation and effectively punishes innovation.
India, in 2017, mandated Domestic Content Requirement for solar projects with different proportions of domestic cells and modules mandated for different categories of projects. This DCR has effectively created a sizeable demand in the country, including India’s 25.75GW solar pump programme, KUSUM, and the 40GW rooftop solar programme. This, and demand borne from other larger scale projects, currently outstrips India’s manufacturing capacity. The central government is reportedly busy outlining a strategy to incentivise solar manufacturing in order to facilitate rapid expansion in coming years. Curiously, while India’s manufacturing infrastructure is unable to meet domestic demand, Indian manufacturers registered a doubling in the export value of cells and modules last year.
The reason for this, says Pulipaka, is that exporting to Europe and the US routinely fetches better prices than the Indian market where competition with cheaper Chinese imports in rife. “On an average, Chinese cells and modules are 20-30% cheaper than Indian manufactured equipment. So while DCR has created sizeable demand, manufacturers who are confident of their qualitative advantage over Chinese products would still prefer to sell to western markets rather than compete with imports in the Indian market. The hope is that this will change with a progressive BCD regime, which will make indigenous equipment more competitive.”
But it isn’t just the price that has hindered solar manufacturing from the achieving economies of scale. What’s crucially missing is comprehensive manufacturing policy, which must begin with interest compensation, adds Pulipaka. “A big competitive edge foreign manufacturers have enjoyed is easy access to capital, which can be achieved in India through interest compensation. Apart from this, India must move to subsidise and incentivise innovation and technology in the field, which it has so far failed to do,” he says.
The task of setting up a self-sufficient solar supply chain is easier said than done. “While increasing India’s module manufacturing capacity has been within reach for a few years now, we are far from creating our own supply chain as we still depend on China for cells, wafers, polysilicon, and the machines for manufacturing such equipment. Unless we strategically determine the balance of being self reliant and well integrated with global supply chains, our position in the value chain is open to manipulation, and gains from increased manufacturing will be in a compromised” says Chawla. “The 20 – 40% BCD regime might fare well in improving Indian capacities of manufacturing but self-reliance is equally dependent on innovation and progressive upgradation of indigenous technology and capacity, which needs to be incentivised. Ploughing back the revenue from duties could go some distance in incentivising manufacturing, which did not happen with the safeguard duties.”
While the situation on the Indo-Chinese border has de-escalated over recent days, relations between the two countries though will undoubtedly remain strained for the foreseeable future. In fact, if global precedence in recent decades is to be given due consideration, it can well be assumed that economic measures and countermeasures between the two countries will only compound over the coming years. India has fired the first shots, with aim firmly set on the power and energy sectors, recognising the importance of the Indian market for Chinese companies and investors.
Unfortunately, India’s clean energy transition, too, will then depend on how Indian manufacturers manage to fill the gap that has been created. The prohibition of certain imports and the hike in import duties can only be the first small step in ensuring self-reliance. More critically, these need to be followed up with measures that can sustain a self-sufficient supply chain — which currently is little more than a distant mirage. Failure to do so will guarantee collateral damage, which might even jeopardise India’s clean energy future.


text:
JAKARTA, Indonesia—The stall warning of AirAsia Flight 8501 could be heard going off on the cockpit voice recorder, a crash investigator said Wednesday.
“The warning [alarms] kept on screaming, and in the background, they [the pilot and co-pilot] were trying to recover the plane,” said the crash investigator. “But what they said wasn’t clear,” the investigator said.
Get 15% off or more on getaways
Exclusive Expedia coupon code: Extra 5% off your hotel reservation
In-app hotel booking: up to $40 off extra with Hotwire coupon
Up to 15% off + free shipping at Wayfair
Up to 60% off - Target Promo Code
- The Home Depot:
Free $20 Home Depot coupon with Pro Xtra membership sign up


text:
New Delhi: Researchers at IIT-Hyderabad are working on developing smartphone-based sensors to detect adulteration in milk. As a first step, they have developed a detector system to measure the acidity of milk through an indicator paper that changes colour depending on the level, a statement said.
They have also developed algorithms that can be incorporated on to a mobile phone to accurately detect the colour change, it added. The research, undertaken by a team led by Professor Shiv Govind Singh, has been published in the November 2018 issue of Food Analytical Methods journal.
"While techniques such as chromatography and spectroscopy can be used to detect adulteration, such techniques generally require expensive setup and are not amenable to miniaturisation into low-cost easy-to-use devices. Hence, they do not appeal to the vast majority of milk consumers in the developing world," Singh said.
He added that there is a need to develop simple devices that consumers can use to detect milk contamination. "It should be possible to make milk adulteration detection failsafe by monitoring all of these parameters at the same time, without the need for expensive equipment," he said.
The prototype smartphone-based algorithm analyses the colour of the sensor strips that are dipped in milk and then captured using the phone's camera. This is then converted into pH (acidity) ranges.
On testing with milk spiked with various combinations of contaminants, the team found near-perfect classification with an accuracy of 99.71 per cent, the statement said. The team will extend the research to study the effects of mobile phone cameras and lighting on detection efficiency.
In the long run, the team hopes to develop sensors for other physical properties such as conductivity and refractive index and integrate it with the pH detection unit to obtain comprehensive milk quality check systems that can be easily deployed by the consumer using mobile phones and other hand-held devices.
The statement cited a recent report by the Animal Welfare Board that stated that 68.7 per cent of milk and milk by-products in the country are adulterated with items like detergent, glucose, urea, caustic soda, white paint and oil. Chemicals such as formalin, hydrogen peroxide, boric acid and antibiotics could also be added to milk to increase shelf life.


text:
"The story of our current model obsession reads like an origin tale for a contestant on America’s Next Top Model, something crafted by a team of writers who know exactly the kind of heartwarming schmaltz that really gets America going. But, this happened without Hollywood’s help: Tess Holliday was born in a small town in Mississippi and dreamt of being a model. She was told that her fantasies were just that and was bullied so badly that she dropped out of school. She continued to pursue her goals, though, and is now a bona fide model with a big-deal contract, and she’s paving the way for girls like her.
Taking that story at face value would be reductive, though; Holliday’s tale is even more interesting. While the average model towers over 5-foot-9 and wears a size 2, she stands four inches shorter, wears a size 22, and is adorned with tattoos. And, she’s just been signed to MiLk Model Management as the first model of her height and size to be picked up by a major agency.
For an industry that prizes thinness in its models over most anything, this move is a controversial but game-changing one. For every person who has suffered from body-image issues, who has doubted her self-worth for not fitting into a certain physical ideal, this is a step forward that proves that beauty doesn’t have a singular definition.
Holliday doesn’t just dispel body-type ideals simply by existing in the fashion industry: she actively promotes acceptance with the hashtag #effyourbeautystandards that she started in 2013. She encouraged people of all shapes and sizes to utilize the hashtag on their selfies, and as the movement grew, she created T-shirts that proudly proclaimed this positive slogan.”
Read the full piece here


text:
The new flagship phone is predicted to be the highlight of the show, however with all the recent leaks, Samsung may not be able to bring the surprise factor. But the company started selling it's smartphones globally only in the second half of 2017.
Analysts expect to hear more on how the technology can be deployed beyond the autonomous vehicles at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang or connected refrigerators, and how carriers can turn 5G - which requires massive investments - into hard cash.
UFC on Fox 28 results, highlights -- Stephens vs. Emmett: Updates, fight card
And with Mike Perry opening the card against Max "Pain" Griffin, you could expect the violence to come early and often. With the one recorded knockdown in the fight, Stephens ties Anderson SIlva's UFC record of 18 career knockdowns.
The big topics, as with many conferences in the a year ago or so, are going to be 5G, AI and IoT. Every year, the world's biggest smartphone manufacturers (apart from Apple) descend on Barcelona to announce their shiny new phones.
Samsung Galaxy S9 might be the most-hyped device to be unveiled at the event, but we may also see several other budget and mid-budget smartphone, including the Moto G6 series, the Moto E5 series, Nokia 1 and Android One phones. It is a smart move since it will ensure that it's announcements are not overshadowed by that of Samsung. The company could halt production of the existing Nokia 3 and it could be replaced by the Nokia 4. Fans shouldn't expect physical design enhancements though. In the while, HMD Global has been slated its launch event on February 25th, which is just one day ahead of the MWC event.
SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS: Flash Flooding
As we head into Saturday, please make sure you have all of your batteries charged, just in case you lose power during the storms. This has led to the issuance of a First Alert Weather Day for Saturday for all of our KTRE viewing area.
HMD Global, the company who now owns the rights to launch Nokia-branded devices, is reportedly planning to launch the Nokia 8 Pro later this year, most likely in August or September.
Aside from its camera capability, the Nokia 8 Pro supposedly comes with a glass and metal design too, much like the rumoured Nokia 9.
Kohli missing for India as South Africa bowl
Junior Dala (3/35) though got Rohit out for the third time in three matches, trapping him lbw on the third ball of his first over. Four of India's remaining batsmen reached double figures but only Hardik Pandya made it to 20, and only just - he scored 21.
Google recently confirmed that it will come up with Android Go smartphones at the MWC 2018 tech show. But now we have new information + high quality renders of the Nokia 7 Plus. Regardless, it is expected to feature some revolutionary features, including a Penta-lens camera and a rotating Zoom tech that was introduced by Zeiss. It will have a rear mounted fingerprint sensor and could be priced around Rs 30,000. The only major change between Nokia 8 and this updated model will be the 18:9 display and jump to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The handset might sport a 5.1-inch full HD display and come with 19-megapixel rear camera, plus a 13-megapixel lens for selfies. The ambition for device-makers is that as the products become more powerful, smaller and lighter, VR use cases will mushroom, luring a greater part of the population to actually buy them. VR devices have been around at MWC for a few years now, but they largely continue to occupy the enthusiast video-gamer niche. If leaks and rumours are anything to go by, the Asus ZenFone 5 is set to be Android's answer to the iPhone X - literally.


text:
The Seatrade Maritime Middle East team have launched a series of case studies, speaking with our valued customers about their attendance at Seatrade Maritime Middle East and the benefits to them as an exhibiting business.
As well as delving into the history of the organisation(s) in question, we gain insight through a series of questions including:
• How did you hear about Seatrade Maritime Middle East?
• Why did you choose to exhibit at Seatrade Maritime Middle East?
• What are your business objectives for the year and how does exhibiting support these?
• Are you currently facing any industry challenges?
• What are your views on the current climate for ship building, ship management and the oil and gas industry?
• What would you like to say to your target audience at Seatrade Maritime Middle East?
Francois Marine and Offshore
We’ve been lucky enough to get some time with Dominic Fernandez, Head of Francois Marine and Offshore, who believes sponsoring Seatrade Maritime Middle East enables them to maximise their exposure and visibility in front of an engaged maritime network.
Providing a diverse range of highly-tailored marine and offshore supply and logistics solutions to industry-leading clients, Francois Marine and Offshore is part of a family of companies owned by the Northern Marine Group, itself a subsidiary of Stena AB, one of the world’s leading shipping conglomerates. Established in 1988 and incorporated in Singapore, Francois Marine and Offshore has grown to become the industry specialist in offshore marine supplies, logistics and supply chain management and offshore catering services.
King Abdullah Port
We've been fortunate to spend some time with Mr. Rayan Qutub, CEO of King Abdullah Port, who discusses the ports growth, ambitions for 2018 and why it is important to have a platform at Seatrade Maritime Middle East.
Strategically located on the Red Sea coast on one of the world’s busiest maritime shipping lanes and with direct access to extensive transportation networks and urban centers, King Abdullah Port is the first privately owned, developed and operated commercial port in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
King Abdullah Port occupies a total area of 17 square kilometers and enjoys close proximity to King Abdullah Economic City’s Industrial Valley and the bonded zone. The port is making an increasingly important contribution to the Kingdom’s regional and global role in trade, logistics and shipping.
Reach and Rescue
We have spent some time with Jo Taylor, Global Sales Director from Reach & Rescue, who discusses plans to build their presence in the Middle East and their attendance at Seatrade Maritime Middle East 2018.
When firefighters realised they were missing a vital component in their water rescue procedure, they needed an innovative solution. Rather than turning to safety gear experts, it was the manufacturing industry that they asked for help. As such, Reach and Rescue have created an innovative and revolutionary lifesaving invention.
We've managed to grab some time with Ron Droogleever, Managing Director from Scandia who discusses their new offices and warehouse opening in 2018.
Scandia are industry leaders in the design, production, and delivery of apparel and PPE for the maritime, offshore, and cruise industries. What began as a family business nearly 45 years ago has since gone worldwide from Rotterdam, Singapore, Houston, and, soon, Dubai. Still, they remain a family business of skilled, relentless innovators and expert partners to their longstanding clients.
We’ve been lucky enough to get some time with Tony Field, Marine & Offshore Manager from Lloyd's Register, who believes that exhibiting at Seatrade Maritime Middle East is key to their overall strategy.
Lloyd's Register started out in 1760 as a marine classification society. Today, they are one of the world’s leading providers of professional services for engineering and technology – improving safety and increasing the performance of critical infrastructures for clients in over 75 countries worldwide. The profits generated fund the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a charity which supports science and engineering-related research, education and public engagement around everything they do.


text:
Music store works to help Grafton pupils after school fire
YORKTOWN, Va. (WAVY) — Yorktown Music and Arts is doing what it can to help middle and high school students at the Grafton Complex.
Ten On Your Side told you earlier this month that there had been a fire in an electrical room.
Since then, students have been sent to York High and Tabb Middle. Ten On Your Side spoke with the manager of the music and arts store about what they do to help the students in the group.
“We have quite a few Grafton students who come here to take classes,” said store manager Brittany Edelson.
When Edelson heard about the fire at the Grafton complex, she and her staff wanted to help the students.
“One of the things we were doing was lending the instruments free of charge to any of our current rental customers, course customers and any students who have instrument maintenance agreements through us on the instruments they own,” Edelson said.
She says they will also open their practice rooms for students. She says if the students still haven’t been able to collect some goods like books needed for their instruments, she says they can buy a book from their store, and as long as they don’t write in it, they can return
“But you know a lot of kids have left their book bags with their method books in there, so instead of buying other books and finding out they can go back to school in another week or two weeks, three weeks, then they’re stuck with two books,” she says.
She says she and her staff want to be accommodating to students.
If you want more information, you can call the store at 757-988-3970.


text:
Rocket League will remove its paid, randomized loot crates in favor of a system that will tell players what they’re purchasing before they buy. Developer Psyonix announced the news today and described it as a similar change to that made in Epic’s Fortnite.
“We are dedicated to creating the best possible experience for our players all over the world,” the developer said. Information on when the change will take place is still to come. Players will still be able to buy Rocket Pass Premium, DLC Cars, and e-sports shop items directly when the new system kicks into effect.
Epic acquired Psyonix in May; it dropped blind-draw loot boxes for Fortnite in January of this year. The company has since been sued by the parent of an underage Californian player who claims the practice was predatory. Despite the ongoing popularity of loot boxes within games, the practice has received pushback from players and officials alike. Lawmakers like Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) are working to pass legislation that would ban loot box sales for kids under the age of 18. The problem extends beyond the US; in May, Nintendo announced that it would pull two games in Belgium over the country’s laws that define loot boxes as gambling.


text:
Announces Dates for Glass Week '05
The Glass Association
of North America (GANA) has announced the dates and location for
Glass Week 2005. The event will take place February 5-10 at the
Royal Pacific Resort, part of the Universal Studios property, in
hotel reservations will be made through the GANA offices.
To learn more
about Glass Week visit www.glassweek.com


text:
Brickhill: Tyre Labelling to Facilitate Tyre Value Conversation
Tyrepress.com was pleased to have the opportunity to meet up with Mark Brickhill at the media day for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship in his last public engagement before completing his transfer to Brussels. Goodyear Dunlop’s new vice president of the company’s EU Consumer Business Unit talked at length on a wide range of subjects including what he sees as “the cornerstone of our branding strategy”; his thoughts on the newly launched Dunlop High Performance Centre and the rest of the company’s retail involvement; Dunlop and HiQ’s roles in the BTCC and his experiences with the company over his time in the UK hotseat. Here, tyrepress.com presents Brickhill’s thoughts on his new role in the company’s EMEA division and his views on tyre labelling. The whole interview will be printed in the May edition of Tyres & Accessories Magazine.
Tyrepress.com: Congratulations on gaining your new position. What will the new role entail?
Mark Brickhill: Well the responsibility changes from being the managing director of a total business in a country to being in charge of 70 per cent of the EMEA EU business, which we call consumer. That includes product development, marketing strategy, pricing strategy and brand positioning. It directly includes sales to OEMs [original equipment manufacturers], motorsport – what we are here today to celebrate – and motorbike as well. It’s a pretty big role and it means working very closely with what we would call the consumer business unit directors in each market and their teams and their general managers.
It’s ironic that you’re moving to Brussels to take charge of motorsport (such as the British Touring Car Championship).
MB: There’s a certain irony that’s not lost on me, I can assure you. I’ve been very proud of what the motorsport guys have done through the UK company. About 25 per cent of what we produce in Birmingham is fitted to cars that race on UK tracks, about 25 per cent is sold internationally by our UK sales team, then half of it we sell through to sister companies in Germany et cetera, who link with their own touring cars. Having the overall responsibility on that really means trying to link the Dunlop motorsport brands with Dunlop car tyre brands and Dunlop motorcycle brands and I think there’s an opportunity to drive that triangle even harder. I’m excited about that.
How will you be looking to do that?
MB: You’re asking me questions about how I’m going to do things in the future! I think part of it is saying actually strategically what we have to do and I think part of that will come from how we structure roles and responsibilities within the organisation. I think some of that’s going to come down to either strong belief in the brand and that includes consistency of brand identity, consistency of message, consistency of positioning, consistent look and feel. So I think there’s an opportunity there to be more holistic and therefore be stronger as a result. And also I think there’s a unique opportunity that we have versus our direct competitors: the power of brand we have – having Goodyear in very distinct position versus Dunlop – means (from an R&D point of view) that you can do really exciting, different things across the two brands; you don’t have to be a Jack of all trades. And having a portfolio of brands is a big, big advantage – I’ve seen it in past careers and I’m seeing it in this.
Speaking of the opportunity to use different brands for different segments, Arthur de Bok referred recently to “significant market changes”. Bearing in mind your marketing background, what do you believe the changes will be and how do you see your role in reference to negotiating those changes?
MB: I think one of the most significant changes we’re going to see is the introduction of standard format tyre labelling from 2012. And for the first time the industry is going to be required to give the consumer clear information in a standard set of KPIs [key performance indicators] from a standard set of tests, and something that is very complex – and sometimes confusing – for the consumer is going to be hugely enlightened. I’m not going to say that it’s going to be transformed overnight, but it is going to be a huge change.
What that also means is that as a result product performance will be raised, and I think ours is an industry where, because there hasn’t been a clear set either of regulatory standards on the one hand or clear transparency in an understandable way to the consumer, it does allow for some frankly low price, poor performing product commoditising the market at the lower ends and (our view would be) products that have a very unsatisfactory safety and performance profile; certainly things that our company wouldn’t want to associate our name and reputation with.
I’ll be honest about it: as someone who’s still relatively new to the industry, I’ve been shocked about something that is so critical – you think about how much crash testing is in place for the OEMs, and then something that can make a transformational difference to the car’s performance on the road. Literally, you had a single parameter, which involved running at 150mph and see if it falls apart, which is just nonsense. So this old destruction testing has been replaced by something that’s really meaningful. I think if you can engage with the consumer and say, “for an extra £5 per corner – for example – you can buy a tyre that is going to reduce your braking distance at 50mph by eight metres (that’s two car lengths)”, and ask, “are your kids worth £5 a corner?” – that’s not an unreasonable marketing position to put across.
Most people don’t ever get into that conversation when they’re buying tyres, and the low end is driven by price, poor performance and is – in some cases – commercially insensitive to the people selling them. It’s not driven by value for the consumer, the safety of the consumer and that’s going to change.


text:
iTunes Radio is quickly becoming the preferred platform for the world’s biggest stars to debut their new music. Upcoming albums from Rick Ross (Mastermind), Pharrell Williams (G I R L), Real Estate (Atlas), and Lea Michele (Louder) are now available for streaming in their entirety as iTunes First Plays. Each of the aforementioned albums are scheduled to be officially released next week.
The band will be performing every cut from its classic 90’s album, Superunknown, to mark its 20th anniversary.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


text:
Not sure if this is the USA Today or the Coaches Poll, but I can’t remember the last time Lowell wasn’t in the top 15. Not a good look for a program as esteemed as ours. We looked great on paper starting the year…Heroin prices at an all-time low, more kids in TRG getting drivers licenses, Centralville…. Somebody needs to get fired. The boosters aren’t happy.
It should also be noted that that if you’ve recently misplaced your Ford Focus or Dead Hooker, those number are not included above.
Condomania.com, which claims to be America’s first online condom store (who knew!), has decided to conduct its own very important, highly scientific study*. According to a press release, the website compiled condom sales data by state to find out which states bought a higher-than-average amount of larger-sized condoms.
The result? A list of all 50 states, “ordered by penis size”–and some surprising news for the Dakotas.
1. North Dakota
2. Rhode Island
3. South Dakota
4. District of Columbia
46. North Carolina
Imagine how the Baystate would fare if we weren’t lousy with Irish guys and cold weather? Quite impressive if I do say so myself. Packing heat for days….
Distribution rights have been awarded…we’ll all be tipping these Bad Larry’s for the start of March. Book it.
Now for all you craft beer tools coming out of the woodwork to shit on Yuengling…relax. Nobody is saying its Heady Topper. It’s merely a tasty bev, that Floridians (among many) and their refined palettes can buy in 1/2 barrels, and we’re stuck smuggling 12 packs from upstate New York meth-towns.
It’s about access. I still get as excited buying beer as I did when I was 21. So many flavors, so many colors. (Yes, I buy beer all the time based on packaging color. I actually still have the remnants of a Narragansett 18 pack in the fridge because I liked the vintage look of the case. It’s still there because it’s f’all beer.) That’s what makes this exciting. Going to the packie and buying Yuengling because you feel like it.
Massachusetts residents will no longer need to rely on their friends from surrounding states in order to get their hands on some Yuengling.
According to a report from the Banker & Tradesman, the Pennsylvania-based brewing company plans to bring their product back to Massachusetts after more than a two-decade hiatus, and beer experts expect them to do very well.
“The Massachusetts market is a tough market for people to come into because we have so much choice here. It’s really common to see a new hyped-up brand come in and sell like hot cakes for a few months but then something new comes in, and people move onto that,” said Jeff Wharton, co-founder of Drink Craft Beer, which hosts beer tastings and events, and focuses heavily on the changing beer market. “But I don’t think that will be the case for Yuengling.”
Representatives from the company, D.G. Yuengling & Son, are reportedly meeting with store owners and beer distributors this week to come up with a plan to reintroduce several types of their beers back into the state, something that is still in the preliminary stages.
To steal a quote from Mugatu, “You’ve been around for ages and ages…and I never wanted anything from you. And here in Massachusetts, we can’t have you. It’s funny how it switches like that. But now the forbidden fruit must be tasted!”