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Saturday dawned wet and gray, but that didn’t stop the crowds from showing up at the Pearl’s Tamales! fest Saturday. An expanse of canopies set up in the parking lot behind the Full Goods building protected the stalls, nonetheless. We arrived to find lines two-and-three persons abreast, waiting for the corn-wrapped (or in some cases banana leaf-wrapped) tamales.
“It didn’t rain on us, but water had collected in the canopy above us when we got here. It was going drip, drip, drip here,” said Diana Barrios–Treviño, restaurateur and owner, with her family, of Los Barrios’ two Mexican restaurants. That situation was easily remedied by draining water off the canopy, and the rest of the day went smoothly.
Tamales weren’t the only things on the menu. The CIA Bakery set up a booth to sell savory scones, cookies, baguettes and other breads. Food trucks from La Gloria and El Bucanero were serving up non-tamale items at this, the second annual event.
Among the most popular tamales were those from Tamalhi, a San Antonio restaurant selling gourmet, hand-wrapped tamales, and offering tamales wrapped in banana leaves. Also Paloma Blanca, Tellez Tamales, Raquel’s, and Gardener’s Feast, from Austin, were busy.
The highlight of the festival for some was the tamale competition.
At about 2:30 p.m., a panel of judges sat down in one of the CIA conference rooms to taste the tamales that had made their way through rigorous screening. We were to judge the 5 finalists in each of three categories: pork, chicken and a “wild card” meaning just about anything goes. Each category winner would win $1,000.
As a couple of the judges admitted, they were a little leery of what items this category might contain, be it venison or more exotic meats. But, the entries turned out to feature interesting ingredients, such as apples and apple pie spice, black-eyed peas with ham and Thai curry. The Thai curry, in fact, had spicy heat that outstripped any of the other tamales sampled that afternoon.
Contest organizer Shelley Grieshaber spelled out the guidelines for the judges. These included Ron Bechtol, food writer and critic for The San Antonio Current; Rachel Benavides, managing editor for San Antonio Magazine, Jesse Perez, executive chef for Alamo Cafe; David Kellaway, chef and managing director of the Culinary Institute of America San Antonio, Courtney Bond, writer for Texas Monthly and myself.
Tamales first of all had to look good on the outside. In other words, no frayed edges or filling oozing out, no discolored husks, a nice uniform look. They had to have a good ratio of filling to masa, be rolled well and easily unrolled.
“Taste is the most important factor of all,” Grieshaber said. Any of the entries would stand or fall on taste, and we certainly found out exactly what that meant. One of the entries flavor would have been sensational — but for the fact that it was far too salty.
No tamale-making businesses were able to enter the contest – this was for amateurs. But, these practiced tamale makers turned out some excellent tamales, with tender masa wrapped around well-spiced meat with good texture. One entrant turned in beautifully wrapped tamales in banana leaf packets. Another tied the ends of her tamales at both ends with strips of husk.
The “wild card” category winner was apple pie tamale by Courtney Stone, with raisins and caramel. (An earlier story said this winner was a black-eyed-pea and ham tamale, but that was in error.)
In the chicken category, the winner was Mayra Gonzalez, whose tamales had a robust chile seasoning, a perfect meat-to-masa ratio. The third grand prize, for the pork tamales, went to Maria Reyes, whose tamales’ pork filling outshone the others in texture and taste.
A total of 168 contest entries were received. Prizes of $100 will also go to the non-winning finalists.
“We were really happy about the turnout — and everyone should be brushing up their skills for next year’s festival, too,” said Grieshaber.
Note: this article corrects an earlier error.


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With the official opening of Shanghai Disney Resort right around the corner, the unparalleled Disney marketing and promotions team is in full gear. The latest promotional effort is a set of two official Chinese postage stamps commemorating the new theme park.
The new stamps will be released to the public on June 16th, which coincidentally is the day Shanghai Disney Resort opens, and feature Mickey, Minnie and the Enchanted Storybook Castle.
Here is a look at the new stamps on their souvenir sheet:
More information about Shanghai Disney Resort can be found here.

domain: news


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Quinoa trials begin for Australia’s entry into quinoa global stakes
A three year national trial of the health food quinoa has commenced across five Australian states.
The grain has gained popularity over the past decade, prompting increase in production in South America, Europe and Asia.
The project, funded by Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, is co-funded and led by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA), with contributions from participating States.
Field trials will be planted in the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.
Project leader Richard Snowball said research would evaluate the agronomy and suitability of growing quinoa.
“Early indications suggest quinoa could be a highly profitable crop, given it’s not a very difficult crop to grow, particularly when grown under irrigation in warmer environments,” Mr Snowball said.
“In southern climates quinoa could be an ideal crop for wheat, canola and barley growers, as the growing process is similar. By adding quinoa to the mix of crops, it could take the pressure off rotations that are at risk of disease and weeds.”
Amino acid balance study to be included in research
Scientists plan to work closely with industry during the project, including testing seed processing techniques, and also test the amino acid balance within the protein, for which quinoa is highly regarded.
The project will build on DAFWA research on quinoa at its Kununurra Research Facility, over the past three years.
Facility manager Mark Warmington said results showed much promise for the future of quinoa production in Australia.
“Early trials under irrigation have revealed a typical crop produces a yield of between 2-3 tonnes per hectare,” Mr Warmington said.
“When you factor that in to the current price of quinoa, of between $1400-4000/tonne or more and the high consumer demand, the future for the crop and growers’ profitability looks bright.”
Quinoa crops began in Tassie
Quinoa had its start in Australia eight years ago when a couple, Lauran and Henriette Damen, were the first to grow the crop on an organic farm in Kindred, Northern Tasmania.
“We wanted to supply health food shops,” Mr Damen said. “It was hardly known when we started and we had to convince people to give it a try.”
Fast forward just a few years and quinoa had become very popular with consumers.
Mr Damen says that Tasmania is a good place to grow quinoa.
“The climate in Tasmania suits growing quinoa, well as the crop doesn’t like it too hot. It’s from a different family than most traditional grains and there are a wide variety of things that can affect it.”
Despite having its start in Tasmania, quinoa farming has since spread over into Western Australia with growers finding conditions there good as well.
The ABC reported in December 2014 that WA farmers had grown a large commercial-scale harvest of quinoa. As of December 2014 there were 1, 150 hectares of quinoa crops planted in WA.
Director of the company, Australian Quinoa, Steve Timms told the ABC at the time that just over 100, 000 tonnes of quinoa are grown globally each year and that Australian farmers hope to match that in two to five years.
He also hoped that up to 200 farmers across NSW, Victoria and South Australia would soon be growing quinoa.
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It doesn’t appear that Dragonflight will be arriving anytime soon in the near future, with Blizzard taking the “when it’s ready” method to the expansion. That’s a lesson learned from the release of Shadowlands and saw many players express concern that the expansion wasn’t appearing to be ready for primetime and needed more playtesting WoTLK Gold in the game’s test realm prior to launch.
As well as Dragonflight, Blizzard also announced that it will release a new game’s Wrath of the Lich King expansion. Wrath of the Lich King Classic is expected to be released later in the year, however with some surprising changes to keep the game in line with what Blizzard has described as Classic’s “core qualities.”
Blizzard is bringing to World of Warcraft ‘s wildly loved Wrath of the Lich King expansion however, when it launches, it could be more outdated than the players will remember.
Wrath of the Lich King was an innovative expansion in several ways. It was during the upgrade that Blizzard’s MMORPG achieved its peak in number of players, and the expansion introduced the first new character, the form of the Death Knight, added achievements as well as a fan-favorite villain who served as the ideal base for building an entire expansion around. Although many players, and Blizzard itself, might not recognize it at the time, Wrath of the Lich King also started to lay the foundations for what would become the modern-day version of the game which included the convenience of features like automated dungeon matchmaking and markers on the map that inform players exactly where to take their journey to complete their missions.Dragonflight has no launch date and is not yet available on the game’s PTR, but early indications suggest a March 2023 release window. Shadowlands will get an update called Season 4 later this summer in an effort to make the gap between expansions by making the previous Shadowlands buy WoTLK Classic Gold raids as well as the dungeons of previous expansions relevant yet again.


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TripAdvisor takes on Airbnb as industry calls for regulation of “sharing economy”
Peak bodies in the hotel and accommodation sector are calling for governments at all levels to regulate the so-called “sharing economy” on the same day accommodation aggregator and review site TripAdvisor told its members they can now advertise their spare rooms on the site.
In a move that is being interpreted as a bid to take on Airbnb, some members of the TripAdvisor community received an email on the weekend with the headline: “Rent out your space on TripAdvisor”.
“Turn your home, spare room or vacation house into a goldmine,” TripAdvisor said.
“Advertise it for free today and reach millions of paying guests waiting to book.”
The email links out to FlipKey, a vacation rental site owned by TripAdvisor, where users are told they can make up to 3% per booking.
More than 1.4 million Australians now log on regularly to TripAdvisor and the site holds 19% of the local market for online travel.
It comes at the same time as peak industry body Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA), a division of the Australian Hotels Association, has called on all levels of government in Australia to take a co-ordinated approach to regulating the accommodation sector to help stymie some of the negative affects on small and medium accommodation providers.
Carol Giuseppi, acting chief executive of TAA, told SmartCompany this afternoon, the movement of TripAdvisor into the same territory as Airbnb has important ramifications for the industry given its size and popularity.
But Giuseppi says it is important to remember the “sharing economy” is even bigger internationally and Airbnb and now TripAdvisor are just two of the players in the space.
“You have Home Away and Roomorama too. These are very profitable models, they’re not just some little backyard business.”
Giuseppi says several international studies have shown the rise of Airbnb and similar services has corresponded with “explosive growth” in short-term rentals by individuals. But she says the same studies have shown commercial landlords of multiple-unit, non-residential dwellings are also taking advantage of the platforms.
“They account for a large percentage of listings, in some cases over a third,” she says.
“It becomes a business for them but they are flying under the radar of actual businesses.”
And Giuseppi says it’s the smaller operators in the accommodation sector, including the owners of small motels and hotels and serviced apartments, which wear the biggest financial impact.
“It makes sense because these people are usually looking for a small, localised experience,” Giuseppi says, pointing out the impact is not just on hostels as most people assume.
According to Giuseppi some operators taking advantage of “sharing economy” platforms are also failing to comply with safety regulations, taxation requirements and public liability insurance obligations.
“It has a significant impact on the economy,” she says.
“We don’t mind if people are renting out their rooms short-term but we are concerned about non-residential, commercial landlords who are making a business out of this.”
TAA has made submissions to state and federal governments, asking for legislation to be introduced that would require all rooms rented out on a commercial short-term basis to be formally registered.
But Giuseppi concedes that is “a way to go” as developing a national regulatory framework would mean ensuring multiple pieces of legislation work together.
SmartCompany contacted Airbnb for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.
This article was originally published on SmartCompany.


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Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has backed Mumbai based entertainment company Flickstree, marking his entry into the startup world.
Flickstree has raised an overall Rs 3 crore in this round of seed funding that was led by Venture Catalysts. Other investors in the round include Moksh Sports Ventures and Anirban Aditya & Ankit Aditya of the Kolkata-based Aditya Group.
Started in 2014 by Saurabh Singh, Rahul Jain and Nagender Sangra, Flickstree is a curated and personalized video platform offering free-to-watch videos. It aggregates these videos from social networks, media sites, and blogs and creates a custom video feed to users. The service was officially launched in August 2016 and was also part of Facebook's FBStart program.
Flickstree currently offers more than 20 video categories that users can currently follow with plans to add more categories in the future.
“Digital is the future of India across all fields. And going by the country’s Digital India vision, I decided to invest in Flickstree because they’re at the forefront of innovative cutting edge technology and have great founders to realize their vision”, said Sourav Ganguly.
“Different users have different passions. Flickstree helps users follow their passion and create their personal video magazine. Such a model has the potential to change the way videos are consumed.” Ganguly added.
“We are delighted to have Sourav Ganguly on-board as a partner, investor and a catalyst who really believes in our idea” said Flickstree CEO Saurabh Singh.
“India is witnessing video boom and with the launch of 4G, suddenly it has exploded further. With so many content producers creating quality content, it becomes difficult for users to discover videos across multiple platforms. Flickstree is trying to organize video content from the free web for users.” Singh added.
“The free-to-watch video space is extremely fragmented, with multiple players creating tons of video content. These videos are published exclusively on separate platforms – a user who has interest in several categories cannot install multiple apps and keep browsing them separately, also owing to limited phone storage. This leads to poor video discovery. Flickstree is trying to solve this consumer problem” said Moksh Sports Venture sco-founder Satadru Dutta who played a key role in bringing Sourav Ganguly and Aditya Group on board as investors.
“Flickstree’s core technology is an AI powered video recognition technology that watches videos in-screen like human beings. The patent pending technology generates keywords for each video and gathers video popularity, sentiment and engagements on Internet. This helps the company get best videos from multiple platforms. It also helps them personalize these videos for users.” said Venture Catalysts co-founder and president Dr. Apoorv Ranjan Sharma.


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Ms. Thanyaporn Krichtitayawuth, Executive Director of Global Compact Network Thailand, said about this seminar: "Thailand is in the process of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, as are many countries around the world. With Thailand's focus on the recovery of the digital economy, we can see a strong need to invest in upskilling and reskilling the workforce, especially in the ICT industry. High-level and multilateral policy dialogues and exchanges are key opportunities to share good practices and deliberate on how to address common challenges. They are also an opportunity to commit to collective and coordinated efforts and expand partnerships. Therefore, Huawei and GCNT have co-organized this Thailand Talents Talk series of seminars, which aims to build an open platform to discuss challenges, priorities, and practices for digital talent, and develop a set of recommendations for a sustainable society."
Mr. Edwin Diender, Chief Innovation Officer of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., shared Huawei's goal and best practice in enabling Thailand's digital skills development: "The COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented disruption to socioeconomic development. On the other hand, it has also highlighted the importance of ICT infrastructure and digital literacy more than ever. Huawei hopes that through this Thailand Talent Talk series, we can encourage high-level and multilateral policy dialogues. This talk series is also positioned as an input process for the ongoing project of Thailand Digital Talent Development Whitepaper, which will be a comprehensive design to improve Thailand's talent development efficiency and quality."
He further added that Huawei Thailand is committed to increasing support for professional ICT personnel, SMEs, startups, students, and the general public through the Huawei ASEAN Academy. Previously, Huawei has contributed to the development of more than 52,000 digital talents to support Thailand 4.0. The Seeds for Future program, first launched in Thailand in 2008 which has so far benefited nearly 230 students and scaled-up as a regional event this year. In order to leave on one behind in the digital world, Huawei has launched a series of digital inclusion initiatives. For example, the Digital Bus will help educate over 1,500 primary school students in remote areas across 11 provinces in Thailand.
Prof. Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, spoke at the Thailand Talents Talk on the issue of Thailand's digital workforce: "The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation as companies and organizations continue to seek skilled workers to meet the challenges brought by the rise of the digital economy. It has now become very apparent that there remains a huge gap in digital talents across the Asia-Pacific region, including Thailand. As Thailand rapidly becomes the ASEAN leader in 5G infrastructure and industry applications, there is a growing need to invest in digital talent cultivation to face the coming S-Curve industries. According to our estimations and the Thailand 4.0 strategy, the digital economy is expected to account for 30% of the nation's GDP by 2030, which means a greater need for trained ICT talents. Moreover, according to a report by ONDE and Time Consulting, by 2030, the total demand for digital talents in Thailand will exceed 1 million, and there will be a 400,000-person gap in the digital workforce supply."
Ms. Ilaria Favero, Chief of Adolescent Development and Participation, UNICEF Thailand, was honored to join the Thailand Talents Talk. "We need to find creative ways to promote digital skills for children and young people - through the school education system and outside of it. It is and should be a key area of investment - in children's futures as well as that of Thailand," said Ms. Favero.
She emphasized the need to jointly find a solution involving government, nonprofit, and private sector stakeholders to bridge the digital talent gap in Thailand. "Solving the digital divide will come down to access, affordability and digital literacy and safety. Without access to devices and an affordable, dependable, internet connection, children cannot engage in online learning. And without proper digital literacy and competencies, teachers and young people cannot use technology safely to its fullest potential to enable engagement and learning."
Ms. Thunyamart Limugsorn, International Project Coordinator of Thailand Professional Qualification Institute (TPQI), said that "The pandemic has accelerated both the need for digital skills and the digital divide. To build skills for an accelerated digital future, TPQI is committed to developing digital literacy for all as well as improving skills of ICT professionals especially in the new fields such as data science, e-commerce, and e-learning by offering certification."
She also added that "TPQI collaborates with other government agencies to support e-commerce literacy development for marginalized groups. It also works with the International Organization for Migration to provide e-commerce literacy training to migrant workers. In addition, the collaboration between UNICEF and TPQI support lifelong learning and aim particularly at using the E-Workforce Ecosystem to pave multiple pathways and opportunities for young people, especially the most disadvantaged, to acquire relevant skills."
Innovation and development rely on a talent ecosystem. Huawei is prepared to work with its partners to build a talent development ecosystem conducive to innovation. Huawei is proud to be part of Thailand's telecommunication footprints for the past 23 years, with strong support from customers and ecosystem partners. The digital world is becoming as essential as running water or electricity, Huawei is committed to building an inclusive, innovative, and vibrant ecosystem; attract and cultivate more digital talent; and jointly promote the development and prosperity of Thailand.
Source: Carl Byoir & Associates


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Copyright (c) 2010 Nadine Davis
If solar technology has been out of your financial reach in the past, 2011 may be the year for you. Changes to the Renewable Energy Target plan are going to make buying solar panels, solar hot water systems and other products more affordable than ever. Find out the details by reading on below.
How Solar Energy Comes into Play:
Beginning on 1 January 2011, the Renewable Energy Target is going to include two parts. The SRES (Small Scale Renewable Energy Scheme), is to incorporate smaller scaled tech such as solar hot water systems and solar power panels. It will provide $40 per megawatt to homeowners who install these types of products. Investing in solar power products will come with great incentives for homeowners, thanks to this change.
Under the new SRES scheme, a household that installs a 1.5 kilowatt solar panel system in the year 2011 will receive an estimated $6,200 upfront subsidy. The typical solar hot water system will garner homeowners an upfront subsidy of around $1,200. In other words, investing in – and using – solar panel and other products will be more affordable than ever. Since they will reduce energy bills, they are doubly cost effective. Those home owners that have been putting thought behind the purchase of a solar panel system or solar hot water system may choose to wait until the changes come into reality on the 1st of January next year (2011).
Help the Planet and Save Money:
The goal of the revised Renewable Energy Target plan is for 20% of Australia’s energy in 2010 to come from renewable sources. Thanks to the new changes, this goal looks to be more attainable than ever. Its clear to see that these revised items improve the plan, and it’s definitely good news for households who are a little short on cash but would like to do their bit to assist in making this big goal an actuality. If you’re one of them, 2011 is going to be a prime year for finally investing in this eco-friendly technology.
The Large Scale Renewable Energy Target, or LRET, portion of the plan concerns large scale projects like wind farms and geothermal and solar enterprises. Although these organisations are expected to do a lot of the “heavy lifting,” the help of private homes is going to be essential for success. With everyone pitching in, it is hoped that that 20% goal will be met and exceeded. This will help reduce energy costs and, more importantly, will help save and protect the planet. If you’d like to do your own part, you can read more about these changes online.
Many homeowners would love to invest in a Solar Panel Brisbane system, but simply do not want to spend the money to do so. With the recent changes to the Renewable Energy Target plan, it’s going to be more affordable than ever. Subsidies will be provided when a Solar Power Brisbane product from companies like Eco-Kinetics http://www.eco-kinetics.com/ is installed in a home.
Article Source: Save Big on Solar Power in 2011


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AVALON – One month after Sylvester’s Fish Market and Restaurant closed in Avalon, another borough restaurant and fish market is closing, with a liquidation sale scheduled Oct. 28-30.
Tonio’s Pizzeria and Seafood Shack will convert to a subdivision approved at an October Avalon Planning and Zoning Board meeting. Three duplexes are planned.
The pizzeria has been operating in Avalon since 1993, with the sister seafood shack opening about 10 years after it. Owner and Chef Tonio Galdi built the building that houses the seafood shack, at 2475 Ocean Dr.
In a Facebook announcement of the closing, Galdi said that he and his wife, Kim, will be headed for the Florida Keys, where they will continue “to pursue our passion.” The couple has Tonio’s Seafood Shack and Tiki Bar in Summerland Key, Florida.
stay in the know


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Postal workers ready for food driveTue May 8, 2007 19:14
Postal workers ready for food drive
Albuquerque Tribune, NM - 9 hours ago
The food is donated to charities. Since its beginning in 1993 the drive has collected nearly three-quarters of a billion pounds of food. ...
Postal workers ready for food drive
Staff and wire reports
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
WASHINGTON — The annual mail carrier food drive will be held Saturday.
Letter carriers across the country will collect nonperishable food items such as canned goods left by customers along their routes. The food is donated to charities.
Since its beginning in 1993 the drive has collected nearly three-quarters of a billion pounds of food.
Mail carriers drive Saturday to help 'Stamp Out Hunger'
By Jerry Sowden - Oil City postal carrier Larry Deal picks up a bag of food at a mailbox on his route. Local post offices will hold their annual postal food drive Saturday, and patrons are being asked to leave donations by their mailboxes.
The 15th annual National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger food campaign is planned for Saturday, and local letter carriers will be filling their bags with food as well as mail.
The event, in which Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and family members help letter carriers collect non-perishable food items left near mail boxes, is held annually by more than 1,500 letter carrier branches.
Last year's event brought in more than 72 million pounds of food nationally for food banks and pantries.
Post cards explaining the "how-tos" and needed items are delivered to route patrons prior to the collection. Those wishing to donate should place non-perishable food items in a bag and leave them near mailboxes. Carriers will also be collecting baby products, coffee, household supplies, paper products and health and beauty aids. Donations also are being accepted in post office lobbies the week of the food drive.
Glass containers, outdated foods, unsealed or open packages, bulging or dented cans or home-canned foods will not be accepted.
About 15,200 pounds were collected last year by Oil City area carriers for Family Service & Children's Aid Society Shelter, Free Methodist Church Food Pantry, St. Joseph Church Food Pantry and Community Services of Venango County food pantry.
Carriers from Seneca, Cranberry, Rouseville and Venus helped bring in the goods and will participate with on route and drop off collections again this year.
In Franklin, 12,500 pounds of food were donated to the Salvation Army food pantry and soup kitchen, Community Services of Venango County food pantry, Sugar Valley Lodge, St. Patrick Church food pantry, St. John Episcopal Church food pantry and the Evangelistic Tabernacle food pantry of Cooperstown.
City and rural Franklin, Cooperstown and Polk carriers will be collecting food on their routes. Clintonville, Kennerdell, Utica, Cooperstown, Polk and Reno post offices will have a collection at their post office lobbies.
Outposts such as fire halls or public buildings have been set up for final collection and distribution.
All recipient organizations are member agencies of the Second Harvest Food Bank. The Food Bank, located at 1703 Ash St., Erie, helped the letter carriers coordinate the food drive within its service area in northwest Pennsylvania.
The Food Bank solicits, inventories, and distributes donated grocery products to 245 charitable agencies that directly serve people facing hard times within 11 counties.
USPS - The United States Postal Service (U.S. Postal Service)
USPS home page providing access to services, products, employment opportunities, and general agency information.
LETTER CARRIERS FOOD DRIVE, NATION'S LARGEST, SCHEDULED FOR MAY 14
New York City and Chicago residents should contact their local Post Office for more information. "The NALC Food Drive makes a difference for thousands of ...
WORLD'S LARGEST FOOD DRIVE SCHEDULED FOR MAY 13
WASHINGTON – On Saturday, May 13, letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America will collect non-perishable food items donated by customers. They will be participating in the 14th annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Food Drive—the largest annual one-day food drive in the world. Postal employees in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands will collect food and deliver it to local community food banks, pantries and shelters.
“The United States Postal Service is proud to support our nation’s letter carriers and the generosity of customers to enable the collection of millions of pounds of food to replenish community food banks and feed the needy,” said Postmaster General John E. Potter.
Long-time supporters of the drive include the U.S. Postal Service, Campbell Soup Company, America’s Second Harvest, Cox Target Media, local United Ways throughout America and the AFL-CIO Community Services Network. In 2005, the drive collected a record 71.3 million pounds of food for the hungry, making the total amount of donations to community food banks and pantries from the NALC Food Drive over the last 13 years well over a half billion pounds.
An estimated 30 million people face hunger every day in America, including more than 12 million children. This drive is one way to help those right in their own city or town who need help.
Letter carriers have established a tradition of community service over the years. They have always been involved when something needs to be done, whether watching over the elderly through the Carrier Alert program, delivering the mail and assisting the American Red Cross during times of disaster, rescuing victims of fires, crime and other catastrophes.
The NALC Food Drive has received numerous accolades, including two Presidential Certificates of Achievement, a Special Appreciation Award in 2003 from America’s Second Harvest Food Bank Network, the annual Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2003 from Bon Appétit/Food Network and the annual World Hunger Year/Chapin Award in 2004.
More than 115 million postcards were mailed to customers in towns and cities throughout America letting them know about the food drive. Customers who did not receive a postcard can check with their local Post Office to find out if their office is participating. Customers are asked to place non-perishable food items next to their mailbox before their letter carrier delivers the mail on Saturday, May 13. The letter carrier will do the rest, taking the food to the Post Office where it is sorted and delivered to an area food bank or pantry.
Postal customers of some New York City and Chicago Post Offices are asked to take their food donations to their local participating Post Office during the week of May 6-13. New York City and Chicago residents should contact their local Post Office for more information.
Sign-up to receive an e-mail Friday, May 12, reminding you to place non-perishable food items next to your mailbox at www.stampouthunger2006.com.
Since 1775, the Postal Service and its predecessor, the Post Office Department, has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that visits 144 million homes and businesses every day, six days a week and is the only service provider delivering to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of more than $69 billion, it is the world's leading provider of mailing and delivery services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The Postal Service delivers more than half of the world's mail volume — some 212 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year — and serves seven and a half million customers each day at its 37,000 retail locations nationwide. Its website, usps.com, attracts more than 21 million visitors each month.
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Air America Phoenix - Home
Saturdays on AM 1480 KPHX from 1PM to 2PM. May 5, 2007: Our topic will be Hate Groups in Arizona and our guests will be Mark Potok, Director of the ...
Main Page - Tuesday, 05/16/07
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It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Las Vegas Sands (LVS). Shares have added about 5.7% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Las Vegas Sands due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let’s take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Las Vegas Sands Q1 Earnings Beat, Down Y/Y on Coronavirus
Las Vegas Sands reported first-quarter 2020 results, wherein both earnings and revenues surpassed the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate after beating the same in preceding quarter. However, both the metrics declined sharply year over year on account of the coronavirus-induced shutdowns.
Earnings & Revenues Discussion
The company reported adjusted loss per share of 3 cents,
CONCORD, NH — Hundreds of millions of dollars will soon be accessible to Granite State residents, business, child care facilities, hospitals, nonprofits, and others to help fight the economic collapse due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Chris Sununu announced Friday that $595 million of the $1.25 billion allocated to New Hampshire will be dispersed — including $400 million for small businesses to pay bills, mortgages, and taxes. The governor thanked the Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery members and Jerry Little, its director, for contributing countless hours and being available to bounce off ideas.
“They are a terrific team,” Sununu said, “It’s an absolute honor to work with them.”
During the course of unveiling all of the expenditures, Sununu admitted he tweaked some of the recommendations — including doubling the amount of money to nonprofits, from $30 million to $60 million. He said the tweaks were made because, while
J.C. Penney’s (JCP) future truly hangs in the balance.
A source familiar with the situation tells Yahoo Finance all options remain on the table for the overly indebted retailer, including a full liquidation as a means to better satisfy creditors. The source says J.C. Penney continues to evaluate all options after a debtor-in-possession loan — known as DIP funding — of around $450 million fell through last weekend.
Lenders may be balking on providing J.C. Penney funding to keep its business open during a run through
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Samsung goes up by 20% the price of components to Apple
Currently, Samsung and Apple compete in the arena of smartphones, tablets, notebooks and various other kinds of technological devices, becoming the two biggest players in the industry, where the iPhone and the Galaxy S are the iconic brands of each. But rarely gives one serves the other, and now, that being the case we will see the consequences of that.
For Samsung, which supplies chips to Apple to build their mobile devices, has begun to collect no less than 20% over its rival, without much explanation about it because of course, have that luxury. And it turns out that Apple, despite upward resist at first, finally had to give in and accept the terms of Samsung, as it was not able to find an alternative provider to meet their needs.
Rising Prices already taken place, and the consumer side, we do not know if they will see a change in the prices of tablets iPad or iPhone, or Apple who will carry the weight of this move made by Samsung .
Recall that although Apple says they do-series processors (A5, A5X, A6, etc), in the world of silicon is different from reality as the company raises the bitten apple: the chip design is based in fact for any ARM, then have people in Cupertino slightly customize the drawing and then send it to Samsung, who is finally having factories to convert the metal in a microprocessor.
Link: Samsung raising price on Apple chips, report claims (ipodnn)Tags: A5, A5X, a6, Appel to, Apple, apple a5, Apple A6, hardware, headshot, price, Prices, Samsung, serial, to


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By Sarah Finley
Fans are going crazy for these crumpet-inspired slippers, which look just like the small griddle cakes.
The limited edition slippers, which went on sale today, via the Warburtons website, are inspired by the circular goodness of the brand’s iconic crumpet and even have the crumpet holes decorated on the top of them.
The slippers, which of course have two bigger holes for your feet, have been popular on Instagram with fans excited to get their hands on a pair of them
A photo posted by on
Over 150 fans have commented on the brand's Instagram picture, with one saying: "Oh my god" and many leaving emojis.
The proceeds of the crumpet slippers, which start in a size 3 and go up to a size 12, are also going to charity.
FareShare is the UK's largest charity fighting hunger and food waste. For every pair of slippers purchased, the equivalent of 64 meals will be donated to those most in need during this festive period; in total, the proceeds from the campaign will enable FareShare to distribute over 85,000 free meals.
The slippers, which would be great as a Secret Santa present for any crumpet lover, or just ideal if you are still working form home, are available now to buy via the website.
Jonathan Warburton, Chairman of Warburtons said about the slippers: “This year has been incredibly challenging for many families and communities across the country, both financially and from a health perspective.
"That’s why we have worked hard to ensure we can feed the nation, both by getting product onto shelves but also by supporting food banks, community groups and breakfast clubs across the country.
“As we enter some of the toughest months for those in need, FareShare’s incredible work fighting hunger was an obvious partner and we are proud to be able to donate all sale proceeds from the slippers to such a worthy cause.”
Cyber Monday jewelry deals 2021—save over 60% on designer pieces
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By Harriet Davey •
Best Cyber Monday spa deals—save up to 50% on dreamy getaways in Mexico, LA, Cotswolds, and the Lake District
And relax! These are the Cyber Monday spa deals you need to know about
By Fiona McKim •


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Qatar begins the modernization of its FinTech sector with the issuance of the first digital payment licenses, but it remains firm against the adoption of digital currencies.
Apart from exploring investment opportunities in the blockchain space, the QIA is also looking to expand its portfolio with investments in Africa, Europe, and the automotive sector.
The QCB chief also commented on Qatar's plans for blockchain technology and digital currencies, noting that blockchain has the potential to help Qatar implement its digital transformation.
The state-owned flag carrier airline of Qatar plans to integrate NFTs, ticket purchases, and more places to its metaverse platform, called the QVerse.
The Qatar Central Bank is studying digital currencies but has yet to make a decision on whether it will issue one, as official says the bank is seeking to digitize payments.


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Many of the country’s leading economists say the U.S. and the global economy faces a possibility of a recession in 2023, with rising interest rates and the war in Ukraine slowing economic growth. Whether the U.S. can avoid a recession or not, what impact will this have on both trucking and the global freight? The December jobs report showed solid growth, but the domestic supply chain still faces workforce shortages and ongoing contract negotiations at Pacific ports. What does this mean moving forward? ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello joins Dan Ronan to share his insights into the short-term and long-term outlook on the economy and the industry.


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Revealed: how corruption still blights Russia
Russia’s small businesses are calling for action to combat corruption, which they say is damaging their potential for growth. The appeal comes as the government prepares to unveil a raft of measures to tackle a problem which continues to blight modern Rus
Among those wanting change is Vitaly Petrov, who has been running his own business in consumer goods since 1991. After the collapse of the Soviet Union he says there was plenty of opportunity to make money, but things soon changed and the mafia moved in. He was forced to pay the price in bribes and claims he is still doing so.
He says it is very difficult for a businessman to defend his rights to operate and counteract controlling authorities. “If you don’t pay bribes you have to abandon business and go to court,” he explains.
For Vitaly, it is the constant inspection and regulation which is the biggest challenge, but for others the headache comes in a different form.
Katya Evlentieva recently set up her own PR company, but says she didn’t expect to face so much bureaucracy. She often has to spend up to four hours in a queue to have a paper signed by an official because it’s impossible to do it with an attorney. But in business time costs money.
There are, however, signs of hope as authorities appear to be recognising the problem. Vladislav Korochkin, Vice President of the Association of Small Businesses Opora Rossii, admits that in recent months the government has given indications it is aware of the problem and what measures are needed to tackle it.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has expressed his ambition to support small businesses, saying they are fundamental to future development. Speaking at an economic forum in St. Petersburg in June he said curbing corruption, endemic in the country, was among his priorities, as this was the first step in easing the burden.
Also, during a meeting about support for small business, he made remarks regarding a national plan which envisages increased enforcement and greater disclosure of officials' personal finances.
“The first step has been made. Unfortunately the same problems remain. Audits and checks are grinding down businesses. It is important that law enforcement bodies drop attempts to cause nightmares for business,” Medvedev said.


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New Delhi: Leading mobile company Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Wednesday announced that it is shutting its telephone production in China, due to gruelling competition from rival homegrown companies in the largest smartphone market.
Notably, in June, Samsung had cut down production after suspending its second factory since last year, in Huizhou in South China. As a result, the South Korean tech giant decided to close its last standing factory due to increasing stakes and high competition in the country’s domestic market.
Moreover, the company’s share in the Chinese market shrunk to one per cent in the first quarter of this year, falling from 15 per cent in mid-2013. According to reports, two of the fastest-growing home companies superseding Samsung were Huawei Technologies and Xiaomi Corp.
Last month, Samsung Electronics fell sharply in a global corporate social responsibility ranking marking its worst performance since the institute started compiling such data in 2012.
What used to be the top-ranking tech firm for mobile production had to make the difficult decision to boost its efficiency. The South Korean firm said that it will re-allocate its production units to a different manufacturing site, depending upon market needs around the world.
Samsung has not specified if it plans to return to China eventually if the market climate turns less harsh.


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Briefing reporters here yesterday, General Manager for the farmers’ umbrella body, 32-Kilimanjaro New Co-operative Initiatives Joint venture Limited (G-32 KNCI-JVE LTD) Gabriel Ollomi said the screening is scheduled to take place during the nearing 2019/2020 harvesting season.
"The cancer screening will be implemented by the national NGO providing sexual and reproductive health (UMATI) in Kilimanjaro region in collaboration with G-32 KNCI-JVE LTD. The crucial health exercise is fully financed by our organic coffee buyers from Japan, Zensho Group Limited," the GM explained.
He added that the clinic targets only women from organic coffee farmers from rural areas of Kilimanjaro region and is meant to achieve sustainable health of small organic coffee producers.
"Apart from eliminating the two cancers among farmers, the initiative lso aims at eradication of poverty within their communities" Ollomi explained.
According to him, in the 2018/19 organic coffee harvesting year G-32 KNCI-JVE LTD conducted special health training to their coffee farmers for sustainable health and coffee production.
The manager further appealed to coffee growers to practice organic coffee farming for sustainable high quality of coffee production for the good health of consumers.
Ollomi explained that some members of his organization are now enjoying the fruits of organic farming-an agricultural system that uses-ecologically based pest controls and biological fertilizers derived largely from animal and plant wastes and nitrogen-fixing cover crops.
"In the year 2018/19 we engaged with our farmers in the organic coffee market where farmers benefited with high coffee price by emphasizing farmers to switch themselves to organic farming that has led them to a happy life that guarantees them food on table, cash to take care of their children and send them to school," he explained.
According to Ollomi, organic coffees world market is expanding day to day, appealing Kilimanjaro coffee producers to switch themselves to organic farming.
"Apart from high demand of organic coffees in the World market, its production is also very low as farmers are not buying industrial fertilizers in their production, thus they are using only ecologically based pest controls and biological fertilizers derived largely from animal and plant wastes and nitrogen-fixing cover crops.
"In the 2018/19 coffee season we bought a total of40.2 tons of parchment coffee at a price of 7,125/- per kilogram from small farmers of Mwika Kinyamvuo and Mamba North Agricultural Marketing Co-operatives (AMCOS)..." the G-32 KNCI-JVE LTD General manager enlightened.
Ollomi awho is also a coffee producer at Lyamungo village, in Hai district, Kilimanjaro region further explained that, producing coffee through organic farming is cheaper than using industrial fertilizers and other agriculture inputs like coffee pest controls which are sold at high prices; and the World market for organic coffee is expanding day to day and of high prices.
Commenting on the Organic Coffee farming, one of the small coffee producer who switched from inorganic farming to organic farming mzee Hansi Mangowi explained that, "The positive impact of using such industrial chemicals in growing coffee was just a big quantity of harvest but poor quality on the market. On the negative side, conventional agriculture destroyed soil fertility that forced me to change places of cultivating other food crops like banana, beans, maize within the same farm after every three years just looking for fertile land...".
He added that, he has an experience of more than 13 years in the organic coffee farming and he is enjoying the fruits of getting good marketing and high prices of his commodity.


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Sheraton Hotels & Resorts has launched a $100 million multi-channel marketing campaign, which includes its first comprehensive advertising effort since 2011 and marks the brand’s return to television for the first time in nearly a decade.
Titled “Where Actions Speak Louder,” the new campaign, which is slated to run through 2017, is designed to boldly communicate ongoing enhancements to the Sheraton guest experience, including new products and partnerships, a renewed focus on service, and an elevated look, feel and design for the flagship brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.
According to Adam Aron, chief executive of Starwood Hotels & Resorts on an interim basis: “Where Actions Speak Louder” is part of Sheraton 2020SM, a comprehensive plan to solidify Sheraton as a leading global hotel brand of choice, everywhere.
“As Starwood’s largest, most global and fastest growing high-end brand, Sheraton is a key priority for the company.
“We are at the beginning of a five year journey to change both the reality and perception of the Sheraton brand, and we have already made important improvements that guests will increasingly notice when they arrive at our doors,” said Aron.
“With this sophisticated new advertising campaign, we intend to turn heads and give consumers a compelling reason to take another look at Sheraton, while keeping this iconic brand on the pedestal it so richly deserves.”
The campaign features striking images of both guests and associates, and highlights signature aspects of the Sheraton guest experience, such as a premium sleep experience, the new Paired food and beverage program, updated meetings offerings, Sheraton Club and the new Sheraton Grand premier tier of hotels.
The advertisements were shot at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers by acclaimed photographer Mark Seliger, who, in keeping with the Sheraton brand’s dynamic evolution, brings an elevated, modern sensibility to the campaign.
Starting September 21st, the Sheraton brand’s first TV spot in nearly ten years will begin airing on national networks and global cable channels, including ABC, ESPN, CNBC and CNN International.
Director David Edwards will bring cinematic treatment to the 30-second commercial, which was shot at the famed Sheraton on the Park in Sydney, Australia.
The “Where Actions Speak Louder” campaign will also feature digital creative, including video and banner ads, on sites like YouTube, AOL and Facebook, as well as a 60-second cut of the commercial that will air on rotation in more than 150,000 Sheraton guestrooms globally.
Marcel New York, A Publicis Groupe agency, was selected by Starwood to lead creative responsibilities, while PGR and Razorfish managed the media planning and buying in North America.


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ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- ARC, the financial settlement link between airlines and travel sellers, reported today the consolidated dollar value of airline tickets sold by U.S.-based travel agencies increased 1.85 percent* year-over-year in 2013 compared to 2012. Ticket sales for 2013 totalled $86.2 billion, compared to $84.5 billion in 2012, and $82.1 billion in 2011. Sales for December 2013 totalled $5.3 billion, an increase of 10.7 percent compared to December 2012.
Ticket transactions in 2013 decreased by 0.30 percent against 2012, while transactions in 2012 were down by 0.47 percent compared to 2011. Passenger segments in 2013 decreased 0.16 percent at 363.9 million, compared to 369.9 million in 2012 and 370.4 million in 2011.
More detailed information is available at https://www.arccorp.com/news/sales-document-statistics.jsp
ARC powers the U.S.-based travel industry with premier business solutions, travel agency accreditation services, process and financial management tools, and powerful data analytics. In 2013, ARC settled $86 billion worth of carrier ticket transactions for more than 9,400 travel agencies with 15,000 points of sale. By providing world-class business services and products, ARC enables participating agencies and 191 carriers to focus on what's important - increasing their revenue. Established in 1984, ARC is headquartered in Arlington, Va. For more information, please visit www.arccorp.com.
Notes for Editors:
- Results based on monthly sales data ending December 31, 2013 from 13,321 U.S. retail and corporate travel agent locations, satellite ticket printing offices and online travel agencies.
- Results do not include sales of tickets purchased directly from airlines.
- Total sales are equal to the total amount paid for a ticket, which includes taxes and fees.


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The LG G Watch has begun shipping for some users and the Samsung Gear Live will start shipping next week but Google is apparently working hard to give users the best experience upon release. Google has pushed out software updates for the two Android Wear smartwatches.
The new Android Wear smartwatches are already on the wrists of people who attended the Google I/O and they have just received an update on their devices. The update build is KMV78V, which is said to be a modified version of Android 4.4 KitKat dubbed as Android 4.4W.
We don’t have a changelog yet but the update is said to be very small, so we can expect the usual bug fixes and improvements. Reportedly, the update fixes an issue on the Samsung Gear Live, which inverted the watch face colors on the display when it was dim.
The update can be downloaded to your Android smartphone and then transferred to your wearable via Bluetooth and then you can install it. Google has already released the Android Wear companion app to the Play Store, so new Android Wear smartwatch owners should feel at ease. Anyone buying the LG G Watch or the Samsung Gear Live or are you waiting for the Moto 360?


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It’s not every day you walk into a bar and find one of the hottest, unreleased gadgets in the world just lying on the floor. But that, apparently, is exactly what has happened with Apple’s latest smartphone, the iPhone 4G. Either heads are going to roll or this is one supremely well calculated PR stunt.
So what happened? Here’s a few Tech Digest theories.
It’s a double bluff before the real iPhone 4G reveal
Have you heard the one about the guy who walks into a bar… and found an iPhone 4G all too easily? Maybe this is a double bluff from Apple? Let a prototype bearing all the expected features of an iPhone 4G (video calling, bigger battery, better screen) out into the wild, and then blow away the world when your official reveal unveils a brand new device altogether, with features none of us were expecting.
Apple are testing the water, checking out the tech world’s response to the handset
This sort of feeds into the whole double bluff thing. Put out a preliminary model of the iPhone 4G, let the world give their two cents, then go back to the drawing board if the blogosphere ends up a little bit non-plussed. That said, a prototype, working, with a build quality this polished, would still be way too expensive to lose. You’re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars probably.
Apple released it to draw attention from Microsoft’s Kin and Windows Phone 7 handsets
While the Kin One and Kin Two launch last week could hardly be called monumental, there was definitely quite a lot of positive buzz floating around their social networking orientated handsets. And with Windows Phone 7 just around the corner, perhaps Apple are trying to knock some wind out of Microsoft’s sails?
Industrial espionage or arguably the biggest leak blunder of all time
While a well oiled PR machine like Apple certainly has the nous to acknowledge that all publicity is good publicity, does it really have the balls to reveal its flagship phone for the next 18 months in such a slap-dash way? This is usually a carefully orchestrated affair by the Cupertino kings. While industrial espionage, revealing the company’s secrets to all and sundry, may be a little far fetched, a clumsy employee doing some field testing of the phone’s signal strength for instance and then getting tipsily waylaid in a bar isn’t all that unrealistic. If that is the case and I was that employee, I’d be changing my name and booking the first flight through the volcanic ash cloud that I could. The wrath of Steve Jobs is mighty, and has driven employees to suicide for similar blunders in the past.
Related Stories: iPhone 4G revealed – the good, the bad and the ugly


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By William G. Korver, Reporter, BroadbandCensus.com
WASHINGTON, July 9 – The CEO of upstart online advertising company NebuAd sparred with the head of the non-profit Center for Democracy and Technology at a Wednesday Senate hearing about the privacy implications of internet advertising.
NebuAd needs more “transparency,” and consumers deserve easier ways to opt-out of its advertising model, said CDT President Leslie Harris at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing.
NebuAd CEO Robert Dykes said his company only uses limited amounts of user behavioral data obtained from internet service providers (ISPs), and said that the company offers a “robust” notice permitting users to opt out.
Dykes continually sparred with Harris at the hearing, which also featured witnesses from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, the Federal Trade Commission, and the non-profit Competitive Enterprise Institute.
At the hearing, the Microsoft Associate General Counsel Mike Hintze reiterated the software company’s support for federal privacy legislation to provide a “baseline” of minimum privacy standards. States could enact more stringent requirements.
Many of the panelists agreed with the need for federal legislation – but not Facebook Chief Privacy Officer Chris Kelly, who offered no comment on whether his company supported such legislation.
The Federal Trade Commission also continues to favor self-regulation, said Lydia Parnes, director of the agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Privacy is “not a thing to legislate,” said Clyde Crews, director of technology studies for the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Speaking as if to an individual who desires privacy, Crews said: “then the Internet is not for you.”
Facebook’s Kelly said that his company was a good example of a company abiding by self-regulation. Legally, Facebook could inform advertisers of user’s identities, but the company chooses not to, he said. Facebook only tells advertisers the information that a user selects to share.
A user may also bar those who are not his or her online “friends” from seeing that user’s profile, Kelly said. Hence all shared information is provided voluntarily by individual users.
Hintze and Jane Horvath, senior privacy counsel for Google, said that their companies keep user information for 18 months. CDT’s Harris called that far too long.
On the NebuAd controversy, committee member Sen. James DeMint, R-S.C., argued that legislation targeting the NebuAd model is an example “of a solution looking for a problem.”
But Harris called for NebuAd to switch to an opt-in approach and offer greater transparency about its business practices. She also called for the creation of a “Do Not Track” system and urged that privacy laws in existence for 20 years be updated.
Still, all of the witnesses agreed that legislation targeting the NebuAd model would prove difficult, particularly because the model offers up users advertising that is potentially more relevant because the ads are targeted to his or her needs, and may promote advertiser-supported free content.
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New cloud center provides French customers with local SoftLayer cloud services while supporting data sovereignty requirements
PARIS, FRANCE – 23 Oct 2014 — /BackupReview.info/ — IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it will open a new SoftLayer cloud center in Paris, France, before the end of this year. The facility will complement SoftLayer cloud centers in London and Amsterdam, offering clients more options for moving data and operations to the cloud in Europe in a secure environment. IBM Cloud will also provide cloud infrastructure services for customers and companies in France that require in-country data residency.
“We’re addressing clients’ and countries’ growing desire for data sovereignty head on,” said Lance Crosby, CEO of SoftLayer. “With each new cloud center we’re bringing our complete cloud services portfolio to the doorsteps of local customers. The Paris cloud center allows us to support workloads and applications from French customers who want their data to stay in the country and secure in the cloud, and provides our global clients with an opportunity to get even closer to their end user customers in the region.”
The facility is part of a new 15 cloud center expansion and a $1.2 billion investment by IBM Cloud to grow its cloud presence around the world. It has capacity for thousands of physical servers and offers the full range of SoftLayer cloud infrastructure services, including bare metal servers, virtual servers, storage, and networking. It seamlessly integrates via the company’s leading private network with all SoftLayer cloud centers and network PoPs around the world. With services deployed on demand and full remote access and control, customers can create their ideal public, private, or hybrid cloud environments.
The new Paris cloud center opening comes at an opportune time as French analyst firm Markess recently reported that the cloud computing market in France has increased by €2.2 billion in 2012 to €4.1 billion in 2014 as more companies adopt cloud to deploy Web-centric workloads or transform their existing operations.
“We’ve been a SoftLayer customer for four years now,” said Nicolas Zumbiehl, CEO of Hypernia Corporation, a SoftLayer customer that provides fully managed hosting and gaming services. “We appreciate SoftLayer’s robust cloud environment and worldwide network, and since we’re a global company with clients in France, we’re excited about SoftLayer’s global expansion, and especially about the new data center in France.”
France consistently ranks in SoftLayer’s top 10 best-performing countries within EMEA and continues to grow as new French customers come on board.
“We chose SoftLayer because it could deliver the infrastructure we needed to enable our customers with training, localization, and real-time performance support,” said Michel Balcaen, CEO of Assima PLC, a global company with French founders that develops end-user performance software for large organizations around the world. “IBM provided us with the expertise to design our cloud solution, while SoftLayer met all the requirements we had in terms of location, data privacy, flexibility, and performance. We manage centrally the Virtual Machines for all our clients worldwide from our R&D Center in Paris.”
More details on SoftLayer’s new Paris data center are available at www.softlayer.com/paris/
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ITC Industry News Bulletin #1Posted on 20/05/2015 by Jess O'Connor
Welcome to the first edition of the ITC Industry News Bulletin, a weekly round-up of the latest news from the airline, travel and tourism industries.
You can read more about the strategy behind the Industry News Bulletin here.
The New Zealand tourism industry will need as many as 36,000 more full-time workers by 2025, according to research released by the Tourism Industry Association (TIA) this week.
“TIA is working with the tourism industry to develop a People & Skills Strategy which looks at how to attract more people to work in the tourism industry in the short, medium and long term. This work is progressing well and we expect to launch it publicly later this year,” TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts said in a media release.
Last week Tourism New Zealand unveiled a new marketing commercial with the theme of ‘Every day a different journey’. In an official media release, Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said the commercial is part of a new phase of marketing which will focus on New Zealand’s diversity.
“For the next phase of 100% Pure New Zealand, we’ll be emphasising our story of closeness and diversity – how our amazing landscapes and activities are all within easy reach,” Kevin said.
New Zealand’s largest tourism and trade event, TRENZ, was held in Rotorua this week (May 17 – May 20). More than 300 buyers from all over the world travelled to New Zealand for the occasion.
“Buyers come to TRENZ to discover new and exciting tourism products and experiences that they can sell to consumers in their home markets,” TIA chief executive Chris Roberts said.
“Over 90% of buyers at last year’s event told us that TRENZ is more important than any other marketing and purchasing activities they undertake. More than two-thirds expected an increase in the amount of business they do with New Zealand as a result of their attendance.”
Tourism could overtake dairy as New Zealand’s leading export earner within the next year. Read more.
This investment partnership, totalling more than $20 million, will be extended through the 2016 financial year. Read more.
Nelson had nearly 1.3 million guest nights in a year, largely thanks to events such as the Cricket World Cup, the Royal National Pipeband Championship and Marchfest. Read more.
Four NZ businesses could win $25,000 by creating an innovative marketing campaign to attract Asian visitors to NZ. Read more.
China could overtake Australia as New Zealand’s largest tourism market. Read more.Posted in News | Tagged Air New Zealand, Auckland Airport, Industry News, Nelson, Tourism New Zealand, Travel and Tourism Jobs, TRENZ |


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Yahoo and ABC News will share content and ad sales resources as part of a new partnership announced this morning. The relationship will include a prominent integration of ABC News across Yahoo’s properties, including the launch of Good Morning America on a Yahoo domain at GMA.yahoo.com.
ABC News will lead the sales integration during the television upfront selling period, and Yahoo will oversee sales during the rest of the year. Ad sales will focus on premium video placements, including for a series of exclusive ABC “Newsmakers” shows that will roll out this year and next. Personalities slated for that series include Christiane Amanpour, Katie Couric, Diane Sawyer, and Barbara Walters.
To kick off the partnership, Yahoo and ABC News are playing up George Stephanopoulos’s live interview with President Barack Obama that will debut at 2:35pm this afternoon on Yahoo.com and ABCNews.com before its TV broadcast.
At a press conference in New York this morning, top broadcast talent from ABC News showed up to hail the partnership – and in particular the original Yahoo-only programming to which they’ll contribute. That programming will consist of longer versions of edited broadcast interviews.
Katie Couric told the assembled news media, “It creates incredible opportunities to do expanded interviews [and] to dig a little deeper where you have the luxury of time.”
The alliance does not come out of the blue however. Since early this year, Yahoo has integrated ABC News around major media events, including the British Royal Wedding and the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Ross Levinsohn, Yahoo’s EVP of Americas, emphasized the scale of the partnership goes well beyond what Yahoo would ordinarily publish through a traditional licensing arrangement.
“This is taking it to the next level,” Levionsohn said. With regard to political news in particular, he suggested Yahoo users will notice a big increase in coverage of the 2012 presidential and congressional elections.
In the below video, Levinsohn and ABC News boss Ben Sherwood discuss the germination of the companies’ premium video plans.
Programmatic is taking over the digital advertising world, and at an even faster rate than expected, according to eMarketer, which raised its forecast for programmatic ad spending in the U.S. on the back of growth in mobile and video programmatic buys.
Despite the fact that it faces growing competition from Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, Google-owned YouTube is still one of the most popular ... read more
Can Snapchat make tech-enabled glasses cool? It’s going to try. Last week, it was revealed that the company behind the ascendant social app ... read more
Video consumption keeps increasing and Facebook is serious about a video-first world, encouraging us all to explore its full potential. Ian Crocombe, ... read more


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Astrazeneca boss pins hopes on firm's vaccine jab and antibody treatment to turn the tide in Covid fight
British pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca warned that sales had been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic as it offered fresh hope that a vaccine could be near.
The crisis has made patients more reluctant to visit doctors' surgeries and hospitals with non-Covid related illnesses, leading to lower demand for some medicines.
But Astra boss Pascal Soriot said the firm's potential jab for the disease, could soon help turn the tide if trial results are positive.
Astrazeneca boss Pascal Soriot said the firm's potential Covid jab could soon help turn the tide if trial results are positive
He also touted a 'very important' antibody drug, AZD7442, which is being tested and could potentially treat coronavirus symptoms in patients.
'As much of the world goes back into lockdown, my hope is that science will help humanity fight back against this virus and put an end to this terrible pandemic,' Soriot said.
Astra has carried out large-scale human trials of the potential vaccine it has jointly developed with Oxford University. But for now the drug has not been approved by regulators and does not contribute to sales.
Soriot said the firm would seek regulatory approval in 'as many countries as possible' if the drug was found to be successful.
It is keeping huge stores of the vaccine in a frozen state to prolong its shelf life, ready to be thawed out and deployed swiftly.
Astra said it was making progress on its pipeline of other drugs, with cancer treatment lynparza and diabetes medicine forxiga both cleared for wider uses in Europe yesterday.
However, it reported annual sales growth of just 3 per cent in the third quarter, compared with growth of 11 per cent in the second.
Revenues of £5billion in the three months to September 30, compared with £4.9billion a year earlier. That was partly due to lower demand for some drugs, with sales of its inhalers particularly weak in China.
Quarterly profits more than doubled from £313million to £653million, but the earnings per share, a measure closely watched by some investors, was below what analysts predicted.
Research and development costs jumped 11 per cent to £1.2billion, as more projects moved into the final stage of testing on humans.
Astra expects total revenue in 2020 to rise by a high single-digit to a low double-digit percentage. Shares rose 0.2 per cent, or 18p, to 8529p.
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Continuing its work on Mars, NASA collects new data every day. Controlling Mars from the ground with instruments such as Perseverance and Curiosty, NASA also flies with Ingenuity and brings together various data. Another spacecraft,
called Insight, has targeted tremors. Insight, which detected the largest earthquake to date with a magnitude of 4.2 in August, also recorded the shaking that lasted for 94 minutes. On May 4, the largest earthquake ever occurred on Mars.
The biggest earthquake ever detected on another planet!
It was stated that the magnitude of the earthquake, which was described as the largest earthquake detected on
another planet, was 5.0. With further examination of the natural phenomenon that NASA describes as a “monster earthquake”, scientists hope to determine the epicenter and source of the earthquake.
Researchers want to learn more about the red planet by examining such natural phenomena. NASA announced this great earthquake with the title “We felt it” in its May 10 post. The following statements are included in the post made by Insight: vegas insider secrets
After more than three years of listening to the soft jolts of Mars, I felt my biggest ‘marsquake’ ever: it seems to be magnitude 5. My team is reviewing the data to learn more.Science rewards patience! Unlike Earth, Mars does not have tectonic plates. For this reason, tremors occur as a result of volcanic activities, not tectonic events. Researchers plan to better understand the mantle and core layer of the red planet by paras ravintola Vaasa studying the tremors that occur because of this. Monitoring Mars for more than three years, InSight has detected more than 1,313 earthquakes.
In the automotive industry, there has been an electric vehicle revolution in recent years. seo link building In this period, when internal combustion vehicles were replaced by electric cars, many giant companies created their giant budget plans in this direction. However, this development may also bring some difficulties.
Growth in 2022 will lead to battery supply chain
Digitimes Research analyst Lin Fenhui stated that the electric car industry will experience a big leap this year. So much so that, according to reports, a production number exceeding 100 percent will be reached this year compared to last year. However, the battery technology to be used in vehicles is not fully ready for this situation. As it is known, charging stations and battery production were among the reasons why electric cars could not become widespread in the past. Although this problem is reduced to minimum values with the investments made,
the rapid increase in the demand for electric vehicles may lead to supply chains in the materials used in battery production. On the other hand, analyst Lin Fenhui states that this possible supply chain may cause an increase in electric car prices. According to the data obtained, the number of electric cars all over the world will reach 6.58 million by the end of 2022. In addition to all these, giant companies continue their huge investments for automobile batteries.
The analyst noted that there is currently a positive trend in energy saving and emission reduction in the world.
However, the battery supply chain that will occur may cause minor changes in this table. Because the battery material prices in March 2022 increased 8 times compared to December 2020. It seems that even greater increases will be observed.


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Call of Duty’s next season for Black Ops Cold War and Warzone will start towards the end of E3 this year, with Activision already announcing a few details of what’s upcoming. Season 4 for both games is set to launch on June 17th.
During the Summer Game Fest stream today, developer Treyarch revealed that it’s bringing plenty of content to Call of Duty this coming season. This includes new maps, modes, and Zombies content. The announcement trailer gave us a peek at the Collateral, Amsterdam, and Hijacked maps. Amsterdam supports 2v2 modes, while Hijacked is strictly for normal 6v6, and Collateral for 6v6 and 12v12. The trailer also suggested that Warzone will “break orbit” by adding something called Zombies Uncaged.
From the Season 4 gameplay trailer, this new Zombies content contains some massive creatures. It shows players duking it out with a dragon-like monster, as well as a creature that appears similar to a golem. Of course, not all the details about the new season have been released, and Activision will share more information on Monday, June 14th.
Previous to this trailer, Treyarch released a story teaser for Season 4, showing the ongoing narrative from the perspective of the antagonist, Stitch.


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Walmart and Teradata renew analytics partnership
Dayton, Ohio — Data warehousing and analytics company Teradata Corp. said Wednesday it has broadened its partnership with Walmart.
The agreement includes an upgrade and expansion of Walmart’s data warehouse environment to provide next-generation capabilities. Taradata said its technology will offer an expected 50% reduction in floor space required and a 40% reduction in energy consumption.
The planned expansion includes a data warehouse technology refresh program, which will keep Walmart’s data warehouse on the leading edge of technology adoption. The agreement also includes a research and development relationship to strengthen the company’s competitive retail advantage.
"As this partnership is expanded, we will be able to leverage scalability, processing power, and storage capacity, along with software enhancements," said Jose Hernandez, Walmart’s chief technology officer and senior VP infrastructure. "Consistent with our sustainability initiatives, this expansion will result in a significant reduction in our data center power and cooling footprint."
Beech-Nut and Disney’s toddler line features Winnie the Pooh characters
GLENDALE, Calif., and AMSTERDAM, N.Y. — Beech-Nut and Disney Consumer Products have teamed up to unite nutritious foods with characters that toddlers love.
Beech-Nut’s new line of products feature Winnie the Pooh characters, including the namesake bear and his pals Piglet and Tigger.
The Beech-Nut toddler food is fortified with vitamins and minerals and contains valuable nutrients, fiber, whole grains, real fruit, real yogurt, real vegetables and protein. The line features meals, sides, snacks and juices including:
Steamies: These complete meals feature a home-style taste and texture and cook via a unique steam-cooking process. They are available in 10 different varieties;
Goodies: Made with Chiquita bananas and whole grains, Goodies Banana Bites offer a more nutritious choice for snack time. Goodies Mixed Fruit Nibbles come in two flavors and are made with real fruit. One serving offers 100%of the daily recommended serving of vitamin C; and
Juicies: These 100% juice beverages come in such flavor combinations as white grape and peach, pear blueberry and apple pomegranate; offer the benefits of antioxidant superfruits; and contain 100% of the daily recommended serving of vitamin C.
Deloitte Spending Index down as housing market remains weak
NEW YORK – The Deloitte Spending Index, comprising four components — tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices — fell to 4.29%, from an upwardly revised gain of 4.71% a month ago. According to Deloitte the decline wasprimarily due to sustainedweakness in the housing market despite incremental gains in other areas.
"Real consumer spending has accelerated in recent months, and consumers presently retain their spending potential following a period of increased savings, debt reduction and a rise in personal income in the U.S.," said Carl Steidtmann, Deloitte’s chief economist and author of the monthly Index. "While this momentum may continue, it could peak in the months ahead given the continued drag on the Index from the housing market that is offsetting an uptick in real wages."


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Written in CRYPTO the
Since its launch, the criptocurrency They have not stopped causing conflicting opinions. From those who say that it is only a passing fad, to those who say that it is no longer the future of money, but the present.
If you are interested in investing in cryptocurrencies, the best idea is to fully inform yourself whether or not it is a good time to invest, since every investment is a risk and the more information you have about it, the risks of losing the investment decrease,
Eduardo Gavotti, bitcoin trader, comments that the question, is it too late to invest in bitcoin? he finds it a bit extreme, “extremes are never good” he explains.
The specialist clarifies that everything depends on the intention with which it is purchased, “If your goal is speculation In the short term, it may not be the best time because the environment and sentiment is quite bearish. But if your goal is long investment term, the current price is perhaps of less importance, regardless of when you look at it.”
The price of the cryptocurrency is changeable how changing are the global economic conditions, at this moment the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the historical inflationary levels and the still threat of Covid-19 They are factors that make their price fluctuate, like any other good, stock or means of saving or investment.
Its adoption will increase its value
The specialist emphasizes that if the asset is good, time will be its best ally, exemplifying that companies such as Tesla either MicroStrategyhave decided to store their reserves in bitcoin, because they believe that its value will grow over time.
The number of companies that offer services to invest in bitcoin shows the increase in the adoption of this asset. Entities traditional such as investment funds, listed on the stock exchange, and banks have decided to enter the world of cryptocurrencies, which means that their clients are interested in investing in this market and have a high demand for said services.
Even a few weeks ago the Chinese government decided to give away hundreds of thousands of cyber yuan among its inhabitants, check out the note in Heraldo Binario, here.
The CEO of investment fund Off The Chain Capital, Brian Estes, states that, “As companies and banks get involved and become a critical mass, the level of activity per user will really start to reflect traditional financial services. ”.
Considering the above, it is expected that a Bitcoin could be worth a million dollarss for the year 2024.
Follow Binary Herald in Google News, CLICK HERE


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Every day, millions of people drive to work and back again with no one else in the car. But what would happen if all those drivers used on-demand ride sharing programs like Lyft and Uber to fill the empty seats in their vehicles? Would it be the end of public transportation as we know it?
In August, Lyft and Uber announced new ride share applications for commuters. Lyft Line and UberPool both offer riders the chance to pay lower fares and pair with other riders. The idea is that if two or more riders are going in the same direction, it is cheaper and more efficient to have them ride together. In exchange for sitting with a stranger, riders receive a discount of 30-60% each depending on demand.
For the moment, the services are only available in certain large metropolitan areas like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and London but the service is proving to be extremely popular. Lyft reports that in just two months, one-third of their rides in San Francisco are Lift Lines. Earlier this year, Lyft bought out Hitch, a local San Francisco commuter ride share start-up in order to jump start its new business model. Uber CEO Travis Kalanik suggests UberPool in London “could take 1 million cars off the road” and Lyft CEO John Zimmer predicts traffic in Los Angeles could plummet if more rides are shared.
In theory, the commuter ride sharing idea is very attractive. Ideally, cities would no longer have to spend billions of dollars on public transportation infrastructure and our commute to work would cease to be a congestion nightmare. But is that dream even remotely possible? Public transportation exists to serve communities. Will Uber and Lyft be wiling to offer discounted or free transportation to those who rely on public transportation the most? Will they make provision for the elderly, the disabled and the poor?
In an era when more people are leaving the suburbs for the city, cultural norms surrounding urban transport are changing. Recently, the MBTA in Boston extended weekend service until 3 am on some routes. Now weekend revelers don’t have to shell out $50 or more for a taxi at 2 in the morning; they can get home for nothing more than the cost of a subway token. The scheduling change is popular not only with T riders but also with the downtown night clubs, restaurants, and taverns that have seen a noticeable increase in business. Even the T is benefiting by collecting more fares.
Attitudes about ride sharing will change in the coming years. For instance, will it be OK for a driver to pick up another rider going to the same destination? Or should a rider who wants exclusive use of a car for the duration of a trip pay a higher price? Over the next few year, society will impose its expectations regarding timeliness, cleanliness and professionalism on ride share companies and their drivers.
In the end, commuter based ride sharing will probably become a complement to existing options like driving to work alone or taking public transportation rather than replacing them.


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MGA Entertainment, known for its innovative toys, is growing in a big way, expanding its reach as it re-launches classic properties and delivers new brands.
Flair, the U.K. distributor of Moose Toys' collectible brand Shopkins, has unveiled plans to extend their product offering, in a deal brokered by Bulldog Licensing.
Discovery Consumer Products has teamed with Horizon Group USA for a new line of crafts and children’s activity kits under the Discovery Kids brand.
After losing her crown to Disney’s Frozen characters in 2014, Barbie is back at No. 1 on the National Retail Federation’s Top Toys list for the 2015 holiday season.
Jazwares is expanding its action figure and digital brand Tube Heroes to feature more than 40 social media stars.
In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Boeing has teamed with three brand partners for a line of heirloom-quality items inspired by its rich history.
Build-A-Bear Workshop has kicked off the holidays with a number of seasonal offerings The Grinch and his sidekick Max as well as all eight classic reindeer characters.
In addition to showcasing its own float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, GoldieBlox is also giving girls the chance to build their own float.
Oyo Sports is expanding its line of minifigure products in partnership with National Hockey League.
To kick-start the holiday season, Activision Publishing is offering a series of special "Skylanders" characters and gear.
CBS Consumer Products has tapped Big Chief Studios to produce a range of high-end collectibles and gifts based on the Showtime series "Penny Dreadful."
Disney Consumer Products is launching a lineup of new merchandise for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy this holiday season.
Warner Bros. Consumer Products has teamed with its licensing partners to support the third and final film in The Hobbit trilogy.
Brands with Influence has appointed Kid Kreations as the master toy licensee for the CBBC personality Hacker T Dog.
Rubie’s Masquerade U.K. has appointed Mark Whitaker as its new international sales account manager.
BurdaIntermedia Merchandising has been appointed as the German licensing agent for the U.K. preschool brand Deer Little Forest.
Warner Bros. Consumer Products is closing the circle on its popular Mattel toy ranges, enhancing the products with new movies and online content.
Sakar International has signed on to create a line of youth electronics for the Peanuts brand and renewed its licensing partnership with Nickelodeon.
Bleacher Creatures has brought several new plush collections to New York Toy Fair, featuring everything from Major League Baseball players to DC Comics to the Pope.
Flux Animation Studio has tapped Brandberry to develop its Furmaids property, which features magical animals that transform into animal/mermaid hybrids when they enter the water.
Planeta Junior and the Spanish toy brand Famosa have partnered to co-produce an animated series based on the Mutant Busters action figure line that launched in 2013.
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The Secret to Digital Growth: Investing in Content?
Business Insiderâ€™s Henry Blodget tells (almost) all.
At FOLIO:, weâ€™re used to having to cajole publishers to share metrics to back up the case theyâ€™re making for their own success. Â
Kudos then to Henry Blodget (pictured right), CEO of financial news and analysis site Business Insider, who shared the type of proprietary financials that keep most PR heads up at night in a blog about the viability of â€śdigital newsâ€ť as a business. (The admissions come on the heels of Huffington Postâ€™s $315 million saleâ€”or as one talkbacker to Blodgetâ€™s post wrote, â€śThe headline on this post should be: Dear AOL, For your consideration, weâ€™re an excellent Web property too!â€ť)
The stats: Business Insider generated $4.8 million in revenue in 2010 (up from $39,495 a couple years ago), mostly from advertising. The company was profitable in 2010 (making $2,127), but Blodget warns it will dip back into the red over the next few quarters, due to aggressive investment, spurred in part by New York Stateâ€™s capital tax. â€śMaking $2,127 feels about 2,127 times as good as losing money,â€ť he writes.
The Costs Of Making Online Content a Real Business
While weâ€™re definitely in the â€śaggregationâ€ť or â€ścurationâ€ť age, many online startups are investing in staff and resources for creating original content (which is more than can be said for many of their peers coming from traditional media).
Blodget acknowledges the knocks against HuffPoâ€™s content (paying a few big name writers while plucking content from low-or-unpaid bloggers and generating SEO-bait) but he also says that with HuffPo expected to grow another $20 million to $50 million in revenue that it â€świll likely hire a lot more New York Times staffers to go with the ones it has already got. In other words, HuffPo will keep getting better.â€ť
Blodget doesnâ€™t reveal what heâ€™s paying to generate content, but says â€śWe didnâ€™t make that profit because weâ€™re a sweatshop, by the way.â€ť He claims a 25-person newsroom, (which is larger than many magazines which are generating far more than $4 million and splitting four or five peopleâ€”if theyâ€™re luckyâ€”across print AND digital).
â€śOur newsroom salaries for full-time employees, for example (which include bonuses and benefits) are now higher than at many companies in the traditional news industry. Because the digital news business is quite different from the traditional news business, we often promote from within, and weâ€™ve had the huge pleasure of watching folks who joined us as interns grow up to take leadership positions. True, we canâ€™t yet toss around the $300,000-$500,000 a year per brand-name columnist that Huffington Post and Daily Beast are now reportedly tossing around. But, in future years, if we keep doing what we think we can do, we should be able to pay our top people a lot more than we do today.â€ť
But whatâ€™s the cost of growing and getting better? According to Google Analytics, Business Insider has seen a steady rise in traffic, generating nearly 8 million uniques in February (comScore has it at 3.5 millionâ€”Blodget says he will address the discrepancy).
Meanwhile, financial blogger Felix Salmon estimates that expenses have been growing at the same rate as Business Insiderâ€™s audience (spending between 23 cents and 36 cents per unique visitor), and points out that Business Insider has moved away from producing premium content for Wall Street â€śelites,â€ť after realizing that thereâ€™s â€śno money in micro-publishing.â€ť
Many traditional publishersâ€”overleveraged and struggling to meet covenants or lose it allâ€”canâ€™t invest in content (or real lead gen or real marketing services, etc.) But for the restâ€”many of which are seeing improvements in print and boasting solid margins even through the worst of the downturn, and who HAVE proven there is money in micro-publishingâ€”continuing to operate on a shoestring across all media (even as they consider a metered model) will leave them wondering why business is going to a digital startup.


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NEW YORK -- They're the $10 million men and women.
Propelled by a soaring stock market, the median pay package for a chief executive rose above eight figures for the first time in 2013. The head of a typical large public company earned a record $10.5 million, an increase of 8.8 percent from $9.6 million in 2012, according to an Associated Press/Equilar pay study.
Last year was the fourth straight that CEO compensation rose following a decline during the Great Recession. The median CEO pay package climbed more than 50 percent over that stretch. A chief executive now makes about 257 times the average worker's salary, up sharply from 181 times in 2009.
The best paid CEO in 2013 led an oil field services company. The highest paid female CEO was Carol Meyrowitz of discount retail giant TJX, owner of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.
Over the last several years, companies' boards of directors have tweaked executive compensation to answer critics' calls for CEO pay to be more attuned to performance. They've cut back on stock options and cash bonuses, which were criticized for rewarding executives even when a company did poorly. Boards of directors have placed more emphasis on paying CEOs in stock instead of cash and stock options.
The change became a boon for CEOs in 2013 because of a surge in stocks that drove the Standard & Poor's 500 index up 30 percent. The stock portion of pay packages rose 17 percent to $4.5 million.
The second-highest paid CEO among companies in the S&P 500 was Leslie Moonves of CBS, who made $65.6 million in 2013.