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This wasn’t a new story, but it was to me. So, I was a little disappointed to read about the dangers of wind power. Dangers? From a clean, renewable energy source? Yes, the magnets used to build wind farm turbines are made of the rare earth metal neodymium, which, while not toxic itself, creates a mess of the environment when it is mined.
Many New England residents and even the late Sen. Ted Kennedy fought wind farm development off Cape Cod, but it wasn’t really because of neodymium. It was about the view. Either way, it’s an example of how we can find so many issues with alternatives to fossil fuels. Let’s take a look at the energy hit list: Coal, bad; oil, running out; nuclear, fugetaboutit. Read about what hydroelectric dam projects are doing to the Mekong River in Southeast Asia. Now, wind. Is there any solution that isn’t a danger to people or the environment?
Well, there’s conservation for starters, and solar. I’ve given kudos to one office park developer that is turning the roofs of its parking garages into solar power stations.
And now a nod to Kevin Soohoo, director of IT at Air Systems Inc., a finalist for the Green IT Award of SearchCIO-Midmarket’s 2012 IT Leadership Awards. Soohoo, who also is a finalist for the Outstanding Midmarket IT Leader of the Year Award, has deployed a variety of power-saving gadgets and systems throughout his company, including smart power strips, solar keyboards and PC power management. Though small, each contribution to energy conservation adds up big on energy cost savings and usage. It’s a good place to start for all of us.
Each week, we cover all the best blogs and give an executive summary for busy CIOs. Things were shaking in the world of IT last week, with the breaking news that there’s a risk of data privacy on Skype and the very revealing study that women are considered better leaders than men. And let us not forget that the new iPad release dropped on Friday.
• As predicted when the new iPad release date was announced, throngs of Apple faithful waited in line to buy the new iPad last Friday, including the Woz. However, at least one store had more Apple employees than waiting customers.
• Are you on Google+ yet? Mike Elgan feels that after years of ineffectual social media marketing, Google+ is the best thing that ever happened to his career.
• The Sistine Chapel is now digitized and allows you to fly around examining Michelangelo’s crowning achievement. Does the Vatican have a CIO?
• According to a Harvard Business Review survey, women are considered better leaders than men. However, looking at the reasons why, this is hardly a coup for women in IT.
• Think your Google Fu has what it takes? Maybe, but we bet you don’t know each of these 10 Google search tricks.
• our next Skype internet telephone call might have an unwanted visitor. Microsoft and Skype have built a backdoor into the Skype internet telephone application that allows for “Lawful Interception” — aka eavesdropping.
• If you celebrated the new iPad release with a fresh tablet device, here’s how to transfer everything from an old iPad device to the new iPad painlessly.
This week, the Encyclopaedia Britannica announced that its most recent print run would be its last, ending a 244-year run of printing out giant tomes. The $1,395 print-bound sets were swooped up by libraries and embassies, but for those without the largess of government funding, the company offered a $70 annual fee for a Britannica online edition, which will be the company’s primary encyclopedia offering going forth.
As only 8,000 sets of the 2010 print edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica have been sold and another 4,000 are sitting in a warehouse, one has to wonder why the company took so long to devote itself to the Britannica online edition. Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, has been around for over a decade, has more than 16 million authors and is the sixth-most visited website in the world. Meanwhile, Britannica.com is ranked 6,509th most-visited website in the world. Ouch.
For more than 200 years, the Britannica was the trusted source for facts in the world. In the span of two decades, the world changed — and Britannica’s business model didn’t change fast enough. It may have gotten along with the $70 annual Britannica online edition in 1995, but once Wikipedia hit the scene as a free online encyclopedia, it was a wake-up call that the Britannica business model was being challenged.
While library lovers may moan for the loss of those beautiful gilded volumes on bookshelves, CIOs can take a reminder that innovation is not an option but a necessity. Obviously someone at Britannica had read the signs — the Britannica online edition was definitely a step in the right direction — but the corporate culture at Britannica is steeped in tradition. And every CIO knows — tradition can be the death by a million cuts.
I was thinking about automated content development before it was possible. Now it’s a reality.
My first job in journalism was to take calls on Friday nights from high school football coaches, who would relay the stats and a few details about the game. A bunch of other college interns and I would take the information, create a box score and write a short story about the game, which would then get compiled into a conference “wrap.”
The job was interesting but so repetitive that I used to say that robots could do it. It turns out I was right.
It’s being done now by Automated Insights, a Durham, N.C., startup. The company has married big data and content creation with developers and writers to create completely automated news and information services. I met with founder & CEO Robbie Allen at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, and he explained how he started out in sports but is now looking to branch out.
“We have done a lot in sports, but we’ve done a lot in other verticals as well, like finance, real estate and traffic, and others where there are large sources of data,” Allen said. “We are moving forward with the approach that we are not just sports, but a B2B company that’s leveraging customers’ big data to generate unique and interesting content that they can use in a variety of ways.”
I should be worried that computers have finally replaced real writers, but when you consider the demand for content around large data sets (think fantasy sports or rush-hour traffic reports), there is a real need.
Automated Insights’ writers design what the content is going to look like and the developers translate that into code, Allen explained.
“The writers determine what are the things that go into a game recap; what are the data triggers that we would want to generate a sentence or paragraph about,” he said. “And the developers are responsible for marrying that design with the available data to generate actual content.”
With Apple’s launch of its new iPad, the world is buzzing with tablet hype. Apple’s newest device, which will be available March 16, might have you wondering whether you should do away with laptops altogether and issue these shiny new tablets to your entire company. Or maybe you’re contemplating whether the high price tag is worth it to add another gadget to your workplace. According to TechTarget’s 2012 Global IT forecast, 34% of companies plan to implement tablets in the workplace in 2012. Although some have argued the possibility of tablets replacing laptops in the future, keep in mind that organizations and employees differ and have different preferences and needs.
Tablets are one way to ensure that employees can get work done while they’re out of the office, particularly if they are remote workers. A poll conducted by Sybase Inc. found that “working outside the office” is the No. 1 reason U.S. consumers give for their using a tablet. Half of those responding to the same poll said they are most likely to use a tablet to work on the go. On the other hand, laptops can do these things as well, although even the thinnest laptops are heavier than the lightweight and convenient tablets.
Many assume that replacing laptops with tablets is an economical move. In some cases, this assumption is correct. For example, the Kindle Fire averages $199, whereas the price of a laptop can range from $350 to $1,000 — sometimes even more. The Kindle Fire, however, doesn’t offer what a laptop does. With regards to work, you can check your email on it, but typing lengthy reports and analyzing data are more difficult than they would be on a laptop. If you are looking for a tablet with better business capabilities, you might have to be willing to spend about as much as you would for a laptop, if not more. The popular iPad starts at about $500 and can go up to $829; however, it has a long list of practical business apps that can help to compensate for the high price. These apps include business intelligence analytics apps, and IT dashboards, to name just two.
If you do decide that tablets can replace your company’s laptops, it will certainly take some easing into. It could be a viable strategy if you employ many remote workers or employees that are constantly in and out of the office. Still, tablets can be hard to work on for extended periods of time: Consider keeping desktops at office locations for employees who prefer them or who are working on a large project. Also remember that you will get what you pay for. A $200 tablet will not have the same functions as a premium tablet. Most importantly, listen to your employees. A fancy new technology is futile if nobody wants to use it.
Sarah Blanchette is a journalism student interning as an editorial assistant at TechTarget.
Big data, big picture, big salad. It really doesn’t matter, according to IBM’s Jeff Jonas: The more the merrier. Jonas, the big brain behind IBM’s business analytics efforts, spoke about the latest technological developments in crunching big numbers at the recent IBM PartnerWorld conference in New Orleans. And what’s going on is a big deal — very big.
Jonas, chief scientist of the IBM Entity Analytics group and an IBM Distinguished Engineer, doesn’t fear large data sets. He’s working on systems that work better and more efficiently, the more data there is to crunch. “Big data, new physics,” he calls it.
“It’s really about big data in context,” he said. “On this journey, with context, you end up with having higher-quality predictions because both your false positives and your false negatives are declining.”
Whereas data managers for years have worried about data cleansing, data hygenics and data sterilization, Jonas says that more data — and more information about that data — helps define patterns in data that otherwise would not be found. “Your bad data becomes your friend. It turns out you don’t want to overly clean your data.”
The next generation (dubbed G2) of business intelligence systems Jonas is working on will be able to evaluate new observations vs. previous ones in real time, he reported. It also will be able to handle “abstract entities” and “exotic features,” and become tolerant of “uncertainty or disagreement.” In other words, G2 will be able to “learn.” And all in a response time of less than 200 milliseconds.
Is there any limit to our ability to understand the world around us through data? That’s the big question.
We’ve tracked down the hottest blog posts and the best tech news that’s fit for consumption. This week, we’re narrowing in on the Apple iPad 3 release date, the problem with the original iPhone on the new AT&T networks, the latest work of the hacker group Anonymous and the philosophical question of how all this technology changes our perception of loneliness.
If you have an original iPhone in NYC, you’re about to become very sad when you attempt to make a call on a 2G network.
Is technology making us lonely? Or is it alleviating loneliness when we’re alone? Perhaps it’s two sides of the very same coin.
Remember how everyone was upset last week when it was discovered that iPhone apps were stealing copies of your personal photos? Android apps are doing it too.
Is it the project manager’s job to fix companies? Elizabeth Harrin ponders the role of project managers in portfolio management and delivering cost efficiencies.
Rumor has it that Yahoo’s new CEO Scott Thompson is gearing up for some big layoffs at Yahoo over the coming months.
Is being targeted by hacker supergroup Anonymous ever a good thing? It is when it’s a wake-up call for companies like Sony and the latest to fall, geopolitical analysis firm Stratfor.
It’s time for another round of Apple iPad 3 release date rumors. Where is it? Is it en route? Is it on the way? Is it a unicorn? Frantic fan boys are imagining all kinds of Apple iPad 3 release date scenarios while they salivate over the next precious Apple deliverable.
NEW ORLEANS — The highlight of IBM PartnerWorld 2012 was not the sales updates nor the award winners, but a half-hour presentation by IBM’s chief scientist, Jeff Jonas. The Las Vegas resident genius invigorated the 1,000-strong crowd of IBM’s partners and guests, starting with the simple tale of a very complicated puzzle experiment.
Jonas took a puzzle and removed 10% of the pieces, threw another four partial puzzles into the mix, then a duplicate of the first puzzle, also with pieces missing. He watched how long it took four teenagers to realize that they had been duped (a little under three hours) and how long they sorted out duplicate “data,” as well as data that didn’t belong to the picture they were creating.
For instance, what was a Las Vegas neon sign doing in a puzzle that clearly depicted “hillbillies” on a porch? Jonas explained how this represented exactly the constraints our big data analysis efforts operate under. Midmarket companies aren’t playing with a single puzzle showing the neon landscape of Las Vegas or a charming vignette of some country types playing jug-band music.
As IBM’s chief scientist explained, until you have context, you wonder if the puzzle piece with flames on it is showing a fire in a fireplace or a fire in the kitchen. As the puzzle experiment at PartnerWorld demonstrated, we are in danger of throwing out “bad data” that could become useful in the future. Scott Lowe discussed this phenomenon in our tip last week on Big Chaos.
As a big data analytics junkie, I see the inherent value in using technology to make these connections. For instance, at PartnerWorld, Jonas cited the example of a top five major U.S. retailer at which two out of every 1,000 new hires had been charged with theft from that very same retailer. It boggles the mind that HR wasn’t talking to the loss prevention department, and yet it’s easy enough for a giant enterprise to make such a glaring oversight. Jonas calls this enterprise amnesia and cautioned that companies must stop trying to squeeze data out of the puzzle pieces. Instead, “the data must find the data and the relevance must find the user.”
Of course, IBM PartnerWorld exists to encourage midmarket CIOs to use its big data analytics, under the wing of Jonas, its resident genius and chief scientist. I do wonder, though, if midmarket companies aren’t being coaxed to apply the big-data-analytics square peg into a round hole. It’s rarely a case of pulling out a snazzy GUI to call up a magic answer, as much as departments outside IT would like to imagine.
Big data analytics requires some level of finesse, not to mention some intuitive leaps, to yield the gold in them thar hills. Are midmarket companies ready to take the dive? I suspect many midmarket companies’ big data analytics might be driven from departments outside the CIO’s control. But smart CIOs will have anticipated this movement and taken some proactive measures to insure that the right action is taken at the right time.
Most midmarket IT executives don’t see themselves job hunting anytime in the near future. According to a CIO survey conducted this past November, 28% of senior IT executives said they’re satisfied with their current jobs and companies and plan to stay in their positions for the foreseeable future. In addition, 42% of those surveyed replied that they’re open to new job opportunities but aren’t actively seeking new positions. Only 13% of midmarket senior IT executives reported that they’re actively looking for new positions for 2012, according to the same CIO survey.
Despite a difficult job, a total of 70% of those surveyed reported that they aren’t seeking new positions or jobs for 2012. A mere 2% said they’re eyeing internal moves, and 15% reported that they’re keeping their eyes open for when the economy picks up. Continued »
After a month fraught with data privacy disasters, the big guns are stepping up to the plate. Yesterday, the White House issued a call for Congress to pass a “privacy bill of rights” that will give U.S. citizens a finer degree of control over their personal privacy. The proposed bill includes seven governing principles: individual control, transparency, respect for context, security, access and accuracy, focused collection, and accountability.
Now, Google has agreed to support the Do-Not-Track button and will add it to Chrome within nine months. You may remember that the Federal Trade Commission called for the adoption of a Do-Not-Track button on Web browsers two years ago. In theory, it would allow consumers more autonomy in sharing their own personal privacy with third parties. Nevertheless, when Firefox and Internet Explorer added Do-Not-Track buttons, users were still tracked by advertisers and companies that hadn’t agreed to honor the arrangement. What is it they say about good intentions?
Meanwhile, California is attempting to shut down data privacy leaks via mobile applications. The state has reached an agreement with Google, Hewlett-Packard, Amazon.com, Apple, Microsoft and Research In Motion — one that it hopes will protect smartphone users from further privacy breaches like the Path and Google debacles uncovered earlier this month.
When it comes to the Internet and government intervention, we have to be mindful of the careful dance around precedent. We applaud when the U.S. government tries to protect us from data poachers with a privacy bill of rights, but just a month ago we were up in arms about the Stop Online Piracy Act. So, which is it going to be? Do we want the government regulating the Internet or don’t we? As you well know, I tend to have a cold, black heart that’s filled to the brim with pessimism about Internet privacy; the Do-Not-Track button and the White House’s privacy bill of rights feel to me like security theatre.
What do you think? Will the Do-Not-Track button make a difference in upholding consumer data privacy? Is it the role of government to regulate the Internet? The comments are waiting to hear from you.


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Studies show pet ownership benefits senior citizens
Studies have shown that pet ownership by seniors can help with memory, physical health — including heart health — and overall well-being. These benefits have been well documented and have stimulated many organizations and private companies to encourage pet ownership.
Different pets are now being classified as having different benefits, and one company has even turned to technology to help pet owners who might not be able to have or care for animals.
The Pets for the Elderly Foundation supports pet ownership and adoption from shelters for seniors. It has compiled research and articles on pet ownership by seniors going back as far as 1980. One study from 1986 surveyed attitudes of the elderly regarding the benefits of pets. It found 82 percent said pets help them when they feel sad, 71 percent said pets help them when they feel bad physically, and 65 percent said touching their pet made them feel better.
The research concluded, “Pets are an integral component of the social support network for many individuals and therefore probably contribute to public health and well-being."
Different animals and even breeds are also now being recommended as prescriptions for different purposes. Dogs are suggested for mobility because they are active and can help seniors who have a goal of more physical activity. Dog walking also provides a way for seniors to socialize and gives them something in common with others. Smaller and toy breeds, along with older animals, are most often suggested for seniors. Older dogs are more likely to be house-trained and are usually calmer and more low maintenance.
Cats are suggested because they adapt well if someone has to move and can fend for themselves if owners travel or spend time away from home. Cats can fit into someone’s lifestyle very easily and are fairly low maintenance. Most importantly, studies show that cat owners have been found to have a one-third lower risk for heart attack than non-cat owners. Research attributes this to cats’ ability to reduce stress and anxiety, which might otherwise negatively impact cardiovascular health.
Finally, fish have been proposed as the best for relaxation and stress relief, and birds have been said to be the best for decreasing loneliness and providing encouragement for seniors to talk, interact and teach.
But what about seniors who might have reached the point where they cannot physically or mentally care for a pet?
The toy company Hasbro created the "Joy for All" brand two years ago that uses “animatronic technology that enables a purring experience the user can actually feel. Companion Pets respond to petting, hugging and motion through built-in sensors, authentic cat sound effects, and soft fur inspired by real felines.”
The brand began with three models of cats and now has a puppy as part of its line. And these robotic pets are helping. One nursing home in Illinois ordered 11 cats and shared that one dementia patient experienced a small miracle when she finally began speaking and interacting with other residents after the robotic cat arrived. She named the cat after one she had when she was a child and her physical health improved dramatically.
Jeffery Ritter is development coordinator at Flagler Humane Society and can be reached at email@example.com. Flagler Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 1980. For more information, go to flaglerhumanesociety.org.

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JVC Announces New 2023 Board of Directors Appointees
The three additions are industry veterans.
Brandee Dallow previously served as a director from 2018 to 2020, and rejoins the board this year.
Dallow has spent more than 20 years in the jewelry industry. Currently, she is the chief communications and sustainability officer at Grandview Klein Diamonds.
Previously, she worked for more than a decade at diamond company Julius Klein.
In the past, Dallow founded sustainability-focused Fine Girl Communications. She has also served as the North America regional membership, business development, and engagement lead for the Responsible Jewellery Council and as president of the Women’s Jewelry Association Foundation and International Board.
“I am positively elated to join the board of JVC and support its incredibly strong female staff, whose principles so closely mirror my own values, and whose accomplishments for and on behalf of the North America fine jewelry industry are abundant,” Dallow said.
“In my mind, there is no more important and necessary association in our space today.”
Steven Holtzman is vice chairman at Chicago jewelry store and official Rolex retailer C.D. Peacock. He is also vice chairman of official Rolex retailer Luxury Swiss in Miami’s Design District.
Holtzman has spent five decades working in distribution, manufacturing, and sales.
In 2005, he founded haute horlogerie Swiss watch brand Maîtres du Temps. He was previously the owner of Roger Dubuis North America, which he sold to Richemont in 2008.
He was also owner of multi-brand watch distributor Helvetia Time Corp. and vice president of sales at Gruen Watch Company, his family’s business.
Holtzman said, “I am honored to have the privilege of joining the board of JVC, a revered name in the jewelry industry, and to be a part of their noble pursuit towards maintaining the utmost ethical and moral values.”
Feriel Zerouki is the senior vice president of corporate affairs at De Beers Group.
She began her tenure at De Beers as a supply chain analyst before becoming the head of government and industry relations, then the senior vice president of international relations and ethical initiatives for the companies.
“I’m delighted to be joining the JVC board and to have the opportunity to contribute to JVC’s critical agenda of upholding the highest standards of ethics and integrity within the industry,” she said.
“The JVC’s respected advocacy on behalf of the U.S. industry and its trusted guidance to members on a wide range of issues has made it highly regarded by all stakeholders. I look forward to collaborating with esteemed industry colleagues as part of the board to help advance this important work.”
With the three new additions, JVC now has 34 directors on its board.
The organization is currently gathering endorsements and feedback from the gem, jewelry, and watch industries for the Federal Trade Commission’s revisions to its Green Guides, which affect how businesses can market themselves as “eco-friendly” to consumers.
JVC said it is also at work with the U.S. government to standardize and present information on Russian diamond sanctions for the trade.
The lab-grown diamond brand also collaborated with the website The Future Rocks on a collection launching today.
It’s the hero piece of the newest "Green Jewel" collection, a collaborative offering from the two mines.
With holiday proposals right around the corner, encourage your customers to go for platinum when making the big purchase.
The retail offering lets customers track their diamond’s journey.
In a world where the sparkle of a gemstone is only as brilliant as the trust behind it, IGI's purpose is truly invaluable.
The Luele mine is expected to eventually make the country the world’s third-largest diamond producer.
From Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, 200.4 million consumers shopped online and in stores.
The best quotes from the Oracle of Omaha and his right-hand man Charlie Munger from the 2018 Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting.
Next year’s milestone show will be full of educational programming and collaborations.
The Albany Business Review recently honored the 100-year-old company.
To honor his legacy, GIA has set up a scholarship in his name.
There have been eight attacks in the last month, spanning from a jewelry store parking lot in Rhode Island to highways in California.
The organization recognized outstanding industry players at its celebratory event.
Emmanuel Raheb outlines three reasons why Hulu advertising and football can be a game changer for your jewelry store’s marketing.


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Fintech startup Stash announced today it closed out its Series A round at $9.25 million.
Goodwater Capital, specializing in early-stage consumer technology companies, and Valar Ventures led the round, with participation from Entrée Capital.
Stash is one of the fastest-growing financial services targeted at millennials. Acknowledging a general distrust of big banks on Wall Street, the company aims to help young people take ownership of their investments with the confidence that they won’t be screwed over by corporate interests at big investing firms. They don’t charge hidden fees or commission for buying or selling investments, or for transferring money in and out of accounts. Instead, the company charges just $1 a month for accounts under $5,000 and 0.25 percent a year for accounts over $5,000.
Since they launched in October 2015, Stash has attracted over 150,000 investor accounts and close to 500,000 content subscribers.
"My co-founder Ed and I left our jobs because we believe everyone should have access to financial opportunity,” CEO Brandon Krieg said in a statement. "After a combined 30+ years in the business, we know that Wall Street can be fundamentally unfair to smaller investors and makes it hard for the individual investor to accomplish their goals. We want to create real change — the kind that transforms the financial literacy gap and narrows the vast division of wealth that plagues our country."
The company plans to use the new funds to accelerate user growth and build out their tech platform.


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Carnival Corporation which operates major cruise lines like Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises extends its contract with Port Everglades in Florida.
The cruise company signed an addendum to one of its most strategic passenger terminal agreements. The contract with one of the world’s top 3 cruise ports is extended to 2030. The original agreement was signed in 2010.
Carnival Corp ships will have preferential use of Cruise Terminal 4, which reopened last year after $24 million worth of renovations and upgrades designed for greater efficiency and guest convenience. To cater for larger ships the terminal 4 is also getting an estimated $13.6 million slip extension which is scheduled to be completed in mid-2017.
Steve Cernak, chief executive and port director of Port Everglades said:
“Carnival Corporation is a critical Port Everglades partner, and its many unique cruise line brands offer guests sailing into and out of our port with a wide variety of cruise experiences and itineraries.”
“Carnival Corporation has a strong, long-standing presence in the Broward County community, and the additional five years included in the agreement reinforces that commitment. We look forward to welcoming the newest member of Holland America Line’s fleet, ms Koningsdam, to our sunny shores in November.”
Giora Israel, senior vice president of global port and destination development for Carnival Corporation said:
“Florida is the largest cruise market in the world, and we are thrilled to extend our agreement with Port Everglades, which is an extremely convenient and popular location for our guests with close proximity to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and the Caribbean, the world’s most popular region for cruise vacations.”
“We place great value on the long and successful relationship we have built with the port andBroward County, and we look forward to working together to meet our most important goal — providing memorable vacation experiences for our guests for many years to come.”
As part of the long-term agreement, the company also has preferential use of three additional terminals, Cruise Terminals 2, 21 and 26, along with one additional terminal. This provides five terminals in total for Carnival Corporation to serve its guests who visit Fort Lauderdale as part of their cruise vacation.
Port Everglades and Carnival Corporation will be engaging in discussions about the possibility of further upgrades to Terminal 21. This will be for the latest and future cruise ships that will homeport there. Carnival Cruise Line will be deploying the Carnival Splendor to the port for Summer 2017 as part of its commitment.
The cruise company has 10 cruise lines calling at Port Everglades, they carry nearly a million and a half passengers each year. 28 different ships account for a combined average of more than 300 calls at the port each year.


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One of the most beloved releases by players in the era of **weather. And now, the iconic video game will fulfill its tenth anniversary of existence, sufficient reason to sell collector edition merchandise.
Specifically, it is the official soundtrack in its anniversary version, which has a dignified remastering for all musical pieces in digital version or through a vinyl. In addition, the band Health, who created the soundtrack, decided to include for the first time in history unpublished issues that 10 years later come to light.
Here the statements of the L.A Style Musical Group:
When we started working in the score of Max Payne 3, we could not have planned the transcendental effect that it would have on the trajectory of our band and the music we do. Now, 10 years later, we remain as proud as always of being part of the story.
For now, there is no launch date or prices for this anniversary merchandise. But it ensures that there will be an important advance later. In addition, let’s not forget that the exact date to celebrate the video game birthday is next Sunday May 15, day more information is made more information.
Max Payne 3 can currently be played in Steam or the launcher of pc of Rockstar Games. Also through the retrocompatibility of xbox series x/s.


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Sales of the cookbook will support hospitality industry employees affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The acclaimed barbecue joint will now operate all of its locations for curbside pickup seven days a week, minus Easter.
The popular restaurant is also offering a superb selection of wines, beers, bottled cocktails and sodas.
In Overland Park, Sobahn is working to increase its digital marketing and carryout options.
Look for honey-glazed ham, mashed potatoes, mac 'n' cheese and more.
The pop up on Wed., April 8 will feature 300 meals that include two chicken tamales with salsa verde, corn masa and a café con leche.
The new fund comes from Major Brands and Beam Suntory.
You'll find shelf-stable food items, made-from-scratch pastries and baked goods, freshly roasted coffee, cleaning supplies and even toilet paper.
All Together is an open invitation for any brewer worldwide to participate by brewing a New England IPA or West Coast IPA based on an open-source recipe.
As COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, continues to spread throughout the U.S., few industries are being hit quite like the restaurant industry. One of the ways many restaurants are trying to adapt is by offering expanded options for delivery, takeout and curbside pickup.
The bakery offers croissants, New York-style bagels, danishes, mochi donuts and more.
Each family taco kit is intended to feed four folks, and comes with everything to build your ideal taco.
The group plans to choose new benefactors every few weeks.
The pilot program is designed to feed the community, but also to keep restaurants from going out of business and help workers stay employed.
The association has raised nearly $20,000 so far.
The pop-up concept features a rotation of chefs who represent different regions of Asia.
Kansas City breweries, restaurants and bars were recently required to close for dine-in service due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but you can still stock up on some of your favorite craft beers, wine and spirits.
Restaurant demand has dropped for meat, dairy and produce sourced from local farms.


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Welcome to the Brave New World of California Cannabis where regulations for mold and filth are absurdly loose.
Project CBD critiques California’s proposed regulations for testing pesticides, heavy metals, and solvents.
Two common pesticides used on cannabis highlight the inconsistency of current pesticide regulations.
Which growing method produces better cannabis—sungrown, indoors, or greenhouse?
Companion planting offers many benefits for marijuana growers.
Kristin Nevedal talks about pesticide regulation, pest management, and the need for further research.


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With a long history as one of the major celebrity endorsers, Michael Jackson is returning as the spokesman for Pepsi, three years after his death. The Michael Jackson Estate has teamed up once again with the popular soda brand for a campaign to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s platinum-selling 1987 album, BAD.
As part of the “Life For Now” campaign, Pepsi is honoring The King of Pop’s iconic album with a special release of a billion commemorative cans around the world featuring a silhouette of Jackson, plus releasing new mixes of his music and organizing live events for fans to celebrate the classic hits from BAD in a brand new way.
The global campaign will feature the iconic silhouette of Jackson’s pose from his 1984 “The Chase” Pepsi commercial.
“Michael did three successive deals with Pepsi, on the Victory Tour, the Bad Tour and the Dangerous Tour, so this extends a long and very successful relationship with the brand,” The MJ Estate said in a statement. “Michael would have loved that we are making the record books with his image on a billion cans around the world. And the campaign will be a great kickoff to the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of BAD.”
Jackson has had a running history with Pepsi by appearing in several commercials during his career, including the “Chase” spots.
The new campaign will launch in the U.S. later in May with the release of limited edition 16-ounce King of Pop cans that will also be paired with a way for fans to get remixes off the BAD album.
– Brit Brickle, 94.7 The Wave


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The text below is a June 6, 2012, press release issued by the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. “Federal enforcement actions – the asset forfeiture lawsuits and warning letters – have now targeted more than 220 marijuana stores and grows in the Central District of California.” That is more than two times the number of dispensaries Arizona will have, but each Arizona dispensary will be growing and selling on a large scale by virtue of the fact Arizona’s medical marijuana law limits the number of dispensaries.
If you are involved with an organization that is seeking to obtain a license to operate an Arizona medical marijuana dispensary or a landlord that is considering leasing to a dispensary you must read this press release and note the text in bold in red then ask yourself this question:
Why in the world would you want to risk your future by getting involved with an Arizona medical marijuana dispensary?
Federal Enforcement Actions Against Commercial Marijuana Operations Continue with Warning Letters and Civil Lawsuits Targeting Illegal Storefronts in Los Angeles County
LOS ANGELES – As part of the ongoing federal enforcement actions against the commercial marijuana industry in California, federal authorities this week filed two asset forfeiture lawsuits against properties housing three marijuana stores in Santa Fe Springs and sent warning letters to people associated with another 34 illegal marijuana operations in Los Angeles County.
The warning letters and lawsuits target all known marijuana stores in the communities of Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, South El Monte, La Mirada, Diamond Bar, Artesia, Paramount, South Gate, City of Commerce, Agoura Hills and Malibu.
The two civil asset forfeiture complaints were filed yesterday in United States District Court in Los Angeles against two properties in Santa Fe Springs where marijuana stores are currently operating. According to the lawsuits, “Under federal law, the distribution of marijuana (a Schedule I controlled substance under Title 21) is prohibited except under very limited circumstances not applicable here. The government is informed and believes that at all times relevant to this complaint, the operation of the marijuana stores on the defendant property was not (and is not) permitted under California law.”
The forfeiture lawsuits allege that the owners of the properties knowingly allowed commercial marijuana stores to operate in Santa Fe Springs. The buildings named in the forfeiture lawsuits house:
two marijuana stores located on one property on Rosecrans Avenue which have been the subject of cease and desist letters issued by Santa Fe Springs and which appear to involve a landlord as a silent partner; and
a marijuana store on Telegraph Road that received a cease and desist letter from the city, and which is being operated by a man with a prior conviction in state court for possession of marijuana for sale.
The two marijuana stores at the Rosecrans Avenue location – Tri-City Patient’s Association and the Canna-America Collective (until recently known as the Organic Way Collective) – were the subject of federal search warrants that were executed this morning.
In conjunction with the filing of the asset forfeiture complaints, letters were mailed out yesterday to the property owners and operators of 34 additional marijuana stores that are either currently operating or were recently closed in selected areas in Los Angeles. The warning letters give the operators and landlords 14 days to come into compliance with federal law or risk potential civil or criminal actions.
This week’s enforcement actions in Los Angeles County follow similar actions in recent months across the seven-county Central District of California. Starting in October 2011, prosecutors began filing asset forfeiture lawsuits and sending letters to marijuana operations in selected areas in the Central District of California (see, for example: http://www.justice.gov/usao/cac/Pressroom/2012/056.html).
With the lawsuits filed this week, the United States Attorney’s Office has filed a total of 12 asset forfeiture complaints. Three of those actions have been resolved with the closure of the marijuana stores and court-approved consent decrees in which property owners agreed that they would no longer rent to people associated with illegal marijuana operations or the property would be subject to an immediate forfeiture to the government.
Federal enforcement actions – the asset forfeiture lawsuits and warning letters – have now targeted more than 220 marijuana stores and grows in the Central District of California. The majority of those stores are now closed, are the subject of eviction proceedings by landlords, or have been the subject of additional federal enforcement actions such as search warrants.
In October 2011, the four United States Attorneys in California announced the coordinated enforcement actions targeting illegal marijuana cultivation and trafficking (see: http://www.justice.gov/usao/cac/Pressroom/2011/144a.html).
The United States Attorney’s Office is working in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS – Criminal Investigation. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which provides law enforcement services in most of the communities targeted this week, provided substantial assistance to federal authorities.
Release No. 12-074


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Four new Kumho tyres coming to The Tire Cologne
Kumho Tire says it will have a “major presence” at The Tire Cologne and display its entire range of passenger car and truck tyres. In addition, details of no less than four new products will be revealed at the 387 square metre Kumho exhibition space.
The Kumho presence at The Tire Cologne (Hall 6.1, Stand B010 + C019) will be split into themed zones dedicated to various product segments. An interactive media wall will portray the latest trends and developments from the South Korean tyre manufacturer, while an “interesting and unusual vehicle” will be displayed – without spoiling the surprise, Kumho Tire commented that its presence will confirm “the company’s legendary ability to design tyres for tomorrow’s vehicles in the here and now.”
“Our customers are obviously keen for more news of Kumho Tire in Europe, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to our stand so we can inform them of our current situation, latest products and strategy for the future,” commented Thomas Schlich, acting vice-president of Kumho Tire GmbH.”


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24th August 1999 Archive
Browse by publication date, or search the site.
'Plumbers' to be legalised -- if it gets through Congress...
Crypto works the same horrifying voodoo on government control-freaks the world over, but cultural distinctions will colour their response. If the British Nanny State would become a cruel bully, its American companion aspires to become a twitchy, sweaty sneak thief. Or such is the impression we get from the Department of Justice' …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 06:15
A year ago Slippage points to next century...
From The Register -- a year back Gartner Group is the latest outfit to advise its clients to steer clear of Windows NT 5.0 for the next couple of years. The company is joining the ranks of those who feel a usable version of NT 5.0 won't ship in 1999, and under these circumstances widespread deployment will have to wait another …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 07:43
Is the 26th September date a typo?
When we reported a week or so back that Dabs Direct was listing a PIII .18 Coppermine chip available at the end of next month, our local Intel rep responded by saying it was probably a typo. (Story: PIII/600 with 133MHz FSB outed!!!) We now admit it may well have been a typo. It should have been the 27th of September. According …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 07:58
Young Turks beat Old Guard's head in and blame media
After a series of reports that HP would ditch Merced in favour of its successor, McKinley, the company has been forced to issue a formal statement of rebuttal. We have to admit that we joined in the fun too, and may indeed have fanned some of the flames, but HP's main media target is news.com. The statement said it "corrects" a …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 08:07
Killing it off is a great victory for Java, apparently...
Around 15 months after announcing the project, Sun and IBM have pulled the plugs on JavaOS for Business, which was intended to produce a Java-based operating system for network computers. Allegedly. The joint effort also had a lot to do with combining the weight of the two companies to defend "pure" Java standards against the …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 08:16
And do you think MS Deutschland is ethical? Visionary? Arrogant?
Microsoft Germany has been doing some soul searching regarding Linux, reports Germany's c't magazine. The company has been conducting telephone surveys of German journalists covering its own perceived image, but also including a large section specific to the Linux OS. MS wants to know what the strengths and weaknesses of Linux …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 08:18
Considering how fast the old guard is falling off the perch, it could be a smart career move
SGI CEO Rick Belluzzo resigned unexpectedly yesterday, and is now being tipped to take charge of Microsoft's Internet operations, including the Microsoft Network. This is one of the poison chalice jobs at Microsoft -- the company has been searching for somebody to run it for nigh on a year, without success until now. SGI has …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 08:21
He got his drill out and off his golden fingers went
A Japanese site is claiming that it has succeeded in clocking an AMD Athlon 500 to 650MHz. Over here is an explanation, in Japanese, of how he achieved the speeds, together with some tables of results. (The tables are in English). According to Daiki, this site is not the first to achieve an overclock. He says the first to win …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 08:51
Q maintains it will keep Win NT 64 going
Further details of Compaq's plans over Windows NT development has emerged in a leaked memo posted on a US web site. Enrico Pesatori, senior VP at Compaq, sent out the memo Friday, and the memo is posted on the Shannon knows Compaq web site. Pesatori claims that Compaq is taking steps to simplify its platform strategy, and …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 09:14
Survey finds that sometimes people at work aren't actually working -- no way!
More than a third of all employees "surf the Web constantly", according to another tedious and wholly pointless Internet survey from the US. Published by online IT recruitment company VaultReports.com, the report warns that more and more employees are spending time online instead of working. The findings of this report will, no …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 09:34
MS on Trial And the appeal court agrees Sun has a good case
There was a mixed decision yesterday by the Court of Appeals in the long-running Java corruption trial in which Sun has accused Microsoft of trying to pollute Java. Yesterday's unanimous Opinion resulted from an appeal by Microsoft over some technical issues about the preliminary injunction. The essence of the decision is that …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 09:54
Updated Lorry driver held hostage in armed robbery
Armed thieves made off with £1 million worth of Compaq kit on Saturday after disguising themselves as police officers and holding a lorry driver hostage. The driver was stopped on the M6 near Knutsford, Cheshire, by what he thought were officials or police. He was ordered out of the Scannia lorry at gunpoint, and three men …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 10:15
Sounds like a good idea, perhaps the UK government should get one too
President Clnton has appointed a 39-year-old woman to become the e-commerce czar for the US. Elizabeth B Echols has been appointed director of the Electronic Commerce Working Group, according to a report in the New York Times. Among other things, Echols' job is to stand up for consumers' right online and to create a "global e- …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 10:19
Analysis Dixons supports Athlon and volumes good
The jury, in the shape of the press and the various Web hardware sites, has now been out for a month on the performance of the AMD Athlon microprocessor. Practically all of the reviews of the Athlon K7 we've read have given it glowing reviews, and reported strong performance gains over the Pentium III. Further, senior analysts …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 11:25
Management cull as chairman outlines turnaround hopes
Beleaguered PC vendor, Packard Bell NEC, has taken an axe to its top level management as part of its continuing efforts to stage a comeback. Paul Greenwood becomes general manager of the company's consumer division - prior to his new appointment, Greenwood was executive vice president of operations and manufacturing. Greenwood's …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 12:06
Former electronics giant takes only way out as LG steps in to take over
LG Electronics is to assume full ownership of Zenith Electronics, as the latter collapses into bankruptcy. Zenith makes a wide range of business and consumer electronics. It filed for Chapter 11 status yesterday at the offices of the US Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware. It was once the leading TV set company in the US, …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 12:27
Armed robbery prompts unexpected confession
Compaq has admitted that it does not build its own notebooks, following Saturday's armed robbery of £1 million of kit in Cheshire. The PC giant came clean last night, telling The Register that the notebook base parts that were stolen in transit were actually the property of Taiwanese OEM Inventec. Last month, The Register …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 12:28
Stone me...don't they sign NDAs?
A report on HardOCP says that Dabs Direct is advertising an Abit Camino i820 motherboard in the UK. That lends further credence to stories we have already written suggesting that the Camino chipset will arrive earlier than expected. According to the report, the mobo is PC99 compliant with no ISA sockets, uses a Slot One …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 12:40
MS on Trial The third part of our analysis of the DoJ's case
The DoJ's and plaintiff States' Joint Proposed Findings of Fact is the first time the DoJ has been able to set out logically its evidence concerning Microsoft's attempt to split the browser market. It would be wrong to portray the issue as being Netscape versus Microsoft because the focus is on whether Microsoft has used illegal …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 13:51
MS on Trial Part two of our analysis of the DoJ's case
From the beginning, the Plaintiffs' Joint Proposed Findings of Fact (PJPFF) uses Microsoft's statements and documents to great effect. Where better to find that a browser is an application [and not a part of the operating system] than in the Microsoft Press Computer Dictionary? The DoJ starts with the meat of the case - that …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 13:57
Win98SE problems to blame?
Chipzilla has sneaked out a bunch of new products, but apparently forgot to tell its spin paramedics. The Cayman 810 Celeron mobo now has a presence on the Intel support web site at http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/ca810/ where users will no doubt be thrilled to discover yet more incompatibilities with the …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 14:11
When we said crucial, we meant crucial, dammit...
A shortage of vital chips could cut output from some computer motherboard makers by more than half during the next two months, industry sources say. Yesterday, The Register exclusively reported vast shortages of passive components. (Go here) Manufacturers are currently trying to increase production in preparation for the peak …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 14:11
Now it has plans to sell 'ecommerce in a box'
PSINet is to buy Transfer Network Services (TNS), the ecommerce and data processing specialists, in a cash and stock deal worth an estimated $720 million. The move is widely regarded as being a shot across the bows of other ecommerce players, such as IBM, UUNet and AT&T. According to reports on Newsbytes, Gary Arlen, president …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 14:49
Never mind the base units, there go the TFTs
The lorry-load of Compaq notebooks stolen this weekend represented around five per cent of the vendor's anticipated UK quarterly laptop sales. According to IDC, Compaq sold around 21,000 notebooks in Q2, and 31,000 in Q1 this year. Which means the 1,440 base units stolen on Saturday could put a dent in shipping. In all, 810 …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 15:10
First half is a tale of mixed fortunes
Dialog's pre-tax profits dropped to £1.7 million from last year's £7 million, for the six months ended 30 June. The database provider saw sales fall slightly to £87.3 million from £88.8 million for the same period last year. Results for the second quarter were up on the first quarter – net profit grew 200 per cent to £1.3 …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 15:12
Disk drive price war claims more scalps
Seagate Technology is to cut 1,600 staff in Singapore as part of its restructure. The disk drive maker is reviewing its business globally and is set to make changes over the next few months. A Seagate representative said this would involve reducing the company's headcount. No figure had been placed on the number of jobs to be …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 15:37
Two brands for the price of one
People wearing sandwich boards and carrying placards declaring "The N is nigh" helped launch AOL UK's new subscription-free ISP Netscape Online. Scores of anonymous human billboards trudged around London today in the drizzle stopping only occasionally to be photographed by bemused tourists. Yet behind the glamour, today's launch …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 15:58
Launch of free service to erode AOL user base
The MD of LineOne has mocked AOL's decision to launch a subscription-free ISP accusing his rival of being caught in two minds. He said the launch of Netscape Online showed AOL's pricing strategy was confused. "Either you believe in the [subscription] free model or not," said Ajay Chowdhury speaking to The Register earlier today …
Business 24 Aug 1999, 16:00


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Qardio was one of the startups competing in our battlefield competition at Disrupt Europe 2013, last October. On stage in Berlin it showed off a forthcoming consumer ECG monitor, the QardioCore, along with a wireless blood pressure monitoring device, QardioArm. The startup has now kicked off a crowdfunding campaign to help get the less expensive of the two, the QardioArm, to market — using the Indiegogo platform as its springboard.
Qardio’s devices are designed to undercut the high cost of current-gen medical kit, while also offering a simpler and more passive way for people to monitor their health that leverages the power of smartphones/tablets — with data from Qardio’s hardware streamed or synced to the user’s mobile device where it can be tracked and reviewed.
Qardio is looking for $100,000 in crowdfunding via Indiegogo to help it get the smart blood pressure monitor to market. It previously said it expects this device to retail for $99 but is offering it to early backers for $75.
This campaign is a flexible funding one, meaning Qardio does not need to meet that target in order to get the pledged funds. Indeed, it largely looks to be using Indiegogo to boost visibility — i.e., mostly as an additional marketing channel — and to get feedback and ideas to help further development, rather than because it needs the cash for manufacturing.
The QardioArm syncs blood pressure readings to Qardio’s secure cloud, where data can then be shared with others, such as your doctor. Users can also view their blood pressure data in Qardio’s companion iOS app.
As to when the QardioArm will be in the hands of users, the startup says it’s currently awaiting “final clearance” from the US Food and Drug Administration (for shipping to the US) and certification under EU Product Directives (for Europe).
It’s currently expecting to get clearance in time to ship the QardioArm to backers in March 2014 — which fits with its previously discussed timetable. At Disrupt Berlin, Qardio said it was planning to retail both the QardioCore and QardioArm online and through brick-and-mortar partnerships early this year.
At the time of writing, a few days into its Indiegogo campaign and with 27 days left to run, Qardio has raised more than $30,500.


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Steve Jobs once said, “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like, design is how it works.” It’s a quote that easily relates to the challenges and successes Herndon artist Adam Winsor is currently facing as he competes in the U.S. Department of Energy’s American-Made Solar Prize, creating solar panels that transform roofs into artwork.
The panels resemble mosaic tiles, like stained-glass windows at a cathedral, but they’re also efficient in producing solar energy. The designs landed Winsor a finalist spot in the American-Made Solar Prize, a $3 million competition held by the Department of Energy to encourage entrepreneurs to advance solar research and product development, open to private companies, universities, organizations and individuals.
“Each solar panel is made up of usually 60 or 70 smaller solar cells, which is a little rectangular square module that’s in the solar panel,” Winsor says. “It’s dark blue or black, with some parallel silver lines running on it, called front contact traces, that collect the electrons that are liberated by the photons from the sun and are sent into the circuitry for the power. My innovation that’s gotten me to this round of the prize is that I’m redesigning those functional front contact traces to be interesting and pretty, rather than just being a grid.”
Instead of parallel lines, Winsor’s designs turn the front contact traces into alternative forms, creating geometric shapes out of the solar panels when the tiles are installed together. “My designs are a little less efficient than the standard ones, because I’m introducing curves and loops and corners into the pathways,” Winsor says. “That makes the electrons have to travel a little bit farther to get where they’re going. We’re seeing a 1% to 2% decrease in efficiency, but I think a lot of people are willing to take that much of a hit because it is something that looks nice.”
It’s not an easy project, especially for a former freelance designer who previously had no experience with solar technology and usually creates illustrations for work. But Winsor is excelling at it. “At the beginning of this, I had a layman’s knowledge of solar and that was it,” Winsor says. “I heard about the competition through my friends at the Nova Labs makerspace in Reston. I worked up a visual prototype, but it wasn’t functional, just spray paint and glass basically, put together a short video and submitted that to the first stage of the prize.”
His pitch in the competition landed him a spot out of 10 in the semifinalist round, announced during the Solar Power International conference in September 2019, resulting in $50,000 to develop a prototype of his proposed solar panels. Now as a finalist (one of nine), he’s received an additional $100,000 in funding and $75,000 in voucher money that can be spent at the Department of Energy’s National Labs and with the American-Made Network. The winner of the competition was originally set to be announced at an event in July, but, as of press time, it has not been decided if the conference will be held virtually or rescheduled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Winsor has taken his newfound passion and has launched Asoleyo Architectural Solar, the solar branch of his design company, Mirimantis Design. “Right now, I have a small batch of prototypes, and the purpose of the next three months is to work toward a mass-producible prototype for manufacturing,” Winsor says. “We don’t have anything commercially available yet, but we are seeking partners for pilot installation.”
His ultimate goal is to create solar cells that are decorative and rotatable, “so that you can combine them in larger, mosaic patterns, kind of like ceramic tile,” Winsor says. “Eventually, I want to have a book of different patterns for clients to offer custom cell designs for big projects that want to stand out. I’ve always had a passion for combining art and science, where I can play with putting technology into something that really looks nice and functional. This is a life goal achieved.”
This post originally appeared in our June/July 2020 print issue. For more local stories, subscribe to our weekly newsletters.


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Corn prices are expected to open steady to a little higher on Friday. There is not much new news to move the markets on Friday. Overnight trading suggests that the stock market will open lower and the dollar will be stronger early Friday. There is s line of thunderstorms moving across the Corn Belt which will probably slow planting, but traders don’ see very worried about it at this point. Market fundamentals for old crop corn remain generally bullish.
Soybean prices are expected to open steady to 5 cents lower. Soybeans traded mostly lower overnight with traders taking note of slow-than-expected growth in China’s economy in the first quarter. The weakness in the stock market and the strengthening in the dollar will also put some pressure on soybean prices when the markets open. But demand is strong and U.S. export sales continue to be reported and the bullish outlook provides underlying support to the market.
Wheat prices are expected to open mixed on Friday. Overnight Chicago contracts recorded modest gains, while prices in Kansas City and Minneapolis were down. The strength in the value of the dollar will keep some pressure on wheat prices early Friday. Recent export sales information has been generally disappointing. The updated Drought Monitor shows moderate to severe drought persisting in west Texas, up through the Oklahoma panhandle and into Southwest Kansas and Southeast Colorado.
Cattle futures prices are expected to open lower on Friday. Cattle prices were in positive territory during most of the overnight trade, but couldn’t hold the gains through to the end. Even though cash cattle prices were up this week and cattle futures posted big gains on Thursday, beef cutouts continue to slide lower. Cattle weights are declining, but so far that hasn’t resulted in higher prices for beef. Cattle sales in the cash market were light to moderate this week, suggesting some carryover into next week. That is not really a prescription for cash or futures price improvement.
Hog prices are expected to open 50 cents to $1 lower. The uptick in pork prices on Wednesday that gave futures prices a boost on Thursday turned lower again, giving back more than 40 percent of the gain. With cash hog prices and pork prices lower on Thursday, hog futures are expected to turn down as well. Hog futures are far above cash prices which will also keep some pressure on nearby contracts. With extremely poor processing margins, cash hog prices are expected to be steady to lower on Friday with light trade volume.
Cotton prices are expected to open 20 to 50 points higher. Cotton futures prices have moved mostly sideways this week with the July contract holding between 89 cents and 90 cents. The Export Sales report on Thursday again showed cancellations exceeding new sales for 2011/12, but cotton futures rallied anyway. Some key cotton growing areas in Texas got decent rain which should help the crop get off to a good start in that area. With the slower-than-expected growth in China and the strengthening in the dollar index, there are few things we can point to driving cotton prices higher, but they were higher in overnight trade and it looks like that will carryover into the open.


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Sunday, December 04, 2005
French Winemakers Get Violent
A group of balaclava wearing French winemakers attacked the Montpellier offices of Onivins, France's wine trade body, smashing up computer equipment and injuring three members of staff. In another attack in Sete further South, an export depot was attcked, including wine storage tanks, allowing 100,000 litres of wine to spill onto the tarmac. No group has claimed responsibility for this, although the militant disaffected wine producers group CRAV have carried out attacks this year including a dynamite attack on the La Baume winery in the Languedoc.


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On iPhone phones, Microsoft's Outlook is no less popular than Apple Mail, for which Microsoft has always spared no effort to improve. Microsoft launched a new feature on Android Outlook earlier this year that allows users to report spam and other emails that could pose a threat to their data.
6.18 Activities have been fully launched to promote the activity portal summary:
Microsoft wrote in the update log: "do you see anything strange? You can report spam and phishing information to make sure your inbox is secure. Just where you can find other operations (such as archiving and deleting), you can find the new 'report junk' button. Currently in office 365 and Outlook.com Available on account. "


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And the No. 1 brand in the 2013 QSR 50 is … Subway!
Just kidding. It's McDonald's. And unless McDonald's maybe-we-should-be-panicking-now growth funk picks up (quite a bit of) steam, this will continue to be the case for some time.
But there are reasons for new CEO Don Thompson and his leadership team to be worried. The slump the company skidded into late last year—one that cost U.S. president Jan Fields her job—doesn't seem to have an easy fix. Fast-casual brands continue to eat into market share. Premium products like the Angus burger and Fish McBites fell flat and were pulled from the menu. Healthier options like the new Chicken McWrap haven't taken off quite like the company expected. And even though McDonald's continued in the last year to up its commitment to health and nutrition—with extensive activity promotions surrounding the London Summer Olympics, its decision to post calorie counts to all domestic menuboards, and new packaging that is more transparent about nutrition, as examples—it still can't shake critique from outside groups who say the company should be doing more.
All of the negative mojo has Thompson talking about the potential of doing all-day breakfast and refocusing the menu on more burger and value products. It seems the Golden Arches might have, at least for the time being, lost a little bit of their shine.
Looking for a mindless game to play throughout a lazy week? Check in with Subway.com every now and then and watch as the global store counter ticks higher and higher. (Get your coworkers involved! Place bets!) OK, it's not as fun as it might sound. But the truth is that Subway adds restaurants like Justin Bieber adds Twitter followers, and as most chains only experienced modest growth in unit counts last year, Subway tacked on another 1,000 or so U.S. stores. And for the most part, it did so by doing more of the same; aside from continued investment in athlete spokespeople, the rollout of more sustainable packaging materials, and scoring the title of first restaurant to get involved with the American Heart Association's Heart Check program, Subway didn't make much of a blip on the news merry-go-round in the last year. Customer surveys, meanwhile, continue to play up Subway as the top-perceived brand in quality, health, and value.
The brand that made premium coffee a quick-service staple is diversifying its menu mix, wheeling and dealing in the last year and a half to invest in tea (it acquired Teavana for $620 million), juice (Evolution Fresh for $30 million), and baked goods (La Boulange for $100 million). Also making waves are recently added Starbucks originals, like the new oatmeal blend, the Refreshers caffeinated fruit beverages, the Blonde roast, new Frappuccino flavors, and the Verismo make-it-at-home machine. At the same time, Starbucks has continued to be the voice of Millennials, becoming the first major restaurant brand to get on board with tech tools like Square and Apple's Passbook.
As always, keeping up with the times has worked wonders for Starbucks; its second quarter of 2013 was a record setter, with total net revenues up 11 percent and global comparable store sales up 6 percent.
If you're looking for a brand that's ever-so-carefully walking the tightrope between its down-home tradition and a we-love-Millennials future, look no further than Wendy's. The Freckled Lady is moving forward with an updated company store prototype meant to compete with fast casuals, and it unveiled a new logo that favors a more modern script style. This year's new Flatbread Chicken Sandwiches and Waffle Cone Frosty offered the playful menu innovation so desired by that younger demographic. Wendy's even launched a Moonlight Meal Deal—a Double Stack hamburger, Chili Cheese Fries, and a large soft drink for $5 after 10 p.m.—that it very directly stated was meant to appeal to Millennials.
Still, Wendy's respected its comfort-food roots with a trio of new sides—Mac and Cheese, Chili Cheese Fries, and a Baked Sweet Potato—and looked again to the tried-and-true value meal. The new Right Price Right Size Menu offers up to 18 menu items ranging from 99 cents to $1.99.
At long last, Burger King finally settled down and stuck to its guns with … Hmm? What's that? A new line of premium coffee beverages? A Turkey Burger and a Veggie Burger? Another executive shakeup? Next you'll say they're trying out delivery service.
In Burger King's ongoing quest to better compete with McDonald's, the brand has indeed been endlessly tinkering with its menu mix. The last year saw a barbecue-inspired menu, a chicken-inspired menu, Chicken Nuggets, a Bacon Sundae … the list goes on. Still, the proof is not yet in the pudding, and the King only experienced modest sales gains over 2011.
A few years ago, fresh, premium, and gourmet may not have been words in the mix during a casual conversation about Taco Bell. And yet here we are, with the company riding high on the Cantina Bell menu, not to mention the uber-successful Doritos Locos Taco. Despite his claims to the contrary, CEO Greg Creed seems to be taking the hovering threat from Chipotle seriously. Click here to find out what exactly that means for the company.
Sure, Dunkin' Donuts appealed to more all-day customers with its Bakery Sandwiches and Chicken Salad and Tuna Salad Wraps. Yes, it did focus more intently on healthy options with its DDSmarts menu, which now includes Quaker Oatmeal and a Turkey Sausage Breakfast Sandwich. All of that is good and well. But really, the most important thing Dunkin' did all year came on January 16, 2013: The company announced that, having opened up several other Western markets for franchising, it would be moving into Southern California. The coffee wars, it seems, are only now heating up.
Pizza Hut has stirred up quite a bit of buzz with international product releases—we suggest you Google the Double Sensation pizza-within-a-pizza and the Crown Crust pizza with cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets—though the company turned a lot of heads state-side with its Crazy Cheesy Crust pizza, too (the crust doubles as tear-off Cheesy Bites). Novelty pies aside, Pizza Hut did dabble in real innovation, trying out Pizza Sliders, a crowdsourced Super Bowl ad, and the first-ever restaurant ordering app on Xbox. It's still the No. 1 pizza brand, so crazy pizzas or no crazy pizzas, customers are in for the ride.
Controversy? What controversy? Despite spending a few weeks last summer under intense national scrutiny due to comments made by president Dan Cathy, Chick-fil-A turned in another crazy-successful year, passing KFC as the No. 1 chicken brand for the first time (even with just a third or so of the units as KFC). A healthier kids' meal—now with Grilled Chicken Nuggets and applesauce options—encouraged the brand to jump on board with the National Restaurant Association's Kids LiveWell program, and new salads and wraps this year further solidified the company's commitment to nutrition. It also hasn't hurt that consumer survey after consumer survey puts Chick-fil-A toward the top of the quick-service heap when it comes to quality and service (including among the all-important Millennials).
The Colonel may have been kicked off the top of the roost by Chick-fil-A, but KFC hasn't tucked its wings in the menu-development department. Original Recipe Bites and Chunky Chicken Pot Pie joined the menu, as did Original Recipe Boneless chicken, which brand leaders suggested will be the major focus in the near future (and which has already succeeded on the back of the clever "I ate the bones" marketing campaign). The brand will have to scratch back to prominence in the U.S. if it hopes to maintain relevancy; its typically foolproof international sister, KFC China, is in a tailspin after food-safety problems and an avian flu scare.
It's coming, folks; as soon as next year, the fast-casual category will infiltrate the QSR 50's top 10. Panera Bread now sits on the brink, having inched a few spots closer after adding nearly $500 million and more than 100 stores in 2012. Like a few other brands on this list, Panera hasn't had to tweak a whole lot to succeed—mostly it continues to rely on loyal customers and its position as the market leader. It did, however, enter Manhattan for the first time in 2012, and recently rolled out a new "Live Consciously, Eat Deliciously" ad campaign that hypes its commitment to a value-based company culture. It should be a good platform for Ron Shaich—who once again became sole CEO after Bill Moreton moved to the position of chairman of the board—to guide the brand into the limited-service industry's elite.
Good news, truckers! Your years of hardship and toil at mealtime are over. Now you have your very own drive-in ordering station at Sonic, where you don't even have to exit the cab to gobble down a Coney, limeade, and tots. OK, so it's just at the Sonic in Valliant, Oklahoma. And maybe that won't really be "a thing" for the company moving into the future. But it serves as a good example of how Sonic so successfully keeps trucking along (pardon the pun) in a quick-serve industry eager to keep up with modern trends. Sonic's unique drive-in differentiation, combined with roadside burger-stand menu items, appeals to a giant swath of Middle America—Boomers, Millennials, and truckers alike.
Admittedly, some of Domino's moves in the last year and a half land somewhere on the perplexing scale between "huh?" and "uh … OK?" There was the announcement that stores would be slowing down service on pan pizzas to give them extra attention. Then there was the assertion that any customer who asked to swap ingredients on its Artisan pies would be told "no." And who can forget when the company said it would install cameras in restaurants so customers could watch the staff at work, Big Brother–style? Regardless, Domino's continued its push to be a more premium brand, an effort that began with its new pizza recipe in 2010. The Handmade Pan Pizza, Parmesan Bread Bites, and gluten-free crust option gave the menu a little bit more diversity, while a new logo and "Pizza Theater" store prototype signaled that Domino's is ready to turn its brand into a more modern experience.
Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box's menu has always thrived on the "something for everybody" mantra, and recent development follows in the same path. Its most recent spate of new menu options includes both permanent and limited-time offerings, like the Sourdough Cheesesteak Melt, Breakfast Waffle Sandwich, Blueberry Muffin Oatmeal, Chili Cheese Curly Fries, Chipotle Chicken Club Sandwich, and Mini Corn Dogs. Jack in the Box also added four new items to its Value Menu, including Chicken Nuggets. Indeed, something for everybody.
Poor Arby's. Here we were a year ago, ready to say the brand had broken from its sales funk. It had finally escaped the shadow of former sister brand Wendy's and was ready to take on the world with its "Good Mood Food." But it was not to be so. The roast beef specialist saw sales dip below $3 billion in 2012, despite a brand "refresh," blueprints for a store redesign, and the new "Slicing Up the Truth About Freshness" ad campaign. Turkey Roaster sandwiches also joined the menuboard, which president Hala Moddelmog says the brand is working to simplify. So far, though, nothing's really sticking. That may be why several executives—including CMO Russ Klein—have bolted for other pastures, even as new CEO Paul Brown takes the reins.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Care to guess the new favorite catchphrase permeating the quick-service and fast-casual industries? Our money is on "The Chipotle of" (yes, that is an incomplete phrase). As fast casuals spring up like calories in a Heart Attack Grill burger, most are applying the "Chipotle model" to their business plan, wherein they let customers build their own menu options, picking from among premium ingredients in an upscale environment. So these days we have the Chipotle of pizza, the Chipotle of Mediterranean, the Chipotle of Indian food … and so on and so forth.
There is, of course, a good reason for this: Chipotle, in many ways, ushered in the new era of premium fast food, and is wildly successful at it. In 2012, that trend continued: The company added another $500 million in sales and nearly 200 stores to its domestic unit count. Chipotle also continued to push boundaries; it launched a new margarita recipe in most stores, is testing tofu Sofritas, and debuted catering in its home Colorado market. Over the course of the year, it even used more than 10 million pounds of locally sourced foods. So yeah, there's a reason everyone is following the Chipotle model.
Outside of limited-time offers like the Buffalo Chicken and the Chicken Parmesan pizzas, Papa John's pretty much stuck to its guns in the last year, which seems to have served it just fine: Both sales and unit count are up. Speaking of guns, Papa John's brought on NFL superstar quarterback and all-around good guy Peyton Manning as a franchisee, which will probably benefit the brand even outside of Denver.
Like other ice cream brands, Dairy Queen is mixing things up a bit in the innovation department to keep up with frozen-yogurt chains (even though Dairy Queen still accounts for about 47 percent of the frozen dessert category's sales). Recently, that has included a line of light smoothies and a national rollout of Orange Julius beverages. The company also doubled down on its food efforts, offering a $5 Buck Lunch deal between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. that includes a choice of one of three entrées, along with fries, a beverage, and a sundae. Its new "Fan Food" promotional campaign hopes to redirect customer perception of the brand as a simple fast-food purveyor.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
All of that time spent rebranding Popeyes into its Louisiana Kitchen concept has paid off. In 2012—its 40th year in business—the brand enjoyed its fourth consecutive year of same-store sales and traffic increases. LTOs like its Crawfish, Rip 'n Chick 'n, and Cajun Surf & Turf give Popeyes a unique down-on-the-bayou niche, and its partnership with spice company Zatarain's (for Popeyes' Zatarain's Butterfly Shrimp) helps solidify its authenticity. Breakfast, which Popeyes is testing in North Carolina, could be the next frontier to keep the same-store sales streak alive.
Hardee's and Carl's Jr. parent CKE Inc. pulled out of the IPO it was preparing last summer after investors balked at the company's shaky financials. Investors might have been concerned about the brands' domestic sales, but it turns out they needn't be worried; Hardee's added nearly $100 million in sales over 2011, while Carl's Jr. padded its count by more than $50 million. Once again the company zeroed in mostly on young hungry men, rolling out a Super Bacon Cheeseburger, a Jim Beam Bourbon Burger, and a Memphis BBQ Burger, while swapping out one commercial eye candy supermodel (Kate Upton) for another (Heidi Klum).
This profile previously stated that Hardee's and Carl's Jr. each dropped in domestic sales, an inaccurate statement based on the fact that last year's QSR 50 erroneously included CKE's international sales numbers. QSR regrets the error.
The QSR 50's lone Asian concept celebrated its 1,500th unit in 2012 by unveiling a new store prototype that nudged the brand more toward the fast-casual category. It may have been a push back against the growing crop of upstart fast-casual Asian brands, but if the company is losing market share to those brands, it isn't showing; both sales and unit counts were up over 2011.
Like its pizza compadre Papa John's, Little Caesars mostly focused on more of the same to account for its $200 million in additional sales over 2011 and its increase of 200 net units. This year, though, Little Caesars unveiled its DEEP! DEEP! Dish Pizza, adding a little variety to its trusty menu of $5 Hot 'n Ready pies.
Whataburger may be 70 years old, but the ol' stalwart has some youth left in it yet. Lately, social media has helped the regional brand collect even more passionate fans, and a recent deal to put its popular condiments on the shelves at H-E-B grocery stores should earn even more exposure among both American and Mexican consumers. Click here to find out more about how Whataburger thrives on its cult following in the South.
To know what exactly Jimmy John's has been up to in the last year, take a spin on its "News" page online. The last update? That was in the summer … of 2010. And yet the brand crossed the $1 billion sales threshold for the first time, having added nearly $400 million in sales over 2011 and more than 200 units. You keep being you, Jimmy John's.
Five Guys Burgers & Fries
Well, it had to happen some time. After three years of rocketing up the QSR 50—where it debuted in 2010—Five Guys finally took a step back, ceding the last spot in the top half of the QSR 50 to Jimmy John's. It's not to say the brand performed poorly in 2012—it added $100 million in sales to become a billion-dollar brand for the first time and tacked on 200 units to its store count—but rather that it may have finally found its place among the quick-service pack.
KFC and Chick-fil-A may be duking it out for chicken supremacy, but how many chains can say they are the "Official Chicken of College Sports" at 25 prominent higher-education institutions, including the University of Kentucky, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Indiana University? That would be one: Zaxby's, the fast-casual chicken joint of the South, which passed Church's to become the fourth-largest chicken purveyor while having a presence in only 13 U.S. states. Tempting LTOs like the Banana Pudding Milkshake and new meal deals like Boneless Wings spiced up the menu, and the company is testing breakfast in its Athens, Georgia, hometown that includes Southern favorites like a chicken biscuit, grits, and bacon Benedict. These menu moves—along with promotional campaigns starring B-list celebrities like David Allen Grier and Lee Ann Womack, as well as a new store prototype in development—should help Zaxby's as the fast-casual chicken category becomes a hot new target for brands like KFC.
Sales and unit counts may have been flat over 2011 at Church's Chicken, but it wasn't for lack of trying new things. LTOs like the Texas Chicken, Big Tex Tender Sandwich, and Ultimate Value Trio of three chicken sandwiches all found their way to the menu in the last year, while the bigger Honey Butter Biscuit further enticed fans of its biscuit staple. New ad agency ESW Partners cooked up this year's "Almost Free" campaign, which used a very tongue-in-cheek manner to promote the value behind Church's offer of two pieces of chicken and a biscuit for $1.99.
Celebrating its 35th year in business, Bojangles' enjoyed a $100 million sales bump in 2012 over 2011 and added another 30 stores as it continued its slow growth outward from its home base in the Carolinas. A new premium medium roast coffee, BoJo, gave Southerners more reason to come in for the signature chicken biscuit, but the brand's first major new product in more than five years, Homestyle Tenders, might be a play for transplant Yankees; the mild Tenders dial back the spicy level just a touch.
Steak 'n Shake
CEO Sardar Biglari will have to try a little harder if he wants to blow people away with his success at Steak 'n Shake. The investment banker probably isn't thrilled with the fact that sales and store counts were essentially flat in 2012, even after the company committed to more franchising and debuted its snazzy new Signature store prototype. The company did announce its first international franchise agreement, for the United Arab Emirates, but more domestic excitement might be necessary to bring the Midwest burger favorite back to prominence.
Having committed much of 2011 to developing healthful menu options and promoting its down-home authenticity, Culver's used 2012 to reimage several stores and lay the groundwork for growth into the Southeast U.S., including in South Carolina and Florida. The Wisconsin-based burger joint is also doubling down on its operational excellence, launching the "Culver's Crew Challenge" in 2013 that will reward the top restaurants in quality, service, cleanliness, hospitality, community outreach, and team-member training and development.
Remember that time we said Quiznos was turning things around? That a new executive team and menu offerings would stanch all of the losses that had sent Quiznos plummeting down the QSR 50? You know, in these same pages a year ago? Yeah, about that … Turns out, Quiznos still has some work left to do. The company watched as system-wide sales fell another $100 million or so in 2012—good enough to send it six more spots down the 50—and unit counts dropped by 150. Meanwhile, the executive suite is once again full of new faces, having ushered in a new CEO, CMO, CFO, COO, and executive chef. The brand does have some good news to bank on as it considers possible growth strategies; a study from Restaurant DemandTracker found this year that Quiznos ranks high among quick-serve brands in terms of where customers believe they can get healthier options for kids. The brand's international business is also in good shape. New Quiznos International president Ken Cutshaw is busy signing new franchise deals all over the world as global consumers clamor for American brands.
The take-and-bake movement keeps on rolling, as Papa Murphy's experienced 25 record sales weeks in 2012 en route to system-wide sales and unit count gains. Now the brand is flush with its third straight Zagat recognition for Americans' favorite pizza; a new ad agency, WDCW, that helped created the "Love at 425 Degrees" promotional campaign; and the gourmet Primo pizza line that offers three pies with premium ingredients, including fennel sausage, goat cheese, and prosciutto.
Long John Silver's
The seafood leader may have turned its ship around at last. After drifting out of favor for the last few years and being marooned by former parent company Yum! Brands, Long John Silver's finally posted systemwide sales gains in 2012 (despite its unit count dropping).
The double drive thru put Checkers/Rally's on the map, but a lower-cost store prototype that launched in 2011 with only one drive thru and an expanded patio area delivered higher sales and traffic than expected. The prototype's potential to grow in less traditional real estate has the company thinking expansion.
It's business as usual at White Castle, where sales were slightly down and store counts slightly up in 2012. The company continues to use unique promotions like burger-scented candles and candlelight Valentine's dinners to stay on the quirky side, though it did start thinking green earlier this year when it launched a program at select stores that tested composting all food and paper scraps.
Del Taco launched a two-part brand refresh in 2012 that entered its final phase earlier this year. Having upgraded much of the system's branding and store design last year, the concept launched the new "UnFreshing Believable" campaign that highlighted the brand's fresh-food offerings at value price points. It also debuted two new menus, Buck & Under and New Tastes, that further drive home the good-eats-for-less-cash message.
Qdoba Mexican Grill
The No. 2 player in the Mexican fast-casual category made sales and unit-count gains this year to inch four spots closer to industry giant Chipotle. While that brand sticks to a simple build-your-own format, Qdoba has been rolling out innovative prepared menu options thanks to head of R&D Ted Stoner. The last year saw Qdoba making strides in the health department, as the brand launched a more nutritious brown rice offering and also won the National Restaurant Association's Kids Recipe Challenge for a multiunit chain with its Lil' Pulled Pork Naked Burrito. Parent company Jack in the Box is banking on new Qdoba president Tim Casey—who has years of industry experience with brands like Starbucks and TCBY—to guide the chain into the next growth phase, although things got off to a rocky start this year, when it was announced that 67 company-owned stores would close by the end of the fiscal year.
Slow and steady wins the race. Or so thinks Jason's Deli, a company that enjoys one of the highest average unit volumes in the industry and continued system-wide sales and unit count gains while growing only by a handful of units every year. Last year was no different, as the company grew its unit count by 10 stores and added about $40 million in sales.
Looking for Twitter retweets? Here's a surefire way to score a few: Tweet about one of Krispy Kreme's plentiful promotions and limited-time offers, like its Key Lime doughnuts or Talk Like a Pirate giveaway. Social media fans obsessively follow Krispy Kreme's promotions (trust us), which is good news for the company as it continues its climb back from near-bankruptcy and oblivion. In fact, Krispy Kreme just hit its highest stock price in eight years thanks to its ongoing momentum.
El Pollo Loco
It's been a slow burn for El Pollo Loco the last few years as the company faces a steady crop of chicken competitors, including Chick-fil-A, which is quietly building its presence on El Pollo Loco's California home turf. But it's certainly not for lack of menu innovation; the last year has included new Pork Carnitas, Baja Shrimp, Fish Taco, and Chicken Tamale LTOs, as well as Grilled Chicken Burritos.
Though its year-over-year results might not show huge gains, Boston Market is in the midst of a sustained growth that began in 2010, when it launched an operational overhaul. As of April, the company had posted 30 consecutive months of positive comp sales and was preparing to open its first new restaurants in six years. A St. Louis Ribs LTO this year gave the brand a unique menu offering, while a pledge to remove salt shakers from tables last year proved its commitment to better nutrition.
Canada's favorite quick serve scored some big gains in the U.S. with 90 additional net stores and $60 million or so more in system-wide sales over 2011. The company is making a push for more military veteran franchisees, while on the menu side of things, new breakfast paninis and a Thick Cut Hickory Smoked Bacon were on-trend successes.
Nothing much to report out of the famously tight-lipped and strategically slow grower In-N-Out, although a fair amount of intrigue circled the brand this year as the world got to know company heiress Lynsi Torres, a 30-year-old race car driver who is one of the world's youngest female billionaires.
The LTO-happy Baskin-Robbins managed to hold steady at No. 45 on the QSR 50, a year after plunging down the list. It may be a sign that the Dunkin' brand has finally figured out how to coexist with the growing crop of frozen-yogurt concepts.
One year after CEO Mike Shumsky said CiCi's was "at the start of something big" with its "Build the Brand" initiative, the company actually finds itself a few steps back. CiCi's saw both its unit count and systemwide sales drop in 2012.
A 2011 brand initiative that led Captain D's to roll out an upgraded prototype, tweak its core batter-dipped fish, introduce new menu items, improve its company culture, and market more to moms and kids is now paying off. In 2012, Captain D's had an all-time high in same-store sales growth—9.2 percent for company stores and 7.5 percent for franchised units—and set the record for highest AUV in brand history. Further, Captain D's has experienced 23 consecutive months of compounding sales growth to date. The company is in the process of rolling out a new broiler program to its stores, a program that lets the brand invest in its new fire-grilled menu that features items like grilled salmon.
Moe's Southwest Grill
Moe's spent the last few years knocking on the QSR 50's door, and after a 2012 that saw it score big unit-count and system-wide sales gains, the Mexican fast casual finally earned its due. The FOCUS brand has no plans to slow down growth, and with hundreds of franchise development agreements in place, it's growing by about 20 percent each year.
Another newbie to the QSR 50, Wingstop is thriving on a low-cost store model, high customer demand for wings, and ample opportunity to saturate new markets. The brand is so hot, even rapper Rick Ross signed on as franchisee.
The demand for more nutritious menu offerings has served Jamba Juice well, as the California-based brand continues to grow with lighter smoothie, juice, and food options. A new store design, kids' meal menu, and consistent focus on the company's "Team Up for a Healthy America" initiative, which promotes a healthy, active lifestyle among customers and especially kids, have the company prepped to make waves on the QSR 50 for years to come.


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Around six in 10 people in the UK have high cholesterol, Heart UK estimates.
Those battling the ailment have an excess of lipid in their bodies, which can trigger other health concerns.
Heart attack, stroke and coronary heart disease are among the serious problems patients may develop.
Thankfully, making small changes to your diet and lifestyle can be all it takes to reduce risk.
So which ways can you lower cholesterol naturally?
A recent study showed that eating full fat cheese can be beneficial to your health.
Research from University College Dublin measured the effects of the dairy product on cholesterol.
Participants that consumed 120g of the food product every day for six weeks saw positive effects.
Results suggested that those who ate cheese as part of a reduced-fat diet were more likely to have clear arteries.
Lead author, Dr Emma Feeney, said: “We need to stop thinking about foods in terms of their fat and their saturated fat content, and thinking about them as a whole food.
“The recommended portions of cheese are not going to do you any harm.”
The NHS adds that while patients should reduce their saturated fat intakes, these products shouldn’t be avoided completely.
While the latest study boasts interesting findings, research is still in its infancy.
To talk about cholesterol, and work out if you need to lower it, consult your local GP.
The NHS recommends eating foods that are high in unsaturated fat.
These include oily fish, avocados, nuts and olive oil.
Smokers should also consider kicking the habit as it can lead to the narrowing of the arteries.


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Back in May, when Microsoft announced “Mango,” the first major update to Windows Phone, the Redmond company named some new hardware partners who would launch devices running Windows Phone Mango: Acer, Fujitsu-Toshiba, ZTE, and Nokia. So far, Nokia’s “Sea Ray” Windows Phone Mango device has been shown, and Acer’s W4 was shown off at Computex in Taipei. Tuesday evening, Fujitsu Toshiba Mobile Communications officially announced its Windows Phone Mango device, known as IS12T.
IS12T includes some impressive capabilities, including a waterproof and dustproof chassis, a 13.2 megapixel camera, and 32GB of onboard memory, and will be available in Japan beginning in September 2011. Global availability and further specs have not yet been announced.
Though the high megapixel count and ruggedized chassis are big differentiators for the IS12T in the mobile space, Fujitsu launched a much, much more interesting phone just four days ago in Japan: The world’s first smartphone powered by a full version of Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit (SP1).
WIth a 4″ (1024 x 600) LCD touchscreen, 1.2 GHz Intel Atom Z600 Processor, 5.1 megapixel CMOS camera, full QWERTY keyboard and built-in trackball, Fujitsu says it has created the smallest Windows PC, and with a single button, it can switch from PC to phone mode. While in phone mode, the F-07C has between 370-440 minutes of continuous talk time, and in PC mode, the device has about a 2-hour battery life.
NTT DoCoMo launched the F-07C on July 23 and charges ¥72,030 ($925) for the device and a two-year Microsoft Office 2010 personal license. It seems highly unlikely that this device will ever reach the shores of the United States through a mobile network operator.


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Another Windsor fire treated as suspicious
Fire officials are investigating a second suspicious fire in as many nights, this time in the rear of an auto repair shop.
Crews were called to the back of the California Auto Clinic at 1593 Lauzon Road around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.
"There were fire trucks everywhere, the road was blocked off," says owner Roger Dowhan.
Though the arson unit has not been called in to investigate, the incident commander has deemed the fire suspicious.
"Someone's trying to deliberating sabotage my business,” says Dowhan. “I'm here to make a living and take care of my family.”
Windsor fire officials say the fire started at the back of the property, where used oil filters and tires are stored.
“Used oil filters, filled with oil. There's some kind of paper product in the oil filters, easy to ignite,” says chief fire prevention officer Lee Tome. “Once it gets going, it'll go pretty good."
Damage is estimated at $8,000.
Crews were also called to a suspicious clothing store on Tecumseh Road East early Tuesday morning after a fire started in some garbage left at the rear of the building. That fire also remains under investigation.