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Tesla, the world's biggest electric vehicle manufacturer, delivered 308,600 cars in the fourth quarter of 2021, bringing its full-year total to an all-time high of 936,172, up 87.4 per cent year-on-year.
The record deliveries are a victory lap for the car maker, which had already smashed its single-year record in the previous three-month period.
The Texas-based company's deliveries for the three-month period ended December were up 28 per cent from the third quarter's 241,300 and 71 per cent from the 180,570 for the same period a year ago, according to a statement on its website.
The deliveries beat a Bloomberg survey of 13 analysts who on average predicted about 263,000 vehicles for the fourth quarter, although some of them revised their numbers upwards during the final days of December.
Calculations from Tesla's quarterly reports show that it delivered 935,950 vehicles in 2021. It revises its figures up or down once final counts are in; in this year's case, it was up.
Total annual production also rose significantly, up 82.5 per cent from 2020's 509,737 to 930,422 last year. Fourth-quarter production was at 305,840, up 28.6 per cent from the third quarter's 237,823.
Tesla's shares surged almost 9 per cent in pre-market trading on Monday on the impressive sales figures. Its stock rose almost 50 per cent in 2021.
“This is a trophy-case quarter for Tesla as the company blew away even bull-case expectations,” said Daniel Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities. He said it was a “jaw-dropper performance for Musk & Co in the December quarter with massive tailwinds into 2022".
Tesla's performance is widely viewed as a barometer of the EV market as more consumers opt for environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional gas-guzzlers.
Several governments, including the US and China, have also taken measures and provided incentives to boost EV sales in the next decade.
Tesla said last January that it was aiming to increase deliveries by 50 per cent each year in the next several years, and 2021's better-than-expected results were a step in the right direction.
The company had already smashed its single-year record for deliveries in the third quarter when it delivered 627,350 cars in the first nine months of 2021, surpassing 2020’s full-year total of 498,920.
The car maker's Model 3 and Model Y still dominated, accounting for 296,850, or 96 per cent, of total deliveries in the fourth quarter. The Model S and Model X had 11,750 deliveries.
In 2021, 911,208 Model 3 and Model Y units were delivered, or about 97 per cent of the total. Model S and Model X cars accounted for 24,964.
Tesla's deliveries previously outnumbered production because of logistical challenges, with Elon Musk describing 2021 as a “supply chain nightmare” despite the company continuing to increase deliveries each quarter.
Mr Musk, who became the world's wealthiest person in 2021 – ending the year with a fortune of $273.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index – lauded the company's achievement on Twitter.
The billionaire had vowed to accelerate production at the company and bring it to profitability. Mr Musk had previously said he was able to get around much of the global semiconductor shortage by using new chip designs and rewriting the software Tesla uses on its vehicles.
In October, Tesla received a boost when it secured an order for 100,000 EVs from the rental company Hertz, which is to be completed by 2022.
That announcement towed Tesla into the very elite club of companies with a market capitalisation of $1 trillion, joining Amazon, Saudi Aramco, Alphabet, Microsoft and Apple.
"Thank you to all of our customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and supporters who helped us achieve a great year," Tesla said in its fourth-quarter report.
The company is expected to announce its 2021 financial results on January 26, in which Mr Musk promised to provide an update about the company's product plans. The consensus earnings-per-share forecast for the quarter is $1.38, according to Zacks Investment Research, based on the forecasts of six analysts. The reported EPS for the same quarter last year was $0.24.
Tesla's biggest markets are the US and China, although it does not break down deliveries by regions. It currently produces its vehicles in Fremont, California, and Shanghai, while new factories in Berlin and Austin, Texas, are nearing completion.
The company is also accepting orders for its Cybertruck, with production scheduled to begin in this year.
Mr Musk had also said he would be paying more than $11 billion in taxes this year after criticism that he was not paying enough. He is also nearing his pledge to offload 10 per cent of his ownership in Tesla after he sold off another $1bn worth of stock last week.


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Citroen To Launch Electric Micro SUV By 2022 In India
The upcoming product will be pitted against the Mahindra eKUV100 and the upcoming Tata HBX EV.
Citroen is planning to launch its electric micro SUV in India by 2022 with a price tag in the region of Rs. 8 lakhs (ex-showroom).
Groupe PSA wants to be early to the party with its mass market micro electric SUV (e-SUV) that has been codenamed eCC21 and take on the likes of the Mahindra eKUV100 (priced at Rs. 8.25 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi)), the upcoming Tata HBX, Renault Kwid EV and the Maruti Wagon R EV.
All the upcoming cars mentioned above are expected to be launched in the market within the next 24 months, with the exception of Maruti’s EV and consequently its Toyota twin.
To be built on Citroen’s small car platform called C-Cube that is being developed specifically for emerging markets, the micro e-SUV will be produced at the plant situated at Tiruvallur in Tamil Nadu.
While India is expected to be a key export hub for such electric vehicles, it is also said that Citroen has decided to keep the e-SUV’s manufacturing base in Europe and source parts from India.
Before the Citroen electric micro SUV gets launched in India, two products, namely the C5 Aircross and the recently spied compact SUV, will be launched in India by next year.
What’s more, the compact SUV is touted to be able to run on fuel with high levels of ethanol blend. This, the firm hopes would give it the first-mover advantage in the flex-fuel space in India.
Source – ETAuto.com

domain: news


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If you've popped into your local supermarket recently, you may have noticed a big change.
When buying food, price and expiry dates are the two most important things people look out for, but many of us don't think about when the packaging will expire.
But in a bid to raise awareness about the lifespan of single-use plastic, advertising creatives, Gagandeep Jhuti and Joe Foale-Groves, have created Plastic Expiry Date stickers for single-use meal deal packaging, Manchester Evening News reports.
Gags and Joe explained how their idea came about.
They said: "So imagine this. It’s the year 3019. Animals can now be tried in court. The prisons are overflowing with pigeons. You are no longer around.
"But the plastic water bottle you bought with your meal deal in 2020 has finally started to decompose. Even if the future isn’t quite as weird as that, it is true that your meal deal could be pretty much immortal."
Revealing their ambitions, the duo said: "The ultimate goal would be for supermarkets to add the Plastic Expiry Date to packaging themselves, as well as hurrying to remove single-use plastic packaging from their shelves."


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Walmart Shares Tank the Most Since 1987
Ticker Symbol: WMT
Walmart shares were down close to 12% in midday trading after the company released a poor earnings report that generally missed Wall Street’s expectations. The pullback was the sharpest intraday decline in the company’s history since 1987.
Moreover, management said earnings were likely to drop 1% for fiscal 2022, after guiding towards a mid-single digit increase three months ago. The sharp change in commentary from the company comes in light of the sharply rising inflation rate in the U.S., especially in food prices.
The company vowed in its earnings call with analysts and investors to raise prices in order to guard against declining margins, but that it would still attempt to be the lowest cost retailer in most of its markets.
In addition, C.E.O. Doug McMillion indicated that surging fuel and logistics prices, caused partly by the spike in oil prices after Russia invaded Ukraine, were responsible for the earnings miss in the first quarter. The company reported an adjusted earnings per share of $1.30, missing the average analyst estimate of $1.48 and $1.69 in the 1Q 2021.
Still, the company reported a solid top-line result, posting comparable same store sales of +4% versus an estimate of +2.25%. Sam’s Club U.S. comparable sales, excluding gas, were up 10.2%, while the estimate was for a growth of 5%.
Aggregate revenue came in at $141.57 billion, up 2.4% year over year, beating the estimated $139.1 billion from analysts. Despite these revenue beats, bottom-line results were unexpected. The current unusual environment around pricing pressures could continue to pressure the company’s margins going forward.
Furthermore, sales growth in China was also lower than expected in the first quarter, mainly due to the resurgence of the pandemic in the country. Notwithstanding these poor results, Walmart should be well positioned to emerge from the current challenges as the company’s logistics and supply-chain management systems are world-class in the retail sector.
Additionally, the current pull-back in the share creates a good buying point for new investors. Walmart’s market share in the U.S. remains strong, and the company’s robust balance sheet should shelter it from any further slowdown in the global economy.
This content is provided for general information purposes only and is not to be taken as investment advice nor as a recommendation for any security, investment strategy or investment account.


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Global Freight Solutions (GFS) has won a home delivery contract with leisure retailer Skate Hut. The contract will cover economy, premium, international, and parcel shop deliveries by a range of parcel delivery firms, using GFS’s carrier management system. The Halesowen, West Midlands-based company chose GFS as it believes customers have different delivery preferences in different regions. Skate Hut has also introduced GFS-liveried trailers into its fleet, which will be used to take parcels to selected carrier hubs. Skate Hut MD […]
Palletways member Walkers Transport has secured a three-year £20m transport and logistics contract with sealant, adhesive and building chemical supplier Sika Everbuild.
Suttons Tankers has won a three-year contract with Azelis UK for the transportation of bulk nitrogen chemical liquids and gases.


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Samsung has patented a device that folds not only once but twice.
According to the South Korean electronics giant’s patent application, the company’s smartphone mockup features one large display that can fold in thirds, allowing one part of the panel to fold in one direction and the other part of the screen to fold in the other.
When everything is folded and done, there should be one display on the front of the device and cameras on the rear. The handset might end up being quite thick, but it’ll house a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB-C port, a SIM card slot and a speaker.
Compared to the demo device that the South Korean company unveiled at the 2018 Samsung Developer Conference, the patented device has rather slim bezels.
That being said, the demo device revealed at the company’s developer conference was specifically designed to show off the Infinity Flex display. The handset’s actual look still remains unclear.
It’s worth noting that Samsung filed the patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on June 17th, 2016. It was only spotted now because the USPTO approved the patent on November 13th, 2018.
Samsung will reportedly launch its foldable handset in early 2019.
Source: USPTO, Via: Android Headlines


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Bloomberg is reporting that Apple screen supplier Foxconn has entered into a strategic production deal with embattled Chinese EV startup Byton, in a move that could see that car — and its infamous 48″ infotainment screen — finally reach series production. And it could happen somewhat sooner than later.
In many ways, Byton seemed like the anti-Nikola when the economic impacts of COVID-19 forced it to shut down its billion-dollar, state-of-the-art, 860,000 sq. ft. production facility last June. Unlike that troubled hydrogen truck company/alleged Wall Street scam, Byton had proven technology, an innovative design, and a novel enough interior to generate press (for better or for worse). Pre-production examples of its M-Byte crossover SUV had rolled off the line and been sent out for government certification, quality control, and even off to the media to be shown off as a for-real, definitely not vaporware thing that was going to happen. Right up until, you know … it didn’t happen.
Foxconn is expected to invest around $200 million to get production of the M-Byte up and running. And, with the additional aid of the Nanjing Economic and Technological Development Zone, mass production could be underway by Q1 of 2022.
The move seems like a natural one for Foxconn, whose expertise in making screens would dovetail nicely into something like the M-Byte’s massive infotainment system. It also seems like a calculated “toe into the automotive waters” for the consumer tech firm that could put it in a prime position to prove its worth as a supplier for — or competitor to — the upcoming Apple Car that, according to a Reuters report, is expected to arrive by 2024.
“Tech companies are increasingly pouring money into developing next-generation cars, including all-electric vehicles and the smart technologies that go with them like autonomous driving and car-to-car communication systems,” writes Bloomberg. “Foxconn is the single most important production partner for Apple … (and) is also seeking to diversify a business that depends on the U.S. smartphone giant for half its revenue.”
All of which sounds great, sure — and I’m excited for Byton’s prospects now that it has a heavy-hitting tech partner (read: money) on board. But, if I’m being totally honest, I’m kind of just hoping Foxconn getting involved in the automotive space pushes Apple to get involved in the automotive space and pushes Sony to build its incredibly slinky Vision S concept. It’s a car that I am deeply, passionately in love with for reasons I don’t fully understand, can’t explain, and don’t feel the need to justify while a pack of half-naked, conspiracy-theorizing, viking-helmeted furries are storming the US Capitol.
So, let us know what you think about all that in the comments section at the bottom of the page. And if you’re in DC while these Trump bootlickers are causing trouble, stay safe. If you’re one of the bootlickers … I dunno. Go f**k a cactus or something.
Byton M-Byte Launch Video
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Former Tesla Battery Expert Leading Lyten Into New Lithium-Sulfur Battery Era — Podcast:
I don't like paywalls. You don't like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Here at CleanTechnica, we implemented a limited paywall for a while, but it always felt wrong — and it was always tough to decide what we should put behind there. In theory, your most exclusive and best content goes behind a paywall. But then fewer people read it! We just don't like paywalls, and so we've decided to ditch ours. Unfortunately, the media business is still a tough, cut-throat business with tiny margins. It's a never-ending Olympic challenge to stay above water or even perhaps — gasp — grow. So ...


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iD Fresh Food: How iD Turned Adversities Into Learnings As The Company Grew
Brand Breakdown is Shopflo’s monthly 4-part newsletter, in which we deep dive into an Indian D2C brand, and understand its constituent elements to figure out what makes it tick ⏰
When you think dosa batter, few think beyond ID. A staple in Indian refrigerators, this is a brand that took a food item that was traditionally made at home, and standardized it for the masses. Building a brand, especially in the fresh food industry entails a lot of misses and definitely some wins. This week, we take a look at some of the lessons iD learned the hard way.
Last week, we delved into the beginnings of the brand ID, and how Musthafa and the team took the company from a 50 square feet kitchen to one that is supplied to over 6000 retailers in Bengaluru.
The journey of growing this brand, however, wasn’t a smooth one, and the team faced a lot of critical challenges and learned their fair share of lessons along the way.
#1: The importance of food technology
In the hot summer of 2006, 4 months after they started operations, they got a call from a store manager in Bengaluru saying that there was a blast in his store that was caused by their batter. Musthafa and his team initially thought that the store manager was playing a practical joke. "We laughed. We said if you have a bomb blast in your store, please call the nearest police station, we don't handle bombs,” Musthafa recalled telling the store manager.
Once they realized that the manager was furious, they rushed to the store and were ordered to clean out his fridge and take their batter. "Batter ferments during summer. It expands, it forms gas and beyond a point, it explodes. We had no idea about food technology before we started this business. In fact, I learned about this term called fermentation after this incident," Musthafa said.
#2 Staying true to what the brand stands for
From day 1, iD positioned their product as 100% natural, and the company stayed true to their values of not adding preservatives to their batter even when faced with lower priced competitors. Chennai would seem like the ideal market for an idli-dosa batter product, but iD faced stiff competition from brands that were priced at Rs.10 vs their product that cost Rs. 45 at the time.
They weren’t even making enough money to pay salaries. However, instead of resorting to adding cheaper soda, to keep the batter fluffy, lower their costs, and keep up with competitors, they decided to shut operations in the city. We shut the factory, paid workers with the rental deposit, and went back to the drawing board,” Musthafa says.
#3 Embracing innovation and moving beyond dosa-idli batter
Until 2010, iD was still a one-product, one-city brand. From there, they began experimenting with different products; most that were misses, but some hits. The parotta was one of them. However, finding the right technology that could master the thin layers unique to a parotta, proved difficult.
They turned to Greece.
Not because the country had even the remotest connection to parottas; but because they made pastries. This seemingly odd gamble paid off. They worked with the manufacturers of pastry-making machinery to customize their own parotta making ones that created the light layers perfectly.
Taking cue from the success of the parotta, they made a wheat version of it, and also grew to include chapatis, vada batter, curd, bread, coffee, paneer and even grated coconut. Keeping pace with the emergence of the popularity of superfoods, they created a range of healthier alternatives like ragi batter and wholewheat bread as well.
Innovating their products, keeping their consumer base that is increasingly conscious of ‘eating right’ in the centre, is what guides the brand in their product portfolio expansions.
#4 Turning adversity into opportunity
The covid-19 lockdown period was a tough time for businesses, especially for restaurants and fresh food industries. iD’s B2B model took a hit, as retail stores were pulling down its shutters, but they re-invented their distribution model to end FY21 with 33% growth.
They shifted to B2C started distributing their products to residential complexes directly, and added a feature on their website that allowed consumers to locate the nearest store that had iD products in stock
"Our-direct-to-home delivery was a trust-based model. We left the product at the security gate and the consumers would pick it up and drop the money in the box at the gate or pay online. There was no monitoring and that got us great brand mileage," explains Mustafa.
Picking up from this model, they partnered with Big Basket to start a co-branded venture called ‘iD-Fresho’ which is aimed to further expand their B2C model to wider geographies.
A brand that sticks to their roots sticks with its customers
The scaling of a business comes with unexpected adversities. iD’s courage to constantly stick to their brand’s ideals and values is what has helped build such a strong sense of trust amongst its consumers.
iD’s learnings weren’t confined to product portfolio and distribution models, another aspect they’ve actively innovated on is their packaging. Stick around for next week’s newsletter to discover how iD approaches their packaging.
Ever noticed the striking packing iD’s products come in? In the next edition of this month’s brand breakdown, we discuss the inspiration behind the unique and practical packaging designs adopted by iD as well as their much loved campaigns.
Thanks for reading a2z of d2c by shopflo! Subscribe to get the next part of the story straight into your inbox.


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When it comes to Valentine’s Day we typically think that women want to be showered in roses, chocolates, and expensive gifts, but according to a new study men might be the real Valentine’s Day Divas. The study said nearly 60% of people give their partner a ‘F’ when it comes to romance on February 14th. To make matters worse, the Groupon study found merely 15% of those surveyed would grade their partner an ‘A.’
When it comes to sexes and how demanding each gender is the survey done by OnePoll says that men take the Valentine’s Day cake. More than half of the men polled admitted that they expect their partner to make a maximum effort in getting them a Valentine’s Day gift this year compared to just 36% of women who expect the same amount of effort.
Now regardless of if you think Valentine’s day is an important holiday, according to the study 70% of people said getting a Valentine’s Day gift was still very important to them. So make your quick trip to your local drug store and put a little effort in by getting some flowers and a card minimum cause chances are your partner somewhat cares.
Here’s a little gift guide if you need some last minute help according to Groupon:
Top 10 Valentine’s Day Gifts:
- A nice dinner out: 58 percent
- Chocolate: 50 percent
- Flowers: 46 percent
- A massage: 46 percent
- Home cooked meal: 39 percent
- Jewelry: 36 percent
- A trip to an exotic and/or warm weather locale: 31 percent
- A spa package: 31 percent
- A staycation at a local hotel: 30 percent
- Tickets to a comedy show: 26 percent
New Study Says Men Care More About Valentine’s Day Then Women was originally published on 92q.com
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"Poor Little Tink Tink" Murders His Girlfriend!


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New Car Registrations April 2022
You hear the phrase green shoots of recovery used often, it's a phrase that's been well used in the Motor Industry over the past years, more so since the pandemic. Just as you start to see the industry overcome one issue, another emerges with a vengeance it would seem.
As Car Manufacturers start to see improvement on lead times with certain models as they begin to manage the short supply of semi conductor chips better, they're hit with further part constraints with the delay on wiring harnesses on account of the War in Ukraine.
As the industry reacts and alters their build lines, it was always going to have an impact on supply temporarily. This disruption of course is demonstrated with the latest figures released by SMMT, it's certainly no shock that April 2022 figures are 15.8% down from April 2021.
I'm sure that the VAG group will be pleased to finally see some of their models reach the top 10, with both the Audi A3 and VW Polo bucking the trend that they've experienced so far in 2022.
With UK families favouring an SUV style vehicle it's no surprise that 3 out of the top 5 are SUV vehicles, with the Kia Sportage, Ford Puma and Nissan Qashqai. In fact those same SUV's are not only in the top 5 for April 2022, but they're in that section for the year to date registrations too.
New Car Registrations 2021 v 2022 YTD
Whilst the private and business sector continue to grow, the massive loser is the fleet section.
With the larger fleet sector many company car policies include vehicles based on p11d value - a combination of the vehicles emissions, list price and the percentage of tax the driver pays. With delays effecting the industry from semi-conductor chips to wiring harnesses the industry is asking customers to be flexible and alter their desired model, something that is not always possible for fleet drivers, so instead they're having to extend their current fleet contracts and wait the longer lead times.
Some companies have reduced their fleet, with a reduction in travel, higher cost of fuel too, it could be a while until we see this area stabilise.
Leasing company fleets have also been affected, without stock, manufacturers haven't been offering higher levels of discount on certain models with batch buys. However now that production lines have been amended, deals are currently being negotiated, which should impact new car registrations by Q3 2022. Keep checking our car lease special offer page for the latest hot offers deals.
Year to date figures show a decline by 5.4% because of the private an business strong performance, helping to pull back some of fleets under performance.


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DEA Ruling Prohibits Most Online Sales of Delta 8 THC
The so-called “gray area” is now a very solid black and white.
The debate over whether or not Delta-8 THC from hemp is legal to ship across state lines has abruptly come to an end. According to the most recent Drug Enforcement Agency Interim Final Ruling, hemp-derived Delta-8 is federally prohibited and is to be considered the same for enforcement purposes as Delta-9 THC, the better-known and more psychoactive THC.
The ruling, issued Aug. 21, 2020, states, in part, that “all synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) remain Schedule I controlled substances.”
“The [2018 Farm Bill] does not impact the control status of synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinols (for Controlled Substance Code Number 7370) because the statutory definition of “hemp” is limited to materials that are derived from the plant Cannabis sativa L. For synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinols, the concentration of delta-9 THC is not a determining factor in whether the material is a controlled substance. All synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinols remain schedule I controlled substances,” the ruling states.
What that means in layman’s terms is that any product containing Delta-8 or Delta-9 THC — even if it was synthesized from the CBD found in the hemp plant — is now federally classified in the same way as marijuana.
In other words, these products cannot be shipped to customers from retailers through the USPS or any other shipping method, and it is now illegal to use and possess these products in states where cannabis is not legal.
This action appears to be directly aimed at online retailers who were selling and shipping Delta-8 to customers across the nation. These online retailers were operating under the presumption that the Farm Bill, which legalized industrial hemp, also effectively federally legalized the derivatives, isomers, and cannabinoids derived from hemp.
Many of these retailers claimed that as long as the products contained less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC (the 0.3% rule), the cannabinoid that gives cannabis its psychoactive properties, it was legal under the changes made by the Farm Bill. This led to an explosion of online retailers who were selling Delta-8 products in customers in prohibition states under the guise of them being legal. You can learn more about the formerly gray area with Delta-8 by clicking here.
This ruling confirms once and for all that this type of activity is illegal, and it will quickly change the face of how these retailers were doing business. Many Delta-8 online retailers have already begun to address the new ruling on their sites. You can read more on the DEA ruling here.
But, while this ruling clarifies Delta-8 THC is illegal on a federal level, it does not change state laws that allow certain users the ability to possess, sell, or use these cannabinoids in states, like Colorado and California, where cannabis is legal. These states have already legalized and regulated the cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant on a state level — but sales and usage are limited to the confines of each legal state.
Delta 8 Oils has never shipped our Delta 8 vape cartridges, tinctures, or products directly to consumers. We believe in trusted partnerships and that the trusted dispensary/patient relationship is critical to the growth and success of new cannabis treatments like Delta 8 THC.


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Dude, where's my cash?
More banks and credit unions are offering checking and savings accounts, wire transfer services, and even loans to marijuana companies — and, so far, regulators have been watchful but accepting.
What's going on: Since marijuana is considered a criminal substance under federal law, banks that handle marijuana-linked money risk of being charged with money laundering. So they charge high fees for the privilege.
The Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network — FinCEN — tracks banks that serve what it calls MRBs (marijuana-related businesses).
- Banks that do serve pot businesses — after completing due diligence to make sure a company isn't involved in illicit activity —must keep tabs on every single transaction and report customer activity to regulators.
- Banks pass on the cost of all that paperwork — in theory, charging these customers whatever they want.
- If a regulator says the bank isn't being thorough enough, fines can be levied.
- Even so, there are still few options for marijuana companies that need a place to store cash, pay bills and so forth.
What we're hearing: "A cannabis operator can count on [paying] several thousand dollars a month in banking fees. It'd probably be in the hundreds of dollars for [a non-cannabis] company," Chris Call, CEO of North Bay Credit Union, which offers banking services for marijuana companies, tells Axios.
What to watch: The SAFE Banking Act — a bill in Congress that would shield banks from federal penalties for serving marijuana business customers — is gaining momentum. But in the meantime, states are trying to take matters into their own hands.
- Nevada is testing a Venmo-like system that would allow marijuana businesses to transfer money.
- California lawmakers are mulling a bill that would create state-sponsored, marijuana-friendly banks.
Higher taxes: Not only do marijuana companies pay higher banking fees, the illegality of marijuana means they pay more in federal taxes.
- One tax regulation prevents most cannabis companies from deducting the business expenses that non-marijuana companies can.
- One study found that the effective tax rate of MRBs was more than double the rate paid by “similarly situated” non-marijuana businesses.
Bonus: Cannabis companies don’t get a charitable deduction for any gifts they make. And charities are wary about accepting money from weed-affiliated businesses.


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Is Hobby Lobby Closing Stores? (2022 Facts)
Is Hobby Lobby closing stores? Why is there a rumor that the store is going to be going out of business? According to Hobby Lobby’s CEO David Green, the company is not going out of business in 2022. This rumor seems to have started from a Facebook post that has been shared over 50,000 times.
The post claims that all Hobby Lobby locations will be closed by January of 2022, but this is not true. In fact, Hobby Lobby has been steadily growing in recent years. In 2018, the company opened 55 new stores and plans to open 60 more in 2019. The company is also doing well financially, with a reported revenue of $4.8 billion in 2018.
Furthermore, Hobby Lobby has been raising employee wages for several years now. In 2017, the company raised its minimum wage to $15 an hour, and it plans to raise it to $17 an hour by 2020. While it’s always possible for a company to go out of business, there are no signs that this will be happening to Hobby Lobby any time soon.
How long has Hobby Lobby been in business?
Hobby Lobby has been in business for nearly 50 years. The company was founded in August 1972 by David Green, who opened the first store in Oklahoma City. However, Green and his wife had been working in the arts and crafts industry since 1970, when they began making custom frames from their home.
In the ensuing years, Hobby Lobby has become one of the leading retailers of arts and crafts supplies in the United States. The company now operates more than 800 stores across the country and employs more than 32,000 people.
Hobby Lobby is also a major force in the online retail market, with a comprehensive website that offers thousands of products for sale.
In recent years, Hobby Lobby has expanded its product offerings to include home decor, paper goods, and party supplies. The company’s commitment to providing quality products at competitive prices has helped it to become a trusted source for all of your craft and hobby needs.
Is Hobby Lobby closing stores permanently?
Currently, Hobby Lobby is not closing down its stores permanently. There are a few different reasons as to why people might think the store is no longer in business. The main source comes from early 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the United States.
At this time, several states were issuing stay-at-home orders and Hobby Lobby refused to close its doors. The company stated that it was an essential business because it provided school supplies and fabrics.
However, a few weeks later in April, Hobby Lobby decided to close all of its stores and furloughed almost all employees without pay or benefits. Although the company is not currently closing down permanently, the future is uncertain due to the ongoing pandemic.
Is it true Hobby Lobby doing well financially?
It seems safe to say that Hobby Lobby is doing well financially. The company has been able to maintain a steady trend of store growth, even during times when other retailers have struggled. In addition, Hobby Lobby has continued to invest in its employees, raising the minimum wage on a regular basis.
Finally, the company’s lack of international expansion indicates that it is happy with its current customer base and does not feel the need to reach beyond its borders. All of these factors paint a picture of a healthy and thriving business.
Is it true that Hobby Lobby closed down and fired people?
In April 2020, in response to the worldwide crisis first being recorded in the country and different states issuing stay-at-home orders, Hobby Lobby closed all its stores and put nearly all of its employees on mandatory leave without pay.
The official statement the company put out at the time did not mention that the employees had been fired; as far as can be determined, the employees were furloughed and returned to the stores when they reopened shortly after in July.
This move by Hobby Lobby was criticized by some who saw it as an opportunistic way to avoid paying its employees while still profiting from the sale of essential goods during the pandemic. However, others saw it as a necessary measure taken in response to an unprecedented situation. Either way, it is clear that the company's decision had a significant impact on its workforce.
Despite rumors to the contrary, Hobby Lobby is not going out of business. In fact, the company has been steadily growing its store count and minimum wage in recent years.
While Hobby Lobby is not expanding into new markets at the moment, this is likely due to simple market saturation rather than any sign of financial trouble.
So, for anyone who loves their crafting supplies and home decor, rest assured that Hobby Lobby is here to stay.
Our favorite resources are included below.
Job interview resources
- Common Interview Questions by Marquette University
- Prepare for Behavioral Interview Questions by Marquette University
- Preparing for Job Interviews by the University of Kansas
- Mock Interview Handbook by CSUCI
- Interview Guidebook by Lebanon Valley College
Resume and cover letter resources
- Writing a Resume and Cover Letter by USC
- Resume Writing Tips by the University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Resume and Cover Letter Guide by Harvard University
Job search resources
Phone interviews have become a core part of the process when attempting to find a secured placement for an open position. Companies receive massive responses from potential candidates for any..
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A lot of interviewers ask this question - how did you hear about this position? This way they can judge you if you are a passive or an active job seeker..
Writing a thank you note after an interview says a lot about you as a potential employee. Most notably, it says that you care about the opportunities presented..
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Knowing how to end a business note or email is an important skill to develop. It helps portray a sense of confidence, respect and tone to your message..


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Electrical retailer Darty is closing 43 of its loss-making Spanish stores as it fights competition from internet rivals against weak consumer demand in Europe.
The company said that the Spanish operations will shut in June at a cost of about €30m.
It is part of the group's move to turnaround business and focus on profitable businesses in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
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Stores in Spain were expected to report a loss for the year to April 30th 2013 of about €16m.
Last year Darty sold stores in Italy and Britain where it traded as Comet.
In February, the firm issued a warning that underlying pre-tax profits would fall short of €30m, at the lower end of market expectations, if trading failed to improve.
Shares jumped 10.59% to 47p at 09:41 on Thursday.
Nationwide: UK house prices creep up by 0.2% - are we heading for a rebound?
Nationwide’s latest house price index shows property prices inched up by 0.2% as demand warms up - will this trend go into 2024?
By Kalpana Fitzpatrick Published
December 2023 NS&I Premium Bond winners revealed - have you won the jackpot?
Two Premium Bond holders are now millionaires as NS&I reveals December winners. Find out if you’re one of them
By Vaishali Varu Published


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Yes, it’s that time of year again. The annual Mariah Carey Christmas cash in campaign.
Mariah is being sued by both siblings for her memoir, published a year ago, called “The Meaning of Mariah Carey.”
According to reports she’s tossed her mom into a senior citizen home in Florida and sold her house.
So it’s time to get warm and fuzzy as Mariah launches the 27th year of her single, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” the Phil Spector soundalike co-written by the very forgotten Walter Afanasieff.
Every year, an assault on iTunes begins to get “All I Want” back to the top of the charts. And now streaming, as well. Come, all ye faithful, to the PR onslaught Mariah kicked off last night as Halloween ends and MariahMass begins.
And all this is fairly necessary since, though Mariah is rich rich rich, her annual income is lot lower without the ability to perform in Vegas. And she sells no records during the year, just dribs and drabs of old singles here and there. But not enough to maintain homes and lifestyles.
No, “All I Want for Christmas” is a product, like other holiday baubles, and this is the season of giving. To Mariah.
Merry Xmas! Now we have two months of this cynicism to look forward to!
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) November 1, 2021


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Hospitality Management Holding has promoted Haytham Aziz to general manager of Coral Beach Resort Sharjah.
Aziz has over 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He joined Starwood Hotels and Resorts in 2003 where he spent over a decade working his way up with the various brands in the group.
Ferghal Purcell, chief operation office of Hospitality Management Holding, said: “Aziz is a great asset for our company. He has done a tremendous job in repositioning Coral Beach Resort Sharjah as a market leader despite stiff competition and challenging market conditions.
“Undoubtedly the highlight of his tenure has been establishing Coral Beach Resort Sharjah as the preferred hotel amongst our customers. Coral Beach Resort Sharjah is an exceptional hotel, competing at the highest level and I am sure that under Aziz’s leadership it will continue to excel. I wish him all the success in this new and exciting stage of his career.”
Aziz joined the HMH group in 2014 as executive assistant manager at Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel before being promoted to the position of hotel manager at Coral Beach Resort Sharjah in 2015.


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Recycling is quite a profitable sector but not when it is about plastic, say the researchers. While the new plastic is so cheap to produce, it can be difficult for recycled plastic to compete, ScienceNordic reported.
A group of researchers decided to figure out why most plastic that is recycled in the Nordic countries eventually finds its way into the trash According to Kari Anne Lyng, a researcher at Østfold Research, the bottom line answer is simple – plastic’s recycling is just not profitable enough to use recycled products. For business, it is easier and cheaper to manufacture new plastic package, for example.
The researchers from Nordic countries have found out hat the biggest obstacle is that it is not profitable enough to make new products from used plastic. While the experts decided to look at the different parts of the value chain for plastic, they made another important discovery: the market for recycled plastic simply doesn’t work. People who have recycled plastic to sell and people who need different types of plastics have a hard time finding each other. This is because the market for reusable products is so fragmented.
“Plastic is a material that is very suitable for recycling, as long as it is good quality,”
says Ms Lyng, a researcher at Østfold Research and explains that there are also a lot of different types of plastic. When plastic is collected from households, everything is put in the same container. This plastic must be sorted, and some trash may find its way into the mix.
“My particular feeling is that it’s good that we make people recycle. But to get the maximum environmental benefits out of recycling, there must also be a market out there for what we want to recycle,”
Ms Lyng concluded.
So far, used plastic packaging from Norwegian consumers is now shipped to Germany. In Norway, people prefer not to waste the time on plastic recycling because it can’t be used for new products. Instead, it is burned and used to create energy.
Meanwhile, Grønt Punkt Norge, which has responsibility for plastics recycling in the country, says that roughly 80 per cent of all plastic collected in Norway is sorted in 5 to 7 different grades before it is recycled in Germany.


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Lexus’s mission to create a better world through design and its support for imagination and creativity reached another milestone today with the announcement of the brand’s Limitless Co-Existence event. This will be a central feature of Lexus’s 11th appearance at Milan Design Week (17 to 22 April).
Visitors will be able to engage in an imaginative and thought-provoking design, created by Japanese architect Sota Ichikawa of doubleNegatives, which contemplates a limitless future for society.
Lexus believes design can be a catalyst for continuous change, empowerment and inclusivity. It can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary and reveal that, with “Co-“ – as in co-operation, collaboration and co-existence – our possibilities are limitless.
Ichikawa’s installation uses architecture to bring visitors face to face with “Co-“ in a dynamic, four-dimensional artwork. Known for combining information technology with design to re-imagine physical spaces, Ichikawa will create an installation that intersects the digital and the analogue. Developed from the concept that everyone is at the centre of the world, it uses a seemingly infinite number of hanging, vertical strings to represent the world’s individuals. Each is illuminated by a single light source, but not one is in shadow, representing how each individual perspective is its own centre.
Lexus will also be showcasing its most recent concept car, the Lexus LF-1 Limitless, at Milan, a study that hints at the brand’s future design thinking.
The Lexus event will take place in Cavallerizze in the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology, a newly restored 19th century monastery and stables complex.
Guests will also be offered a new culinary experience, inspired by Limitless Co-Existence and created by Altatto, a trio of young, innovative Milan-based vegan/vegetarian chefs. They will also be able to view the work of the 12 finalists from the 2018 Lexus Design Award, including this year’s Grand Prix winner, to be announced on 16 April.
Note to editors
More information can be found at:
Official hashtags: #LexusDesignAward; #MilanDesignWeek; #LexusDesignEvent


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Blockchain.info CEO: In the Future, You'll Use Bitcoin Without Even Knowing It Nicolas Cary discusses how you could benefit from the burgeoning Bitcoin economy, even if you don't own a single BTC.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Editor's Note: In this series, we take you inside the mind of Nicolas Cary, CEO of the popular Bitcoin wallet service Blockchain.info, for his expert insights on the latest Bitcoin news and trends.
It's been a rocky road for Bitcoin over the last few months. Mt. Gox fell. Hackers hemorrhaged Silk Road 2. The feds taxed it. Dark Wallet cast a pall.
Now what? Leave the bad Bitcoin news in the dust and charge ahead on the good foot.
This seems to be the optimistic, fighter attitude of Nicolas Cary, the ebullient CEO of Blockchain.info, a U.K.-based Bitcoin wallet and block information service.
The Denver, Colo., native sees a bright, "bullish" future for the world's first digital currency, even if it's still widely misunderstood and regularly garners negative headlines.
#insert related here#
Bitcoin's future is so bright, Cary says, that many of us will save money because of the controversial cybercurrency in the near future -- even if you don't own a single BTC.
We talked to Cary about the pioneering, widely misunderstood digital cash and why he has such high hopes for it, particularly as a frictionless payment network. Here's what he had to say.
Entrepreneur: What are your predictions for what's next for Bitcoin, over the next year or so?
Cary: Over the next year, a lot of people may start using Bitcoin without necessarily even knowing it. The way that will work is, you might be someone working really hard in the United States and you want to send some money to your family down in South America, so you might go to a local store and hand over some of the hard-earned cash you've made and they will actually use the Bitcoin network to transfer the value across the border, but basically for no fee, which will save you in the cost of doing that. If you were to use Western Union or MoneyGram today, sometimes they take 15 to 20 to 30 percent.
Even though you might not be in possession or custody of bitcoins, the currency, there are going to be services that most consumers end up using in the future that are relying on the Bitcoin payment network itself.
For people who are interested in Bitcoin, they can certainly go and buy some, but I think the technology itself, the network, is part of the value proposition. It will allow people and businesses to use it without, and kind of obfuscate, the complexity of some of the things that are intimidating to folks.
But the reality is the software has to get better. Bitcoin was successful very early on because it catered to a very technically forward audience, but the utility and need is very big, and I don't think that anyone would debate that they'd rather be saving money if they could, and Bitcoin presents an option to live in a world of greater financial empowerment.
We have to build better software as an industry. We're getting there. User interfaces are getting better. I want to get to a place where, if I wanted to send you a payment because we went out to dinner and we split the check, I just press on a picture of your face on my phone and it instantly sends you money. That's where we have to get to and we will get there this year.
Entrepreneur: How soon will everyday commerce be powered by Bitcoin? When will we see Bitcoin as a payment system reach critical mass?
Cary: It's still tough to say. You have to look at the momentum. A year ago today there were maybe 4,000 or 5,000 merchants on the entire planet that accepted Bitcoin. Now there are probably 40,000 to 50,000.
The story of ecommerce and Bitcoin is going to be a big one in 2014. You've already seen OKCupid, the world's largest dating site, accept Bitcoin, Wordpress, the world's largest blogging platform accept Bitcoin, TigerDirect, and and now DISH, one of the larger cable companies in the world, have announced that they will accept Bitcoin.
They're going to do this because it allows them to receive a payment, basically just like cash, where they don't pay any fees. All of these online retailers are constantly fighting to win that margin battle.
Because Bitcoin payments are like cash, merchants don't have to surrender 2 to 3 percent fees to Visa, American Express, etc. It can mean the difference between huge profits and a loss when you consider their volume.
I think throughout 2014 one online retailer after another is going to start to accept Bitcoin and there are some really fantastic projects that are going to come online this summer, too. Lots of really smart entrepreneurs are coming into this space, really qualified teams, and I'm excited to see what happens.


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Chicago’s Esquire Theater May Soon Fall
According to a report in today’s Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago’s famed Esquire theater may be threatened for replacement by retail stores. The theater has faced similar threats several times before under earlier ownership, but this time it may be for real- especially with Alderman Burton Natarus' support and the increased competition from the nearby River East 21, now both operated by AMC. The theaters are increasingly dated and poorly maintained, and the 1989 alterations that removed the spectacular 1,400 seat art deco auditorium and added the six small screens also altered the lobby, although it retains much of its original charm. Chicagoist offers an editorial.


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CHENNAI: TATA Electronics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, is set to make iPhones in India. Taiwan-based Wistron Corp, a contract manufacturer for Apple Inc, said on Friday that it has approved a 100% indirect stake sale of Wistron Infocomm Manufacturing (India), which operates an iPhone assembly plant near Bengaluru, to the Tata firm for $125 million. The Bengaluru plant has reportedly committed to ship iPhones worth $1.4 billion. Tata Electronics declined to comment.
Incorporated in 2020, Tata Electronics has a plant in Tamil Nadu’s Hosur (40 km from Bengaluru). It employs 5,000 people and makes mobile enclosures. With the acquisition of the Bengaluru plant, the Tata Group is set to become India’s first homegrown iPhone assembler, giving a boost to Apple’s efforts to reduce its over-dependence on China. Leading Taiwanese manufacturers Pegatron and Foxconn already have manufacturing facilities near Chennai, where they assemble the iPhone 15.
The Mumbai-headquartered conglomerate has also announced plans to open 100 Apple stores across the country. However, Tata Electronics’ plans are not limited to mobile phone assembly; its stated roadmap is to position itself as a key player in the global semiconductor and precision manufacturing industry.


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Swisscom customers benefiting from various inclusive roaming services often enjoy domestic and international travel.
With its new “Easy Travel Insurance Day” offer, Swisscom has partnered with Europäische Reiseversicherung ERV to launch a first for Switzerland: the only travel insurance you can take out flexibly on a daily basis – for only CHF 1 per day.
Swisscom customers can also surf the Internet with more peace of mind thanks to new “Easy Cyber Insurance”.
“The people of Switzerland enjoy travelling a lot. During these coronavirus times, this has been more in Switzerland than abroad. But we are delighted to support our six million customers with this too. The partnership with ERV, the travel insurance specialist of the Helvetia Group, has connected us for over 20 years, so we are very pleased to have ERV* on board to launch this attractive offer,” says Dirk Wierzbitzki, Head of Residential Customers at Swisscom.
Swisscom has also launched its “Easy Travel Insurance Year” product for individuals and families. The payment method for this is new and unusual as “Easy Travel Insurance Year” is billed monthly. After expiry of the minimum 12-month contract period, the contract can be terminated at any time under observance of a notice period of 60 days to the end of the month.
Easy Cyber Insurance. Surfing securely on the move
Cybercrime is on the rise worldwide. In addition to governments and companies, residential customers are increasingly targeted by fraudsters: Swisscom’s security experts fend off over 3,000 attempts to attack its infrastructure every hour.
Internet Guard, which is free for all customers, provides 8 million warnings against access to infected websites or links sent in fake mails each year. Increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect, some fake e-mails or websites are hard to distinguish from the originals.
“Easy Cyber Insurance” provides legal protection in cases of copyright infringement, identity theft, credit card misuse, online bullying and fraudulent suppliers when shopping online. It also helps with data recovery and virus removal, up to the replacement of hardware. The product has been tailor-made for Swisscom customers in partnership with AXA-ARAG.
“Customer security is very important to us. The new offering fits almost seamlessly into our existing security portfolio and allows customers to enjoy surfing the net with no concerns. It is an ideal complement to Swisscom’s core products,” says Dirk Wierzbitzki, Head of Residential Customers at Swisscom.
The insurance also scores highly with additional, customer-friendly conditions such as monthly billing. The contract can be terminated at any time after the minimum 12-month contract period under observance of a notice period of 60 days to the end of the month. The insurance product applies to the household insured by the customer, regardless of whether this is a family home, a couple living together or a shared flat.
Both new products are now available exclusively in the Swisscom Shops and via the free hotline on 0800 800 800.


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Digital media is already known to affect the mind, but a study recently found that the use of smartphones and tablets is affecting how young adults’ develop physically.
The Netflix phenomenon Black Mirror taps into a lot of severely complex problems, using a televised platform as a way to tackle them. Two of the most recent episodes from season five, Smithereens and Striking Vipers, focus on human addiction to digital media. This media accesses the same chemical in the brain that most drugs do: Dopamine. Using an app, using cocaine, gaming, using heroin, and social media all tap into dopamine and can cause a range of addiction problems and while people may not use drugs and digital media for the same reasons, the effect is the same.
Digital media is already known to affect the mind, but a study recently found that the use of smartphones and tablets is affecting how young adults’ develop physically. While it is not true that the use of smartphones and tablets is linked to cancer, there is a more predatory danger that the developers of digital media use to create a worldwide addiction.
Essentially, almost nothing in the brain can function properly without dopamine. Dopamine relies on the anticipation that an action or interaction will cause pleasure. It does not cause addiction, but more of a good thing does not necessarily make a situation better. With certain drugs, the comedown effect can leave users feeling depressed after experiencing such high levels of dopamine. Sex can cause a similar reaction. With the advent of digital media, the ‘come down’ effect never occurs.
Digital Media and Addiction
The ‘addiction’ to digital media is not usually a phenomenon that makes people unable to perform their usual daily activities. While many people can feel good while using digital media, the links to depression and anxiety cannot be ignored. It is not hard to find a place where people are constantly on their phones, tablets, etc.
Within a span of about thirty years, the world went from radio, television, and corded phones to wireless digital media. The rapid pace that technology moves at is incredible, yet the problem with digital media is that the real world is no longer enough. However, the drug comparison, while not far off base, is a bit problematic as it implies that digital media has the same effect, which is not entirely true.
What digital media does is tap into the anticipation that dopamine relies upon and while drugs also rely on that in a sense, they create much more intense and problematic levels of dopamine. Social media relies on a constant stream of dopamine that never has to ‘come down.’
There is a withdrawal effect. That loss of constant anticipation and action leaves many bored and, inevitably, restless. The more severe effects can cause dinner tables where everyone is on their phones, the association with social media and self-worth, and the constant desire for more. The concern is the lack of physical communication within families, between friends, and between strangers. The costs of interpersonal communication and childhood development are serious and result in anxiety and depression. Lead experts now take the phenomena of addiction associated with digital media such as gaming and social media seriously.
Though the threat of digital media addiction is not just personal. In the United States, a nationwide law against texting and driving is in effect. New York City is considering a law that would prevent people from texting and walking with the exception of emergencies. What qualifies as an emergency is still something that needs to be worked out, but at least the dangers of walking and texting without acknowledging the surrounding environment is acknowledged as a serious concern.
The addiction associated with social media, while not what addiction typically looks like, is still something that has the ability to harm the self and others. There are settings on most computers that restrict use and apps that restrict phone time, though not many people apply those computer settings or are downloading those apps.
For older generations, being hours on end without a phone is not a new sensation and can be a relief. However, for generations that will grow up with cell phones and tablets, the addiction will only get worse. Games like Pokémon Go or some games on the Wii and Xbox require physical movement, which helps but does not improve the situation. Any other activity that does not require a phone, computer or tablet and requires full attention helps to remove society from the screen and recalibrate people for real-world interaction.
However, the dangers of lifelong digital media use are still unknown for now. Research is still required if the true effects of a lifetime of digital media are to be determined and special attention will need to be paid to the youngest generations, those growing up in the world of tablets, phones, streaming, and HD TV. Perhaps, a truly comprehensive solution can be found but until then the sheer force of will have to be ingrained into those who grow up in the hyper-digital age.


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Cool tech, gadgets and toys
The annual New York Toy Fair offers a preview of the hottest trends and toys in the industry, toting big names like Hasbro, Lego and Razor, and revealing smaller, innovative toy vendors.
More than 1,000 exhibitors flock to New York City to show their wares and tempt distributors.
From beloved brands like My Little Pony and Star Wars to break out hits like Pie Face, the show provides insight into what kids will be placing on their wish lists this year.
—By CNBC's Sarah Whitten
Posted 18 Feb. 2016
Sphero's Force Band for BB-8 robot
Your childhood dream of being a Jedi — or Sith — is about to become a reality.
Sphero, which launched its miniature BB-8 droid last year, is giving "Star Wars" fans a chance to use the force to maneuver this little bot.
Slated for release in the fall is the Force Band, a wearable device that allows users to control the BB-8 toy with a wave of their hand.
"We are all about building these fun, app-controlled robots and building connected play experiences that really try to fuse both the digital play that kids are having on their smartphones and tablets with the physical world," Paul Berberian, CEO of Sphero, told CNBC. "We don't want to compete with the games on the tablet, we want to be part of them."
BB-8 can travel up to two meters per second and can be controlled via a smartphone or tablet and will react to your voice. Berberian noted that the droids' only nemesis is deep shag carpet and sand, otherwise BB-8 will cruise over any surface.
The robot entertainment company, which sold more than 1 million robots in 2015, sells the BB-8 droid for $149.99 online and at more than 18,000 locations globally.
Tech 4 Kids' ImagiPen
"If you can dream it, you can make it" is the motto behind Tech 4 Kids' newest toy, the 3-D ImagiPen.
The device, which utilizes ultraviolet gel curing technology, allows children to design 3-D creations in midair.
Although 3-D pens have been on the market for years, this toy is designed specifically for kids and is slated to retail for only $19.99. Other 3-D pens can cost upwards of $100.
The ImagiPen does not use heat and is safe for children aged 8 and up.
Hasbro's Pie Face Showdown
A runaway hit last year for both kids and adults, Hasbro's Pie Face was awarded game of the year in 2016 by the Toy Industry Association.
For those unfamiliar the game, players take turns placing their head through a face-shaped placard and spinning a numbered wheel that determines how many times that they must turn the handle of the pie thrower. If the player completes their turn without getting a face full of whipped cream they receive points. The first player to 25 wins.
For 2016, Hasbro will release Pie Face Showdown, a sequel, of sorts, to the original that pits players against each other. The players must press a button on the side of the toy as fast as they can to move the pie thrower towards the other player. The one that gets pied in the face loses.
No doubt your social media feed will be filled with videos of friends and family members challenging each other to this sweet duel.
Goblies Throwable Paintballs
Who said science can't be fun? Certainly not Briana Gardell, a recent graduate of Lehigh University's Technical Entrepreneurship master's program and CEO of Goblies, a throwable and biodegradable paintball kit.
"[Goblies] are painless like a water balloon, but they create a colorful splatter like a paintball," Gardell told CNBC. "The product is sold as a kit that allows kids to make a hundred [Goblies] with food ingredients and cosmetic dyes while learning about chemistry."
Gardell's toy is part of the STEM movement — a major trend sweeping the toy industry that focuses on teaching science, technology, engineering and math.
The young entrepreneur launched a Kickstarter campaign last June, garnering more than $9,300 in funding for her post-grad project.
A Goblies kit retails at $19.99 online, with refills on sale for $8.00.
Hasbro's Takodana Encounter set
Fans of Star Wars will have no shortage of new toys and collectibles this year.
Hasbro's Takodana Encounter set is one of many Star Wars toy sets produced by the company and it will also be recreated in brick form by Lego.
The set is the first to include Maz Kanata, a key figure from "The Force Awakens" and also features Rey, BB-8 and Finn, as well as the chest in which Rey discovers Luke Skywalker's lightsaber.
The set will be available in the spring and is priced at $19.99.
Data tracker NPD Group estimates Star Wars toys rang up $700 million in sales last year.
VTech's Blast-Off Space Station
It's never too early to introduce space exploration to your child, according to VTech, a global supplier of electronic learning products for infants and preschoolers.
The company revealed its newest Go! Go! Smart Wheels set on Sunday: the Blast-Off Space Station. The set is designed to strengthen motor skills and teach cause-and-effect to young children.
It includes a toy rocket and several manipulative play features like a blast-off elevator, a spinning black hole and a slide.
Lego's Angry Bird sets
Ahead of the release of "The Angry Birds Movie" in May, Lego has created a handful of sets that complement the new film and honor the original game.
Lego lovers will still be able to build with the traditional bricks, but will also be able to launch bird figures from catapults, fire small projectiles and collect eggs.
Various sets include fan-favorite characters like Red, Chuck and Bomb as well as several iterations of the evil green piggies.
Auldey's voice command Sky Rover
The Drone craze has reached new heights this year, with companies competing to create the coolest flying toys. Some have added cameras to the devices to give users a different viewing experience while others have opted to change up the shape and material of drones.
Auldey, however, has made its drones voice activated. The company's newest Sky Rover helicopter flies and launches plastic missiles all by voice command.
Users can fly the device with a remote control or a headset. It is slated to sell for $44.99 and is designed for children — and adults — aged 8 and older.
The Irish Fairy Door Company
For parents who have fallen in love with Elf on the Shelf, the Irish Fairy Door Company is here to spread the magic year-round.
Irish Fairy Doors are small hand-made wooden doors that help fairies relocate into human homes. Children place the door somewhere in their home and leave a small key outside the door at night. If the key is gone in the morning, that means a fairy has "moved" in and will live with the family.
The toy seeks to foster imaginative play for children and parents and provides digital content on its website that allows you to register your fairy's name and download stories.
The company launched two years ago in Ireland and has since spread to the United Kingdom and the United States. In just two months, the company has garnered more than $100,000 on Amazon in the U.S. alone.
Jetts by Razor
For adventurous kids aged 6 and up, Razor has developed Jetts, a strap-on set of wheels that can be used for transportation or for doing tricks at a local skate park.
When strapped to the shoe, the wheels are reminiscent of Heelys roller shoes, but have the advantage of being removable. The product will retail for $39.99 and fit any size shoe.
For advanced riders, Razor offers spark pads that create burst of sparks when struck against the pavement. Extra pads are available for $4.99.


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Well this is an intriguing film, ‘The Big Call,’ from Spanish phone giant Telefonica’s everreach answering service. Showing how important not missing a phone call can be in business.
Telefonica claims doing so costs small businesses an average of £26,725 a year.
The film features entrepreneurs Charlie Mullins, the millionaire boss of Pimlico Plumbers in his swanky motor, Jo Malone of fragrance business Jo Loves and adland’s Mark Denton, who now runs agency cum production company Coy! Communications.
And what made Mark’s career (apart from a consultation with his clairvoyant)? Why, a phone call from “some account bloke I’d never ‘eard of” – who just happens to be our very own Paul Simons, then in the process of setting up Simons Palmer Denton Clenmow and Johnson, one of the most successful creative agencies of its era.
Everreach CEO Nick Mullen says: “There has never been a better time to launch and grow a small business in the UK. Recent legislation such as the Home Business initiative makes it easier to start a business and technology services like everreach help micro businesses manage their calls and grow into big businesses.
“Charlie Mullins, Jo Malone and Mark Denton can all trace their success back to a single phone call so hopefully their stories will inspire small businesses to take control of their calls as you never know when a big one will ring in.”
The Big Call was directed by BAFTA-nominated Gary Tarn.


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bearish•Ford Motor Co•30 Sep 2023 14:00
Ford Halts Construction of U.S. EV Battery Plant Using CATL Technology
Ford Motor Co. said Monday it was suspending construction of its $3.5 billion electric-vehicle (EV) battery plant in the U.S. midwestern state of...
bullish•Huawei Technology•30 Sep 2023 10:00
Huawei Unveils New Products Boasting Self-Developed Chips
Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. launched a line of new products this week, including a tablet and smart TV, powered by self-developed chips, in its...
bullish•China Petroleum & Chemical Cor•29 Sep 2023 15:30
China’s Sinopec Dives Deeper Into Geothermal Energy
China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., the state-owned energy giant known as Sinopec, is making a bigger push into a renewable energy generated by...
bullish•Cross Asset Strategy•28 Sep 2023 20:08
CX Daily: WHO’s New China Rep Says Tighten Disease Surveillance
WHO /: WHO’s new China Rep says tighten disease surveillance, expand primary care to tackle outbreaks Electric cars /: China could resolve EV row...
bullish•Cross Asset Strategy•27 Sep 2023 11:46


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For about a year, Apple has begun to enforce its corporate certification policy for developers more rigorously. After Facebook and Google, today Clearview also found itself with the developer account deactivated. Here because.
According to Apple, Clearview has abused company certification policies and for this reason the account has been deactivated. Clearview has a number of important public and private clients in the United States – such as the FBI, the NBA, Macy and Walmart – to offer facial recognition services through AI.
Apple found that Clearview was asking its customers to download apps via its corporate certificate, so as not to go through the App Store.
The problem is that the Apple corporate certificate for developers should only be used for internal app distribution, not for sharing to third parties. This practice has been tolerated by Apple for several years, at least until 2019 when Facebook and Google have also ended up in the viewfinder.
Apple has now the Clearview AI developer account has been disabled and has “provided them with a notification to respond within 14 days“.


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Once-successful Virgin Orbit has been sold for parts at auction after the company declared bankruptcy in April. In a $16.1 million deal, Rocket Lab USA, a small satellite launch provider and aerospace manufacturer, bought Virgin Orbit's 144,000 square foot Long Beach headquarters and a variety of on-site machinery and equipment.
Rocket Lab USA is currently developing Neutron, a larger launch vehicle, from its headquarters, conveniently also located in Long Beach. In a statement about the purchase, Peter Beck, Rocket Lab's CEO and founder, said adding Virgin Orbit's lease "provides co-located engineering, manufacturing and test capabilities for our Neutron team."
The now-defunct Virgin Orbit started in 2017 as an off-shoot of Virgin Galactic, billionaire Richard Branson's space tourism venture. Its goal was to use a modified Boeing 747 aircraft, known as Cosmic Girl, to deploy small satellites into low Earth orbit, but only four of its six flights since its first in 2020 have been successful. The company attempted to save money through methods like going public in 2021 and, most recently, furloughing its 750 or so employees. However, they weren't enough, and the company reported a $191.2 million net loss for 2022. In April, Virgin Orbit officially declared bankruptcy and laid off most of its employees.
In total, Virgin Orbit has earned just over $36 million from bankruptcy sales, CNBC reported. Cosmic Girl sold for $17 million to Stratolaunch, creator of the world's largest plane. A small satellite transport business, Launcher, paid an additional $2.7 million for Virgin Orbit's launch site in the Mojave Desert — about a six-hour drive from their south Los Angeles headquarters. Launcher is owned by Vast, a company attempting to launch the first private space station.


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A Welsh fish wholesaler that supplies leading UK restaurants has launched its first direct-to-consumer online shop in response to high lockdown demand from the public.
Wholesaler Swansea Fish is now selling a range of fresh fish and seafood online for the first time. The website, trading as Copper Bay Seafood, was developed after the business started to take its first direct orders from customers during Covid-19 lockdown – when the restaurants that it normally serves were forced to close temporarily.
The business counts Michelin-starred and award-winning restaurants among the clientele that it has served over the first 30 years of its operations. During lockdown it started to explore selling straight to the consumer for the first time. At first it took orders over the phone, but now it has launched its own website to serve UK shoppers.
Paul and Debora Rees, co-founders of Copper Bay Seafood, say: “We are really excited to be expanding our seafood business online, helping us to reach many more people across the country.
“After being in the fish industry for over 30 years, the recent effects of Covid-19 have allowed us to trial and test things we never could have before. We are looking forward to giving people the Michelin star experience at home that they have no doubt missed out on during lockdown.”
The business promises to deliver ethically and sustainably sourced seafood straight to customers’ doors in perfect condition. Fresh fish and shellfish are both available, from swordfish steaks and monkfish loin to frozen cooked lobster and Welsh mussels. Items can be bought individually or in boxes ranging from a luxury celebration box to a family fish box. There’s a minimum online order of £50, with delivery free for those spending more than £100. Website content includes recipes and ideas on how to serve up fish – including a guide to filleting a turbot.


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Prime Minister Imran Khan launched Pakistan’s first-ever locally produced electric bike (e-bike) by Jolta Electric in a ceremony at Islamabad held on Thursday.
The premier praised the initiative, saying that electric vehicles will help reduce environmental pollution in the country. He added that the previous government had failed to take necessary steps to protect the environment.
The launch of the Jolta Electric Bike (E-Bike) is part of the federal government’s Electric Vehicle Policy (2020-2025) which is aimed at supporting and encouraging the production and shift towards electric vehicles.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan, with focus on the eco-friendly environment, will launch Pakistan’s first locally manufactured electric motorbike (E-Bike) at a ceremony tomorrow.” tweeted Prime Minister’s Office.
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI, with focus on eco-friendly environment, will launch Pakistan’s first locally manufactured electric motorbike (E-Bike) at a ceremony tomorrow.#PakistanGoingGreen#ZeroEmissions https://t.co/TKUv08e4vJ pic.twitter.com/1dEVcJKVKu— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) July 7, 2021
The various models of Jolta Electric Bike (E-Bike) that have been launched in Pakistan offer different specifications, including speed of 10 – 60 kilometers per hour and a distance coverage of 60 – 100 kilometers.
Jolta Electric Bike (E-Bike) Models
- JE-70 D
- JE-100 L
- JE-Sports Bike
This is a major step being taken in the shift towards electric vehicles. .
Auto Policy for Electric Vehicles (EVs)
- No Additional Customs Duty (ACT) and Additional Sales Tax (AST) on import of EVs.
- Import Duty of 10% on CBU EVs (Reduced From 25%).
- Only 1% Tax on Import of EV Parts for Local Manufacturers.
- Only 1% Sales Tax for EVs up to 50kWh and Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) up to 150kWh.
- Free Registration for EVs in Islamabad.
- Exemption from Federal Excise Duty (FED).
- Duty Free Import of Plant and Machinery for EV Assembly Plant.
Read more: Electric Vehicles Get Massive Tax Reduction in Budget 2021-22.
Follow INCPAK on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram for updates.
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CES 2014 Nvidia has unveiled two versions of a new Tegra mobile processor aimed at both radically improving graphics performance of mobile gaming and putting "a supercomputer in your car," in the words of company co-founder and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang.
The new chip, dubbed the Tegra K1, has "the heart of GeForce and the soul of Tesla," Huang told his audience at at CES press conference on Sunday evening, referring to Nvidia's PC-graphics and supercomputing products.
Huang called the "impossibly advanced" Tegra K1 a "192-core" processor, saying that merely moving up to eight cores from the four-core Tegra 3 would be "pretty pedestrian." To be precise, the K1 will contain 192 CUDA cores based upon the company's Kepler architecture, arranged in a 12-by-16 grid. Apparently the 32-bit version's additional four ARM Cortex-A15 compute cores are chopped liver.
A second version of the K1 will have two 64-bit ARMv8-architecture "Denver" compute cores, a technology that Nvidia first announced it was working on back at CES in 2011, and which they now modestly dub the "Super Core CPU."
192 Kepler CUDA graphics cores plus
four ARM Cortex-A15 compute cores
The 32-bit version, with a TDP of 5 watts, is scheduled to appear in devices in the first half of this year, and the 64-bit part will appear in the second half of the year. Both versions will be pin-to-pin compatible; the 32-bit version will run at up to 2.3GHz and its 64-bit big brother will speed along at up to 2.5GHz.
Both parts will support DirectX 11, OpenGL 4.4, and tessellation, and if the demos that Huang showed during his presentation – demos, mind you – are any indication, their graphics capabilities are indeed impressive. He also revealed that Epic Games will bring the next iteration of its Unreal gaming engine to the Tegra K1.
In addition to touting the Tegra K1's gaming graphics chops, Huang also emphasized its applicability in the automotive future, in which "your cars are going to be able to do things that most people won't be able to understand."
Specifically, he said that the K1 will "bring supercomputing into your car," in that it will be what he claimed would be not only the first programmable platform for advanced driver assistance (ADAS), but also provide the graphics capabilities needed to customize dashboard displays. ®
Huang also revealed that the 310-foot (94.5m) diameter "crop circle" in the tiny town of Chualar, California, that has been titillating the interwebs since late December was merely an Nvidia marketing gimmick. He also complimented the news reporter who pointed out that patterns in its center were Braille for 192 – the number of Kepler cores in the Tegra K1.


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Akervall Technologies Inc Welcomes New Creative and Marketing Director
SALINE, Mich., March 8, 2021 – Akervall Technologies Inc. (ATI), makers of SISU Mouth Guards and SOVA Nightgrinding Mouth Guards, is pleased to announce the appointment of Amy MacIntosh as the Creative and Marketing Director. MacIntosh will oversee big-picture marketing and brand strategy and provide thought leadership on the brand’s creative messaging. She reports directly to Sassa Akervall, CEO of Akervall Technologies.
“Joining a team that develops such remarkable products is very exciting,” said MacIntosh, “I am eager to continue increasing brand awareness of ATI’s products and guiding the brands into new directions.” MacIntosh, a seasoned creative veteran with leadership experience in launching consumer brands, has worked with various household brands, including Cadillac, Saturn, several recording artists, and consumer electronics, and will bring her vast experience to Akervall Technology family of brands. “I’m beyond excited to have Amy onboard with us. Her great experience and enthusiasm for the Akervall brands are a sure indication that we have picked the perfect new addition we need to take us to the next level. I have no doubt Amy will be an invaluable asset to the ATI’s brands.”


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2 Horrific Brain Injuries. One Survivor.Travis Bell as well as Joe Sisson were close pals as well as climbing celebrities in bobsled prior to accidents thwarted their jobs.
Two Wyoming Bobsledders. Two Horrific Brain Injuries. One Survivor.
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- To fight climate change, and now Russia, too, Zurich turns off natural gas


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A new report warns that the packaging of FAST-food restaurants from a variety of big-name chains could contain high levels of dangerous chemicals.
A number of popular restaurants Consumer reports have been singled out for using greaseproof packaging that “forever contains chemicals” that don’t break down in the environment.
According to the research, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are used by chains like Burger King, Chick-Fil-A, Arby’s and Sweetgreen to prevent grease and water from seeping through food packaging and cups.
“PFAS are materials that the average person should be aware of,” said James Dickerson, Consumer Reports’ chief scientific officer in 2019.
“CR has been addressing the issue of chemical exposure for more than 80 years. PFAS and similar compounds have emerged as significant potential risks that should be mitigated.”
In the latest report consumer reports tested over 100 products from well-known chains and were stunned to discover that PFAS were present in some packaging at each retailer tested.
The highest concentrations of PFAS indicators were found in food packaging from Nathan’s Famous, Cava, Arby’s, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Stop & Shop and Sweetgreen, according to the report.
The chemicals have been found in many types of packaging: paper bags for chip cookies, hamburger wrappers, molded fiber salad bowls and disposable paper plates.
However, all companies listed also had some packaging tested at levels below 200 parts per million, which compares reasonably to the high PFAS indicators of 500ppm.
“We know from our testing that it’s possible for retailers to use packaging that is very low in PFAS,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports.
“So the good news is that there are steps companies can take now to reduce their use of these hazardous chemicals.”
Because PFAS are so widespread, it would be almost impossible to completely eliminate them from the environment — but getting to low levels is an achievable goal.
Many fast food chains plan to phase out the use of PFAS in the coming years. According to consumer reports MC Donalds plans to get rid of the hazardous material by 2025.
A spokesman for Chick-Fil-A told The Sun that the company has been working for the past four years to change its packaging products to meet all applicable regulatory standards in order to work towards using more sustainable materials.
“Chick-fil-A has intentionally removed added PFAS from all new packaging produced in our supply chain going forward,” the spokesman said.
“While some older packaging may still be found in restaurants, it is expected to be phased out by the end of this summer.”
This was announced by a spokesman for Arby CNN that the company “has minimal packaging materials containing PFAs and is on track to eliminate PFAs from all packaging products by the end of 2022.”
Cava released a statement earlier this month, stating, “Due to a variety of factors related to the pandemic, and particularly global supply chain shortages, the transition to eliminating added PFAs that began in August 2021 is taking longer than planned . Our teams are working with our suppliers to complete the transition within the year.”
Stop & Shop has confirmed that the Nature’s Promise brand tags mentioned in this consumer report have been removed from all stores.
“We stand behind the safety and quality of our Nature’s Promise private label products,” said a spokesman for Stop & Shop.
The use of “Forever Chemicals” is not only hazardous to health, but also endangers the environment.
According to the Environmental Protection AgencyPFAS can be found in water, air, fish and soil around the world as it ends up in landfills.
PFAS can contaminate water and soil and even air when the substances are burned.
Many health and environmental activists are pushing for federal limits on PFAS food packaging, as measures are currently a state matter.
California is expected to set the limit for PFAS at less than 100 ppm in January 2023.
Burger King, McDonald’s, Sweetgreen, Arby’s, Cava and Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs did not respond to The Sun’s request for comment.
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https://www.the-sun.com/news/4982956/fast-food-wrappers-harmful-chemicals-pfas-health/ Food packaging from fast-food chains like Burger King, Chick-fil-A and Arby’s “contain harmful chemicals,” the report says


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Forbes Kazakhstan has published an overview of key legislative developments in 2016 to be highlighted by speakers at the 10th Kazakhstan Forum of Corporate Lawyers
Forbes Kazakhstan, a business ranking magazine, has published an overview of key legislative developments proposed by Senior Partner Aidyn Bikebayev and Partner Amir Begdesenov to Kazakhstan antitrust law.
The SZP team has developed a number of suggestions on how to radically improve the antitrust regulatory framework. The most substantial amendments relate to the confiscation of monopoly income, price cartel, set up of public companies in the market, and extension of antitrust law.
Please see the article at:


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Third party sources in the Valley told me yesterday that ARM is likely to strike a strategic deal with GlobalFoundries during the next week or so.
GlobalFoundries, of course, is the spun off semiconductor fabrication division of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and currently it’s held in quite high regard by a number of people including President Obama – who visited its future New York State site last Monday, and by New York State politicians as well because it will bring much needed work to the area.
Chartered, of course, will be amalgamated into GlobalFoundries and brings with it a considerable number of customers. Before Chartered, Global Foundries had two customers – AMD and ST Microelectronics. Sources suggest the real number now is something like 150 or so.
With that sort of customer base, it’s little wonder that TSMC, the number one foundry in the world, is getting a little rattled. A GlobalFoundries deal with ARM would bring an awful lot to the party.
During this week’s Intel Developer Forum, senior executives at the chip company outlined their plans to capture the smartphone and MID markets, but there’s considerable opposition in this part of the industry to throw their lot in with the chip giant. Intel regularly dismisses ARM and Qualcomm as irrelevant to its own plans, but that is almost certainly just a position it’s taking.
Intel fears ARM. Just a few years ago it had its own ARM based chip, Xscale, but got nowhere with it and eventually Marvell picked it up and has done spectacularly well with it.


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Visit a mid-sized store in an Indian city, and you’d wonder if it exists to make any money. It might just as well be there to process transactions for half-a-dozen payment apps: PhonePe, Paytm, Google Pay, BharatPe, Amazon Pay and MobiKwik. Add up the merchants who have downloaded the digital services and the figure quickly reaches 80 million. A third of India’s 60 million-plus small businesses are using an average of four different platforms, according to Raman Khanduja, the chief executive officer of Mintoak, a Mumbai-based fintech.
“The neighborhood shopkeepers’ bandwidth is getting sucked into accepting money,” he says. “When


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Arrow Truck Sales, Inc., announced a 4-year/400,000-mile comprehensive engine warranty option on pre-owned units. This program provides extended protection for the equipment purchaser who wants to take the worry out of buying used.
Unlike other used truck warranties in the marketplace, Arrow’s warranty includes full coverage (not just major components) during the entire 4-year period. Arrow says its warranty option is longer than many manufacturers’ standard new truck engine warranty. This new extended warranty plan is available on 2005 and newer Volvo VNLs with fewer than 500,000 miles.
“Arrow Truck Sales continues to be a true innovator and cutting-edge leader in the used truck industry,” said Carl Heikel, Arrow’s President and CEO. “We have continually led the charge in providing extended warranty options to the used truck buyer.”


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Indonesia fintech startup AwanTunia announced on Monday raising US$4.3 million series A round led by Insignia Ventures Partners and AMTD Group, with participation from Global Brains and Fenox Venture Capital among others.
Founded in early 2017 by Dino Setiawan, Windy Natriavi and Rama Notowidigdo, AwanTunai claims to provide easy (mobile-based), affordable (low interest rate), and safe (OJK-regulated) personal financing to Indonesia’s mass market, be it a small shop owner in urgent need of working capital, or an individual consumer looking for a small loan.
Using its service to apply for a loan is quite hassle-free. According to instructions on its website, one just needs to download its app from Google Play store, file in a mobile-based application with national ID and a selfie photo attached, and then wait for up to 15 minutes for the application result. Credit approved could be used to purchase items directly from AwanTunai’s offline merchant partners network.
There are now 73 officially registered P2P lending platforms in Indonesia and AwanTunai is one of them. The company also claims that as of October 2018, it has processed 300,000 loan applications.
Editor: Ben Jiang


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If you’ve ever tuned in to a Victoria’s Secret fashion show, chances are you’ve wanted to know the secret behind their impossibly long limbs, tiny waists and thighs that don’t meet in the middle.
But, it turns out that being a VS Angel and maintaining the physical image associated with the brand is a seriously gruelling, and damaging task.
In a bid to debunk what people deem as healthy, two YouTubers decided to take on the diet of a pre-show Angel only to be left feeling worn-out, moody and seriously underfed, the Daily Mail reports.
Candace Lowry and Michelle Khare teamed up for a new video where they decided to spend four days eating like one of the famous super models.
Despite citing a dietician consulted by Shape who said, “I wouldn’t recommend this diet to anyone,” the pair decided to go ahead but explained that they wouldn’t be going the whole hog.
Instead, they limited themselves to two ‘normal’ days of eating like a model before moving on to the arduous pre-show liquid only diet for another two days.
Their routine was based on the habits adopted by one of the most prominent and longest-serving Angels, Adriana Lima, who revealed the lengths she went to before an event in an interview with The Telegraph in 2011.
Nine days before the show, Lima claimed that she would drink nothing but protein shakes made with powdered egg and a gallon of water. Then, two days before showtime she would cut back on the water before the 12 hours leading up to the show where she would consume nothing at all.
“No liquids at all so you dry out, sometimes you can lose up to eight pounds just from that,” she said.
For the first day, the YouTubers ate a diet of oatmeal, egg whites and orange slices followed by a ‘boring’ dinner of broccoli, quinoa and chicken breast.
But by the second day, Michelle was already complaining of feeling very ‘tired’ and by third admitted that she was struggling with a terrible mood bought on my practically starving herself with the liquid diet.
“This diet is terrible and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemies,” Michelle said.
“It's not a healthy way to lose weight and it's strange to me because... no one as a regular person would go through this and these models are supposed to represent the people buying the clothes.”
At the end of the experiment, Michelle insisted that the liquid diet days were nothing more than survival and that it had caused her to have trouble sleeping.
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Terry Novak, president of Norwich Pharmaceuticals, on recent industry trends.
Terry Novak, president of Norwich Pharmaceuticals
What is the biggest industry challenge you're now facing?
The contract manufacturing organization (CMO) industry faces a reputation issue. People think we're mediocre. There's still a stigma, a perception that Big Pharma can do drug manufacturing better than outsourcing providers. While that perception has slightly changed during the past five years, proving the case for CMO partnership remains our most time-intensive challenge. CMOs have to be as good as the customer's own manufacturing, which means delivering finished product on time, and right the first time. The greatest strength the CMO industry now has is its strong regulatory compliance. Where CMOs need to do a better job is on-time delivery. For specialty and small pharmaceutical companies, we are their internal supply, and we always have to remember that. I think a lot of CMOs have lost their customer focus due to the financial issues that have affected their businesses during the past few years.
Do you see a new industry trend emerging?
Drug delivery is still a hot topic. We see many companies trying to extend the patent life of an existing product before it loses exclusivity. Specifically, nanotechnology has been talked about forever, but no one has put it to commercial use yet.
Everyone is still talking about ePedigree. We were preparing for the California legislation about two years ago to force this issue into becoming a trend, and although it didn't happen, I believe it's inevitable. On the packaging end, this will be a big emerging area that we're going to have to address.
What is the most common demand your clients are currently making of you?
Lately it's been formulation development for products that are poorly soluble. They're difficult to manufacture, and outsourcing providers should be looking to solve that problem. It's an area that we've expanded into, whether it's highly potent compounds or complex controlled-release delivery. During the next few years, growth in the contract manufacturing business will be achieved by companies that can provide a quality solution to complex formulations.