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Art Houses Brace for Worst but Leave Room for Hope
Art auction houses are looking to protect themselves. Lacking a local "enforcer" to find once eager collectors and shake them down for every last dollar, the likes of Sotheby's and Christie's will spend the coming fortnight managing expectations while trying to eke out a living. Atop the agenda this season is the notion of protecting price levels for Impressionist, modern and contemporary pieces.
Reality has struck.
Sotheby's has revealed a sales target of $179 million to $256 million for the spring. Last fall, the auction house hit $411 million – which is paltry compared to the $742 million take at this time last year. The showpiece now is "Baroque Egg with Bow," a sculpture by Jeff Koons, which carries a Sotheby's estimate of $6 million. While this sounds rich for today's market, the house almost quadrupled that amount with a sculpture from the same artist in 2007.
For those who haven't been keeping score, 2007 for the art world was like 1999 for technology people.
By reinforcing concern through modest estimates and carefully selected lots, the major (and smaller auction houses) are subtly positioning themselves for any unexpected support. A strong spring auction – as measured by current economic conditions – could cause global art market confidence to rebound. A turn for the worse, however, would be exacerbated by already depressed hopes.
The pieces being sent under the gavel reflect the caution one would expect from a market that has been battered for 12 months. Neither Francis Bacon nor Lucian Freud is making an appearance this month. Only one piece by Mark Rothko is being auctioned, along with one from Damien Hirst. In what must be a blow to the latter's ego, the price is set at around $300,000.
Instead of the usual suspects, expect to see some new names (to me, at least), such as Robert Gober, one of whose pieces is being given a low estimate of $2.5 million. Works by Tamara Lempicka are being featured as well, with "Portrait de Marjorie Ferry" hoped to sell for at least $4 million.
Complicating the task this year, for the auction houses, is finding collectors willing to part with their beloved holdings. After pouring millions (sometimes hundreds of millions) of dollars into their art portfolios, they are loath to sell at the bottom of the market. To close the gap, some auction houses are turning to estate collections, which need to divest swiftly to address deadlines related to estate taxes.It seems that bargain-hunters hoping to capitalize on hedge fund woes won't be able to join a fire sale this month. As the art market hunts for its bottom, buyers may hope that there's more slide left. Meanwhile, the auction houses would love to see a return to the norm – or anything between here and there.


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Leaders believe that cryptocurrencies
Service amazon web services. We believe that cryptocurrencies are here to be a step up from regular money. When it comes to deciding on what crypto to invest in, the choice can be challenging.
G-20 leaders believe that cryptocurrencies are beneficial.
The g-20 group uploaded a document in which they explain the agreements made at the summit held in buenos aires between july the 21st and the 22nd. At the same time, it says that there are some issues related to consumer and investor. We believe in crypto,we believe in blockchain,we belive in the future.
Pizza hut thinks you need a pizza box that turns into a movie projector. When it comes to all cryptocurrencies combined, their market cap soared by more than 10,000 percent since mid-2013. The g20 meeting held in japan fukuoka ended in a good note with the world financial leaders and central banks welcoming the efforts being made by global regulators towards regulating the cryptocurrency sector.
Cryptosteem was established at the beginning of 2019 by crypto enthusiast. With equity tokens via. G20 leaders believe that cryptocurrencies can benefit the financial system and the economy.
According to a report presented by the g-20, digital assets can deliver significant benefits to the financial system. University of colorado rape victims powerful plea for justice. Macro trends suggest that a global economic crisis could be looming.
20 summit are very positive about cryptocurrencies and how they can influence the world economy. Of course, the text informs that the market is highly unregulated. There are over 1,600 different cryptocurrencies to choose from.
Bitcoin oliver janssens and. Hypothetically speaking, if a global recession scenario were to happen many believe cryptocurrencies would benefit. It seems that the finance ministers participating from the g.

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Cargill and Ecolab Help Advance Digital Innovation Across Food and Ag With New Techstars Farm-to-Fork Accelerator Class
The 2020 all-virtual class roster brings a diverse and global perspective to some of the industry’s biggest challenges
MINNEAPOLIS (September 8, 2020) – Helping advance the critical role of digital innovation in agriculture and food safety, Cargill and Ecolab today announced the latest class of entrepreneurs to join the Techstars Farm-to-Fork Accelerator. The 2020 participants, the program’s first ‘virtual’ class, will engage with mentors through an entirely digital experience due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digitization across many sectors, including food and agriculture, says Techstars Farm-to-Fork Accelerator managing director Brett Brohl. “The food system has changed more in the last six months than it has over the entire five years I have been investing in the space,” said Brohl. “The demands of the pandemic have shed light on the tremendous opportunity that exists in the food system for entrepreneurs, and we are excited about the opportunities in front of this year’s class.”
“Technology and digital innovation play a critical role in nourishing the world safely and responsibly,” said Justin Kershaw, Cargill CIO. “Through our partnership with Techstars and Ecolab, Cargill remains committed to helping foster breakthrough innovation to fundamentally transform the food supply chain from farm to fork.”
“The Techstars program brings to life many of Ecolab’s key values, among them innovation to solve our world’s challenges,” said John Guttery, senior vice president of enterprise initiatives for Ecolab. “This latest class is an incredibly diverse group of people, and Ecolab is excited to engage these entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities community to uncover new technologies and ideas that will support a more sustainable, safe world.”
Now in its third year, the Techstars Farm-to-Fork Accelerator involves early stage entrepreneurs seeking to effect positive change across the food system, including food security and safety, ag tech and supply chain management.
Participants receive mentor support from Cargill and Ecolab executives and access to the companies’ market expertise and global connections. The Techstars network of successful entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and other partners also work with the selected startups throughout the accelerator program.
The Class of 2020
The 2020 Techstars Farm-to-Fork Accelerator class roster, comprised of 11 start-ups, brings a diverse and global perspective to some of the food and ag industry’s biggest challenges, focused on a wide range of solutions ranging from robotics and AI to food and water quality. Each company will present its project at a virtual Demo Day on December 3, 2020.
The class includes:
• AgTools, Irvine, Calif. – AgTools is a real-time data and intelligence platform that provides transparency to the global food and ag industry. (www.agtechtools.com)
• Applied Particle Technology, St. Louis, Mo. – Applied Particle Technology uses real-time data for automated environmental health and safety for mining and metals manufacturing.
• Boson Motors, Freemont, Calif. – Boson Motors designs and manufactures certified light-duty electric vehicle powertrains and an Android-based vehicle operating system marketed to farmers. (www.bosonmotors.com)
• Canomiks, Rochester, Minn. – Canomiks is a genomics, bioinformatics and AI-based Product Superiority Platform for the functional food, beverage, dietary supplement and skincare industry to make safe and efficacious products. (www.canomiks.com)
• FeedX, Madison, Wisc. – FeedX is an online marketplace for the animal feed industry. (www.linkedin.com/company/feedx/)
• H20kInnovations, Boston – H20kInnovations provides a proactive contaminant management system for industrial water quality. (www.h2okinnovations.com)
• Iamus, Dublin, Ireland – Iamus empowers poultry farmers to make better and safer production decisions through AI and robotics. (www.iamus.ai)
• IXON, Hong Kong – IXON Food Technology specializes in advanced sous-vide aseptic packaging that allows protein to remain stable at room temperature for up to two years. (www.ixon.com.hk)
• Milk Moovement, Halifax, Nova Scotia – Milk Moovement is transforming the traditional dairy supply chain by bringing all stakeholders onto its collaborative, cloud-based software. (www.milkmoovement.com)
• Satis.AI, London, England – Satis has developed a full stack AI operating system for autonomous kitchens. (https://satis.ai/)
• Toolsvilla, West Bengal, India – Toolsvilla is a digital marketplace for machinery, tools and equipment that solves operational inefficiencies for farm and food businesses in India. (www.toolsvilla.com)
For more information on the Farm-to-Fork Accelerator, visit www.techstars.com/farm-to-fork-program.
Cargill’s 155,000 employees across 70 countries work relentlessly to achieve our purpose of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Every day, we connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive. We combine 155 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 125 countries. Side-by-side, we are building a stronger, sustainable future for agriculture. www.cargill.com
A trusted partner at nearly three million commercial customer locations, Ecolab (ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services. With annual sales of $13 billion and more than 45,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions, data-driven insights and personalized service to advance food safety, maintain clean and safe environments, optimize water and energy use, and improve operational efficiencies and sustainability for customers in the food, healthcare, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world. www.ecolab.com
Techstars is the worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed. Techstars founders connect with other entrepreneurs, experts, mentors, alumni, investors, community leaders, and corporations to grow their companies. Techstars operates four divisions: Techstars Startup Programs, Techstars Mentorship-Driven Accelerator Programs, Techstars Corporate Innovation Partnerships, and the Techstars Venture Capital Fund. www.techstars.com


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Potter Anderson Advises CommerceHub on $1.1 Billion Deal
CommerceHub, Inc., a technology company that helps retailers and brands manage e-commerce through its leading distributed commerce network, announced today that two private equity firms will acquire the company in a $1.1 billion deal. A 2016 spin‑off from Liberty Interactive Corporation, CommerceHub will become a privately held company and remain headquartered in Albany, New York.
Potter Anderson’s team serving as Delaware counsel to CommerceHub included partners Michael Tumas and Michael Reilly and associate David DiDonato.
News of the deal was covered by the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, MarketWatch and other major media outlets.
Lauren Kornsey, Senior Manager, Marketing and Business Development
About Potter Anderson
Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP is one of the largest and most highly regarded Delaware law firms, providing legal services to regional, national, and international clients. With more than 90 attorneys, the firm’s practice is centered on corporate law, corporate litigation, intellectual property, commercial litigation, bankruptcy, labor and employment, and real estate.


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Starbucks announced its decision to create a new regional division which will focus on the group’s activities in Asia.
The group has notably strengthened its expansion in China. The coffee chain will have a corporate structure of three divisions:
the Asia-Pacific China: All Asia Pacific markets and China
the Americas: United States, Canada, Mexico and Latin America
EMEA:Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Africa.
A president will be assigned to each division to oversee the activities and work with the respective joint ventures. The new strategy will take effect by the end of September.


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Khadim’s has partnered with Social Beat to capitalize on digital to grow and promote their brand presence. Social Beat will manage Khadim’s social media marketing and media buying. With this mandate, Khadim’s is leveraging digital to drive its core business objective, which is making ‘fashion for everyone’.
Speaking on this partnership, Namrata Ashok Chotrani, CEO of Khadim’s said, “Having a strong digital presence is important for any brand in order to see growth in customer engagement, and thus grow revenues by driving sales. We are excited to have partnered with Social Beat, as their dynamic and insightful approach to marketing, aligns with our customer focussed approach.”
With a goal of providing affordable fashion for all audiences across India, and remaining ‘Indian in every step’, Khadim’s has built a legacy for itself over a span of close to four decades.
Suniel Chawla, the co-founder of Social Beat, commented, “Social Beat is excited and proud to have partnered with one of India’s leading footwear retailers through the years. Khadim’s is a household name for a reason. Their dedication to staying rooted in their cause and objective has clearly driven them to become one of the market leaders in organized retailing, helping them to always deliver what they promise.
We look forward to driving store visits and acquiring shoppers via Google’s suite of apps and building their online brand presence to tell their unique story via social media.”


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New leadership, new Cabinet and of course new agenda. Someone might have interpreted that change in leadership as an opportunity to undo previous administration’s legacy. Well – it’s wasn’t that long.
Today it was reported that a panel will investigate MV Augusta sale.
The Public Accounts Committee is expected to call up Proton Holdings Bhd for clarification on the sale of Italian motorbike manufacturer MV Agusta for E1 (RM4.80).
PAC chairman Datuk Azmi Khalid said the commission would like Proton Holdings to explain the sale in 2006. Azmi said PAC also planned to seek further clarification from other government-linked companies.
“Although it is not our responsibility to call up the GLCs, we are doing so to get a clearer picture of their annual accounts.
“We have drawn up a schedule and the sessions will begin next week.”
He declined to name the GLCs to be called up by the committee.
During his premiership of less than six years, Abdullah inevitably inviting the wrath of Mahathir for apparently undoing some of his legacy. He canceled the ‘crook bridge’ project and sold MV Augusta for RM1 to an unknown entity in Italy.
Mahathir strongly objected to both decisions and later really pissed off when he found about this report by CNNMoney on July 14,2008:
Harley-Davidson Inc. said Friday it will buy Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta Group for about $109 million to boost its presence in Europe, giving it entry into the popular performance bike market there.
Proton management had no choice but defended the sale of MV Augusta by saying that it help them to cut the losses and that “there were no operational, engineering, and technological synergies between Agusta and Proton”.
Bet, it would not stop with MV Agusta. Next ‘crook bridge’ to Singapore will be revived, Putrajaya will be expanded. Why not?


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The new bars of Dairy Milk stay completely solid even when exposed to temperatures of 104F (40 degree Celsius) for more than three hours.Scientists at Cadbury’s research and development plant in Bourneville, near Birmingham, call their breakthrough ‘temperature-tolerant chocolate’.Two Cadbury engineers have set out the method for making it in an 8,000-word patent application.While standard chocolate has a melting point of 93F, the new bars are ideal for warmer weather.
The firm, controversially taken over by American food group Kraft in 2010 in an 11.5-billion-pound deal, insists that the new recipe will be available only in hot countries, likely to include India and Brazil.
The secret to the new bars is a change in the so-called ‘conching step’, where a container filled with metal beads grinds the ingredients, which usually include cocoa butter, vegetable oils, milk and sugar.Cadbury has developed a way of breaking down sugar particles into smaller pieces, reducing how much fat covers them and making the bar more resistant to heat.“We have found that it is possible to instil temperature-tolerant properties by refining the conched chocolate after the conching step,” the Daily Mail quoted Cadbury as stating in its patent application.“Production of temperature-tolerant chocolate would allow production of chocolate-containing product more suitable for hot climates, particularly in less economically developed countries where the supply chain is ill-equipped to handle temperature fluctuations,” it said.However, the firm’s decision not to sell the new bars in the UK has been blasted by critics as another bitter blow for an iconic British brand.
“Kraft promised British chocolate for British people when they took over Cadbury,” Robert Halfon, Conservative MP for Harlow, said.“But it seems that we do all the innovating, then they give the best of British to people overseas.
“This is incredibly disappointing. We invented this brand and now British workers are not being allowed to enjoy the chocolate of their labours. I would urge them to reconsider this and allow British people to have same rights as chocolate-eaters in other countries,” he added.


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The first Alphonso mangoes from India have reachd Europe after the lifting of the EU ban.
Kay Bee Exports has successfully shipped a consignment of Alphonso mangoes to the UK, after it underwent Vapor Heat Treatment.
The EU banned Indian mangoes and four other vegetables with effect from 1 May 2014, bringing the 2014 mango season to a halt. There was a re-audit in September of last year, and following assurances from the Indian government the ban on Indian mangoes was lifted earlier this year.
The mangoes now either undergo either a hot water treatment prior to export, or the Vapor Heat Treatment, used by Japan to eliminate the fruit fly and proposed by the Indian Agriculture and Processed Foods Export Development Authority (APEDA).
Prakash Khakhar, of Kay Bee Exports, praised the “untiring efforts” by the ministry of agriculture.
“Mr. A. S. Rawat, Dr. Sudhanshu and Mr. Ravindra from APEDA assisted the trade in getting the VHT protocol approved for exports to Europe.
“Mr. Milind Akre and Mr. Tambale from MSAMB (Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board) readied the VHT facility in quick time. Dr. Patni and his team of Pythosanitary inspectors inspected the first shipment before issuing a Pythosanitary certificate,” he said.
Kaushal Khakhar, CEO of Kay Bee Exports, said he is confident that with good backward linkages and effective post-harvest treatments, India will be able to offer pest-free fresh produce to importing countries around the world.
He also thanked Defra, in the UK, for assisting the exporters’ association with valuable information.
“Kay Bee is gearing up for a strong mango campaign in the coming months with exports planned to various countries in Europe, USA, Middle East and South East Asia,” he said.
Kay Bee Exports sources mangoes, known for their soft flesh and thin skin, from certified orchards in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat.


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TESCO denies taking copies of the Mail off its shelves last week over a front page story about the store.
However, a source at the supermarket, said: “The papers were put out as usual first thing in the morning. Then they were taken off display and eventually later in the evening put back on display.”
MP Hywel Williams was ready to ask questions at Westminster over the decision but in the evening word got around it was on sale again.
Mr Williams MP said: “I’m absolutely astonished at this turn of events.
“The Bangor Mail has every right to report on this story – one which by all accounts seems to have upset a lot of people.
“The freedom of the press to report matters of public interest should be paramount.
“I’m glad that Tesco has finally seen sense and has put the newspaper back on the shelves following this PR disaster.”
The article revealed that many staff at the store were unhappy with the conclusion of an investigation into a female member of staff who is believed to have flashed her breasts. at staff.
A spokeswoman for Tesco said: “The paper was available all day for people who wanted it.
“The article in the Bangor and Anglesey Mail upset a significant number of our staff.”


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EXCLUSIVE: Foxtel On A Roll, Netflix Deal To Be Announced In July
Foxtel who has cut churn and are struggling to keep up with demand for their new iQ 4K box is set to launch Netflix as part of their service offering in July.
Also helping the News Corporation Company is that a new audience of subscribers are signing for the Kayo Sport app which is also boosting the ratings for NRL and AFL games.
The big streaming Company who will shortly announce several new initatives, has also cut a major deal with Samsung to deliver content to Samsung customers and devices.
ChannelNews understands that the Netflix deal was cut late last year that will see a Netflix button appear on a new Foxtel remote.
The move could see Foxtel generating revenue from consumers signing up to a Netflix subscription.
He said that the Company is set to make some interesting announcements shortly.
He also said that the popularity of Kayo “had not” eaten into Foxtel subscriptions and Kayo was growing their reach and demand for Fox Sports content.
ChannelNews understands that Samsung has been in negotiations with Foxtel for “sometime” and that owners of Samsung products will shortly get easy access to Foxtel and Fox Sports content in what has been described as “A new way”.
During the past few months Foxtel and Kayo Sports management has invested millions in the marketing off their offerings and according to observers this investment is starting to pay off.
Game of Thrones which has become an entertainment juggernaut has also delivered big audiences for Foxtel.
The premiere of the final season of Game of Thrones shattered Foxtel’s viewing records, ranking as the biggest daily VPM (video player measurement) audience across Australian television this year.
The Winterfell episode was watched by an overnight linear audience of 962,000, a 17 percent increase on the season seven premiere in 2017.
During the day 330,000 people streamed it live or on demand across Foxtel Now and Foxtel GO – the biggest daily VPM audience for 2019.
Also helping Foxtel is demand for NRL and AFL games with ratings for games in 2019 ahhead of 2018.


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Hydrogenics Corp. (TSX: HYG) shares sagged 12 per cent to a new low after the hydrogen and fuel-cell company said Wednesday it is cutting 50 jobs following a fourth-quarter loss of US$22.1 million.
The full-year net loss swelled to $130.8 million including $90.8 million in writedowns, said the Mississauga-based company, which reports in U.S. dollars.
Its stock, worth about $5 a year ago and $12 five years ago, traded Wednesday morning at $1.09, down 15 cents.
Hydrogenics said it has begun to restructure and streamline operations to reduce costs, with most of the cuts to be made by the end of March.
In eliminating about 50 positions across all business units, Hydrogenics will incur a one-time pre-tax charge of $2.1 million but save $4 million a year.
Hydrogenics, which has operations in North America, Europe and Asia, said the $22.1-million loss in the quarter ended Dec. 31 amounted to 24 cents per share, compared with $9.1 million or 10 cents per share a year earlier.
The quarter included a charge of $10.9 million for impairment of intangible assets and goodwill relating to its OnSite Generation unit.
Quarterly revenue rose four per cent to $9.5 million.
For the full year, the loss included $90.8 million of impairment charges related to intangible assets and goodwill and amounted to $1.42 a share, compared with a 2005 loss of $37.4 million or 41 cents per share.
"Our year came to a close with positive signs, including the resumption of OnSite Generation deliveries following the production delays reported earlier in 2006," stated CEO Daryl Wilson.
"Unfortunately, these production delays, caused by supply chain and component quality issues in this business unit, adversely impacted our results for the year."
He said management's goal now is "to reduce our cash consumption by at least one-third on an annualized basis. We will differentiate ourselves by delivering hydrogen products to world-class customers at margin."


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Federal Task Force Completes Identity Theft Strategic Plan
The Identity Theft Task Force, a group appointed by a presidential executive order to oversee identity theft solutions at the federal level, has finalized a strategic plan to combat this type of crime. The report says identity theft has become an increasingly complex and challenging dilemma for consumers, industry, and the government.
"Identity theft is a crime that goes far beyond the loss of money or property," said Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, a co-chair of the panel. "It is a personal invasion . . . that can rob innocent men and women of their good names." He said the plan is part of a comprehensive effort to fight tbe crime, protect consumers, "and help victims put their lives back together." The plan contains a blueprint for enhanced federal prevention and protection, and it recommends decreasing public use of Social Security numbers; educating federal agencies on ways to enhance data protection; and improving federal response efforts in cases where data is lost. Several recommendations address legislatively closing gaps in existing identity theft laws.
For the private sector, the task force recommends national standards to require the protection of personal data and prompt notification of any breach that poses a significant risk of identity theft. "The ID Theft Task Force plan is a valuable contribution to the ongoing efforts of the public and private sectors to combat identity theft and fraud," said Joseph Gurreri, vice president of TransUnion and chair of the ANSI-BBB Identity Theft Prevention and Identity Management Standards Panel. "For its part, the IDSP is working to bring together public and private sector interests to partner on identifying best practices and standards-based solutions to address this costly marketplace problem." For more information, visit www.ansi.org/idsp.


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MAX Marie NYFW Experience
Olisa Thompson, Founder and CEO of MAX Marie Fashion recently held its first annual charity fashion show for Mentor2Youth in celebration of New York Fashion Week. With more than 100 people in attendance, close to $1,000 was raised in donations from attendees to go towards supporting the Future Leaders Program that services youth grades 2-6th and recruits high school youth to assist as peer leaders. Warm thanks to all the many sponsors that supported this in occurring and all the wonderful volunteers who made this event a huge success!
To learn more about MAX Marie and its clothing line of products, visit their Facebook page.


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China’s leading tech-giant decides to launch another phone in its Y series.
One of the leading China-based tech firms, none other than Huawei unveils another another budget-friendly smartphone as Huawei Y9 (2018).
This tech-giant, famous for its friendly on pocket yet amazing quality smartphones adds another edition to its Y family. This latest news was announced by the Android giant in Thailand yesterday.
This Android giant is slowly taking over the world and surpassing all the known smartphone makers easily with their latest technology smartphones with the best battery timings an Android phone can give. Isn’t that amazing?
Some details about Huawei:
Huawei, also known as the largest telecom infrastructure maker in the world has been manufacturing mobiles since 1997. It is one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in China and recently has stepped with an Android wear device into the smartphone market.
Specifications of Huawei Y9 (2018):
The phone comes in blue, black and gold as its color options built up with front glass and aluminum body. It runs Android 8.0, Oreo-based EMUI 8.0 and is powered by a 4000mAh. It contains super quality cameras front and back with 13 megapixel on the rear and a perfect 16 megapixel in the front for selfies. The phone is powered by Kirin 659 chipset, coupled with 32 GB of internal storage and 32 GB of RAM which is expandable via an SD card. As for the display, it contains a 5.93-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. Huawei Y9 (2018) also offers a fingerprint sensor and dual SIM.
Further details like price and its availability of Huawei Y9 (2018) have not been revealed yet by the company although it is expected to come out very soon. Also, there is still information about whether the phone will be launched in other countries too.


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PLATTSBURGH — A Malone company is expanding in Plattsburgh and plans to create 80 jobs within two years.
Asept Pak, which was founded in Malone in 2005 by Dr. Gary Hanley, has a lease with an option to buy the former Pfizer facility at 141 Idaho Ave. on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base.
The company uses advanced Rommelag blow-fill-seal machines to manufacture and fill vials and containers for pharmaceutical and other purposes in one operation, which reduces the risk of contamination.
Terry Wiley, head of manufacturing at Asept Pak, said the Plattsburgh facility will allow them to expand into the pharmaceutical market. The Plattsburgh branch of the company will be called SterRx.
Wiley said plans call for it to start operation by the end of this year or early next year. He said the first product will be an ophthalmic product they plan to market in the United States, Canada and certain other countries around the world.
“We are moving equipment in as we speak,” Wiley said Friday.
The company will continue its Malone operation, he said, where 30 employees and three machines are in place focusing on medical-device products. The Plattsburgh venture is an excellent opportunity for two main reasons, he noted.
In 2011, the firm won a contract to produce 220 million vials yearly for five years of a product for treatment of cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.
The former Pfizer facility, at 50,000 square feet, has infrastructure already in place that is well suited for the pharmaceutical industry.
In addition, employees faced with the upcoming closure of the Rouses Point manufacturing plant have many of the skills needed for employment at SterRx. Wiley said SterRx will be looking for those with skills in laboratory chemistry, microbiology and pharmaceutical manufacturing, including both formulation and packaging.
“The timing couldn’t be better,” Wiley said. “They understand the industry.”


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Polo Ralph Lauren is doing its part to keep the Olympic flame burning.
Today, a year to the day from the planned Opening Ceremony, now rescheduled for July 23, 2021, the brand will launch a collection intended to help support athletes preparing for the postponed Games.
Called The One-Year-Out Collection, 25 percent of the proceeds from the 32-piece men’s, women’s and children’s line will be donated to the Team USA Fund, which provides training stipends, mental health counseling, illness and injury prevention, nutrition resources and other support to American athletes who hope to compete in the Games.
“One year out, it just felt like the right thing to do, especially in light of what was going on in the world,” said David Lauren, chief innovation officer of Ralph Lauren Corp. “There were discussions to wait until holiday or April or May, but one year out just seemed symbolic because there’s a hole in our hearts right now that there’s something missing in our lives. It’s not watching gymnasts do flips or basketball players shoot baskets, this is about the spirit [the Olympics] help inspire in all of us.”
The 2021 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will mark the seventh time Polo Ralph Lauren has been the official outfitter of Team USA.
“This partnership with the Olympics has been so valuable on many levels,” Lauren said. “But coming back to it every four years for two weeks didn’t satisfy the customers, our employees, the Olympics and our athletes.”
He said that after spending time with the athletes, the company realized that they “need support all the time. The American team is one of the few that is completely supported by the sponsors. Most of the teams are supported by their governments. Most of the athletes entering the Olympics don’t have a day job. They are very young and they need other resources. They need our support.”
Lauren said that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of every Olympics collection in the past has been donated to the athletes, “but we’re just highlighting it more. We were already planning to make this a year-round effort.”
He said consumers are always quick to embrace the product because they realize that their purchase helps support the athletes. But as a result of the pandemic, those aiming to compete in the Games now have another unexpected year of training — and costs — ahead of them.
“People were really looking forward to the Olympics, especially because it’s been such a complicated year globally and within our country. For everyone to come together and unify around the Olympics has always been incredibly symbolic,” Lauren said. “But this year, the value is truly exponential. I think what you’re going to see next year — if we’ve found a vaccine for the pandemic — the incredible value the Olympics are going to have for bringing hope, inspiration and unity, not just to America, but the entire world. And we’re just so proud to start lighting the flame now. It’s a flame we all need. Never before have we needed the hope, positive energy and spirit the Olympics bring.”
The One-Year-Out collection, which includes T-shirts, hoodies, sweats and other athlete gear, will be sold on the company’s web site and in select stores and promoted through e-mail and word of mouth, Lauren said. The athletes have also received samples of the line, whose design was inspired by the Tokyo 1964 Games, and have begun wearing it. The line will also be available through Instagram Checkout on the athletes’ and brand’s pages.
“We know there’s always interest in this product and it’s been incredibly successful for us,” Lauren said. “What we will do is show athletes training and getting ready for the Olympics and that speaks for itself. There’s nothing like watching a real athlete do their thing.”
One athlete who has become a true fan of Polo Ralph Lauren is Heimana Reynolds, currently the top-ranked U.S. skateboarder, park. The 21-year-old Hawaii native, who is now living and training in the San Diego area, did his Zoom interview decked out in striped Ralph Lauren pajamas.
Since the Games were postponed before the U.S. skateboarding team was chosen, Reynolds’ winning streak came to an abrupt pause when the competitions, or contests, were halted as a result of the pandemic. He admitted to some initial disappointment, but then found the bright side.
“We’ve been looking forward to this for a while now, knowing that 2020 skateboarding is going to debut in the Olympics. Then they postponed it,” he said. “At first, I was hurt, I was bummed. But then I looked at it differently and said, ‘OK, this is what we have to do.’ They set a date so at least it’s not canceled. This is our new goal that we’re going to try and reach for. So, don’t worry, keep training, stay healthy, keep my mind strong and let’s get it.”
He said he now looks at the postponement of the Olympics “and the cancellations of all the traveling contests as an opportunity and have one year to be better than I was for the 2020 Olympics,” he continued. “I have an extra year to practice and train. I’ve been working out, my gym opened up, I have a personal trainer I meet with around four times a week and an at-home mini-gym that I work out in when I’m not over there. The skate park and the training facility all opened up again so that’s what I’ve been doing. I’m trying to keep my head space right and stay on my board.”
Although he hasn’t been selected for the team yet, he’s confident he’ll be in Tokyo next summer. “I’m sitting in first place with a good amount of points. I feel strong and ready that I can make the finals and hold my place.”
Although he’s confident about the strength of the U.S. team, Reynolds also knows there are no guarantees.
“The beauty of skateboarding is that it can be anybody’s day,” he said. “Everybody in this Olympic qualifying series is an amazing skateboarder. It can be your day or it couldn’t be your day. It all comes down to how you skated at that contest. The U.S. has some amazing skateboarders, Brazil has some amazing skateboarders, every country has their best skaters and it can be any of us.”
He has another year to perfect his craft, but that also means another year of bills. Although Reynolds said his parents taught him how to manage his money wisely, it’s still tough.
“I use a lot of the contest money I earn for traveling to other events,” he said. “I get money from sponsors and make sure I manage it well. When I go home to Hawaii, my parents have a family skate shop and skate park that we run clinics out of and I earn some money from that. And I just try to keep the ball rolling with anything I can do, like Instagram deals. I don’t go and buy the newest sports car that’s out there, I just use it for the mortgage, food and travel. It’s definitely not easy but we make it work.”
As a result, he’s grateful for some help from Polo Ralph Lauren. “It’s not easy, but to have the support from a company like Ralph Lauren is amazing and humbling and I’m blessed. I really appreciate what Ralph Lauren has done for me so far and I’m excited to see what more there is to come.”


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The game, which is a piece of the larger Million Moms Challenge initiative launched earlier this week by ABC News and the UN Foundation, is called 1000 Days and guides players through a series of educational mini games that teach about things such as proper diet, breast feeding and government regulations. Throughout the game, users are presented with opportunities to connect with outside organizations in the maternal health space for additional information.
Chang described the game as an alternative to popular casual games such as FarmVille and a better way for people to spend their time.
The goal of the game and the larger initiative is to increase awareness about important global health issues affecting mothers and children. According to Chang, better nutrition in developing nations can boost economic productivity by 3%. Beyond the Facebook game, the Million Moms Challenge brings together hundreds of so-called "mommy bloggers" and connects them with NGOs working on improving maternal health to help spread awareness and raise money for the issue.
In the first three days since the initiative's launch, said Chang, they'd already raised over $17,000, in large part via social media channels.


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Last week, Steel Market Update conducted our first flat rolled steel market trends analysis of the New Year. We invited comment from 640 individuals associated with the flat rolled steel industry in manufacturing, steel distribution, steel mills, trading companies and others who service the industry. One of the key areas we research during the survey process is whether flat rolled steel service centers are raising, lowering or maintaining spot prices to their customers. Based on the results from last week’s analysis, both manufacturing companies and distributors reported service centers as increasing their spot pricing.
Sixty-seven percent of the manufacturing companies reported that flat rolled spot prices out of the distributors were increasing. The 67 percent is 10 percentage points higher than what we reported at the beginning of December 2017. Only 9 percent reported prices as dropping, while 24 percent of the manufacturers reported prices as being stable compared to what was reported in mid-December 2017.
Service centers were even more bullish as 78 percent reported their company raising spot prices to their customers. The 78 percent is 34 percentage points higher than what we were reporting at the beginning of December 2017.
Based on the history of our surveys, we are finding that the higher the percentage of distributors who are raising their spot prices, the easier it is for the domestic steel mills to capture announced price increases.
The graphic below shows the responses from the service centers. The red circles above the bar graph represent AK Steel public price increase announcements on flat rolled steels.
John PackardRead more from John Packard
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Sheet prices slipped again this week on news of the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike and continued caution among some consumers.
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The spread between hot-rolled coil (HRC) and galvanized sheet base prices widened throughout the summer as hot rolled prices declined faster than those of galvanized.
SMU Price Ranges: Sheet Slips Again on UAW Strike Fears
Sheet prices fell across the board ahead of what many market participants predict will be a strike by the United Auto Workers (UAW) later this week.
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Nucor Corp. will lower plate prices by $40 per ton ($2 per cwt) with the opening of its October order book.
SMU Price Ranges: Sheet Prices Move Lower, No Bottom Yet
Sheet prices have fallen this week, after a small pause last week when prices saw mixed results. Tags have now been largely trending lower since July.


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Alberta dealers surpass $5 million for Special Olympics
The 27th annual Motor Dealers Association of Alberta (MDA) Charity Classic raised $275,011 for Special Olympics Alberta, pushing the event’s cumulative tally to over $5 million.
“I am so proud to be part of an industry that has had such a positive impact on the lives of so many. Providing Special Olympians the opportunity to dream, to achieve, to learn and to thrive is extremely rewarding,” said the event’s chairman, Duane Koch, senior VP and partner, Koch Automotive Group.
Koch’s involvement perpetuates the legacy of the event’s founder, Murray Koch, who is Duane’s uncle (and original owner of the Koch Ford dealership in Edmonton).
What began as a dream to unite auto dealers across the province in the effort to make a difference to their communities has grown into SOA’s most significant fundraiser, representing 30 per cent of its annual budget.
“Special Olympics Alberta is privileged to be the charity of choice for the MDA,” SOA president and CEO Kirk De Fazio told participants, “Your work and your support make it possible for athletes with an intellectual disability to have hope. Each of you is truly a difference maker in the world.”
The MDA Charity Classic encompassed two events: a gala dinner and auction, held at the Marriott River Cree Resort on Aug. 17 and a golf tournament at the Glendale Golf and Country Club the following day.
“We’ve been blessed with success because of the dedication of our members and the generosity of our guests and sponsors,” says MDA president Denis Ducharme.


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The ALP has just released the March edition of their Labour Supply Update. Notable headlines amongst their findings include:
📈 New job adverts have hit a 14-month high as businesses still need to recruit.
🔎 Highest level of recruitment difficulties on record; 61% of companies were looking to find staff, and 8 out of 10 reported recruitment difficulties.
📉 UK employment rate remains 1% lower than pre-pandemic.
👷🏼 The end of free movement is continuing to contribute to labour shortages in less-skilled sectors of the UK economy and the new immigration system is not liberal enough to compensate. The sectors with the largest shortfalls of EU-origin workers are:-
Transportation and storage - 8%
Wholesale and retail - 3%
Accommodation and food - 4%
Manufacturing - 2%
Construction - 2%
Administration and support - 2%


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Westport Chamber is launching a 'Westport Gives Back' Campaign this week in collaboration with Kinsale Chamber of Commerce. As a thank you to the heroic frontline workers for all their incredible work and sacrifice during this COVID-19 Pandemic, Westport Chamber have put together a collection of thank you gifts from our members which will be given to nominated frontline heroes.
There are so many people working to keep our country safe during these incredible times and are providing vital services to our community, whether it’s a healthcare professional, a delivery person, a nurse, a doctor, ambulance personnel, cleaners, a grocery store employee keeping the shelves stocked or a restaurant/cafe owner offering free meals to those in need. In order to acknowledge this self-less service, Kinsale and Westport have decided to get together as a business community and reward those individuals and say thank you.
Prizes will be donated from local businesses who have given generously to this campaign and the hope is that other towns across Ireland will join Westport and Kinsale in this #letsgiveback #nominateyourhero campaign.
If you or your business would like to donate a voucher for the frontline workers, please contact us by email at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Coronavirus has shaken the world economy to its roots. The way people used to dine, interact, and exist has seen a radical change in the last few months. So, it’s quite understandable that online shopping is also going through a metamorphosis. With COVID-19 forcing consumers to change their shopping habits, retailers are also trying to adapt quickly to current commerce and market landscape. In short, a lot is happening in the e-commerce industry.
In this blog, Techosquare will discuss how COVID-19 will change the future of online shopping forever. But before jumping to the future, let’s put a spotlight on the current position of global online shopping activity:
A recent report from Bazaarvoice states that March 2020 saw a huge rise in online sales. In addition to the jump in shopping orders, a huge surge in e-store page views, review submission, and question submission was noticed. April was 2.5x faster than March in tracked metrics. In the near e-commerce future, numbers will multiply faster.
With non-essential businesses forced to remain closed during COVID-19 lockdown and growing fear of contracting the virus in crowded areas, e-commerce is being considered the safest option by shoppers. A lot is changing in addition to that. Read on to discover!
There are millions of people across the globe that didn’t prefer online shopping till now but COVID-19 is changing this. From groceries to toys and hardware to pet supplies, such shoppers are buying everything online. This shows an enormous shift in the mindset of shoppers who earlier considered online shopping unsafe, impractical, and complex.
A lot of Gen X and boomers are also moving to online stores for shopping essentials products like groceries and medicines while trying to deal with uncertainty caused by Coronavirus. In short, millions of new people have been added to the already growing base of online shoppers!
Loving the future of e-commerce? Read on! There is more interesting stuff ahead.
According to a recent report, Vietnam has seen a 57% increase in online shopping, followed by India at 55%, China at 50%, and by 31% in Italy. Businesses, wholesalers, and retailers are noticing this trend and will be thinking of going online to deliver a better experience to their customers. If nothing else, losses caused by the Coronavirus are going to make entrepreneurs understand the importance of tapping e-commerce.
While micro businesses are going to invest in small online stores powered by SaaS solutions, mid & large-sized businesses will invest in power online stores built on modern e-commerce technologies. Since scientists predict that COVID-19 is not going to disappear anytime soon, e-commerce stores will become a necessity for businesses across the globe.
Not sure how much e-commerce development costs? List your website goals and Get a Free Quote
The local rhetoric has been building strength in the past few months as global supply chains collapsed in the wake of Coronavirus. The talk around local manufacturing and becoming self-sustainable is also growing louder. The USA and India are already thinking about localizing their supply chains to make sure that future threats don’t cripple local economies.
In the wake of such drastic changes in manufacturing and supply chains, new e-commerce leaders are bound to emerge. In short, a major shift will occur in the overall e-commerce scenario as well.
COVID-19 has made online shoppers very concerned about sanitation and hygiene. That’s why manufacturing, packaging, and delivery processes are being analyzed to satiate consumer sentiments. A lot of Chinese companies have started offering packaging that’s designed to guarantee protection from viruses.
In addition to training staff on hygiene and sanitation during customer contact, major e-commerce brands and their supply chain partners will also need to invest in upgrading staff equipment to meet new hygiene standards.
Wondering how much e-commerce costs in 2020? Read our
E-Commerce Development Cost Guide
Billions of people are fighting against the COVID-19 by staying in their homes and practicing social distancing. Even if the virus disappears in some months, the fear of another wave will keep us from running to the nearest Walmart or Target every now and then. This makes launching an online store or at least an online order placement process for your business obligatory.
The future is definitely e-commerce. Sooner you make the switch and take your business online, greater will be the rewards in the long run. Need help with e-commerce transition? Email us at firstname.lastname@example.org to schedule a free consultation with top e-commerce website builders.


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LOS ANGELES — Lindsay Lohan has a new and unusual role — fashion and beauty entrepreneur.
The starlet, whose bouts with drugs, alcohol and the paparazzi have been breathlessly chronicled, is staging a comeback with her own brand development company.
With Lohan serving as the public face and a source of ideas, Beverly Hills-based Stay Gold LLC is developing merchandise under the label 6126. This week, it began shipping leggings for the contemporary market to retailers such as Henri Bendel and Intermix in New York, Harvey Nichols in London, and Intuition, Madison and Lisa Kline, all in Los Angeles.
In addition, company officials told WWD that Stay Gold is testing a natural self-tanning lotion that it wants to introduce as soon as next spring, when it also will launch a lower-priced line of leggings, and follow that in the fall with a moderate-priced accessory.
If the ventures sound eclectic, Lohan dismissed any skepticism of their viability. “Why not?” she said in an interview. “Girls use [self-tanners] all the time. And I do, and it makes sense.”
As for the leggings, which Lohan began donning as a wardrobe staple two years ago, she said, “It became quite a trend with young girls interested in wearing them.…If I’m wearing them, why not wear my own and bring ideas into them?”
In contrast to many celebrities, such as Hilary Duff, who have one brand — themselves — and ink licensing deals with other companies to produce goods ranging from energy drinks to jeans to sunglasses, Lohan opted to start a parent company with Kristi Kaylor, a principal in singer Mandy Moore’s clothing brand Mblem, and Sarah Haynes Heath, a founding member of the Hard Candy cosmetics line. The fourth principal is Jenni Muro, who started a film company, Crossheart Productions, with Lohan eight months ago and is one of her managers.
The partners identify the categories they want to branch into, develop the products and hire manufacturers, such as Montreal’s Manhattan Industries, which produces the leggings.
“We want to make sure whatever is put out under the 6126 brand is touched by us,” Kaylor said. Besides, Muro added, Lohan is “too hands-on” to entrust a licensee.
This is Lohan’s first fashion business venture, said Muro, who estimated that hundreds of companies have approached the starlet for clothing and beauty deals. Lohan, 22, has appeared in ad campaigns for labels such as Dooney & Bourke, Miu Miu, Jill Stuart and Fornarina. After meeting with Kaylor and Heath last year to discuss a separate transaction that didn’t pan out, Lohan and Muro teamed up with the fashion and beauty veterans to start Stay Gold in January. Declining to discuss the company’s finances, the four principals said they are all equal partners working with no outside investors.
Lohan “has a huge amount of exposure [to] many brands and products,” said Kaylor, 36, a former TV producer who had launched an online teen network with Jennifer Aniston and ran Warnaco’s junior swim business. “She knows what is missing from the marketplace.”
What is lacking in the categories of leggings and self-tanning lotions is a dominant brand. Therein lies Lohan’s advantage, said Rick Barrera, president of brand consultancy Overpromise Inc. in San Diego.
“Whom does she have to compete with?” Barrera said. “Everybody knows the whole idea is to find white space where you don’t have competitors who are well-known.”
Heath, 38, who started consulting with skin care and cosmetics companies after handling publicity and marketing for Urban Decay and Smashbox Cosmetics, said the odorless self-tanner is made with natural ingredients based on a formula created by a woman whom Lohan knows. Stay Gold will bottle the tanner to sell to high-end stores “like the Sephoras and Nordstroms of the world,” Heath said.
Lohan and her partners also can benefit from starting a business in the midst of an economic downturn, when firms are retrenching. “You have a whole lot less competition when the market is down,” Barrera said.
Attracting attention is certainly not a problem for Lohan, who started smiling for cameras as a six-year-old Ford model and rose to real prominence in 2004 with the hit film “Mean Girls.” The paparazzi hound her, along with her constant companion Samantha Ronson, the celebrity DJ and twin sister of designer Charlotte Ronson.
This year, Lohan began reviving her acting and singing careers. In February, she sparked Web fervor with her Marilyn Monroe-inspired nude photos shot by Bert Stern for New York magazine. Lohan chose 6126 as her brand name because it represents Monroe’s birth date. She recently wrapped up a leading role in “Labor Pains,” a comedy about a woman who fakes a pregnancy to keep her job, with Cheryl Hines and Janeane Garofalo. When not in the studios recording her third album, Lohan is filming a total of five new episodes for the third season of the popular TV comedy “Ugly Betty.”
A spokeswoman for Stay Gold said Lohan has 6126 leggings on the set of “Ugly Betty” in case they work with her wardrobe choices. Lohan also landed on the cover of next month’s issue of Marie Claire, with two photos of her wearing 6126 leggings in the fashion spread.
As proof of Lohan’s selling power, Jaye Hersh, the owner of the trend-driven boutique Intuition, said she collected 200 advance orders for 6126’s leopard-print ankle gloves. She said the starlet’s fans span in age from 13 to the late 20s. “The girl wants to look like Lindsay and have her style,” she said.
What’s more, unlike some celebrities-turned-designers who don’t deign to wear the clothes bearing their names, Lohan wears her leggings. Retail prices start at $44 for ankle gloves and run up to $160 for a Modal-cotton style accented with black quilted leather patches on the knees. Muro said the leggings are fitted on a model and then on Lohan, who is a size XS. Once, Lohan tried on samples in a restaurant’s bathroom, advising her partners to lop off an inch from the waist so that the leggings sit lower on the hips. She also ordered Muro to “pull polkadots” from a textile print studio for a forthcoming collection.
“You can see she’s not just slapping her name on something,” Hersh said. “That will make a huge difference in the way that  is accepted on the floor to the end user.”
Celebrity aside, one lesson that Lohan and her partners learned quickly was how to steer the company through economic turmoil. Stay Gold will launch a second line of leggings retailing for $48, or as little as one-third of what the core grouping costs, for next spring. Despite her penchant for luxury labels such as Chanel, YSL and Balenciaga, Lohan stressed the importance of offering something affordable to shoppers.
“It’d be unfair not to make it accessible for everyone,” she said. “Forever 21 and H&M are huge companies because they make it available to everyone.”
In addition to lower prices, consumers want a connection to the products.
“The big word in marketing today is ‘real,’” said Marc Gobé, president of Emotional Branding, a New York-based think tank. He noted that in a celebrity-obsessed culture, people are forgiving of stars like Lohan who don’t project squeaky-clean images.
“She represents a kind of unconventional lifestyle, but there’s personality to it,” he said. “She can have a Web site and talk about all those challenges. What is important is to create a community, and the advantage of being a celebrity is to create a community of advocates who want to have you as a best friend and write to you.”
Certainly Lohan, who is pledging to donate some proceeds to ovarian cancer charities because Muro, 32, is a survivor of the disease, advocates an inclusive view of marketing her merchandise.
“It’s available to anyone and everyone.…It’s an important thing for girls to know,” she said.
“My personal philosophy to beauty is paying attention to oneself. I love to be outdoors, lots of fresh air, trying to take care of yourself as best you can. I always notice that comes through,” says Felicity Jones, the global face of @shiseido-owned @cledepeaubeauteus, which launches today. Head to WWD.com to read more about the actress’ love for beauty and how she prepared for her new role in “The Basis of Sex,” playing the young Ruth Bader Ginsburg. #wwdbeauty (📷: @dandoperalski)
For men’s fall 2018, @giuseppezanotti drew on elements from streetwear, sport, biker, combat and rock ‘n’ roll. Pictured here are a pair of shoes from the collection, featuring zippers, rhinestones, and silver hardware. Head to WWD.com to see a roundup of the accessories from Milan’s men’s fall 2018 shows. #wwdfashion (📷: Andrea Delb)
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of @ralphlauren’s snowboarding collection, the brand is mining its archives. The iconic brand is reintroducing vintage styles and dropping new designs for a color capsule that will be available in Ralph Lauren stores and @openingceremony on January 25. The capsule will consist of 10 pieces, including the Snow Beach Pullover, pictured here, which is a collector’s item that rapper Raekwon wore in Wu-Tang Clan’s “Can It Be All So Simple” video. #wwdfashion (📷: Tom Gould)
For @rochasofficial’s pre-fall 2018 collection, creative director Alessandro Dell’Acqua channeled the sophisticated and intriguing Catherine Denevue in the film “Belle de Jour.” Polished collarless coats, midi skirts, suits and ’60s graphic motifs were all featured in the collection, adding a sense of discreet luxury. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdfashion
“We tried to produce clothing of that couture quality, but the most daunting part was that we only had a matter of days [to do it],” said costume designer Lou Eyrich, who recreated Gianni Versace’s iconic looks for @americancrimestoryfx. Eyrich searched online retailers and vintage shops for original pieces from the design house and for @penelopecruzoficial, who plays Donatella Versace. Head to WWD.com to read how she created the Versace world. #wwdfashion
Only three months after her stellar debut catwalk season, @kaiagerber has inked her first big design collaboration –– with @karllagerfeld. The collection blends Lagerfeld’s Parisian chic aesthetic and the model’s signature West Coast casual style via RTW, accessories, footwear and more. The #KarlLagerfeldxKaia collection will launch in September with a series of events. Get all the details on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion
Harrods plans to remove the famous statue of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed from the bottom of the Egyptian escalators and hand it back to Mohamed Al-Fayed. “We are very proud to have played our role in celebrating the lives of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed at Harrods and to have welcomed people from around the world to visit the memorial for the past 20 years,” said Michael Ward, Harrods managing director. “With the announcement of the new official memorial statue to Diana, Princess of Wales at Kensington Palace, we feel that the time is right to return this memorial to Mr. Al Fayed and for the public to be invited to pay their respects at the palace.” More on the news, with reporting by @loreleimarfil, at WWD.com. #wwdnews


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Restaurants, grocery and specialty food stores and apparel are important merchants to bring into Monroe to revitalize the downtown.
Sharon Wood, a market analyst with LandUseUSA and Adam Cook, a market analyst with Seamless Collaborative, talked with members of the Monroe community during a roundtable discussion Tuesday at City Hall. Wood also presented the residential and retail market analysis on Monday during a work session of Monroe City Council.
Cook discussed the retail study at Tuesday’s roundtable, which featured about 25 residents, stakeholders and business leaders in Monroe. Most of the conversation focused on the retail analysis.
“We want the city to leverage its assets,” Wood said citing assets including the city’s waterfront and downtown area along with the I-75 Corridor plan, which is a collaborative plan that includes several partners and municipalities.
Last October, city council contracted with LandUseUSA to complete the two target market studies for the city. The retail study is an overview of the retail market in the downtown area.
The residential study examines the current market and describes the demographics of residents seeking housing in the city and the potential market for various housing types.
The studies were funded by the city’s Community Development Block Grant funds and a grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.
Cook talked about how retail space in Monroe has changed from the 1960s, which was focused on shopping downtown, to the 1980s where retail spaces like strip malls grew exponentially.
“The community is unique because in the 1980s there was a huge amount of retail space and the community added almost 1 million-square-foot of retail with the Mall of Monroe and Horizon Outlets,” he said.
The analysts said the change in consumer trends, with increasing internet sales, could be used to the city’s advantage.
“When a big clothing store closes, the city could draw on that and try to bring in several smaller apparel stores to the downtown,” Wood said. “See this as an opportunity not a liability.”
The city’s downtown has good bones to generate future growth, Cook said.
“What I noticed is downtown Monroe already has a base of established businesses,” he said. “So many communities are starting from nothing. You can build off those.”
Cook visited the city earlier this year and collected data on the occupancy. During the first two months of the year, the downtown had 45 retail or restaurant spaces; 45 offices; 13 professional services; 8 cultural, arts or hotels and 19 vacancies.
The number of vacancies appear higher in downtown because they are clustered together, Cook noted.
“The best opportunity for downtown is for quite a few different restaurants and eateries,” Cook said. “We see restaurants can generate demand. The more you cluster them together, it creates an environment and you have a number of people coming into downtown.”
Tony Trujillo, owner of Agua Dulce coffee shop, said space is an issue for downtown businesses.
“The reality is the size of the rooms,” he said. “You can have 1,200-square-foot spaces but 600-square-feet is the basement.”
Wood suggested the city create the spaces by combining buildings to entice restaurants such as a microbrew.
“How do we entice someone to invest in a building and a restaurant in what’s basically an emerging market?” asked Tim Lake, president of the Monroe County Business Development Corporation. “Still, I agree we need more diversity in our offerings.”
On Monday, Wood talked with council about migrating households who have diverse income profiles.
“Monroe really needs places for renters with attached units in a townhouse format,” she told council Monday. “Over 80 percent of households migrating into Monroe are renters.”
Wood said the city’s movership rate is close to 30 percent, which means 30 percent of current renters will move in the next year.
“We want to build on the quality place and product you have here,” she said. “Many communities are recognizing this is not a bad thing, but a shift in lifestyle preferences.”
Wood said implementing any plan can be challenging but city officials said they are working on moving the ideas forward.
Mark Cochran, economic/downtown development coordinator and his counterpart Annette Knowles, both said they are working to make the ideas become reality.
“Some of these things are ‘wait and see’ but we are working on it and getting feedback on how to change, improve and enhance the ideas and build upon this,” Cochran said.


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by Mitch Kokai
Senior Political Analyst, John Locke Foundation
Jim Geraghty examines for National Review Online readers the government’s role in the scandal now engulfing Government … er, General Motors.
The American government should not own a car company.
That was a wise stance back in 2008, before Barack Obama was elected president; it was a wise stance from 2009 through 2013, when the U.S. government owned a large but gradually shrinking portion of General Motors stock; and it is a wise stance today. Sadly, those who liked the era of “Government Motors” are determined to avoid any serious examination of that policy — perhaps because President Obama and his fans have persuaded themselves that the auto-industry bailout was one of the biggest successes of his presidency.
That argument was metaphorically kicked in the crotch this month when the public learned that GM continued to make cars with a life-threatening defect during the era of government ownership. Joe Biden liked to boast, “Osama bin Laden is dead and GM is alive!” Indeed he is dead, and so are 13 people who were involved in car accidents linked to a defective ignition switch. …
… [M]ost disturbing is that at least some GM engineers knew about the problem for years. In 2002, the automaker approved the design for the new ignition switch from manufacturer Delphi even though the supplier told them that initial tests showed the switch didn’t meet GM’s specifications. The company investigated the switches, and found them faulty, for at least a decade. Perhaps the most jaw-dropping detail is that the cost of replacing each switch was 57 cents.
The New York Times reported that engineers at GM reviewed data in the black boxes of Chevrolet Cobalts at a meeting on May 15, 2009, and confirmed that the potentially fatal defect existed in hundreds of thousands of cars. The Obama administration and GM’s management finalized the terms of the bailout at the end of that month. It’s not yet clear who at GM knew this shocking and scandalous information, but at least some GM employees knew they were selling dangerous cars at the precise moment they were asking for taxpayer money to stay in business.
This is a gargantuan problem for GM, but so far the press is covering it as a corporate scandal, not a government scandal. Very few individuals in the Obama administration, the auto industry, or the press want to reexamine the bailout and the government’s role in helping to keep these unsafe cars rolling off the assembly line and onto the nation’s roads.


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Cooper Tire releases its national consumer reward promotion this spring season. From April 1 to 30, Cooper’s Take the Money and Ride...
Falken Tires appoints Bob Klimm as Director of Sales, Commercial Division
Bridgestone launches new campaign for National Tire Safety Week
USTMA kicks off #KnowYourRoll campaign this National Tire Safety Week


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While cryptocurrencies get most of the headlines, it’s the underlying blockchain that possesses enormous potential to transform the physical world—and not just the world of money. Not since the Web itself, has a technology promised broader and more fundamental revolution than blockchain technology. Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM, describes the impact of blockchain beautifully by stating, “What the internet did for communications, blockchain will do for trusted transactions.”
Businesses across multiple industries recognize the value that blockchain can bring to their organizations. According to a recent report from Juniper research, about six out of every ten large corporations are either actively considering, or are in the process of deploying blockchain technology.
Compared to a siloed model, where multiple ledgers are maintained separately, blockchain provides all members of a business network a secure and synchronized record of transactions. Blockchain security enables the enterprise to establish accountability and transparency of transactions, lower transaction costs, and reduce fraud from cyber-attacks while streamlining business processes and legal constraints.
While estimates vary, the market for blockchain technology could produce a compound annual growth of 42.8%, reaching $14 billion by 2022, according to data provided by Netscribes. Some forecasts are even more optimistic, estimating that the market will grow from $708 million last year, to $60.7 billion by 2024, according to a report by Wintergreen Research.
Hype aside, the process of creating, running, and managing a blockchain is very complicated. This complexity has deterred many businesses from implementing blockchain technologies, even with the numerous benefits it offers.
Big tech companies have jumped on this opportunity to create a new business model around blockchain. AWS, IBM, and Microsoft, now have Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) offerings, which are sets of cloud services that help customers create, deploy, and manage blockchain networks.
IBM—still salty from completely missing out on the cloud—has invested heavily in blockchain technology. IBM is the only company that has developed its own blockchain, which is based on the Hyperledger Fabric, and is made available through the Bluemix cloud platform.
Other big tech giants have taken a more cautionary approach to blockchain technologies. Unlike IBM, Microsoft and AWS have not created their own blockchain platform. Instead, Microsoft created an Ethereum blockchain as a service (EBaaS) on Microsoft Azure. However, Microsoft differentiates it’s BaaS from other platforms by incorporating intelligent services, such as Cortana Intelligence, to provide unique data management and analysis capabilities.
Coming in a bit late to the game, Amazon just released their BaaS platform last week, AWS Blockchain Templates, which allows quick setup of Ethereum—or Hyperledger Fabric—compatible blockchain networks. A nice feature is that the service is offered on a “pay-as-you-go” basis, where the client pays only for the service and resources used.
There is no doubt that BaaS is set to grow further and become the latest revolution in the fintech industry worldwide. However, these solutions do more than just help finance companies leverage blockchain technologies. Think bigger. BaaS catalyzes universal blockchain adoption spanning across all business and industries. We are just in the first inning, so have a beer, sit back and enjoy the game.


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Thanks for landing in my website and searching for New Xiaomi Mi TV 4A 50-Inch Variant 4K HDR TV Launched: Price and Specifications
- Xiaomi as of now had 5 different TVs in Mi TV 4A arrangement
- Xiaomi TV highlights AI-based suggestions UI called PatchWall
- 50-inch Mi TV 4A will go at a bargain on January 23
New Xiaomi Mi TV 4A 50-Inch Variant 4K HDR TV Launched: Price and Specifications
Xiaomi has presented another the 50-inch Mi TV in its lineup. Xiaomi had propelled the Mi TV 4A arrangement in 2017 and the 50-inch TV is its sixth expansion. The new 50-inch Mi TV 4A has been estimated at CNY 2,399 (generally Rs. 23,800). Much the same as Xiaomi’s different items, it is as of now vague if the new TV will advance toward alternate markets, including India.
The new 50-inch show has been added by Xiaomi to the Mi TV 4A lineup which as of now has five variations. The 50-inch Xiaomi Mi TV 4A accompanies a few highlights. It dons a 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) determination show and a 60HZ revive rate with help for HDR10+ HLG. The Mi TV 4A arrangement include a frameless outline and accompanies incorporated Mi TV Bar with 10 speakers, 2 remote back satellite speakers, and a subwoofer. The models bolster Dolby Atmos sound innovation with 2 up-terminating speakers for what the organization cases can offer “an immersive 3D sound involvement.”
The new Xiaomi TV likewise includes its AI (computerized reasoning) based proposals UI called PatchWall to the Mi TV 4. The PatchWall, a UI layer over the Android OS, depends on profound learning AI innovation. It empowers curation of substance in light of suggestions.
The Mi TV 4A 50-inch is outfitted with a 64-bit Amlogic L962 quad-center processor combined with 2GB RAM and inside capacity is 8GB. Availability alternatives incorporate Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4/5 GHz double band Wi-Fi), Bluetooth 4.2, Dolby, and DTS Audio. The Mi TV 4A additionally wears a blue light-diminishing mode to lessen eye strain issue. The 50-inch Mi TV 4A has 3 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, AV input, an ethernet port, and a S/PDIF sound yield port. The TV likewise accompanies a Mi Bluetooth Remote Control, with highlights, for example, Bluetooth, Speech Recognition, Mi Touch, and Infrared.
In January 2017, Xiaomi had displayed its Mi TV 4 TV lineup at CES. Later in March, the Mi TV 4A arrangement was propelled in three screen sizes 65-inch, 55-inch, and 49-inch. Further, in July 2017, the organization discharged the littlest model of the Mi TV4A that games a 32-inch show.
Then, the pre-arrange enrollments of the Mi TV 4A will purportedly start on Friday and will go discounted on January 23. Xiaomi is likewise said to offer a CNY 100 (generally Rs. 1,000) markdown when deals start. Xiaomi likewise has a Mi TV 4, which is a move up to the Mi TV 4A arrangement.


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Canada’s Project Arrow EV To Be Larger Than Tesla Model Y, Feature Local Batteries |
The all-electric Project Arrow SUV is taking shape in Canada with current plans calling for it to cost between $40,000 and $60,000 with up to 60,000 units produced annually.
The vehicle is being brought to life by Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA) that represents 90 per cent of all independent automotive parts manufacturers in the country. More than 400 companies have expressed interest in taking part in the project and according to APMA chief technical officer Fraser Dunn, the association has started to go through statements of work and supplier agreements with dozens of companies.
Speaking with Auto News, Dunn revealed that Project Arrow will sit between the Tesla Model Y and Model X in terms of size. The vehicle will also be made up of eight mega-stampings that are laser-welded together. It will also feature magnesium mega-castings for the front and rear frames, inspired by the Tesla Model Y.
Whereas most other EVs on the market have batteries sourced from Asian suppliers, Project Arrow’s battery will feature cylindrical cells from VoltaXplore, a joint venture between Martinrea International and Montreal-based graphene firm NanoXplore Inc. It will also employ technology from the Ontario Tech University and its Automotive Center of Excellence in Oshawa.
Dunn added that the engineers behind Project Arrow are also targeting at least Level 3 autonomy. He also revealed that it will have a relatively simple design free of the superfluous parts used by most modern EVs.
“You just have to drive down the road nowadays and any SUV on the road has plastic bits on plastic bits on plastic bits for no reason,” he said. “Even structural elements that are normally hidden away behind plastic trim will be on show and become part of the design.”
The APMA intends on unveiling a drivable prototype next December and could showcase it to the world at CES 2023.


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Top mobile telephone suppliers have agreed to back an EU-wide harmonization of phone chargers, the European Commission said on Monday, hailing the pact as good news for consumers and the environment.
The agreement by Nokia, Sony Ericsson and other industry majors will mean phones compatible with standard charging devices are available in Europe from next year, said the EU executive, which has pushed for such a deal.
The Commission said the agreement would involve the creation of an EU norm, and that the new generation of mobile phones would use a standard micro-USB socket to ensure compatibility.
The chargers will be usable only for data-enabled phones, which have more capability than just standard calls and SMS texts. Data-enabled phones are expected to account for almost half of all new mobile handset purchases in 2010.
The Commission hopes that as people discard their old handsets, within three to four years all data-enabled phones in Europe will be using standardized chargers.
New data-enabled phones will come with a standardized charger but after an unspecified time the two items will be sold separately, industry group DigitalEurope said.
Motorola, Apple, LG, NEC, Qualcomm, Research in Motion, Samsung and Texas Instruments have also signed the agreement, the Commission said.
The 10 companies involved control 90 percent of the European market.


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To clarify, the fee schedule that was announced in the Federal Register on Aug. 1 provides for the recovery of costs and applies only to those parties in the food and feed industry whose noncompliance requires FDA to conduct additional follow-up activities.
There are three instances for which FDA could assess fees related to non-compliance:
- Facility re-inspections to determine compliance has been achieved after finding a violation materially related to food safety requirements during a previous inspection;
- Food recall activities conducted by FDA as a result of noncompliance with a recall order; and
- Import re-inspections to determine compliance has been achieved after a previous examination identified a violation materially related to food safety requirements.
In addition, FDA recognizes that for some small businesses the full cost of re-inspection or recall oversight could impose a severe economic hardship.
Accordingly, FDA announced that, during fiscal 2012, the agency will consider on a case-by-case basis waiving in limited cases some or all of an invoiced fee based on a severe economic hardship, the nature of the underlying violation, and other relevant factors.
FDA is also seeking comment in a public docket on factors it should consider in developing the fee schedule in future years.
Although FDA officials have been consistent and public in stating that full implementation of FSMA will indeed require additional resources, the fee schedule for the compliance activities specified in FSMA Section 107 is separate from the overall issue of full implementation of FSMA.
Associate Commissioner for Food Protection
FDA Office of Foods


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The VR/AR hardware market is expected to zoom soon as niche technologies and improved devices will widen its application, fuelling newer demands and expanding the market phenomenally!
The ability to create immersive real life milieu and enhanced sensory experience is making augmented and virtual reality gadgets an increasingly must-have device on consumers’ wish-list worldwide. While the VR/AR hardware sales projections by different research bodies differ, everyone agrees that VR/AR is the next big thing. One credible research projects global augmented and virtual reality hardware market (gadgets & devices) to grow to USD 59.5 billion by 2022. This would be a mindboggling jump of more than 60% CAGR over the expected 2018 market size of USD 7.3 billion.
So what’s giving rise to this optimism? Yes, the growing popularity of virtual and online gaming is a big factor and would remain the biggest application for headsets on the consumer side. In fact, video games and online gaming itself got a big boost with the advancements in VR/AR technology/gadgets as immersive technologies provided mind-boggling experience and exhilarating feel like never before (a la chicken and egg story here actually). But, are electronics and tech giants such Samsung, HTC, Sony, Facebook and Google investing big time simply to cash in on the rising popularity of gaming? Or is the market for VR/AR gadgets itself gonna see a huge expansion – both organic and inorganic?
The answer to both the posers is yes. Gaming would remain the biggest vertical and money spinner for VR/AR manufacturers but the technology and hardware is going to find big application expansion in fields like healthcare, military, sports and education. The biggest application growth would be in military and healthcare. (Please see the chart). Little wonder, corporate biggies and internet big guns have committed huge outlays for developing niche devices, newer experiences and acquiring promising startups in this field. The game has just begun!
Key Investment Pockets:
Growth By Application


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Sustainable Bexar County farm feeds greater San Antonio community with fresh new market
By Edmond Ortiz
Oct 16, 2019, 3:43 pm
In support of the new endeavor, San Antonio food nonprofit Chef Cooperatives is pitching in to help. The organization is hosting a street tacos and shrimp boil social November 3 at the farm. Nearly 20 local chefs are scheduled to demonstrate their culinary skills at the fundraiser, including Chris Cook of Special Leaf, Adrian Davila of Davila's BBQ, Katrina Flores of San Antonio Botanical Garden, Teddy Liang of Alamo Biscuit Co., Stephen Paprocki of Texas Black Gold Garlic, Oscar Perez of Tio Pelon's Salsita, and Cheri White of Deep River Specialty Foods.
What Is Black Garlic and How Do You Use It?
MyRecipes September 19, 2019
If you've never encountered black garlic before, it could seem pretty odd. Here's a garlic bulb that, from the outside, looks pretty similar to any one that you'd pick up at the grocery store. But when you cut it open, rather than the usual white cloves, the cloves are completely black. It's not garlic that's gone horribly rotten. It's garlic that has been cooked in humid, low-heat conditions for a long time until it has a texture and taste that's sweet and umami rich, without the typical heat of raw garlic.
Chef Cooperatives launches cooking demo booth at Pearl Farmers Market
Sep. 9, 2019
Last Sunday, chef Joseph Martinez cooked up a tomato eggplant ragout and a goat cheese-stuffed squash blossom. This week, Paprocki will be the featured chef, cooking up some dishes made with his Texas Black Gold Garlic.
How fermentation unites us all through beer, wine, cheese and chocolate
Posted Oct 16, 2019 at 12:02 PM
As Nora Chovanec remembers it, she was the only college student brewing kombucha in her dorm room at Tufts University in the early 2000s.
She’d grown up in Oregon, where she had worked at a natural foods store in high school. That’s how she first learned about this probiotic-packed, fermented tea made with a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast, or SCOBY.
Local Texas Black Gold Garlic Producer Expands Production
Local producer expands production in the heart of downtown San Antonio Thanks to popular demand, Chef Stephen Paprocki will expand…
Hurricane Harvey Helpers
By Kathleen Petty; Photography By Josh Huskin
The outpouring of support from San Antonio for Houston and the Texas Coast following Hurricane Harvey was immediate, with the city opening shelters while businesses and nonprofits organized volunteers and donations to provide for those impacted by the storm. Here, individuals from eight responding organizations share their experiences
Recipe: Texas Black Gold Garlic Cheese Bread
By: San Antonio Express News
In a skillet, cook bacon over medium heat, just until it starts to brown, approximately 1-2 minutes. Add onion and minced Texas Black Gold Garlic, continuing to cook until bacon is crisp and onion is soft, approximately 1-2 minutes longer.
The New Texas Black Gold
Edible San Antonio 2014
A few years ago, Chef Stephen Paprocki discovered black garlic in his unending quest for new things to do in the kitchen. He learned that, like regular garlic, black garlic has properties that provide health benefits, like being rich in antioxidants ... and unlike regular black garlic, it didn't give people bad breath.
UPDATE: 3 S.A. chefs NOT cooking at James Beard House
By Chuck Blount
Updated Thursday, March 8, 2018
A trio of local chefs plan to introduce Texas flavors and ingredients in a series of upcoming cooking events in New York City, including a five-course dinner at the prestigious James Beard House.
Incredible Edible Insect Event in San Antonio a ‘tasteful’ experience
Each tasting was of a chef-demonstrated recipe in which insects or insect-based ingredients were used. Featured chefs included Dave Terrazas, San Antonio Botanical Garden culinary and wellness specialist; Stephen Poprocki, Texas Black Gold Garlic; Joshua Schwenke, Gastronomy Live Events; and Michael Grimes, Southern Grit.
4 S.A. businesses make the cut in H-E-B’s annual Quest for Texas Best
By Paul Stephen
Updated Monday, July 23, 2018
San Antonio has made a solid showing in H-E-B’s 5th Annual Quest for Texas Best. Four area food producers — 1885 Coffee Co., Deep River Specialty Foods, Texas Black Gold Garlic and Tio Pelon’s Salsita — are among the 25 statewide businesses vying for $70,000 in cash prizes and other rewards.


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The Lamborghini Urus sport utility outsells everything else Lamborghini makes and has drawn droves of new customers to the brand better known for sports cars shaped like shards of glass.
Supercar purists have severely criticized SUVs the incursion of sport utility vehicles into their beloved brands. But the Urus shows that even buyers of high-end exotics find SUVs irresistible.
The 2021 model year Urus starts at nearly $220,000, a very high price for an everyday family vehicle. That is really what the Urus is meant to be — a Lamborghini someone can drive every day and use like the countless SUVs that now fill up segments in the middle of the auto market.
The vehicle's specs and reviews of the Urus both indicate the vehicle is impressively versatile. It can drive 0-62 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds — remarkably fast acceleration for any vehicle, never mind an SUV. And it is built to handle like a proper sports car on a racetrack. But Lamborghini also equipped the Urus for off-road driving — something Lamborghini isn't known for.
But while some have said the Urus could be the ultimate all-around vehicle, there are some that have criticized its design as departing too far from the sleek and jagged shapes that have made Lamborghini famous. The Urus has also upset some sports car purists, in the same way Porsche's SUVs have.
Some supercar makers remain on the sidelines of the SUV craze. British maker McLaren is one such company, saying it doesn't need an SUV to remain profitable. Other companies have apparently given in after some reluctance. For example, Ferrari is reportedly working on its own SUV, after years of internal resistance.
The Urus and its success are signs Lamborghini is becoming something of a different company from what it has been for most of its history. It now has to survive in a market where sales of sport utility vehicles have dramatically risen. In the premium and super-premium segment alone, SUV's went from just under 12% of total global vehicle sales in 2000 to 50% in 2020, according to LMC Automotive.
Decades ago vehicles such as the Jeep Cherokee, Ford Explorer, and Toyota RAV4 began bringing the sport utility vehicle concept to the masses. Now high-end makers, including some that have been resistant, are seeing the way the market is going and deciding not to fight it. Often trends trickle downward from the premium segments to the mass market, said Jeff Schuster, president of global forecasting for LMC Automotive.
"Now we're seeing that reversal where the mainstream trend has led the premium brands to introduce the SUV into their market," he said.


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The popular gadget blog Engadget is moving into new offices in New York and will be launching a testing lab for in-depth product reviews. The Engadget team announced the new venture at their San Francisco Engadget Reader Meetup.
Engadget Labs will perform benchmarks and in-depth reviews of products. It sounds like a nice departure from the typical pay-per-article model of weblog networks. Editors Peter Rojas and Ryan Block will work out of their new office in New York with possibly a few other members of the Weblogs Inc. network. The new office space will include a special podcasting room for interviews with visiting companies as well as the weekly Engadget podcast.
Jason told the crowd Engadget’s hosting bill was $12,000 last month. That’s a lot of bandwidth!
Tags: engadget, weblogsinc


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Medical marijuana was legalized in Nevada in mid-2015, and according to data provided by the state, over $229,000 in sales tax revenue has been generated.
A rate of 2 percent is added to every medical marijuana purchase. An astonishing 75 percent, or $171,949 has gone to help schools. The remaining 25 percent has gone to the state health division.
Nevada Medical Marijuana Association representative Will Alder said that about 2/3rds of medical marijuana sales are completed for out-of-state patients and not Nevada residents, News 4 reported. Nevada has a reciprocity law in place which allows dispensaries to sell medical marijuana to out-of-state patients if they have a valid medical marijuana card from their home state.
According to Alder, the out-of-state sales is what is fueling the medical marijuana industry in Nevada, at least for now.


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The Innovation Institute at Tulane University is going to launch a $10 million startup fund for women and minority entrepreneurs. The fund is intended to be self-sustaining, which means that profits from the sale of enterprises will be reinvested in the fund.
Tulane University’s Innovation Institute is going to launch a $10 million startup fund for women and minority entrepreneurs, addressing traditionally underserved populations in getting funding to start firms. The Tulane Ventures fund, which was created with $5 million in government financing and matched with $5 million from Tulane, is the university’s newest effort to boost innovation in New Orleans. Funding applications are likely to start early in the new year.
The seed round will provide up to $200,000 per application over a five-year period.
Kimberly Gramm, Tulane’s David and Marion Mussafer Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship Officer, said, “We want to develop an innovation community, and we need women and disadvantaged communities to have access.”
The fund was launched just before the annual Greater New Orleans Startup Report was issued by Tulane’s A. B. Freeman School of Business’s Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The report’s results reaffirmed the necessity for such a new fund:
Following a little gain in equity financing from angel investment, convertible debt, and venture capital for women and minority-owned businesses in the New Orleans region and nationally last year, the 2022 study indicated a funding decrease. Louisiana got $113 million in December from the American Rescue Plan’s State Small Business Credit Initiative, or SSBCI, a government programme designed to help small businesses get started.
The Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) was founded in 2010 as a mechanism for the federal government to assist states in assisting small firms that were creditworthy but unable to obtain funding.
The $113 million was set aside for venture capital and seed funding initiatives. Tulane was awarded a $5 million share.
Gramm explained that the Tulane Ventures fund is intended to be self-sustaining, which means that profits from company sales would be reinvested in the fund to promote future businesses if Treasury Department and Louisiana Economic Development criteria allow.
Portfolio firms will also benefit from the Innovation Institute’s network of services for consulting, mentorship, and coaching. The ultimate goal, she says, is for businesses to stay in New Orleans and reinvest their profits.
“The 2022 study reveals a drop in access to equity investment across the board for BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color)-founded enterprises,” Rob Lalka, executive director of the Lapage Center, noted in the research.
For example, 6% fewer firms with BIPOC founders reported using venture capital investment than the previous year, whereas non-minority founders reported an 11% rise.
A comparable drop was observed in BIPOC-founded businesses that reported using angel funding and convertible debt. “Those percentages are horrible nationally, but they are the majority of the people here in our neighbourhood,” Gramm remarked.
According to the Startup Report, minority-founded firms continue to trail behind their non-BIPOC-founded rivals when it comes to standard bank financing, albeit the margin has narrowed significantly since last year.
Tulane hopes to establish itself as a main conveyer of entrepreneurship in the city of New Orleans with the advent of the Innovation Institute, which will be inaugurated in 2022.
The Venture Fund, Tulane’s first fund for entrepreneurs, is a “huge success for our community,” according to Gramm.
She explained, “It’s like having your first child.”
Gramm said Tulane leadership’s support for the fund demonstrates the university’s commitment to innovation.