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The launch later this year of the Intel Alder Lake-S as a desktop CPU will bring several significant new features, including using a new type of socket and a new generation of Intel motherboards. All of them with different chipsets, including the Intel Z690.
The launch of a new chipset does not necessarily have to be accompanied by the appearance of a new socket. CPU manufacturers often launch new versions of their chipsets designed to take advantage of improvements implemented for new CPUs under an existing socket. It is not the case with the Intel Z690, a chipset designed for Alder Lake-S architecture CPUs with an LGA-1700 socket and DDR5 and PCI Express 5.0 support.
What can we expect from Intel’s Z690 chipset?
While it seems that AMD will not go for PCI Express 5.0, at least for the time being, Intel has decided to implement the fifth generation of this parallel intercommunication technology between the CPU and its peripherals such as graphics cards SSDs, etc.
Note that contemporary CPUs include a small chipset that brings several I/O interfaces. Having numerous interfaces gives us the scope to add a hell lot of peripherals, however, this will work only in the case of PCI Express 5.0.
However, Alder Lake-S will have support for up to 20 lanes. Hence it will need to be implemented on the motherboard to which the processor is connected.
ASUS Z590-E Gaming Wi-Fi (8)
In the remaining Intel motherboards in the 600 families, we don’t know what support will be for PCI Express 5.0. It is currently said that the DDR5 memory support would be available across the range. However, the Alder Lake-S platform’s most capable chipsets might be supported. We now have the opportunity to add numerous additional PCI Express 5.0 lanes to motherboards with Z690 chipsets, which is quite good, as this means additional NVMe SSDs.
The CPU/chipset communication will continue through the DMI interface of Intel which has already been used to transmit CPUs to your chipsets. The fourth iteration of this interface is used by Intel, in this case.
PCI Express 5.0 only for Intel
PCIe 5.0 is going to become a controversial issue in a few months. The new interface is backward compatible with previous versions of the standard. Still, for the moment, despite the existence of the first flash drivers for NVMe SSDs in terms of storage in the case of GPUs, we have no evidence of the use of this interface.
Because the information on AMD Ryzen 6000, known as its Raphael code name, suggests that it will not handle PCI Express 5.0, it is evident that in its future RDNA 3 architected GPUs, AMD will not bet on this interface. Indeed, the PCI Express interface is not currently being saturated by GPUs. However, employing SSD in games using technologies like DirectStorage could cause the bus to saturate, giving Alder Lake-S under the Intel Z690 chipset a clear win in terms of performance.
Suppose there are no products on the market that take advantage of the new interface. In that case, this could be a disadvantage for Intel, as users would not see the ability to take advantage of the total capacity of the Alder Lake architecture in terms of the ability to communicate with peripherals.


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- Coyuchi announced its authorization for public offering under Reg A+ in August, allowing for additional investments alongside VCs
- The company is the gold standard for sustainable home goods and uses 100% organic cotton for soft, luxurious, and lasting home textiles
- Coyuchi guarantees the highest environmental and ethical standards through certifications such as The Global Organic Textile Standard (“GOTS”), Fair Trade Certified, and MADE SAFE(R)
- Funds raised so far have helped open a second retail location this past month at Palo Alto Town & Country Village
After announcing its first public offering under Regulation A+ (Reg A+) authorization in August, Coyuchi is pleased to announce that it has now reached its first $1 million in capital raising. Under Reg A+, Coyuchi gains exemption from registration for public offerings under two available tiers: Tier 1, for offerings of up to $20 million in 12 months; and Tier 2, for offerings of up to $75 million in 12 months (https://ibn.fm/gavoU). Both tiers are subject to basic requirements, including company eligibility, bad actor disqualification provisions, disclosure, and other matters – which Coyuchi has met for its authorization for public offering under Reg A+. Funds raised so far have helped open a second retail location this past month at Palo Alto Town & Country Village.
For the unique investment opportunity, Coyuchi has engaged Manhattan Street Capital – with share prices starting at $4.50 and a minimum investment of $450. By investing through the Reg A+ authorization, potential investors gain access to shares in Coyuchi – an opportunity previously reserved for only the wealthiest 2%. The company’s offering circular contains important information and disclosures, including financial statements and risk factors for potential investors (https://ibn.fm/mdpWC).
Coyuchi is an organic luxury bed, bath, and apparel company founded on the idea of creating soft, luxurious, and lasting home textiles using only 100% organic cotton. The company is the gold standard in sustainable luxury home goods for the environmentally conscious homeowner, offering timeless, coastal-inspired aesthetics. Over the last two years, Coyuchi has seen its net income soar, with notable highlights that include:
- $33.3 million in net sales during 2021
- 26% year-over-year net sales growth, five times above the industry average of 5%
- 200,000 active customers (with more than 100% growth between 2019 and 2021) at a 35% repeat purchase rate
Coyuchi’s research has shown that 74% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products, emphasizing the millennial customer base which favors ethical consumption over price when purchasing goods and services. About 83% of millennials desire that the brands they purchase from align with their beliefs and values (https://ibn.fm/VQQYN). For over 30 years, Coyuchi has explored organic farming and sustainable textiles, guaranteeing the highest environmental and ethical standards through certifications such as The Global Organic Textile Standard (“GOTS”), Fair Trade Certified, and MADE SAFE(R).
When announcing the Reg A+ authorization, Eileen Mockus, CEO and President at Coyuchi, said smart investing means investing in companies that not only drive financial performance but also focus on positive environmental and social impacts in the communities they serve. “Everyone should have access to this type of investment, which is why we’re excited to launch this Regulation A+ offering. With this public investment, we see an incredible chance to provide greater access to living sustainably for a healthier population and world,” Mockus added (https://ibn.fm/rhmhY).
Coyuchi believes in the democratization of finance and wants its customers, partners, and supporters to share a common interest in the company’s mission and to have first access to invest alongside VCs. By investing in Coyuchi through its Reg A+ authorization, potential investors are aiding the growth of Coyuchi’s leadership in the market through the expansion of its marketing efforts and product categories, the continuation of its physical presence, and the implementation of B2B strategic partnerships with wholesalers and online marketplaces.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Coyuchi.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Coyuchi are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/COYU
QualityStocks is committed to connecting subscribers with companies that have huge potential to succeed in the short and long-term future. It is part of our mission statement to help the investment community discover emerging companies that offer excellent growth potential. We offer several ways for investors to learn more about investing in these companies as well as find and evaluate them.

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BitMinutes Featured in an Inc. Online Review
An article on Inc.com featured BitMinutes as a leading example of how technology is going to dramatically change how financial services are delivered in the developing world, and how billions more people can join the formal financial system as a result.
Music to our ears! We have been talking for a few years now about the huge potential for capitalizing (word used deliberately) on FinTech advances like tokenization, cloud-based data collection and management, blockchain transparency, et al.
We are already seeing the excitement new financial tools has generated in the younger generation of Nigerians signing up for the BitMinutes program.
These will expand the reach of global financial network to include two billion more people, and BitMinutes is at the front of that movement. We spotted early the trend in less developed economies to use prepaid minutes as a de facto currency to get around the lack of liquidity and transparency in the formal financial system.
New Cryptocurrency Startup Wants to Grow New Businesses by Tapping Unused Cell Phone Minutes
In the county of Kenya there exists an economic model using prepaid airtime minutes as a de facto currency, and this…
The author of the Inc. article hit many of our key business plan elements right on the head. First, he confirms our marketplace opportunity (our “blue ocean”):
“Today, there are more than two billion adults who are unbanked. That means they don’t have the ability to conduct financial transactions. In developing countries, the situation is especially dire, with only 41% actually having a bank account. The rest of the people in these regions rely on cash and bartering to conduct business.”
This lack of liquidity for both cash and credit is what we plan to solve with the BitMinutes initiative, leveraging our proprietary blockchain-based tokenization of the widely available prepaid minute proto-currency. As noted above, it is already establishing itself as a vehicle of value exchange in countries with limited formal financial networks.
Airtime is money
MOBILE money in Africa comes in different flavours. The sophisticated sort, exemplified by services such as M-Pesa in…
“There is a genuine need for two improvements in local financial transactions. First, consumers and small business people need a secure way to make digital payments and loans for small transactions. Second, the businesses need access to more affordable credit to solidify and expand their business activities.”
Exactly. Current informal financial tools restrict cash flow and investment, limiting the currency multiplier effect that drives economic expansion. Second, without transparency corruption can thrive, which siphons off and misapplies capital that could be more productively invested. This leave honest small business people starving for even the smallest amounts of working capital. The BitMinutes network of Trusted Agents, built in partnership with local retailers, distributors and (yes) financial institutions, brings the transparency and confidence needed to draw more informal economic activity into the formal economy.
“Small businesses can make money using BMTs in different ways. They can sell BMTs just like the regular prepaid minutes they already sell. And they will soon be able to lend BMTs as an asset-backed token, using a BMT balance as collateral for a microloan.”
This is the beauty of our network-based financial services distribution system. The local retailer does not have to change behavior dramatically to become a TAN Agent and start offering services. And by having the “bank branch” in the cloud, accessed by the smartphone in the agent’s hand, network expansion is simplified and our ability to expand accelerated.
“This technology works well in regions where most people are not rich (by developed country standards), and many do not have bank accounts or credit cards. A sizable percentage of the world’s population fits into these categories and could use the help.”
We have a huge potential market to develop. We will take it one country at a time, but the model already works, and replication will develop a rhythm that should see countries added every few months, with 70 countries already prioritized (partners identified and ready to get to work.)


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- 16,174 Posts
Apple's Greg Joswiak: Apple SIM not coming to iPhone
The quietly introduced Apple SIM feature alongside the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 debuts caused a sensation on how Apple may be able to once again transform the wireless and mobile industry with one SIM card to potentially rule all carriers. At this time, it seems that the Apple SIM would be an iPad-only feature and Apple VP of iPhone, iPod, and iOS product marketing Greg Joswiak tells the audience at the Code Conference to not expect it for the iPhone.
Full story from the iMore Blog...
- By zachpenguin in forum iOS 8Replies: 9Last Post: 05-30-2015, 02:12 PM
- By jsntrenkler in forum iOS 8Replies: 2Last Post: 10-30-2014, 12:30 AM
- By CrackOne in forum iPhone 6 PlusReplies: 1Last Post: 10-28-2014, 05:23 PM
- By iMore.com in forum iMore.com News DiscussionReplies: 0Last Post: 10-28-2014, 02:51 PM


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One year after Russia invaded Ukraine, many of the largest U.S. companies say their moves to suspend operations or withdraw from Russia remain in effect.
An NBC News review of the 30 companies that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average found that 24 had disclosed businesses in Russia before the war. Of those 24 firms, 18 have either suspended business in Russia or exited the country over the past year, and the remaining six have reduced the scope of their operations there, according to company spokespeople reached by NBC News and past public statements.
Six companies in the Dow 30 haven’t publicly clarified their business dealings in Russia, if any, since the invasion. But two of them — Walmart and Home Depot — told NBC News that they had no prior or current business there. The other four didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Seven companies that announced last spring that they were paring back at least some operations from Russia didn’t respond to requests for an update on those moves. But all 19 of the firms that did provide updates or confirmation of their status as of Friday said they had no plans to cultivate closer ties with Russia.
The trend extends beyond the C-suites of the Dow 30.
Research from Yale University’s Chief Executive Leadership Institute, led by Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, looked at 460 U.S. companies, of which 325 appeared to have suspended or exited their businesses in the country. The Yale researchers also counted over 1,000 businesses worldwide that have curtailed their operations in Russia.
“Never before in history have we seen so many companies exit from a country overnight,” said Steven Tian, a research director with the Yale institute.
It has taken other companies many months to fully wind down their businesses in Russia as the war rages into its second year.
Hard Rock International, which had franchises in Moscow and St. Petersburg at the time of the invasion, told NBC News Friday that its franchise partner had closed the Moscow location. But the company, which isn’t in the Dow 30, said the St. Petersburg partner hasn’t agreed to follow suit.
“Hard Rock International is in the legal process of terminating the St Petersburg agreement and closing the Cafe,” the company said in a statement.
‘No longer tenable’
U.S. Treasury sanctions on individuals or entities have required major finance firms to cut certain ties. In addition to an extensive list of Russian oligarchs, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Russia’s largest banks and the Russian central bank as sanction targets, effectively barring U.S. companies and individuals from transacting and trading Russian securities and dealing with Russian firms.
Under intense public scrutiny, other Dow-member companies moved quickly last spring to issue statements, in many cases promising to suspend operations in Russia. Apple pledged to stop selling products in the country, Visa said it would cut off card transactions into and out of Russia, and Boeing stopped parts distribution and service agreements.
Other companies halted, and then exited, their businesses. After saying in March 2022 that it would close its Russian restaurants and pause operations, McDonald’s moved two months later to begin selling more than 850 restaurants with the goal of leaving the country entirely, saying that owning businesses in Russia was “no longer tenable, nor is it consistent with McDonald’s values.”
For some major companies, leaving Russia entailed significant costs. McDonald’s booked a $1.2 billion charge as a result of writing off its investment there. Honeywell took a $295 million hit as a result of winding down its Russian businesses.
For others, exposure to Russia was low, so the cost of leaving was small. American Express told analysts in March 2022 that its business dealings in Russia were limited to just one card partner, making any impact “not material.” The software company Salesforce similarly said the impact of exiting its business with a “very small number” of Russia-based customers was minimal.
Not every company packed up and left entirely.
NBC News counted six companies in the Dow 30 that announced plans to partially retreat from Russia. Merck, Amgen and Johnson & Johnson have all suspended investments and clinical trials in Russia but are still selling essential medicines that aren’t subject to international sanctions.
Procter & Gamble has stopped investments and reduced its product offerings in Russia but is continuing to provide basic health, hygiene and personal care items “needed by the many Russian families who depend on them in their daily lives.” The Dow chemical company said it had suspended the purchase of feedstocks and energy from Russia but was still supplying “limited essential goods” like food packaging, hygiene, cleaning and sanitation products and other household items.
Russia’s size, both economically and geographically, means some companies still have limited or indirect ties to the country.
For example, Chevron said it doesn’t have exploration or production activities in Russia. But the oil giant has a 15% stake in a Kazakh pipeline linked to the Russian port of Novorossiysk. The company says the equity crude that it moves through the pipeline is Kazakh in origin and therefore not subject to international sanctions on Russian oil.
The construction equipment company Caterpillar has suspended manufacturing in Russia. Asked about reports that the company is continuing to move parts through the region as part of its supply chain, Caterpillar declined to comment. “We continue to comply with all applicable laws and evolving sanctions,” a spokesperson said.
Even in the banking industry, where sanctions restrict business activities, some lines are blurred. After a brief pause last summer, some Wall Street banks resumed facilitating trades in Russian debt.
Those moves brought liquidity to an otherwise dried-up market for Russian government bonds, potentially allowing investors outside the U.S. to participate in the secondary market. However, the Treasury clarified last year that such trades were allowed under U.S. sanctions, provided they were part of efforts to wind down existing investments.


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Los Angeles-based MedMen Enterprises, one of the most high-profile cannabis retailers in the United States, said Friday it plans to raise a total of $74 million by selling noncore assets and initiating a stock offering.
MedMen anticipates raising $54 million by selling marijuana licenses it views as noncore assets in Arizona and Illinois, its latest cost-cutting move.
In addition, MedMen expects to raise $20 million by offering class B shares at 43 cents each.
Initially, MedMen planned a $27 million offering but downsized in order to limit dilution of existing shareholders.
Proceeds will be used to finance working capital and to expand the company’s retail footprint in its core markets.


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Posted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, New Products
A growing number of companies are taking advantage of managed print services, otherwise known as print outsourcing, offered by major printer and copier vendors like HP and Xerox.
Managed print services involves the service company taking over the placement, management and support for all output devices in a company, in return for a fixed cost, up to 30% lower than the company is currently paying.
Savings are achieved by concentrating devices, getting rid of old machines with high cost of operation, and encouraging best practices (such as two-sided output, scan-to-email and appropriate use of color).
The Wall Street Journal reports a major increase in the popularity of such services. The article cites numbers from Photizo Group, a Lexington, Ky., market research firm, which calculates that the print outsourcing business reached $20 billion last year, up 37% from the year before. That’s in a year when total shipments of printers and copiers only reached $4.8 billion, down 77% from the previous year.
The WSJ article cites one big example: Procter & Gamble. “Xerox is replacing some 45,000 devices, mostly H-P desktop printers, with about 10,000 shared multifunction devices that are mostly made by Xerox.” But it’s not just global corporations: Small companies, government offices, schools and universities are all being pursued by managed print services sales people.
HP is the leader, according to Photizo, with 35% share. Xerox comes in second with 20%. Others, including Canon, Ricoh, and Lexmark are trailing, but working hard to catch-up.


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The digital Christmas tree by artist Fabrizio Plessi is set in St.Mark's Square in Venice.
Venice lacks the tourists after coronavirus pandemic, but the Italian city has nonetheless highlighted its landmarks to celebrate the holidays this year.
Saint Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge across the Grand Canal in particular benefit from special lighting and projections that give inhabitants some comfort in this time of coronavirus.
Italian artist Fabrizio Plessi created a Christmas tree on the square with huge rectangular screens that project a golden light.
They flood the area with warm light at night, reflecting off wet paving stones.
"My purpose is to light up this town, which needs light, which needs culture, which needs new emotions," Plessi said.
Owing to the pandemic, "this Christmas is different from the others," said Plessi, who with his white beard could himself pass for Santa Claus.
"We have this problem like other people all around the world, but I strongly believe in positivity," he said.
The artist explained his choice of light screens to build a Christmas tree by saying: "I work a lot with digital and all contemporary instruments, because I think that an artist must use all the means which his/her times makes available."
Plessi placed a second piece at the end of the square, called "The Golden Age" and which also projects yellow light that resembles molten gold.
Another celebrated symbol of the city, the Rialto Bridge, has been transformed into a screen for light shows once night falls.
Angels dance on the span's ancient arches and then make way for the gold lion on a red background that is the symbol of Venice.
The images are reflected in the Grand Canal, creating an atmosphere full of fantasy and life.
Spaghetti carbonara, Gucci bags, and trendy haircuts were back on the menu in Italy Monday, but only the bravest ate, shopped or styled-away their lockdown blues as the country attempted to return to normality.
The frequent changes in coronavirus rules and lack of tourists has hit the businesses of some entrepreneurs very hard.
Tourism to the island, made famous in the last century by superstar habitués such as Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren and later by Tom Cruise and Jennifer Lopez
Ireland's tourism and hospitality sector will be able to rehire more than twice as many workers if social-distancing guidance is cut to 1 metre from 2 metres, research by the national tourism development authority found.
Inflation and high interest rates across the UK plus people abandoning pets they bought during the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a surge in strays and stretched the ARC to its financial limits.
Hair products often contain ingredients that easily evaporate, so users may inhale some of these chemicals, potentially posing health risks.
The 'Red' actress insisted she has no desire to turn back time and she's always happy to celebrate the age she is.


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Why are American Express Shares Down Over 8% in 3 Days?
Shares of American Express (NYSE:AXP) have dropped over the past 3 trading days a little over 8%. The company is known for the priciest credit card fees in the marketplace charged to merchants.
Last week, The Federal Reserve proposed cutting the “swipe” fees that merchants pay to accept debit cards by up to 84%. Such a move could sway merchants to lower cost solutions and away from higher cost American Express cards. American Express does not issue debit cards.
According to a recent third quarter report, American Express charges retailers who accept its credit and charge cards an average of 2.56% of the purchase price. Today’s news has shares of Visa (NYSE:V) and Mastercard (NYSE:MA) up on the potential for a grab of the American Express merchant market share. Research shares of AXP with our new high tech research tools >>
Disclosure: No positions.
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According to Bloomberg, Apple apparently started talking to self-driving LED sensor vendors to build an electric vehicle.
Lidar sensors are often found in many autonomous vehicles, and are used in prototypes to determine the distance of objects, people and other vehicles. Technology It is also used for other technologies, including some iPhone models.
According to Bloomberg, Apple has talked to several LiDar vendors working on the next generation of devices. The report also states that Apple has developed a lot of software for self-driving cars internally. Citing Apple within sources, Bloomberg said the launch of the car could be at least five years.
Over the past few weeks and months, there have also been reports of discussions with various automakers about building Apple cars.
In January, a South Korean newspaper reported on advanced talks with Hyundai about plans to build the trial version of the Apple Auto in about a year. But Hyundai and its sister brand Kia He later denied the talks.
Last week, Nissan also said it did not participate in discussions with Apple, although it apparently did
A spokesman said: “However, Nissan is always open to cooperation and partnerships to accelerate the transformation of the industry.”


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Thursday 8 April 2021
The dairy-free cheese fridge at your local health food store could stand as a monument to the human capacity for both boundless creativity and self-deception. Roam its chilled confines and you might find ersatz cashew-nut camembert or blue-veined wedges of coconut-derived faux stilton. There may be pale logs of rice starch mozzarella, or chickpea flour formed into a ridged truckle of imitation parmesan. These products point to an ever-expanding galaxy of choices and a buoyant industry where, according to The Good Food Institute, sales grew by 18 per cent in the US in 2019 (compared with just one per cent growth for traditional animal-derived cheese). There is a revolution underway; an artisanal boom in plant-based fermentation far better than what was available even a decade ago. And forecasts predict the global vegan cheese market to almost triple in worth, to $7 billion (£5.1 billion), by 2030.
Plant-based food retail sales were worth $7 billion in 2020, posting a 27% growth rate overall for products that specifically replace animal-derived options, according to SPINS data released by the Good Food Institute and the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA). A total of 57% of U.S. households purchased plant-based food in 2020, up from 53% in 2019.
Plant-based meat had $1.4 billion in sales, growing 45% overall compared to 2019 and making up 2.7% of all U.S. retail packaged meat sales. Refrigerated plant-based meat sales saw the highest growth percentage, up 75% in 2020.
The coronavirus pandemic brought on a boom in plant-based sales in 2020, as consumers looked for products they thought were better for them — or discovered the brands on store shelves as many conventional meat producers faced production challenges.
new product introductions and increasing availability, particularly in smaller non-milk categories rising consumer adoption upward momentum of consumption of these products among those who already eat plant-based dairy or eggs
In 2020, producers are placing focus on investing in better technology and improving economies of scale to make plant-based dairy and eggs more affordable to general consumers. As the prices of these products decrease over the 2019-2024 forecast period and more closely approach the price of conventional dairy and egg products, volume consumption is expected to increase significantly with rising adoption among general consumers as well as higher consumption of these products among plant-based dairy and egg eaters.


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After months and months of rumors and speculation, it’s almost 100% certain that Beyoncé IS dropping a new project toward the end of this month.
There’s been a rumored tracklist floating round online this past week, and it looks pretty legit. However, as we all know people have gotten extra crafty with photoshop these days — so we didn’t give it too much thought…until now.
Amazon UK now has a new Beyoncé album listed for sale and it coincides with every other rumor we’ve heard thus far. According to the Amazon, the $42 ‘Platinum Edition’ will be a 4-disc set and will arrive on November 24th (which would mean the 25th in the US).
The leaked info-sheet says that the new release will consist of the original BEYONCÉ album + bonus music, a DVD of 28 (!) music videos, a DVD of the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, and a DVD of the On The Run tour.
That’s all great, but we see a Beyoncé album featuring Nicki Minaj, Justin Timberlake and Rihanna — we’re totally here for it.
Let’s just hope that this ‘Platinum Edition’ album is real.


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Trans-Pacific Partnership talks have jumped right into the deep end of NAFTA: undertaking a wholesale renegotiation of what is by far Canada's most important trade relationship. Why?
Moving beyond analyses of SYRIZA, the real lessons should be learned from popular movements
When governments try to protect the environment or promote the local economy, free trade agreements allow companies to sue for billions of dollars for lost profits. Murray Dobbin explains how.
There are signs that some countries are trying to get governing power back from transnational corporations. But no country seems as determined as Canada to jettison the powers of government.
What you don't know about free trade: the uses and abuses of investor-state arbitration. Or, how a Canadian company is suing El Salvador for $301 million.
Export Development Canada claims it will help us capture a few more crumbs from the auto industry's southward migration. Its convoluted logic highlights the contradictions of Canada's whole approach.
Apr 28, 2015 to Apr 29, 2015
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Join a panel discussion of "Continential Crucible," second edition.
Getting up to speed on corporate rights protections? Jim Stanford has prepared some background notes on the quasi-judicial kangaroo court system that is investor-state dispute settlement.
The defining features of the Canadian economy during the NAFTA era have been slower GDP growth, a surge in corporate concentration and heightened income inequality.
Canada's environment appears to be taking the brunt of NAFTA-enabled corporate attacks. And when NAFTA environmental-protection provisions do kick in, the government often rejects them.


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PM directs to launch campaign to control price hike
Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to launch a special campaign to control price hike in the country.
In a letter, the Prime Minister Office says the step has been taken in view of current disproportionate price hike and ineffectiveness of the systems to control it.
Under the campaign, a strategy will be devised by all concerned stakeholders across the country to implement price control laws effectively from the wholesale markets to retail shops.
Market Control Committees will also be made more functional to take stern actions against the perpetrators under law.


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FLORIDA'S WALMART BRIBED DIRTY COPS
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Department
WALMART CAUGHT ENGAGING IN BRIBERY ALL AROUND THE WORLD!
Walmart has agreed to pay Two Hundred and Eighty-
While the Walmart Family has spred corruption, and greed, all around the world, Walmart's Dishonesty, Corruption, Hate, and Criminal Conduct, is covered-
Walmart has set a "Policy" for its stores in Florida to bribe Local Law Enforcement to cover-
Local Law Enforcement in Florida are bribed, by being given off-
An investigation by the St Petersburg Times showed Walmart uses the Local Police, as its Store Security to increase profits, costing Florida Taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, while increasing crime in Florida, as Walmart constantly calls the police for frivolious reasons, such as calling the police on Walmart Customers asking to see a Store Manager, which Walmart claims is "Creating a Disturbance".
As described on the prior page, Billy Kidwell, was just released from spending ten (10) days on the Intensive Care Heart Ward at the St. Petersburg VA Hospital, and was released to the VA's Home Heart Failure Program, where Billy Kidwell takes Heart Tests, and is monitored at his home, by a VA Heart Doctor, and VA Nurse, each day.
Billy Kidwell, needing to get out of his house, went with his daughter, who is his VA Care-
Billy Kidwell was then assaulted by the Walmart Store Manager, and Walmart Security, because he asked to speak to the store manager to make a "Reasonable Disability Accommodation Request", as authorized by the Americans with Disability Act.
Billy Kidwell was pushed out of the store, as Walmart Security, and the Store Manager, kept trying to make Kidwell run out of the store, when he cannot even walk without leaning on a Shopping Cart, while Kidwell was suffering the smyptoms of having a Stress-
Kidwell slumped to the sidewalk outside the Walmart, leaning on the store's outside wall, suffering severe Heart Pains, Loss of Breath, and Extreme Dizzyness, coming close to passing out, as he waited for a Sheriff to arrive to take a Complaint from him.
Billy Kidwell had his daughter, Hannah Kidwell, bring his Disability Papers from his car to show to the Charlotte County Sheriff when he arrived.
AN EXCESSIVE RESPONSE BY THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
In a few minutes six, (6), or seven (7), Charlotte County Sheriff Cars came flying up, and officers started jumping out of their cars, acting as if there was a bank robbery, or something real big going on.
The response was extremely excessive for a call by Disabled Veteran, Medically Unable to Stand Stress, who has just gotten out of intensive care at a hospital, and merely asked to make a "Reasonable Disability Accommodation Request" with the Walmart Store Manager.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY SHERIFFS, CONSPIRE WITH THE WALMART MANAGER, AND WALMART SECURITY, TO FALSIFY THE POLICE REPORT
Billy Kidwell started talking to the first deputy to arrive, explaining what had happened, and all at once a real hostile deputy, who appeared to be in charge, ran up to Billy Kidwell, acting threatening, as he pointed his finger at Kidwell, telling Kidwell not to move while the Deputy-
The Sheriff Deputy in charge went over to the unknown man, that had hit Billy Kidwell in the back, and it now appeared the Unknown Man that hit Kidwell, was Walmart's Store Security, and close friends with the Sheriff Supervisor.
The sheriff's deputy that was in charge started laughing, and joking, with the Store Security Officer, asking about some recent training, making it appear that Walmart's Store Security was close with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Department.
The Sheriff's Deputy in charge, Walmart Security, and the Walmart Store Manager, then started whispering together, clearly planning, and scheming, as to the lies they were going to put in the Sheriff's Report.
The Store Manager, and Store Security, knew they couldn't be honest, and put in a Police Report that a crazy Walmart Cashier, with an abnormal hate for dogs, attacked an Elderly, Disabled Veteran, just released from Intensive Care at a VA Hospital for Stress-
So the Charlotte County Sheriff, the Sheriff's close friend, working as Walmart Security, and the Walmart Store Manager, concealed that the incident occurred at the cash registers, and was caused by a Walmart Manager named "Handy", and they conspired together, and lied, by Fraudulently Claiming that the incident occurred at the Walmart Service Desk, and that the Kidwells were being trespassed from the King's Highway Area, and from the Kings Highway Walmart, for life, for being loud, and cussing in Walmart.
Seeing that the Charlotte County Sheriff, and Walmart Officials, were extremely dishonest, and trying to falsify the Police Report, Billy Kidwell asked his daughter to start filming everything on her phone. [ Video 1, Video 2, Video 3, and additional videos shall be posted.]
As those videos will prove, if Walmart, and the Charlotte County Sheriff's Department, has the courage to post them, at all times Billy Kidwell, and his daughter, were Peaceful, Polite, and not once did either raise their voice, or cuss, like Walmart Officials were doing.
Those videos will prove Walmart, and the Charlotte County Sheriff's Department, are corrupt, falsifying Police Reports, and attacking Elderly, Disabled Veterans.
WALMART IS HIDING VIDEOS THAT PROVE BILLY KIDWELL, AND HANNAH KIDWELL, DID NOTHING WRONG, AND PROVE WALMART, AND THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, KNOWINGLY, AND INTENTIONALLY, FALSIFIED THE POLICE REPORT
"Handy" the Cashier-
Billy Kidwell, and his daughter, Hannah Kidwell, asked the Charlotte County Sheriff's at the King's Highway Walmart, at the time they were being trespassed, to attach a copy of the Walmart Videos to the Police Report, and Trespass, showing the Kidwell's from the minute they entered the King's Highway, until the minute they left.
Walmart, and the Sheriff's Department refused.
Billy Kidwell, and Hannah Kidwell, sent at least six (6) Registered Letters, by means of the U.S. Mail, to each member of Walmart's Board of Directors, and to the President, and CEO of Walmart U.S.A., and to Walmart's General Counsel, demanding that the King's Highway Florida Walmart Videos be preserved, and that a copy be sent to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Department to be attached to the sheriff's report.
Not one Walmart Official responded.
Billy Kidwell, and Hannah Kidwell, sent at least four (4) letters to Charlotte County Florida, the Charlotte County Commissioners, the Charlotte County Attorney, and to the Charlotte County Sheriff, demanding that they get the videos of the alleged incident from Walmart, from the time the Kidwell Family entered the King's Highway Walmart, until they left, and that the videos be made part of the Police Report, and the Trespass Warnings.
The videos were never make part of the Police Report, or the Trespass Records.
Walmart's Board of Directors, CEO, and General Counsel, and the Charlotte County Sheriff's Department, are engaging in OBSTRUCTION, by illegally concealing the videos that prove Walmart committed a Felony, a violation of F.S. 825.102, by assaulting the Elderly, Severely Disabled Veteran, Billy Kidwell, and proving Walmart is OBSTRUCTING the Kidwell's in attacking the Illegal Trespass Warning.
THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY SHERIFF SAYS CHARLOTTE COUNTY DOES NOT GO BY THE "AMERICANS WITH DISABILITYS ACT", OR FLORIDA DISABILITY LAWS, BECAUSE "WALMART IS PRIVATE PROPERTY, AND NOT A PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION", AND "WALMART CAN DO ANYTHING WALMART WANTS"
The Deputy told Billy Kidwell that the store manager wanted Billy Kidwell, and his daughter, banned for life from the Kings Highway Area, and banned from stores around the King's Highway Area, and from the King's Highway Walmart.
Billy Kidwell stated that he was being harassed, and kicked out of Walmart, because of his Service Dogs, and Billy Kidwell explained what had happened, and gave his copy of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Florida Statutes F.S. 825.102, and F.S. 413.08(4) to the Charlotte County Sheriff Supervisor.
The Sheriff Supervisor read the papers, and the crumbed them up and said that Charlotte County doesn't go by any Americans with Disabilities Act because it is Federal Law, and that the Sheriff's Department doesn't go by State Disability Laws because Walmart is Private Property, and not a Public Accommodation.
The Sheriff Supervisor stated that Walmart can ban anyone without any reason, that Walmart can do anything they want because they are Private Property.
That if Walmart don't want Service Dogs, or Disabled Veterans, in their stores that its their right because they are Private Property, and the only reason the Sheriff was there is because Walmart wants the Kidwell's Trespassed from the King's Highway Area.
Walmart Security jumped in and said that Walmart didn't want the Kidwells at the Culvers Resturant on King's Kighway, or at the Murphy USA Gas Station on Kings Highway. [See video .]


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Aston Martin hasn’t revealed many new details about its baby Cygnet, which is on display at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show. The Cygnet is a production car based on the Toyota iQ with a Vantage front end and luxury interior, to be sold for $45,000 to $75,000 to buyers who want an expensive city car. [...]
Men’s style magazine GQ has teamed up with CitroÃ«n to design the “ultimate gentleman’s drive.” The GQbyCITROÃ‹N concept is a collaboration between the magazine, the carmaker and a tailor on London’s Savile Row. The exterior of the vehicle was designed by Mark Lloyd, a CitroÃ«n designer who was behind the CitroÃ«n DS3. Lloyd was working [...]
The Pagani Zonda Tricolore, which was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, is intended to honor the Frecce Tricolori, the Italian air force aerobatics team. The squadron is a demonstration team composed of nine planes and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Based on the exclusive Zonda Cinque, the Tricolore is constructed from a [...]
Bugatti unveiled two new special editions of the roofless hypercar at this year’s Geneva Motor Show; Grey Carbon and Blue Carbon. The upper part of the Veyron Grand Sport Grey Carbon plus the doors and the side panels are constructed from dark grey carbon fiber, while the bottom part of the car is finished in [...]
Global carmakers have been unveiling concepts that could shape the future of automobiles for the next decade, with a focus on lean, green models. Hybrids and electric cars took center stage on day one of the show, which is open to the public March 4-14.
Tesla Motors have teamed up with Swiss luxury watch company Tag Heuer to produce a special edition of its Roadster. The vehicle will make its debut at the Geneva Auto Show this week. The idea is for both luxury brands to increase their global cachet. Tag, which is unveiling a new tech-savvy watch on March [...]


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Oakhurst dairy sold to Missouri company
Details of the sale were not released
The largest milk processor in northern New England has been sold to a national dairy farmer-owned cooperative.
Operators of Portland-based Oakhurst Dairy said Friday that the agreement with Kansas City, Mo.-based Dairy Farmers of America will allow it to continue to operate independently while providing opportunities for new growth.
Bill Bennett, Oakhurst chairman, said the management team will remain in place and there will be no change for Oakhurst's customers.
“People go into the supermarkets or wherever they shop, they’ll find Oakhurst products, they’ll be the same products they are used to. They won’t be coming from another plant or other farms. It’s the same as it’s been,” Bennett said.
Bennett does not anticipate any layoffs for the company that’s been in his family for three generations.
“All of our employees - all 210 of them - will remain here working a for the same management team doing the same things they did before, same jobs, same pay,” Bennett said.
Still, customers were unhappy with the news.
“It’s disappointing isn’t it? It’s been really nice to buy milk from a local company,” Susan Falkoff said.
“I always though Oakhurst had a good product and I hope the quality stays the same,” shopper Susan Wright said.
Bennett said Dairy Farmers of America approached Oakhurst and that after consulting with the management team, the acquisition would be a good fit.
“Looking at long-term planning, there wasn’t a fourth generation involved, so we were all getting a little older and what is Oakhurst going to look like 10, 20 years from now?” Bennett said.
Terms of the transaction weren't disclosed. Dairy Farmers of America is collectively owned by 16,000 dairy farmers and owns 31 other manufacturing plants nationwide.


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Potter makes history: 1.7 lakh copies sold in a day
"Never in the publishing history has India witnessed such a frenzied reaction to any book. We have already sold over 1.7 lakh copies today," said Himali Sodhi, Head of Marketing, Penguin, which is the distributor of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".
Potter fans, both young and old, had queued up outside book stores since midnight to lay hands on the book, the seventh and last one in the series, to know the fate of boy wizard Harry and his deadly foe Voldemort.
"I was here at 6 in the morning and quickly read the last few pages the moment I got the book. The suspense is finally over," said 14-year-old Neha, a student of Sardar Patel Vidhyalaya.
Bookstore owners said never before have they witnessed such demand for any book.
"I have never seen such craze for any other book. We have been receiving pre-orders since March," said Nitin Chatterjee, Store Manager, Oxford bookstore.
British author JK Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", published by Bloomsbury and brought to India by Penguin, is priced at Rs 975 and customers, who placed advanced orders got a discount varying between five per cent and 25 per cent.
Internationally, the final Potter book has become online retailer Amazon's most pre-ordered product with almost 1.6 million copies bought globally ahead of the release.
The six books published thus far have sold 325 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 64 languages, while four films have grossed $3.5 billion worldwide.


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Millions of Americans who have avoided colonoscopies in the past can now get a home test to screen for colon cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. View the full video here.
- Milwaukee Business Journal: New Milwaukee venture fund, Character, launching by former Google Ventures partner – Milwaukee Business JournalMay 6, 2021
- Different ‘flavors’ of state funds of funds on tap for June 3 Entrepreneurs’ ConferenceMay 6, 2021
- Guest column: Even in the age of the Unicorn … Unicorns are still exceptionalMay 6, 2021
- InsideWis: Tech world watches as Apple and Epic Games slug it out in courtMay 6, 2021
- UW-Madison: Madison’s tech sector booms, driven by UW innovationMay 6, 2021


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The Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA) announced today it has significant concerns regarding insufficient staffing levels at processing plants in Prince Edward Island and Atlantic Canada.
The past two years have seen a rebounding of prices paid to the harvesters. These price increases have been related to increased demand related to a combination of expanding export markets and increased promotion of value added products. Supplying these new markets is at risk if sufficient plant staffing levels are not achieved.
In addition, staffing shortages can also limit the availability of value added products.
A significant harvester issue is an increased possibility of daily catch limits for individual harvesters due to a lack of plant workers in both P.E.I. and New Brunswick.
The PEIFA has worked closely with the PEI Seafood Processors and the Maritime Seafood Coalition in advancing these concerns. The worker shortage continues despite wage increases and other improvements in working conditions. Dwindling rural populations are also a contributing factor to the worker shortage.
It is important to note that all major countries that process seafood products depend on temporary outside labour to make their seafood industries successful and profitable. This past week the United States has increased their number of temporary foreign workers. The seasonality of many fisheries makes these staffing issues an international challenge
The PEIFA supports the position of Egmont MP Robert Morrissey in advancing a call to action on this critical issue. The PEIFA is calling for an immediate change in the current Temporary Foreign Worker policy so that processing plants can be staffed sufficiently for the upcoming 2016 spring fishing season.


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Update: That was quick! Rockstar appears to have rolled out another update which reverts the game back to its previous state on Xbox One, as highlighted in the tweet below. It's another 1GB-ish download.
Original story: GTA V released a new patch yesterday, which is said to bring "general network connectivity improvements," as well as a major loading fix for PC players thanks to a fan. Unfortunately, it seems it's been anything but an improvement for Xbox One, as many players are reporting the game now crashes upon loading.
The most recent tweet from Rockstar Support is filled with responses of Xbox players who are struggling to even load the game. It's a weird issue for sure, and as of now, seems strictly related to Xbox One users.
For the time being, there's no official word from Rockstar on acknowledgement of the issues, but we'll be sure to update you if we hear anything. Hopefully this issue is sorted soon, allowing players can dive back in.
Have you ran into issues with GTA V since the update? Let us know in the comments below.


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Where Can a KPU Student Get a Bite to Eat?
Features / October 21, 2016
Your guide to food on the Surrey Campus
Joseph Keller, Web Editor & Melissa Pomerleau, Contributor
Students at KPU may have noticed that the food situation on and around the Surrey campus is lacking something.
The surrounding area features an A&W, a McDonald’s, a Tim Hortons, several pubs and small family-owned eaterys—all just out of range of being conveniently accessed by foot. While the strip malls directly next to the campus feature a couple pizza places, there is only so much pizza-by-the-slice that a person can eat in a week.
None of these options provide much for the health-conscious student, and since few of us have the time to trek to faraway restaurants between classes, it’s worth knowing what’s available right here on campus.
The Birch Cafeteria
Sodexo is a multinational food service company operating in 80 countries, and like most multinational corporations, they have a number of scandals to their name.
At least nine universities across the world have chosen to boycott Sodexo for a variety of reasons, such as alleged low pay, investment in private prisons, poor food quality, and a lack of local food options.
In 2013, all of Sodexo’s frozen beef products within the UK were recalled upon the discovery of horse DNA being found in their beef.
The Sodexo Justice Services is a branch of Sodexo that owns and operates prisons across the United Kingdom. The company was accused of terrible inhumane treatment of a female prisoner who was detained in a segregated cell for 5 years.
The Cafeteria in the Birch building is operated by that very same company.
“I started two months ago at this University, and my main goal was to get everything up and running from the summertime when we were closed,” says General Manager of Sodexo at KPU, Kevin Poland. “I’m trying to provide things that are a little bit healthier for the University, and a lot more variety.”
In an effort to provide a variety of healthy options, Sodexo has a number of programs in place. For instance, “In My Kitchen”brings top chefs throughout Canada together to offer up some of the recipes they grew up with.
“Mindful” by Sodexo is another initiative to encourage healthy choices. It focuses on veggie-based dishes that are low in sugar and salt, while steering away from breads and other high fat foods.
The cafeteria offers burgers, fries, quick grab-and-go items such as salads and sandwiches, and Starbucks brewed coffee.
“All the meats we serve in our sandwiches, aside from pepperoni and salami, are fresh meat, sulfite and phosphate-free and cooked in house,” says Poland, who explains that the cafe is equipped with it’s own, in-house deli and grill.
Information on Sodexo at KPU can be found at www.kwantlenkuisine.com. According to the site, Sodexo “support[s] local businesses and communities by purchasing from local producers and growers. Sodexo buys 100 per cent of our fresh dairy products from local and regional farmers. For the future, we have committed to serve only farm and ranch products that are sustainably grown by local producers and minority and women-owned businesses.”
“Through our purchasing, that is all taken care of,” says Poland. “We purchase a majority of our products from Gordon Food Service, and they in turn look to local areas and bring food from local areas into their main warehouse, and then we take it from there.”
Poland is also hoping to introduce a few healthier and more gluten-free options to the menu, like gluten-free pastas, and offering brown rice instead of just white.
“We’re going to try to become a lot more nutritious without alienating the burger/fry people,” says Poland.
Those turned off by Sodexo’s corporate history, or just anyone looking to support something more independent with their food budget, might want to check out the Grassroots Cafe. As the name implies, the Grassroots is a small, independent, student-run initiative with a focus on sustainable operation and providing healthy eating options. The cafe is located in Cedar building across from the athletic department.
“The Grassroots is here to provide people with affordable and nutritious meals,” says Adam Rhode, manager at the Grassroots.
In addition to their food and beverage offerings, the Grassroots also provides catering services for events around campus throughout the semester.
As a Kwantlen Student Association initiative, the cafe is funded in part by student fees. While Sodexo has a non-competition contract with the university, there’s an agreement that allows the cafe to operate. Staffed by KPU students, part of the mission of the Grassroots is to provide a venue and gathering point for student life. To that end, the Grassroots hosts events such as open mic nights, stand up comedy, live music, movie nights, viewing parties for sporting events, and more.
“We want to provide students with an atmosphere that they can’t get anywhere else on campus,” says Rawan Ramini, KSA Vice President Finance and Operations, who helps oversee the Grassroots Cafe. “Students can come here, grab a meal, grab a drink, listen to music, watch a movie or a live performance, and experience student life.”
“We’re starting to see a lot more people coming down and participating in the events,” says Rhode.
Health and sustainability are key elements of the Grassroots mission. It offers organic food options whenever possible, with much of the cafe’s offerings coming from KPU’s own gardens, courtesy of the university’s agriculture and food programs. In keeping with this philosophy, there are always ample vegan options available.
Ever head to the Tim Hortons during a class break only to find the lineup stretching down the hall? Nobody should have to wait that long for a cup of coffee. To skip that line, head to the Grassroots where the line wait is rarely unreasonable. Drip coffee is sold as well as cappuccinos, lattes, mochas, and other specialty coffees.
One definite point in the Grassroots’ favor is that it’s the only place on campus to get beer. Recently-added taps mean that craft beer is available, and beer made by KPU’s brewing program students is coming soon.
The KSA is always looking to address student feedback with the Grassroots in order to improve the venue. This past summer, the Grassroots was the subject of major renovations to improve atmosphere and bring in more customers. Coinciding with these renovations were overhauls to the Grassroots menu options, with a particular focus on adding sharable snacks such as chicken wings and nachos.
The biggest challenge for management at the Grassroots at this time is increasing awareness of the cafe and bringing in more people. While events hosted at the Grassroots have helped, management continues their efforts to raise its profile on campus.
“Even though we have a closed market, we still don’t have 100 per cent exposure,” says Rhode. “Students still are not aware of us. Even though they may have been on campus for two or three years, they still may not venture to this part of campus.”
Looking for something more familiar? There’s always Timmy’s.
Of course, Sodexo also own and operate the Tim Hortons located in the Cedar building. It offers a pretty wide variety of bagels, sandwiches, donuts, and muffins. Also available are takeaway sandwiches and salads—the same ones available in the Birch Cafeteria. A variety of hot beverages are also served, such as tea, coffee and hot chocolate.
If you’re looking for cheap food and have an infinite amount of time to wait in the incredibly long line it seems to always have, this is probably your best bet.


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With a focus on technology, the world of bookkeeping and accounting has undergone a number of changes throughout the past decade, and is continuing to grow in new and interesting directions. In the past five years, we have seen various cloud based accounting applications introduced into the market, which has helped to revolutionize the industry while creating awareness of online technologies. This new-found awareness has generated an opportunity for tech firms that are creating unique applications that address many of the problems currently in the industry, while helping to streamline the bookkeeping and accounting process.
Recently, Google announced an upgrade to its Gmail and Google Drive integration. With 425 million active users worldwide, Gmail is Google’s most popular productivity app and the union with Drive (120 million users) helps users be even more productive. However, you have more flexibility between email and cloud services and can choose what best fits your needs.


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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — On June 23, HATCH for Hunger announced a $25,000 gift from Kroger Co. at the reopening of its 116th and Cumberland Rd. store in Indianapolis.
This donation from Kroger Co. will be used to purchase more than 600,000 eggs for food pantries across the state of Indiana. Kroger has been a partner and support of HATCH since its start in spring of 2015 and since then has helped sponsor more than 900,000 eggs through HATCH for those in need across the Midwest, officials noted.
“Kroger is excited to continue our support of HATCH in 2017 as providing quality nutrition to the food insecure is a key priority for us,” said Eric Halverson, corporate affairs leader for Kroger Co. “Eggs are a staple for many of our lives, whether eating them to start our day off right or cooking a favorite family recipe. Every family should deserve to have access to eggs.”
HATCH for Hunger is a non-profit organization created by Elanco Animal Health, a division of Eli Lily and Co., which is now based within the Central Indiana Community Foundation. The HATCH mission is to provide a consistent supply of high quality protein to those in need through the powerful package of an egg. HATCH is also unique in its approach to provide eggs to local food banks and pantries by partnering with retailers, egg farmers, and other sponsors across the state.
“We cannot be more grateful for our continued partnership with Kroger as we work together to fight hunger in our community,” said Adam Burtner, HATCH for Hunger program coordinator. “This check will provide 600,000 eggs to families here in the second half of 2017. It is because of the generosity of corporate sponsors like Kroger, private donors, and supportive community partners HATCH has been able to provide nearly 1.5 million eggs to over 70,000 families across the Midwest since 2015.”
HATCH is made possible by partnering with grocery stores, farmers and local food banks. Currently partners in Indiana include: Kroger Co., Rose Acre Farms and Elanco Animal Health.
More information can be obtained at www.HATCHforHunger.com.


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Back in June it was reported that Walt Disney Pictures had tasked Don Hall (Meet the Robinsons, The Princess and the Frog) with developing the studio’s first Marvel animated feature, which would be based upon the Japanese superhero team Big Hero 6. Since then, we’ve heard very little about the project, but Bleeding Cool has uncovered a nugget of information from industry tracking company Rentrak, suggesting that Big Hero 6 has been scheduled for a Spanish theatrical release on November 21st 2014.
In terms of a possible North American release date, Disney has favoured November for its big animated offerings these past few years, with Chicken Little, Bolt, Tangled and Wreck-It Ralph all arriving that month and Frozen set to arrive on November 27th of this year. The studio currently has November 7th, 2014 earmarked for an as-yet-untitled feature film, so there’s a good chance Big Hero 6 could occupy this spot. Meanwhile, UK audiences traditionally face several months wait for Disney’s animated features to cross the Atlantic, so presumably Big Hero 6 will arrive on these shores early in 2015, unless it follows the release pattern for Marvel Studios’ live-action offerings, which generally arrive here prior to their North American release.
So, between Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy and Big Hero 6, 2014 looks to be shaping up as another busy year for Disney and its Marvel properties.


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With Google completing its (albeit brand-untouched) acquisition of Motorola, and three ‘Google phones’ to-date, you might have thought journalists were confusing the company with Facebook this week when rumours began spreading the airwaves of a Facebook phone.
Let me tell you, as best I am able, about the Schleswig-Holstein question. In the latter years of the nineteenth century, a young member of parliament asked Lord Salisbury what this question was all about.
Now, if you are a non-techie and if you haven’t read my previous blog on MEMS’ the word, you are forgiven, as it may come across as a very ‘techie’ subject.
Since the whole world is currently obsessed by the impending Facebook IPO it would be churlish of me not to join in, especially since it looks like the IPO will leave Facebook valued at over $100 billion.
One of many interesting contributors to our latest Green Handsets & Tablets report was US carrier Sprint.
Clearly Orange have read Juniper’s recent press release announcing that by 2014 more than 240 million smartphone users will stream TV to their phones because this week they launched a new social TV service in the UK called TVcheck.
As a customer, I am quite keen on getting 4G here in the UK – so have you ever wondered how keen the operators are to roll out 4G LTE in this country?
Sometime early next year, a Galaxy not so far, far away may be sold which could well be the billionth smartphone currently in-use.


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The new normal: the impact on the retail industry & market research
The retail industry has undergone some pretty dramatic transformations over the last decade...
...from digitalisation and the advance of technology to the decline of the high street. However, nothing compares to the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had across the globe.
From financial losses to the rise of e-commerce, although the threat of coronavirus will eventually pass, customer experience and the retail industry will be changed forever. What’s more, if retailers are going to recover, the need for empathy and understanding amongst nervous customers is greater than ever before.
But what does all this mean for retail industry market research? And how can market research help as retailers tentatively navigate the new normal? We investigate in this blog…
What the statistics say
British retail sales fell by 18.1% in April, marking the biggest decline since records began. In fact, a recent study suggests that half of UK retailers could be wiped out if coronavirus continues, with an ONS survey reporting that 27% of retail workers across 6,150 businesses were furloughed.
On a global scale, Europe’s luxury market is expected to suffer an average sales loss of more than 35%, whilst Forrester predicts that the global loss in the retail sector will hit $2.1 trillion.
However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel; according to research we have recently undertaken at Angelfish, 45% of consumers are excited about shops reopening. But as stores up and down the country begin to open their doors, what does the new normal look like and what does it mean for the retail industry?
The new normal and the future of retail
From social distancing to changing shopper attitudes, online shopping to click and collect, things are set to look very different on the high street. Here are just a few ways that things could change in the coming weeks and months:
1. More online shopping
One key thing that we expect to see when the shops reopen their doors is that online shopping will continue to take centre stage.
Even before the pandemic, online shopping was growing in popularity year on year due to ease and convenience - and new data shows that UK online retail sales rose by 22% in the first week of April compared to the same time last year.
Due to consumer nerves, the longer the crisis lasts, the greater the likelihood that online and omnichannel purchasing will become the next normal and remain an essential part of life post lockdown.
A survey conducted in late March found that 90% of shoppers were hesitant to shop in store because of the coronavirus, and in a recent survey we conducted, we found that 61% of consumers are planning to continue with online shopping once stores reopen.
So, what does this mean for market research? Well, for starters, it means that user experience and usability testing will become increasingly important as the shift to digital purchasing continues. With more people shopping online, websites, apps and all online channels need to be easy to use.
And with bigger audiences conducting their shopping online - especially non tech-savvy older generations who are more fearful of visiting physical stores - it’s really important that brands deliver a seamless user experience for all their customers.
2. Improved click and collect
Another way that the Covid-19 pandemic will impact the retail industry is that the click and collect trend will continue to grow. As shoppers seek out convenient and contactless ways to shop, click and collect is entering the centre stage as a super-convenient solution: it’s low-cost, it’s easy, and it resolves any issues around potential contagion.
However, if retailers are going to deliver a click and collect solution that reassures anxious shoppers, the experience needs to be seamless, with limited waiting times and social distancing measures in place. Again, this is where market research comes in.
Concerns about health and safety have never been more important - both for employees and customers - and it’s essential that click and collect offerings reflect this.
Our research found that people are concerned about social distancing not being observed, the length of queues, cleanliness, adequate risk assessments being carried out and possible product contamination (in that order) - so if retailers are going to deliver a solution that works, they need to utilise market research to listen to their customers’ concerns.
What’s more, by conducting customer surveys, retailers can use customer feedback to make improvements and continue to tweak their click and collect service as we all become used to the new normal.
3. The growth of social shopping
We don’t know about you, but we don’t even want to think about the amount of time we have spent on our phones since lockdown began.
Facebook’s Q1 2020 results have shown an increase in its Daily Active Users (DAUs) of 1.7 billion as a result of lockdown - and with people spending more time on their phones, the social shopping trend is set to stay.
In the UK, we check our phones every 12 minutes. And with so many of us spending so much time on social media, it’s no wonder social shopping is growing by the day.
In fact, 28% of online orders now come from social and search sites such as Google, Facebook and Instagram - a number which will continue to rise exponentially in the coming months.
What does this mean for market research? Well, again, user experience and app usability testing are set to be essential to the market researchers’ post-Covid toolkit.
But that’s not all: as more people access the internet via their smartphones, we also expect to see an increased opportunity for mobile market research methods that allow instant, in-depth insights on customer experience.
And with more people active on social media, there’s the chance for retailers to access a bigger target audience than ever before, too. For more information about the benefits of social media in retail industry market research, check out this blog.
4. Technology and contactless shopping
Having been socially distanced for such a long period of time, it’s understandable that consumers will be reluctant to physically interact.
As a result, we expect to see a growing trend of touchless retail, powered by technologies such as cashless payments that can provide a high level of protection. In addition, virtual services will continue to rise, too.
Forward-thinking brands have already taken advantage of the virtual opportunities available, with John Lewis having launched the website hub ‘Your Partners Through It All’, offering a variety of virtual services that aim to transfer their in-store expertise online.
From advice on setting up nurseries and interior design tips (very topical considering a huge 75% of people we surveyed are planning to carry out home improvements in the coming weeks!) to personal styling, John Lewis have identified a successful new way to communicate with their customers during the pandemic and beyond.
The desire for contactless shopping also means that it could (finally!) be augmented reality’s time to shine. In fact, within the next five years, it will most likely become more mainstream to try on clothes virtually with augmented reality. About one-third of shoppers already use AR in stores, and experts predict the market could grow to be worth $130 billion by 2020.
The possibilities of augmented and virtual reality for market research are endless (just check out this piece we wrote way back in 2017) and could pose a useful solution for retail market research post-pandemic, too, with options such as virtual accompanied shops and focus groups providing a safe and efficient market research alternative to face-to-face methods.
5. A change in ethics
Pre-pandemic, 75% of Brits were opting to adopt ethical shopping and healthier eating habits and fast fashion was steadily declining, with 74% of people prepared to pay an extra 5% for their clothes if there was a guarantee that workers were being paid fairly and working in safe conditions.
But with the financial pinch of Covid-19, will customer ethics change?
It is very possible that shoppers will be more value-conscious and discount and value sectors may continue to grow as off-price retailers such as T.K. Maxx, Lidl and Aldi become more popular.
When it comes to sustainable brands and products, strapped consumers may now be even more reluctant to pay a premium for sustainability - and it’s also possible that second-hand shopping will see a decline due to hygiene concerns.
However, on the other hand, shoppers may value sustainability even more because of their pandemic experience. Only time - and market research with a conscious consumer audience - will tell.
Retail market research post lockdown
So, what does all of this mean for research? Well, if retailers are going to get it right, it’s more important than ever to listen to their customers.
Customer experience has been a hot topic for a number of years now, but with everything that’s going on in the world at the moment - not to mention the mixture of feelings people have about lockdown easing up - it’s never been more important for brands to get a fully-rounded understanding of what their customers are really thinking.
If brands are going to reassure their customers, it’s essential that they know their decision-making story from beginning to end. Now more than ever, it’s about understanding what your customers need, discovering what they want and helping them to avoid their fears.
Yep, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, now is the time to listen - which is why market research is absolutely essential.
The importance of market research
If your budget allows, continuing with customer research is the best possible way to tackle the immediate and long-term challenges arising from the Covid-19 crisis.
Your customers are still out there and are likely to return post-lockdown, but their buying criteria may have changed significantly - and you need to be swift to respond to their new wants and needs.
Customer-centric research will enable you to reassess your customers, allowing you to identify your target audience and figure out what they want, why they want it, and how their wants and needs have changed during the crisis.
Customer sentiment will have also changed exponentially in recent weeks and months, so it’s important that you nail your company messaging and marketing, too. By understanding what makes your customer tick, you can reassure your consumers, build empathy, strengthen relationships and deliver a service that delights.
How Angelfish can help
At Angelfish, there’s nothing we don’t know about retail market research recruitment.
You see, using a combination of cleverly targeted social media campaigns, our opt-in panel of over 26,000 respondents and refer-a-friend campaigns, our bespoke recruitment process allows us to find the perfect participants for your retail market research.
What’s more, our in-house validation process means that once we’ve found relevant respondents, we will only put forward the very best participants who exactly match your criteria, so you can uncover the customer insight you need, every time!
Alternatively, if you’ve got a specific list of respondents for us to recruit from, we can advise you on everything from feasibility to response rates to ensure your project is fully recruited and that everything runs smoothly.
And that’s not all. We understand that things are confusing right now, which is why we act as a consultative partner, working with you every step of the way. With Angelfish, you’ll have a dedicated project management team who will be on hand to ensure things run smoothly.
From guidance on sample size and advice on feasibility to our tip incentive tips, we’ll be there for you throughout the duration of your study so you can really get to know what your customers want and why.
See - we told you we were experts in all things retail! If you want to find out more about retail industry market research with Angelfish, download our free guide here.


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Stricter laws are needed to protect Internet auction users from spammers who harvest e-mail addresses from auction sites, an eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) executive told U.S. lawmakers at a House subcommittee on crime hearing on cybercrime Thursday.
“It is worth noting that some forms of cybercrime could be reduced if Congress were to adopt a criminal prohibition against the automated harvesting of e-mail address for the purpose of sending illegal spam,” eBay vice president and general counsel Robert Chesnut said.
Such a law would “guarantee additional protection to America’s online consumers,” Chesnut also told the committee.
“eBay users are increasingly receiving illegal spam, from people who obtained their e-mail addresses illegitimately from the eBay Web site,” Chesnut testified. “These harvesters are building a growing and lucrative business by attacking popular Web sites with automated tools that suck in millions of e-mail addresses and spew them out again for use by spammers.”
Trolling for Dollars
Spammers often target auction sites for their data mining, or harvesting, activities because they troll for the e-mail addresses of individuals who have bid on products similar to what they are selling.
“This parasitic process undermines public confidence in e-commerce, feeds public fears about threats to privacy on the Internet and becomes a breeding ground for fraudulent conduct,” Chesnut told the lawmakers.
Internet Breeding Ground
Software piracy has grown exponentially over the last few years, due in large part to the Internet, according to Bob Kruger, vice president of enforcement for the Business Software Association (BSA), who also testified at the hearing.
“The Internet has exponentially expanded the market for pirated software,” Kruger testified. “Contrast the number of people who can crowd around a card table at a flea market with the number that can simultaneously access and download software from a pirate Web site. Instead of pirated copies being sold one at a time, millions of pirated copies can be downloaded every day.”
Kruger also pointed out that the Internet has made it easier for consumers to locate pirated software, saying that Web surfers can easily employ an Internet search engine to find both legitimate and illegitimate sellers of software.
Additionally, the Internet has made it easier for software pirates to hide, Kruger said.
Fear of Sharing
Witnesses at the hearing also expressed fears that under current laws, businesses could be penalized for sharing proprietary information with the government, by having it made public under the government’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
“Information sharing is a risky proposition with less than clear benefits,” Harris N. Miller, president of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) told the Committee.
“No company wants information to surface that they have given in confidence that may jeopardize their market position, strategies, customer base or capital investments,” Miller added. “Nor would they risk voluntarily opening themselves up to bogus but costly and time-consuming litigation.”
Thursday’s hearing was the third in a series of hearings dealing with cybercrime. State and local officials testified in May on their cybercrime fighting efforts, and on Tuesday, witnesses from federal law enforcement agencies lobbied Congress for more money to fight cybercrime.
In addition to asking legislators for new laws to protect e-mail harvesting from Internet auctions, the business community is also taking action to combat the practice using existing laws.
SIIA vice president in charge of anti-piracy Peter Beruk told the E-Commerce Times that the SIIA was contacted last year by people complaining that after they placed bids at online auctions for software, they were contacted via e-mail by vendors offering pirated versions of the same software at lower prices.


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Washington, D.C. – TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, today urged members of the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce to pass a federal data privacy law ahead of Wednesday’s hearing on data usage. The hearing, which will happen in the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, will discuss the “role of data brokers in the digital economy” in protecting the data privacy of consumers.
To ensure all Americans have the right to access, correct, and delete their personal data, Congress must pass a federal data privacy law. Since 2018, 178 privacy bills have been introduced in 45 states. This year alone, 27 states have introduced 55 comprehensive privacy bills. Consumers in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Utah, and Virginia will all soon be regulated by different privacy laws. This growing patchwork is confusing consumers and having a chilling effect on our economy, especially for small businesses. A 50-state patchwork of privacy laws would cost our economy more than $1 trillion over the next 10 years, with more than $200 billion being paid by American small businesses.
The following can be attributed to TechNet President and CEO Linda Moore:
“Lawmakers rightly recognize that the need for one federal data privacy law has never been greater. Americans deserve to have their data privacy protected no matter where they live, and businesses need certainty about their responsibilities so they can spend their resources on creating jobs rather than paying legal bills. The emerging 50-state data privacy patchwork is having a chilling effect on the economy and confusing consumers who just want their private personal data protected and handled consistently from one transaction to the next. We’re pleased to see continued momentum to get a federal data privacy law across the finish line during the 118th Congress.”
For more information, go to technet.org/privacy.
- Since 2018, 178 comprehensive privacy bills have been considered across 45 states. This year alone, 27 states have introduced 55 comprehensive privacy bills. Soon, consumers in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Utah, and Virginia will all be regulated by different privacy laws.
- If this trend continues, a 50-state patchwork of privacy laws would cost our economy more than $1 trillion over the next 10 years, with more than $200 billion being paid by American small businesses.
- More than 83 percent of all voters, including 86 percent of Democrats and 81 percent of Republicans, ranked privacy legislation as a “top” or “important” Congressional priority.
- Last year, Congress made significant strides in passing comprehensive federal privacy legislation. The American Data Privacy and Protection Act passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee by a bipartisan vote of 53-2. While the bill still needs further refinements to address several key issues before becoming law, this was a watershed moment for enacting a uniform federal standard.
- TechNet has been a national leader in calling for federal privacy legislation. TechNet’s initiative, United for Privacy, has brought together partners across all sectors of the economy to advocate for legislation that protects consumers and American businesses by ending the patchwork of state privacy laws.


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Facebook ships its new standalone VR headset with new Touch controllers that claim to offer improved ergonomics and more efficient controller tracking to bring down battery consumption. Notably, the new controllers are said to last up to 4 times longer than the Touch controllers which shipped with the first-gen Oculus Quest headset. Plus, the Oculus Quest 2 is also compatible with Oculus Link, the company’s own toolkit that allows users to connect it with a computer via a USB cable and use it as a PC-based VR system. What this means is you can enjoy the entire Quest library on the new standalone headset as well as Rift games made for the PC VR platform.
Oculus Link is coming out of beta in the fall season and support for 90Hz experience is coming soon as well. Plus, a unified dashboard is also rolling out next year that will put all your compatible PC VR games and Quest titles in a single place. The Oculus Quest is priced at $299 – a good $100 cheaper than its predecessor – and is now up for pre-orders, while shipments are set to begin on October 13. It will be available from the official Oculus website, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart in the US; Currys PC World and FNAC Darty in the UK and EU; while Amazon will handle worldwide shipment duties.
Alongside the Oculus Quest 2 headset, Facebook has also launched a new line of accessories that include a carrying case, a new USB Type-C cable for connecting it with a PC, an Elite Strap priced at $49 to offer more comfort while using it, and another strap that comes with its own battery case as well for more playtime.


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The recently released NVIDIA Shield tablet is showing signs of cracking after limited use. Users are complaining that the device. which retails at $299, have noticed hairline cracks on the casing.
Microsoft's free Windows 10 upgrade offer ends today
windows 10 upgrade
JESBOD QY13 sports Bluetooth earphones
Expanding mobile photography with Aukey's wide-angle lenses
The Vimtag P1: A great home monitoring cam with a few kinks
Build 14393.5 for PC and Mobile released to all Insiders
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Lens Cover
Customers of Virgin Media, one of the UK's leading ISPs, have been frustrated by a nationwide outage, along with the failure of its customer call centres, days after promising to upgrade its service.
French hardware site Clubic is reporting that the a faulty resistor has been found on the 8800GTX model making the card unstable at high load and may cause image corruption (or tearing). nVIDIA has said...
An interesting conversation with the Xbox technical support was posted on the web yesterday, the sound recording was made after a previous conversation was cut short before a resolution could be found. The recording made...
Human error is to blame for 84 per cent of IT security breaches, according to a survey of more than 900 organisations. In its second annual study of IT security and the workforce,...
SINGAPORE--Internet traffic from Asia to the US has slowed to a snail's pace due to two impaired undersea cables. "There appears to be a damage to some circuits on the China-US and...


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Google unveiled new tools and features that will enhance the gaming experience on Google Play. The company described them at the Google for Games Developer Summit ahead of the upcoming Game Developers Conference next week.
Aurash Mahbod, general manager for games on Google Play, said in a blog post it will reveal various initiatives aimed at helping developers create better gaming experiences.
Gaming remains a focal point for Google, with a mission to ensure the gaming experience is both enjoyable and engaging for all users, the company said.
Google talked about Play Pass Enhancement. Google Play Pass subscribers in select markets will now receive in-game items and discounts on popular games, including titles like EA SPORTS FC Mobile, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Monopoly Go and Roblox.
GamesBeat Summit Call for Speakers
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Apply to speak here
This additional offering complements the existing catalog of over 1,000 ad-free games and apps, providing increased value to subscribers without changing the monthly price.
Discovering exclusive promotions, in-game items, and updates for downloaded games is made easier with new features in the Google Play Store. Users can now view the latest YouTube videos directly on the Games tab and store listing page, ensuring they stay informed about their favorite games. AdMob has also transformed in-game advertisements, offering interactive elements that seamlessly blend into the gaming experience, avoiding intrusive pop-ups or video interruptions.
Developers now have more flexibility to incorporate multiple sign-in options through Play Games Services. This ensures users can use their preferred sign-in method, and game progress and achievements seamlessly sync across devices. Players can pick up where they left off, regardless of the device they initially signed in from.
Google Play Games is extending support for native PC games, allowing users to discover and play a broader selection of games designed specifically for PCs directly through Google Play. Popular titles like Lineage2M, Odin: Valhalla Rising, Genshin Impact and Dragonheir: Silent Gods are already available, with plans to introduce more PC games in the future.
VentureBeat’s mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Discover our Briefings.


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Oliver Kennedy has been appointed as the new UK key account manager for Abacus Sportswear, the Swedish golf apparel company. In his new role Kennedy will support incumbent sales representative, Jake Oudes. Kennedy is a PGA Professional and has worked in golf and retail for more than a decade representing one of the world’s largest golf hardware manufacturers, one of the UK’s largest golf and leisure wear brands and a high street fashion retailer.
Abacus Sportswear is an Official Clothing Supplier to The European Tour and European Solheim Cup Team. Sven-Olof Karlsson, owner of Abacus Sportswear said, “Oliver joins us with a wealth of experience in the golf industry, not just in the UK but also internationally. As a PGA Professional, his understanding of the golf trade industry and the needs of fellow PGA professionals is second to none. 2014 is set to be an exciting year, and one of great importance for Abacus in the UK with the launch of two new collections, a licensee agreement with The Ryder Cup 2014, and the appointment of Oliver.”


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Local First Friday: From The Farmer
From The Farmer delivers fresh produce to customer doorsteps in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. Customers can customize the size and contents – including various vegetables and fruits, bread, and eggs – of their baskets and determine their own delivery schedules, with no weekly commitment required.
After beginning a student organization that fed hundreds of local community members during their time at the University of Denver, co-founders Nick Phelps and Jason Lundberg started From The Farmer in 2010, according to Stacey Price, the company’s director of sales and marketing. The company now delivers to more than 2,000 houses per week, most of which are regular customers, said Price.
“Our office is filled with expertise ranging from farming, cooking, nutrition, and food policy,” Price wrote in an email. “We get to work with the most interesting partners and producers and customers. The common thread in our story is a love of food.”
From The Farmer buys produce from more than 100 different local farms and producers, according to Price. The business chooses partners that have a transparent cultivating process, practice sustainability, and have quality products and healthy practices.
Tyler Baer, the head of sourcing and storytelling, said the most challenging part of From The Farmer was the quick pace and constant changes.
“Food moves fast and it never sleeps,” said Baer. “Each year (growing season) is different and the best you can do is prepare accordingly and hold on for the ride.”
Price said the business was always built with the intention to be able to recreate the model in other cities, but the team still has more work to do in the Washington, DC-area.
In late April, From The Farmer will launch technology to provide more options to customers, including sustainable meat and dairy and pantry items, according to Price.
About the Author
Seema Vithlani is a junior multi-platform journalism major and French minor at the University of Maryland. This spring she is also an editorial intern for Washington Gardener Magazine."Local First Friday" is a weekly blog series profiling independent garden businesses in the greater Washington, DC, and Mid-Atlantic region. Washington Gardener Magazine believes strongly in supporting and sourcing from local businesses first!


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We Were Wrong To Take You Offline… But Stay Offline
from the the-way-of-the-recording-industry dept
Last month when music publisher Warner/Chappell “apologized” for taking the pearLyrics app offline, we noted that the apology was extremely weak — and nowhere did they say anything about having the app come back online. The exact sentence was: “However, it’s not clear if pearLyrics is coming back online — and W/C made it clear that it’s still not thrilled with the idea that lyrics sites somehow “undermine” accurate lyrics.” We had hoped it was just W/C being a reluctant apologizer, but Boing Boing is reporting that pearLyrics is still offline and is waiting (way too patiently) to hear back from W/C about whether or not it’s okay to go online again. This, of course, is ridiculous, since pearLyrics isn’t doing anything other than searching for lyrics — a completely legal action.


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Because the rents in New Haven rose, so did HIV diagnoses among homosexual guys, particularly in communities of color.
That rise is not occurring simply in brand brand New Haven, learned AIDS Project brand brand New Haven (APNH) Director Chris Cole.
In the eve of APNHвЂ™s yearly fundraiser eating out for a lifetime and also the twentieth anniversary trip for the groundbreaking musical Rent in the Shubert on the weekend, Cole and APNH Events and Volunteer Coordinator Fran McMullen sat right down to discuss the increasing wide range of HIV cases вЂ” therefore the means APNH is evolving its outreach efforts to fight it.
The 1997 hit lease ended up being published by Jonathan Larson, whom died unexpectedly from the the show was set to start its previews on Broadway day. A riff on Giacomo PucciniвЂ™s Los Angeles BohГЁme, the depicts that are musical team of eight 20-something artists, actors, and music artists wanting to make ends satisfy in brand brand brand New YorkвЂ™s East Village. CONTINUE


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The incident followed a weekend of disruptions for the grocer as 14 stores were evacuated around the country on Saturday due to 'unspecified' threats.
The package was blown up at 11.15am this morning, but the Avon and Somerset police force said that the action was taken 'purely as a precaution'.
Store closures over the weekend are thought to have cost the supermarket giant millions of pounds in lost sales.
Police are still investigating the threats towards the stores, but terrorist links have been ruled out.
Earlier today a Tesco spokeswoman said: 'The police are conducting a criminal investigation and Tesco cannot comment further.'


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Splashpress Media has recently announced the launch of Twitter Buttons, which easily lets bloggers create “Follow me!” buttons for pasting into their sidebars, social social network profiles, or just about anywhere you could insert HTML into.
The site’s function and dedicated service is to provide attractive looking buttons for Twitter users to display on their websites. One would have thought, with the huge popularity of Twitter in mind, that there would be a mass of similar services out there, but it’s really not the case! And this might explain the huge success that our site is already having with the hundreds of thousands using the buttons on their sites and so many users signed up to the email subscription.
Twitter Buttons makes button creation as simple as typing in your Twitter username and clicking “GO.” Users don’t even need to sign up for an account.
We are currently adding new buttons to the collection. There are currently 64 colorful and cute buttons you can choose from; or if cute is not to your liking, there are also more subdued-looking ones. We’re also thinking of new features, and if you have any ideas, do drop us a line!


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Google Project Glass spectacles on eBay? Not so fast. (+video)
eBay temporarily hosted a listing for a tester pair of Google Project Glass headgear. But by today, the device had disappeared.
Don't bother. The listing is long gone.
The backstory: Last week, the Internet's attention was drawn to eBay item 221192598719 – allegedly a pair of brand new Google glasses. The seller, bla7kcat promised free delivery on the device, and posted an opening price of $1,500.
Within a couple days, more than 33 bids had been entered, with a top bid of $15,225, according to a screen grab captured by The Daily Dot.
"I've been selected as an early adapter for Google's upcoming release," bla7kcat wrote in the description field. "You are buying a brand new unopened pair of Google's Project Glass glasses. I will be personally attending and picking up my pair in either Los Angeles, or New York at Google's Project Glass launch event, which will take place some time after [Feb.] 27th. As for what colors will actually be available... if I am offered a choice, I will choose the color of your choice."
But by this afternoon, eBay item 221192598719 was removed for the site. And probably for good reason – we have our doubts it was for real.


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According to Engadget, this is a screengrab of AT&T’s inventory clearly showing an “iPhone 4S” on the system.
A helpful tipster sent us this tasty morsel, from AT&T’s internal system, listing the “iPhone 4s White” beneath a handful of already familiar Apple handsets. Could it be? Is Cupertino actually planning on bringing a white version of its next iPhone out at launch? We’re afraid only time will tell.
Apple is widely rumored to be announcing the iPhone 5 within the next few weeks, but rumors have also been circulating for some time that a mid-level prepaid smartphone – the iPhone 4S – may launch simultaneously.