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As I wrote in a ReadWrite article last year, World War III is already here — And we’re losing.
World War III is already here, and we’re losing.
— Michael Tchong
Futurist & Speaker
Think that’s an exaggeration? If indeed tiny North Korea is responsible for the Sony intrusion, just imagine what would happen if Russia or China would engage in that sort of cyber terrorism, if they already haven’t that is.
And the toll this warfare is exacting from society is truly stunning:
- Security spending – Gartner expects worldwide information security spending to reach $71 billion in 2014, a 7.9% year-over-year increase. The researcher predicts security spending in 2015 will increase 8.2% to $77 billion.
- Cyber attacks growth – The GAO reports that the number of cyber incidents affecting computer systems and networks continues to rise. Between 2006 and 2012, the number of cyber incidents reported by federal agencies to the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) has grown 782% (PDF):
- Information security incidents – Meanwhile, the number of information security incidents involving personally identifiable information (PII) increased 244% (PDF), between 2009 and 2013. In the past year, 519 million financial records have been stolen, with nearly 439 million records stolen in the past six months alone, says the FBI.
- Average loss – And financial losses are rising sharply too. According to PWC, the reported average financial loss from cybersecurity incidents was $2.7 million, a 34% year-over-year increase. The number of organizations that reported financial losses in excess of $20 million rose even faster at 92%.
- Cross-organization cyberteams – Despite the surge in cyber attacks, fewer than half of companies, 49%, have a cross-organization team that regularly meets to discuss, coordinate and communicate information security issues.
- Passwords – That such formidable marketing organizations as Home Depot or Target did not take adequate security precautions leading to credit-card data theft, underscores the need for more education, starting at home. But here the picture is equally dire. A survey by Splashdata found that the two most popular passwords in 2013 were “123456” followed by “password.” It’s that kind of casual disregard that likely lead the Sony IT department to store all company passwords in an unprotected file, called Master_Password_Sheet.
Some industry watchers believe that the unprecedented nature of the Sony attack plus hundreds of millions of credit card hacks, will reinforce the mission-critical nature of cybersecurity.
The U.S. government realizes the urgency of cybersecurity. A bill expected to be voted on later this week will boost cybersecurity spending. The U.S. Cyber Command, which manages military cyberspace operations and ensures the security of Department of Defense information networks, would receive $447 million, more than double its 2013 funding of $191 million, while the Department of Energy (DOE) would get a notable cybersecurity bump, up $25 million from 2014 to $304 for fiscal 2015.
With the reputation of more blue-chip companies and Hollywood celebrities smeared all over the web, perhaps 2015 will indeed be the year that cybersecurity gets a big dose of positive reinforcement.


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Walmart Online Application: A new tool for workers
Posted On July 14, 2021
The retailer announced on Wednesday that it would be launching a new application called Walmart Online Applications that will help its customers search for jobs online.
The company says that its new application will be available in the next two weeks.
Walmart is offering a new website and app that will let users search for work through their social media accounts, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts, or via text messages.
The application will have several features, including the ability to set job categories and create job pages.
The site and app are also designed to help Walmart workers better find jobs.
Walmart says that while it can’t guarantee that the application will help job seekers get jobs, it will “provide a better search experience for our customers.”
The company also says that the new application is currently only available to Walmart workers in the U.S. The Walmart online application is the latest initiative from the company to offer its customers a way to find jobs online and improve its online shopping experience.
The retail giant also introduced a new mobile app in January, which is meant to let customers search the company’s sites and apply for jobs.

domain: news


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Samsung Cuts Mid-Level Managers from Mobile Business
Article Comments 1
Dec 4, 2014, 8:20 AM by Eric M. Zeman
Samsung recently decided to keep CEO J.K. Shin at the helm of its mobile business, but executives who work for Shin were not so lucky. Samsung has relieved or reassigned dozens of executives, according to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal. Among those let go were vice presidents, senior vice presidents, and executive vice presidents across Samsung's marketing and development teams. The media solution center group lost 15 executives and saw its leader reassigned to another department. The 1,000-person unit is responsible for Samsung's own apps and services, such as ChatOn. Samsung reassesses its leadership ranks at the end of every year. For the last several years, Samsung has promoted hundreds of executives. This year marks a dramatic change as the company seeks to turn around slowing sales of its smartphones. Samsung did not comment on the Journal's report.
Both Bullitt and Qualcomm have just announced new solutions for putting satellite connectivity in Android phones. Both services offer full two-way messaging for non-emergency use, in addition to an SOS service.
Dec 1, 2021
Qualcomm will make a big push to bring high-speed mmWave 5G to more affordable phones in 2022, according to comments made by CEO Cristiano Amon during a Q&A session at the company's Snapdragon Summit event in Hawaii today. For a phone to support mmWave 5G, multiple specialty antenna modules need to be added, which can raise a phone's price by $50 – 100.
Apr 1, 2020
T-Mobile has officially completed its merger with Sprint. For the moment, the merger has little effect on customers, but "Sprint" lives only as a brand of T-Mobile, not a separate company.
Dec 1, 2021
T-Mobile recently announced that its mid-band 5G network now covers over 200 million people, a threshold that the industry acknowledges as "nationwide" coverage. (Mid-band 5G offers an ideal balance of fast data speeds and broad coverage compared to 5G in other bands.) In an interview with Phone Scoop, T-Mobile executives detailed how they plan to maintain the company's lead in mid-band 5G even as Verizon and AT&T launch mid-band 5G early next year.
Nov 4, 2021
AT&T and Verizon have agreed to an FAA request to delay the launch of 5G in new C-Band radio frequencies by one month, while potential interference issues are addressed, reports the Wall Street Journal. Both companies were planning to launch the highly-anticipated mid-band 5G service on or around December 5th, but will now launch the service no sooner than January 5th, 2022.
Fire a bunch of Yes Men


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Gear4Music founder Andrew Wass followed his passion into selling instruments online — but getting banks to play along is still proving tricky.
Andrew Wass has been in the wars — which might be good news for his online music store. Wass, founder of Gear4Music, was off work last week with a broken collar bone. If the last time he had a medical mishap is anything to go by, he’ll be returning to work this week armed with ideas to improve on its fortunes.
Ten years ago, Wass was running an ailing, £1m turnover IT business which installed computer systems for recording studios. The declining cost of technology was eroding the company’s margins and making it harder to grow sales.
With his angel investors getting twitchy, Wass started weighing up a move into a more traditional business that would have the advantage of combining technology with his first love — the pianist and French horn player wanted to start selling musical instruments.
“I’m good with IT, but my passion has always been instruments,” he says. “These are products that change people’s lives. I wanted to fix the cheaper end of the market supply a decent product to people who didn’t have the money to splash out on an expensive instrument. They weren’t being looked after.
“I started going to trade shows and talking to manufacturers and thought I could do a decent own brand that wouldn’t cost the earth.”
The plan was little more than a back-of-cigarette-packet sketch; hardly enough to convince his investors to support a change of direction. It took a serious back complaint and a resulting spell in hospital for Wass to come up with the simple twist that would transform the business.
With the instrument market fragmented — and dominated by independent high street retailers with scant online presence — he saw that any own brand he created would not be easy to distribute. Wass realised he’d need to control retail and distribution as well as making decent budget instruments if his new business was going to work.
“In some ways, the health problem was great,” he says. “It gave me time to think. I decided online retail was the way forward and we needed to put all our time and effort into it.”
His investors remained unconvinced, but Wass persuaded them to stump up £30,000 to pay for a website and a container-full of musical instruments.
“They weren’t sold on the idea. They’d invested in a computer company and here I was asking them to back something totally different,” he says. “But it quickly became clear it was a good way forward.”
Last year’s sales of £10.2m are expected to grow to about £13m this year, and Wass says the business is consistently profitable. It’s also three months into a European expansion to sell its products in 17 markets. The original IT operation is “almost gone”, he says.
While Wass stuck to his guns and produced an own brand, famous names like Fender and Gibson dominate the company’s sales. Electric guitars are a staple, but it also sells everything from classical instruments to DJ equipment and home recording gear.
“You get shifting patterns but guitars are where the market is at,” he says. “Although we have seen a big move from acoustic drum kits to electronic ones in the last three years, which is good news for the neighbours. And folk music has become a big thing — everyone is buying ukuleles.”
A very large product range means the company uses its own 50,000 sq ft warehouse in York. Wass insists the UK facility will allow the firm to send accordions to France almost as easily as it can send guitars to Leeds, and that there’s no need for a distribution presence on the Continent.
“Courier (NasdaqGS: CRRC - news) systems have got so much better in the last 10 years that you can send stuff all over the place for not a huge amount of money,” he says. “I think we can do it all from here we’d have to get very large to think about changing it.”
With the music market remaining fragmented, and a clear online leader yet to emerge in the UK, Wass is looking at the way
e-commerce cycling firms such as Wiggle have exploited a niche but committed customer base as a template.
“There are about 1,800 music shops in the country but there aren’t any particularly dominant players, as there are in cycling, where there are firms with sales of £100m plus. We’d like to be the first to get there.”
Other than German rival Thomann a relative giant the same applies in Europe (Chicago Options: ^REURUSD - news) , which is why Wass is keen to steal a march on exports. He also wants to set up a small retail chain in the UK next year.
How will he finance all these plans? Wass says he’s in conversations with banks but he’s not brimming with confidence.
The company sold a stake to private equity firm Key Capital Partners for £3.4m in March when requests for bank support failed, and he’s hoping he has not set an expensive precedent.
“That investment puts us in a good place but we’re ambitious and we don’t always want to turn to [selling equity] to grow. We need the support of the banks. When we come to retail, we’ll definitely need [to borrow].
“Our situation highlights one of the issues with banking at the minute. We’re three times the size we were five years ago, we’re consistently profitable yet we’ve still got about the same banking facilities.
“It’s very hard to raise additional funds at the moment. I hate to think what it’s like for someone that’s finding it tough.”


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Posted on Sep 11, 2020 at 11:58 a.m.Updated Sep 11, 2020, 4:56 PM
Impossible to miss the MC20, the last baby of Maserati, Thursday in Modena. Piazza Roma or Piazza Grande, in the historic center of the small Italian city that houses the headquarters of the brand, the racing car roared its powerful engine in front of the smartphones of the curious. The night before, several hundred journalists (duly distanced and masked) were entitled to the "reveal" of this "supercar", as sports cars are nicknamed at more than 200,000 euros, during a major show at the American, giant curved screen and supporting decibels. John Elkann and Mike Manley, respectively President and CEO of the Fiat Chrysler Group (FCA), owner of the century-old brand since 1993, made the trip for the event.
It must be said that this launch is emblematic in more than one way. “We are laying the foundation stone for Maserati's future. It's the start of a new era ”, Davide Grasso, the boss of the brand, launched with emphasis on the giant stage set up in the center of the Modena auto circuit. With a power of 630 hp, the MC20 (for Maserati Corse 2020) should allow the Trident brand to make a big comeback in competition, more than sixty years after the Argentinian Fangio's victory at the F1 world championship in 1957. behind the wheel of a Tipo 250F.
Boost the image
Marketed from 2021 at a (minimum) price of 220,000 euros, the new car is not however really intended to inflate the volumes of Maserati, which expects barely 7 units produced per day (and about 1,000 per year). It is rather a question of "boosting" its image upstream of a series of upcoming launches intended to rebuild a future for the Trident, which has become in recent years a chasm for the FCA group.
This is also a crucial issue in view of the merger with PSA: Maserati will be called upon to become the brand that will bring the new group a position in the lucrative and growing luxury automobile segment. "It will be the crown jewel of the new ensemble, Stellantis," insisted Mike Manley in Modena.
The British leader of FCA has set ambitious goals: to sell 75,000 cars per year by 2025, and to restore the margin to 15%. "Given our very strong vision, I think we can do it", did he declare. In the meantime, Maserati hopes to return to profit from next year.
Because the Italian manufacturer fell into the red last year, after having seen its sales plummet since 2017. From 51,000 that year, deliveries fell to 19,000 in 2019. With the health crisis, no better is expected for 2020: 7,000 Maseratis have been sold over the first six months. "We should end the year at 19,000", believes Bernard Loire, the brand's sales director. The trident firm, which had generated 560 million euros in operating profit in 2017, lost 200 million euros last year (for a turnover of 1.6 billion), and another 174 million in the first semester of this year.
The fall of the Chinese market, the first for the group in 2017, with 30% of its sales, is not the only cause. "Maserati's main problem is chronic product underinvestment and poor planning," estimates analyst Philippe Houchois, at Jefferies. The leaders of the Trident agree. "Maserati suffered from the 'launch only' syndrome, paying a lot of attention to the launches of new models, without then investing in their long-term support", comments Bernard Loire.
The brand also took the SUV wave very late, having only launched its luxury urban 4×4, the Levante, in 2016, to complete its range (which also includes the Ghibli sedan, the Quattroporte limousine, and the GT GranTurismo and GranCabrio). It has not launched any new model since 2016, and has also procrastinated for a long time before taking the turn of the electric: it presented this summer its first electrified model, a Ghibli in “mild hybrid” version (consisting simply of boosting the heat engine thanks to a small electric motor of 48 volts).
As a result, its heavily CO2-emitting vehicles are weighed down by exorbitant taxes in many countries. "They can represent up to 100,000 euros on the Levante in the Netherlands, for example", explains Bernard Loire. In France, all models are subject to the maximum penalty of 20,000 euros. With emissions of 184 g / km, the Ghibli hybrid which will arrive in France in October will drop it to 5,400 euros.
About eighteen months ago, Mike Manley decided to tackle the problem, pledging to devote colossal investments, of 2.5 billion euros, to the revival of the Trident. He recruited for this a "pro" marketing to lead the brand: arrived in July 2019, Davide Grasso is a former executive of Nike and Converse.
13 launches by 2025
The 12 launches that will follow after the MC20 are the result of this reconstruction strategy. "Even in the bottom of the wave, even during the coronavirus crisis, investments have never been called into question", says Bernard Loire. New products, but also technological innovations. All the new Trident models will now be available in a 100% electric version: GranTurismo and GranCabrio first, then the MC20. "The customer must have the choice", insisted Mike Manley.
Above all, the Italian manufacturer is counting on the new SUV that it is due to launch next year. Also with a wind name, the Grecale will be smaller than the Levante, and will be produced in FCA's Cassino plant on a platform from Alfa Romeo, another brand of the group. Given the current craze for urban 4x4s, the success of this new Grecale will be essential to achieve the objectives and face stiff competition from Porsches, Jaguars, and even its neighbor from Modena, the big brother Ferrari.


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Commercial vehicles and engine manufacturer Scania has launched its marine engine platform with the high-output 16-litre V8, the powerful 13-litre and the new 9-litre engines at INMEX India 2013, South Asia’s largest and most successful maritime event organised by Informa Exhibitions India, part of the UK based Informa plc.
The company, which announced its foray into the engine segment in India in June this year at INTEC in Coimbatore, will now also be catering to the marine segment with this launch.
“Scania is committed to providing customers a complete lineup of clean diesel and natural gas engines that will deliver better fuel economy, reliability and durability, with lower operating costs,” stated Anders Grundströmer, Managing Director Scania Commercial Vehicle India and Senior Vice President Scania Group. “Scania remains focused on continually improving our proven technology to provide products that best meet the unique needs of our customers.”
Scania is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks and buses as well as industrial and marine engines, with an excellent reputation and highly loyal customers. Every year Scania builds more than 80,000 engines, making Scania one of the most experienced engine manufacturers in the industry. Around the world, in many different applications, Scania engines are found in trucks, buses, industrial and marine operation, as well as in the power generation sector. Scania offers a wide range of industrial engines ranging from the emission standard Stage II/Tier 2 to the present Stage IIIB and Tier 4i.
Celebrating its 120th Anniversary, Royal Enfield announced the launch of a new range of limited edition helmets earlier this week. The limited range will consist of hand painted helmets designed by ar...
Sony India has introduced the new XAV-AX8100 in-car media receiver, offering new utility features, powerful sound and smart features.
ExxonMobil Lubricants Pvt Ltd launched its upgraded Mobil Super Moto range of engine oils to make it easier for people to maintain their two-wheelers in top condition. The launch comes at a time when...
In an exclusive interview, Uday Narang, Chairman, Anglian Omega Group & Omega Seiki Mobility
talks about his company plans to enter the two and four wheeler electric vehicle space.
Motown India speaks to Woosuk Leem, Managing Director, AS Parts Division, Mobis India to get more details about the Hyundai Mobility Membership App and its advantages.
Vishal Mathur, Senior Vice President, LMD Truck Business – VECV elaborates upon VECV’s Light & Medium Duty (LMD) business in India, the company’s product offering and the several advantages offered by...


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M&S has introduced a raft of commitments to its ethical Plan A programme in a bid to become the world’s most sustainable retailer by 2015.
M&S will launch 80 major commitments under Plan A which will mean that every one of the 2.7 billion products it sells every year will have at least one sustainable element. It has set a target of converting half of its products to having one sustainable element by 2015 and its entire product range by 2020.
On clothing M&S will tackle the fair wages debate and said it will ensure that clothing suppliers pay workers in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India a fair living wage. The retailer said based on a pilot scheme it had carried out in Bangladesh, the retailer will be working with suppliers to improve productivity and management practices.
M&S said it will also become the first major retailer to ensure “full traceability” of all key raw materials used in clothing, including cotton, wool, polyester,nylon, leather and wood.
Other initiatives include launching a five-year £50m Plan A incubator fund to support the development of new Plan A products and services at the retailer. Working with suppliers to provide training and education and helping to create 200 Plan A factories which will have ethical or environmental features or both.
M&S has also launched a competition asking its customers to send in green actions for the retailer to adopt.
M&S chairman Sir Stuart Rose said: “Since we launched our eco plan, Plan A, in 2007 we’ve reduced our environmental impact, developed new sustainable products and services, helped improve the lives of people in our local communities and saved around £50 million by being more efficient.”
He added: “We believe sustainability is a key ingredient of business success and that Plan A will continue to make us more efficient, develop new markets and build customer loyalty. It’s therefore not just the right thing to do morally but also makes strong commercial sense.”


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First it was the brouhaha over the United States outsourcing its essential services to India. Apart from giving sleepless nights to millions of Americans concerned over losing their jobs to skilled Indians, the outsourcing saga had also established itself as an election plank for the 2004 US Presidential polls.
While US citizens garnered support amongst themselves by hosting websites like "stopjobsgoingtoIndia".com and expressing their solidarity, the whole world was waking up to the fact that India was where all the action was happening.
And now, as Asia's fourth largest economy and the world's eighth largest steel producer rides high on the success of its BPO boom, the British press has tried to strike a blow to India's burgeoning sunrise industry.
A business that is conducted entirely on trust across borders now finds itself under the scanner after a report in the British tabloid Sun alleged that a 24-year-old Indian call centre employee in Delhi had sold its "undercover reporter confidential information on bank accounts, credit card details and personal data of 1,000 British customers for $5,000.
Apart from fanning the fires lit by the outsourcing backlash, the report "Your Life for Sale" splashed in
The Sun does nothing other than goading the already-volatile British trade unions, who are seeking tighter control of information in India and protect their jobs.


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Recently, NASA identified a world known as KOI 326.01. The planet is a tad smaller than Earth, with an average temperature lower than water’s boiling point. Still, in some ways KOI 326.01 is somewhat analogous to Earth, at least in size.
Scientists have been able to 'project' people's consciousness into a computer avatar, in much the same way as happens in the movie.
The man whose 3D movie made more money than any movie in history will be the inaugural recipient of the International 3D Society's Harold Lloyd Award, honoring excellence in the art of 3D filmmaking.
Heralded director James Cameron thinks that within a few years, advertising that a movie is available in 3D won't be such a big deal anymore...because almost every single film in theaters will be presented in the new format.
Avatar is available on Blu-ray 3D today. It's perhaps the best showcase title to demonstrate the power of the new 3D medium. But...if you don't own or plan to own a Panasonic 3D TV, the only way to get a copy is to buy a $400 bundle that you can't use with your TV, or get one from a scalper on Ebay.
If you had a snazzy brand new 3D TV and an expensive Blu-ray 3D player, what's the number one movie you'd want to watch? Avatar? Unfortunately for you, it's pretty exclusive right now.
If you’ve been waiting and praying for the day when Japanese vocalist Hatsune Miku will sing in English, well my friends, that day has finally come.
A Scottish group of games researchers is launching a 'virtual camera' that mimics techniques pioneered in James Cameron’s Avatar. Based on a Nintendo Wii-like motion controller, it will cost under $200.
After multiple theatrical runs and two separate home video releases, Avatar still needs to be released on the Blu-ray 3D format. But after that, James Cameron will stop peddling the movie around.
So when you create the highest-grossing movie of all time, what do you do for your next project? For James Cameron, the answer is: use the exact same story.
3D movies such as Avatar may be all the rage, but enthusiasm for the relatively nascent medium has yet to significantly accelerate mainstream adoption of 3D-enabled television sets.
Quiz question: what is the only company that earns money on every single 3D movie ticket sale, almost irregardless of where the ticket is bought and what the film is? Answer: RealD, the company that brings 3D technology to every major theater in the US.
While there is still a battle for 3D acceptance in the home, the lack of a format war for home media could lead to a faster adoption rate and increased interest.
As if James Cameron's Avatar didn't make enough money in its original screening, a second theater run, and an initial home video release, a new "special edition" of the film is coming back to theaters.
Samsung wants to highlight the entertainment capabilities of its latest Android phone, and to do so it will have James Cameron's Avatar movie pre-installed, and access to free in-flight WiFi.
Looking for a porn fix with an alien twist? How about watching some steamy Na'vi action this September?
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking, and to line James Cameron's unendingly deep pockets with even more gold, Kate Winslet and Leonardo Dicaprio will be getting the royal 3D treatment.
Avatar producer James Cameron has issued a public plea for Hollywood to increase its production of 3D content for the two-dimensional masses.
Francis Ford Coppola - who directed such classic movies as Godfather and Apocalypse Now - has expressed his profound disappointment with modern 3D entertainment.
Avatar director James Cameron has persuaded NASA to let him help design a high-resolution 3D camera for the next Mars Rover.


text: bossanovalithium writes to tell us that details are emerging about the theft of a top secret prototype mobile device stolen from an executive's pocket. Time to start watching eBay. "There are fears that leaks regarding the features and early bugs in the software could mar the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 which the company hopes will give it the edge over the iPhone and the new Google Android operating system. The new product includes support for touch-screen technology similar to that found on the Apple iPhone. Among the features offered in the new service unveiled by Microsoft's chief executive, Steve Ballmer, on Tuesday, is a version of Windows Marketplace for Mobiles, which is set to compete with the popular Apple's App Store and provide easy ways to download music and products to mobiles. "


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Machinima says it has purchased ad time on The Talking Dead, the TV show that AMC runs after The Walking Dead, thus becoming the first YouTube network to buy an ad that will air on traditional television. The 60-second commercial is for Mortal Kombat: Legacy 2, a multi-part, live-action online series.
The new Machinima series is a follow-up to Mortal Kombat: Legacy, one of the most-viewed series on the Internet with 60 million views thus far.
Legacy 2, like its predecessor, is directed by Kevin Tancharoen. Actors include Harry Shum Jr. of Glee, Casper Van Dien of Starship Troopers, Brian Tee of The Wolverine, Mark Dacascos of Cradle 2 the Grave and Ian Anthony Dale of Hawaii Five-O. Cary Tagawa, who played Scorpion in the 1995 theatrical version of Mortal Kombat, plays the same role in Legacy 2.
Legacy 2 is produced by Warner Bros. Digital Distribution.
“We wanted to promote it in a way that would break through the fog of familiarity,” said Machinima executive vp of marketing Kevin Doohan. “Connecting to a television event like The Walking Dead season finale, a show that our fans are deeply passionate about, will introduce millions more viewers to Machinima.”
See the TV commercial above.
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The Toronto African Film and Music Festival (TAFMF) is proud to present a premier fashion show on Saturday October 20, 2012, where African inspired fashion houses including Emua Fashions, Ophelia’s Closet and Benie Boo will be on display.
TAFMF is dedicated to celebrating African culture and history. TAFMF showcases the works of filmmakers and musicians from over 50 countries, in Africa, with the emphasis on film and music produced within the African continent. This year the festival will include a dinner and fashion show to showcase the African cultural expression in fashion.
Event manager, Brenda Foreman says, “this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the diverse fashion traditions from Africa, we are especially excited to have Emua Fashions taking part in our fashion show”.
Toronto based fashion designer Cynthia Kio, the creative director for Emua Fashions has been successful at harnessing and intertwining African traditions and culture in her fashion designs. She has successfully designed and produced numerous collections which she has had the opportunity to showcase around the world.
Executive Director, Paris Roger says “we are thrilled to have the fashion show included in the festival this year”. The TAFMF will also be holding an opening night party and a film festival. For more information, please visit: http://torontoafricanfilmmusicfest.com/
The TAFMF Fashion Show takes place on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at the Centre of Innovation (720 Bathurst St., Toronto) at 6 p.m.


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Klarna will report the use of BNPL products and missed payments to UK credit reference agencies in an effort to help establish credit scores and prevent consumers from building up multiple lines of credit.
Image source: Alex Marsh/Klarna
Klarna’s 16 million UK customers will soon see their credit scores affected when using Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) products.
From June 1, 2022, Klarna will start reporting the use of BNPL products with Experian and Trans Union, two credit reference agencies.
This will allow users to both build their credit history when Klarna purchases are paid on time, as well as impact scores for late payments and unpaid purchases. It will apply to both Klarna Pay in 30 and Pay in 3 orders placed on or after June 1.
Purchases made before June 1 will not be reported; nor will payments for purchases made before June 1.
UK consumer credit ratings will not initially be affected as this requires further updates to the rating mechanisms used by rating agencies; however, this will likely happen later in 2022.
As a result, lenders will have greater visibility into the use of Klarna’s BNPL products by UK buyers, and help improve affordability ratings, the company said in a press release, while preventing consumers to set up several lines of credit.
The government has long aimed to buy now, pay later under FCA oversight, a move it announced in February 2022 following the Woolard review.
Klarna says it has worked closely with rating agencies in the UK over the past two years to help them update their systems to the point where they are now able to receive and process BNPL data in a fair and balanced manner. .
Previously, BNPL users would have been subject to a soft credit check, but only in some cases was the data released to rating agencies.
“It is alarming that UK consumers are still being forced to take out high-cost credit cards to demonstrate that they can use credit responsibly and build their credit profile,” said Alex Marsh, Director of Klarna UK,
“That will start to change on June 1 this year, as the vast majority of the 16 million UK consumers who make Klarna BNPL payments in full and on time will be able to demonstrate their responsible use of credit to other lenders.”
“We are delighted to help protect our UK customers and continue to build on our leadership in responsible lending, now credit reference agencies are able to accept our data. This was an area of key concern highlighted in the FCA’s Woolard review and we really took to heart Chris Woolard’s advice at the time to “don’t wait for regulations before making changes,” Marsh said.


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Most of us should be familiar with the benefits of CFLs -- that they can save $$$ in electricity costs (given their longer lifespan vs. incandescent bulbs) and they reduce the production of greenhouse gases. Tell you something you don't know, right?
Well, the knock on CFLs is how to dispose of them properly, given their mercury content. Critics apparently exaggerate the danger of mercury exposure -- the amount of mercury in each CFL bulb could fit on the tip of a pencil. But it's true that it's unwise to toss them away in the trash where they and their brethren eventually find their way to a landfill and contaminate ground water. IKEA stores apparently accept old CFL bulbs, and there's a helpful website out there that lists CFL recycling sites.
One wonders the feasibility in this country of mandating CFLs in commercial and residential use. It can be done, apparently: Australia is gradually phasing out incandescent bulbs country-wide. Nice. I'm afraid it will require a similar mandate in this country to compel people to switch to more expensive CFLs. I have doubts about my fellow citizens following proper disposal guidelines. (There's a similar problem with prescription medication disposal. See this NYT article for more info.) A better tack would be to reduce/remove mercury content from CFLs altogether, which appears to be the direction we're heading, according to Slate.
I will also use this opportunity to shamelessly self-promote my fellow LBJ Sustainability Working Group members' plans to help orchestrate (with other student groups) a CFL bulb exchange some time this semester. We are in the process of soliciting CFL bulb donations from companies like Lowe's and WalMart --please let me know if you have any contacts at these or other companies that might be interested in co-sponsoring the event.


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U.S. Retail Sales Jump More Than Expected In May
(RTTNews.com) - Reflecting strong sales growth throughout much of the sector, the Commerce Department released a report on Thursday showing a much bigger than expected increase in U.S. retail sales in the month of May.
The Commerce Department said retail sales jumped by 0.8 percent in May after climbing by an upwardly revised 0.4 percent in April.
Economists had expected retail sales to rise by 0.4 percent compared to the 0.3 percent increase originally reported for the previous month.
Excluding sales by motor vehicle and parts dealers, retail sales still surged up by 0.9 percent in May following a 0.4 percent increase in April. Ex-auto sales had been expected to climb by 0.5 percent.
Read the original article on RTTNews (http://www.rttnews.com/2905113/u-s-retail-sales-jump-more-than-expected-in-may.aspx)
For comments and feedback: contact email@example.com
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of NASDAQ, Inc.


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An Irish EdTech company based in Dublin with an office in India announces the launch of a new Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) application in Microsoft Teams as part of a joint initiative with Microsoft.
Launched from the Microsoft Teams app, the Olive app is an intuitive software platform that delivers a wide range of interactive digital content, enabling a more user-centric learning experience for up to 250 million people. daily active users of Microsoft Teams around the world. The application has a market potential of 5 million euros for Olive Group.
Professor Kevin Marshall, Head of Education at Microsoft, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Olive Group, a company at the forefront of EdTech. The team has a clear idea of what digital natives are looking for from a learning and engagement perspective. Meeting changing user demands requires a holistic view, and Olive Group has a proven track record of delivering easy-to-deploy, customizable, and user-friendly e-learning solutions. Olive’s app provides high-quality, learner-centric and outcome-oriented digital content, while facilitating more dynamic student-tutor engagement and more effective digital assessments.
Supported by Enterprise Ireland, the Olive app was designed and developed by Olive Group’s growing team of eLearning experts in conjunction with Microsoft. The app solves the problem of online education that has been stagnant for many years – that engagement has been limited by disconnected legacy systems with a poor experience. What makes the Olive app different is that it is a purpose-built, easy to deploy and customizable learning experience with access to premium interactive digital content.
The integration of the Olive Group app into Microsoft Teams takes the level of interactivity and engagement during online Teams sessions to the next level, providing seamless student-tutor interaction, with easy-to-use interactive tools. Live virtual classrooms are complemented by breakout rooms for group work and discussions, creating an exceptional and immersive environment for learners. The app helps demonstrate the impact of learning through robust assessments, delivered securely and efficiently, ensuring the learning cycle is complete.
Within the app, Olive Group has created a unique feature that is a game-changer in creating content for the e-learning and marketing industries. While the AI Content Creation Automation Tool – available as an add-on feature – is an intuitive AI-based content creation tool that creates video-based courses and videos in a fast way. and efficient using the power of AI technology.
The new partnership with Microsoft gives Olive the opportunity to expand its reach into higher education and enterprise where Microsoft has advanced penetration in deploying Microsoft 365 and Teams applications.
Olive Group is a Microsoft ISV (Independent Software Vendors) Accredited Partner.


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Procter & Gamble has sold its last remaining food brand – Pringles – freeing up the household products company to focus on its cosmetics and healthcare units.
The buyer is Diamond Foods which is paying the equivalent of just over one billion euros in stock.
Pringles are sold in 140 countries and the purchase will more than triple the size of Diamond’s snack foods business.
This will give Diamond, which is based in San Francisco, a wider access to international markets and also more than double its sales in the United States and the UK.
Its shares rose by the most in two years.


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As recent months have shown, the need for successful remote collaboration is an issue that many companies face throughout the world. Luckily, there are simple ways to streamline internal communication, project collaboration, and information sharing thanks to a new simpleshow app within Microsoft Teams.
The online fax industry shows significant growth, despite the advent of many other technologies. This is because online digital faxing is a far more efficient, inexpensive, secure way of sending important documents than its analog counterpart.
Although many software products are advertised as being PDF editors, not all of them are equal. For instance, some of them will only allow you to overwrite text rather than edit or delete it. In many such cases, they are merely PDF readers with some added functionality like annotations, file format conversion, etc. If you’re […]
Ransomware refers to a type of malicious software that shields victims from accessing their databases, pictures, documents, and other files. It encrypts these accessories and demands a ransom to decrypt them back. The payment has a deadline after which, if not met, the demand increases, or the ransomware encrypts the accessories forever.
You may not realize it, but the truth is that your office design and setup can have a major impact on your business performance. Whether you are expanding your business after lockdown restrictions have been eased or you are just starting out, here are four handy tips you can use when choosing an office for […]
As 2020 rolls into its final stages, the entire world is in a state of exhaustion. COVID-19, racial injustice, and a hugely contentious presidential election have all dominated the 24/7 news cycle. We have all been debating things that none of us really know anything about, and it is difficult to get through a day […]


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Hold on to your helmets Star Wars fans, you’re in for a bit of interesting hear-say! According to some early reports, on Monday, October 19th you’ll be able to watch the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer and pre-order your tickets for December 18th. If true, this trailer will be the first glimpse of new film footage since a 15 second Instagram video in August. What’s more, it’s also rumored to be the last trailer, debuting online on October 19th before hitting theaters November 6th with Spectre. (more…)
Fandango has begun quietly selling tickets for the midnight release of The Dark Knight Rises: The IMAX Experience. All very hush, hush. Christopher Nolan‘s finale to the Batman trilogy won’t release until July 20th of this year making these tickets available over 27 weeks in advance! At least you don’t need to be lined up ’round the building just to snag one. Again, y’know, only if you live in one of those three cities. Sorry about that early, I’m just as put out as the rest of you. I don’t live in a city currently selling tickets and it sucks. Maybe that’s why I played such a mean joke?
The Film Stage is reporting the tickets have been on sale in theatre since the prologue premiered in front of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. Here are two ticket purchased back in December,
They’re also reporting they’ve been sold out for weeks.
These tickets seem legit. ‘Course, how many times has someone spoken those words before everything’s revealed to be a giant hoax. Then again, why would Fandango not have pulled their online ticketing? Someone living in one the aforementioned cities buy a ticket and let us know what happens, kay?


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Sony Interactive Entertainment have released a new promotional video for the Playstation 5.
Playstation 5 releases this holiday season. You can view the new video down below:
Hi, what are you looking for?
Keen Software House have released update 1.181 for their popular space game Space Engineers. This new update fixes major multithreading issues and performance optimizations....


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Self driving Ubers return to Pittsburgh streets, but they won't drive themselves
4 monthes ago - By Flux Magazine
Self driving Ubers return to Pittsburgh streets, but they won't drive themselves - words Al Woods
Autonomous or self driving cars have been promoted for years as a safe and convenient alternative to manually driven car.
Tech companies like Uber, Tesla and Google have joined traditional motor manufacturers to usher in the revolution. Google autonomous vehicles have driven for 1.8 million miles and have only been involved in 13 minor incidents, none of which were the car's fault.
However, you may not have seen these vehicles for yourself. This is because Uber removed all its self-driving...
Read more ...
The headlines of TopFash
Exclusive 10 Day Giveaway to Sleigh Christmas with Christian Cowan x Facetune2
Exclusive 10 Day Giveaway to Sleigh Christmas with Christian Cowan x Facetune2 Represented By The Riviere Agency. Famed British born, New York based fashion designer Christian...
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Makeup Your Soul
Sterling K. Brown
Uh Oh! Fans Show Concern Over Kim Zolciak's Noticeably Larger Looking Lips
Sorry, Kim Zolciak. Fans are always quick to notice everything. The Real Housewives of Atlanta star recently posted a selfie on Instagram, which gained lots of attention...
My Look: Red Leopard
Animal prints were trending on the F/W 2018 catwalks and so it is time to take a walk on the wild side. But this season, it means vibrant colours, preferably red, and...
Twitter Is Outraged After Forever 21 Uses White Model To Promote Official...
On today's edition of tone-deaf clothing retailers, we bring you: Forever 21 using a white male to model a Black Panther “Wakanda Forever” sweater. ICYMI , Black Panther is the...
Singer-songwriter Anca Pop dies in Danube River car crash
BUCHAREST, Romania - Anca Pop, a Romanian-Canadian singer-songwriter, has died after her car plunged into the Danube River. She was 34. Emergency authorities identified her...
Chloe x Halle


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Honda’s new compact SUV based on the Brio platform, the BR-V is being considered for the Indian market launch in the near future.
Honda officials have confirmed about their study on the compact SUV space in India and they believe it is a growing market. This hints us about the launch of the Brio based SUV in the country and we expect the Japanese automaker to reveal the car at the upcoming 2016 Auto Expo. Honda recently released the official sketches of the BR-V compact SUV for the Indonesian market and it is the same car which should be heading to our shores soon.
The current annual market scenario for the compact SUV segment in India is expected to be around 8,000-10,000 units per month and Honda seems to be targeting a big chunk of the pie with the BR-V. The Japanese automaker is investing Rs. 380 crores to ramp up their production capacity at the Rajasthan plant to meet the increasing demand and exports. The company is also mulling their third plant in Gujarat but the timeline is uncertain yet.
The Honda BR-V will compete with the Ford EcoSport, Renault Duster, Hyundai Creta and the likes but unlike rivals, it is expected to be a 7-seater. The BR-V won’t be a sub-4 metre vehicle and will be offered with both diesel and petrol engine options in India. We have seen Honda importing prototype units and engines for the BR-V (codenamed 2SJ). It is likely to get a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol motor with the option of a CVT automatic transmission.
It is a given that the new compact SUV from Honda will get the same 1.5-litre i-DTEC motor that produces 100 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque, it comes with the same specifications across the range of their diesel lineup. Honda won’t launch any new cars this year but in 2016 they will come up with the new generation Accord to revive its premium image.


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Pokkén Tournament receives explosive JAEPO 2015 trailer
Bandai Namco Games continued their location tests for Pokkén Tournament at last weekend’s Japanese Amusement Expo (JAEPO2015), and have followed up the event by releasing an explosive new trailer.
This shows of the currently revealed character roster, comprising of Lucario, Machamp, Gardevoir, Suicune and Pikachu, each having their own strengths whether that be long-ranged attacks or speed.
Siliconera shares that battles are broken down into a Field Phase and Duel Phase, where players look to build their meter to enter a Resonance Burst mode that lets you unleash more devastating attacks.
While the game will serve up different modes, such as Tutorial, Single and Local Versus, even though it’s an arcade game an online multiplayer mode lets players take on others in arcades across Japan.
Pokkén Tournament will release in arcades across Japan this summer.


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Piaggio has confirmed that they will not manufacture or sell a fibre-bodied Vespa LX 125. Earlier there had been reports suggesting that the Italian two-wheeler manufacturer will be launching a fibre-bodied Vespa LX 125 for the Indian market, in an attempt to slash the price of the LX 125. The company had previously slashed the price of the Vespa from Rs 66,000 to Rs 59,960 in early January.
Piaggio had launched this scooter in the Indian market last year at Rs 66,000 which made it the most expensive 125cc scooter. This retro looking two-wheeler was marketed as a lifestyle scooter in India. The LX 125 is powered by 125cc air cooled engine which develops 9.92bhp of power at 7500rpm and 10.6Nm of torque at 6000rpm. The scooter is offered with six colour options which make it look young and refreshing.


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All Birds’ popular wool runners which will be available in their new Auckland store. Image supplied.
Allbirds are coming home, with the sustainable footwear brand opening their first New Zealand store in Britomart, Auckland on Thursday 15th August. Ex-pat Tim Brown co-founded Allbirds in 2014 after seeing an opportunity to raise the profile of his homeland’s hero resource, Merino Wool. While merino is known for its incredible natural properties it had never been used for footwear before. Tim organised a research grant from the NZ government to develop a durable Merino Wool textile built for footwear and after promising testing, Allbirds was created.
Tim teamed up with San Francisco renewables expert, Joey Zwillinger, and fellow Kiwi Jamie McLellan to put the first Allbirds Wool Runners into production and the rest is history. Now known as ‘the world’s most comfortable footwear’ Allbirds has gained a global loyal following for its sustainable materials, clever design and incredible comfort. Allbirds have also added Tree Runners made from tree fibre and shoes made from an open-sourced SweetFoam™, a revolutionary sugarcane-based shoe sole. Most recently the brand introduced Tree Breezers which are a light and comfy ballet flat style shoe.
While they have been available to NZ via their online store, this is the first time Allbirds will be available at a retail store with the new store comprising nearly 150 square metres of space. It will offer the entire Allbirds range including the brand’s signature Merino Wool Runners, along with limited-edition Auckland inspired laces: Waiheke Island Teal, Light Path Magenta, and West Coast Black Sand. The store was designed in collaboration with Allbirds’s Head of Design, Jamie McLellan, who has crafted custom furniture to reflect the airy space and highlight basalt floors in a nod to the Auckland area.
Shoppers are invited to enjoy the Allbirds coffee cart in Takutai Square, Britomart offering free coffee to the public who bring their own keep-cup, during store hours from Thursday 15th – Sunday 18th August. Welcome home Allbirds.


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Magnolia sales top $30M
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Second-quarter sales topped $30 million at Seattle-based Magnolia Audio Video, which changed its name last week from Magnolia Hi-Fi. Parent company Best Buy Inc. said that figure represents a 10 percent rise in sales from the same period a year ago.
The opening of new stores -- one in the quarter and four total in the past year -- helped grow sales, as same-store sales declined 5.9 percent in the period ended Aug. 30.
Magnolia had 20 stores at quarter's end.
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ASHWAUBENON - The Ashwaubenon-based trucking company Schneider National celebrated a milestone Tuesday. The delivery of its 25,000th truck from its most recent industry partner.
Schneider doesn't have 25,000 Freightliner trucks in its fleet. But the truck is the 25,000th the Oregon-based truck maker has delivered to Schneider since the two partnered in 1998.
Schneider's bought at least 500 of them each year. And as soon as the keys were handed over to Schneider, the company handed them over to Michael Darras.
Darras has been driving for Schneider since 1990 and has logged more than 3 million miles.
“This is going to be fabulous. A dream come true to have something like that to drive,” said Darras, of Van Wert, Ohio.
Of Schneider's roughly 9,500 truck fleet, only 100 are just like this one.
In Darras' brand new truck, there's one thing that's missing. Something that's been an industry standard for years. A manual transmission.
“Historically, trucking's all been manual transmissions,” said Rob Reich with Schneider National.
Reich is head of maintenance and driver recruitment. He says between technological advances in truck technology - from trucks that get better gas mileage, to ones that are easier to operate - there is room for industry growth.
"We think it's more driver friendly. It's an easier truck to learn how to drive. So, as we introduce people into the industry, we think it'll really smooth out the process,” said Reich.
Making it easier for newer drivers to log millions of miles - and potentially millions more than the 3 million-plus Darras already has.
Schneider says of its roughly 11,000 drivers, more than 1,200 have logged more than a million miles on the road.
An armed robbery suspect sustained life-threatening injuries after being shot in Fond du Lac County.
First responders helped ring in the holidays at the 45th annual Howard-Suamico Christmas Parade.
Christmas is just two and half weeks away, and kids and families are getting into the holiday spirit.
Single digit temps around the area caused problems in the Fox Valley Saturday morning.
The frigid temperatures forced some area communities to cancel their weekend Christmas celebrations. But New London braved the cold for its annual Holiday of Wonder Parade.
Maybe it's the weather. Maybe it's all of the injuries, but many Packers fans are saying "no thanks," to this weekend's Packers game.


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We’ve been hearing about Fitbit’s first ‘true’ smartwatch for quite some time, but it seems we will have to wait a while longer to get our hands on this new wearable. According to a new report from Yahoo Finance, Fitbit’s smartwatch will not launch until the fall because of certain production issues.
The fitness tracker company’s smartwatch project has been a troubled one. Production problems have forced Fitbit to push an original spring launch to this fall, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Citing sources aware of the development, the report mentions that the company is faced with several technical difficulties including the GPS antenna not working in the final prototype and not being able to entirely waterproof the device. In an attempt to develop a completely feature-packed device, Fitbit seems to have crammed components and the GPS didn’t exactly work as expected — or the antenna didn’t work at all. The source said,
In one of the more final prototypes, the GPS wasn’t working because the antennae wasn’t in the right place. They had to go back to the drawing board to redesign the product so the GPS got a strong signal.
Also, the company’s design teams are said to be having issues with making the smartwatch fully waterproof. They are working along the lines of Apple Watch 2, which is water resistant and was released about a year ago. It is currently unknown whether Fitbit will be able to solve their waterproofing difficulties in time for the launch, which has been pushed to fall. Commenting on the waterproofing issues, one of the sources adds,
Regardless of whether Fitbit manages to make it waterproof, I think they have to release the watch later this year. It’s literally sink or swim time for them.
But, the features of Fitbit’s new smartwatch are expected to be at par with major expensive watches currently available on the market. It will feature a color display with 1,000 nits of brightness — which will be twice as bright as Apple Watch Series 2, a built-in GPS chip, heart-rate monitoring, the capability to complete contact-less payments, store and play Pandora songs without a phone, and around four days of battery life. All this will be included in an aluminium unibody design with swappable wristbands, which we will talk about in just a second.
Further, the sources seem to be quite unimpressed with the design and the aesthetics of the watch in general. They state that several employees have complained about the design, which resembles their already existing smartwatch offering — the Blaze. That design was totally bland and unappealing, which Yahoo Finance confirms after taking a peek at a presentation deck shown to Fitbit’s retail partners Best Buy and Target behind closed doors. It will come in two shades — Blue and Gray, starting at $300. One source added,
It was very retro-looking with the lines and stuff — definitely not sexy.
Though Fitbit itself hasn’t confirmed that it is developing a new smartwatch, after its massive failure that was Blaze, there is no doubt that the company is developing one. The widely popular fitness band maker had been going around the market picking up smaller but significantly known smartwatch makers to add their technology and design teams to its arsenal. Commenting on the smartwatch in a statement, a Fitbit spokesperson said:
We know there is a lot of interest in our entry into the smartwatch category. We don’t have news to share at this time and do not comment on rumors or speculation.
According to a recent IDC report, the basic wearable market accounted for around 85 percent of the market and were the top-selling category in the Q3 2016. This category, the IDC report says, experienced a double-digit growth driven by the expanding user base and regular release of newer models.
In terms of shipments, Fitbit remained the overall wearable leader (along with its category) with a market share of 23 percent, which is closely followed by Chinese upstart Xiaomi’s 16.5 percent. But, the wearables giant is now planning to make its mark on the flailing smartwatch market. However, it seems to be a rather slow and lukewarm start to champion the market currently dominated by Apple Watch and other Android Wear-powered smartwatches.


text: Everclear Grain Alcohol unveiled a new, sophisticated packaging, illustrating the product’s versatility for consumers, it says. The new look will flow into markets nationwide later this year. “We are excited to introduce Everclear’s new look nationwide,” said Katie Schuette, brand manager, in a statement. “Through this packaging, our goal is to encompass the simple, high-quality and versatile nature of the product. The brand’s new look is clean and modern — while still maintaining the iconic logo — and more in tune with the way consumers and mixologists use the product in the current craft cocktail culture.” The new look was created by designer David Cole. He applied a bold and clean design, making the label easier to read in a retail environment and drawing attention to the brand name and key features of the product, it says. “Overall, the aesthetic is modern, yet timeless, with some minor apothecary influences to suggest the purity of the product,” Cole said. “We definitely wanted to maintain the iconic diamond logo that many have come to recognize.” The modernized packaging lends itself to the Make It Your Own by Everclear online hub, promoting responsible consumption and creative brand usage, the company says.


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News tagged ‘3G’
Several images showing what appears to be a retail packaging for the rumored iPhone 6SE have been recently spotted on the Internet. Even though the images may be fake, they go in line with the rumor that surfaced online back in July. According to this rumor, the next-generation iPhone will be called the iPhone 6SE, not the iPhone 7 as many expect.
I recommend to take the photos with a few pinches of salt as there are some inconsistencies.
According to the latest report from Bloomberg, Apple is planning to unveil the next-generation iPhone at a media event on September 7th. The sources add that it is very unlikely that Apple will introduce the updated MacBook Pro at the same event.
According to the latest report from Nikkei, Apple has decided not to release a larger single lens iPhone 7 months before the release of the handset. The reporters claim that due to the pressure from competitors and poor sales over the last couple of quarters, Apple will release only one 5.5-inch model instead of two planned earlier, and that this model will feature the rumored dual camera. The information comes from an anonymous insider, so I don’t know if it can be called legitimate.
It is Sunday today, which means it is high time I told you about the most interesting posts of the last couple of days. Let’s start right now.
If you still have some doubts or questions about the design of the next-generation iPhone, you should definitely check out the short video below. Shared by a YouTuber nicknamed Bshop Kuwa, it reveals the look of three iPhone 7 models, namely, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPhone 7 Pro.
First video showing a working iPhone 7 prototype has been recently shared on the Chinese social network Weibo. As can be seen below, the phone is a gold model with a working rear camera and a number of diagnostic applications used to test the functionality of the upcoming handset. The device from the video has a redesigned back panel with larger protruding camera and redesigned antenna bands. Moreover, there is no headphone jack. Finally, one can spot two stereo speakers for better audio playback.
A new report has recently appeared on the Internet that corroborates previous rumors about the amount of RAM the next-generation iPhone may get. According to this report, Apple is planning to add 3GB of RAM to the iPhone 7. Currently, it’s unclear whether both 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch model will get an increase in RAM capacity or only the larger one. The report comes from a DigiTimes reporters who cite supply chain sources.
A photo showing the black mute button allegedly from the next-generation iPhone has recently appeared on the Internet. If genuine, the leaked part proves rumors about a new Space Black iPhone color option that surfaced on the Internet earlier this summer.
According to the latest report from a Japanese website Macotakara, the next-generation iPhone called either the iPhone 7 or the iPhone 6SE will get a brand new flush Home button with integrated Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Today’s report goes in line with previous rumors suggesting that Apple may be planning to get rid of the physical button to improve the reliability of the iPhone.
According to the latest report from Deutsche Bank researchers, alongside the iPhone 7 Apple will ship a Lightning to 3.5mm jack adapter to make older EarPods compatible with the new smartphone. What this means is that the company will not release a brand new pair of headphones for the next-generation iPhone.
Following a short video showing the assembled iPhone 7 that appeared on the Chinese social network Weibo and on YouTube a couple of days ago, new clip has been uploaded to the Net earlier today. As you can see below, this is something like a longer version of the previous video.
Less than a day after seeding new pre-release versions of iOS 10 and macOS Sierra to developers, Apple has released the fifth beta of iOS 9.3.3 and OS X 10.11.6 El Capitan to developers and members of the public testing program.
Apple has seeded the fourth beta of iOS 9.3.3, OS X 10.11.6 El Capitan and tvOS 9.2.2 to developers and public testers. The company encourages the developers to test the pre-release software as well as their applications on newer builds, which may mean that the debut of final versions is just around the corner.
Apple has released the third beta of iOS 9.3.3 and OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 to registered developers and public testers. Both pre-release versions include bug fixes, security and stability improvements and lack new features. iOS 9.3.3 Beta 3 has a build number 13G29 and OS X 10.11.6 Beta 3 features an index 15G19a.
Apple Seeds New iOS 9.3.3, OS X El Capitan 10.11.6, watchOS 2.2.2 and tvOS 9.2.2 Betas to Developers
Apple has released new betas of iOS 9.3.3, OS X El Capitan 10.11.6, watchOS 2.2.2 and tvOS 9.2.2 to developers for testing. The software is currently available only for those who have a registered developer account, however, the company is expected to launch a public beta testing program soon.


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For vloggers and creatives
Focusing instead on mirrorless
Make your holiday 2020 worthwhile!
Named the Z7 and Z6
Will sell for US$ 999
Bought by Japan Industrial Partners
They have already apologized for the blunder
Straight from Cappadocia, Turkey
Carefully curated for your camera needs
Reports say yes!
Still king of full-frame mirrorless cameras
Huawei hypes up their launch
The latest contender in the full-frame mirrorless camera race
Canon's answer to Sony and Nikon's best
More substance over style
A photo opp that comes only once in a blue moon
Lazada Philippines started their 11.11 Online Revolution with a massive flash sale yesterday, and it’s happening again!
Lazada Philippines is kicking off its 11.11 Online Revolution with a massive flash sale that’s happening every hour starting on November 9.
Photokina happens only once every two years, so you can imagine how big it is for camera brands who want to show off their latest products....


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Last year was wretched for NYSE: SKLZ. Shares of the mobile gaming competition system soared to $46 in February yet have declined by more than 90% since then. However, it was an outstanding year for the underlying organization, with substantial year-over-year (YOY) revenue development. Moreover, SKLZ stock has several development catalysts this year, which might effectively guide it out of its existing rut.
The Skillz system produces an affordable and interesting pc gaming experience. It facilitates the creation of competitions on its system as well as serves as a bridge in between gamers as well as programmers. Additionally, its engaging company version focuses on monetization via competition. The platform can bring in considerably extra paying users via this version than programmers making use of conventional money making choices.
That said, marketing as well as platform expansion prices continue to increase strongly. Still, it appears that Skillz is taking actions to suppress expenses and carve out a path to success.
SKLZ Stock: Plenty to Watch for This Year
This year promises to be a hit one for Skillz and SKLZ stock. It has a few catalysts in motion which could be game-changers.
As an example, back in February 2021, SKLZ stock delighted in an unbelievable run-up after revealing its NFL partnership. Currently, the NFL will be introducing NFL-themed mobile video games on the Skillz system. A programmer challenge will certainly be held to choose the most effective or several ideal of these ready the system. With the NFL being just one of the most prominent sporting activities organizations worldwide, Skillz should see a sizeable uptick in individuals.
In addition, Skillz introduced in India a number of weeks ago. This marks the first major development effort into brand-new region for the business. CEO Andrew Heaven has discussed the opportunity given that Skillz became a provided entity. Since November of last year, approximately 300 million mobile players remained in the nation, valued at a monstrous $1.8 billion. The Indian mobile pc gaming market is expected to expand by double-digits to over $6 billion by 2025. Additionally, though the buying power in India is significantly less than in the States, a massive rise in active individuals can help the firm’s cost per set up considerably.
Bringing Costs Down
Procurement costs are still a big issue for Skillz as it wants to profit in the not-so-distant future. Nevertheless, it shows up that management is running a two-fold method that might substantially reduce costs.
First of all, the firm acquired artificial intelligence (AI) ad-tech platform Aarki this past June. The system will certainly make it possible for Skillz to properly predict user investing and also conversion prices moving on. This will certainly permit the firm to utilize information from the system to raise user interaction.
Furthermore, Skillz is looking to purchase new material and also team up with various other video gaming companies to boost organic website traffic on its system. In 2014, it invested $50 million in Exit Gamings to increase right into numerous multiplayer genres. Therefore, it lately announced the launch of a video game called Big Dollar Seeker: Marksman, which aided dramatically improve energetic individuals.
TOP 5 TECH STOCKS FOR 2022
All-time Low Line on SKLZ Stock
All told, SKLZ stock had a forgettable run in 2014 at the market. Despite the excellent topline growth, investors are trepidatious regarding the systems’ climbing acquisition costs.
However, Skillz is wanting to bring down these prices with an effective two-fold approach. That, plus strong development vehicle drivers this year, must help the stock and also its underlying service zoom past expectations.
Will Skillz Recover in 2022?
Skillz (NYSE: SKLZ) stock collapsed in 2021 as a result of weakening running performance. Capitalists thinking about Skillz stock are now asking if it will certainly recoup in 2022.
Reducing individual development
Skillz is a mobile-gaming platform where users can wager on the video games they play. The mass of Skillz’s struggles in 2021 can be seen through its regular monthly energetic individual fads. In the nine months finished Sept. 30, 2020, Skillz boosted month-to-month typical users (MAU) to 2.6 million, up from the 1.5 million it had throughout the very same time period in 2019.
Fast forward to 2021, as well as in the nine months finished Sept. 30, Skillz had 2.7 million MAU, an increase of only 100,000 from 2020. That’s despite management’s valiant efforts to boost user growth. In these nine months, the company spent $310 million for sale and also advertising while it made revenue of $275 million.
In a similar way, in the 9 months finished Sept. 30 in 2020, Skillz spent $172 million on sales and also advertising and marketing on earnings of $162 million. So Skillz spent even more for sale and advertising than it made in revenue in both years. However, the substantial distinction remains in the outcomes. In the nine months of 2020, Skillz obtained 1.1 million new individuals. During the exact same time in 2021, it gained just 100,000.
So, obviously, the hostile costs for sale and also marketing is resulting in losses under line.
Will 2022 be any type of different?
Sadly, 2022 is unlikely to be considerably various for Skillz. The exact same financial resuming trends will likely persist regardless of rising COVID-19 instances triggered by the omicron variant. Nearly 9 billion dosages of injections against COVID-19 have actually been provided, and also people have little cravings for even more financial lockdowns.
To turn points around, Skillz might need better technology– new video games that draw in users with word of mouth on social networks channels or new abilities that make existing games a lot more engaging. What’s emerging is that spending strongly for sale as well as advertising and marketing to bring in brand-new players is not working.
The good news for investors is that it appears administration is shifting equipments. In its Q3 finished Sept. 30, the business released a new video game, Big Buck Hunter: Marksman, which helped improve MAU by 25% sequentially. What’s more, Skillz revealed a $50 million financial investment in Leave Games, a pc gaming developer based in Germany, which will greatly accelerate its capacity to develop new, multiplayer video games in various styles.
Whether these investments will supply enduring renovation in individual development as well as running efficiency continues to be to be seen. Nonetheless, the modification in focus might enhance Skillz’s stock rate performance in 2022. The stock collapsed by 63% in 2021 and is trading at a price-to-sales proportion of 7.9, the lowest in the firm’s brief history as a public firm. A shift in emphasis by monitoring that starts revealing outcomes could be sufficient to improve financier sentiment on Skillz stock.


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Eton Import, an independent car importer in Thailand, has introduced the all-new 2020 Toyota Harrier to the land of smiles. Both petrol and hybrid engines are offered while Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 comes as standard.
According to our Thai sister website Autofun, this is the first time that a car importer has officially announced the sale of the Toyota Harrier in the country.
Toyota Thailand has never officially sold the SUV in Thailand believing that, with price ranging from 2-2.5 million bahts, the Harrier would eat into the luxury car market that the Lexus UX and Lexus NX sits in.
To recap, the all-new 2020 Toyota Harrier is built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform. It measures 4,740 x 1,855 x 1,660 mm in length, width, and height while the wheelbase spans 2,690 mm.
Two engines are available internationally, a 2.0-litre M20A-FKS naturally aspirated engine (171 PS and 207 Nm) and a 2.5-litre A25A-FXS hybrid petrol engine (178 PS and 221 Nm). Both engines are mated to a Direct Shift CVT.
The Harrier only recently went on sale in Japan, Toyota Motors reports that the new SUV has already accumulated 45,000 orders, that is 15 times more than their monthly projection of 3,100 units.


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Will Leave Director of Tourism Post at End of May
John Lynch is stepping down as Jamaica’s director of tourism at the end of May, following five and a half years in the post.
Word of Lynch’s departure was reported by the Jamaica Gleaner in its April 28 edition. The paper also carried an advertisement in its Careers section that invited... more ›
Frank DeMarinis, CEO of TravelBrands Inc., has announced the appointment of Firdosh Bulsara to the role of vice-president, Commercial, for ALBATours.
In this new role, Bulsara will take over the management of ALBATours from Gianni Bragagnolo, who has managed and grown the brand for the last... more ›
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is offering travellers the opportunity to take advantage of limited time savings on one of its seven-day inter-island cruises in Hawaii on board the newly refurbished Pride of America.
Guests who book a new Hawaii cruise reservation, from April 28 through May 2,... more ›
From May 1-15, Indulge in Whistler puts spring on the menu, inviting guests to enjoy Whistler’s golf, spa and dining options with valuable savings.
The Indulge in Whistler golf, spa and stay package starts at $139 p.p., per night and includes two night’s accommodation in a moderate room,... more ›
Don't Miss The Special Tianguis Report In This Week's CTP
Winter's end doesn't mean Mexico isn't on the minds of Canadians who will be on the move in the next few months, reports Ian Stalker in this week's edition of Canadian Travel Press.
Rodrigo Esponda, who oversees the Mexico Tourism Board in Canada, confidently states many from this country... more ›
The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) is defending the Temporary Foreign Worker Program stating that immediate action is needed to improve rather than eliminate the program.
Canada’s hotel industry, which currently employs more than 290,000 people, is facing a nation-wide labour shortage... more ›
For the past 44 years, Goway has been sending travellers to some of the world’s most interesting and exotic destinations. Always looking to expand its horizons, Goway now offers Iceland, an increasingly popular choice for a holiday, or as a stopover, en route to Europe with... more ›
CWT Meetings & Events, the global meetings and events division of Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT), has announced its entry into China’s rapidly growing meetings and events (M&E) market.
CWT Meetings & Events in China has been granted a tour operating license by the China National... more ›
The fall 2014 sailing of ALBATours’ popular transatlantic crossing cruise is now available in the system and features savings of up to $900 per couple when booked by May 16.
The 26-day/24-night cruise holiday, which this year takes place aboard the Costa Mediterranea, starts from $2,799... more ›
Demonstrating a continuing commitment to developing the Japan cruise market, Carnival Corporation has announced the 2015 Japan cruise program for Princess Cruises which features Diamond Princess returning for the line’s third season, and introduces new cruises as short as three nights to... more ›


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The 2016 Toyota Prius makes its debut at the ongoing Tokyo Motor Show. New Prius will go sale by 2015-end, however, initially it will be made available only in the Japanese markets. This is the fourth generation model of the Prius hybrid vehicle.
The new Toyota Prius looks sharper and aggressive than its predecessor. The hybrid vehicle gets more angular styling that provides the Prius an illusion of it being on motion, even while standing still.
Engineers have provided the 2016 Prius with Blind Spot Monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross traffic alert. Toyota will also be offering Toyota Safety Sense as an active safety package, it offers a monocular camera with millimeter-wave radar that detects pedestrians and vehicles.
The 2016 Toyota Hybrid is smaller and lighter compared to its predecessor. Engineers have focussed on making the hybrid components more compact. This has helped them in improving thermal efficiency by 40 percent and also improved the fuel economy by almost 18 percent.
Vehicle stability has improved on the 2016 Toyota Prius owing to the centre of gravity being lowered. The powertrain is strategically placed to improve stability. The 2016 Toyota Prius roof is lowered by 20m.
Toyota is currently offering several of its models in India with an optional hybrid powertrain. They offer Camry hybrid and the Prius hybrid as well. The Toyota Prius is currently priced between Rs, 38.10 to Rs. 39.80 ex-showroom (Delhi). India too could get the fourth-generation Toyota Prius by 2016-end.


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Breathe easy: Simply switching inhalers could prevent more than half of the 2.1 million asthma-related E.R. trips per year, according to U.K. research released today.
What gives? The bulk of asthma-related E.R. visits result from people losing track of how much medication they have left—or taking breaths from inhalers that are actually empty, researchers say.
But a rescue inhaler—featuring a dose counter that shows how much medicine is left—can cut hospital admissions. The gadgets are widely available, but if your insurance doesn’t cover them, companies like PuffMinder ($40, puffminder.com) offer an attachment that will help you keep track.
Here are three other simple tips or innovations that could save your life:
The right kind of smoke detector. Unlike ionization detectors—the most-common type in the U.S., and great at sensing flames—photoelectric detectors are quicker to recognize the smoldering, toxic smoke released by slow burns from frayed electrical cords or forgotten cigarettes. That’s according to experiments from Texas A&M professor B. Don Russell, Ph.D., who recommends ponying up a few extra bucks to buy a dual detector equipped with both technologies. First Alert offers a popular option ($23, homedepot.com).
Car technology. Like airbags and electronic stability control, forward collision assistance—auto-braking—is one of those innovations that works so well it’ll probably be in every car a decade from now. Your risk of ending up in an accident falls 20 percent if your ride has this technology, according to research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. If you can afford it, most luxury car brands currently offer these systems.
Coffee. Swallowing some joe could counteract some of the airway-closing effects of a severe reaction to allergens like nuts, shows research from Korea. By blocking the release of throat-tightening histamine, coffee’s compounds cut the rate of death among allergy-ridden rodents by half, the research shows. It’s not yet proven to be effective in humans, so never count on it over emergency help—but if you ever find yourself waiting for paramedics or without an epinephrine shot, it's worth a try.
Markham Heid is an experienced health reporter and writer, has contributed to outlets like TIME, Men’s Health, and Everyday Health, and has received reporting awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Maryland, Delaware, and D.C. Press Association.


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February 7, 2014
Tucked into the quieter reaches of Sonoma County are barrels of handcrafted wines, some of which are found only in the tasting rooms of Healdsburg
January 26, 2014
Appellations: Appellations refer to the place where the grapes are grown. This information is more important than knowing what grapes were grown. Appellations can be as large as an entire r...
January 1, 2014
Kolkata, Dec 22
Coca Cola India is aiming to get back on to the double digit growth trajectory over the next year as it focuses on the Indian market, which is by 2020 expected to become the fifth largest in the w...
New Delhi, Nov. 11
India is a high-priority market, says CEO Indra Nooyi
October 16, 2013
Honey’s healing properties are legendary. Here’s a bit about monoflora honey that may still be news to you. »
New Delhi, June 14
FMCG major Dabur India on Friday said it expects 20-25 per cent sales growth in the fruit juice segment this year on the back of new premium juices sub brand ’Super Fruits’ to be launched in the c...
New York, May 24
Leonard Marsh, the co-founder of the Snapple beverage brand, has died at age of 80.
The Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc of Plano, Texas, which now owns Snapple, yesterday confirmed Marsh’s de...
February 16, 2014
Vintage, chateau, Parker points, there’s plenty of science to pricing a fine wine
January 26, 2014
Wines have a global grading system and valuation. Professional brokers take care of logistics and storage. Is it any surprise then that they’re a hit with affluent investors? »
Los Angles (California), Jan 24
Net income at Starbucks climbed 25 percent to $540.7 million in the first quarter, the Seattle-based company said on Thursday.
Revenue rose 12 per cent to $4.24 billion compared to the sa...
Kolkata, Dec 20
Delhi-based Kristal Spirits India Pvt Ltd is likely to introduce champagne and other energy drinks from the Fashion Beverages stable.
Cyprus-based “Fashion Beverages” is the beverage bran...
December 5, 2013
Guided forays into the world of gourmets.
Mumbai, Oct 21
Tata Starbucks has launched a coffee blend exclusively for the Indian market, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the opening of its first store in Mumbai. Called India Estates Blend, the...
Mumbai, July 25
After working for almost two decades with PepsiCo, Manu Anand has joined Cadbury India as Managing Director and Mondelez International (Cadbury Kraft) as President, India and South Asia. A...
June 12, 2013
Mukund Padmanabhan Five years ago, I tasted my first legendary Super Tuscan when Alessia Antinori - descended from 25 generations of the Antinori family and one of three sisters w...
Mumbai, May 17
Sales of bottled water are set to overtake carbonated drinks globally over the next two years, according to a new survey. Ramesh Chauhan, Chairman and Managing Director, Bisleri In...


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A U.S. business leader has confirmed that American companies still want to grow with China, expand in China and contribute to China.
China has decided to further open up its insurance and banking sectors to foreign investors by revising related regulations.
Newly-added social financing, a measurement of funds that individuals and non-financial firms get from the financial system, stood at 2.27 trillion yuan (about 321 billion U.S. dollars) in September, up 138.3 billion yuan from a year earlier, new data showed Tuesday.
Preparations for the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) are making smooth progress, Vice Premier Hu Chunhua said Tuesday.
China's consumer prices in September remained within the annual target of around 3 percent, with more stabilizing macroeconomic measures to take effect in the near future.
China's transportation industry has expanded steadily in September as an index measuring the vitality of the sector remained at a high level, according to the China Academy of Transportation Sciences.
Naodian Township develops cultivation of chili pepper to raise income
Scenery of galsang flowers in south China's Guangxi
In pics: Potala Palace in Lhasa
‘China Trade Fair Egypt’ kicks off in Cairo
Alibaba unveils hyper-fast AI inference chip
Huawei launches Northern Africa Innovation Day in Tunisia
Commentary: China's internal affairs brook no interference
Xinjiang creates over 466,000 urban jobs in first three quarters
China-made "power bank" to serve Antarctic research station
African-American boy finds fun, future in Chinese culture
Kenyan university signs deal with Chinese college to host Luban workshop
Xi attends second informal meeting with Indian PM, visit Nepal
The 70th Anniversary of the Founding of The People's Republic of China


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Lamps & Shades to close after 41 years
For years, Jim Le Duc would start workshops with designers asking them how many felt lighting was the foremost aspect in decorating.
He would get what he calls “a few timid hands.”
And then he would turn the lights off.
“And we’d be in total darkness and start talking about form and color and that sort of thing,” he said. “And they got the point.”
He will have a few final chances for that sort of lighting education in the coming weeks as his longtime business Lamps & Shades Lighting Gallery winds down operations.
Le Duc and his wife, Cathy, opened it in 1975 after starting as a seasonal shop during the 1974 holiday season.
They spent many years in the Southway shopping center on Minnesota Avenue before leasing part of the former Sunshine Foods store at 2511 S. Minnesota Ave. in 1997.
“We always felt knowledge is the most important tool you have,” he said. “So we’ve positioned ourselves to be the foremost authority in the lighting industry.”
Jim Le Duc was working as an electrician when Cathy’s career in education took a turn. She had been hired to teach kindergarten in Sioux Falls, but the school district hired too many teachers. So she became one of the first in the country to go to graduate school for elementary counseling. While in college in Illinois, the Le Ducs met a couple who owned a lamp and shade store and ultimately encouraged them to start one in Sioux Falls.
They moved back in 1967, and while Cathy couldn’t quit her job at the school district, Jim went on vacation as an electrician “and I’ve been on vacation ever since,” he said.
When they started, Cathy worked at the store before and after school, over her lunch break and on weekends. When she retired in 2001, she came to Lamps & Shades full time.
“She would put a workaholic to shame,” Jim Le Duc said.
Jim Le Duc, who will turn 77 early next year, said while he and Cathy have a home in Arizona, they plan to spend most of their time in Sioux Falls.
He has continued to use his electrician skills repairing lamps and would like to find someone to buy that part of the business.
Attempts to sell Lamps & Shades didn’t work out, either for lack of financing or because potential owners didn’t want to work in the business, he said.
“And that would be doomed to fail if they didn’t work at it.”
Over the years, the store has gone through changes in the lighting industry including the emergence of LED technology. Le Duc said they have tried to distinguish their business as a source for education about lighting. While many people think of it as decorative, using the correct type of light for a setting is critical, he said.
“You may just change one decorative piece for another and not solve your lighting. That’s why it’s so important for us to be knowledgeable.”
They belong to the American Lighting Association, and Le Duc said Cathy is the only certified lighting consultant in the state.
They will share their knowledge with final customers starting Nov. 3 at 9 a.m. Store hours are 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Merchandise is discounted between 20 and 50 percent. The store will remain open until it sells out or until the end of the year.
“Everything is on sale including the desks and file cabinets and warehouse shelving and tools,” Le Duc said.
The store also will be offering prizes including televisions and kitchen equipment to shoppers who browse or buy.


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July 13, 2006 – San Jose, Costa Rica
The Constitutional Branch of the Supreme Court of Costa Rica has accepted for study a case which calls for the nullification of a planned tuna farm at the mouth of the Golfo Dulce.
The case was filed by the Town Council of Punta Banco, the coastal community which sits in front of where the proposed installation site, and PRETOMA, and is backed by 15 organizations from the communities around Dulce Gulf.
Thousands Of Home And Garden Stores To Carry. Home and garden stores up and down the West Coast will warn consumers of the dangers to salmon posed by seven common pesticides. Last week, “Salmon Hazard” signs were distributed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of a legal settlement with consumer and salmon advocates.


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Agilent At A LossBy Larry Barrett | Posted 2003-01-17 Print
Agilent blew $70 million on a software project. Was that a cause of its financial problems? Or an excuse?
Agilent At A Loss
The goal was to take the more than 2,200 internally developed and highly customized applications running on Unix and Windows NT operating systemsinherited when it was spun off from Hewlett-Packardand whittle them down to roughly 20 applications that could be transferred to Oracle's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
Agilent's "phased approach" to this migration meant that sites in Malaysia, Singapore and the U.S. that provide silicon wafers, molding compounds, resin and other "direct" materialsas well as plants in Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and the U.S. that provide indirect materials such as chemicals and consumableswent live under the system in June. Deployment of the system to final manufacturing plants around the globe would be completed within 18 months.
During this switchover, Agilent says roughly 6,000 orders in the internally developed systems had to be converted to the Oracle format. Because of complications during the configuration process (which officials at the former Hewlett-Packard division refused to comment on), about one week's worth of normal production was lost. This, Agilent says, resulted in the sales and earnings shortfall for the third quarter.
"The disruptions associated with that new system have been more extensive than we expected," Barnholt said in a statement about Agilent's third-quarter earnings. "The good news is that, at this point, we believe the [planning system] implementation is stable, and we are confident we can meet anticipated customer requirements."
Enterprise software experts and Wall Street analysts expressed skepticism about both the explanation for the integration snafu as well as the material impact these problems may or may not have had on Agilent's financial performance.
"It's not just the complexity of the project," Agilent spokeswoman Karen Lewis says. "It's also the history here at Agilent and HP. Each of our business units developed its own applications over many, many years. We're talking about thousands and thousands of applications."
Industry and Wall Street analysts say the way Agilent ambushed analysts with the sales shortfall and "technology-related" explanation reminded them of similar claims made by other companies in years past.
In July 2001, Nike cited i2 Technologies' supply-chain software as the primary reason it missed analysts' estimates in the third quarter of that year. Hershey Foods claimed that complications from its implementation of SAP's enterprise software shortly before Halloween in 1999 cost the company around $150 million in sales.
"You're always skeptical about this kind of thing," says a veteran Agilent analyst at a large brokerage firm in San Francisco, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "Every company wants to find an excuse for poor performance and the best way to do that is to find someone or something else to blame. Blaming a software installation is one of the best scapegoats because it's short-term and self-correcting. But those sales and orders that were supposedly lost during this technology change don't just disappear into the ether."
However, Agilent did manage to exceed its own sales estimates by roughly $140 million in the fourth quarter. Was this a product of improved sales conditions? Or were those "improved" sales mainly the result of orders that actually were booked in the third quarter but not closed because of the software glitch?
Gerald Fleming, who tracks Agilent for Fahnestock & Co., says he's willing to give Agilent the benefit of the doubt because he's seen and heard so many other stories of ordering and inventory mishaps that seem to always accompany large-scale software implementations. In its third quarter, printer maker Lexmark, for instance, took a $15.8 million charge for abandoning a project that involved Oracle software for tracking sales and customer accounts.
In the Agilent case, "I guess we have to take it on face [value] that this was a period of transition and a major negative that's unlikely to be repeated," Fleming says. "But I can tell you that no one expected them to lose a week's worth of sales because of this."
It's the lost production and the sales shortfall that industry analysts find most curious.
"Here's the thing I don't understand," says Gartner's Zrimsek. "Let's say Agilent experienced a disruption to its IT architecture today, maybe a terrorist incident that blew up their data center. Would that prevent them from taking orders? No, because they'd have a disaster recovery plan. And if they didn't have a disaster recovery plan, there are bigger I.T. issues at work here than trying to resolve an ERP implementation they had almost two years to prepare for."
Agilent CIO Marty Chuck declined to comment.
"Marty is the guy who would know the most about this but for now all we can say about the project is what we've said previously in public and in our releases," Agilent's Lewis says. "All I can say is, everything is running smoothly now. It was a very complicated project to take all these legacy systems that have been around for years and configure them for this new software. It's kind of like a crazy quilt."
Oracle, which served as the lead integrator for the project, is keeping largely mum, as well.
"We generally don't find it to be a good idea to comment on specific customer implementations as there's the chance that what we say won't match what they're saying," Oracle spokesman Sean Mills said in a statement to Baseline. "We really don't want to point fingers at our customers."
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