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by Shankar Gupta, Friday, Nov 18, 2005 6:00 AM EST
TODAY, THE LAST OF A series of stickers--on signs, drainpipes, and throughout major American cities--will be found by a persistent "hunter," who will win $10,000, courtesy of rental car firm Budget.
Although the stickers are offline, the hunt to find them begins on the Web, in a pure-play online branding campaign for Budget, dubbed Up Your Budget. The campaign is blog-centric--the contest is centered around the UpYourBudget.com blog; contest participants are allowed blogs of their own; and the vast majority of the promotion for the contest was done with advertisements on blogs, largely through the
The contest is simple: Video clues are posted in the main UpYourBudget.com blog, hinting at where a sticker might be found in a city. The first person to find the sticker and call the 800 number printed on it wins $10,000. The caller must also upload a picture of themselves finding the sticker to the Hunter's
"They came to me in August and said, 'we want to do something viral, we want to do something with blogs'--and by October it was online," said campaign creator B.L. Ochman. "It has exactly been pure-play online, and we've gotten some really wonderful pickup."
Scott Deaver, Budget's chief marketing officer, said the entire contest and promotion--including the $160,000 in prize money--cost less than a single 30-second spot on a highly rated TV show. According to
"That was the point, to try some grassroots stuff and try some of the smaller blogs. We wanted to reach a really broad population," said Ochman. No matter what blog you're looking at, if it's consistently reaching its audience, it probably has some loyal following there."
Sarah Fay, a media buyer with Carat Interactive, said the engagement of the audience is precisely the benefit of advertising on blogs. "
Friday, November 18, 2005
Thursday, November 17, 2005
ONLINE VIDEO AD SPENDING TO TRIPLE BY 2007
Growth Represents Money That Would Have Gone to TV
November 17, 2005
In 2007, the research firm expects the dollars committed to online video ads to climb to $640 million from the $225 million spent this year. By the end of the decade, advertisers will spend at least $1.5 billion on video ads online.
Clambering to get online
Marketers are clambering to get their messages into video ads. Some of the most memorable Web ads this year used video in a way that worked particularly well in the medium: Burger King’s Subservient Chicken, Jeep’s Webisodes and Volkswagen’s short films for its Passat brand. Earlier this year, 21% of
While $640 million is tiny compared with the $17.8 billion eMarketer predicts will be spent on all online advertising in 2007, it’s significant because of the rate at which that spending is growing -- 66.7% in 2005 and an expected 71% in 2006.
Diverting money from TV
Most significantly, the report said, is that all of that growth represents money that would have been spent on traditional TV.
The central reason for this growth is that consumer broadband hookups have become nearly as commonplace as any other utility. By 2008, 84% of online households and 56% of total households will have broadband.
As important, video ad growth is at a tipping point. “Television and the Internet will find ways to complement each other; winner-take-all is not the name of the game,” Mr. Hallerman wrote.
Also for traditional agencies accustomed to TV, online video makes the Internet more familiar. “Whether it’s a repurposed commercial, extra footage, original advertising made just for online, it still is familiar,” Mr. Hallerman said in an interview.
Actual convergence of TV and video online has not yet occurred. “Online video is inferior to TV in quality,” Mr. Hallerman said. “Until it is better quality, there won’t be convergence.”
A major obstacle is that the there is a lack of inventory in pre-roll video -- the most effective and TV-like form of online video. Pre-roll, also known as in-stream video, is effective because it delivers a captive audience, those who have chosen to see a piece of content and are compelled to watch an ad first. Because these ads are sort of a quid pro quo -- you watch the ad in exchange for being able to view free content -- publishers limit the number of pre-rolls that can be shown.
Publishers are just beginning to beef up their video content offerings enough to accommodate ads. As of earlier this year, only about 30% of all
The lack of standardization among video and among video players on sites is also an issue. “Anything that forces people to download a player before using it makes it take that much longer,” Mr. Hallerman said.
Posted by Fabio Gratton at 4:45 PM
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Online health tool gives personalized content, local searches
A new subscription-based online health tool provides users with customized information and health guidance, personalized content, and local resources, according to ZivaGuide. The site, www.ZivaGuide.com , is also open for advertisers. Users fill out a questionnaire to personalize content on the site, which also includes a health condition library, a tool to search consumer information on more than 35,000 drugs, a physician locator, news articles, and a list of scholarly health publications that is searchable by condition. ZivaGuide also says it helps users find prescription assistance and connects users with medical care, advice, caregiver help, and other assistance. The site is part of the ZivaContinuum, which also includes informational Web sites on nursing homes for consumers and professionals.
Posted by Fabio Gratton at 9:27 AM


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Dakar Fashion Week dazzled by colourful collections
10 June 2019 | 1:30 pm
The 17th edition of Dakar Fashion Week presented designs from 28 participants including Congolese designer Lupita Swaga and her Afro-futuristic collection.
In this article
19 Sep 2021
Models wearing outfits inspired by healthcare professionals walk down the runway as part of a show during the China Fashion Week in Beijing. The 'Heroes in Harm's Way' collection is designed by the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology and Dishang Group.
15 Sep 2021
Tired of mass production and unattainable sizes, Egyptian Noura Galal founded "Rafeya", an Egyptian brand tailoring women's clothes for all shapes and sizes.
2 Oct 2021
Models walk the runway with the Eiffel Tower in the background as Yves Saint Laurent's live show returns to the Paris Fashion Week. The live shows follow similiar returns at London, Milan and New York fashion weeks this year, after much of the designer world moved online last year thanks to Covid.
1 Oct 2021
After 18 months of mostly online shows, Paris Fashion Week is back with models, designers, celebrities and fashionistas flocking to in-person shows. Fashion writer Alice Pfeiffer talks about the post-pandemic era of fashion; the radical change at Dior, one of France's oldest brands; plus her favourite show so far: Charles de Vilmorin's first collection as creative director of Rochas.
9 Oct 2021
Top Taiwanese designers showcase their spring-summer collection at the opening show of Taipei Fashion Week. The event is organised and sponsored by the government to help promote local designers.
8 Jan 2022
For decades, Tunisia has been seen as a producer of fashion, but rarely a producer of fashion designers. But that's rapidly changing. For proof, look no further than the 12th edition of Tunis Fashion Week, which this year was held not in the capital, but in the city of Tozeur, on the edge of the desert. We take a closer look at three larger-than-life Tunisian designers: Hedi Ben Mami, Seif Dean Laouiti and Braim Klei.
24 Jan 2022
French fashion designer Thierry Mugler, who dressed Beyonce and Lady Gaga, has died aged 73, according to a statement on Mugler's official Facebook page confirming earlier French media reports. Mugler, who reigned over fashion in the 1980s, was known for his daring theatrical designs featuring broad shoulders and plunging necklines. He dressed the likes of Beyonce, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Diana Ross and Duran Duran - among many others - during his career at the top of the fashion industry.
18 Feb 2022
London Fashion Week is back, with an increasing share of brands cutting the use of fur and aiming to show off their green credentials. We find out more. But first, we take a closer look at the EU's new €150 billion investment plan for Africa.
9 Apr 2022
This year’s Berlin Fashion Week, which was held in one of the city’s former electrical factories mid-March, was largely focused on the work of Jean Gritsfeldt. The Ukrainian fashion designer was unable to attend in person as he could not leave Kyiv due to the war. But activist movement Fashion Revolution managed to recreate key items of his collection from scratch. It was a powerful cross-border collaboration and a message of peace, which Berlin designers Esther Perbandt and Natacha Von Hirschhausen helped to spread.
24 May 2022
As the international art world flocks to Dakar for its much-anticipated Biennale, Senegalese artist Fally Sene Sow just has to look out the window to find inspiration in the colourful and chaotic market street outside his studio in the capital.
29 May 2022
This year's ready-to-wear winter collections are all about love and seduction: the delicate balance between what's shown and what isn't. Vaquera has found inspiration in the iconic black latex jumpsuit worn by Maggie Cheung in the 1996 film "Irma Vep" directed by Olivier Assayas. Victor Weinsanto, meanwhile, showcases an extravagant corset-and-cape look for "Emily in Paris" star Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu. Finally, the Love Brings Love exhibition offers a moving homage to late iconic designer Alber Elbaz.
5 hours ago
A review into Britain's largest police force has found "institutional racism, sexism and homophobia" and has called for "radical reform."
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Albert Ho, a prominent pro-democracy figure in Hong Kong, has once again been arrested. He is already facing up to a decade in prison for other charges under the national security law.
6 hours ago
Experts say the drop in oxygen levels in the water after the recent floods receded likely caused the mass death, as well as hot temperatures due to climate change.
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The French government's decision to force through its pension reform has sparked angry demonstrations across the country, with many videos of chaos in Paris circulating online. However, as credible as they may seem, some of these videos have been taken out of context, as Emerald Maxwell explains.
7 hours ago
On World Storytelling Day, we ask if this human art will be supplanted by articifial intelligence? Or do chatbots lack the human factor to recreate the drama and nuance of good storytelling?
7 hours ago
European shares logged their steepest weekly drop in five months amid continued turbulence in the global banking sector. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz doesn't think Europe is heading for a new financial crisis.

domain: news


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Eric Schmidt, that was CEO of Google, has actually proclaimed that there is complication concerning the idea of the metaverse and also what it implies for people.
Schmidt specified that, even with a business like the previous Facebook rotating its operations to occupy the metaverse market, there is still not a clear interpretation of the idea as well as just how it will certainly impact people #x lives.
Metaverse Still Not Defined, According to Google #x Former CEO Eric Schmidt . While there has been a considerable number of business and firms that are already placing funds into as well as banking on the development of the idea of the metaverse, not every person is so convinced regarding the subject. Eric Schmidt, a business owner that was previously CEO of tech large Google from 2001 to 2011, is in this last group. Schmidt has revealed a degree of hesitation when it pertains to the relevance and also adoption that this brand-new tech might handle in the future.
Today, at an occasion in Colorado, Schmidt shared his thoughts concerning the metaverse. He declared:
There #x not an arrangement on what the metaverse is, despite the fact that one business has changed its name in anticipation of specifying it.
Schmidt was ostensibly referencing the step that Meta, previously referred to as Facebook, took while rotating to consist of metaverse technology as one of the columns of its procedure. In 2014, the entrepreneur additionally took one more dig at Facebook, specifying that he #x didn 2019; t believe Meta would certainly be the business to shape the metaverse, also if the type it will certainly take is yet obscure.
Metaverse Land as well as Investments
Firms as well as also countries are currently really spent in the metaverse, an innovation that is currently associated with VR as well as AR (augmented fact) modern technologies, and also applications that utilize them. One of the very first nations that has thought about the metaverse as an essential technology for the future is South Korea, which introduced in May it would allot $177 million straight to metaverse platforms, with the suggestion of kickstarting national firms with a passion in the innovation.
Property in the metaverse has actually likewise been thought about a debatable subject by Schmidt. On the concern, he specified:
I #x 2019; m not bothered with acquiring large swaths of private property in the metaverse myself. It #x not an issue I have each day.
Nonetheless, according to Metametric Solutions, a metaverse analytics firm, sales of real estate residential or commercial properties in the metaverse are expected to get to $1 billion this year.


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A new update to Amazon's flagship streaming device allows users with the optional game controller to play a host of tablet games on the device, as well as allowing screen mirroring without signing in to an accompanying Amazon account.
Offering one more reason to fly Southwest, the airline announced a new partnership with Apple's Beats Music that will see the service offered free to passengers aboard all Wi-Fi enabled Southwest aircraft.
It appears Sonos is beta-testing an Android Wear control app for its wireless multi-room audio systems which would give users quick and easy control over music playback without the need for a smartphone. Could Apple Watch control also be in…
Bang & Olufsen's BeoPLay A2 Bluetooth speaker may not be especially outlandish-looking, but it sounds great and offers best-in-class battery life, pairing for up to 8 devices, a deceivingly useful leather strap for portability.


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Craft Brew Alliance Inc. (BREW) Shares Up 7.7%
Shares of Craft Brew Alliance Inc. (NASDAQ:BREW) shot up 7.7% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $12.39 and last traded at $12.39, with a volume of 76,024 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $11.50.
A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on BREW. Zacks Investment Research lowered Craft Brew Alliance from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 19th. Sidoti raised Craft Brew Alliance from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Citigroup Inc. dropped their target price on Craft Brew Alliance from $10.00 to $9.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, June 15th.
The company has a 50-day moving average price of $11.19 and a 200-day moving average price of $9.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $262.86 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of 1522.22.
Craft Brew Alliance (NASDAQ:BREW) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 3rd. The company reported $0.12 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.02. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.07 EPS. The firm had revenue of $62.28 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $61.52 million. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Craft Brew Alliance Inc. will post $0.20 EPS for the current fiscal year.
An institutional investor recently raised its position in Craft Brew Alliance stock. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in Craft Brew Alliance Inc. (NASDAQ:BREW) by 3.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 1,078,300 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 35,330 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned approximately 5.62% of Craft Brew Alliance worth $9,025,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Craft Brew Alliance, Inc is a craft brewing company that is engaged in brewing, branding and bringing to market American craft beers. The Company operates through two segments: Beer Related operations, which include the brewing operations and related domestic and international beer and cider sales of its Kona, Widmer Brothers, Redhook and Omission beer brands, and Square Mile cider brand, and Pubs operations, which include its approximately five pubs, over four of which are located adjacent to its Beer Related operations, as well as other merchandise sales, and sales of its beers directly to customers.
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Good morning! Here's the news of the day:
- Intel is acquiring Infineon's wireless unit in a deal valued at $1.4 billion. Apple uses Infineon 3G chips in the iPhone.
- Cisco is looking at buying Skype before it IPOs, says Michael Arrington at TechCrunch citing a single source.
- TechCrunch is still in a legal battle with Fusion Garage, maker of the JooJoo tablet. The two companies never had a contract to develop the CrunchPad, but it's still looking like TechCrunch could win its lawsuit.
- Chatroulette is back on line, and it's pretty underwhelming.
- The Dept. of Justice is worried about how Comcast buying NBC will affect the Internet video market.
- The New York Times discovers that location based services like Foursquare aren't mainstream yet.
- Google is in talks with major Hollywood studios to start renting major films through YouTube.
- iPads are now shipping within 24 hours -- Did Apple fix its production issues? Or are fewer people buying iPads?
- HP's CTO posted some blacked out tease photos of a tablet and a phone on Twitter. Nice little marketing stunt to keep gadget nerds interested.
- RIM has until August 31 to reach a deal with India, otherwise BlackBerrys will be banned. Here's how it could play out.
Sign up for notifications from Insider! Stay up to date with what you want to know.


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Air Peace has mapped out plans to return to Banjul (Gambia) and Dakar (Senegal) from its base in Lagos, two of the regional routes it suspended in the wake of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, which crippled global activities in most parts of 2020.
The airline also said that it would commence flight services to Gombe Airport on August 9, 2021.
A statement by Stanley Olisa, the Spokesman for the airline on Wednesday, said that Air Peace would recommence Lagos-Banjul and Lagos-Dakar routes on July 23, 2021, in order to provide more options for regional connectivity.
Olisa explained that Banjul and Dakar flight services would operate thrice a week; Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Olisa expressed delight at the reinstatement of the Lagos-Banjul-Dakar flight operations, adding that daily Gombe flights from Lagos and Abuja would also be launched on August 9, 2021.
He said: “Dakar and Banjul routes will be operated with our ultramodern Embraer 195-E2 aircraft, and we shall resume more routes and increase frequencies to other destinations as we take delivery of more brand new E195-E2s as well as other aircraft undergoing maintenance abroad.”
Olisa, who said that customers can now book for the resumed routes on the airline’s website- flyairpeace.com or its mobile app, restated Air Peace’s resolve to continue providing peaceful, strategic, and affordable connections while observing the highest standards of safety.
Air Peace had suspended its regional routes consequent upon the outbreak of COVID-19 and the lockdown that ensued last year. But, the airline is now resuming these routes, the first being Accra, which was restored in March 2021.
Cross River Launches Cally Air, A State-Owned Airline
The Cross River State Government has launched its airline, Cally Air, as part of efforts to boost economic activities in the state and across the country.
Governor Ben Ayade on Monday welcomed the maiden flight of the airline into Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar, the state capital.
Addressing journalists after the reception, he explained that it was a dream the government had in 2017, occasioned by the high influx of traffic into Calabar and the monopoly of some airlines dominating the Calabar route.
“Cally Air belongs to Cross River State. No loan, no facilities were obtained and it is one hundred percent property of the citizens of Cross River State,” he said.
“I don’t own it, aero contractors do not own it. No one has a percentage share. The recruitment was done by aero contractors, but we have a responsibility to ensure that the sensitivity and ethnic differences in Cross River are reflected.”
The airline comes with a fare of N17,000 for a trip from Abuja to Calabar, a relatively cheaper fare compared to the industry average fare of between N35,000 and N40,000.
Mr Ayade advised Cross Riverians to patronise the airline, noting that “Cally Air is actually intended to serve Cross Riverians. It is for you, Cross Riverians.”
The governor, who said the airline will make punctuality the soul of its business, also disclosed that “when we say Cally Air operates on the dot, we mean it will be prompt, it will be apt, it will be time conscious to ensure that Cross Riverians can go to Abuja, do their business and return the same day to save them the cost of hotel bills.”
He explained further: “Your money is there, my money is there, all of our taxes have come to the achievement of this. There is no bank loan and I am saying it on camera for emphasis, no bank here or abroad that will say Cross River borrowed 10kobo. There is no one that will say we borrowed one naira.
“It takes six months for the license to come and if we have to wait for the license, we will be losing money, so that is why we had to start early, using aero contractors with over 56 years of flying without any accident.
However, the governor said the state chose aero contractors to assist in the management of the airline.
“So on the basis of safety, we made a choice of aero contractors and against that background, we will continue with them until Cally Air has its full management team and a full AOC,” he said.
“So after the AOC, we can now commence a full direct independent airline.”
Konga Celebrates 3rd Year Anniversary, Offers Special Flight Deals
To celebrate its three years of disruptive entry and outstanding service delivery in the Nigerian travel booking industry, Konga Travel is offering Nigerians a week-long treat of exciting flight deals to exotic destinations around the world.
The Konga Travel 3rd Anniversary Sale, a week-long mega fiesta, runs from Thursday, July 15 until Friday, July 23, 2021.
The specially-discounted and mouth-watering flight deals are available to interested customers on specific days and within specific time periods described by the management of Konga Travel as the ‘win hours’ of 12 pm to 3 pm. Monday and Friday will witness sweet flight deals to the United Kingdom go on sale while Tuesday and Wednesday will see tickets to Dubai up for grabs. On Saturday and Sunday, Konga Travel will be offering deals to the United States.
The tickets are available for purchase online, interested shoppers are also advised to book and pay with their cards for immediate confirmation.
Eric Nana, Vice President, Konga Travel, says the offers are unmatched anywhere else, even as he described the initiative as a gesture aimed at appreciating Nigerians for their support, patronage, and loyalty to the brand.
‘‘It has been three years of unbelievable growth and we are grateful to Nigerians for believing in us and supporting us. We have recorded so many outstanding strides within the short period since our entry into the market and these would have been impossible without our loyal customers.
‘‘So, we have decided to say a big thank you to them.
‘‘The flight deals on offer have been carefully selected. The prices can be described as a giveaway and I wish to reiterate that the offers are limited, so bookings will be treated on a first-come, first served basis. The deals go live from 12 pm – 3 pm for this week-long fiesta and card payment is advised once you book on our website to aid swift confirmation,’’ he disclosed.
The management of Konga Travel will also be hosted by four airlines which the team is expected to pay courtesy visits to as part of its third anniversary celebration.
Having emerged on the scene barely three years ago, Konga Travel – which was recently named the Most Innovative Agency by the global airline, Virgin Atlantic, as well as Travel Agency of the Year at the 2020 Beacon of ICT (BoICT) Awards – has distinguished itself.
Within a short space of its existence, the company has grown more than 25 percent on a month-on-month basis, acquired all the requisite and major travel certifications and rolled out multiple physical store locations nationwide.
Wakanow Unveils Experience Center in Lekki As Travel Demand Rises
As travelers adapt and social interactions slowly return to normalcy, Wakanow, the largest online travel agency in Africa, has once again taken the lead by opening up an experience center in Lekki, Lagos, as it positions to deliver an unparalleled immersive travel experience in a warm and relaxing atmosphere.
The COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacted the travel and tourism industry, particularly in 2020 at the peak of global lockdowns. Most countries closed their borders to non-essential travel, forcing airlines to heavily reduce capacity globally.
Wakanow was able to scale through this period due to the hybrid model of being an offline and online agency, further solidified by the massive investment it has made in technology over the years enabling business sustainability through the pandemic.
During this same period, Wakanow was the only travel agency running 24/7 customer service center operations that enabled it to take care of teeming customers during the upheaval in flight operations.
“Wakanow was able to weather the pandemic storm due to its innovative approach in the development of new complementary products and the unwavering commitment of the staff to the customer which has paid off hugely in customer retention and service uptake in the wake of travel restrictions,” said Bayo Adedeji, Wakanow CEO.
2021 has seen the resurgence of interest and demand in travel, with airlines steadily increasing capacity offered to Nigeria and even the launch of new domestic and international airlines.
Wakanow is positioned to continue supporting its customers across all channels with their travel needs as travel demand resurges and is now closer to their customers in the heart of Lekki with the state-of-the-art travel experience center.
The event drew stakeholders from local and international airlines and other Nigerian travel enthusiasts.
“Wakanow is an online travel agency also with extensive offline presence with over 30 travel centers across Nigeria, Ghana & Dubai. We meet our customers’ travel needs across multiple touchpoints, wherever they are,” said Adenike Macaulay, chief commercial officer.
“We continue to expand our product portfolio & service offering as we aim to be their indispensable and trusted travel companion, exciting them with travel deals, packages, and services that are unobtainable elsewhere,” Macaulay said.
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Earlier this week, before the app was completely removed from the App Store, developer tap tap tap said that they had previously attempted to add the ability to use volume controls to snap photos to their application Camera+. Apple rejected the feature, dubbed "VolumeSnap," because it uses the volume buttons in a "non-standard way, potentially resulting in user confusing," the company said.
"While we're disappointed with their decision, we're at least happy that they're being perfectly clear about the exact reason for the rejection and that they're being consistent about it," the developer said. "I was told that overriding the volume controls is one of the most common reasons for app rejection."
Tap tap tap has remained silent, however, since Camera+ was removed from the App Store this week.
Apple yanked the software after the company, via Twitter, informed users how to enable the volume shutter button feature via a workaround. The feature could be enabled by entering a URL into the Mobile Safari browser on the iPhone. The offending post on Twitter has since been removed.
The company's official blog was last updated on Tuesday, touting strong sales of the Camera+ application. In its first month, the photography app earned $253,000 in sales, and sales increased in the second month to $254,000.
"So after two short months in the App Store, Camera+ has pulled in a whopping half a million dollars," wrote John Casasanta, head of tap tap tap and creator of the MacHeist promotion. "Needless to say, we couldn't be more pleased."
This isn't the first time that Apple has had to remove an application from the App Store that included a hidden "Easter Egg" allowing functionality that was not publicized. Last month the company removed an application that presented itself as a flashlight app, but it also included a hidden SOCKS proxy that could be used for tethering a 3G data connection.


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The next frontier in retail may be healthcare. Just weeks after Amazon (AMZN 0.23%) announced its acquisition of 1Life Healthcare, known as One Medical, Walmart (WMT 0.09%) is making a new move to penetrate the $4.1 trillion industry. The retail giant, which has long held ambitions of building a significant healthcare business, is partnering with UnitedHealth (UNH 0.14%) to offer a preventative program for seniors and virtual care for all ages over the next 10 years.
The program will start as a pilot at 15 Walmart stores in Georgia and Florida and will focus on patients with Medicare Advantage, a private form of health insurance. AUnitedHealth executive said that the partnership could potentially serve hundreds of thousands of seniors.
Walmart has long been angling for a bigger piece of the massive healthcare market. While the company operates its own pharmacies and has 24 health clinics, its potential in healthcare seems much larger, especially since the company has more than 4,000 stores across the country that Americans visit frequently to do their grocery shopping, pick up a prescription, or buy something else they need. Many of those are located in rural parts of the country that are underserved by traditional healthcare outlets. Additionally, 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart. Considering the significant foot traffic those stores get, adding healthcare services is a good way to expand Walmart's business.
Preventative care seems like an especially good fit for Walmart as well. A patient is more likely to get a cancer screening, physical exam, or blood test if it's convenient. Making these tests available at Walmart does just that.
A showdown with Amazon
Walmart isn't the only retail giant making moves in healthcare. Amazon (AMZN 0.23%), its chief e-commerce rival, announced in July that it would acquire One Medical, an operator of nearly 200 primary care clinics. Shortly after that news broke, Amazon said that at the end of the year it would pull the plug on its own Amazon Care program, which offers in-person and virtual care, thereby signaling that the company intends to buy, rather than build, its way into healthcare. Ultimately, Amazon decided that Amazon Care wasn't the "right solution for our enterprise-level customers." Other observers said the company struggled to gain clients, and it seems likely the company didn't see a path to profitability with the three-year-old service.
Previously, Amazon had partnered with JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway on a joint venture known as Haven, which sought to disrupt the health insurance industry. But that project was disbanded in 2021, three years after its launch, without much to show for itself. Amazon also acquired online pharmacy PillPack for $753 million in 2019, and was reportedly one of the bidders interested in home healthcare provider Signify Health, though CVS Health won that deal.
Walmart's physical footprint gives it a distinct advantage over Amazon in building out a chain of clinics, but Amazon's reputation for customer service and its Prime membership base could give the e-commerce giant an edge in some ways.
Will the UnitedHealth deal move the needle?
With a goal of providing care to hundreds of thousands of seniors, it's clear that Walmart and UnitedHealth are thinking big. However, the program is starting with just a handful of locations, meaning it will likely take some time to reach scale.
Amazon's own experience with Amazon Care and Haven also offers a cautionary tale for Walmart. Healthcare is a particularly difficult field to disrupt. It's bureaucratic and byzantine. You need to form relationships with multiple stakeholders, including insurance companies, providers, employers, and patients.
Walmart is such a big company that it would take a multibillion-dollar business to have an impact on its financials. But healthcare certainly offers that opportunity, especially if Walmart can branch out beyond the UnitedHealth partnership.
Keep an eye on the new clinics when they launch next January. If things go smoothly, this could open a huge new market for Walmart. Still, it won't be easy, especially with Amazon hungry for a piece of the same pie.


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Targa Florio fever will sweep through Queenscliff on Friday 1 December when more than 140 classic cars parade along Hesse Street en route to Sorrento as part of a state-wide tour.
The Targa Florio Australian Tribute is an event for classic cars produced between 1907 and 1976. The event provides local traders with a fantastic opportunity to showcase all Victoria has to offer over five exciting days of touring and time trials.
“Council is thrilled that the 101st anniversary of the Targa Florio is coming to the Borough of Queenscliffe,” said the Mayor, Cr Tony Francis.
“The procession of classic cars will create a spectacle as they make their way down Hesse Street.”
To celebrate the first time the event has left Italy, local traders are encouraged to “put your geraniums out” to add pops of colour to the streetscape and create a festive atmosphere that will carry into Christmas and the holiday season.
Rip Chamber Inc. committee member Catherine Rush said the idea of using geraniums was an organic and simple way to add vibrant colours of red and green which also form part of Italy’s national flag.
“The timing couldn’t be better as traders can celebrate the Targa Florio Australian Tribute coming to Queenscliff and then continue to use the colour scheme throughout Christmas and beyond. The whole street will look fantastic,” said Ms Rush.
Local traders wanting to join in on the festive fun can order geraniums from Catherine Stevens at Citrine Essentials, 26 / 30–32 Hesse Street Queenscliff or call 5258 5378.


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Chinese ecommerce group JD.com jumped almost 6 per cent on its trading debut in Hong Kong after raising nearly $4bn in the second-largest share sale globally this year.
The online retail group’s stock gained as much as 5.8 per cent in early trading on Thursday to reach HK$239 ($30.84) per share.
JD.com had raised $3.9bn earlier this month through the secondary sale of 133m new shares at an offer price of HK$226 each. The value of the fundraising could increase to $4.3bn if bankers execute a so-called green shoe option to increase the deal’s size.
Hong Kong is likely to benefit from a wave of large equity capital raisings this year as US-listed Chinese companies trading in New York face regulatory pressure from the Trump administration and the prospect of forced delistings.
JD.com shares already trade on Nasdaq but the group is one of several big Chinese companies to line up a so-called “homecoming” listing in the Hong Kong.
NetEase, another Chinese internet company, recently raised about $2.7bn in a Hong Kong secondary offering.
In its preliminary prospectus for the Hong Kong listing, JD.com highlighted as a potential risk a bill being pushed through the US Congress that threatens delisting for foreign companies that fail to provide access to audit reports.
People familiar with JD.com’s secondary offering said interest from US investors had not been impacted by hawkish sentiment from Washington.
“Demand from the US investors is just overwhelming — I don’t see any difference from any other popular offerings,” said on person, adding that the institutional side of the deal was “heavily oversubscribed”.
Demand for JD.com shares from investors in Hong Kong was robust, with the retail offering 179 times oversubscribed.
The Hong Kong share sale represents about 4.3 per cent of JD.com’s total shares outstanding before the overallotment option.
Bank of America, UBS and Citic Securities are joint sponsors of the listing.


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Push To Allow More Alcohol In Utah Beer Hits Stumbling Block
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A push to raise the alcohol level in Utah beer in line with most of the U.S. hit a stumbling block Wednesday as a panel of lawmakers gutted the measure.
The vote called for study of the issue instead, a step that could mean nothing gets done, said Republican Sen. Jerry Stevenson.
That plan now heads for the House of Representatives.
Stevenson, though, said he's not giving up on getting the bill changed back to its original form, which has already overwhelmingly passed the state Senate.
"I don't think this will be done until the last night of the session," he said.
The proposal comes as large breweries discontinue weak beer products because other states are shedding similar alcohol limits, leaving a reduced market of two states: Utah and Minnesota.
That hurts retailers, including small stores that depend on beer revenues, Stevenson has said. Wal-Mart and other large grocery chains are supporting the effort to raise the alcohol limits.
Republican Rep. Brad Daw, on the other hand, said the possible negative effects of higher alcohol content warrant more study.
"I think we sent a pretty unambiguous message of where we're at," he said. "I'm very uncomfortable about making that kind of policy just because it gives somebody more money."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which most lawmakers belong to, is opposed to Stevenson's plan.
It would raise alcohol limits from 3.2 percent to 4.8 percent for beer available to grocery and convenience stores, as well as on tap in bars. That limit is still relatively low compared to the rest of the country, but would allow the sale of most production-line beers in private stores.
Higher-alcohol beer, as well as wine and spirits, are only available at state-owned liquor stores in Utah.
Most local craft brewers are also against Stevenson's plan, calling it an incremental increase that would favor big breweries.


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Overall used car values fell 2.2% in March.
This was caused by a fall in retail and trade demand due to the Covid-19 crisis, according to cap hpi.
It was a month of two-halves with trade values tracking at a -0.3% from the previous month on Friday 13 March.
However, there was a dramatic effect on used car prices from Monday 16 March as demand fell.
The number of cars sold on Friday 20 March was 23% lower than on Friday 6 March and 19% lower than on Friday 13 March.
The total cumulative Live movement during March, leading to April’s monthly values, was an average drop of 2.2% (-£275) at the three-year, 60,000-mile point, the majority of which happened in the final 10-days of valuing.
For newer used cars, the drop was 1.8% (-£425) at the one-year, 20,000-mile point.
Derren Martin, head of valuations UK at cap hpi said: “As you would expect, all of the main sectors have been affected by this decrease in values.
“Rest assured, the movements that have been made in March have been reflective and not an over-reaction to feedback or industry ‘noise’.
“We are aware of reductions by some online car purchasing sites and some remarketers, but our adjustments have been purely as a result of used car transactional data.”
Cap hpi expects that in the short-term both used and new car sold volumes will reduce dramatically, as the industry has already witnessed in the immediate aftermath of the country lockdown.
He added: “We will be analysing the data as always, but not adjusting used values while there is insufficient data. In effect, if vehicles are not selling in quantities anywhere close to normal, we will not be adjusting.
“No overall market adjustments will be made based on historical data or opinion; outliers and unrepresentative sample sizes will not be reflected. We will be closely tracking retail volumes and prices, but not adjusting any trade values from these.
“We feel this is the sensible approach in these unprecedented times – we always have a duty to reflect the market, but at present, there is not enough of a market to do so accurately.”
UK car manufacturing fell -0.8% in February, with 122,171 vehicles produced in the month.
This represents a loss of just over 1,000 units compared with February 2019.
The SMMT has said that the decline was driven by slower demand in some key global export markets.
In February global shipments fell -3.1% to just short of 95,000 units.
Although combined EU demand rallied (up +3.6%), exports to the US and Asia fell substantially.
There was positive news for the domestic market, where output rose +7.8%, with 27,172 cars produced.
Year-to-date figures show a -1.5% year-on-year drop in overall production.
The figures come at a time of unprecedented challenge for the UK and its automotive industry, with all car manufacturing plants now on shutdown as the country focuses efforts on overcoming the crisis.
An initial assessment commissioned by SMMT of the potential impact of these shutdowns suggests a loss of around 200,000 units by the end of 2020, just under 1.1 million – a fall of 18%.
However, the impact could be far more severe if the crisis, and therefore shutdowns, were to last for months instead of weeks.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Despite the myriad global challenges the UK automotive industry has faced in recent times, it remains fundamentally strong and February’s figures reflect that.
“However, these figures also reflect the calm before the storm. With UK car plants now effectively on national shutdown and many global markets closed, the outlook is of deep concern.
“We wholeheartedly welcome government’s extraordinary package of emergency support for businesses and workers, but this must get through to businesses now.
“If we’re to keep this sector alive and in a position to help the UK get back on its feet, we urgently need funding to be released, additional measures to ease pressure on cashflow and clarity on how employment support measures will work.”
Fast-growing Top 50 Indie Ascona has added another acquisition to its estate.
It has bought the lease of Dorking BP Service Station for an undisclosed sum from husband and wife Mike and Kim Prior, who were looking to retire.
The forecourt has four fuel pumps and facilities include a car wash and ATM, and there is also a shop on the site which has a Costa machine, and comprises more than 750sq ft.
Under the previous owners it was a Spar but has been converted by Ascona to Best-one.
David Branch, director of Forecourts4sale, who acted for Ascona in the deal, anticipates a delay in transactions completing, due to professionals being restricted to work, but is still confident the market will emerge unscathed from the coronavirus clampdown.
He said: “At present, shop sales are up as households face lockdown, but fuel sales are down due to families staying at home and being discouraged from using their vehicles except for essential trips.
“Clearly, the whole situation is unprecedented and operators generally anticipate this slow period will last for around three months.
“Some forecourts have further struggled due to staffing issues triggered by the Government’s lockdown policy. Generally, however, an air of optimism still pervades and operators are anticipating buoyancy returning to the market before too long.
“All of us at Forecourts4sale are still exceptionally busy with valuations continuing to be requested.”


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Container Tracking Startup Raises $240m From Softbank
In 2019 the ocean logistics unicorn Flexport secured $1 Billion in Funding Led by Japan’s SoftBank Vision Fund, now the legendary startup bank has announced a big investment in the...
Industry at Louisiana’s Port Fourchon accounted for over $2.8 billion in sales revenue and over $650 million in household earnings in 2013 in the state of Louisiana, said Dr. Loren Scott, president of Loren C. Scott & Associates, Inc., as he briefed the Greater Lafourche Port Commission at its November 7 board meeting.
GLPC commissioned the study, “The Economic Impact of Port Fourchon: An Update,” by Loren Scott & Associates earlier this year to provide an update to a previous study released in 2008 that documents the economic impacts of business at Port Fourchon.
Located in Lafourche Parish, Port Fourchon is home to companies providing service to an estimated 90% of oil and gas activity in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, and also is host port for the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, the largest U.S.’s largest oil-import hub.
Key findings in the new study included the total number of jobs directly related to Port Fourchon in the state of Louisiana – 10,804 – is greater than the total employment in 30 other parishes in the state, and for every one job created in Port Fourchon, another 5.2 jobs are created elsewhere in the state’s economy to support it.
“Having conducted over 200 economic impact studies, our research team can affirm that this is an unusually high multiplier effect,” the study states. The study also found that one in every thirteen jobs in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes is directly related to the existence of Port Fourchon.
The updated study confirmed that business at Port Fourchon has been booming since the mid-2000s, showing significant increases in all categories quantified in the 2008 economic impact study. The port’s growth clearly impacts the state of Louisiana, showing increases in business sales revenue, household earnings, and wages statewide:
“What is most encouraging to see is that out of all that our tenants are investing and earning through their work at Port Fourchon, about 80% of it stays right here in our community, providing billions in revenue, household earnings and local taxes to the residents of Lafourche and Terrebonne,” said GLPC Executive Director Chett Chiasson.
Dr. Scott also aimed to quantify the impacts of Port Fourchon to the nation, projecting over $11.2 billion in business sales, over $3.1 billion in household earnings, and over 65,000 jobs lost if the port was out of service for a three-week period.
“We have seen the port grow physically in recent years, adding over 50% more acreage through our Northern Expansion, and this study shows how much our tenants have done with that new space to continue to grow our community’s economy and help us fulfill our mission,” Port Commission Board President Perry Gisclair said.
The full report can be found at: The Economic Impact of Port Fourchon, An Update (pdf opens in new tab)
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30 Nov 2012
Buckhorn has recently announced that it will offer a newly designed collapsible 60-gallon drum. The innovative drums are rectangular, allowing four of them to be combined as a 48” x 40” x 40” cube for pallet loading. (Individually they are 24” x 20” x 40”.) The new drum is a special design – patent pending – that could prove very popular among food, powder and liquid handlers.
Buckhorn is one of the most popular brands of material handling systems in the United States. As part of Myers Industries, Inc., since 1987, Buckhorn supplies reusable plastic packaging like transport tubs and collapsible bulk containers. Buckhorn products allow customers in distribution, food and manufacturing industries to reduce costs and improve performance.
The drums feature smooth sidewalls inside and outside, making them easy to clean, and they are recyclable, which is a huge plus for companies interested in environmental responsibility.
In a press release via the Buckhorn website at http://www.buckhorninc.com/, the company notes that the drums offer “25% better cube utilization and volume efficiency.” This is in comparison to typical 55-gallon drums and takes into consideration the footprint of the new product as well as capacity. “The volume of product that can be shipped in four Buckhorn drums would require five 55-gallon drums,” states the press release.
Director of Sales and Marketing Rob Tieman points out that the market demands reusability and sustainability from storage containers purchased. “Our research has shown customers are demanding a collapsible alternative to the steel, fiber and plastic drums currently in their systems – one that will offer a better return ratio, more warehouse space and increased profitability,” he said.
The new collapsible 60-gallon drum features offset surfaces and interlocking flanges so that the joints are sealed without cracks. It can stack five pallet loads high and works well with Buckhorn’s Universal Pallet product or ordinary wood pallets. Made of three components – base, sidewalls and lid – the Buckhorn 60-gallon drum is hinged in the center to fold inward and convert to a flat piece in mere seconds.


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True Value to build new D.C.
Company describes a $150 million investment in supply chain modernization
True Value Company announced a strategic investment of $150 million in supply chain optimization including a brand-new, cutting-edge distribution center in Hanover Township, Pa.
The 1 million square feet of distribution space, currently under construction, is expected to create hundreds of new jobs in Luzerne County and support the entire northeast region which consists of more than 1,000 retail locations.
“True Value is excited to make this substantial investment to develop a world class supply chain and distribution operation in Hanover Township,” said John Hartmann, President and Chief Executive Officer at True Value Company. “The new facility will help alleviate congestion in our other distribution centers, provide the highest in-stock rates and position our network to support our retailers’ growth with greater flexibility and service.”
True Value currently operates 13 distribution centers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
The new distribution center, located at Hanover 9 Industrial Park in Hanover Township, is slated to open this fall.
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Apr 26, 2022 - 04:17 pm
Leapmotor to install batteries directly in chassis
The Chinese electric car manufacturer Leapmotor has announced its first production model with cell-to-chassis technology, in which the battery is integrated into the vehicle body. The Leapmotor C01 electric sedan is scheduled to hit the Chinese market before the end of the second quarter of 2022.
Apr 11, 2022 - 12:33 pm
NEV sales continue to rise in China
455,000 New Energy Vehicles were sold in China in March, 122.4 per cent more than in the same month last year and 43.6 per cent more than in February 2022, making March the strongest month of 2022 so far.
Mar 19, 2022 - 12:40 pm
Leap Motor announces plans for 8 new BEV models by 2025
The Chinese electric car manufacturer Leap Motor has filed for its IPO in Hong Kong and plans to launch eight new models by 2025. It is estimated that the listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange could bring the company at least one billion US dollars.
Mar 9, 2022 - 11:31 am
China’s February NEV sales rise by 189%
In February, 317,000 New Energy Vehicles were sold in China. Compared to the same month last year, sales increased by 189 per cent. The ratio of plug-in hybrids and battery-electric cars within the NEV category remained nearly constant.
Feb 15, 2022 - 01:05 pm
China marks over 400,000 NEVs sold in January
In China, 412,000 new energy vehicles (NEVs) were sold in January 2022. This was 141 per cent higher than in January 2021 for electric cars, plug-in hybrids and fuel cell cars, with battery-electric cars, in particular, making gains.
Dec 9, 2021 - 11:47 am
China marks another NEV sales increase
In November, sales figures for New Energy Vehicles reached a new high for the year. Over the course of the month, 429,000 NEVs were sold, which significantly exceeds the previous record from October (368,000 vehicles).
Nov 22, 2018 - 02:10 pm
China: Leap Motor receives 2 billion Yuan capital
The Chinese electric vehicle startup Leap Motor has generated a total of 2 billion yuan (250 million euros) in their most recent financing round. They may even reach 2.5 billion yuan by the end of the year, with the Shanghai Electric Group leading the way.


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Santa and his wife Mrs. Claus pay an extra special visit to the Junction on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Junction businesses will host interactive window displays, visitors can listen to Mrs. Claus reading holiday tales or take part in a craft workshop in the Elf Village or find some unique gifts, while sipping on some hot chocolate or other take-away treats presented by the Junction Business Improvement Area.
The annual Santa in the Junction event will also feature strolling carolers, children’s choirs, a toy drive and live music performances at participating businesses.
Also that day, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will make its only Toronto stop in the Junction at 5:30 p.m. at 750 Runnymede Rd. The train will be travelling across the U.S. and Canada to help raise awareness in the fight against hunger and will be collecting non-perishable goods for the cause.
Visit www.thejunctionbia.ca for more information.


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Welcome to the 1 October Warehouse & Logistics News. As the UK’s only fortnightly title for the industry, Warehouse & Logistics News is very pleased to announce that it has been chosen to be the official media partner to the RTITB Sumo Glove Lift Truck Operator of the Year Competition 2011. The RTITB is officially launching the competition on its stand at IMHX in November, and we’ll be carrying full details of the programme in our November 1st issue.
The RTITB Sumo Glove Lift Truck Operator of the Year Competition is set to make fork lift history and raise the bar in operator skills. Over the next 12 months, WLN will be actively supporting this exciting initiative, which will help convey the crucial message that in today’s fast-moving, high-pressure warehouse environment forklift safety is paramount, and proper operator training is essential to achieve it.
This competition is a welcome development for the industry, and will play a key role in raising awareness and understanding of the value of forklift operating skills among operators, trainers and managers, and highlight the need to keep these skills polished with regular training.
In 2008 RTITB and Sumo Glove held the first National Lift Truck Operator of the Year Competition, giving lift truck operators, their employers and their trainers the chance to showcase excellent training and operating skills. NORS-registered counterbalance operators who scored highly on their initial basic operating skills test were invited to enter the competition, and were further assessed by an on-line hazard perception and theory test.
From this the top scoring eight competitors from five regions around the UK and Ireland were selected to attend regional finals, from which ten finalists emerged to compete for the title of Lift Truck Operator of the Year 2008 in the National Final at the RTITB headquarters in Telford. It was an exciting and rewarding event for everyone involved, and the 2011 Competition will build on this strong foundation.
As the days turn gloomy to match the UK economic climate, thankfully the ‘W&L’ industry shines on as ever, helping Britain’s businesses that are still doing well to keep moving. To help you, in this issue we have features on Doors & Curtains, Pallet Networks and Warehouse Lighting. ‘Doors & Curtains’ includes industrial doors, curtains and roller-shutters. In Pallet Management, we look at the UK’s major national and regional pallet service providers and what they offer. Under Warehouse Lighting we cover smart lighting solutions for today’s warehouses, including energy-efficient, long-life and sensor-activated systems.
Finally, if you’ve been enjoying our exclusive series on the History of the forklift truck, in this issue we’ve now reached our fiftieth episode. And there’s still plenty of the story to come. Happy reading!
Warehouse & Logistics News


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Amazon will for the first time install an Amazon Locker at the Coachella music festival, allowing festival goers to order items directly to the festival.
Festival goers at this years’ Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which hosts 250,000 people over two separate weekends, will now be able to place and pick up orders inside the festival gates.
Attendees at Coachella’s first weekend, taking place on April 12-14, will be able to order items to the festival from 6 am on April 11, until noon on April 14.
READ MORE: Amazon pledges $10m for AI fairness research
Customer will be able to order items in the same time frame over the second weekend, which takes place on April 19-21.
Alongside the lockers, Amazon has launched a dedicated shopfront selling a curated list of festival essentials, including everything from sunscreen, to cameras and makeup.
“Our Amazon festival storefront is a one-stop shop for Coachella attendees. From functional items like sunscreen and hand sanitizer, to trendy accessories like instant-print cameras and aviator sunglasses, we’ve got festival-goers covered,” Amazon’s director of lockers and pickup Patrick Supanc said.
“Combined with the first-ever Amazon Lockers located inside the festival grounds, we are helping attendees spend less time worrying about packing and more time enjoying the experience of a lifetime that is Coachella.”
Amazon is also giving away two VIP passes to the second weekend of the festival.


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If you've been wondering what David Jaffe, the popular, outspoken creator of Twisted Metal and God of War, has been up to lately, wonder no more. Today, indie dev Pixelbionic has announced that Mr. Jaffe has joined the company’s advisory board as a Creative Advisor for its inaugural project, the vehicular combat game Autoduel.
According to a press release, Jaffe is the latest addition to Pixelbionic’s development ‘Dream Team’, assembled for the game by co-founders Maxx Kaufman – a founding member of InXile Entertainment and Art Director of Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Kingpin: Life of Crime and The Bard’s Tale, and Mike Arkin – a Studio Head and Producer with over 150 published titles, including Die Hard Trilogy, Battlezone and the Tokyo Xtreme Racer series.
Other key members of the Autoduel team include designer Scot Kramarich – Lead Designer of Interstate ‘82 and Designer on Interstate ’76 – and coder Rafael Paiz – Senior Programmer on The Matrix: Path of Neo and Programmer on Redneck Rampage and Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Joining David Jaffe on Pixelbionic’s advisory board are Zack Norman – creator of Interstate ’76, and Chanel Summers – a recognized leader in the field of interactive audio who while at Microsoft was instrumental in the design of the Xbox hardware’s audio capabilities.
So it appears there's quite a few veterans with varying degrees of commercial success associated with the project, but what exactly is Autoduel and how will it stand out from the crowd. Here's what Pixelbionic says about the project within its official description:
Autoduel is a PC online multiplayer game which pays homage to epic car combat games of the past such as Interstate ’76 and Twisted Metal—while offering gamers the chance to see what can be accomplished when a talented team of experienced developers is unleashed on modern hardware with cutting-edge graphics and online multiplayer capabilities. The game combines the high-octane thrills and spills of team-based car combat with RPG-influenced persistence and progression gameplay.
In a post-apocalyptic future, warriors drive to survive in their tricked-out, heavily armed vehicles scavenged from the blistered landscape, armed with a deadly array of lethal weaponry. Autoduel features team-based combat in a variety of open arenas from abandoned cities to dried-up riverbeds. Players choose from over twenty unique cars which are divided into three warring factions – the Ratters, the Scavengers and the Techies. The cars can all receive a wide variety of upgrades, from mechanical modifications to the drivetrain and suspension, to a broad array of powerful weapons and protective armor which can be bolted onto the vehicles. Additionally, players can extensively customize the paintwork and add decals in order to show their allegiance and express their unique style.
“I was super excited when I heard Pixelbionic’s vision for Autoduel,” said Pixelbionic creative advisor David Jaffe. “As a huge fan of the genre, I’m really looking forward to contributing to the game’s vision and design goals.”
“Our mission is to assemble a team of car combat visionaries to deliver the game fans want to not only play but also help create,” said Pixelbionic co-founder and President Mike Arkin. “Autoduel pairs the vision of the best talent in the industry with the enthusiasm and support of gamers, a combination we are confident will set the bar for what can be achieved in a new PC vehicular combat game.”
With quotes like that, you've probably guessed that Autoduel will be turning the key on a Kickstarter campaign to see how interested fans are in funding the project – and you'd be right. Pixelbionic says it was founded to create spirited games such as Autoduel that are ignored by publishers, leaving the door open to independent developers supported by fans of the genre. Autoduel development funding will be crowdsourced, with a Kickstarter campaign launching soon.
More details on the Autoduel Kickstarter campaign will be released shortly, with additional core members of the development team expected to be revealed over the coming weeks. Until then, feel free to check out the included art before letting us know if you'd be interested in funding the project in the comments below.


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Leave ID theft in the cold: State consumers able to freeze accounts
Mercer Island is known for its minimal crime rates and safe neighborhoods, but residents here are no safer than other Americans when it comes to identity theft.
As personal information becomes increasingly available in the digital world and scams grow more abundant, new measures are being implemented to help Islanders and other Washington residents protect their identities — and their assets.
The state government enacted new laws this year to help citizens avoid identity theft, and private insurance companies have started offering coverage to re-establish a victim’s identity.
“The new credit freeze law is an important step,” said Dave Bennett, the director of public relations for the Washington Credit Union League. “It’s a great first step that provides a great security measure.”
Governor Christine Gregoire signed the bill into law last week, allowing state residents to freeze their lines of credit to prevent identity thieves from opening new accounts. The freeze is free for identity theft victims and senior citizens. Others have to pay $10 per credit bureau, or $30 total. The law takes effect Sept. 1, 2008.
“Too many Washington consumers have experienced financial devastation and frustration that comes with being an identity theft victim, as well as the cumbersome task of cleaning up the damage,” State Attorney General Rob McKenna said of the legislation. “Legislators did the right thing this session when they united in their support of a preventative credit security freeze law and gave consumers a crucial defense tool. “Everyone benefits when fewer consumers are at risk of becoming identity theft victims,” McKenna continued. “Law enforcement benefits by less complex cases. Businesses will benefit by taking fewer losses, and the creation of an instant thaw means they won’t lose customers. Consumers will be able to quickly and conveniently provide access to their credit reports when they want to buy a car, obtain a mortgage or apply for a new credit card.”
A credit freeze associated with a name and Social Security number prevents anyone from opening a new line of credit under that identity. If the person chooses, he or she may use a private pin number to implement a temporary “thaw” in order to open a new credit account.
According to Cmdr. Leslie Burns, Mercer Island had 52 identity theft reports in 2006, and the Insurance Information Institute states the Federal Trade Commission reported more than 160,000 cases of identity fraud in 2002.
While banks and credit card companies usually cover the illegal or fraudulent charges related to identity thefts, they do not pay for the cost of re-establishing a name or clearing a bankruptcy. Insurance experts say victims spend an average of 600 hours and $1,400 recovering from identity theft.
To help offset the costs of recovering a personal identity, many insurance companies are now offering identity theft insurance.
Safeco Insurance, based in Seattle, offers identity theft insurance as an add-on to a homeowners, renters or condo policy for an extra $12 per year. Safeco also offers customers the chance to sign over power of attorney to a caseworker who then does all the “footwork” to re-establish or clear an identity.
“Anybody with a Social Security number is vulnerable to ID theft,” said Lee Sommerstein, a spokesman for Safeco. “Anybody in ‘Cyberville’ or anyone who makes purchases on the Internet is a potential target.”
Sommerstein also said Safeco is the only, if not one of the few, companies that offer such a caseworker, who can take a large burden off the policy holder’s shoulders.
Farmer’s Insurance, Mercer Islands largest private employer, implemented identity theft insurance into its new homeowner insurance policies, called Next Generation. For customers with older plans, identity theft coverage can be added onto a homeowners plan for an additional fee similar to Safeco, Farmer’s spokesman Jerry Davies said.
On average, the Insurance Institute estimates that policies cost between $25 and $50 per year for $15,000 to $25,000 worth of coverage. Identity theft insurance provides reimbursement for expenses such as phone bills, lost wages, notary and certified mailing costs and sometimes attorney fees with the prior consent of the insurer.
In addition to taking social security numbers of documents in stolen mail, Internet and phone scammers often catch Islanders with their guard down. Last week, an e-mail was sent to subscribers on the state attorney general’s listserve with a link to a fraudulent bank, asking the recipients to insert their account numbers and names. Another scam in a 2006 Mercer Island Police report involved an impersonator claiming to be from Puget Sound Energy, who threatened an Island resident he would shut off their service without an immediate credit card payment.
Many experts urge preventative steps over reliance on an insurance plan. But as criminals find new ways to steal identities, people need to protect themselves as much as possible.
Bennett recommended periodic checks of personal credit reports, protecting mail and calling police if an attempted fraud is suspected.
Nevertheless, identity thieves are able to obtain personal information from multiple sources. The key is to limit the possibilities to reduce the chances of it happening, Bennett said.
“Preventing identity theft is very, very difficult,” Bennett said. “It is not possible to completely prevent, but there are ways to limit the effects by managing your personal information carefully.”


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South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co said on Wednesday that it will produce the IONIQ 5 all-electric model in its first manufacturing plant in Southeast Asia.
Hyundai Motor completed the 150,000 unit-a-year plants in the Deltamas industrial complex near Cikarang, 40 km east of Jakarta, in December.
The Indonesian plant is already producing the compact Creta SUV, a strategic model for the region, and is expected to churn out the Santa Fe SUV in the first half and a small multi-purpose vehicle in the second half, reports Yonhap news agency.
Most of the vehicles to be produced in the plant will be sold in Indonesia and exported to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations markets, Hyundai said in a statement.
Hyundai plans to invest 1.92 trillion won ($1.55 billion) in the plant and increase its output capacity to 250,000 units, the company said in a statement.
The company did not provide a time frame for investment and capacity expansion.
The maker of the Sonata sedan and the Santa Fe SUV will help the Indonesian government in its plans to convert 130,000 units of public vehicles to electric ones by 2030, the statement said.
I hope that this IONIQ 5 from Hyundai will become an important milestone in the development of Indonesia’s electric vehicle ecosystem, and further accelerate the electric car ecosystem that is more advanced, – Indonesian President Joko Widodo said in the plant’s inauguration ceremony in Cikarang.
Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung said Indonesia is a key hub for Hyundai’s future mobility strategy and the plant will play a key role in the local automotive industry, specifically in the field of EVs.
“Moreover, Hyundai will keep contributing to the establishment of the EV ecosystem in Indonesia through synergies with the battery plant that we are currently developing,” Chung said.
Hyundai said it is also working with LG Energy Solution Ltd., South Korea’s leading car battery maker, to build a battery cell factory in Karawang, Indonesia, with a target to start production in 2024.
It has seven domestic plants five in Ulsan, one in Asan, and one in Jeonju — and 11 overseas plants — four in China and one each in the United States, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Russia, India, Brazil, and Indonesia. Their combined capacity reaches 5.65 million vehicles.


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The World Travel Market London is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and in light of this, its Buyers’ Club programme is being reimagined to offer a new and exclusive experience for buyers, exhibitors and visitors.
The mission of the revamp is to only have the highest calibre of buyers at the show, so that each one benefits from a more tailored experience. This will undoubtedly create a greater business experience for all and ensure fresh ideas and new possibilities.
Due to no changes having been made to visa policies for people entering the UK, following a deal or no-deal Brexit, global buyer applications are expected to exceed those of last year (9,000).
As part of the new and improved WTM London Buyers’ Club, the top 600 industry buyers will receive invitations to attend. These buyers have achieved their position due to their reputation, place of business and buyer spending power. There will be fewer than in previous years, but this group will have been screened to guarantee the highest quality set of buyers that will have ever attended WTM London.
Outside of the top 600 global buyers, the application process includes a new vetting procedure. This process will gather data on how individual buyers use WTM London to enhance their business, ensuring all who attend gain maximum benefits from the event.
All Buyers’ Club members have the opportunity to expand connections in the comfort of dedicated luxury lounges, complete with private meeting rooms, as well as participate in at least one of the WTM London Speed Networking events.
Senior exhibition director, WTM London, Simon Press enthused: “This fundamental change in the way in which the Buyers’ Programme will operate represents an exciting advancement for WTM London.
“Entering our 40th edition has encouraged us to refine our products in order to give attendees the best experience possible. We feel our more exclusive approach to the Buyers’ Club will produce fantastic results, making WTM London the location for the world’s top buyers to do business and to enhance the global travel industry,” he concluded


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Judge Finds Claims Against Macy's Related To Bath Mats Should Be Dismissed
Mealey's (July 29, 2016, 2:00 PM EDT) -- FRESNO, Calif. — A California federal judge on July 21 granted a retailer's request to dismiss claims for violation of California's unfair competition law (UCL) and other California law claims against it, finding that a purchaser's allegations are solely based on misleading statements on the packaging of bath mats (John Crenshaw v. Macy's Inc., et al., No. 1:16-CV-765, E.D. Calif.; 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95522).
(Opinion available. Document #58-160823-002Z.)
John Crenshaw filed a products liability action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of...


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Innovation @ Ntegra
April 14, 2023
CIO Disruptive Technology Radar #4
A roundup of disruptive technology-related topics and vendors our CIO, Andy Jefferies has found interesting.
Innovation and Technology in the news
- E-scooters have been in the UK news this week. While they have been legal in many (but not all) European countries such as France and Germany, they have remained illegal to use on public roads and paths in the UK – for now. Have regulators have seen the green side-effect benefits to the covid-19 lockdown, and have decided to revisit e-scooters as a potential solution to returning traffic in our cities? After 4th July, trial locations across the UK will allow provisional or full car or moped license holders to access approved rental schemes. I don’t think this is a foregone conclusion – we have safety challenges protecting cyclists already, but it’s good to see this being looked at seriously. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/escooter-legal-uk
- Lots of brands have been suspending/boycotting advertising spend on social media platforms in the fallout from BLM protests where platforms have been forced to consider the content they propagate again. It’s a bit of a policy tightrope for the social media giants to walk, but perhaps having an evolving policy rather than none, and taking more responsibility is now the expected standard. Over recent years, I had pondered (and hoped) that the internet and social media was in its infancy, and like awkward pre-teens, was struggling with its emotional maturity being behind its mental capabilities. I’m personally a bit pessimistic about our ability to grow up and take accountability for our content and our exchanges over the internet like we do (more of) in person, but at least the debate is in public view. Are brands using this as an excuse to reduce or reset advertising spend? Maybe, but some do seem pretty authentic on their reasoning. Ben & Jerry’s is somewhat of an activist here, and has maybe helped pull their parent brand Unilever into action? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53146256
More brands jump on the movement here: https://www.marketingweek.com/coca-cola-starbucks-unilever-join-facebook-ad-boycott/
Much of Facebook’s revenue actually comes from SME’s, so it will be interesting to see the impact here, and if SME’s can afford/choose to join the movement too.
Articles & Reading
- Sequoia (when will I ever be able to spell that first time around?) posted on Medium an article about their investment in Neeva, arguing that information search has been subverted by advertising based monetization models.
- We may as well make this heavy on the platforms this week given the news and my recent reading on Platforms and Hyperscaling organisations. This article on Pando titled ‘The trouble with Platforms’ highlights that GAFA didn’t get to their dominant positions overnight and that all of them share characteristics such as being marketplaces, being advertising heavy hitters. Make sure you read down to the media pyramid suggested consumption graphic – it’s not the thrust of the article, but it resonated for me as we emerge out of lockdown, where it’s certainly made it clearer to me about the issues on our mental health with social media overconsumption.
Tech Spotlight – interesting and disruptive startups on my radar
Instabase are in this week’s spotlight. Their platform focuses on the automation of document processing, bringing features such as computer vision and feature extraction into a low-code platform to enable enterprises to automate document workflows.
Instabase are largely the first automation/low-code startup I’ve seen recently who have focused in this space – others have been focused on wider systems integration and orchestration or end-user automation (RPA). Their platform also seems pretty elegant and capable of handling enterprise complexity and management.
If you are interested in any of these vendors or disruptive technology please contact us to discuss our personalised horizon scanning and disruptive tech radar service.


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We intend to follow through on our potential and continue to be recognized for our innovations both in the marketplace and as a Chicago Innovation Award winner.
-- Nexvu CEO Eddie Nath
Naperville, Illinois (PRWEB) November 16, 2011
Nexvu (http://www.nexvu.com) has been named among the ten finalists in the 10th Annual Chicago Innovation Awards Up and Comer category. The Chicago Innovation Awards winners and Up and Comers were named at a ceremony held at the Harris Theater on Tuesday evening, November 8. Nexvu has been recognized for its innovations in creating retail analytics solutions that measure, optimize, and visualize the ROI of in-store technology investments in real-time.
The Chicago Innovation Awards, celebrating its 10th year, is the Chicago region’s foremost recognition of the most innovative new products or services brought to market or to public service each year. There were more than 400 nominees for the 2011 Chicago Innovation Awards, representing an increase of more than 60 percent over the past two years. 75 companies were named candidates in the Up and Comer category, with only 10 selected as finalists – among them, Nexvu.
“It is gratifying for everyone at Nexvu to be recognized for the leadership we are working so hard to provide as we bring solutions to major retailers that enable them to maximize the return on investment they derive from the many, new in-store technologies they’re adopting,” says Eddie Nath, CEO for Nexvu. “Being recognized as an Up and Comer is a great first step, but we intend to follow through on our potential and continue to be recognized for our innovations both in the marketplace and as a Chicago Innovation Award winner,” Nath says.
Nexvu (http://www.nexvu.com) delivers analytics solutions to the retail industry that measure, optimize, and visualize the ROI of in-store technology investments in real-time. Based in Naperville, IL, Nexvu’s customers include some of the world’s largest retailers. The company’s monitoring-as-a-service analytics offerings leverage patented technologies and are designed to provide retailers’ C-level executives with the control over and visibility into customer and employee interactions with in-store technology. Nexvu’s “Store Performance Index” is a unique metric for measuring the top line contributions and bottom line impact of new in-store technology investments including devices, networks, and applications. For more information, please visit http://www.nexvu.com or call (630) 364-4080.
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Office Depot and Office Max were once the last two giants of the ex nihilo credit based roll-up of the neighborhood stationary store. Now they are one.
Drove past a downtown Seattle special Office Depot/Office Max installed a few years ago to try to improve sales by mimicking the old neighborhood stationary store. It has failed. A sign invites all to visit their inconvenient location in the industrial district next to the welfare office.
Target tried the same thing, will no doubt yield the same results, if it hasn't already. The dinosaurs can try all sorts of wacky things, because the fraudulent stock market works on the "buy on the rumor, sell on the news."
Target has also tried to be an upscale fashion store, competing on price. Again, a contradiction in terms.
“The Shops at Target is an example of how Target continues to explore new programs,” Boylan said. “We’re always putting a unique and fresh spin on the concept of design collaborations with the goal of bringing our guests compelling assortments at great prices.”It's oer already. To open up "boutiques" in Targets is to create a rumor: "Target has found a new market." When they shut it down, then that is news. Too late, the manager who opened the boutiques has retired with his bonus. Taken from your pension.
Not to feel bad, your pension is tallied in ex nihilo credit, there is nothing there anyway. Nothing from nothing is nothing.
Not an hour after driving past the closed Max/Office Depot in the mail came a flier from Office Depot/Max advertising amazing 20% - 50% off sale! Wow! But wait, it does not mention the prices upon which the %s affix. No doubt because one can quickly find Costco prices are cheaper anyway. Costco is closer to a co-op, where the customers are members.
Back in the day the big daddy of the Seattle neighborhood stationery stores was JK Gill. I think they had three stores. They were rich from a family owned stationary stores, and all the other local lesser stores supported families.
Under ex nihilo credit all those families went out of business and one family took massive profits while employing people who could not earn a living wage. Multiply this times countless pet stores, corner grocery stores, hardware stores, tire stores, gas stations, clothing stores, on and on. All wiped out by ex nihilo credit, at interest. There is a reason all major religions condemn usury, let alone ex nihilo credit at usury.
Now the dinosaurs, like Sport Authoritys, are dropping dead. It is easy to see Office Depot/Max is on its last legs. Petco, Lowes, Best Buy, all looking shaky.
My guess is the hegemon will let Trump get settled in, and then let the big crash come Oct 2017. Who knows, that is my guess.
In any event, their demise is great news. We can see a renaissance of the family business in the wake of their destruction.
Commercial Real Estate goes up farther are crashes lower than residential... is it coming in 2017?
"The key default threshold in "junk" bonds is 5%. Once defaults reach that level, the losses associated with the bad loans cause lenders to draw in their credit. They get more conservative and demand higher interest rates and other safeguards that significantly restrict access to more credit. Well, the same thing happens in virtually every other segment of the credit market, including commercial real estate.
A recent Wall Street Journal article warned about the big problems developing in commercial real estate, especially for shopping centers. Overall, the default rate on commercial real estate loans that have been packaged into securities (about $400 billion of debt) has now breached the critical 5% threshold. The default rate on these securities is 5.6%. That means, going forward, it's going to be a lot harder for commercial real estate firms to move risky mortgages off their books.
Research firm Morningstar now predicts that 40% of commercial-mortgage-backed securities loans maturing next year won't be paid off.
If that's anywhere close to accurate, the entire market for commercial real estate lending will be virtually shut down, making it almost impossible to "roll" even relatively safe mortgages forward. This is a huge risk to real estate companies."
Feel free to forward this by email to three of your friends.


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GLASGOW curry lovers are being offered a chance to try a new dish, specially invented to combine traditional Scottish and Indian recipes.
Lovers of Indian food who enjoy exploring new tastes and a good laugh can get their fill of both at a unique evening of curry and comedy at Cafe India in Glasgow this week on Thursday, March 28.
Comedian, broadcaster and renowned foodie, Hardeep Sing Kohli, is to share his passion for Indian cuisine by serving up an one night-only special menu of his favourite meals with plenty of jokes and anecdotes on the side.
Top of the menu is a completely new dish created by Hardeep, as a celebration of Scottish and Indian cultures.
Balmoral Chicken Pakora mixes together a signature dish created for Queen Victoria, using chicken breast stuffed with haggis, with the traditional spicy deep fried snacks found across India, Pakistan and Nepal.
“It’s never been done before. Nobody has ever tried it. I’ve invented it as a bit more than a wee nod to the mix of cultures and Scotland’s love of curry,” said Hardeep who is proud of his Glasgow and Indian heritage.
“Glasgow people know their curries really well because there has been a vibrant Asian community there for as long as anywhere else in the UK.
“Glasgow is an international city and there has always been a sense of people looking to try something new. That’s why you’ll notice there is more innovation in Glasgow restaurants compared to almost anywhere else in the country, even London.
“If you look at the menu of a typical Indian restaurant in the city there is always something a wee bit different on it, such as haggis pakoroa. I’ve never come across another city in the UK where there is so much love for the pakora dish.”
Cafe India has been at the forefront of restaurant innovation in Glasgow with the launch of a special tapas menu and lunchtime tiffin aimed at local businesses, Sunday cooking classes for curry lovers and even special theme nights.
Bilal Hussain, marketing manager for Cafe India, said: “There has been a lot on interest from curry lovers who like to be the first to try something new. It’s something for them to tell their friends and dine out on for years to come, especially if the dish becomes popular and starts appearing everywhere. Who wouldn’t want to say “I was one of the the first people in the world to try that recipe’?”
Cafe India’s celebrated chefs will help cook the three-course meal to Hardeep’s own authentic recipes while the former Celebrity Masterchef finalist and presenter of ‘New British Kitchen’ and ‘Chefs and the City’ comperes a cabaret style evening of entertainment.
The special appearance at Cafe India in Glasgow’s Albion Street is an additional date to Hardeep’s successful Indian Takeaway tour in which the self-confessed foodie entertain audiences across the country in his search for the best curry in the UK.
During the show, Hardeep will share recipe tips, anecdotes and a diet of stories based on his shared Scottish and Indian heritage.
Hardeep’s knowledge and appreciation of Indian food is well renowned. His first book, Indian Takeaway, was nominated for an Independent Book Award and he has written about food for Olive, Observer Food Monthly, The Spectator, The Times, The Sunday Times and various other publications.
Tickets for the one night only event at Cafe India cost £35 each and include a welcome drink and three course Indian feast. Reservations can be made by telephone on 0141 552 5115 or by email to marketing @cafeindiaglasgow.com.
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Flag Media. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Tracy Kilsby


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On December 14, a medical practitioner named Dr. Siti Juariah or better known as Dr. Jue, had shared an article which found that sweetened milk is very often used as part of many people’s daily diet. According to the article findings posted by Dr. Jue, sweetened condensed milk actually has a higher percentage of sugar than cow’s milk which is contrary to popular belief as a vast majority of people thought it was essentially cow’s milk with a little bit of added sugar.
Sweetened condensed milk is a product which is processed by adding sugar in large quantities to the milk. This is needed because sugar will act as a preservative and will ensure the milk will last for years. In addition to that, the high sugar content also causes microorganisms which can be found in the milk to die and thus serves to maintain the sterility of the product.
Most sweetened condensed milk products sold in the market actually contains palm oil which is used in substitute for cow’s milk and therefore most sweetened condensed milks out there do not contain milk at all
The actual sugar content that can be found in a sweetened condensed milk product is also reported to be an average of 45% while the fresh milk content is only about 10% or less
It is clear that we as consumers have been deceived by advertisements which claim that sweetened dairy products contain low fat, various vitamins such as vitamin D, vitamin A and vitamin B and more calcium! These are just false statements to get consumers to buy the product.
Imagine the amount of sugar consumed by the population who uses sweetened milk on a daily basis. We not only use condensed milk as a beverage sweetener, we also use it to make cookies, cakes, various confectioneries and so on.
In fact, there are also some parents who mix sweetened condensed milk into their children’s drinks in lieu of powdered milk
A better option would be to use evaporated milk instead of condensed milk. Evaporated milk and condensed milk are similar canned milk products that have had water removed from them. The only difference is that one is sweetened and the other is not. You get the same milky flavor from evaporated milk and you can also add sugar to your liking and control the overall amount of sugar in your diet.
The World Health Organization recently recommended a sharp drop in the added sugar intake of a persons daily diet from 10 percent to only 5 percent. The reason for this is because too much sugar in a person’s diet can cause serious harm to their health. Eating too much sugar can really mess up your skin as study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests. There is a relationship between a high-sugar diet and the problem of acne both in adults and teenagers. Multiple studies also suggest a link between sugar intake and the risk of depression as having a high sugar intake would cause inflammation throughout the body and this is linked to higher chances of a person developing depression.
So do yourself a favor and cut down on your sugar intake today!