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WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Big phone companies appear to have blunted efforts in Congress to enshrine controversial "Net neutrality" principles into law, at least for now, but the issue is unlikely to go away.
Earlier this week, a key U.S. senator said lawmakers are deeply divided over what, if anything, to do. And on Tuesday, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission expressed reservations about the need for a new law.
"There are issues of how you define Net neutrality and what the problem is," said Paul Glenchur, a regulatory analyst at Washington Research Group.
In simple terms, Net neutrality refers to the idea that customers should be able to go to any Web site they want. Network owners such as AT&T Inc.
Yet so far, there's virtually no evidence that network operators have restricted traffic and they have repeatedly promised not to do so. Network owners also argue that legislation could harm their ability to attract new investment or to pay for network upgrades, the result of which could be a slower Internet for everybody.
Those arguments appear to have gained traction. With a busy calendar and time running short in an election year, Congress may opt to table the issue or simply to clarify the FCC's authority.
"I think there are more differences on our committee on this one issue than any other issue," Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, told an industry trade group Monday. Stevens chairs the influential Senate Commerce Committee.
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, for his part, thinks the agency already has the tools to ensure network owners don't block Internet traffic. Last year, the agency adopted a policy in favor of Net neutrality, though it did not fix any hard and fast rules.
"I think the FCC has the authority to act," Martin said Tuesday at the TelecomNext trade show in Las Vegas. "It has done so in the past."
Agency officials say the issue is complicated and is probably better addressed for now on a case-by-case basis.
The long-simmering debate over Net neutrality burst in public view last December after AT&T's CEO said it would be "nuts" for his company to allow firms like "Google or Yahoo" to use big chunks of "bandwidth" on the phone company's network for free.
The comments by blunt-speaking AT&T chief Edward Whitacre Jr. set critics into action. They worry that the imposition of fees on Web companies would indirectly raise costs for consumers and let network owners act as gatekeepers of the Internet. Big content suppliers could afford the fees but smaller ones could not, a development that could stifle competition and innovation.
The most vocal opponents have been Web giants such as Yahoo! Inc. YHOO and smaller upstarts like the Internet-phone provider Vonage, a company that relies on access to networks of big phone and cable companies to service its customers.
Network owners counter that rising demand for video and other data-intensive services on the Internet is forcing them to spend gobs of money to upgrade their networks.
They say it would be unfair to make consumers bear the full cost of those upgrades in the form of higher monthly rates. Web companies like Google Inc.
Vendors like Cisco and Alcatel
Disney, for its part, has already signed content deals with network owners such as Verizon
Yet phone companies insist they won't discriminate against Web sites that refuse to pay fees. If consumers pay for a certain download speed, they'll be able to access any legitimate site like they normally do.
"AT&T will not block or degrade traffic, period," AT&T's Whitacre said this week at TelecomNext, softening his original position. "Markets work best when consumers have choices."
Still, Whitacre and other phone executives insist they should have the right to strike other arrangements if certain Web companies want guarantees of speedier and more reliable connections for their customers.
If Google wanted to deliver movies over the Internet, for example, the company would have to pay a fee to ensure that its customers can quickly download the video at high speeds without interruption.
Of course, big content providers would prefer not to pay such fees. They already spend plenty of money to buy or rent space on computer servers to make sure customers can reach their Web sites. To some extent, then, the debate over Net neutrality is less about Internet freedom than about who pays the piper.
"As with most regulatory battles, it becomes about the companies," said Kyle Dixon, a former FCC official now at the Progress and Freedom Foundation, a free-market oriented think tank focused on high-tech issues. "This is a debate about who gets what."
Paying a premium
Nonetheless, public-advocacy groups worry that consumers and small Internet companies will get caught in the crossfire. They say prices for Internet access could rise and the emergence of innovative new companies could be stifled unless Congress acts.
Such developments would also harm the economy and put the U.S. at a disadvantage vs. countries that better protect access to the Internet, they say.
So far, there's scant evidence to support those views. In the past two years, phone companies have slashed prices on DSL high-speed Internet service to drum up demand and combat rivals in the cable business. The number of Americans subscribing to high-speed service is rapidly growing.
At the same time, however, phone companies have introduced different levels of service in an effort to entice customers to spend more. If they want higher access speeds, they can get them -- for a price.
Executives note that a tiered pricing model is a historical norm. Customers who want more -- TV channels, power or long-distance minutes -- pay more.
"The business models underlying capital-intensive networks, whether it's telecom, cable or electric power, have always used differentiated pricing, based on a range of customer needs," BellSouth Corp. CEO Duane Ackerman said.
The FCC's Martin has shown some concern about the ability of network operators to fund improvements. "We need to have a regulatory environment that allows companies to invest in their networks," he said.
Public advocacy groups don't dispute the right of phone companies to charge consumers a premium for higher speeds. Once customers sign up for a faster service, however, they should have equal access to any Web site, they say.
By forcing Web companies to pay fees, they are effectively double charging, critics complain. They liken such a situation to Fedex charging a fee to both the sender and the recipient of a mail item.
Wait and see
While the debate over Net neutrality rages, phones companies continue to tinker with their pricing plans.
Verizon, for instance, offers consumers an introductory one-year rate of $15 a month for download speeds of roughly 750 kilobits a second. Or they could pay double ($30 a month) for speeds up four times faster at 3 megabits a second.
In the few areas where the company's superfast fiber network has been installed, Verizon even offers download speeds of a whopping 30 megabits a second for $180 a month. Small businesses are viewed as the most likely customers for those souped-up connections.
Verizon charges higher rates for its fiber network because it will cost the carrier billions of dollars to build it. The initiative costs so much, in fact, that until recently investors turned away from the company's stock in droves amid concerns that Verizon would not reap a sufficient return on what's viewed as very risky investment.
The high cost of fiber upgrades is what's driving phone companies to consider new ways to raise revenue.
Without additional revenue, they say, they might have to cut back on upgrades even as demand for network bandwidth explodes. That could lead to more traffic jams on the Internet, meaning customers would face longer waits or encounter more interruptions in service. Critics say those concerns are wildly exaggerated
For now, the majority of lawmakers appear unwilling to take sides until they see more evidence.
"We ought to define the problem and give [regulators] a chance, if it ever does happen, to take action," Stevens said. "That would be my solution."


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Hundreds line up in downtown Denver for retail pot sales (Slideshow)
Hundreds of people lined up Wednesday morning in downtown Denver for the chance to legally buy marijuana for a non-medical use for the first time.
The line at LoDo Wellness Center, 1617 Wazee St., ran almost a half a block long as building owner Donald C. Andrews handed out red tickets so people didn’t have to wait in the cold, but could come back.
Most, however, stayed.
“We’ve got a special deal waiting for the person who gets ticket number 420,” said a smiling Andrews, whose wife, Linda Andrews, owns LoDo Wellness, one of the first dispensaries in Denver to be issued a licenses by the city and state to sell marijuana to anyone over 21 years old.
Sales were limited to a quarter-ounce of weed, or its equivalent in edible product, and people were waiting more than two hours to buy it.
Henry, 54, of Denver, was one of the first customers. He declined to give his last name, but said he’d lived in Denver for more than 20 years.
“I’m very proud of our state right now,” he said. “I don’t have to worry about getting arrested. I think this is going to end up benefiting the state.”
Henry bought the equivalent of an eighth of an ounce of hash product for $60.
Donald Andrews, who bought the first joint sold at the store seconds after 8 a.m., said people with drivers licenses from 40 different states had purchased cannabis.
Dennis Huspeni covers real estate and retail for the Denver Business Journal and writes for the "Real Deals" blog. Phone: 303-803-9232.
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Alabama pharmacies struggling to fill Adderall prescriptions during shortage
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - We are nine months into the nationwide shortage of Adderall. The Food and Drug Administration confirmed the shortage in October after a high demand for the medication during the Coronavirus.
“It’s been a whole hurdle trying to keep it in stock in sufficient quantities to be able to serve the population,” said Dr. Chris Finley at Auburn Pharmacy.
Nine months into the nationwide shortage of Adderall, pharmacies receive calls every day from people asking if the medication is back in stock…
“A lot of the time, whenever I do try and get a prescription for Adderall that I take now, I have to call 10 or 11 pharmacies near me,” said Jay Roland.
Every so often, getting out-of-town visitors as well.
“A lot of people say, ‘Hey, well, let me call around to see if I can find somebody who has it, and then they realize nobody’s got it,” said Dr. Finley.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, the shortage of Adderall began after a surge in demand for the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder drug during the coronavirus pandemic.
Jay Roland must call his pharmacy five days before his refill runs out, or he could be waiting days or weeks before he can get his Adderall.
“A lot of time, the smaller or more local pharmacies they, in my experience, have had it more frequently or at least have it so customers service can be like ‘hey we might be getting it on this day,” said Roland.
Dr. Chris Finley at Auburn Pharmacy said as the supply shortage continues, people with ADHD are forced to change direction in brands… causing them to double up on certain medication strengths…
“I hate that patients would have to switch to say, you know, Adderall to a Concerta or Vyvanse or something like that… you run into insurance problems and insurances aren’t going to pay for brand names,” said Dr. Finley.
Dr. Finley said all pharmacies do their best to serve as many people as possible.
“At the end of the day you are relying on other people to manufacture the drug and get it to you and things like that,” said Dr. Finley.
For more information on shortage and what is available in your area, click here.
Copyright 2023 WTVM. All rights reserved.


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Kenya Airways is counting on traders of electronic and textile goods importing from Vietnam to sustain direct flights to Hanoi, the Asian country’s capital city.
Kenya Airways last week announced that it will launch three direct flights to Vietnam — one of the world’s fastest growing economies — in March.
The new route is a recognition of Vietnam’s growing prominence as a source of imports for Kenyan and West African traders and is expected to boost KQ’s revenue on Asian routes.
“The potential of Vietnam as a country with strong economic growth and a growing middle class is significant. Vietnam has shown a considerable and stable economic growth over the recent years, including an increase in trade with Africa,” said Mbuvi Ngunze, Kenya Airways’ CEO in a statement.
Kenya’s trade with Vietnam as captured by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics is negligible, but this is expected to change as more global companies shift their manufacturing from China, whose labour costs are on the rise, to the country.
Kenya Airways is also keen to capitalise on the first mover’s advantage to make Jomo Kenyatta International Airport the connecting hub for African traders with business interests in Hanoi.
“As the first airline to directly connect Vietnam to Africa, we are sure to leverage on this growth. Together with our SkyTeam partner Vietnam Airlines, we are very confident the addition of Hanoi to our network will be a success.”
Vietnam’s fast growing economy, cheap labour, stable politics and the government’s open door policy make the country an attractive market for multinationals to venture.
Last year, Samsung announced that it will move all its production units to Vietnam.
Its plant, which will be fully functional within the course of the year, will manufacture 80 per cent of mobile phones sold by the company.
Microsoft also announced that it was closing Nokia’s production units in Hungary and moving most of production to a plant in Bac Ninh in Vietnam. Intel and LG electronics have production lines in Vietnam, too.
Vietnam’s relatively cheaper labour market, compared to other countries in Asia such as China, is seen as the main reason why electronic companies are setting production bases in the country.
A recent survey by Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) indicates that the average work wage in Beijing is Sh41,940 ($466) per month while in Hanoi it is Sh13,050 ($145).
A 2013 World Bank report on trade facilitation, value creation, and competitiveness indicated that Vietnam’s textile industry growth rate from 2011 to 2015 was forecasted at 12 per cent per annum.
Its export revenue is forecast to increase from Sh1 trillion ($11.2 billion) in 2010 to Sh1.6 trillion ($18 billion) in 2015.
From 2016 to 2020, a sector growth rate of nine percent per year is predicted, while the total export value is targeted to reach Sh2.3 trillion ($25 billion) by 2020.


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Mapbox has announced a Unity SDK that provides a mapping platform, similar to the AR mapping of Pokemon Go, to developers across the gaming industry. With the major success of Pokemon Go, maps could be the foundation for a new generation of AR and VR games and Mapbox aims to capitalize.
Here Technologies has announced a beta of its new location data management cloud service: Here XYZ. XYZ is an open, community driven project that allows contributors to upload, manage, and display location data in a simple, and scalable manner. The service includes APIs and SDKs.


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Disney to clamp down on junk food ads aimed at children in bid to curb obesity epidemic
DailyMail: Walt Disney Co, owner of the ABC broadcast network and a suite of cable channels, is axing junk-food ads from its TV programs, radio shows and websites aimed at children.
It is the latest effort to curb the worrying obesity epidemic faced by the U.S. and will force food and drinks companies to comply with strict nutrition requirements if they want to advertise during Disney’s shows.
Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger and first lady Michelle Obama made a high profile announcement regarding the new rules on Tuesday in Washington. ‘This is huge,’ said Obama, an exercise buff who has championed healthier eating and exercise habits aimed at children as part of her ‘Let’s Move’ initiative. ‘Disney is doing what no major media company has ever done before in the United States.
‘And what I hope every company will do going forward when it comes to the ads they show and the food they sell they’re asking themselves one simple question: Is this good for our kids?’ Nutrition experts have long called for an end to child-targeted junk food advertising.
The Disney move follows New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s
announcement big gubmint, nanny plan last week of a plan to ban sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces (about half a litre) in most restaurants, theaters, delis and vending carts throughout the city.
Disney plans to cut advertising during children’s programming on its networks such as ABC and Disney XD or its kid-focused websites for foods that fail to meet minimum nutrition requirements.
‘We want parents to know that the food products that we license and the ones promoted and advertised within our kids programming will be held to the same healthier standards,’ Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger said.
The new guidelines, which take effect in 2015, set limits on the number of calories and amount of fat and added sugar for main and side dishes and snacks.
Kraft Foods Inc’s Oscar Mayer Lunchables and Capri Sun products, for example, would not make the cut, Disney said. Advertised breakfast cereals will have to contain fewer than 10 grams of sugar in a serving – about the same amount as three Chips Ahoy cookies.
Disney is also launching its own ‘Mickey Check’ label for food it deems to be nutritious to help promote certain healthier foods in grocery stores and other retailers.
That same year Disney, which owns the ABC-TV network and a host of cable channels, introduced voluntary guidelines that prohibited licensing of Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters for foods that do not meet minimum nutritional requirements.
That helped sell more than 2 billon servings of Disney-licensed fruits and vegetables since then, Iger said at the event, which featured a Mickey Mouse character making yogurt parfaits surrounded by buckets of lemons, oranges and apples.
Disney’s new effort will not allow advertising during children’s programming on its networks, including ABC and Disney XD and its child-focused websites, for foods that fail to meet minimum nutrition requirements. The company could not say how many products would be affected by the new rules, but experts said not all unhealthy foods will disappear.
If this is so important, why wait three years to implement these new guidelines? Isn’t it important now? What about the children?
Oh, and if you plan to go to Disneyland, check out a few of the restaurants and their menus advertised on the Disneyland website:
Goofy’s Kitchen (buffet restaurant): Gawrsh! Enjoy a fun-filled breakfast or dinner like no other. Your host, Goofy, welcomes you to the eatery where boisterous fun is the order of the day. Enjoy all you care to eat while snapping memorable photos with Goofy and the gang.
Disney’s PCH Grill: The Surf’s Up! Breakfast with Mickey & Friends is a lively Character breakfast that features a bountiful buffet. Feast on family favorites from the omelet station, Mickey waffles and pancakes — or let your kids create their own breakfasts!
Rainforest Café: Savor generous portions of food from around the world under a shimmering fiber-optic starscape. Top off your dining safari with the restaurant’s signature desert, the Sparkling Volcano, a tower of chocolate brownies capped with ice cream and whipped cream, and drizzled with caramel and chocolate sauces.
Big Thunder Ranch Barbeque: At this barbecue blowout, you can have it all! Feast on an all-you-care-to-eat family-style meal featuring mouthwatering barbeque delights like chicken, ribs, baked beans, Cookie’s Cole Slaw and more. Dessert is available for an additional cost. You can order up an extravaganza of ranch hand sundaes and old-fashioned ice cream floats, seasonal cobblers, fresh strawberry shortcake or a family-style cookie bake topped with vanilla bean ice cream and hot fudge.
Notice how they omitted that these new guidelines don’t apply to the restaurants at their theme parks? Hypocrites.


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TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Jan. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobile-shopping app Ozmott has announced an addition to their Marketing Department, Public Relations Consultant Jeff Barrett.
Barrett is the CEO of Status Creative, a proactive Grand Rapids based PR firm specializing in creative digital content. In 2012, PR Newswire named him an Earnie winner for Best Use Of Video in Social Media. "Jeff's creative abilities have stood out to me this past year, so I am thrilled to work with him on the growth of our application," says Kristin Fehrman, Director of Marketing. "Not only is his work fun, his professionalism and community connections will be a strong asset to our team," Fehrman adds.
Barrett has strong Michigan roots having worked on several projects for the state. Most notably, his work includes The Grand Rapids Lip Dub and Pure Michigan Statewide Singalong with Chrysler. Both videos generated international attention and millions of views. He is the Second Vice President of the Social Media Association of Michigan and engages people with his popular Twitter account @BarrettAll.
"I see the potential of Ozmott, how powerful a marketing tool it can be for merchants, how convenient it can be for consumers and I get excited about the possibilities. They have a great team and I look forward to working with them to create another Michigan success story. Expect great things in 2013."
Ozmott has seen rapid growth in the nine months since its market release and is looking forward to working with Barrett for the next six months.
The Ozmott application is available on both Apple and Android devices.
For more information about Ozmott, please call Kristin Fehrman at 231-883-9819 or email firstname.lastname@example.org.
Ozmott is a mobile platform built to connect retail merchants with consumers through a virtual economy. The application relies on a sustainable deals model that allows consumers to take advantage of in-demand, merchant- supplied offers. Daily deal sites have seen increased growth over the past few years, yet Ozmott is different. Where most sites rely on individual purchases to unlock group deals, Ozmott aims to create a community; where users interact, make friends and gain access to 'Luxe Offers'. By introducing their own brand of virtual currency, or Pips, Ozmott users are encouraged to share deals with their friends to earn additional Pips where they later can be applied toward otherwise out of reach high- end lifestyle products.


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With three rooms full of one-of-a-kind crafts, the Artisan Marketplace celebrated their grand opening on Tuesday.
Barbara Pace, owner of the hand-crafted shop, brought together artists in different fields to offer the Marketplace as a platform for them to sell their art.
Pace worked trade shows for more than three years before deciding to invest in her own location, where she and her employees could be reached exclusively.
Desiree Jones, a shopper at the Artisan Marketplace, says she has been to many craft shops before, but this one by far is the most authentic she has seen thus far.
“I’ve been to so many craft shops, and this by far will be in my top five. All the crafts here seem more authentic than the ones that i’ve seen.”
Pace has six employees, she does the fabric creations, but the others specialize in other fields such as: pottery, woodturning, jewelry making, oil and acrylic painting, coffee house harvesting, and hand-made soaps and lotions.
Jasmyn Jones, a shopper at the Marketplace, says she has seen the most unique items she has seen in awhile.
“The Artisan Marketplace is so diverse in the crafts they carry. The shop is filled with so many authentic and unique pieces to choose from; more than I have seen in awhile.”
Pace said she created Artisan Marketplace because she typically wouldn't be considered an artist, as a Fabric Creator, but in actuality, she and the rest of her team are.
"I am an artist and fabric creator, but most people wouldn't consider that an artist, which is why I named the shop Artisan Marketplace," Pace said. "If a customer gets something from here, they won't see it anywhere else."
Artisan Marketplace is a convenient place to for the people who likes to have exclusive material.
If you want to be the only one in the city of Tallahassee, sporting a one of a kind handbag, or any other fabric based product, Artisan Marketplace would be a convenient place to start.
If you are looking to browse the shop, you can locate them at 1000 Thomasville Rd, in Tallahassee, Fla.


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Bosses at the retail giant are now set to take ownership of the 93,000 sq ft site, which is the centre piece of the Mander Centre's massive £35 million revamp in Wolverhampton.
Contractors Bowmer & Kirkland have now put the finishing touches to structural work on the four-floor building, which occupies the site of the former TJ Hughes and Tesco outlets.
Next week Debenhams will commence a 17-week interior fit-out to transform the empty shell. There will then be a two-week period to bring in new stock before the shop's grand opening in October.
Mander Centre interim manager Ramsay Floyd, said: "This was a monumental task and it is a great credit to everyone involved that the first stage of the work has been completed bang on time.
"Debenhams is obviously a major part of the wider work that is going on to refurbish the Mander Centre, so it was important to get this stage finished, particularly with the opening coming up later this year."
Work started on the new Debenhams branch in January last year. It will feature three floors of retail and a food court, along with underground and roof level car parks and three separate entrances.
The department store is set to open alongside the fully revamped centre, which retail bosses say will see a raft of new shops open at the site.
At the end of last year fashion giant H&M became the first major name to move in to the centre, on the site formerly occupied by Woolworths and Discount UK.
Councillor Udey Singh of Tettenhall Regis ward said: "The fact that Debenhams has heavily invested in Wolverhampton is great for the city and to see how the development is progressing is fantastic.
"Investment such as this goes hand-in-hand with an increase in jobs.
"I hope that we will be able to attract more and more investment of this kind and that will deliver more and more jobs for the people of the city."


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A mobility retailer in Lancashire has closed down after liquidators were appointed to wind up the business.
Mobility Recliners Ltd traded as Recliners Direct from a small retail unit on a high street in Leyland and appointed Begbies Traynor when it went into voluntary liquidation last month.
The company, whose website has now been taken down, specialised in selling mobility recliners, predominatnetly from UK manufacturers.
It branded itself as “the UK’s premier recliner superstore” and described itself as “a family run company…offering world class recliners at affordable prices”.
A spokesperson for the liquidator said that the business’s remainig stock was estimated to sell for £3,125.
AMP has attempted to contact Mobility Recliners Ltd.
Image credit: Google


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A Roundup of Major Q2 Reports: Biogen, AstraZeneca, Pfizer and More
The last two weeks have marked the second-quarterly financial report by numerous biopharma companies. Here’s a quick look at some of the major ones.
On July 24, Biogen reported strong sales for the second quarter, with total revenues of $3.4 billion, up 9 percent compared to the same period in 2017. Multiple sclerosis (MS) revenues were $2.3 billion, with about $113 million being royalties for Ocrevus. Its relatively new drug for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Spinraza, brought in $423 million in global revenues for the quarter.
The company also indicated that it and Eisai Co would move ahead with late-stage clinical trials of BAN2401 for Alzheimer’s disease. They are working with regulators to design the studies and try to get Breakthrough Therapy designation or its global equivalents.
On July 26, AstraZeneca’s second-quarter report had a mix of good news and bad news. On the good news side, oncology sales rocketed 37 percent, with strong sales of Lynparza, Tagrisso and Imfinzi. On the bad news side, the company’s selumetinib failed another clinical trial. Total revenue for the quarter was $5.155 billion and for the first half of the year, $10.333 billion. Operating expenses for the quarter were $3.997 billion and for the first half, $7.814 billion. The earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter were $0.27, and for the half, $0.54.
In a statement, AstraZeneca’s chief executive officer Pascal Soriot said the company’s “rich pipeline and sharp commercial focus make us confident that we have in place the right conditions for our return to growth this year.”
On the same day, Switzerland-based Roche announced a strong second quarterly report with a 7 percent increase in group sales for the first half of the year and a 20 percent increase in its core earnings per share (EPS).
The results were so good that it raised its 2018 outlook for the second time this year. Sales for the first half of the year rose 7 percent to 28.1 billion Swiss francs, or $28.35 billion (U.S.), which beat out a Reuters poll average forecast of 27.5 billion francs. The core operating data increased to 11.2 billion francs compared to the poll’s projection of 10.369 billion francs.
“I am very pleased about the strong set of numbers,” the company’s Chief Executive Officer Severin Schwan told CNBC, “it is entirely driven by the uptick of our new medicine.” He was referring to its drug for multiple sclerosis, Ocrevus, which he called “the best launch in history of Roche ever. We’re only in the beginning, so I see continued growth from the new medicines, which help us offset and actually overcompensate for the entry of biosimilars, and that has been also the reason why we have raised our guidance for the full year.”
July 26 was a busy day for quarterly results. Despite what has been described as a series of missteps in the last year, Celgene’s second-quarter financial report was promising. The company reported total revenue of $3.814 billion for the quarter compared to $3.271 billion in the same quarter in 2017. Net income for the quarter was $1.045 billion, however, compared to $1.101 billion in the second quarter of 2017.
Revlimid sales grew 21 percent in the second quarter to $2.453 billion. U.S. sales for the cancer drug were $1.586 billion with international sales of $867 million, an increase of 17 percent and 28 percent, respectively. The company’s Pomalyst/Imnovid sales for the quarter were up 30 percent year-over-year, to $867 million. U.S. sales were $341 million and international sales were $84 million, an increase of 41 percent and 11 percent year-over-year, respectively.
Also on the 26th, Bristol-Myers Squibb reported a strong second quarter, with total revenues of $5.7 billion, up 11 percent from the same quarter in 2017, when it reported $5.144 billion. Sales were driven by Eliquis (apixaban) and Opdivo (nivolumab).
Eliquis global sales grew 40 percent, by $474 million. Opdivo grew 36 percent, by $432 million. Orencia grew by 9 percent, Sprycel by 6 percent and Yervoy by 2 percent.
On July 31, Pfizer reported its second-quarter financials, with adjusted earnings per share coming in at $0.81, exceeding the consensus forecast of $0.74, up 20.9 percent from the same period in 2017. The company’s revenues were $13.47 billion, up 4.36 percent in this quarter from the second quarter last year. It also beat the consensus projection of $13.33 billion.
“We reported solid second-quarter 2018 financial results, with total company revenues up two percent operationally, driven by the continued growth of key brands such as Eliquis, Ibrance and Xeljanz, as well as biosimilars and emerging markets,” stated Ian Read, Pfizer chairman and chief executive officer. “The performance of these growth drivers was partially offset by product losses of exclusivity, a decline in legacy Established Products in developed markets and ongoing legacy Hospira supply shortages.”
And on the same day, Paris-based Sanofi reported a decrease in net sales for the quarter of 5.7 percent, down to 8.176 billion euros. Sanofi Genzyme sales grew 14.1 percent, driven by Dupixent and consolidation of Bioverativ which it acquired earlier this year. Bioverativ was a spinoff from Biogen. Bioverativ spun off from Biogen’s hemophilia unit in January 2017. Sanofi bought it for $11.6 billion in January 2018.
The company’s second-quarter earnings per share (EPS) rose 1.5 percent to 1.25 euros. Its Emerging Market sales grew 5.2 percent, with double-digit growth in China.
“In the second quarter, we achieved significant milestones in building our new rare Blood Disorder franchise and the successful continued execution of the global roll-out of Dupixent,” said Olivier Brandicourt, Sanofi’s chief executive officer, in a statement. “As the impact from the U.S. losses of exclusivity peaked in the second quarter, the growth of our diversified businesses largely compensated for these headwinds. We look forward to entering a new growth phase led by our increasing focus on Specialty Care and our leadership positions in Emerging Markets and Vaccines.”
And also on July 31, as its acquisition by Takeda Pharmaceutical edges closer and closer, Shire reported a solid second-quarter. Shire reported $3.809 billion in product sales, an increase of six percent, and total revenues for the quarter of $3.920 billion, an increase of five percent. Operating income from continuing operations was $830 million, an increase of 108 percent, while non-GAAP operating income was flat at $1.492 billion. Net income was up 156 percent to $616 million.
Revenue was driven by sales of Eylea, for diseases of the retina, and Dupixent for atopic dermatitis. For the quarter, Eylea brought in a total of $1.658 billion, up 13 percent total, with U.S. sales of $992 million, an increase of 8 percent from 2017’s quarterly figures. Dupixent reported quarterly sales of $209 million for the quarter.
And finally, today, Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical’s second-quarter financial report led off with a dramatic 18 percent drop in quarterly revenue compared to the same period the year before. The company claims it is due to continued price erosion in the U.S. generics business, loss of revenue related to canceling some activities, divesting specific products, and generic competition for its Copaxone.
The company reported second-quarter sales of $4.7 billion. North American revenues for the quarter were $2.3 billion, a decrease of $906 million, or 29 percent, compared to the second quarter of 2017. It was partially offset by higher revenues from Austedo and the company’s distribution business. U.S. revenues were $2.1 billion in the quarter, down $899 million or 30 percent compared to second-quarter 2017.
“I am satisfied with our progress in the second quarter,” said Kare Schultz, Teva’s president and chief executive officer, in a statement. “The restructuring program is on schedule, we have already achieved a significant cost base reduction towards our target for the year and we continue to reduce our net debt. Copaxone maintained its market share and Austedo continued to show solid growth.”


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Tesla has posted record net income, operating profit ($2bn) and gross profit for the third quarter. It also said it reached an operating margin of 14.6%, exceeding its medium-term guidance of “operating margin in low-teens”. Adjusted EBITDA was $3.66bn versus $2.88bn in Q2.
The company also noted that its high level of profitability was achieved while average selling price decreased by 6% YoY in Q3 due to continued mix shift towards lower-priced vehicles.
Tesla said that despite challenges including semiconductor shortages, congestion at ports and rolling blackouts, its supply chain, engineering and production teams have been dealing with these global challenges ‘with ingenuity, agility and flexibility that is unparalleled in the automotive industry’.
Total Tesla production in Q3 was 237,823 units, which compares with 206,421 in Q2 and 145,000 in Q3 2020.
Tesla said production lines were running as close to full capacity as conditions allow and that the Texas gigafactory is progressing as planned, with equipment commissioned and the fabrication of the first pre-production vehicles.
Production in China has ‘ramped well’ and the Berlin buildout ‘remains on track’ with final permit approval expected before the end of the year.


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Drought crushes local beef industry
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A customer looked at the meat display at the Whole Foods Market Kahala store in Honolulu.
Photos: Island Images: October 2014, Part 2
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American retailers are using Alipay to attract Chinese tourists
American retail brands are using Alipay in hopes it will attract more Chinese customers.
This week, apparel brand Guess announced that 50 of its stores began accepting Alipay. San Francisco shopping center Pier 39 added 43 merchants to the platform, including Blue & Gold Fleet, Bubba Gump Shrimp, Fog Harbor Fish House and the Aquarium of the Bay.
With 870 million users, Alipay is quickly becoming one of the world’s largest mobile payment platforms (its user base is second to WeChat Pay, which has 900 million users). The purchasing power of Chinese tourists, who on average spent more than $5,500 on overseas trips last year, is a market U.S. retailers are trying to capture.
For Guess, adding Alipay is also a part of its China growth strategy; letting Chinese customers use Alipay in the U.S. creates a similar experience that these customers would have shopping at Guess locations in China. Guess currently has 132 stores in China.
“Our focus is on the customer journey and understanding the touch points; it comes down to creating a seamless shopping experience and loyal customers — we’re a global company,” said the company’s North America svp, Edward Park.
Park said the company’s decision to roll out Alipay was based on research it carried out on customers and mall traffic, though he wouldn’t discuss specific figures. The company looked at data from U.S. mall managers on where customers were coming from, surveys of loyalty-club members around the world, and insights it received from Alibaba on its users. The company is also looking at building a bigger partnership with Alibaba, he added.
Nearly 3 million Chinese tourists visited the U.S. in 2016. Through relationships with technology providers, Alipay is accepted at over approximately 175,000 locations in the U.S., according to the company. A quick, familiar payment experience for Chinese consumers is top of mind for retailers. But Alipay’s Yelp-like business discovery function is a marketing opportunity for businesses as well.
“A lot of times people who use [Alipay] trust the businesses that are on it, and the payment is secure, seamless, one that they’re familiar with,” said Bob Partrite, chief operating officer at Simco restaurants at Pier 39.
Adding Alipay is a way retailers can ensure Chinese customers can use their default payment method within U.S. stores. China is also a global leader in mobile payments, accounting for 61 percent of proximity mobile payment adoption globally, according to eMarketer.
“Merchants don’t want to think about payments — they just want them to work,” said David True, partner at Paygility Advisors. “Payments do not bring incremental revenue [for retailers] — they just complete the transaction. Many Chinese customers don’t have credit cards.”
Chinese tourists are one of the biggest markets for U.S. high-end retailers, and are heavy mobile users; adding Alipay allows for a more integrated shopping experience for them, said Siva Yam, president of the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce.
For its part, Alipay’s U.S. expansion has been focused on Chinese consumers, according to a company spokesperson. Shopping, entertainment, hotels and transportation are key focus areas, with brands like Lacoste, GNC, Rebecca Minkoff, Holt Renfrew and Harry Rosen already on board. An expansion to the broader U.S. consumer market, which has still yet to fully embrace mobile payment methods like Apple Pay and Android Pay, may be more of a challenge for the payments provider.
“As a retailer and a tech giant, Alibaba is probably looking to capture as many consumers as possible, but there are significant gaps for them to overcome to gain adoption [among U.S. consumers],” said David Kuchenski, director of retail strategy at Diebold Nixdorf. “They would have to build the types of relationships that Apple, Amazon and Samsung have with consumers, and even with them, it’s been really difficult.”
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To quadruple its international business by 2023, Lululemon takes a local approach
In April, Lululemon set a five-year-strategic plan with an aggressive goal for its international business: to quadruple sales generated outside of North America by 2023.


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Standard Bank Group is driving the mass adoption of contactless payments across Africa, as consumers look for safer ways to pay in the wake of COVID-19. “The pandemic has created heightened concern among consumers on cash usage, with many increasingly recognising contactless as a safer, cleaner and faster way to pay, especially as they seek…
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He-Man movie Masters of the Universe Sony directly on Netflix?
As we know Sony is developing the film live-action reboot of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, the long awaited moment will be in theaters on March 5, 2021.
However, according to The Hollywod Reporter, Sony is considering other possibilities for the distribution of the film — which, as of now, it's not even confirmed that the role of the protagonist is played by Noah Centineo as reported some time ago.
Sony is considering whether to seek a partner to amortize the costs of production and promotion, or whether to sell directly the film to Netflix in the hopes of avoiding a possible flop at the box office — seen as well the poor results of the films of the last year (except Spider-Man) including the reboot of Men in Black.
Sanford Panitch of Sony Pictures is bringing forward the negotiations between Sony and Netflix; discussions are currently in preliminary stage, but that could materialize soon, considering that Netflix is already home to the animated series She-Ra and the Princesses, Warriors, and soon will distribute the new animated series Masters of the Universe Revelation of Kevin Smith.
He-Man movie Masters of the Universe Sony directly on Netflix? is MangaForever.net


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The notoriously engaging New Star Soccer franchise is expanding its ambitions with an even more comprehensive sim.
Facebook Inc has emerged as a contender to broadcast the English Premier League in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, its biggest push yet into top-flight football, according to a person familiar with the matter.
London’s 45,000 Uber drivers can breathe a sigh of relief after a judge in London granted the ride-hailing company a 15-month probationary license to keep operating in the city. Dara Khosrowshahi, the company’s chief executive officer, might also have cause to celebrate.
More than 40,000 spectators, giant screens, players glued to their keyboards and more than US$1mil (RM4.23mil) prize money for the winners: welcome to the world of eSports in China, a country that has become a leader in competitive videogame playing.
An official update to the iOS build of FIFA Mobile Soccer"has tweaked the stats of Chelsea and Belgium player Eden Hazard to make him the game's best, while there's a new reason to check in every day.
Facebook Inc is adding live games from Mexico’s top soccer league to its growing streaming sports portfolio.
The popular FIFA-branded soccer game franchise returned at the end of September in the form of FIFA 17, and one publication now estimates it'll cost an extra £508 (RM2,611) to assemble the best set of simulated sportsmen within the game's digital card collecting mode.


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WELCOME TO The advertising REPORT
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Integral Ad Science | November 02, 2022
Integral Ad Science (IAS), a global leader in digital media quality, has released the results of its online survey among Australian online users to understand consumer attitudes towards environmental causes and sustainability.
Jessica Miles, country manager ANZ at IAS, said, “Our study shows that sustainability needs to play an important role in a brand’s advertising strategy. Consumers not only expect businesses to play a leading role but are more likely...
fashionunited | March 26, 2020
Tailored Brands, Inc. has decided to extend the temporary closure of its retail stores until at least May 4, 2020. In conjunction with the decision to extend the store closure window, Tailored Brands announced it would implement additional cost reductions, including furloughing all U.S. store employees as well as a significant portion of employees in its distribution network and offices. Commenting on the measures taken by the company, Tailored Brands President and CEO Dinesh Lathi said in a sta...
nsnews | March 15, 2020
As a milestone of how far the company has come, Tesla this week announced the production of its one millionth electric vehicle. The EV in question is a red 2020 Model Y crossover, spec’d out in Performance trim with 21-inch wheels and a few other goodies. As ever, the announcement was greeted with the usual mix of skepticism and fanfare that accompanies any Tesla broadcast. On one hand, the team of workers that produced this latest machine are to be commended for hitting a major production...
BidMind, CatapultX | March 14, 2022
BidMind, an omnichannel programmatic advertising platform, has announced a partnership with CatapultX, the creator of the first and only AI-powered On-Stream™ video advertising and monetisation platform.
BidMind will use CatapultX’s technological solutions to further improve its programmatic advertising services. Through cooperation, BidMind will receive access to CatapultX’s inventory enhanced by contextual AI, which optimises the relevance of ad placements and ...
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All 1 entries tagged Central Market
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November 23, 2006
The smoking ban is going to put thousands out of business
The smoking ban comes into effect on April 2nd in Wales, and small businesses are saying they’re not ready for it.
While larger hotels and restaurants are backing the ban, and expect to do quite well from it, places which have traditionally attracted smokers could lose a substantial number of their customers.
In Cardiff’s Central Market, the Bull Terrier cafe is one such business. Around four in every five customers go there specifically to smoke, but from April, they will have to go elsewhere.
I spoke to the cafe’s manager Sam Maher and asked her about the future of her business once the smoking ban comes in:
The Welsh Assembly aren’t willing to offer financial assistance. In Sam’s words “they don’t care, they’re not bothered at all”. So while many food outlets will see their custom increase thanks to the smoking ban, places such as this which have for decades attracted people because of smoking, look to have a fairly bleak future.


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The organization of Finnish industries (EK) has awarded its annual recognitions for Finnish ambassadors who have done an extraordinary effort for Finnish business abroad. The awards are based on feedback from export companies.
One of the recipients of the award this year is Jarno Syrjälä the Ambassador of Finland to China. The explanation for the honoring of Jarno Syrjälä reads:
“The Finnish Ambassador in China Jarno Syrjälä has acted exemplary in supporting companies and offers expertise for both political and economic issues.
His on-sight legwork for Finnish companies in China has been priceless, when company representatives have been unable to appear at the destination country because of Corona.
Jarno Syrjälä has constantly been available for companies in both troubleshooting and by promoting new business opportunities”


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Whole Foods Market Releases 2022 Global Impact Report
Whole Foods Market released its annual Impact Report this summer, which highlights the grocer’s initiatives to make a positive impact in the global food system. The 61-page report provides a comprehensive review of steps Whole Foods Market has taken to combat food waste, reduce its carbon footprint, consciously source products, and invest in its team members. “Our Impact Report marks another exciting milestone as we demonstrate the progress, we’ve made to drive forward our purpose to nourish people and the planet,” said Jason Buechel, Chief Executive Officer at Whole Foods Market. “As we grow, we’re continuing to raise the bar on our commitment to sustainability and finding win-win solutions with all our partners – from our suppliers to the environment to the communities we serve.”
Highlights from the report include:
Kept more than 72% of waste produced at stores and facilities out of landfills, maintained recycling programs at nearly 96% of stores, and organic diversion programs, such as composting, at nearly 450 of stores in 2022.
Donated more than 30 million meals to nearly 1,000 unique food rescue and redistribution organizations in 2022.
Sourced 250 million pounds of fair-trade ingredients in 2022.
Graduated more than 1,360 Team Members from career development programs, in addition to more than 10,200 Team Member promotions in 2022.
Onboarded more than 2,300 new organic products in 2022 and now offer more than 37,000 active organic products across its stores.
Funded 33,555 microloans by the Whole Planet Foundation; awarded 57 grants to community-led organizations across 39 cities by Whole Cities Foundation; and donated 506 gardens and 142 salad bars by Whole Kids Foundation.
“Whole Foods Market has a rich legacy of building a more sustainable food system, from our unparalleled Quality Standards to our responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship,” said Caitlin Leibert, Vice President of Sustainability at Whole Foods Market. “Building on the progress we made this past year, we look forward to what we will accomplish in the years ahead as we continue to find new and innovative ways to further our mission.” Whole Foods Market continues to invest in new initiatives that positively impact its stores, supply chain, and its people as part of its Growing with Purpose vision. The company now has more than 530 stores, with 55 stores in the pipeline, across the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, and more than 100,000 Team Members.


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The Waterways Journal said it is gearing up for its second annual Docks Expo, which will be held Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 at the St. Charles (Mo.) Convention Center.
National and regional boat shows of all sizes are held throughout the country and at all times of the year. Many combine displays of boats with displays of accessories, seminars and family entertainment.
Colombia Nautica — a group established by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, Grupo Heroica and AsoNautica Colombia — is welcoming exhibitors and offering sponsorship opportunities for the 2017 Colombia Nautica International Boat Show.
The Monaco Yacht Show opens Wednesday and runs through Monday with 34,000 participants expected from around the world.
Organizers of the Sept. 15-18 Metro Boat Show at Lake St. Clair Metropark in Michigan said paid attendance rose this year as more than 11,000 people visited a larger show that featured hundreds of boats. “It was a great show by all measures,” show manager Nicki Polan, executive director of the Michigan Boating Industries Association,…more
The Jersey Shore Boat Sale & Expo will open Friday at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, N.J.
The Southern California Boat Show will debut on Thursday in San Pedro, Calif., featuring hundreds of boats at Cabrillo Way Marina, which underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation.
Yachts from Numarine, Invictus Yacht and Sirena Marine will make their Italian debuts at the Genoa International Boat Show, which opens Tuesday and runs through Sunday.
At the Cannes Yachting Festival, Canados organized its first press conference since it was recently acquired and unveiled four new projects for 2017.
The Metro Boat Show, coming to Lake St. Clair Metropark in Michigan Sept. 15-18, has a new name and a new look this year, nearly doubling in size.
The second edition of the MYBA Pop-Up Superyacht Show is slated for Sept. 2-4 in Porto Montenegro Marina, and organizers said it has a growing roster of participants.


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These days it seems that Microsoft (MSFT) cannot get enough products out the door. This week it is a new software set that allows high end wireless devices do most of the things that the Blackberrry from RIM (RIMM) can.
Reuters writes that "The Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 will allow technology administrators to send applications to phones, control security and generally simplify management of devices." Microsoft wants to be for the high-end mobile device what it is now for the PC.
Not likely. RIMM has a couple of big advantages, ones that Microsoft probably cannot surmount. RIMM makes the hardware and the software. Microsoft will have to go to someone like Nokia (NOK) for handsets. And, Nokia (NOK) is moving into phone software itself to fight falling margins on phones.
In addition, corporate users like their Blackberries. And corporate IT guys know the software and mail server function. The Blackberry has the high ground like RIMM has in corporate handhelds and Apple (AAPL) has in portable media devices.
Microsoft can take its new mobile computing software and file it with the Zune: dead before the launch.
Douglas A. McIntyre


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Independent analyst firm Canalys reported Wednesday that tablets are effectively taking over the world – or at least the global PC market share.
During the fourth and final quarter of 2012, Apple accomplished something the company never could before. Thanks to strong iPad sales, Apple secured a 20% share of global PC shipments for the quarter.
Apple continued to lead the PC market, shipping 27.0 million units. All told, worldwide PC shipments grew 12% year-on-year in Q4 2012 to reach 134.0 million units.
HP shipped 15.0 million PCs, which bumped Lenovo to third place and Samsung to fourth.
Despite record shipments, however, Q4 saw Apple’s tablet share dip to 49%.
“Apple timed the launch of the iPad mini well,” says Pin-Chen Tang, Canalys Research Analyst. “Its success proves there is a clear demand for tablets with smaller screens at a more affordable price. Without the launch, Apple would surely have lost more ground to its competitors.”
Canalys estimates that the iPad mini comprised more than half of Apple’s total tablet shipments in Q4 of 2012.
To read the full report, click here.


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Disrupts the hyper local delivery model in the devotional sector
Prabhuji Online, India’s fastest growing technology enabled “Subscription Commerce Company”, has raised an undisclosed amount of funds in pre-series A round from Singapore and India based marquee angel investors. Prabhuji Online is into daily hyper local delivery of fresh flowers and Pooja Samagri. The Company plans to expand into providing Panditji Services to home, organising devotional singers as well as religious and Spiritual Tourism very soon. Prabhuji Online till now has completed more than 3 million successful deliveries in Kolkata to its customers as it delivers everyday essentials for their religious and spiritual needs during its entire journey so far.
Rahul Tayal, ex- Director LG India and Croma, Saahil Mohta ex- Director of ANZ Grindlays Bank Australia, Prashant Tayal, Director of Deutsche Bank Singapore, Saumya Bajaj of World Bank, Jaspreet Bhatia, Managing Director of Ice Cube Holidays and Sumit Keshav with 15 years of experience in IT Strategy having worked for companies like Microsoft and Wipro are on-board as the investors. Oceans Bridge have been the sole advisor to the deal.
The startup is a brainchild of Co-Founder and CEO Manishpal Singh known as Rishi Singh who is an industrialist having diversified expertise with global exposure of the industry and consumers. Prabhuji Online was conceptualised as e-retail to establish a connect amongst the fast moving consumers and products/services available in a very structured and organised manner.
Manishpal Singh, Co-founder and CEO, Prabhuji Online said, “This is a really strategic investment for us as we have got some exceptional investors on board who will bring a lot of value to the company with their rich experience. Our ethos is to reach out to every household of Bharat. We will now expand our footprint to different cities like Raipur, Delhi & Jaipur in 2021 as our immediate plan of execution. Despite the COVID pandemic, we still have been able to serve the daily Spiritual & Devotional needs of our customers and it’s a great achievement for my team.”
Manishpal Singh further added that “We have been growing continuously despite major disruptions and supply chain challenges during the entire COVID period of last 16 months. Our supplies were hampered, procurement from farmers was badly affected, transportation was not allowed but we didn’t stop and managed everything. Our customers have been the biggest support and we are determined to serve them daily for their Religious & Spiritual needs. This market can grow 70-80% year on year for next 5-6 years as there is massive increase in believers during this period.”
Prabhuji Online is focused on local innovation into supply chain, direct procurement from farmers and empowers women workers majorly. 85% of the work force is women and the company is determined towards women empowerment. The company will also directly procure from farmers and ensure quick payments to them.
“We are confident that our association will power Prabhuji Online to scale greater heights in the near future” said Rahul Tayal who has joined the board as a Director and will look after the Marketing and Branding Strategy part of the business.
Prabhuji Online had previously raised a seed round from famous angel investors like Ujjwal Deepak and Anshul Dave. Ujjwal Deepak also participated in the current round and increased his stake. “Startup investing is all about backing the right founding team and an idea which is scalable and profitable” added Ujjwal Deepak.
“Prabhuji Online is focused on frugal innovation and design thinking into their operations especially the daily delivery operations. Prabhuji Online is a perfect blend of technology meets Smart Bhartiya Innovation” added Anshul Dave who is an active Angel Investor with more than 25 investments to his portfolio.
It’s a booming industry with most players being more regionally focused and unorganised with no online presence. The estimated market size of the religious industry is estimated of 2.5 lakh crores. 95% of the Industry is unorganised and is ready for disruption by the use of digital channels because of increase in disposable income, ease of ordering and efficient delivery. Outsourcing in this sector will ensure quality and time efficiency in saving the existence of rituals and culture. Religion is pulse of India and there’s huge market potential waiting to move from unorganised to organised industry.


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adidas has officially unveiled a new colorway of the adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 that will be releasing in a unique way in comparison to every other Yeezy release in the past.
Known as the Hyperspace colorway, this adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 will be releasing exclusively in select cities in Africa, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and India through adidas.com/YEEZY, YEEZY SUPPLY and select retailers on March 16, 2019, with a retail price of $220.
The adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Hyperspace features an upper composed of two-toned re-engineered Primeknit. The post-dyed monofilament side stripe is woven into the upper. The midsole utilizes adidas’ innovative Boost technology. Click and bookmark our official adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Hyperspace hub page now for everything you need to know about the silhouette and where to buy it online. Always keep it locked to KicksOnFire for the latest in sneaker news, release dates and where to purchase your favorite kicks.
A full list of retailers and locations can be found at adidas.com/YEEZY.
The post adidas Announces The adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Hyperspace Will Be A Regional Release appeared first on KicksOnFire.com.
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|Bid||16.15 x 1200|
|Ask||17.43 x 800|
|Day's range||16.90 - 17.40|
|52-week range||12.94 - 24.77|
|PE ratio (TTM)||25.54|
|Earnings date||31 Jul 2018 - 6 Aug 2018|
|Forward dividend & yield||N/A (N/A)|
|1y target est||22.17|
B. Riley initiated coverage on aluminum makers on Thursday, preferring Century Aluminum (CENX) over Alcoa (AA). Analyst Lucas Pipes launched coverage of Alcoa with a Neutral rating and a $47 price target. Pipes writes that alumina prices have been elevated on "unique events," which is an oblique way of referring to tariffs.
While aluminum prices are volatile, premiums tend to be sticky. The Section 232 tariffs have lifted US Midwest aluminum premiums, which should boost earnings of companies like Alcoa (AA) and Century Aluminum. Secondly, alumina prices (RIO) (XME) have already fallen to more normalized levels after Alunorte curtailment and RUSAL sanctions lifted prices to multiyear highs.
US-based aluminum producers including Alcoa (AA) and Century Aluminum (CENX) are trading with double-digit year-to-date losses despite the Section 232 tariffs President Trump imposed. Aluminum markets have been rattled by higher Chinese aluminum exports. China’s unwrought aluminum exports rose 12.8% in the first five months of the year and hit the second-highest level on record in May. Higher Chinese aluminum exports tend to put pressure on aluminum prices.
Century Aluminum (CENX) reported earnings 30 days ago. What's next for the stock? We take a look at earnings estimates for some clues.
If the United States finally imposes import duty on steel and aluminum from EU, Canada and Mexico, these countries are likely to take retaliatory measures.
Century intends to make future announcements regarding Company developments and financial performance through its website, www.centuryaluminum.com. Century Aluminum Company owns primary aluminum capacity in the United States and Iceland. Century's corporate offices are located in Chicago, IL.
NEW YORK, May 30, 2018-- In new independent research reports released early this morning, Fundamental Markets released its latest key findings for all current investors, traders, and shareholders of Crown ...
In the previous article, we looked at some of Alcoa’s (AA) bullish drivers. Chinese overcapacity is still among the biggest challenges for aluminum producers such as Rio Tinto (RIO) and Norsk Hydro (NHYDY). Chinese aluminum exports have been elevated this year despite President Donald Trump’s Section 232 tariffs.
Although aluminum and alumina have retreated from their 2018 highs after President Donald Trump softened the RUSAL sanctions, global aluminum and alumina markets are expected to be in a deficit by some observers, including companies such as Alcoa. Alumina prices are also being supported by the partial shutdown of Norsk Hydro’s (NHYDY) Alunorte refinery. Aluminum prices might also take support from higher alumina prices (XME).
Alcoa (AA) is having a dismal run in 2018. The stock is trading at a YTD (year-to-date) fall of 9.8% based on its May 23 closing price.
President Trump imposed tariffs on US steel and aluminum imports in March. The move was intended to boost domestic steel and aluminum producers. However, despite the tariffs, US steel and aluminum stocks like U.S. Steel (X), AK Steel (AKS), Century Aluminum (CENX), and Alcoa (AA) are sagging this year. In this article, we’ll see how the Section 232 tariffs could test President Trump’s mettle.
NEW YORK, May 17, 2018-- In new independent research reports released early this morning, Fundamental Markets released its latest key findings for all current investors, traders, and shareholders of Agios ...
Shares of Century Aluminum Co. were knocked 9.5% lower in morning trade Friday, despite first-quarter results that beat earnings and revenue expectations, as J.P. Morgan downgraded the aluminum company, citing higher alumina costs. Analyst Michael Gambardella cut his rating to neutral, less than two months after upgrading the stock to overweight. Gambardella still believes the tariffs announced on March 1 on aluminum and steel imports will benefit Century over the near to medium term, but "potential alumina shortages from the Alunorte refinery outage and the uncertainty surrounding U.S. sanctions on Russia could cause alumina prices to remain elevated for a period of time." The stock has now plunged 27.5% since President Trump announced the tariffs on March 1, while the S&P 500 has slipped 1.1%.
Century Aluminum (CENX) posted its 1Q18 earnings after the market closed on May 3. While the company’s shipments fell slightly over the period, they were offset by higher realized aluminum prices amid higher US aluminum premiums (XME) (RIO). Despite higher average realized prices, Century Aluminum’s earnings fell on a sequential basis in 1Q18.
Century Aluminum's (CENX) Q1 results were favorably impacted by a $3.2-million benefit from lower of cost or net realizable value inventory adjustments.
The global aluminum industry has witnessed increased uncertainty this year. Analysts have been scratching their heads trying to predict how much aluminum China would consume—and more importantly how much of its excess produce it would sell in global markets. Now, we have President Donald Trump calling the shots in aluminum markets.
The Chicago-based company said it had a loss of less than 1 cent on a per-share basis. Losses, adjusted for non-recurring gains, were 4 cents per share. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. ...
CHICAGO, May 03, 2018-- Century Aluminum Company today announced first quarter 2018 results.. First Quarter 2018 Financial Results. Net loss of $0.3 million, or $0.00 per diluted share Adjusted net loss ...
Strong prospects in Game & Network Services as well as Home Entertainment & Sound business are likely to prove conducive to Sony's (SNE) fourth-quarter fiscal 2017 earnings.
Electrolux also delayed a $250 million US expansion after Donald Trump proposed the tariffs. Alcoa (AA) and Century Aluminum (CENX) rallied sharply as aluminum rose to multiyear highs. Century Aluminum had announced a plant restart after Trump slapped tariffs on aluminum imports in March.


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IBON proposes an improved progressive system of specific taxes on unproductive sectors wherein socially sensitive oil products diesel, LPG, and kerosene are exempted while personal, corporate income and wealth-related taxes are higher.
If the Aquino government is seriously looking for measures that would cushion the impact of high oil prices on consumers and the local economy, it should immediately reverse the imposition of the 12% value-added tax (VAT) on petroleum products, said research group IBON Foundation.
Instead of the regressive VAT, IBON proposes an improved progressive system of specific taxes on unproductive sectors wherein socially sensitive oil products diesel, LPG, and kerosene are exempted while personal, corporate income and wealth-related taxes are higher.
Government benefits extremely from oil price increases through the VAT on oil products. A Department of Finance (DOF) official recently gave an estimate of Php4 billion in VAT windfall that government expects to receive by end-March. However IBON argues that without the VAT, oil pump prices may go down by as much as Php 5 per liter and will provide relief to a large number of consumers.
The savings from oil prices mean more money for consumers to spend directly on their needs. Local establishments, particularly those whose operations are fuel-intensive, would also benefit from lower operating or production costs. IBON added that, contrary to government claims, bulk of total revenues from the VAT (58%) does not go towards much needed social services but to debt servicing. Moreover, government can make up for revenue loss even if it scraps the VAT on oil through alternative revenue measures that are less burdensome to consumers.
Government began imposing the 12% VAT on petroleum products in 2006, which compounded the problem of soaring oil prices under a deregulated downstream oil industry. There have been nine rounds of increases in diesel prices and eight rounds of gasoline price hikes since January 2011. These increased the pump price of diesel to Php6 Php8.35 per liter and regular gasoline by Php6.25 in the first quarter.
Lastly, the research group stressed that the deregulation of the oil industry has burdened the people with more exorbitant petroleum prices while oil firms are not required to justify their price increases. As global prices of oil continue to rise, IBON renews its call to scrap the deregulation law to pave the way for state control of prices. (end)


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In the long list of things that 2020 has taken away from us, there may not be any area of the economy that has suffered as much as the food and service industry. As companies that are already sensitive to subtle changes, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected everything from small, locally adored cafes to large, beloved national networks – with many whose temporary closings are becoming permanent.
According to the National Restaurant Association, more than 110,000 restaurants closed in 2020, with many others facing uncertainties as the winter weather makes dining outdoors and reducing sales impossible. Here are some of the beloved companies that have already disappeared.
Other restaurants have also had unfortunate endings this year. Here are the saddest restaurant closings in your state.
The early days of the pandemic brought many uncertainties to daily life, but at least one thing was clear from day one: buffet-style restaurants were not the kind of place people should eat during a new era of unprecedented hygiene. Since closing all 35 company-owned restaurants on March 25 and reopening just six since then, Golden Corral filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October, struggling to adapt to the business while its operating model is banned in many states for health reasons.
However, in a statement to Restaurant Business, parent company 1069 Restaurant Group said it is working with its largest franchisee during bankruptcy and “anticipates that it will continue to operate 24 of its 33 Golden Corral franchise locations in Georgia and Florida.”
Related: 19 things you should know before eating at buffet restaurants
This year was difficult for all restaurants, but it was especially difficult for those who were trying to change things before the pandemic even arrived. Fuddruckers, based in San Antonio, Texas, is one example: after selling some of its company-owned locations in 2019 to pay off debt, most of its remaining 40 locations were forced to close during the blockades.
Unfortunately, parent company Luby’s Inc. announced in September that it would close all 31 remaining locations, liquidate the company and distribute assets to shareholders after paying off the remaining debts. (More on that below.)
Now, the only glimmer of hope for the hamburger chain is to complete the sale to a new owner before the end of the year. “The plan also continues to provide the potential to put restaurant operations with well-capitalized owners moving forward,” said Luby CEO and President Christopher J. Pappas in a statement.
Restaurants are not the only ones forced to close this year. This COVID-19 precaution is temporarily closing some Walmart stores.
It may be too late for fans of the 73-year-old Texas-based Luby’s Cafeteria chain to come back for a final fried chicken pie or steak. The restaurant’s parent company, which also owns and operates Fuddruckers, announced the closure of its 76 locations in the same liquidation announcement as its brothers in the hamburger chain.
“We believe that moving forward with a liquidation plan will maximize the value for our shareholders, while preserving the flexibility to pursue the sale of the company if an attractive offer that adds superior value is made,” Pappas said in a statement.
Related: Dr. Fauci just said when you can eat at restaurants again
This year marked the end of the road for the popular Sweet Tomatoes salad buffet chain. The San Diego-based company struggled to find viability in its model, as health restrictions prevent the buffet service from restarting, even with the reopening of on-site meals in some areas of the United States. which would permanently close all 97 Sweet Tomatoes locations, which also operated under the name of Souplantation in Southern California.
“To our esteemed guests, as you may have heard, we cannot reopen our 97 Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes restaurants due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said the closing announcement. “The display of love on social media has been overwhelming and we are very grateful for all the sweet memories you have shared with us.”
If you are going to a restaurant that has things set up outside, here are 5 dangerous outdoor dining options to avoid.
The iconic New York restaurant, Danny Meyer, easily makes headlines and creates waves across the industry whenever he opens a new project, but having one of his businesses permanently closed has an equally big effect. After deciding to close all on-site operations at all of its restaurants just a month earlier, parent company Union Square Hospitality Group announced on December 2 that Meyer’s barbecue and jazz institution in the Flatiron area of Manhattan would not be reopened for service. .
“This place was built on the shoulders of two beautiful communities: barbecue and jazz,” said Meyer. “We value these ties and the music will continue. In addition to being thankful for the most loyal community of guests and talented team members over nearly 20 years.”
Unfortunately, this is not the only iconic New York restaurant closing its doors forever.
Any child of the 90s with fond memories of RESERVE! Personal rewards and mini pizzas can be used to receive news of nostalgia. Pizza Hut’s largest franchisee, NPC International, announced on August 17 that it would file for bankruptcy and close 300 stores – most of which are some of the last remaining operating restaurants. Overall, the company’s holdings include 20% of all Pizza Hut locations in the U.S.
If you’re ordering some of the network’s iconic pizzas online, here are 19 tricks to order a healthier pizza to lose weight.
West Los Angeles residents may now have to face traffic if they want to order their favorite cut of meat. The famous Pacific Dining Car steakhouse succumbed to COVID-related difficulties and permanently closed its Santa Monica branch – which has been in operation 24 hours a day since 1990 – and sold the restaurant’s supplies at an auction in June, reports USA Today. Fortunately, Angelinos can still count on the center’s original establishment, which has been open since 1921.
In other sad news, this Adored West Coast Restaurant is closing after 157 years.
The restaurant industry may already be full of “c’est la vie” moments, but the pandemic has made some problems very difficult to overcome. Such was the case with the beloved bakery chain Le Pain Quotidien, which filed for bankruptcy in May and closed the restaurant’s 98 stores while trying to find a buyer.
But baguette lovers can rejoice: Aurify Brands LLC was able to close a deal in June, announcing that it hoped to reopen 40 of the closed locations in the near future. Since then, the company has responded to the complaint, announcing that 43 coast-to-coast locations are “slowly reopening.”
Long-standing fast casual chains have suffered especially from the strains of business limitations in the midst of the pandemic, and Ruby Tuesday is no exception. On October 6, the company based in Maryville, Tennessee, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced that it would permanently close 185 locations. The brand has been struggling with declining sales for years due to reduced pedestrian traffic in malls where its restaurants are usually located, reports CBS News. More than 235 sites will remain in operation.
Related: 10 biggest restaurant chain failures of 2020
When you have a company that depends on traffic from office workers to meet its financial results, you can probably count on 2020 as nothing short of apocalyptic. This was the case with Specialty’s Café & Bakery, whose popular bakery, breakfast and coffee products were a constant presence near offices in California, Washington and Illinois. Unfortunately, the company announced that it would close all of its more than 50 locations after May 19 due to financial problems caused by the pandemic.
“Specialty’s Café & Bakery is closing after 33 years in business,” announced the company on its defunct website. “The current market conditions attributed to COVID-19 and on-site shelter policies have decimated the company’s revenue.”
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Today Google announced that it would be launching a handful of new games for the Stadia platform soon, and one of those new games is a hidden gem from SEGA.
While Stadia is still missing a few features, for the most part it has started to even out in terms of what it offers to players. The area where it still needs work though is game titles. Google is continuing to try and rectify that with the plan to launch a bunch of new games for the platform this year.
All told Google wants to launch 100 new games for Stadia in 2021, and some are scheduled to hit the platform in just a few weeks, save for the SEGA title which is a couple of months out.
Judgement, one of the best SEGA games in recent years, launches on Stadia on April 23
If you're a fan of SEGA titles then you may have played the games in the Yakuza series. Or at least some of them. Now, the Yakuza series isn't coming to Stadia. But Judgement, which is a spin-off of the Yakuza series, is coming to Stadia and it arrives on April 23.
This is good news for Stadia subscribers for a number of reasons if they're a fan of Yakuza games. For starters, Judgement is a lot like the Yakuza titles in many ways. And while it isn't part of the mainline Yakuza series, it has loose ties to the universe of that game.
Another reason it's a good thing is that if Judgement is making its way to Stadia, there is a pretty good chance that Yakuza titles will come to Stadia at some point too. It's not a guarantee, but it does open up the possibility.
Five more games will release before Judgement
If you're looking for even more games to play before Judgement hits, then you're in luck. Because there are five more games coming to Stadia before Judgement.
This includes Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition on February 23, Shantae: Risky's Revenge Director's Cut on February 23, It Came From Space And Ate Our Brains on March 2, FIFA 21 on March 17, and Kaze and The Wild Masks On March 26.
Beyond that, Google has also announced a handful of games that are coming soon but don't have official launch dates yet. This includes Killer Queen Black, Street Power Football, and Hellpoint. This is also in addition to other games that players already know are on the way this year, like Far Cry 6 and Riders Republic.
The point is there's a lot more games coming this year. Making Stadia a more filled out platform in terms of game titles.


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Title:Manulife IM Sees Continued Rotation Out of Growth Into Value
Date:11th May 2021
Description:May.10 -- Sue Trinh, managing director of global strategy at Manulife Investment Management, discusses the rise in inflation across the globe and the outlook for financial markets. China’s factory-gate prices surged more than expected in April, supported by gains in commodity prices and a low base of comparison from last year, while consumer inflation remained relatively subdued. Trinh speaks with Yvonne Man and Haslinda Amin on "Bloomberg Markets: Asia."


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Writing for Reuters, author Diana Baptista has a nice summary here. An excerpt:
Since Kenya became the first country to scrap VAT on sanitary pads and tampons in 2004, at least 17 countries have followed suit, according to research by the Thomson Reuters Foundation.Among the latest countries to pass laws to abolish the tampon tax are Mexico, Britain and Namibia.Another 10 countries have designated sanitary products as tax-exempt goods or have exempted the tax on imported raw materials used to make them.Advocates against period poverty usually campaign for sanitary products to be zero-rated for VAT, as this means producers can also claim back taxes on raw materials, making the final product truly tax-free.Although Tanzania and Nicaragua had also scrapped the tax on period products, both countries reintroduced it in 2019.Mainly in Europe, 17 countries have reduced the VAT on sanitary products, with Italy the latest to do so this year.The European Union last year revised a directive that previously only allowed member states to reduce VAT on sanitary products by 5%. The change means nations can now apply lower tax rates to some goods.
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Ignore for a moment that Rain, although growing fast, is a relative pipsqueak next to Telkom. Does a merger make any sense? By Duncan McLeod.
Browsing: Ebrahim Patel
Just a day after the resignation of the chairman of communications regulator Icasa, another top regulator has resigned – this time at the Competition Commission.
A group of the world’s richest nations that pledged $8.5-billion in climate finance to South Africa wants the money to be used to retire coal-fired power plants.
Eskom and the department of trade, industry & competition are tussling over who will get the $8.5-billion promised to help South Africa transition away from coal.
The department of trade, industry & competition is preparing a notice that will ban the importation of analogue television sets.
Government is in talks with potential investors in green hydrogen projects, with Germany having identified the country as a key source of the fuel.
Toyota is anticipating that the government will provide a support package to reduce the price of new-energy vehicles to make them more accessible.
The longer-term future of Mercedes-Benz’s production plant in East London has been secured by investments to ensure its flexibility to produce vehicles with different powertrains.
Government and automotive original equipment manufacturers are working towards accelerating the development of manufacturing capabilities for new energy vehicles in South Africa.
Trade, industry & competition minister Ebrahim Patel has briefed parliament on matters related to the Copyright Amendment Bill and Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill.


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“There are very few foods we should make all of our diet. At the same time, there are very few foods we have to completely avoid to stay healthy.”
The WHO findings were drafted by a panel of 22 international experts who reviewed decades of research on the link between red meat, processed meats and cancer.
The panel reviewed animal experiments, studies of human diet and health, and cell processes that could explain how red meat might cause cancer.
An analysis of 10 of the studies suggested that a 50-gram portion of processed meat daily – or about 1.75 ounces – increases the risk of colorectal cancer over a lifetime by about 18 percent.
Hardman said a 50-gram portion is about one hot dog. She said if someone ate several hot dogs a day, every day, she would worry. Or if a diet involved bacon for breakfast, hot dogs for lunch and bologna for dinner.
But it’s all about lifestyle choices.
“Do you have normal body weight? Get regular exercise?” Hardman said. “Those are two things that really increase your risk. An overweight person who gets little exercise, one hot dog a month might do it. But they are already at risk. You really can’t tell.”
Hardman said what really struck her about the study was that is wasn’t new news. In 2007, the American Institute for Cancer Research found red meat and processed meats lead to colorectal cancer and called for limiting it in diets.
There has also been a push recently to reduce red meat in Americans’ diet, with many school districts implementing “meatless Monday,” an initiative that has support from First Lady Michelle Obama.
“We’ve known this for a long time,” Hardman said. “It’s not good for you to eat these things.”
She said another mark against processed meats is that they are high in calories.
“Reducing processed meats would not only reduce the bad things, but also reduce calorie consumption and help to maintain a healthy weight, which has got to be good,” she said.
According to the American Cancer Society, one third of cancer deaths can be attributed to poor diet and physical inactivity. It encourages people to eat more vegetables and fish and less red and processed meats.
Overall, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer in the U.S. is about 1 in 20, or 5 percent, according to the cancer society. By the WHO’s calculations, having a cold-cut sandwich every day would only raise that to around 6 percent.
The WHO researchers defined processed meat as anything transformed to improve its flavor or preserve it, including sausages, beef jerky and anything smoked. They defined red meat to include beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse and goat.
The report said grilling, pan-frying or other high-temperature methods of cooking red meat produce the highest amounts of chemicals suspected of causing cancer.


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BELPRE, Ohio (AP) - On 100 acres of pasture tucked in the rolling hills, sits a barn just six minutes outside of Belpre and Little Hocking.
It’s called Twin Pines Dairy, and that’s where a family of five is forging a new path down an old-fashioned road.
“My Grandpa and my Dad were dairy farmers down near Parkersburg,” Dave Florence explained after a recent morning milking. “And just a year and a half before I was born, they switched from the old-fashioned glass bottle way to the bigger commercial way used by most places.”
But now, with his wife Tara, daughter Allison, 16, and twin 13-year-old sons, Austin and Adam, there’s a plan in motion to switch back.
They hope by springtime to have a new pasteurization and bottling process built, certified and selling old-fashioned milk from the farm’s storefront and in local coffee shops and small markets in the Mid-Ohio Valley.
“It’s an opportunity to provide a different product, not saying the commercial way is better or worse, we just want to do it a little different, in a way that can be more intimate,” Florence said. “This way, we can keep it in the family and stay in business with a small farm giving those who want to know where their milk came from that answer.”
All five family members are up before dawn each day, and are feeding, milking and caring for their 100 head before breakfast.
“That’s common with cow farmers, but you start with them and take care of their needs before you ever take care of your own,” Florence said. “There are people that think farmers are out to be cruel to or abuse animals, but they see their needs met first. They’re our family.”
Two times a day, around 5 a.m. and by 4 p.m., 45 to 50 of the cows - the ones actively producing milk - begin, of their own accord, to line up outside a pen ready to file in and be milked six at a time.
“They know it’s time, they can feel it,” Florence explained.
He said his sons help to herd the cows into a pen and one will man a sliding door in the milking barn that allows the cows to file in.
“They really don’t fight it, because this feed in here is like candy to them,” he said.
Lined diagonally on an elevated concrete stoop, each cow has its own spot to nibble while prepared for milking.
Florence sanitized each teat with an iodine sanitizing solution, then cleared the teats of the first squirt of milk by a pull, called forestrip.
“That just makes sure we’ve cleared the line and the milk coming out is pure,” he explained.
Then Allison attached the milking units which pump all four teats at the same time.
“It sucks and then it lets go,” she said. “That takes maybe five minutes to finish milking the cow.”
Each group of six cycles through the process in 11 minutes before they’re released back to go lay down in their free stall, or drink water and eat feed or roam about the pasture.
“They’re free to do whatever they want on their own time, if they want to go stand out in the field they can, if they want to lay down they can,” said Florence, pointing out a pregnant cow as another reached out for Allison to scratch her head.
The milk then moves through overhead lines into the next room over where it’s stored in a refrigerated tank that’s drained and trucked to be pasteurized at a plant every other night.
Dave Florence grew up with the tales of a simpler pasteurization process and a more intimate relationship with the consumers of his family’s dairy products.
His father and grandfather had a delivery truck and glass bottles and they milked into pales.
“Right now, with the sheer volume the huge plants are producing for the big grocery stores it’s all about efficiency and passing that milk through the process as quickly and safely as possible,” he explained.
But what gets lost in that quick time and high-temperature pasteurization and homogenization are some of the good bacteria, he said.
“So, we’re going back down in temperature to 145 degrees for 30 minutes, not the 180 to 200 degrees for one to two seconds,” Florence said. “That kills off the bad but keeps the good and creates a rich taste.”
He said it’s a niche market that some consumers are looking for, not only supporting the local dairy farmer but wanting to be more aware of and trust what’s in the foods they’re consuming.
“It’s all regulated and Allison and I both just got certified to test to prove no antibiotics are in any batch of milk, that’s already done at the plant but when we take on the bottling we’ll have to do the testing too,” said Florence.
The push to go old school was not only influenced by researching scattered small farms across the country taking on the micro-market, but also by the costs to produce, market and sell the milk to larger chains.
“And, right now in this industry, these small farms are closing,” he said. “We’re getting killed with the costs just to get it to the consumer.”
His family started in its dairy business in 1925, and Florence continued the tradition after opening Twin Pines in 2000.
But now, at 48, his knees don’t keep up with the labor the way his younger self could. And he relies more on the family team to carry out the feeding of calves, heifers and milk cows, as he supervises and milks.
“I was getting to the point where I couldn’t keep running this by myself with how much it costs but the kids are interested in continuing this, so we thought about making a change,” he said.
“It’s something our family has done and we’re good at,” explained Allison.
“And I like driving all the tractors,” laughed Austin.
“This is for them, they have their strengths here on the farm and what they like doing, and they’ve proved they can take care of all the chores when I’ve had to leave in an emergency,” Florence said. “(Allison) is super good with the cows and she’s got the numbers sense and these boys-you’re not going to get a better tractor driver or harder workers than these two.”
The processing building has been under construction through the fall and it has exterior walls and a roof above.
Next on the list are fiberglass interior walls and the installation of equipment, a walk-in freezer and the fridges to sell whole and 2 percent milk with additional flavors of chocolate, strawberry and seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice.
“Plus, we’ll sell drinkable yogurts and maybe some beef here too,” said Florence. “And we’ll have a window here in the storefront where you can come in and watch the whole process if you’d like from the milk coming in through a line to being bottled after it’s pasteurized.”
Copyright © 2021 The Washington Times, LLC.


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in their 60s
Holiday retail jobs abound this year -- if you know where to look.
Solid back-to-school sales have boosted the confidence of retailers who have moved on to the next buying season: the holidays. Forbes lists eight retailers who are looking to fill thousands of positions by November.
Library of Congress
Joan of Arc is captured in battle, Bonnie and Clyde die in a hail of bullets, "The Shining" hits theaters, golf legend Sam Snead passes away, and Tom Cruise abuses Oprah's couch, all on this day.


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Samsung B7300 Windows Mobile smartphone unveiled
Unlike the three other handsets mentioned above, the B7300 is a smartphone running on Windows Mobile 6.1 (with TouchWiz UI on top).
The new device appears with China Mobile’s log on it, so it will most probably be released by the giant Chinese carrier in the near future.
Feature-wise, we know the B7300 has a 3MP camera, mini USB and MicroSD card slot.
No details yet about its availability in other markets besides the Chinese one.


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The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently released its Existing Home Sales report—discovering that October 2017 reported the strongest pace since June, but low supply continues to lead to fewer closings on an annual basis for the second month in a row.
Homes for Sale in Davenport FL
Amidst the ongoing narrative of supply shortages, the report found that total existing-home sales increased by 2.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.48 million in October from 5.37 million in September.
According to NAR’s Chief Economist Lawrence Yun, this slight increase is attributed to job growth, which in most of the country continues to carry on at a robust level and is starting to slowly push up wages—giving households added assurance…
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