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Ateb announced Tuesday that it had appointed Mike Cantrell as VP for pharmacy network development and Mike Roberts as the director of analytics and pharmacy programs
The Food and Drug Administration recently approved Orkambi a new cystic fibrosis treatment that received designation from the FDA as a breakthrough therapy and as an orphan drug.
The Harvard Drug Group enhances Cardinal Health's generic distribution business, expands OTC portfolio.
Keegan Bradley and Jon Curran claimed the golf title at the 17th annual CVS Health Charity Classic on Tuesday, posting 21-under-par 121.
The new purple logo is meant to express dynamism, creativity and empathy — three values at the heart of its mission to patients, Dr. Reddy's noted in a statement.
Teva Pharmaceuticals announced the U.S.-wide availability of generic Aggrenox (aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole) capsules, which contain that can reduce the risk of stroke, on Wednesday.
The American Pharmacists Association requests applicants for the APhA Board of Trustees, APhA-Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management and APhA-Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science.
DSNTV recently met with CVS Health's store leadership team in New York City to walk through one of the company’s new stores and learn more about the big changes unfolding in the aisles.
The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday issued guidance indicating that the agency would give pharmacies an additional four months to comply with product tracing requirements scheduled to take effect July 1, 2015.


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Six new supply chain members join Salmon Scotland
Six new supply chain businesses ranging from foam moulders to vets have joined the trade body for Scotland's world-renowned farm-raised salmon.
The firms cover a geographical spread from Dumfriesshire to Shetland, and across the central belt from Broxburn to Cumbernauld, as Salmon Scotland continues its expansion.
A total of 41 companies are now members of the trade body, which promotes the success of the sector that contributes £760million-a-year to Scotland's economy.
Salmon farming directly employs more than 2,500 people in fragile, coastal communities in rural Scotland, with a further 10,000 Scottish jobs dependent on the sector through the supply chain.
Membership has more than tripled since the start of the year as Salmon Scotland undergoes significant organisational growth.
While Scottish salmon is farm-raised in Shetland, Orkney, the north-west Highlands, the Western Isles and Argyll and Bute, the ongoing expansion includes Scottish, UK and international firms, cementing the sector's international reach and reputation for excellence.
The new members are:
Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said:
"Our continued expansion shows just how vital the success of farm-raised salmon is to our economy.
"While our producers in coastal communities are at the heart of our sector, the supply chain extends well beyond this - to cities and towns across Scotland and beyond.
"Thousands of jobs in a huge array of different roles all contribute to the extraordinary success of Scottish salmon, which is more important than ever as the economic storm clouds gather.
"Salmon farmers who care for their fish daily and produce a healthy, nutritious product that is renowned around the world can only do this because of the dedication and hard work of so many companies which are part of the Salmon Scotland family."

domain: news


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The common eco-friendly alternative to plastic bags is paper bags. However, the ‘dark side’ of the paper industry suggests another option–the tote bag.
With the recycling movement having become more mainstream, about 60 countries have already enforced a partial or complete ban against single-use plastic bags. Generally, plastics are hard to break down and often litter the oceans, beaches, and forests, endangering wildlife and the environment.
The gradual ban on using single-use plastics has forced people to find eco-friendly alternatives. Many establishments opted for paper bags. Paper is biodegradable and would not pollute water and soil, as plastic does. However, as harmless as paper bags may be, there is a dark side to this solution–the paper industry.
The Paper Industry
Industries, especially those of food and retail, adapted to the growing number of single-use plastic bans by switching to paper bags. According to Zion Market Research, the market for paper bags is set to reach 6.35 billion USD by 2025. It started gaining vast popularity in 2018 due to lifestyle changes and the world’s increasing affinity to pair their eco-friendly views with their shopping habits.
This rising demand for paper bags, however, takes a toll on trees. About 11 million acres of trees are cut down each year to create paper. On top of that, the pulp and paper industry is the third-largest industrial polluter in the United States, releasing over 100 million kg [what is the equivalent in tons?] of toxic pollution annually into the environment.
Despite the unpleasant side of the paper industry, there is still something you can do. You may opt to use recycled paper instead of virgin paper. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recycled paper has 35% less water pollution and 74% less air pollution.
Yet, there is still another option. Why not try the tote bag?
Reusable Tote Bags
Paper bags are flimsy and cannot withstand heavier loads, aside from their inability to hold wet items for long periods. Thus, tote bags came into the scene and provided a sturdier and more reusable alternative to plastic or even paper bags.
The more we reuse them, the less need we have for both paper and plastic. To further put things into perspective, the UK Environmental Agency states that we need to use a canvas tote bag at least 330 times to counter the environmental impact of a plastic bag used only once!
Before you grab a tote bag, make sure to use one that is made of hemp. A cotton bag has to be reused at least 173 times to compensate for the waste that it produces from production to packaging to disposal. On the other hand, factories can process hemp using fewer resources because they can be produced faster in larger quantities. Its stiffness can also add to the strength it offers when carrying heavier loads.
Next time you shop or do the groceries, opt to bring your own tote bag. They come in various sizes, can be folded and neatly tucked in your bag.
And for those of you who vape, you can also contribute to a sustainable environment by choosing the BIDI® Stick, which is manufactured by Bidi Vapor. It is made with premium quality materials that allow them to be recyclable.
For more information, visit www.bidicares.com.


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Wholesale and catering suppliers across the UK have launched home delivery services in an attempt to replace lost trade following the collapse of the restaurant and hospitality sectors.
With many restaurants, pubs, hotels and other businesses seeing custom dry up amid the coronavirus outbreak, their fresh produce suppliers have been forced to think outside the box to stay afloat and continue to pay their workers.
The government has now ordered pubs, restaurants and other venues to close to control the spread of the virus.
In the space of just a few days a number of companies including Nature’s Choice, WestCountry Group, Class One, Oliver Kay and Delifresh have switched their focus from wholesale to retail, offering home delivery of vegetable boxes to households in their area.
New Covent Garden catering supplier Nature’s Choice has been particularly proactive and entrepreneurial in this regard.
Commercial director Vernon Mascarenhas says the company has now lost all of its restaurant trade, as restaurants in London close their doors. By contrast, its deliveries to farm shops and delis have increased, but the company’s main focus is now on home deliveries, demand for which is booming.
On Monday (16 March) the company set up a Paypal ordering function for home deliveries on its website and on Tuesday it sent out its first boxes to London households.
On 17 March just 16 boxes went out but tomorrow (21 March) Nature’s choice will delivery 650. Mascarenhas expects daily orders to exceed 1,000 boxes next week and the venture is proving so successful that he wants to continue the home delivery service even after the coronavirus outbreak.
This spike in demand is thanks to two things, Mascarenhas says. Firstly, the supplier has spoken about the company’s change of tack on Jeremy Vine’s show on Radio 2, and secondly, he has asked all his restaurant and business customers to redirect their diners and staff to the service while they stay at home.
Facebook and Google are among the company’s clients and they have advertised the home delivery service to their staff.
The fact that Mascarenhas has a direct relationship with his fresh produce growers and suppliers has also helped him carefully manage how much supply he receives.
Despite such efforts, overall demand for catering suppliers’ produce is down significantly, and many have been forced to lay off delivery drivers and other staff. For example, on 19 March New Covent Garden trader Harwoods of London announced it had laid off 90 per cent of its workforce “as restaurants have no trade in London”.
Nature’s Choice has kept this to a minimum, but the business has already reemployed one worker who had to be laid off.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done but now I’m confident we can weather this storm,” Mascarenhas said. “The hardest thing has been changing the way people think. Switching from restaurant to household deliveries is a challenge but it’s possible if you can think on your feet.”
The key is not to try to be a “mini Ocado”, he says. “We haven’t given customers much choice – they can choose between a small, medium or large mixed box of fruit and veg or an Essential Box which also includes milk, butter, bread and orange juice. If you try to complicate it much more than this, costs can get out of control.”
Personally, Mascarenhas has experience in home delivery from his time managing Secrett’s Farm but he admits it’s logistically more challenging than servicing restaurants since you have to fulfil a larger number of smaller orders.
The advantage is that you have a bigger delivery window. Whereas restaurant deliveries have to be made between 7am and 8.30am, Nature’s Choice makes its retail deliveries between 6am and 1pm.
Looking for further business opportunities, the company is also going to team up with a meat supplier to offer joint deliveries of vegetables and meat, as well as joining forces with a couple of restaurants to offer deliveries of ready-to-cook meals such as shepherd’s pies and moussaka.


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OKLAHOMA CITY — A local brewer’s politically charged beer is making Oklahomans tipsy.
Brewery owner Rick Huebert is not shy about his political leanings.
“I’ve never been a fan of Obama,” Huebert said.
Huebert has been brewing as much Nobama beer as he can to meet demand.
He said he’s sold thousands of bottles just in the past few weeks.
“The phones have been constantly ringing, my email keeps locking up and we’re out of beer. I’ve got to make more beer,” Huebert said.
Tracy Wise, co-owner of The Bootlegger liquor store in Moore, said it’s the political message that has Oklahomans reaching for Nobama.
“As soon as people knew we had it, we started selling them. The sales have picked up quite a bit,” Wise said.
But Huebert thinks the flavor of the malt-infused wheat beer also keeps Oklahomans coming back for more.
“After they sit down and drink it, [customers say] ‘I’ve got to share this with my buddy,'” Huebert said.
Huebert said the idea for an anti-Obama beer originally came from a group out of Tulsa, who brought the idea to him months ago.
Because of the beer’s alcohol content, it’s only available in liquor stores.
Huebert said because of government restrictions, he can only sell the beer in Oklahoma.


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Skyforge: Dev Talk – PVP Remastered
A huge PVP update is coming to Skyforge, and their Producer and Game Director have got together to discuss it and share some of the important highlights. PVP Remastered is on the way to Aelion!
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DETROIT — During the economic decline, carwash owners and manufacturers had to come up with innovations to keep their business growing.
Waterless products are an innovation that is catching on in the business.
Carwashes are one business that has not been dominated by large companies. According to the blog, “the top four companies take in six percent of the industry’s revenue. The rest are made up of large numbers of smaller operators.”
Waterless detailing company to take part in Expo
Detail Xperts is offering franchise opportunities, with eco-friendly products.
To read the full story, click here


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Video: Will E3 be Dead, Will Nintendo Host a Live Broadcast in June?
E3 is dead. The long-running trade show has been slowly losing ground in recent years, and it seems like the COVID-19 pandemic is the final nail in the coffin. Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest has essentially taken the reins, with a showcase event starting June 9, 2022.
But what does this mean for Nintendo? Will we see a direct from the company in June, as tradition largely dictates? Our lovely video team got together again to discuss what Nintendo’s plans might be in light of E3’s cancellation. Check out the video below.
As for this author’s opinion? Yes, we will see a Nintendo Direct in June; You bet. We must remember that the big showcases from Nintendo, Microsoft and Square Enix are more or less separate from the main event of E3. In fact, Microsoft has already announced its own showcase for June 12, paving the way for other major publishers to follow suit. You’ll see!
Make sure to share your own thoughts on Nintendo’s possible plans for June in the comments below. Do you think we’ll see a direct? Or did our chances die along with E3?
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/05/video-with-e3-dead-will-nintendo-host-a-direct-in-june Video: Will E3 be Dead, Will Nintendo Host a Live Broadcast in June?


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Gwen Stefani Reassessed “Everything” After Gavin Rossdale Divorce
No doubt: Gwen Stefani has taken a hard experience and turned it into something beautiful.
In an interview with InStyle published March 7, the “Don’t Speak” singer reflected on her divorce from Gavin Rossdale and how it affected her.
“It was a time of reassessing everything that I’ve done,” recalled Gwen.
That’s when the multi-hyphenate stumbled upon a dream she “wasn’t even aware of” — creating her own makeup brand.
“I wanted to start something that was new, that was mine, that was true to who I am, that was going to be the rest of my life project, that I would be able to be a gift back,” she said.
Now with a brand new line of makeup products, including her signature red lipstick, Gwen has done just that. In fact, her brand’s name, GXVE was inspired partly by the word “give.”
“Makeup is so much about giving,” Gwen said. “You wake up and you put a face on to show who you are that day, what you need to face the day, and you don’t really see yourself the rest of the day unless you’re on a Zoom — you just give that to people. And then they take that, you seeing when people show up and they made an effort. It’s like, ‘thank you.’ And I say, ‘you’re welcome, look what I did for you.'”


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Think you’ll never need Bitcoin? Think again. Though the virtual currency isn’t yet mainstream, the technology at the heart of Bitcoin is undeniably powerful. Bitcoin has carved a few niche markets, including futurists, hackers, and black market profiteers.
Fueled by Bitcoin, one of those markets, ransomware, is on the rise. Danny Palmer, writing for ZDNet, reported recently:
Ransom demands are typically made in Bitcoin, the cryptographic digital currency based on Blockchain distributed ledger technology, which offers a secure, often untraceable, method of making and receiving payments — a perfect currency for those who want their financial activities to remain hidden.
READ: Cybersecurity spotlight: The ransomware battle (Tech Pro Research report)
All business is subject to hack attack. Though best practices always advise against paying ransom, sadly, companies are sometimes (and sometimes not) forced to fork over Bitcoin to decrypt essential files.
Should business–SMBs, startups, and enterprise–own or trade Bitcoin? Why or why not? Respond to the survey below and leave your thoughts in the comment section.
- Gallery: 10 innovative blockchain startups poised to revolutionize business (TechRepublic)
- Digital currency is poised to reinvent how startups are funded, led by Chroma Fund(TechRepublic)
- 10 things you should know about Bitcoin and digital currencies(TechRepublic)
- Pay with Bitcoin: 10 of the most interesting places to spend it (TechRepublic)
- Bitcoin an official commodity: US trade commission (ZD Net)
- How Bitcoin helped fuel an explosion in ransomware attacks (ZD Net)


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|Day Low/High||139.76 / 141.60|
|52 Wk Low/High||89.47 / 125.74|
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both rebounded on Wednesday, while the Dow slipped slightly.
Stocks hold mixed through Wednesday afternoon as worries over progress over regulatory reform continue to spook investors and a shooting in London keeps world markets on edge.
The image of a weakened president is having a widespread effect.
COO Kevin Johnson will replace longtime CEO Howard Schultz, who will remain with the coffee giant as its executive chairman.
At FinDEVr 2017, TokBox says it helps make live video and interactive broadcasting easy for financial services companies.
The tech stocks are uniquely international, and we keep hearing about strength in Asia, Europe and the BRICs.
A little patience is required, but sooner or later some solid support should develop.
New enhancements for Google's search apps and a preview of the next version of Android show a solid grasp of what smartphone users are looking for.
It has been a wild ride thus far, and we've only completed one round of action.
Drexel Hamilton's Brian White sees Snap's unique appeal and value proposition as comparable to those of Apple.
Apple suppliers reportedly ramped up production on augmented reality components.
The social media giant is doing Snap's tricks, one shade better.
The tech giant is reportedly working on augmented reality-powered eyeglasses, in addition to adding some AR features to the iPhone 8.
Patience with the slow progress of health care and financial reforms wears thin on Tuesday, sending stocks spiralling to their worst losses of the year.
M&A deals in the semiconductor industry totaled more than $98 billion in 2016, but analysts say this year could be even more ripe for consolidation, especially for self-driving car technology.
Launching a cheaper 9.7-inch iPad with decent specs makes sense at a time when both iPad sales and the broader tablet market are depressed.
Stocks slump to session lows on Tuesday as uncertainty over when and how the Trump administration will implement regulatory reform spooks the financial sector.
Shares of Apple are tracing out an ominous key downside reversal today.
Here's what retail could look like in 2030.
Apple on Tuesday announced a new version of its 9.7-inch iPad.
Stocks extend their decline through the morning with the basic materials and financials sector the worst hit.
The clock is ticking on the streaming media giant to secure licensing deals with the major music labels and stay on track for an initial public offering.
Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi sees two primary factors which will power Apple shares higher.
Stocks extend declines on Tuesday as a selloff in the basic materials and financials sector taints broader markets.
Americans are burning through their cash.


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Subway has added a carved turkey sandwich to its menu, available at Canadian franchises for a limited time. The sandwich includes thick-cut slices of 100 per cent Canadian turkey topped with a new cranberry mustard sauce.
Subway Canada is serving a Korean barbecue (BBQ) pulled pork sandwich until August 31 to help bring more ethnic-inspired options to its menu. The sandwich features slow-roasted pulled pork tossed in a glaze infused with a mix of soy, garlic, gochujang paste and sesame oil.
Subway Canada has partnered with Burnac Produce to bring Ontario-grown vegetables to 1,300 franchises across the province. The Government of Ontario and non-profit organization Greenbelt Fund are providing $90,000 to Burnac through the Local Food Investment Fund (LFIF) to go toward the ‘Stop at Subway for Ontario Grown’ project.
Food-service franchise system Subway Canada has updated its menu with shaved steak free of artificial flavours, colours and preservatives. It is part of the company’s commitment to remove all artificial flavours, colours and preservatives from its sandwiches in North America over the next 14 months.


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WASHINGTON, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Tourists from China to the United States dropped for the first time in 15 years, despite that the total outbound trips of Chinese tourists rose significantly.
Data released on Tuesday by the US National Travel and Tourism Office showed that the number of Chinese tourists travelling to the United States fell 5.7 percent to 2.9 million last year.
However, Chinese tourists' overall trips across the border maintained its strong growth in 2018. Data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China showed that a total of 149.72 million outbound trips were made by Chinese tourists in 2018, up 14.7 percent from the previous year.
Besides, the total number of outbound and inbound trips by Chinese tourists hit 291 million in 2018, up 7.8 percent year-on-year, according to the ministry.
As the population and purchasing power of China's middle class grows, Chinese tourists now have more choices for outbound trips during their holidays.
According to a report released by the China Tourism Academy and Chinese travel services provider Ctrip, the United States ranked the 7th favorite destination of Chinese tourists in 2018, following Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.
The report also showed that Chinese tourists were increasingly inclined to go to more convenient, safer, stable and friendly destinations.


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According to Travel and Leisure, in Germany, the creators tested the CityAirbus flying taxi. It is specified that the remotely controlled unit operates on electricity. It is planned that such a flying taxi will carry up to four passengers at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour for a distance of up to 100 kilometers.
Corning has announced Gorilla Glass Victus, an impact-resistant protective glass for smart phones. The presented component should protect devices from falls. According to Corning, the new glass compared to the previous - Gorilla Glass 6 - is twice as resistant to scratches, and four times as compared to counterparts from other companies. The manufacturer guarantees that Victus can withstand drops up to two meters. Corning has also tested the protection against repeated drops: Victus withstood 20 drops from a height of up to one meter, Gorilla Glass 6 - 15. According to Corning, the supply of the new type of protective glass will begin in the coming months. First of all, Gorilla Glass Victus will be equipped with new Samsung smart phones.
As a result of scientific research by specialists from the University of Münster, astronomers have reduced the age of the Moon by 85 million years. Astrophysicists believed that the Earth collided with a protoplanet 140 million years after the birth of the solar system. But researchers at the University of Munster have calculated that the moon is much younger. It turns out that Earth's satellite could have formed 4.425 billion years ago.
The developers of the Chinese company "Xiaomi" presented their new product, a wireless charger. The novelty amazes not only with its functionality, such as economy and quick charging, but also with its low cost. The device was priced at only $ 15. The charger is an oversized case with three USB ports that allow you to connect more mobile devices.
Paleontologists have discovered fossils that support the theory that dinosaurs lived and bred in what is now Alaska. A group of scientists from Imperial College London discovered in northern Alaska a fragment of the jaw of a young dinosaur of the dromaeosaurid family. Paleontologists came to the conclusion that the jaw fragments found belonged to a dinosaur born near the place of their discovery. We are talking about a fossilized fragment of the bone of the lower jaw of a dinosaur no more than 14 mm long and about 70 million years old. One of the researchers, Tony Fiorillo, emphasized that the results of the study lead scientists to the idea that the dinosaurs considered the cold climate suitable "for making families and raising offspring."


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BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's machinery industry posted steady performance in 2020, with revenues and profits beating expectations, according to the China Machinery Industry Federation.
The added value of the machinery sector rose 6 percent year on year, compared with the 3.4-percent increase seen by the country's manufacturing industry.
The better-than-expected performance of the sector was partly due to China's positive fiscal policies, said Chen Bin, executive vice president of the federation.
The added value of the industry is expected to rise around 5.5 percent year on year in 2021, and its revenues and profits will likely grow by 4 percent, Chen said.
The country will also strive to strike a balance between machinery imports and exports this year, he said. Enditem


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Kim Kardashian is possibly the world’s largest social media influencer with over 330 million Instagram followers, but her attempt at being a ‘finfluencer’ and spruiking crypto currency has seen her clash with US regulators.
This week, Kardashian copped a $2 million fine for promoting crypto currencies without disclosing she had been paid to do so.
Not only will she be fined, but she’ll have to pay back the $250,000 fee for the promotion – with interest – and will be banned from promoting crypto currencies for three years. It’s a small penalty for a woman for a personal wealth of more than $2 billion but it’s more of a statement of principal.
While US regulators celebrate what they see as a victory, the reality is that the Kardashian ban is unlikely to slow the relentless rise of crypto currencies as their popularity continues to grow.
Kardashian’s celebrity status and the demographic which follows her epitomizes the world of crypto. Young people driven by the latest trends are among the most enthusiastic crypto investors, and their interest is unlikely to wane.
According to a survey released this week by crypto currency exchange Swyftx, around one million Australians will enter into the crypto market over the next 12 months, with Millenials and Gen Zers to the fore.
Swytfx’s head of strategic partnerships, Tommy Honan, estimates that based on current growth around half of Australian adults under 50 will own or will have owned crypto within the next one or two years.
Much has been made of the so-called “crypto winter”, where the value of many crypto currencies slumped and left a trail of disaster stories and lost fortunes, but the likelihood is that any winter will be followed by a spring and a new summer.
Regulators in the US and Australia are slowly getting their heads around the idea of crypto, and as they do it will enter the mainstream as an increasingly legitimate asset class. Even the Reserve Bank of Australia is progressing with a trial of a digital Australian dollar.
The normalisation of crypto is likely to take some of the “boom and bust” out of the market but it might re-assure people’s fears. According to US website the Bankless Times, global adoption of Bitcoin as a payments currency will reach 65% globally by 2045.
So, how can investors position themselves right now to take advantage of the next resurgence in the crypto market?
There are a number of crypt exchanges where it is possible to buy and sell a number of crypto currencies.
Along with Swyftx, there is BTC Markets, Bybit and Digital Surge, and these offer guidance for beginners as well as features for seasoned traders.
There may, however, be issues in switching out of digital currencies and back into Australian dollars because the mainstream Australian banks have so far been shy of supporting crypto funds.
Digital neo-bank Volt had an arrangement with BTC Markets where account holders could trade in and out of a normal AUD savings account, but Volt was wound up earlier this year after failing to gain market traction. Others may soon follow that model, which would make using a crypto exchange more attractive for many.
If you fear actually owning crypto but still want exposure to the asset class, then there are a number of Exchange Trade Funds or ETFs available on the Australian market. Head over to the website of Cboe, a rival exchange to the ASX, to see what is listed there.
With the ETF funds, the investment is made in dollars but the performance tracks the performance of a particular crypto or basket of cryptos, and if you want to sell out you redeem your investment in dollars.
It might be a way of getting through the crypto winter and setting yourself up for what many see as the blue sky ahead, even if Kim Kardashian is nowhere to be seen.


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Abid Mir says that the SOLEX 2018 Show was their most successful exhibition in its entire 28-year history, and following this success, his company AMIR have applied to increase their stand size by 50% for next year's exhibition.
This year’s success was primarily due to the launch of Royalcraft latest innovative Weather Proof and Stain Resistant Weather Shield Fabric for all its new 2019 garden furniture collections.
Garden Trade News had predicted customers would be impressed and all seemed to agree that this amazing new fabric was an exciting “Game Changer” for outdoor garden furniture.
Following overwhelming positive responses from customers in the two weeks since SOLEX, AMIR are delighted that for Summer 2019, Royalcraft garden furniture sets with its new Weather Shield Fabric will be available nationally at Garden centres and major UK multiple retail outlets.
AMIR also announced this week that the new Weather Shield Fabric will also be used and available on its 2019 range on Parasols, Gazebos, Furniture Covers and Storage Bags.
For further information, please contact the AMIR sales team.
A-MIR & CO. LTD. Mir House, Taylors Lane, Oldbury, West Midlands. B69 2BN
Tel: 0121 544 1999


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MIAMI, FLORIDA – Costa Farms announced today that it has acquired the business, assets, and brands of Hermann Engelmann Greenhouses, Inc. of Apopka, Florida, one of the country’s premier small-foliage growers.
Under the visionary direction of the Engelmann family, Hermann Engelmann Greenhouses has played a leading role in the indoor houseplant industry for more than 40 years. Guided by a solid team, the company has built a rich heritage reflected in the company’s high-quality products and state-of-the-art production facilities.
“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to work with a team that has been committed to quality for so many years.” Jose Costa, Executive Vice President and co-owner of Costa Farms said. “The Engelmann organization has done an outstanding job cultivating and keeping their brand strong with 40+ years of hard work and dedication. And we feel a huge component of this transaction is the skill and expertise of the Engelmann production team,” Costa added.
Costa Farms will continue to support the Exotic Angel® brand, and looks to build on its heritage, legacy, and portfolio of more than 400 plant varieties. “Being the most recognized houseplant brand in the country, Exotic Angel® is a perfect complement to join the Costa portfolio of brands, such as O2 for You and Plants of Steel,” Costa says. The two organizations will combine their strengths to offer more quality solutions for retail customers and end consumers.
“We’re proud of what our company has achieved in our 43-year history,” Chuck Romagnoli, CEO of Hermann Engelmann Greenhouses, Inc., says. With a network of more than 1,100 retailers, including mass merchandisers, grocery stores, and independent garden centers, the company operates under nearly 69 acres of greenhouses and has some 300 employees. “We’re pleased to be working with Costa Farms because they share our dedicated work ethic and demand for quality. We can’t imagine a better company to continue moving our brand forward,” he says.
About Costa Farms:
Costa Farms is the largest producer of ornamental plants in the world. Founded in 1961 by Jose Costa, Costa Farms is a third-generation, family-owned business that globally stretches over 3,500 acres and employs 4,000 people. Along with thriving indoor and bedding plant divisions, Costa Farms operates merchandising and young-plant production divisions as part of its infrastructure, with operations domestically in South Florida and North and South Carolina, and abroad in the Dominican Republic and Far East.
Source: Costa Farms


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Personal computers and “big” computing devices are no longer the latest craze in the market. The highlight is now on smartphones and tablets and almost all major tech companies are interested in being amongs the innovators. Nvidia is one of the biggest chip makers in the world and currently, they are apparently shifting their focus. For example, it was surprising to see Nvidia announce Project Shield at CES, where it actually managed to become one of the most hunted gadgets.
Today, Nvidia announced the Tegra 4i, previously known as Project Grey. Tegra 4i is Nvidia’s first device that combines a modem and a GPU-based processor. The i500 LTE modem is integrated in Tegra 4i, which is half the size of its nearest competitor. With the launch of Tegra 4i, Nvidia hopes to rival Qualcomm in the mid to low-range market of smartphones. If Tegra 4 is for superphones and tablets, then Tegra 4i is the solution to bringing LTE speeds to smartphones with a more accessible price.
Nvidia gets serious in smartphone chip war
Twenty months ago, as Nvidia informs us on its official blog, they have acquired Icera, an acquisition that has been crucial to Nvidia’s current moves on the market. And the company seems very confident that Tegra 4i will be unchallenged:
Tegra 4i will bring super phone capabilities to the mainstream smartphone market, and there will be nothing on the market like it.
We hope to see Tegra 4i in action at the Mobile World Congress next week, where Nvidia is said to bring a reference phone, called Phoenix. We’ll be able to judge on our own its powers only then. Nvidia has probably chosen to integrate ARM Cortex A9 instead of Cortex A15 in order to preserve battery life and reduce size. We know how much LTE can drain the battery of some phones and how much we don’t like bulky gadgets. Nvidia doesn’t want that, neither.
Besides bringing LTE to much cheaper smartphones, Tegra 4i could also make possible the 1080p playback on a 5-inch screen, at least this is what the reference design showcased at the launch is suggesting. Here are some more specifications currently available for the Tegra 4i chip:
- 2.3 Ghz max CPU cloc
- 60 GPU cores
- 2 GB memory seize
- 1920 x 1200 display
- Quad-core CPU R4 Cortex-A9, a fifth battery saver core
- NVIDIA Chimera Computational Photography Architecture
Tegra 4i comes with innovative photography technology
If LTE is not enough for some, you should know that Tegra 4i also comes with a new photography technology from Nvidia – Chimera. And it comes with features that we haven’t see anywhere else before – always-on high-dynamic range (HDR) photos and videos, HDR panoramic and persistent tap-to-track capabilities.
Thanks to the increased computing power that smartphones will have, it’s now possible to see features that previously were found only in DSLR cameras:
Chimera architecture removes those boundaries by providing the power to conduct nearly 100 billion mathematical operations per second to perform image processing, using computational techniques used in X-ray CT scanners, deep space telescopes and spy satellites.
Bringing advanced photography features to middle and lower range smartphones is a very good idea. We’ve seen a lot of rumors recently where even Apple was envisioned releasing a cheaper iPhone. Mobile subscription rates are increasing at a fast pace in developing countries, so it makes a lot of sense to pack as much as one can in affordable handsets.
The fight is on
Accordoing to Nvidia, the Tegra 4i chip’s performance per square mm is 2.5 times better than the one of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 series chip. Patrick Moorhead, president at Moor Insights & Strategy:
Nvidia’s biggest differentiator with the 4i is its integrated and software-upgradable LTE modem combined with its graphics brand. This could be the first significant threat to Qualcomm in that it’s the first time a high performance system-on-a-chip with integrated LTE is available from someone other than Qualcomm.
With Tegra 4i and Project Shield, Nvidia might be on the right path and that is – moving its brand and reputation from the world of personal computers to the one of mobile, portable devices. Nvidia is already a respected name in the tablets industry so this step was natural. As WSJ rightfully observes, Tegra 4i comes to fill a gap in the current market – they’re bringing increased data speeds without compromising the space inside the device, the battery nor the price. Now, the ball is over to Qualcomm, Intel and even Samsung. What will be their next move?


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Investor makes moves on Brewerytown supermarket
It's been a long time coming, but Brewerytown might finally get a much-needed supermarket at the intersection of 31st Street and Girard Avenue.
After a meeting held Friday, Oct. 30, representatives from Farm Fresh Produce and Poultry signed a letter of intent to purchase the triangular, 2.8-acre tract along the 3100 block of Girard Ave. from the Westrum Development Co.
According to Herman Rollins - who owns Farm Fresh Produce and Poultry with his wife, Judith - the Cherry Hill, N.J.-based couple will secure the land for about $2 million.
They hope to bring a 35,000-square-foot supermarket to the site in the near future.
"We have everything we need to put the market there," said Rollins during an interview on Monday, Nov. 2.
Here's an update about the planned supermarket at 31st and Girard. Below is an excerpt.


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Downtown Hosts Electro Junk Dump
Orange County held its first special collection of electronics for business located in downtown Chapel Hill and Carrboro on Saturday, November 17, 2012 -- and collected over 200 pounds of computers, bulbs, and other recyclables and reusables. Five local businesses including Bicycle Chain, Breadmans, Carrburitos, CD Alley and Fitch Lumber along with four area residents brought over two hundred pounds of batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, computers, peripherals, speakers and other recyclables and reusable goods including clothing to this special dropoff event.
The “Electro Junk Dump’ was put on by Orange County Solid Waste Management Department in conjunction with the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership (www.downtownchaelhill.com), the PTA Thrift Shop (http://ptathriftshop.org), Kramden Institute (http://Kramden.org) and the Compass Center for Women and Families (www.womenspace.org). Annette Stone, Carrboro Economic Development Director, also provided outreach to Carrboro businesses.
The County Solid Waste Department conducted the collection to enable businesses to more easily recycle those electronics and related materials that they might not have time to take to the Orange County landfill dropoff area for recycling. The event was also structured to promote reuse of the usable items by involving local reuse organizations. “Reuse is actually much more effective and environmentally sound than recycling and higher up the hierarchy of ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’, said Muriel Williman, Outreach and Education leader for the department .
It was a boon to those businesses that did participate. Ryan Richardson, owner of CD Alley said as he walked over to the event’s West Rosemary Street parking lot location from his Franklin Street store carrying large bundles of burnt out eight foot fluorescent lamps and some batteries, “Thanks for helping me clean out my back room at last.” “Properly recovering these old lamps, computers and other electronics keeps mercury, lead, cadmium and other heavy metals out of the environment. ”Recycling is often a more environmentally sound way of mining than digging all the materials out of the ground and refining them’, said Blair Pollock of the department.
Fluorescent lamps along with computers, including CPUs, laptops, monitors, printers, printer/fax/scan devices, mice and keyboards; and all televisions, including flat-panel televisions, projection televisions and televisions with picture tubes have been banned from landfills in North Carolina since July 2011. This collection event was conducted to assist businesses to easily comply with the laws and find out if there is a demand for the service among businesses in the County.
Any business in Orange County may bring computers, peripherals, batteries and other electronics to the County Landfill for recycling at no charge during operating hours of 7am – 4pm Monday through Friday and 7:30am to noon Saturdays. Donate usable computers to Kramden Instiute, cell phones to Compass Center and usable household goods and clothing to PTA or other local charities.
Meg McGurk director of the Downtown Partnership told the County’s Solid Waste Planner, Blair Pollock, “I appreciate how the County was willing to come to the downtown to make it easier for businesses to access the service. Anytime we can partner on public services like this is a benefit for all.”
Barbara Jesse Black, executive director of the PTA Thrift Shop added, “Even though it wasn’t a huge haul it was a good event and we can grow it. We can make a more continuous event.”
Thanks also go to Larry Short, owner of the lot at 322 W. Rosemary Street for donating its use for the event and UNC Public Safety for providing convenient access to electricity.


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After its record selloff on Tuesday, Tesla stock bounced back on Wednesday amid a broader rebound in EV stocks. The tear Tesla has been on this year has been good for other EV stocks as well. Investors who want a piece of Tesla but don’t want to pay such a high valuation for it might want to consider some of these other EV plays.
The new kid on the block this year has been Nikola, which makes electric and hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered trucks. Nikola stock pulled back on Wednesday after taking off on Tuesday due to the company’s new partnership with General Motors.
Nikola had been looking for a partner to manufacture its Badger pickup truck, and it found that partner in GM. The Badger isn’t expected to enter production until 2022, but Nikola has also been selling its semi trucks, the Nikola One, Nikola Two, and Nikola Tre. The company also struck a deal to deliver 2,500 of its Nikola Refuse trucks to garbage collection firm Republic Services.
Nikola is still in the very early stages, so it is a highly speculative play, but Tesla was too for years before it made a profit.
China’s BYD has been around a lot longer than Nikola. In fact, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has been a backer of the Chinese automaker for years. BYD Auto was formed after BYD Company acquired Tsinchuan Automobile Company in 2002.
It should be noted that the company isn’t a pure-play EV stock because it does make other types of vehicles, including some with petrol engines. However, it has made a name for itself in the world of electric vehicles. In fact, Bloomberg described the Chinese automaker as the largest electric car maker in the world in 2019.
Among the electric vehicles made by BYD are the BYD e1, e2, e3, e5 and e6. The company also makes a mid-size sports sedan called the Han and a compact sedan called the Qin. Other electric vehicles from BYD include the S2, Song, Song Max, Tang and Yuan. The company also makes electric buses, vans and trucks.
Nio is another Chinese electric vehicle maker. The company advertises its battery technology as “battery as a service.” Nio leases its batteries to car owners, slashing about $10,000 off the cost of its vehicles while raking in $100 to $150 per month each on vehicles with leased batteries, forming a recurring revenue stream. The company makes the ec6, es6 and the es8.
One thing we should point out is the fact that Nio has quite a bit of debt with a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.3. Further, investors have been extremely optimistic about the EV maker, just as they have been about most of the companies on this list. That means its valuation could be a problem for some investors, especially when combined with the debt problem.
Non-automaker stocks in the EV market
There are plenty of ways to play the EV market without investing in the EV makers themselves, which have entered a bit of a bubble. One such way is to invest in Blink Charging, which operates a network of charging stations for electric vehicles in the U.S., the Dominican Republic, Israel, and Greece. The company continues to expand into other international markets.
The rest of the EV stocks on this list aren’t pure-play names, but that can be a good thing because they benefit from the growing trend toward increased technology in all vehicles rather than just electric ones. Aptiv, Infineon and Lear Corporation are three companies that will benefit from this ongoing shift.
DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Born2Invest, its management, staff or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.
This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.
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Shift to cage-free eggs, part of larger consumer movement
Consumers want to know more about their food, and major food companies are assessing this trend and adapting to stay in business.
As the saying goes, the customer is always right.
Over the past year, the U.S. food industry – grocers, restaurants, foodservice and hospitality – rapidly pledged to serve only cage-free eggs in the next 20 years. Led by McDonald's Corp.’s landmark announcement in 2015, retailers are saying they are switching…


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The BBC is something of an institution, both at home in the UK and around the world, enjoying an enviable reputation among viewers, listeners and users across the globe. Its network of domestic and international TV channels and radio stations reaches hundreds of millions of people, and demand for its content continues to grow, with users increasingly accessing its services online and through mobile apps.
Today, Auntie Beeb announced a new addition to its suite of apps, with the launch of BBC Weather for iOS and Android smartphones in the UK. Using meteorological data from the UK's Met Office, it provides a five-day forecast, along with other details such as sunrise/sunset times, pollen count and UV intensity.
The app will automatically detect a user's location on launch, providing an immediate summary and forecast. Additional global locations can be easily searched for, and detailed through-the-day weather details are also available.
While the iOS and Android versions share the same design, the latter also allows users to add a widget to the home screen, along with NFC support, which enables users to share locations by touching two compatible handsets together.
James Metcalfe, Senior Product Manager for Weather at BBC Future Media, said: "We're making BBC Weather truly mobile with the launch of our new app. As so many of our audiences access BBC Weather from iOS and Android devices, we can now offer them an even better way to keep ahead of the weather on-the-go."
While many iOS and Android users will no doubt be rejoicing at the news, Metcalfe's words offer little comfort to Windows Phone users. The BBC launched an iPlayer app for Windows Phone 8 last month, but the Corporation has made it clear that its primary focus must be on those platforms with the most users. In January, a BBC spokesperson told Neowin: "The Android and Apple platforms account for approximately 75% of the UK smartphone market. Apps are costly to develop and maintain and, as a publicly funded organisation, we have to prioritise our development around the areas and platforms where we will achieve the greatest reach of users at the lowest cost."
Don't be expecting a BBC Weather app for Windows Phone - or BlackBerry 10, for that matter - any time soon then. Still, for iOS and Android users in the UK, the app is available now, free from the App Store and Google Play. The app is currently only available for smartphones, and no details have yet been shared regarding plans to make the app available internationally.
Source: BBC Media Centre


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MoneyGram Gets an Italian Job
MoneyGram has advanced well into Europe to find its latest official partner. The company announced it has signed an agreement with Poste Italiane, operator of that nation's postal service, to offer MoneyGram's services to its clientele. The terms of the deal -- which MoneyGram said "strengthens a long-term successful cooperation that we have had for years" -- were not disclosed.
According to the company, Poste Italiane serves roughly 37 million clients throughout the country. MoneyGram said that more than 9,000 Poste Italiane outlets are equipped to provide the company's money transfer services.
People in the country extensively use these offerings. In the press release announcing the news of the deal, MoneyGram pointed out that Italy is a hotbed of remittances abroad. The company cited Banca d'Italia (Bank of Italy, the nation's central bank) data indicating that more than 6.8 billion euros ($9.0 billion) in such payments were made in 2012.
The article MoneyGram Gets an Italian Job originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Eric Volkman has no position in MoneyGram. Nor does The Motley Fool. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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Vanco International has announced that its two new lines of Ultra High Speed HDMI Cables with Ethernet are available for pre-order now. The lines were crafted with both present and future technology in mind for integrators in the residential and commercial AV markets.
“Vanco is renowned for its long history of being first to market with the latest and most innovative cable technology, starting with the release of our original HDMI cables back in 2004” said Vanco International president, Mark Corbin. “With the launch of our latest Ultra High Speed HDMI Cables with Ethernet, we are once again ahead of the curve, providing our distributors and dealers with some of the first solutions that support resolutions up to 10K.”
The AV distribution and electronic accessory leader has fully embraced HDMI 2.1 with the new release to address the needs of 8K installations and beyond. Both HD8L and PROHD8K Ultra High Speed HDMI Cables with Ethernet can support resolutions up to 10L, 8K@60Hz, 4:4:4 Chromas and 4K@120Hz. The cables are also backwards compatible and offer an uncompressed bandwidth of 48 Gbps.


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You'd think the Cubs had won another World Series for all the excitement and anticipation regarding the pending arrival in Peoria of a Portillo's, but as has become commonplace, a taxpayer subsidy will likely be involved.
If the Chicago-area restaurant chain is that popular — and it seems to be — why is public assistance of any sort required, even indirectly through the local developer who will own and lease the property? Some $1.3 million worth, for hot dogs and Italian beef?
That's how much the developer is seeking in public reimbursement for his acquisition and site preparation costs at the property fronting Westlake Shopping Center, through the creation of a Special Service Area (SSA) that will add a one percentage point sales tax onto every purchase at Portillo's. That will bring the total sales tax paid there to 12 percent. Though unrelated, Westlake also is asking the Peoria City Council for permission to raise its SSA-related sales tax, from .75 to 1 percent.
If past is prologue, the Council likely will approve both. A public hearing will be held and decision made in November.
SSAs are just the latest economic development gimmick — er, tool — that digs into taxpayer pockets to help defray costs for private sector developers, joining the likes of tax increment financing districts (TIFs) and enterprise zones. When these started, they were supposed to be rare, a last resort to jump-start investment in blighted areas on which the free market had given up, and then disappear as that changed. Now they're all over the place, under every circumstance, taxpayers a first-stop provider.
Once upon a time, entrepreneurs used their own money to buy and build, then priced their product at a level necessary to produce enough revenue to cover their costs and then some, otherwise known as profit. It was called capitalism, which promoted the concept of full risk, full reward, a level playing field for all. Now the risk for some is shared — socialized, if you will — if not always the gain. Again, we don't fault those doing the asking — why not, the money is being dangled, the precedent well established — as much as those doing the offering.
If the local economy was going gangbusters after 40 years of experience with these inducements, it would be one thing. What we see instead are sales tax rates inching up and up and up — the sky seems to be the limit — and sales tax revenues still falling well short of projections. What we see are governments including Peoria's City Hall piling up mountains of red ink despite the higher taxes. Is cost-benefit analysis a thing of the past, too?
At least with property taxes — there are property tax SSAs, too — the private investors have more skin in the game. Sales taxes come out of taxpayers' bottom line — if in a way many don't notice, which is sort of the point — though granted, they have a choice whether to patronize these businesses.
Many a municipality seems to have surrendered on the idea of developers doing their thing entirely on their own dime. Evidently the thinking is that without public help, private commerce would come to a virtual standstill, or that we'd get nothing but ugly sheds and gravel parking lots and dandelions and weeds passing as landscaping. It would be great to see a city council brave enough to test that theory, to prove it can compete the old-fashioned way.
We're fuddy-duddies, but it seems to us there's a market in Peoria for this restaurant without help, or there's not. Certainly we hope there is, that Portillo's does well, lament though we do any taxpayer involvement.


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Remember when 4Ks used to cost a damn fortune? Those days are quickly coming to an end, and if you need proof, look no further than Amazon’s new line of budget televisions, manufactured under the Westinghouse and Element brands. They come with all the smarts of Amazon’s excellent Fire TV set-top box as well as a…
Google might be working on a competitor for Amazon’s Echo, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not willing to play along with the consumer giant. You can now use Alexa to control your Nest thermostat.
Amazon’s Fire TV is the Amazon Fire of set top boxes. I’m not saying that to sound like an idiot. I’m trying to emphasize how Amazon’s affinity for highly proprietary and basically functional hardware spans categories. The fancy new Fire TV is no exception.
“We decided not to mess with what’s working,” says Amazon devices VP Peter Larsen. That’s why his new Fire TV looks exactly the same. But inside this tiny box, you’ll find components powerful enough to stream 4K movies. It’s one more impulse buy from the kings of online shopping.
Last year, Amazon’s excellent Fire TV got access to HBO Go, the crown jewel of VOD services. Or it did, assuming your cable provider was anything but Comcast. If you had Comcast, you were inexplicably screwed. No longer!
Sling TV is the over-the-top TV service we've been waiting for (or at least, it will be once it gets AMC), and right now they're giving away popular streaming devices just for signing up.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick is the bargain version of Amazon's super-fast voice search-enabled Fire TV. The HDMI version certainly sacrifices a lot of things that make Fire TV great, but is that bargain worth it? Absolutely.
Amazon just announced its very own (crazy cheap) $40 Chromecast competitor, the Fire TV Stick. And if you're an Amazon Prime member, you have until Wednesday to pick one up for a mere $19.
Amazon's Fire TV just got some new apps and games, most notably good-Amazon-Prime-Music-alternative Spotify, and season two of Telltale's fantastic Walking Dead game series.
Amazon's Fire TV is a great, speedy, oddly expensive piece of hardware, and so naturally Amazon needs to find something that can make it special. Something that can make use of that controller. And what better console-selling exclusive than...Flappy Bird? Yep.
You have more streaming TV options than you could hope for, especially now that Amazon has entered the fray. And while Apple TV, Chromecast, and Fire TV all have their strengths, they also share the same crippling weakness: self-interest. That's what makes Roku so important.
Amazon pitched its Fire TV as a streaming device to end all streaming devices. The company touted its simple and effective search, and its open ecosystem boasting enough apps to burn your eyes out. We spent some time messing with the Fire TV and found that for the most part, it makes good on those promises.


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You are here
LOS ANGELES -- The performance of U.S. restaurants worsened in November as visits and sales at established eateries declined from a year earlier, Reuters reported, citing figures released by the National Restaurant Association (NRA), which represents 945,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets throughout the United States.
The NRA’s Restaurant Performance Index, which tracks the health and outlook for the industry, fell to a record low of 96.7 percent in November, down 0.4 percent from October. The index has been below 100 for 13 months.
"A solid majority of restaurant operators reported negative same-store sales and traffic levels in November, while nearly one-half expect their sales in six months to be lower than the same period in the previous year," stated Hudson Riehle, the NRA's senior vice president of research and information services.
With the exception of top-performing chains like McDonald's Corp., restaurants have been hard hit by the U.S. housing market collapse and the subsequent recession and credit crunch. Diners, who are grappling with rising unemployment and job insecurity, are cutting back on meals away from home and trading down to lower-cost restaurants.
"Looking forward, restaurant operators aren't particularly optimistic about an improvement either, with 49 percent expecting economic conditions to worsen in six months," Riehle said.
Earlier this month, NRA reported restaurant sales are expected to be $566 billion in 2009. While this forecast projects a 2.5-percent increase from 2007 in current-dollar sales, the numbers translate to an inflation-adjusted decline of 1 percent, Reuters reported.


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Chinese sources claim that the new iPad mini 6 may be announced tonight at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2021, which is also expected to announce iOS 15 and many other presentations.
It is reported that the frame of the screen will become noticeably smaller, while the diagonal of the display will be at least 8.4 inches, and the dimensions of the tablet will hardly change. The iPad mini 6 is expected to be powered by Apple’s A14 SoC, which is one of the most powerful mobile platforms in the world so far.
In addition, there is information that the tablet will receive a 5G Snapdragon modem, 64, 128 or 256 GB of flash memory, and will also support the 2nd generation Apple Pencil.
Also in development is the entry-level iPad 9 tablet, which should receive an OLED screen and Apple’s A14 single-chip system. The proprietary Touch ID fingerprint button is expected to be a thing of the past. It was abandoned due to the very narrow display bezels in both the iPad 9 and iPad mini 6.
The company recently released an updated iPad Pro tablet, which received the Apple M1 single-chip system.


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Rachel’s note: Regular readers know we’re all about putting the most profitable opportunities on your radar here at the Dispatch.
And our colleague, angel investor and former tech executive Jeff Brown, has just done some incredible research you should know about.
Jeff’s found what he believes could be the last – and biggest – “digital leap” of all time. It will disrupt a massive $11.9 trillion industry… and change all our lives for the better.
Even in the “worst” of past digital leaps, investors made 11x their money.
On Wednesday, he revealed all the details on this industry… and how you can set yourself up to profit – before it’s too late. Just go right here to watch the replay.
Then, be sure to catch up on Jeff’s essay below…
By Jeff Brown, editor, The Bleeding Edge
Technology has changed the world around us. Many industries are hardly recognizable compared to what they were a few decades ago. And these dramatic shifts have always created a unique opportunity for investors to profit…
Consider the travel industry as an example.
Up until the mid-1990s, when you wanted to take a trip, you’d visit a travel agency. An agent would help travelers book flights, a hotel, a rental car, and any other accommodations required for a trip.
But today, that hassle is gone. Booking tickets for our trip is as simple as going online. Sites like Kayak, Expedia, Hotwire, Tripadvisor, and Priceline make it easy to plan out a vacation or business trip in a matter of minutes. And they allow customers to price shop to ensure they get the best deal.
And the travel industry felt the impact of this shift…
In the late 1990s, there were around 45,000 brick-and-mortar travel agencies across the country. But in the years since, they’ve been reduced to just 14,000 agencies. That’s a 68% decline.
But the companies that understood the tech trend taking place experienced a huge boom…
As just one example, Booking Holdings (BKNG) – which owns Priceline, Agoda, Rentalcars.com, and Kayak – has seen its stock rise more than 33,500% since the early 2000s.
Investors who got in early could have made a fortune as the travel industry went digital.
And this example shows the potential of something I call a “digital leap”…
From Analog to Digital
When an entire industry goes from analog to digital, investors have a rare opportunity to profit. In fact, I believe that digital leaps are the most lucrative events in the history of the stock market.
That’s because while some companies will stumble during the digital leap… others can skyrocket as the industry evolves with bleeding-edge technology.
And we’ve seen this play out in a number of digital leaps over the years…
Think about when it became possible to buy music with the click of a mouse. With the iTunes store, people could download their favorite songs for just 99 cents each. And as a result, Walkmans and CDs quickly began fading out of view, replaced by the iPod and other digital devices.
And in the time since, we’ve shifted even further to streaming our music from services like Apple Music and Spotify. In 2020 alone, streaming services generated over $10 billion in revenue.
Streaming Music Was a Digital Leap
That’s a huge shift…
And while no one likes thinking about taxes… consider the change we’ve seen in this industry in recent years.
While a number of people go to tax professionals or do their taxes themselves, this industry too has seen a huge digital leap with the rise of online services like TurboTax. In fact, a 2020 survey reported that 51% of respondents planned to file using an online tax software program.
And as a result, Intuit (INTU), which owns TurboTax and other popular financial softwares, has risen more than 14,000% since its IPO.
A Digital Leap in Car Sales
Another example is a company like Carvana, which is currently digitizing car sales.
Instead of going to a dealership and dealing with a salesperson, Carvana’s customers can simply go online to pick out a car and pay. Carvana will then deliver your new car to your door and – if you’ve requested a trade-in – pick up your old one.
And its stock price shows the results. It’s up over 1,700% since its IPO in 2017.
These kinds of digital leaps are making our lives better… and they are giving us the opportunity to profit.
As these examples show, the gains can be incredible. And they’re made possible when an industry begins taking advantage of bleeding-edge tech. That’s why I want to make sure my readers are prepared for a digital leap that’s just now in the beginning stages…
The Last Digital Leap
While most major fields have already experienced a digital leap, a giant $11.9 trillion industry has been bogged down by government bureaucracy and red tape… until now. The pandemic suddenly put this industry into fast-forward, and it’s finally making its move.
And as investors, we need to pay attention… because this could be the last digital leap we see.
That’s why I want to make sure we don’t miss out. Now is the time to get in position.
Plus, I believe I’ve found the best company to take advantage of this trend. It has 386 patents to protect its breakthrough… and it is even collaborating with Microsoft.
Even more exciting, it’s on the cusp of making a major announcement in the coming months… and there’s no telling how high shares could go when that occurs.
If you’d like to find out all the details, I prepared a presentation called America’s Last Digital Leap. I shared all about which industry is preparing for this leap… and my top recommendation for how to profit.
If you missed it, don’t worry… just go right here to watch the replay.
I don’t want you to miss out on this rare opportunity.
Editor, The Bleeding Edge


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BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND — Police in England posted a surveillance photo on Facebook of a suspect with an uncanny resemblance to “Friends” star David Schwimmer.
The photo shows a man buying beer at a store in Blackpool.
He’s a suspect in the theft of a coat, wallet and cell phone from another store last month.
Blackpool police say they received tens of thousands of comments on the posting, including some leads that they are investigating.
And they said they confirmed that David Schwimmer was in the U.S. on that day, so it’s definitely not him.
Comments on the police Facebook page included a lot of “Friends”-related humor. One comment echoed the show’s theme song, saying, “I don’t think it’s been this guy’s day, his week, his month or even his year.”


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Tesla's latest report on its hack that can allegedly start and stop vehicles and spy on owners via the vulnerabilities of the app from a teen user is now facing questions. A fact-checker is now questioning the legitimacy of the teenager's report, especially with the many dispute, it proposes regarding the app's security and its EVs.
Tesla Hack: Is the Teen's Report Legit? Fact-Checker Aims to Debunk It
Tyler Corsair, a fact-checker concerned about electric vehicles, shared his opinion on the latest Tesla vulnerability on Twitter. Here, the fact-checker reiterated that this report might be alarming to those using several apps that complete their Tesla experience but is not at all a risk worth panicking about and getting worried.
Corsair ruled out several apps in the said vulnerability, especially as David Colombo, the German teenager that discovered the hack, did not specify which app provides the access.
Here, the checker said that most Tesla apps are not yet on the V3 SSO token system and that the open-source apps are still on V2, which are soon to be phased out.
More questions to the vulnerability came from Corsair, saying that the teenager "over-hyped" the situation compared to what the concern is truly about, and it is only a remote situation.
A key point to this security researcher's thread is that he does *not* have access to owner information, which would rule out Tesla services that have updated to the V3 (SSO) token system.— Tyler Corsair (@ycorsair) January 12, 2022
Many (all?) open-source projects are still using the soon-to-be deprecated V2 tokens.
Tesla Vulnerability: Teen's Report of the Latest Access to the Vehicle
There were at least 25 owners that reported to have the issues same as Colombo's found vulnerabilities, but Corsair noted that it is not a majority of the 10,000 owners of the service. That means that it is an isolated case that does not necessarily apply to all vehicle owners.
According to Daily Mail, Colombo said that he is not making a big deal out of the problem and only reporting the issue.
Tesla and its Systems Now
One of the most recent reports on Tesla is a controversial one. It questions the vehicle's integrity to its modern systems that complete the experience. Teslas are famous for using an application, with the popular feature called "Summon," among other functions, brings to the table.
However, as much as it is an enjoyable feat for users, it is still a security flaw if the applications that can control it are susceptible to a hack or vulnerable on its systems. The recent "hack" that a teenager from Germany regarded as something to watch out for, a compromise that he had already worked out with the Tesla Security Team.
Tesla is now on a heightened alert regarding this vulnerability and is currently addressing the issue, thanks to the teenager's reports.
However, the questions regarding his legitimacy may present another side to the story, which people failed to see as the alarm regarding their vehicle's security faced queries.
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Isaiah Richard


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Mumbai: Bank of India, one of India’s major nationalised banks, announced plans to join popular social media platforms – Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn – to connect with existing and new customers as well as increase outreach.
Bank of India hopes that its presence on the three social media platforms will help drive new business, showcase its products and services, and strengthen customer engagement. The Bank will also utilise the platforms to communicate any changes and developments to its customers.
In addition, the Bank of India will also keep customers and stakeholders informed about the various activities, including those under its year-long ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ marking the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence. These include strengthening employee-customer engagement, awareness programmes about digital banking, cyber fraud and vigilance, financial inclusion, and any special initiatives towards the growth and development of Bank of India.


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25 Apr Acreage Holdings – “On a High” with news of Acquisition by Canopy Growth
The Canadian cannabis behemoth Canopy Growth Inc (NYSE:CGC), a global leader in diversified cannabis and hemp related products, entered into a definitive agreement with Acreage Holdings, Inc (OTCQX: ACRGF) that bestows it with the right to acquire 100 percent of the company’s shares at such time as cannabis production and sale becomes federally legal in the United States, subject to shareholder approval.
Acreage will receive an upfront US$300 million or approximately US$2.55 per Acreage Subordinate Voting Share, with the entire transaction being valued at US$3.4 billion, a 41.7% premium over the 30-day volume-weighted average price of Acreage Holdings shares.
The deal will enable Canopy to secure an entrance into the US cannabis market once it is legalized. The formidable management team, licenses and assets of Acreage when combined with Canopy’s intellectual property and brand value will create a remarkable shareholder value.
Unraveling the Potential of CBD
A report by Grand View Research, predicts that the global legal marijuana market will be worth over USD 146.4 billion by 2025. The same report pegs the U.S market size at USD 7.06 billion in 2016 which will grow at a CAGR of 24.9% from 2017 to 2025. Medical marijuana alone will be worth USD 100.03 billion by 2025.
The Cannabis plant has an estimated 113 different compounds out of which THC and CBD are the two main constituents. These affect the receptors in the brain to alter an individual’s physical and mental state. THC is mainly responsible for the psychoactive effects or the feeling of “high” caused by the use of cannabis.
CBD on the other hand, has several powerful anti-inflammatory, analgesic, neuroprotective and anti-anxiety properties, which explains its growing popularity to treat a plethora of medical conditions. Unlike THC, CBD does not have any psychotropic effects and hence is widely preferred. It is increasingly being used to treat conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular anomalies, arthritis, anxiety, depression and insomnia. In addition, it has also been proven to possess neuroprotective benefits that can treat diseases such as Seizures, Multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Schizophrenia to name a few.
In 2017, The WHO expert committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) concluded that in its unadulterated form, CBD does not cause harm or have abuse potential. While further research is underway on the subject it has been proved that CBD is well tolerated in humans and is safe.
A survey conducted by Brightfield group, shows that 42% of CBD users ditched traditional medicine and a significant 80% of the CBD users rated these alternate medicine as extremely effective treatment. The same survey reveals that 90% of CBD users were likely to buy these products again.
What will Acreage Gain?
Acreage is a leading multi-state license aggregator and operator in the cannabis sector which holds 20 licenses across U.S. It has 12 operational licenses, out of which it is currently processing in 7 states. Though it holds licenses to operate 68 retail dispensaries in 12 states, 23 are operational in 11 states. These stores run under the brand name “The Botanist”.
The company has stores in Ohio, North Dakota, New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Oklahoma in addition to four stores in New York, where it operates under the brand name NYCANNA along with a store in Queens.
It has an impressive wholesale and retail presence. It company’s broad has influential members such as former US House Speaker John Boehner, Bill Weld (former Governor of Massachusetts (R), Republican candidate for President) and Brian Mulroney (former Prime Minister of Canada), on its board. It has made a few strategic acquisitions in recent times, including that of Form Factory, Inc. a multi-state manufacturer and distributor of cannabis-based edibles and beverages, in an all-stock transaction valued at US$160 million, enabling Acreage to become the first national cannabis Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) company. The company sees immense potential in the deal, with options ranging from building scalable proprietary brands and offering contractual manufacturing services to other established brands such as Nestle, Mars or Procter & Gamble.
Its subsidiary High Street Capital Partners, LLC acquired 100% of Deep Roots Medical LLC, a vertically integrated cannabis operator in Nevada, for $120 million in stock and cash in April 2019. It will allow the company to start its operations in Nevada, taking its footprint to 20.The company sells four brands Deep Roots, Chillers, Bluebirds and Helix Twist with presence in 80% of the retail dispensaries in Nevada.
Acreage will get access to Canopy’s substantial capital and intellectual property rights, which will help it gain access to newer markets, both at home and abroad and aid its expansion plans.
What does it Entail for Canopy Growth?
Canopy Growth Corporation formerly known as Twead Marijuana Inc., is a Canada-based Cannabis giant engaged in cultivation and sale of marijuana for medical purposes. The company offers dried flowers, oils and concentrates, softgel capsules, and hemps under the brand name Tweed, Black Label, Spectrum Cannabis, DNA Genetics, Leafs by Snoop, Bedrocan Canada, CraftGrow, and Foria. The company runs an online store named Tweed Main Street, which allows registered patients to purchase marijuana from producers across various brands.
Canopy has been eyeing the U.S market for a while now; it is backed by a $4 billion investment from Constellation Brands (STZ) and through them gained a license from the New York State to process and produce hemp and develop products containing Cannabinoid (CBD). The deal with Acreage however could be a game changer. Once the acquisition goes through, it will give rise to the largest Cannabis player in the market.
The proposed effectively guards Canopy against regulatory uncertainty in the U.S market, with the agreement only being finalized when marijuana is fully legalised. It also allows the company to acquire a storing foothold in the market at a great price as opposed to once legalization is announced allowing it to make a quicker foray into the market.
In the event of marijuana being legalized by the end of the year, as some observers predict, the company is fully ready to commence its operations immediately, it is investing in one of the biggest players in the U.S market and hence will be able to leverage on its established chain of dispensaries and licenses. It will gain access to Acreage’s 87 dispensaries and 22 cultivation and processing sites across 20 U.S States.
Currently 33 states in the U.S along with Washington, D.C. have legalized medical marijuana while 10 states (plus D.C.) permit recreational cannabis. 2018 was a great year for CDB industry, not only was the Farm Bill passed that allowed for the sale of hemp and hemp-based cannabidiol products, but the FDA also approved its very first cannabis-derived drug Epidiolex for treatment of seizures.
The call for reform for legalizing marijuana at the federal level is gaining momentum with research proving time and again the many benefits of cannabinoids in treatment of various physical and neurological conditions. We feel that there is a growing acceptance of cannabis as pointed out by a survey by Gallup in October 2018, which saw two out of three adults now favor legalizing weed nationally.
Acreage and Canopy will be able to leverage their combined might, if U.S federal laws legalize marijuana. However, there are a lot of hurdles to cross before that dream might become a reality. For starters the government currently charges very high tax rates on marijuana products under Section 280E of the U.S. tax code as it prevents corporate from taking normal corporate income tax deductions, as they are trading in a federally illicit substance, as defined by the Controlled Substances Act. Any changes in law will reduce the tax revenue for the government by almost $5 billion reduction over a 10-year period.
Also since it a class Schedule I substance, the potential for abuse is extremely high. The country is already battling an opioid crisis and may be very cautious with how it deals with marijuana.
Our advice would be to watch the regulation and policy changes keenly, as Acreage is very confident that Marijuana will most likely be legalized in 2019, as stated by Kevin Murphy, CEO of Acreage in January 2019.
Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.
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WiMax will finally go on sale next month in Chicago, a city that was to have been one of the first places where the high-speed wireless service was offered in the U.S.
Chicago was on the cutting edge of Sprint Nextel's original push for WiMax in 2007, along with the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., area. A network in the city had undergone trials by mid-2008. But upheaval in the company and some technical issues, such as providing enough backhaul to wired networks, intervened. A new WiMax strategy brought Sprint together with wireless broadband provider Clearwire, several cable operators and other companies, a group that could provide the billions of dollars needed to build a national network. But Sprint announced only on Thursday that it would begin selling services on a WiMax network in Chicago next month, alongside its Clearwire joint venture and Comcast.
All three service providers also will launch services in Philadelphia over the next several weeks and in the Seattle/Tacoma area in early December. In addition, there will be Clearwire and Sprint services on sale in three North Carolina cities and three Texas cities in November, and in Hawaii in early December.
WiMax is a 4G (fourth-generation) wireless service designed to surpass 3G performance by delivering 3M bps (bits per second) or more to subscribers. It hit the market before the LTE (Long-Term Evolution) 4G technology and first went on sale in the U.S. in Baltimore about a year ago. But WiMax has been somewhat overshadowed as larger carriers such as AT&T and Verizon announced they would use LTE. Clearwire's planned WiMax deployment is expected to be the world's largest.
Clearwire this year has steadily introduced WiMax in a few cities at a time, in both new markets and areas where the company's predecessor has offered pre-standard wireless broadband. Service is commercially available in Portland, Oregon; Las Vegas; Atlanta and other markets today. Comcast and other cable-operator partners have announced rollouts of their own rebranded services along the way. Sprint offers a service plan and a USB modem that give access to WiMax in the markets where it's available and to Sprint's current 3G network in other areas.
Regular prices for Clearwire's service start at US$20 per month for home service and $50 for combined home and mobile access, and there are special limited-time and introductory offers. Sprint's 3G/4G service is available now in areas with WiMax at a special price of $69.99 per month.
In November, Clearwire and Sprint plan to launch WiMax services in Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina, and in Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio, Texas. They will offer services in Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii, in early December.
New York, San Francisco, Houston and Washington, D.C. are among the cities lined up for WiMax availability next year. Clearwire has said it will reach 120 million potential customers in 80 markets by the end of 2010.


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Despite suffering its biggest PR disaster ever, Facebook’s first-quarter earnings still managed to beat analyst expectations.
The tech titan took in nearly $12 billion in revenue during the quarter -- about 50% more than the same period a year ago.
“Despite facing important challenges, our community and business are off to a strong start in 2018,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on a Wednesday earnings call.
Advertising revenue approached $11.8 billion, up 50% year-over-year.
In equally impressive results, daily active users (DAUs) were 1.45 billion on average for March 2018 -- an increase of 13% year-over-year.
Monthly active users (MAUs) were 2.2 billion as of March 31, which also represented an increase of 13% year-over-year.
Without mentioning Cambridge Analytica by name, Facebook executives alluded to its recent privacy scandal in general terms. Although they continued to express contrition for the controversy, they repeatedly made the point that the interests of users, advertisers and Facebook are not in conflict.
“Advertising and protecting people’s information are not at odds,” Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg told analysts on Wednesday. She reiterated Facebook’s promise not to sell user information or disclose their personal identities to ad partners.
Along with its rivals, Facebook is bracing for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) -- a comprehensive European data law set to take effect next month.
On Wednesday, however, Facebook CFO David Wehner said he does not expect the GDPR to “significantly” impact ad revenue. To comply with the new law, Facebook recently committed to asking all of its users how their data can be used to power targeted ads and facial-recognition technology.
Looking ahead, Zuckerberg said he remains determined to make Facebook “more meaningful” -- a platform that is “good for people and good for society. We are taking a broader view of our responsibility,” he said.
While it took a major privacy scandal to motivate Facebook, the company has engaged in a vigorous effort to appear more open and honest about its business practices.
For the first time, Facebook shared its internal guidelines for defining hate speech, violence, nudity, terrorism and other unacceptable content. In another first, it is also establishing a new appeals process to enable people and organizations to challenge decisions about particular posts.
Earlier this month, Zuckerberg appeared before members of the Senate Judiciary and Commerce committees and the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Still, the company's CEO was able to dodge questions regarding Facebook’s data-collection policies, its virtual dominance of the online ad business and other tough issues.


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NEW YORK, N.Y. (March 28, 2012) – Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, and The Home Depot® have partnered for a second year to shine a light on autism during Autism Awareness Month in April and World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. The Home Depot will sell blue Defiant LED lanterns and blue light bulbs starting March 15th, offering people across the United States and Canada the opportunity to raise autism awareness through the third annual Autism Speaks Light It Up Blue initiative.
NEW YORK, February 13, 2012—This February 18th marks The Advertising Council’s seventieth anniversary. Since 1942, the non-profit organization has been creating memorable campaigns aimed at improving the lives of the American people. Ad Council icons and slogans are woven into the very fabric of American culture.
NEW YORK, N.Y. (November 7, 2011) – The Advertising Council, in partnership with the world’s largest autism science and advocacy organization Autism Speaks, announced today the launch of innovative public service advertisements (PSAs) featuring renowned fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, and NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray and his niece who has autism. The PSAs are designed to help raise awareness about autism and to encourage the public to learn the early warning signs of a disorder that now affects one in every 110 American children.
TV Service Brings Autism Awareness Campaign to Millions of Users
Autism Speaks Ad Council Public Awareness Campaign is featured as the starred item in the TiVo Central menu.
Autism Speaks' Ad Council public service campaign is now running on TiVO, reaching approximately 4 million users.
Autism Speaks is dedicated to facilitating global research into the causes, treatments and prevention of autism by:
• Promoting cross-disciplinary cooperation
• Funding research
• Organizing research summit meetings
• Establishing standards for data collection and management to benefit the scientific community
Autism Speaks' multi-year Ad Council public service advertising campaign stresses the importance of recognizing the early signs of autism and seeking early intervention services. The multi-media campaign, which includes television, radio, print and internet advertising, aims to motivate parents and caregivers of children aged 0-6 to learn the signs of autism
See examples of the television ads below.
"Maybe" - Eye Contact


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The transaction, on the heels of a record shattering 2014, marks the largest sale of retail property in downtown Santa Barbara since 2002. “The interest in this asset was as intense as I’ve ever seen,” said Austin Herlihy, Senior Vice President of Radius Commercial Real Estate & Investments who brokered the deal along with his partner Steve Brown.
Another prime Santa Barbara commercial property has been snatched up after generating a frenzy of interest from potential domestic and international buyers.
The high profile center located at State Street and Highway 101—anchored by outdoor gear retailer REI—closed escrow on March 31st and was purchased by an undisclosed U.S. LLC.
The property had been listed at $21,950,000 and traded “within 3-4% of asking price to an out- of-town buyer,” according to lead broker Austin Herlihy of Radius Commercial Real Estate Investments who was not at liberty to discuss the final terms. He said the deal represents the largest sale of pure retail property in downtown Santa Barbara since 721 State Street sold in May, 2002 for roughly $44.9 million.
“As we anticipated, interest in this offering was off the charts. We had 58 signed non disclosure agreements alone and eight highly competitive offers, with numerous offers from all over North America and as far away as Asia,” said Herlihy.
“With all the current development on lower State Street, this property now sits on the 50 yard line between the Wharf and Paseo Nuevo,” he said. “We knew its strong fundamentals would be attractive on a global scale, so we were very aggressive in our marketing approach.”
Herlihy noted that the company’s LoopNet listing not only generated more online activity than any previous Radius offering, but at one point it performed better than 100% of all similar listings on that website, which is largely considered the number one online resource used by commercial real estate professionals and investors around the globe.
The 94,206-square-foot parcel, bordered by Highway 101 and State and Anacapa Streets, includes 55,545 square feet of fully leased retail space with storefront on both streets and a large parking lot in front of REI facing Anacapa.
The property was renovated in 2011 with REI opening in November of that year. The company, which operates more than 100 stores across the country and named its Santa Barbara location “Store of the Year” in 2013, occupies the largest portion of the space at about 24,500 square feet. National retailer Sit ’n Sleep fills the next largest space at about 8,500 square feet. Both companies hold long-term leases.
According to Radius Principal Steve Brown, who brokered the deal with Herlihy and fellow Radius agent Chris Parker, the building had struggled with unstable vacancy prior to REI and was not viewed as a strong retail location with the majority of it being used for industrial purposes.
“This is a prime example of a local investor taking an otherwise under-utilized but well-located commercial property and transforming it into a destination center,” Brown said.
The acquisition of the REI property continues a streak of local investment activity over the past several months, despite a very limited supply of available property. In the 2014 year-end summary released by Radius earlier this year, the company reported a record 103 sales of commercial properties in the South Coast, easily crushing the previous record of 85 set in both 2005 and 2012. “Let’s just say it’s a very good time to own commercial property in Santa Barbara,” Herlihy said.
Noozhawk: Santa Barbara Officials, Business Owners Dispute Rat Tales and Say Outdoor Dining Should Remain
Three times since 2020, M. Special Brewing Co. co-owner Joshua Ellis has pulled up the parklet in front of his restaurant and tap room… Read more »


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LEGO has just announced that they plan to create Minifigure Scale LEGO Minecraft sets! This is probably due to the huge success that the LEGO Minecraft Micro Worlds have had. What do you think about Minifigure Scale LEGO Minecraft sets?
Official Press Release from the LEGO Team:
We’re excited to announce that we are launching a new line of LEGO Minecraft sets in minifigure scale. Right now we are in the middle of the development of these and would love your input. Check out www.facebook.com/LEGOMineCraft


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Hewlett-Packard Co. on Tuesday rolled out an updated version of webOS, the mobile-computing operating system it acquired as part of its merger with Palm Inc.
Palo Alto, Calif.-based H-P
The Palm Pre 2 will be available in France this Friday, and in the U.S. and Canada in the coming months with Verizon Wireless.
In a statement, Jon Rubinstein, general manager of H-P’s Palm business unit, said, “We’ve made tremendous strides since the platform launched, and now we’re taking our biggest leap forward with powerful new features that make it easier to get more things done with your webOS device.”
Shares of Hewlett-Packard slipped about 1.2% by late afternoon.


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* M&B exploring an equity capital raise
* New lockdown shuts its pubs and restaurants
* Q1 sales plunge 67.1%
* Shares fall around 8% (Adds shares, analyst comments)
Jan 7 (Reuters) - Mitchells & Butlers said on Thursday it may need to raise fresh funds as it deals with a new coronavirus lockdown that has shut the British pub operator’s sites again after a sharp fall in important holiday quarter sales.
Shares in the owner of All Bar One and Toby Carvery pubs and restaurants were 7.9% lower at 219.5 pence by 0926 GMT.
M&B, which has already cut 1,300 roles to reduce costs, said its board unanimously supported an equity capital raise, although a decision has not yet been made on the timing, size or terms.
Following some local restrictions on hospitality in the run up to Christmas, England went into a new nationwide lockdown earlier this week as it struggles to curb surging COVID-19 cases and a new variant of the virus.
Chief Executive Officer Phil Urban said the government’s Job Retention Scheme was temporarily protecting some employment “but there is a real and pressing need for support for businesses themselves if we are to return to being the vibrant sector and important employers that we were”.
Urban’s call for the government to “better understand” the impact of the restrictions on the sector echoes the frustrations expressed by the likes of Wetherspoon’s and Marston’s .
Stifel analyst Mark Irvine-Fortescue said he believed the board would want to have sufficient liquidity to protect against at least two quarters of limited revenue.
“This suggests a potential capital raise in the region of £215m.”
Peel Hunt analysts meanwhile estimated M&B’s net debt had increased from 1.56 billion pounds to 1.71 billion pounds in the first-quarter.
Sales plunged 67.1% in the 14 weeks ended Jan. 2, as ever-tightening restrictions across UK and Germany significantly reduced sales through the festive trading season.
The company said it had a monthly cash burn of 35 million pounds ($47.52 million) to 40 million pounds before a 50 million pound debt service payment per quarter. ($1 = 0.7366 pounds) (Reporting by Tanishaa Nadkar in Bengaluru, Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips, Kirsten Donovan)