text:
The Australian government has opened applications for grants up to $3 million each in funding to blockchain projects targeting supply chain tracking in the minerals industry and tax tracking in the food and beverage sector.
Applications are open until April 29, with any sole trader, partnership, publicly-funded research organization, or entity incorporated in Australia that possesses an Australian Business Number eligible to apply.
The money will be used to fund two distinct pilots. The Food and Beverage Provenance pilot hopes to support a team addressing the complexities associated with spirits producers complying with excise taxation.
The Critical Minerals Pilot will support a project seeking to bolster supply chain integrity for the industry, and will also expect contributions to Australia’s National Ethical Certification Scheme to prove the provenance of locally produced minerals exported to international markets. The announcement noted:
“We expect that successful applications will be a collaboration between multiple organizations, including regulators.”
Applicants must demonstrate their projects meet the needs of the two pilots, meet the needs of regulators, reduce compliance burdens for businesses, and will support Australia’s blockchain start-up community.
“Your blockchain product will be unique, add value, and not duplicate products already in the market,” the document added.
Applicants must also demonstrate the viability and security of their platforms — including whether their blockchain has ever been the subject of a 51% attack — and how information submitted to their protocol is vetted and verified.
The Australian government has been proactive in encouraging development of its emerging DLT sector since unveiling its five-year National Blockchain Roadmap in early 2020.
In November, the government launched a trial using blockchain technology to share intergovernmental documents between local public servants and their counterparts in Singapore.


text:
Japan's Fair Trade Commission (FTC), an anti-monopoly watchdog, ordered Tuesday that Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. must stop dictating the price of its software, which the commission insists is in violation of Japan's anti-monopoly laws.
Sony has been forcing wholesalers to sell only to retailers, and retailers to sell only to consumers, or face penalties of stopped shipments or terminated business contracts, the commission further alleged. Sony has also been accused of asking retailers to not sell used software.
Sony retorted that it has not done anything wrong and will not comply with the FTC's requests.
"We are confident that our business practices did not violate anti-monopoly laws and we do not plan to accept the FTC's order," a Sony spokesperson said.
Sony must respond by January 30 on whether it intends to follow the FTC's order.

domain: news


text:
Number of users accessing the Internet though mobile phones in China almost doubled in 2009, accounting for 60.8 percent of the country's total Internet users, according to an official report.
In a news release Friday, China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) announced that China's mobile phone Internet users reached 233 million in December 2009, a growth of 120 million users from 2008. Among these users, 30.7 million accessed the Internet exclusively on their mobile phones.
The release noted that Internet access via mobile phones picked up with the emergence of 3G technology. CNNIC analysts were quoted to say that 3G services will continue to stimulate Internet users growth in the country.
When 3G licenses were awarded last year, analyst firm Ovum applauded the move, saying it would stimulate "new waves" of investment in the country.
China's online population reached 384 million as of December 2009, growing 28.9 percent from figures recorded in 2008, said CNNIC in the report.
The country surpassed the United States in 2008 to become home to the world's largest Internet user community.


text:
Manufacturer Hildebran Designs Socks for Ukrainian Orphanage | Local News
“It’s not about politics, it’s about people and humanity,” Dickerson said.
The company hopes to donate proceeds from the sale of the socks to the orphanage, but if that’s not possible, Dickerson said the money raised will be donated to the International Rescue Committee.
“It kind of exploded,” Dickerson said. “We only made 60 pairs, thinking we’d sell them to our friends who knew about them, and then it blew up.”
Friday morning around 10 a.m., 557 pairs of socks had been sold. Dickerson said they will make the socks on three of the manufacturing company’s machines when factory workers return next week to keep pace with demand.
“It just makes your heart grow,” Dickerson said. “You are happy that people recognize that it is horrible, what happened to them. We want peace for these people, and of all people, you have children who don’t have a home, to speak of. They were already living in adversity in a country with little assistance, and here they are, plunged into a war-torn situation.
The yarn used to make the socks is made from recycled plastic, Dickerson said, and the company is no stranger to fundraising. DeFeet designed a fundraising sock to help after the Australian bushfires broke out in early 2020.


text:
Japanese electronics giant hopes to reduce dependence on China's supply of crucial minerals
Hitachi is hoping to minimise its dependence on China's supply of the rare minerals commonly used to make hard disk drives and air conditioners, after unveiling machinery designed to boost recycling of...
Introducing mandatory climate risk disclosure for businesses and investors is an essential part of achieving net zero emissions argues Nick Molho, executive director of the Aldersgate Group
Speaking at pre-COP talks in Costa Rica UK Climate Minister Lord Duncan urges other countries to step up their climate commitments
Sustainable bonds and green economy marks: London Stock Exchange beefs up sustainable investment offerings
Initiatives aim to support companies with sustainable business models and investors who are increasingly focusing on environmental products and services
Technology is initially planned for a site in the US, but could also be used in the UK if a proposed plant is given the go-ahead, Velocys says


text:
THE UK’s biggest department store chain John Lewis reported impressive sales growth last week, boosted by the torrential rain and low temperatures.
The chain’s marketing director Rupert Thomas said: “Sales of tights were up by 80 per cent, hot drinks by 62 per cent and umbrellas by a massive 5,000 per cent compared to last year, demonstrating the stark contrast with the weather at this time last year.”
Weekly sales rose by 32.4 per cent, continuing an impressive first quarter which shows growth of 12.2 per cent at John Lewis so far this year.
Sales at the group’s Sheffield store rose 10.6 per cent.
John Lewis said the results were helped by low figures in the same week last year due to the fall of Easter Sunday and the effect of the Royal Wedding.
Homeware sales rose 25 per cent, benefiting from a strong performance from big-ticket items. Beds and bedroom furniture, floor coverings and upholstery all produced significant double-digit growth.
The inclement weather compared with a warm end of April last year helped lighting rise by 51 per cent, but the weather had a correspondingly negative impact on outdoor furniture.
Fashion was also affected by the weather, with men’s outerwear significantly up, but sandals and sunglasses both down 60 per cent.
Fashion sales rose by 18.6 per cent and John Lewis said it looks well set for a positive season.
Electricals and home technology sales continued their strong run with growth of 62.6 per cent, the best number of the year so far.
Highlights included IT which showed treble-digit growth while TV sales continued to benefit from the digital switchover and the London Olympics.
Sales of large electrical goods had its best ever week outside the January clearance.
John Lewis has been outperforming the wider market as its generally more affluent customers have been less impacted by the economic downturn.
“Even allowing for a number of factors boosting the year-on-year growth rate, this is another very impressive sales performance from John Lewis that defies the UK apparently being back in recession,” said Howard Archer, chief economist at IHS Global Insight.
“The caveat is that while John Lewis has often been seen as a bellwether for the state of consumer spending, the fact is that it has been very much an out-performer in recent times.”
Many UK retailers are struggling as shoppers grapple with higher prices, muted wage growth and government austerity measures, and worry about job security, shaky housing markets and fallout from the eurozone debt crisis.
Data last week showed Britain is back in recession, prompting fears of a fresh fall in consumer confidence.


text:
Macy’s jumped 13.5 percent on the stock exchanges in New York on Thursday. The department store chain, which also includes Bloomingdale’s, has benefited from the return of customers to its stores as corona lockdown measures have been relaxed.
Macy’s posted more revenue and profit than analysts expected in the quarter. The US company also raised its full-year profit forecast, thanks in part to higher-than-expected revenues from the company’s credit card business.
Discount chains Dollar Tree and Dollar General also came with better than expected results and were rewarded with price gains of 19.4 and 16 percent.
Nvidia fell 5 percent. The chipmaker had a solid first quarter but released a disappointing outlook for the current quarter.
Shortly after opening, the Dow-Jones index rose 0.7 percent to 32,351 points. The broad S&P 500 rose 0.3 percent to 3,992 points and tech gauge Nasdaq lost 0.2 percent to 11,412 points.
Twitter rose 3.5 percent. Billionaire Elon Musk plans to take on a larger portion of the social media company’s acquisition price. Documents filed with the SEC show that his financial contribution to the Twitter deal is now $33.5 billion. The chief executive of electric car maker Tesla also reiterated his commitment to complete the $44 billion acquisition deal.
Apple fell 2 percent. Bloomberg news agency reported that the tech group has asked its suppliers to assemble about 220 million iPhones, about the same number as last year. Connoisseurs had counted on 240 million iPhones for this year. In addition, Apple reported raising wages for workers in the US by at least 10 percent.
VMware won 0.8 percent. Chip and software maker Broadcom is buying the cloud company for $61 billion in stock and cash. At the beginning of the week, VMware’s share price shot up amid reports of the impending acquisition deal.


text:
A Chinese company that makes shoes for Ivanka Trump and other brands denied allegations Thursday of excessive overtime and low wages made by three activists who have been arrested or disappeared.
The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Hua Haifeng, an investigator for China Labor Watch, a New York-based nonprofit, had been arrested on a charge of illegal surveillance while his two colleagues — Li Zhao and Su Heng — are missing and rights groups fear they have been detained. They were investigating Huajian Group factories in the southern Chinese cities of Ganzhou and Dongguan.
“We are shocked,” Long Shan, a spokeswoman for the Huajian Group, said in an email to The Associated Press. “As a renowned global media outlet, you have put out many untrue reports not based on facts and without our consent.”
China Labor Watch executive director Li Qiang said Thursday he still had not been able to confirm the status of the two men. Huajian was contacted before AP’s initial reports were published but issued no statement until Thursday.
Long said the company had stopped producing Ivanka Trump shoes months ago. She said that Hua Haifeng joined the group’s factory in Dongguan on May 20, but left after less than a week, and Su Heng began working at their Ganzhou factory on April 28, but also left after a short time. She said she did not know their current whereabouts.
“By coming to Huajian to work, they are Huajian employees. Huajian staff must comply with China’s laws and regulations and Huajian’s rules,” she said, adding that at least one of the men “used methods like taking photographs and video to obtain the company’s trade secrets, which is not in line with the company’s regulations. Our company has the right to hold him accountable.”
She said reports of managers verbally abusing workers, including insults and a crude reference in Chinese to female genitalia, were based on misunderstanding. “It is the local dialect being used as management language,” she said.
She said Huajian was looking into allegations of improper use of student interns.
Ivanka Trump’s brand declined to comment on the allegations or the arrest and disappearances. Marc Fisher, which produces shoes for Ivanka Trump and other brands, said it was looking into the allegations.
China Labor Watch has been exposing poor working conditions at suppliers to some of the world’s best-known companies for nearly two decades, but Li said his work has never before attracted this level of scrutiny from China’s state security apparatus.
The arrest and disappearances come amid a crackdown on perceived threats to the stability of China’s ruling Communist Party, particularly from sources with foreign ties such as China Labor Watch. Faced with rising labor unrest and a slowing economy, Beijing has taken a stern approach to activism in southern China’s manufacturing belt and to human rights advocates generally, sparking a wave of critical reports about disappearances, public confessions, forced repatriation and torture in custody.


text:
We've rounded up all the best wireless earbuds deals so you can secure a great price on your next pair.
Now that you've taken the plunge on Apple's wireless headphones, let us help you make the most of them...
Spotify has officially hiked prices across its tiers in the UK and Europe, including Premium Student and Premium Family.
Apple has taken the wraps off a new Apple TV 4K, complete with high frame rate support and new auto-calibration feature.
Audi has taken the wraps off its latest all-electric vehicle and a new partnership with wireless audio giant Sonos.
Here's the lowdown on Sony’s ‘hi-res’ wireless audio codec, from how it works to the products that support it.
British Hi-Fi Week Arcam has produced some sensational hi-fi and home cinema products over the years – here are just a few highlights.
British Hi-Fi Week We round-up some of the best British CD players to ever grace the hi-fi world, including entries from Arcam, Cyrus, Meridian and more.
British Hi-Fi Week We look back at the best products to have graced our test rooms from one of the biggest hi-fi brands on the planet.
Dolby Atmos will debut in the EV's 21-speaker Surreal Sound system, which includes front, rear, side and height speakers.
IAG's Director of Acoustic Design, Peter Comeau, takes us for a behind the scenes look at the company's Huntingdon test room.
Put your 4K TV and surround sound system through its paces with our pick of the best Xbox One games.
Designed for the all-electric Mercedes EQS, this optional OLED display could revolutionise in-car infotainment.
Jeep has joined forces with McIntosh to create a new 950W sound system for its upcoming three-row SUV.
We've been hands-on with Sennheiser's in-car concept, which combines sound-tuning and clever Ambeo processing with audio tech designed by Continental.
Sonos walks away with two gongs, thanks to the unrivalled smarts and sonic skills of its Arc and Beam soundbars.
Wharfedale new-look Diamond 12 range of loudspeakers features six new models. Prices start at £199 ($299/AU$599).
Struggling to choose between the new iPhone SE, iPhone XR and iPhone 11? It's time for a battle of the budget iPhones.
Sony has revealed the price of its Pulse 3D gaming headset which enables immersive 3D audio through the PS5.
Maserati has joined forces with Sonus Faber to create a sound system for its upcoming MC20 supercar.
McIntosh and Sous Faber are partnering with Alps Alpine to bring in-car audio systems to select vehicles from 2021.


text:
Week 16: Moonbirds breakthrough, $3 m Punk's sale
Moonbirds, a new collection of 10,000 utility-enabled PFPs giving access to private club membership and additional benefits to its holders, has earned an impressive amount of $268 m since its launch last week. Project’s floor price is already 18.5 ETH.
Mutant Ape Yacht Club keeps to #2 of the Cryptoslam’s rating, despite its recent sales drop and slight floor price decrease to 26 ETH.
BAYC sales volume has decreased by 20% over the last week, with the collection going to #3 of the weekly rating. Current floor price has however increased up to 108 ETH. Coinbase announced launching a BAYC-themed film trilogy earlier last week.
Azuki sales volume has increased by 17% over the last seven days, taking the project up to #4 of the weekly rating. A week ago Azuki announced its upcoming collaboration with legendary Korean hip-hop trio Epic High for their performance at Coachella this year.
CryptoPunk #7756 was purchased for 1,05k ETH ($3.23 m). The collection’s sales volume has increased by 137% over the last week, taking the punks back to top 10.
CloneX sales keep decreasing for a third week in a row. The project, however, manages to stay in weekly top 10, with its current floor price of 18 ETH.
MOAR by Joan Cornella has gone down to #8 of the weekly rating after its rather successful launch two weeks ago. The project’s sales volume has decreased by 57%, current floor price is 1.139 ETH.
Doodles collection has seen a 14% sales increase over the last week, which has taken them back to top 10 NFT projects by sales volume.
Starry Night Capital acquired Bedtime by Grant Riven Yun for 29.99 ETH.


text:
Cruise warning: Doing this one thing on a cruise ship could see you fined hundreds
CRUISE ships are cracking down on a common activity and warning that passengers could be fined hundreds of pounds or kicked off the boat if caught – are you at risk?
Cruises: Smoking on a cruise ship could see passengers fined hundreds of pounds (Image: Getty Images)
We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.
Cruise company Carnival Cruise Line is clamping down on passengers smoking as they introduce new rules. Anyone who smokes in non-designated areas will be fined $500 (£390) or worse, removed from the ship at their own expense, the US line has announced. Non-designated areas now include outdoor cabin balconies, as well as all state rooms and suite accommodations. The non-smoking policy applies to all forms of smoking, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vaporisers, electronic cigarettes and marijuana.
Cruises: Smoking on a cruise ship could see passengers fined hundreds of pounds
Passengers will still be able to be light up on certain exterior deck areas and specific casino and nightclub spaces, Carnival have said.
They explained on their website: “It is necessary to strictly limit smoking to areas that are frequently monitored by our crew.
“Our policy is focused on providing a safe environment while giving some options to our guests who want to smoke.”
Carnival highlights that even if marijuana is legal in some of the destinations their ships visit, the cruise line follows US federal law, which strictly prohibits possession and use of recreational or medicinal marijuana and other illegal controlled substances.
If a passenger is caught smoking they will be assessed a $500 charge, per violation. Drug use will be reported to the authorities.
“The assessment of this charge does not allow a guest to continue smoking in his/her stateroom,” said Carnival.
Cruises: Anyone who smokes in a non-designated areas will be fined $500 (£390) (Image: Getty Images)
“If a guest is found to be in violation of our smoking policy, all guests in the stateroom may be disembarked from the vessel and risk not being allowed to sail on Carnival in the future.
“Guests will be responsible for all financial charges and expenses to return home, and no refund of unused cruise fare will be provided.”
Carnival added: “Carnival’s smoking policy is consistent with the policy of other major cruise lines.”
The cruise line’s previous smoking policy only included a fine when passengers were caught smoking in their rooms, and the fine would go towards cleaning the room.
Cruise holidaymakers also need to be careful with what they wear when stopping off at certain countries as it could see them arrested when they leave the ship.
Cruises: Passengers will still be able to be light up on certain exterior deck areas (Image: Getty Images)CRUISE ships are cracking down on a common activity and warning that passengers could be fined hundreds of pounds or kicked off the boat if caught – are you at risk?
Smoking Pot on a Cruise Ship: Is It Legal?
It’s not a stretch to say that parts of the United States have been rethinking how they categorize cannabis; pot legalization and decriminalization movements have been gaining ground across the country in recent years. As of 2016, the District of Columbia and four states — including Alaska and Washington, two popular cruise destinations — have legalized marijuana for personal use, and another 21 states have legalized it for medical use.
But does that mean you can blaze up on the high seas? Hardly. Despite many states and cities downgrading penalties for possession, marijuana is still classified as a narcotic under federal law — and those are the rules that govern international cruise shipping. Besides the fact that the aforementioned law supersedes any state or local laws, every single cruise line has a rule prohibiting marijuana in their contracts of carriage. Combined with the fact that almost all cruise lines are nonsmoking these days, and you’ll see why smoking pot on a cruise ship is a huge no-no.
And in a nod to the ever-changing evolution of cannabis products, we’ll take our warnings a few steps further and offer this as a bottom line: No pot — or any of the myriad products on the market that now contain cannabis — is allowed on cruise ships, ever. It’s really that simple.
Despite this clarity, we’ve found a few questions about marijuana use on cruise vacations that are worth addressing. We’ll do our best to answer them below.

 ]]>


text:
The 60GB version, previously priced at $599 US ($659 CND), has been lowered to $499 US ($549 CND) starting immediately. The 80GB SKU, already available in Korea, will ship on our side of the pond with MotorStorm packed in.
Sony also confirmed that it plans on shipping more than 120 new first and third-party games in North America throughout the holidays and fiscal year.
"As we move into the next phase of PS3, it's important that we continue to evaluate our product line, offering consumers the technology and features that meet their growing needs for new forms of media and the way in which it is delivered," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO of SCEA. "The introduction of the 80GB PS3, the new pricing for the current 60GB model, the availability of more than 100 new software titles this fiscal year and, finally, the expansion of services for PlayStation Network, will provide even more options for users and will help bring new consumers into the PS3 fold."
Technologically, the 60GB and 80GB PlayStation 3s will be identical other than hard drive space. The 20GB model, has been discontinued in the US, as was reported earlier this year.


text:
Steel tycoon?s platinum binge
India-born steel baron L.N. Mittal takes the cake for hosting the most extravagant wedding of the century, according to Forbes magazine.Updated: Aug 24, 2006 11:37 IST
India-born steel baron L.N. Mittal takes the cake for hosting the most extravagant wedding of the century, according to Forbes magazine.
By splurging $60 million (Rs 270 crore) for his daughter Vanisha’s wedding in 2004, Mittal outscored billionaires like Donald Trump of the US, Bernard Arnault of France and Andrei Melnichenko of Russia.
Consider the expenses: the report said the Mittals had sent out 20-page invitations in silver cases; put up 1,000 guests in a five-star hotel in Paris for the five-day-long ceremony; hosted a party at the Versailles and another reportedly at a wooden castle temporarily erected in Parc de Saint-Cloud.
More than 5,000 bottles of Mouton Rothschild were emptied with a wine tab estimated at $1.5 million. Pop singer Kylie Minogue performed and guests received goody bags of jewels.
Among the Top Five weddings, the Mittal extravaganza is followed by the wedding of Trump and Melania Knauss last year. His son Donald Trump Junior also made it to the list with his equally extravagant wedding.
Melnichenko became a member of the millionaires' aisle for his over-the-top marriage to model Aleksandra Kokotovic, and LVMH boss Arnault for throwing a luxe wedding party for daughter Delphine.
Mittal's event rivaled what was considered the most extravagant wedding of modern times, Forbes said. The wedding of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, now the ruler of Dubai, and Salama in 1981 had earned that title with its $44.5-million tag ($100 million at current rates). It is still the most expensive wedding in the Guinness World Records.
First Published: Aug 24, 2006 11:37 IST


text:
: Tokyo-based social and mobile gaming giant DeNA has released its earnings expectations for the current fiscal quarter, noting an increase in earnings year-over-year despite a recent "Kompu Gacha" sales ban.
The company was forced to abandon
the practice of selling random virtual goods last month following a ban by Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency
. DeNA's CEO Isao Moriyasu said at the time that he did not believe it would too greatly affect DeNA's sales.
For the quarter ended June 30, 2012, DeNA forecasts sales of 17.5 billion yen ($222.0 million), up from 15.89 billion yen ($201.5 million) for the same quarter in the previous fiscal year, reports


text:
AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR TODAY
Skip to content
Alibaba's Jack Ma: Trade war has killed pledge to create 1 million US jobs
Jack Ma kills pledge for a million U.S. jobs. Analysts say it was bogus anyway.
Alibaba's Jack Ma says it can't create 1 million jobs in U.S. due to Trump's China tariffs
Alibaba's Jack Ma says U.S.-China trade war ends 1 million U.S. jobs promise: Xinhua
Alibaba’s Jack Ma walks back promise to create 1 million jobs in U.S.
Alibaba Founder Jack Ma Just Backed Down From His Promise of 1 Million New U.S. Jobs. Here’s Why
Alibaba's Jack Ma backs down from promise to Trump to bring 1 million jobs to the US
Nokia lays off 107 Naperville employees Wednesday; 22 more jobs cut in July, DuPage official says
Jack Ma Says He Can’t Create 1 Million U.S. Jobs After All
Romanians in the UK: 'If we go, who will do the jobs after Brexit?' – photo essay


text:
“India has had bombs before. Delhi and Jaipur had terrorist attacks and the retail market has remained resilient and bounced back in those cities.
“However, the situation currently in Mumbai has received tremendous international exposure in comparison that it’s practically the equivalent of 9/11 for us.
“From an operations perspective, it will deter foreigners from visiting Mumbai in our peak trading season which will consequently impact sales in the next few months. Most retailers will have a cautious outlook ahead and may even scale back future plans.
“In addition to this factor, there is already an ongoing liquidity crisis due to the stock market collapse and the retraction of the mutual funds from overseas investors.
“This crisis of lower than anticipated consumer confidence and tourist drop will also impact retail sales in coming months.
“Personally, I do believe it will be a tough 2009 for our Indian counterparts but resilient as Indians are, we do only hope these issues are apparent in the short term.”
01/12/08Our thoughts and condolences go to Hiro Harjani and his family who have been personally affected by the tragic events in India. The violence must stop.


text:
Balboa Capital announced it hired over 130 new employees during the first six months of 2014 to accommodate the growing demand for the company’s diverse portfolio of financing products. The new staff members bolster each of Balboa Capital’s sales divisions along with the company’s business development, customer service, information technology, accounting and marketing departments.
“Balboa Capital is a well-known and highly respected name in the financing industry, and the demand for our fast, flexible and dependable financing solutions has been increasing for many months,” said Phil Silva, president of Balboa Capital. “We hired a number of talented professionals for each of our divisions to support our continued growth and provide our customers and equipment vendor partners with service that is second to none.”
Silva expects Balboa Capital’s growth to continue throughout 2014 and beyond. “We have put together talented sales teams, established key strategic partnerships, and improved our web-based tools that are changing the way businesses acquire financing. The size of our company, along with our immense lending power, instills confidence in business owners and equipment vendors alike.”
No tags available
MONITOR: According to a survey cited in ELFA’s 2016/2017 Business Technology Performance Index, 58% of respondents reported their companies as “conservative” or “beginner” in the CRM space, indicating a deliberately slow adoption... read more
Monitor 100 2017
In late 2015, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York issued a memorandum opinion in Daebo International Shipping Co., Ltd., vacating a set of Rule B attachments of M/V DAEBO TRADER, a Panamax dry bulk container... read more


text:
Online originations have grown to as much as 15% of Pentagon Federal Credit Union’s direct loan volume since TrueCar started powering the credit union’s online car-buying service in early 2016, Ivan McBride, PenFed’s vice president of automotive lending products and sales, told Auto Finance News.
“TrueCar’s buying service is a significant piece of our direct auto originations,” McBride said, adding that branches, the credit union’s website, and service center calls account for the remaining volume. “Our direct portfolio is 80% of the [credit union’s] overall volume,” he added, which translates to about $2.7 billion of loans, according to AFN estimates.
The PenFed car-buying site allows credit union members to access inventory from certified dealers, check vehicle prices, apply discounts, and secure loans. TrueCar’s online marketplace has enhanced the credit union’s ability to enter the online shopping space, McBride said. “It was an opportunity for us to ride the trend of folks who wanted to do their research before going to the dealership,” he said.
Looking forward, PenFed will continue to scout fintech partnerships to keep up with the competitive market as well as with consumers’ demand for online lending options.
“It’s important to pick the right partnerships, ones that already have visibility,” McBride said. “[PenFed] may not have the same marketing budget as some of the big banks and captive finance companies, so we have to look at those unique partnerships that deliver products that consumers and members want.”
For more content like this, check out our upcoming event Auto Finance Accelerate, May 13-16 at the Omni San Diego. Visit www.AutoFinanceAccelerate.com to register.


text:
HOUSTON (CBS.MW) -- A slew of analysts rushed to Compaq’s defense after a Wall Street investment firm cut the PC maker’s rating on revenue and inventory concerns.
Shares of Compaq (CPQ) lost 1/8 to close at 25 9/16 on volume of 26.4 million.
On Thursday, Salomon Smith Barney cut Compaq’s rating to “neutral” from “buy.” The firm, which lowered its price target to $25 from $45, cited second-quarter revenue and channel inventory concerns.
Compaq refuted the comments, saying it’s comfortable with channel inventory levels even though “channel inventory has been low and in some cases near stock-out levels.” The PC maker said the second quarter has been very back-end loaded due to supply constraints.
“There have been no changes to standard price protection terms or any adjustments made in the normal course of business,” according to a Compaq statement.
Late Thursday, Merrill Lynch’s Steve Fortuna said he feels comfortable with both revenue and channel inventory after talking to Compaq officials. Guidance for the second-quarter is not expected to change, Fortuna said. Although consumer demand has been soft, Compaq’s top line should only be marginally affected because the segment accounts for just 20 percent of the business.
He anticipates revenue of $10 billion for the second quarter, a 5 percent increase in a year-over-year comparison, and double-digit growth in the second half of the year.
Analysts polled by First Call expect Compaq to earn 21 cents a share in the June quarter.
On Friday, Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette analyst Kevin McCarthy said that conversations with distributors confirm the company’s statement about channel inventories.
“In fact, distributors have experienced “stock-outs” given strong demand for Compaq products and are seeking more supply, not less,” McCarthy said in a morning note. “We still believe our $10.2 billion revenue estimate is achievable ... we expect management’s tone on the Q2 conference will be bullish and will reaffirm full-year estimates.”


text:
How many condo units were in that original River View plan?
Downtown Dividends, by Tara Anderson (Insider Louisville)
Bob Holt, a 47-year-old lifelong South End resident, has picked out his new 700-square-foot studio condo at the Mercantile Gallery Lofts on Market Street, and it’s just a matter of paperwork before he can move in ...
... According to the Greater Louisville Association of Realtors, 86 units sold in downtown last year for an average price of $135,035. A decade ago, so few condos were sold or for sale in downtown Louisville that they were grouped with Old Louisville, Shively, Butchertown and the West End. “I work in the early stages of the construction industry, so we see more product going out, and that tells us things are starting to pick up some,” Holt says. “I’m getting in incredibly cheap. Five years from now, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a 15 to 20 percent increase in value.”
And, of course, he can spend his weekends doing something besides mowing the lawn.


text:
Eyes were on Sofia, Bulgaria, last week, as China’s prime minister Li Keqiang tries to improve relations with Eastern Europe. Economist Sara Hsu puts Li’s efforts into perspective as both trade and investments between China and Eastern Europe have been stagnant, compared to other countries in the One-Belt, One-Road initiative, she tells at CGTN. Also: the contagious relations with the EU.
Category Archives: Europe
Investors from China are not discouraged by the upcoming Brexit, the exit of Britain from the EU, says Hurun China Rich List founder Rupert Hoogewerf on his second tour with twelve Chinese investors through the UK, he tells the China Daily.
European companies are running behind in defining a good strategy in catching up with China, writes Mark Greeven, professor at the Zhejiang University, in the LSE Business Review. “The reality is that Chinese companies have no choice but to innovate and upgrade in global value chains.”
China is adamant when it says it does not want to replace the United States as an international player. But what does it want, asks The Diplomat Shaun Rein, author of The War for China’s Wallet: Profiting from the New World Order. ” Many nations feel Western, historically ethnically white nations have an outsized say in institutions like the World Bank or IMF and feel the U.S. contains their growth.”
State moloch CITIC moved in to pick up 49% of Czech assets from CEFC Europe, owned by tycoon Ye Jianming. It is part of a trend, says business analyst Shaun Rein, author of The War for China’s Wallet: Profiting from the New World Order to the South China Morning Post, as state firms are easier to control by China’s central government and expand its policies abroad.
The trade war between China and the US is heating up, raising fears for a political backlash against US firms in China. Business analyst Ben Cavender feels it will vary very much according to the position of companies in China, he tells Reuters.
When brands enter China, they not only have to figure out what their demanding customers want, but also have a good look at politics, argues business analyst Shaun Rein, author of The War for China’s Wallet: Profiting from the New World Order, in a wide-ranging interview at Knowledge CKGSB.
The US announcement of tariffs on steel and aluminum was supposed to be a fit shot in the US-China trade war but left many US allies behind in disarray. Former US official Harry Broadman tries to make sense out of the mess Donald Trump has created, for Forbes.
The world was once again flabbergasted by the US trade measures since it did hurt designated trade enemy China less than potential US allies again China, says leading economist Arthur Kroeber, author of China’s Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know®. Behind those measures are efforts to design a whole new playbook, to change global economy, he tells both Livemint and Bloomberg.


text:
2 Chainz raked in the money with his Dabbin Santa sweater.
Unless you avoid all forms of social media, you probably saw the Dabbin Santa sweater at least once over the holiday season. 2 Chainz made sure of it. The rapper created some timely Christmas-themed merch, capitalizing off the dabbin trend, and it moved units. According to Forbes, the rapper made $2 million off all the Dabbin Santa sweaters.
Thankfully, Tity Boi isn't just pocketing all that money, he's actually doing some good for the community with it. The rapper says that a lot of money went towards his T.R.U. Foundation, with the Foundation using some of the money to pay for an entire year's rent and new furniture for a single mother out in a Palmetto, Georgia.
2 Chainz says there was a lot of trial & error in creating the perfect piece of Christmas merchandise. "Me and my team were trying to come up with some successful designs to get our merch moving. We took the dab, which is a trend, and we just turned it into a business. We played around with a few designs. We realized what my fanbase wants to see." He continued, "I don’t want people to think this was an overnight success. We’ve been trying with a bunch of designs for a couple years now. This is just timing meets opportunity. There’s the whole dab thing, and Atlanta’s always been somewhere that actually moves the culture a little bit. We have been the backbone of hip-hop for the past couple years. So with dabbing coming out of Atlanta, it just began to grow legs and start moving on its own."
Read more of the interview here.


text:
DIAMOND BAR, Calif. — Applications are now being accepted at www.sema.org/speakers for industry leaders to host a seminar at the 2018 SEMA Show taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada. The SEMA Show educational program, which begins on Oct. 29, and continues throughout the four-day trade show on Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 2018, is a key cornerstone of the automotive industry’s premier trade event.
Alongside the new product debuts and activity on the 1-million-square-foot convention center floor are dozens of seminars and workshops where industry professionals discover changes in the marketplace, learn best practices and gain insights to improve their businesses.
Most of the seminars are open to credentialed showgoers at no additional cost and topics focus on issues relevant to the automotive industry and small businesses. Small business leaders and industry experts are invited to apply to speak at the 2018 event. Below are several suggested topic areas:
Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) Software Simulations
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems Integration
The Future of Transportation
Hands-on Technical Training
Small Business Sustainability
Speakers should be able to focus on industry issues and not a specific company position or agenda.
“Industry professionals from all over the world come to and rely on the SEMA Show to help their businesses succeed,” said SEMA Senior Director of Education Zane Clark. “The SEMA Show education program is a valuable resource to help automotive businesses stay up-to-date on industry trends, best practices and hone in on new skills to advance their businesses and careers. We’re looking forward to developing the 2018 program.”
Potential speakers may apply to participate in the program by visiting www.sema.org/speakers until Feb. 12, 2018. Speaker entries will be answered by no later than April 20, 2018. For more details, contact Zane Clark at firstname.lastname@example.org, 909-978-6743.
SOURCE: SEMA Show press release


text:
Hailed by government officials and customers alike as “unsung heroes” during the COVID-19 crisis, grocery store employees are now beginning to pay a price for being on duty as essential workers.
According to published reports, at least four grocery chain employees – one from a Trader Joe’s in New York, one at a Giant store in Largo, Maryland, and two from the same Chicago-area Walmart – have died in recent days.
As the pandemic continue to spread through the U.S. – where there were more than 368,000 cases and nearly 11,000 deaths as of Tuesday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University – nearly every state issued some form of stay-at-home order.
However, most grocery store chains and other retailers who provide “life-sustaining” services were exempted, meaning thousands of their employees were still reporting to work.
And some chains want to put more people to work. Walmart has said it wants to add some 150,000 employees, while Kroger has said it would add about 10,000. Some experts think, though, that those hiring goals might be hindered as cases of the virus rise.
Finding people willing to work under those circumstances might be tough, supermarket analyst Phil Lempert told the Washington Post.
“One of the biggest mistakes supermarkets made early on was not allowing employees to wear masks and gloves the way they wanted to,” Lempert told the Post. “They’re starting to become proactive now, but it’s still going to be much tougher to hire hundreds of thousands of new workers. We’re going to start seeing people say, ‘I’ll just stay unemployed instead of risking my life for a temporary job.’ “
Indeed, Walmart announced last week several precautions they are now (or will be) taking for the “health and well-being” of their associates. In a memo written by Dacona Smith, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Walmart has, among other things, expanded paid leave policies, closed its stores overnight for cleaning and restocking, installed sneeze guards and social distance markers and begun making masks and gloves available.
Walmart – and other retailers – also began restricting the number of shoppers in stores at any given time and limiting movement in aisles to one-way traffic in some stores.
“As the COVID-19 situation continues to develop, our leaders and operations teams will continue to listen to advice from medical experts, associates and customers, and consider how we can best serve people while helping slow the spread of the virus,” Smith wrote. “The health and safety of our associates and customers is what matters the most.” Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer, which has stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin, is also communicating with consumers and team members to ensure everyone stays safe and healthy during essential shopping trips. The retail chain is asking its customers to limit the number of shoppers who come on each grocery trip to as few as possible. Each Meijer store also is limiting how many people can shop at one time in its locations to support social-distancing practices.
Moreover, Meijer and other stores such as Kroger are adding protective plexiglass shields at checkout lanes and in pharmacies. Chains such as Target have said, as well, they are limiting customers to a certain number per square feet of space in the store.
Additionally, Meijer officials said there is new signage to show the proper six-foot distance between customers and staff. Meijer said it is doing daily health screening and temperature checks on its employees as they arrive at the store for their protection and for the public.
“We continue to look for additional ways to ensure the safety of our customers and team members in the face of this difficult challenge,” Meijer President & Chief Executive Officer Rick Keyes said in a statement. “By working together, we can reduce the spread of this virus and help keep our communities safe.”


text:
The first Foodie Friday! – a multi-dimensional, weekly market with a difference – takes place on October 5 and runs until the end of the year. It is hoped it will prove a winner with students to office workers, day and staying visitors.
Lincoln BIG Events & Marketing Assistant Jacinta Peachey said the market will be centrally-based in City Square. It will trade from 10am to 7pm.
Nov 29, 2018 0LONDON MOTORCYCLE RETAILER, Urban Rider, is hosting a unique motorcycle inspired Christmas Market, Winter Chill, on the evening of December 6th, 2018 at Greenwich Market, London.
Dec 07, 2018 0The overcrowding at the Princes Street Christmas Market has rightly caused people to raise security concerns.


text:
He's not even two years old but Prince George is already a fashion icon. (And no wonder, look at his mother!)
The little prince, who turned one last July, was named one of British GQ's "50 Best Dressed Men in Britain 2015," cementing his status as a stylish tot.
Although he only placed 49th on the list (beating out art dealer Jay Jopling who sits in 50th), the 17-month-old is in stylish company, including red carpet mavens Benedict Cumberbatch, Idris Elba, David Beckham and "The Theory Of Everything" star Eddie Redmayne.
Kate Middleton's son already has designer fans despite his young age. "Already following in the footsteps of his great-great-great-uncle, Edward VIII, and his grandfather, the Prince of Wales, Prince George looks set to become the UK's best-dressed man," raved Lanvin designer, Alber Elbaz.
He's just too cute for words.
Also on HuffPost


text:
By Francesca James
The government has announced the new rates assessments for all businesses in England and Wales and many companies have been left shocked at the increases they are facing.
The new assessments are based on property market conditions in early 2008 which were far more buoyant across all sectors. This is in marked contrast to the recession hit property market currently being experienced.
“Some businesses have woken up to the news that their rates assessments have doubled overnight and this is at a time where reducing cost is essential in order to ensure survival” says Nick Wright Director of business rates specialists, ratesrecovery.com.
Business has faced a traumatic time when it comes to business rates over the last year. At the beginning of the year the government changed the rules so full rates were payable on vacant properties. In addition local authorities are being allowed to charge additional business rates supplements on top of the normal rates bill and occupiers in central London are to face an additional surcharge for the Crossrail scheme. For many the latest increases in rateable values are the last straw.
Although the government has announced the new values it has not yet confirmed the details of any transitional relief schemes or what the Uniform Business Rate multiplier will be.
“The current situation is a mess” comments Nick Wright Director at ratesrecovery.com. “Without knowing transitional relief details and the UBR it is desperately hard for businesses to budget accurately for next years rates bills. Businesses should use the next few months wisely and ensure that they prepare to appeal their assessments. Successful appeals can result in massive savings and refunds.”


text:
Back in August 2021, NBMiner, the cryptomining software, created a tool that allowed miners to unlock approximately 70% of Lite Hash Rate (LHR) versions of NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 30 Series graphics card. Fast forward to today, the NiceHash team is saying that it has not only successfully removed the LHR limiter for Windows-based systems, but also for Linux.
The Nicehash developers confirmed a couple of days ago that its latest QuickMiner software would now enable NVIDIA RTX 30 Series LHR graphics cards to fully mine Ethereum, with no hit to its performance. Following that report, it was also confirmed that the latest NBMiner v41 software also removes the LHR limiter and works for both Windows and Linux.
As a quick primer, efforts to undermine NVIDIA’s LHR efforts first started back in March last year, when it pledged to get its RTX 30 Series desktop graphics into the hands of gamers, and not miners. The hashrate limiter, LHR, was the brand’s solution, up until the point that it wasn’t.
From its own snafu of accidentally uploading a driver that disabled the limiter, to physical circumventions via the use of dummy HDMI plugs, it’s safe to say that miners have come a long way in nearly a year since the launch of the GeForce RTX 3060 as well.
In any case, the ball is now back in NVIDIA’s court, meaning we will have to wait and see if the GPU maker is going to respond with updated drivers for its LHR cards or let this slide.


text:
Say it ain't so: The House is talking repeal of debit card swipe-fee protections, which keep transaction costs fair and reasonable for restaurants.
Starwood Capital Group today announced the launch of Uptown Suites, a nationwide brand of upscale, economy-priced extended-stay suites for families, business travelers and long-term visitors. Uptown Suites will be managed by InTown Suites, an owner-operator of extendedstay properties in 188 locations in 22 states with more than 24,000 rooms. With the launch of Uptown Suites through a controlled affiliate, Starwood Capital strives to meet the increasing demand of value-conscious extended-stay guests by offering economy-priced apartment-style lodging featuring amenities commonly associated with mid- and higher-level hospitality brands. "We are thrilled to launch Uptown Suites as we deepen and expand our commitment to provide an extended-stay experience for our guests that has all the comforts of home," said Jonathan Pertchik, InTown Suites Chief Executive Officer. "Demand for value-oriented extended-stay lodging continues to rise and guests are increasingly seeking a hospitality experience that is pedestrian-friendly and walkable, with high-quality amenities and warm customer service. Uptown Suites aims to transform the economy extended-stay experience for our guests." Uptown Suites properties will feature upscale amenities for guests on an economy budget, including lobbies furnished with curved televisions and large fireplaces, full kitchens with quartz countertops, electric vehicle charging stations, and apartment-like studio suites with high-speed wireless Internet connections, high-definition smart televisions and Keurig coffee machines. The first Uptown Suites location has opened in Concord, N.C., and the company anticipates that future properties will primarily be newly built facilities that are walkable to dining, retail and entertainment opportunities for guests. Uptown Suites locations will be selected for their proximity to great cities or in central locations in smaller markets, and expansion will be concentrated in regions with strong job growth and forecast population growth. More than 10 Uptown Suites properties are slated to open by 2019, including properties in Colorado, Florida, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, among other states.
Our new research finds that consumers expect technology to be part of their dining experience, but the human element is still important to them.
RobertDouglas announced today that it advised VanTrust Real Estate LLC on the sale of Hotel Sorella Country Club Plaza. Hotel Sorella was acquired by a partnership between a real estate investment management firm and a privately-held hotel management company.
Canada's hotel industry reported positive year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the first quarter of 2017, according to data from STR. Compared with Q1 2016:
President's pick to head USDA confirmed as Gottlieb, Acosta and Lighthizer each await their turns.
U.S. hoteliers enjoyed a seventh consecutive year of increasing profits in 2016 despite a slowdown in the rate of revenue growth. According to the recently released 2017 edition of Trends® in the Hotel Industry by CBRE Hotels' Americas Research, total operating revenue, driven by a 0.2 percent rise in occupancy and a 2.5 percent growth in average daily rate (ADR), increased by 2.4 percent in 2016 for the average hotel in its survey sample. However, by limiting the growth in operating expenses to just 1.6 percent, managers at the Trends® properties were able to extract a 3.7 percent increase in gross operating profits (GOP) for the year.
Results from STR's 2017 HOST Almanac indicate that U.S. hotel industry revenue and house profit reached all-time highs in 2016. Revenues topped an estimated US$199 billion in 2016, increasing nearly US$9 billion from 2015. Total industry-wide house profit exceeded US$76 billion, a per-available-room increase of 2.0% from 2015. Even though records were set in each category, STR's Consulting & Analytics team notes that growth was much lower than the levels experienced in 2015. House profit increased 4.0% compared with 11.1% in 2015. Total revenues increased 4.5% in 2016 after rising 8.1% in 2015. "Inflation-adjusted revenues topped the previous peak, and real house profit levels were the second-highest we've seen," said Joseph Rael, STR's director of financial performance. "However, in the past year, we've also seen revenue growth slow considerably throughout the country. With RevPAR (revenue per available room) growth forecasted below 3% for the next couple of years, we only expect modest profit increases in the short term."
Older adults are projected to represent a much larger share of the U.S. labor force in the years ahead, and the restaurant industry workforce will likely evolve accordingly.
M&R Hotel Management today announced the appointment of Fran Ramos as general manager of the 88-room Comfort Inn Midtown West at 548 West 48th St., where she has been assistant general manager since 2015.
The ONE Group Hospitality, Inc. (NASDAQ: STKS) today announced that Alejandro Munoz-Suarez (Alex), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Samuel (Sam) Goldfinger, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), will be leaving the Company to pursue other opportunities. Following the appointment of Manny Hilario to the board of directors last week, board member Richard Perlman notified the Company that he has stepped down from the board.
Our research finds more consumers choosing dining destinations based on whether local and sustainable foods are offered.
After declining sharply in recent years, the recent uptick in teen labor force participation could help ease some of the industry’s staffing challenges.
Whether it involves seating, time of service or access to technology, consumers say they want more choice when they dine out.
Park Hyatt New York, the global flagship property of the Park Hyatt Brand, is proud to unveil the acquisition of Swarm Study / XI, anchoring the hotel's existing collection of 350 gallery-worthy pieces, including 10 specially commissioned for the property. The installation of Swarm Study / XI, located in Bevy, the property's signature restaurant, marks Park Hyatt New York's continued dedication to premier contemporary art and the brand's commitment to offering guests a thoughtful, extraordinary hospitality experience.
The U.S. hotel industry reported negative results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 9-15 April 2017, according to data from STR. Opposite from previous weeks, performance growth was negatively affected by the Easter calendar shift from 27 March 2016 to 16 April 2017. In comparison with the week of 10-16 April 2016, the industry reported the following:
Set 34 miles off the coast of North Carolina at the southernmost edge of an area known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic”, guests at the remote 85ft-high Frying Pan Tower enjoy panoramic views of the ocean from the hotel’s 80ft by 80ft helipad.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies, announces the opening of the new-build 153-room Holiday Inn® Hotel & Suites Bellingham hotel in Bellingham, Washington. The hotel, which is located steps away from Bellingham International Airport, is the first Holiday Inn property to open featuring the brand's new H4 design, which was developed in collaboration with Holiday Inn hotel owners and frequent guests to meet the changing needs of modern leisure and business travelers.
The most populated state in the U.S. continues to see growth in the hotel industry in two key areas, the San Francisco Bay Area and the metropolis of Los Angeles. With 15 new hotels currently in progress, California's hotel market is set to expand over the course of this year and next. Following on from the announcement of new partnerships in the Silicon Valley by Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants and a recent opening by Pendry Hotels in San Diego, both as reported by TOPHOTELNEWS, southern and northern California look set to maintain this pace of development.
The U.S. hotel industry reported positive year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the first quarter of 2017, according to data from STR. Compared with Q1 2016:


text:
FROM THE SHOW—Your iPhone might be chock full of amusing and time-savings apps, but did you know it can also serve as a digital doctor?
As Daniel Kraft, executive director of FutureMed, demonstrates with his EKG-modified iPhone, you can measure your heart beat pattern, instantly upload it to your doctor and potentially save yourself a trip to the hospital.
In this clip from Kraft’s interview on the show, he explains how the demands on the health care system could lessen considerably as the industry continues to partner with smartphone technologies, which will save both time and money.
Be sure to catch the show, with Stephen Chbosky, Daniel Kraft and Naomi Wolf, this Friday at 11 p.m. PT / 2 a.m. ET.


text:
The King Kullen supermarket in Northport is closing next month after 30 years.
The Northport store will shut on Feb. 11 because the company decided not to renew its lease, King Kullen said. The supermarket is about a block away from a Super Stop & Shop on Fort Salonga Road.
The 85-year-old family-owned and -run King Kullen has stores nearby in Commack, Huntington and Huntington Station. Employees are being offered employment in those stores, company representatives said.
King Kullen representatives declined to say how many workers are employed in the Northport store.
“We do not anticipate a layoff of employees, as they will be offered relocation to other stores,” said Joseph Brown, senior vice president and chief merchandising officer of King Kullen, and president of sister chain Wild by Nature. “It has been a privilege to serve Northport and the surrounding communities all these years.”
Last year, the King Kullen supermarket in the Three Village Shopping Center in East Setauket closed after 10 years at the location.
In December, King Kullen opened a 50,000-square-foot store at the former Waldbaum’s in North Patchogue, which it bought for $2.5 million from the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.
King Kullen employs more than 3,300 union employees. It hired 79 full- and part-time employees who worked in the former Waldbaum’s North Patchogue store, as well as 30 employees laid off from other A&P stores.
After the closure of the Northport store, Bethpage-based King Kullen will have 36 King Kullen locations on Long Island and five locations of Wild by Nature, the company’s high-end grocery banner. King Kullen is recognized by the Smithsonian Institution as America’s first supermarket.


text:
Meanwhile, the long-running bad romance on Twitter with Elon Musk is intertwined in court and the outcome is uncertain, a point the company made clear as it reported disappointing numbers on Friday. Amazon is facing a growing labor movement, and Facebook is facing a new advertising climate. Regulators both domestically and abroad threaten to crack down on the industry as a whole.
The job market is starting to emerge
Social media company Snap’s stock fell nearly 40 percent on Friday, the day after it reported worse-than-expected revenue growth and declined to provide forecasts for future earnings due to “uncertainties regarding the operating environment.” This week, Netflix repeated factors such as “slowing economic growth” as it lost subscribers.
Analysts expect numbers from Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Facebook and Apple next week to be the strongest indication yet of how these companies will handle the coming months. Already this week, Bloomberg reported slowing hiring and spending at Apple — a measure of how much consumers are willing to spend — news that helped push major stock market indexes lower.
“The market looks at that, and the logic basically is, ‘What a crap, if they’re doing that, what about the ones that aren’t that strong?'” “And what do they see coming that others are not doing?” said Tom Isai, president of Sevens Report Research.
Meta spokesman Tracy Clayton said the company will continue to make changes to some parts of its business due to the larger economic environment. Apple and Amazon did not respond to requests for comment. Google, Twitter and Snap declined to comment. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.
The tech hiring freeze and pessimistic forecasts stand in stark contrast to the traditional bulletproof companies’ reputation for unchecked growth, alarming some Wall Street economists and investors. Over the past decade, technology companies have skyrocketed, hiring tens of thousands of workers and amassing huge cash hoards through ever-increasing profits. The stock prices of companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Apple and Google continued to rise, dominating the stock exchanges and making many investors rich.
As some of the most valuable companies in the world, it also exerts a significant influence on perceptions of the economy, in part due to the nature of its business, which relies on consumer clicks and spending. Any dip in demand for toilet paper sold by Amazon, Teslas or iPhones, plus fewer ads bought on Instagram or Google searches to try to sell people new shoes or headphones, is sure to create tension in other areas.
Technology has been signaling to investors for months that boom times are ending – Amazon was one of the first tech giants to warn earlier this year that it had hired too many warehouse workers and predicted a surge in customer demand that instead began to wane due to the virus. corona. Lockdowns have been lifted and habits shifted from epidemic patterns.
Google CEO says company will slow hiring amid economic conditions
Tesla reported better-than-expected earnings on Wednesday, but even during that call, analysts questioned CEO Elon Musk and other executives on the topic of a possible economic downturn. Musk said earlier this summer that he had a “very bad feeling” about the economy, and predicted the automaker would cut its salaried workers by about 10 percent.
“We need to be more entrepreneurial, operate with greater urgency, sharper focus and hungrier than we showed on sunny days,” Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, said in a note to employees last week. He said the company would reduce its hectic pace of hiring and new hires would be focused on other engineering and technical roles. “Making the company more efficient is up to all of us.”
Earlier this year, Facebook for the first time reported a drop in daily users, which combined with increased competition, lower revenue expectations and commercial hurdles to advertising, sent its stock prices down. The company’s stock is now down 50 percent for the year. Last week, Facebook asked its engineering managers to fire low-performing employees in the face of the economic downturn. “If the direct report is fast or underperforming, they aren’t who we need; the company’s chief engineering officer wrote in a note.
Bloomberg reports that Microsoft recently removed open job listings from the Internet.
Market experts say it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy, if other companies immediately respond to the decline of the big tech companies by tightening their own businesses. But the moves aren’t cut-and-dry — many feel technology is preparing for an economic downturn, not panicked by declining business metrics.
“You have some who take it positive because companies are becoming more disciplined,” said Christina Huber, chief global market strategist at Invesco.
Mixed messages about the economy raise questions about the risks of a recession
Big tech companies have also been more successful during the pandemic than many industries, giving them more room to fall.
“It hasn’t had that much work in the pandemic, so it hasn’t had the same shortage that is showing,” said Jason Furman, a professor of economics at Harvard University. “So, in some ways, it’s no surprise that the economy looks like it’s headed into a tougher patch that needs to be reset.”
Analysts said that despite the weak numbers widely expected next week, many companies have already cut expectations a lot, and earnings may not be as bad as feared.
Tesla dumps bitcoin amid pressure from factory closures
Small tech companies have sounded the alarm for months, with new venture capital investment slowing and many startups announcing layoffs during the spring and early summer.
Other economic indicators give a mixed picture of exactly which direction the economy is heading. Americans are pessimistic about price hikes, but they still spend their money. The pace of new hiring hasn’t been as fast as it was a few months ago, but it’s still far from fading out completely. Some economists and financial analysts still predict a recession later this year or in 2023, although that doesn’t mean it will be as painful as the one that followed the 2008 financial crisis.
Calculate how much mortgages will cost as interest rates rise
Some cutbacks in the tech industry have been coming for a long time, said Doug Clinton, managing partner at tech investment firm Loup, with new investment money freely available for so long that some companies have become bloated with resources they didn’t necessarily need. projects.
“When the world changes and capital gets tighter, everybody looks and says, ‘We might not need as big a crew as we thought,'” Clinton said.
Kelsey Cusade, a marketing worker in Columbus, Ohio, was laid off this month when health tech company Olive laid off hundreds of employees, after admitting that its “rapid growth and lack of focus” were causing work stress.
Cuzad immediately set up sensors to find a new job, and said it received a good response. “There are a lot of people out there who are swimming in the water, and they are looking to hire,” she added.
Across the entire economy, job vacancies are largely Hold steady, according to data from job posting site Indeed. But software development vacancies are down more than 12 percent in the past four weeks alone, according to an analysis from Economic Reality Ann Elizabeth Konkel. She said the overall job market is strong, but the demand for tech workers specifically is slowing slightly.
Big Tech builds AI with bad data. So scientists sought better data.
Overall employment fell to its lowest rate since December 2021, LinkedIn economist Jay Berger wrote, “suggesting that tighter financial conditions and declining demand may finally hurt the US labor market.” He noted that technology has been hit hard.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said big tech companies have been “spending money like drunken sailors on hiring for the past few years”. “I consider it more than a correction, a tightening around the edges.”


text:
Google Pixel 7a is still distant from its launch, but its new leaks have clarified exactly what it would look like and whether it will have design changes compared to the Pixel 6a.
In terms of leaks, we got new high-quality renders of this smartphone with some of the details regarding its dimensions from a trustworthy source.
All Details About Google Pixel 7a
These high-quality renders are revealed by the well popular leaker, On Leaks, who have such a great description score of providing accurate leaks that can be found as valid in the future.
According to the renders, the Google Pixel 7a’s design will be the same as the first model of this lineup, which usually appears with an A-series smartphone from Google.
It has the same camera bump of shiny metal as the Google Pixel 7, with two cameras setup which could retain Sony’s IMX787 and IMX712 sensors, according to a leak.
Besides, the render only shows a single color option for the smartphone, but it is expected to arrive in two more color options which could be Lime, Grey, or Black.
I only found one difference between it and Pixel 7, which is the bezels. As you can see in the above image, the bezel from the bottom is broader, which means making it more affordable than the Pixel 7.
However, there will be more differences in terms of its specification, which are currently unspecified, and this smartphone will also have some additional features too, such as having a better refresh rate than before.
Google Pixel 7a’s launch is highly expected to take place in Q2 2023 based on previous launches of this series of smartphones which Google made possible in its well-known event, Google I/O.
This means 6 months countdown is in the way of its launch as Google I/O 2023 intends to take place in early May.


text:
A Harris County resident is taking CVS Pharmacy to court in hopes of receiving monetary relief over $200,000 but not more than $1,000,000.
According to the plaintiff’s original petition, in June 2012, Claudis Alston presented a prescription for eye drops to a CVS store in Houston. Instead of receiving eye drops, the prescription was filled with ear drops. Alston placed the drops in his eyes and ultimately lost vision.
The lawsuit was filed June 17. Alston is represented by Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend.
Photo courtesy of Abraham Watkins.


text:
The objective is to give local producers the opportunity to access better quality items and prices.
Mérida, Yucatán, (November 18, 2021).- The Mérida City Council will create more sustainable markets in various parts of the city in order to support local communities and citizens who will be able to buy fresh, natural products and at fair prices, reported José Luis Martínez Semerena, director of Economic Development and Tourism.
In a special held by La Jornada Maya, Antonio Blanco Cebada, Food Security researcher at the Regional Observatory of Governance and Social Coordination in the face of Covid-19 (ORGA), explained the urgency of having more public markets in the city, especially in the face of the economic crisis that caused the Covid-19 pandemic, to guarantee food security.
According to a mapping of the observatory, in the Yucatecan capital there are only 13 markets distributed mainly between the center and the east, and about 17 flea markets that operate mostly only on weekends; the best known and largest markets are Lucas de Gálvez and San Benito, located in Downtown Mérida, but these cannot supply the entire population. In addition, due to a health emergency, several stores have had to close and look for other alternatives.
According to the official, there is currently a fair price space in the Gonzalo Guerrero neighborhood, a Slow Food market where products from the Merida communities beneficiaries of the Círculo 47 program, participate.
However, he assured that they will work to create other sustainable markets in the city, which will be called Fair Trade Markets, they will be places where the producers of the communities, or the artisan with the final buyer, are approached directly. “We avoid the intermediary that in the end takes a lot of the profit percentage and in this way, the benefit reaches the product family directly,” he stressed.
Currently, he said that they are doing an analysis of the places and public spaces where these markets and the appropriate number could be placed; he estimated that as of May or June of the following year they could already be operating.
He also said that in these markets, there will be a space for handicrafts and other items made by local producers and entrepreneurs from the Municipal Entrepreneurship Center to be offered.
Source: La Jornada Maya
The Yucatan Times Newsroom
more recommended stories
The time has come, U.S. restarts controversial Trump-era border program
The Biden administration will restart a.
The US and Germany joined countries around the globe planning stricter COVID-19 restrictions
WASHINGTON/BERLIN, Dec 2 (Reuters) – The.
New flight Miami-Chetumal connects Florida with Southern Quintana Roo
Chetumal International Airport resumed its international.
Art and crafts exhibition ‘TlaquepArte’ in Mérida, from December 3 to 6
Mérida, Yucatán, (December 02, 2021).- With.
Quintana Roo will have a good winter season with tourists from the US and Latin America
The state allocated a millionaire investment.
Yucatán is a new member of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
Madrid, Spain, (December 02, 2021).- The.
2021 Cyclone season finally comes to an end
Year after year, once November is.
Governor Mauricio Vila meets with Mexican secretaries of Economy, Navy, and Government
Mexico City, (December 02, 2021).- Governor.
With guayaberas, Tekit sets out to conquer the world
Mérida, Yucatán.- Little by little, Tekit,.
Historically, Yucatan adds more than 10,000 cases of HIV / AIDS
Yucatán is among the first states.


text:
A group of marketing execs at Anheuser-Busch, the company that created the Budweiser beer franchise, are brainstorming about their inability to extend Bud’s client base beyond traditional beer drinkers, i.e. older, working-class males.
They want a new hipster generation of millennials and Gen-Z’ers to start enjoying cold ones as well. But it’s a real balancing act. Young people just won’t drop their craft cocktails and spiked sodas for beer overnight. And you can’t just ignore your long-time customers.
“I got an idea,” says one of the suits, “let’s do a commercial featuring a trans woman and social-media influencer sipping a Bud Light, semi-nude, in a bubble bath.”
“Brilliant!” the head of marketing beams, “Problem solved!”
The aforementioned is a parody, of course. But like most parodies, it contains some striking elements of truth. It speaks to our latest example of corporate wokeism run amok, one that, if you’ve been following the news lately, threatens to ruin a corporate brand that took nearly two centuries to cultivate, and maybe two weeks to destroy.
On these pages we’ve chronicled the noxious critical-race-theory indoctrination sessions at big firms like American Express, and Disney’s weird political opposition to a Florida law that only seeks to prevent schools from teaching sex-ed to toddlers. Jamie Dimon, the normally sensible CEO of banking giant JPMorgan, taking a knee for a photo in apparent allegiance to the radical Black Lives Matter movement.
Called out on their actions amid backlash from customers, AmEx execs tell me those CRT sessions are no longer in place. Disney has toned down its lefty politics with the return of Bob Iger as CEO. The PR staff at JPMorgan now contend that Dimon took a knee to make sure people behind him weren’t obstructed.
Anheuser-Busch is also scrambling to justify why its new ads featuring the transgender TikTok influencer and activist Dylan Mulvaney are a cool way of reaching new customers while not offending its current ones.
It’s not working; Kid Rock recently took to social media posting a video of him shooting at cans of Bud Light. It went viral. Bars are reporting a drop in Bud Light sales. The company’s stock lost billions in market cap.
Common sense is always a better sales pitch than woke activism and there’s nothing common or sensical about Mulvaney luxuriating in a bubble bath and giggling while sipping a can of Bud Light. In another, Mulvaney is glammed up to resemble one of the quintessential female characters in literature and pop culture, Holly Golightly from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”
“I kept hearing about this thing called March Madness and I just thought we were all having a hectic month, but as it turns out it has something to do with sports,” Mulvaney purrs while sipping a can of Bud Light. That she does this with a faux and exaggerated feminized accent, feigning ignorance about one of the country’s biggest sporting events, doesn’t make it any less cringey and sexist.
The ads are running on social media, which made the situation worse because they evaded normal airing before beer wholesalers at their annual convention in January, I am told. They get to see upcoming TV spots and often weigh in on their quality.
Budweiser, of course, was the creation of Adolphus Busch, who founded the beermaker and distributor Anheuser-Busch after he served in the Civil War. It’s an iconic American brand. Bud’s commercials play during Super Bowls, and included the Clydesdales, and my favorite, Spuds MacKenzie. They stressed commonality and community. When you drink a Bud, you’re an American. Full stop.
Does that mean trans people don’t drink beer or aren’t American? Of course not. In any case, the trans community deserves respect. But it’s the sexualized politicization of a brand that pisses off so many Americans, including yours truly. The trans movement has gone far beyond demanding acceptance to advocacy and dogma in schools, cultural institutions and, now, with the help of increasingly progressive and politicized corporate ad and marketing departments, beer drinking.
When will it stop? According to Wall Street traders, the answer is in the stock market, and they’re taking bets.
The company’s new leadership is grappling with lower beer sales and shrinking profit margins. Shares are down nearly 40% over the past five years compared to a 50% rise in the S&P.
To reverse the company’s long-term downward trajectory, it makes sense to appeal to new potential customers, though it seems odd that someone at Anheuser-Busch chose to accomplish that by alienating current ones. At one point last week, the company’s market value cratered by around $5 billion.
A Wall Street trader says North American sales now make up less than 30% of revenues; so far, the recent drop off in sales is impacting certain areas of the US that are culturally conservative.
But Anheuser-Busch doesn’t exactly have large room for error given the trends it’s trying to fight against.
“Is it really prudent to ignore the market that got you where you are?” my trader source asks.
The stock market is asking that question and answering with a resounding “no.”
As for Anheuser Busch, the company wouldn’t respond to repeated requests for comment.


text:
Having been available in the US for some time now, Camry will soon be available in RHD (right hand drive) and will be the first Australian produced hybrid vehicle.
Toyota will begin building hybrid Camry sedans at its Altona plant from the beginning of 2010.
The hybrid Camry benefits from a four-cylinder petrol engine and a high-voltage motor offering more performance while using less fuel than a conventional petrol Camry - and it will also emit less carbon dioxide.
Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive technology compliments the efficient nature of the electric motor, allowing the hybrid Camry to operate solely on electric power for short distances.
It also provides automatic stop/start for the engine at traffic lights, reclaims energy while braking and uses energy stored in the hybrid battery to boost acceleration performance.
Toyota Australia plans to produce 10,000 hybrid Camry sedans a year in addition to the existing four-cylinder Camry and V6 Aurion sedans produced at the Altona plant in Melbourne’s west.


text:
Starfield, the most significant upcoming title from Microsoft-owned Bethesda, has been delayed to the first half of 2023, according to a tweet from the studio.
The game was initially set to launch on November 11th, 2022, an homage to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’s release date. However, the new space exploration game, which Bethesda has released precious few details about (and, to this date, no actual gameplay footage), will get some extra development time, as well Redfall, the vampire co-op shooter coming from the team at Arkane that was surprise-announced last year.
Both games will likely be shown off in Bethesda’s upcoming games showcase on June 12th, so this early announcement is probably meant to set expectations.
However, speaking of setting expectations, if Bethesda happens to show off any Elder Scrolls VI footage, keep in mind that it’s likely (sadly) still years away from arriving on consoles and PC.
Few games have avoided significant delays during the pandemic, as production and collaboration are more complicated when they occur at home instead of in an office. At this point, it’s almost expected that any game’s tentative release date may be pushed, regardless of the company. For example, the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was recently moved from its planned holiday release to 2023.
Starfield is an upcoming action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game was formally announced during Bethesda’s E3 Press Conference in 2018.
The game was described as a new, next-generation experience set in an entirely new space-themed world. It will be Bethesda’s first new intellectual property in over twenty-five years. The game will be released in the first half of 2023 for Microsoft Windows and Xbox Series X/S.
Starfield is set in an area that extends outward from the Solar System for approximately 50 light-years called The Settled Systems. Around 2310, the two largest factions in the game, the United Colonies and Freestar Collective engaged in the bloody Colony War.
The game takes place 20 years after the events of the Colony Wars, in which the significant factions enjoy an uneasy peace. The player will assume the role of a customizable character, a member of Constellation, an organization of space explorers. The game can be played in either first- or third-person perspectives.


text:
Walking into a dealership at 12pm. on a bright, Saturday afternoon looking to buy a new vehicle may cost the consumer a good deal.
Potential car owners are constantly looking for the best deals on the market and even when they find an affordable dealership, there are ways to drive the cost of a car even lower. By doing so, along with shopping around for cheap car insurance quotes, consumers can relieve the strain on their finances that generally comes with buying a new car.
Weather has an Impact
Car dealers have a quota and deadline to reach just as most other employees do. Therefore, the days in which fewer customers are expected to show up are generally ones when the dealer will sacrifice more to get that sale. Rainy days are an example of this, according to the auto review company. Fewer consumers are willing to travel through the rain for a car sale, so the number of sales a dealer may make goes down.
However, just because a consumer shows up on a rainy day, doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll get a good deal. Certain car dealers may view such consumers as desperate because they’re looking to buy even through the inclement weather.
Time of Year Also Important
During big holiday weeks, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, auto dealerships also expect fewer sales. It may be a perfect time for a consumer to buy if they’re still in the neighborhood. Often, dealers will cut back on inventory during holiday seasons to negate the expected low sales, but generally this is a good time to find a decent price on a vehicle.
Many experts say the time surrounding Labor Day is usually the best time of year to buy a car while rates for auto insurance remain roughly the same throughout the year. Cheaper auto deals occur around Labor Day because automakers are attempting to empty out their previous year’s models and make room for newer ones.
Some dealerships additional cash rebates or favorable financing terms during that time period to motivate buyers to make a deal. On any given month, experts also suggest buying a car toward the end of a month when dealers are trying to reach their manufacturer’s quotas.
Overall, the best circumstances for a car purchase may be a rainy, windy Labor Day Weekend.


text:
More people are buying Chromebooks in 2021, but are you one of them?
Samsung's selling plenty of flagships and budget phones this year.
Privileged apps could have access to system logs, and therefore COVID-19 tracing data too.
Roku is notifying users that ongoing negotiations with Google aren't going well and could result in the loss of YouTube TV.
Turn older phones into something a little more useful as Samsung's upcycling initiative comes to the US and UK.
The OnePlus 8 Pro was a great phone in 2020, but is it just as great a year later?
The PlayStation 5 has sold more units in the United States during its first five months than any other console...ever.
According to some independent analysis, Facebook Dating doesn't seem to be too popular. Is anyone surprised?
Samsung isn't about to sit idly by as people flock to iPhones.
Images showing the apparent LG V70 and rollable phone have also surfaced online.


text:
New features on the Apple application could bring more customers in the door. Here’s what small businesses need to know.
Apple is making it easier for customers to find your business.
At its annual developer conference, Apple rolled out upcoming updates to its Maps application—including many that could benefit small businesses. Because about 42 million people in the U.S. use Apple’s Maps app, any improvements to the once-shoddy application presents a big opportunity for small retailers to expand their customer base.
Here are a few planned updates that affect the small biz community:
- Apple is adding public transit information for 10 cities worldwide, plus 300 in China.
- It is adding an icon in the Maps app that indicates if a business that appears in search results accepts payment from Apple Pay. As customers continue to transition to mobile-payment options, this is a chance to acquire new businesses from Apple Pay users.
- The update will enable users to search the Maps app by storefront type, like food or drink. This could get more feet in the door from customers that don’t necessarily have a specific type of food or item in mind prior to making a search.
- Apple Maps will be available on Android soon, TechRadar says, which would increase the number of its users.
- Maps Connect is Apple’s self-service portal that allows small businesses to add or edit local business listings. It is intended for small business owners to be able to easily add content, like business name, phone number, address and location, directly into the Maps app. Apple announced it will update the Maps Connect tool to include more major cities and listings for even smaller organizations.
While Apple Maps lags behind Google’s Maps application, it still has a strong enough user base that small businesses should not ignore. TechRadar declared that Apple’s new Maps features are a victory for small businesses. “If you’re a small business with a dedicated marketing team focused on search and web-based listings, you can’t allow Apple’s Maps stumbles to turn you away from the application,” the site reported.
Apple will add the new Maps updates on iOS 9 and OSX 10.11 later this year.


text:
The global market for wearable devices is growing by leaps and bounds. As we reported in the article, "Materials matter in wearable medical devices," the market is expected to expand 16.4% CAGR between 2013 and 2019. According to Credit Suisse researchers, it could reach a value of $50 billion within five years. Medical applications represent a significant portion of this sector. So, how does this radiant future look? Pretty cool, if you ask us. But you can judge for yourself by flipping through this slideshow. We begin with a rather remarkable technology from startup MC10 that redefines conformability.
The stretchable, bendable Biostamp
Wearable devices don't get much more conformable than the Biostamp. Developed by Massachusetts-based startup MC10, the Biostamp is a sensor-embedded bendable material that can be applied to the skin like a Band-Aid or temporary tattoo. It can measure body temperature, heart rate, brain activity, hydration levels, and more, and the data can be uploaded to a smartphone for analysis.
The technology was developed by John Rogers, a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who is a co-founder of MC10. Nanometer-thick gold electrodes and wires are deposited onto silicon wafers, peeled off, and applied to stretchable polymers. "Unlike organic polymer electronics that can only bend, this approach makes electronics that can stretch and are faster than devices made of organic semiconductor materials, so they can provide precise real-time biological readings," writes Mert Bal on engineering.com.
The BioStamp is expected to cost less than $10 per unit, and MC10 aims to have a commercial product in the next five years, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.
Click here to go to the next slide.


text:
Sonos has added its first 24-bit Hi-Res audio streaming service, taking advantage of another of the headline improvements from the company’s Sonos S2 platform released last year. Qobuz may not be a household name, but its catalog of 70+ million tracks – albeit the vast majority of which are CD quality, not Hi-Res Audio – makes it a solid competitor to more familiar services like Spotify and Apple Music.
Its focus has been on nudging up audio quality for streaming and downloaded music. Back in 2013, for example, Qobuz was the first 16-bit FLAC option on Sonos systems, and today it’s the first 24-bit Hi-Res option.
It taps the enhancements Sonos added with Sonos S2, the overhauled version of its software last year. As well as a redesigned app, it also introduced support for higher bitrate music. That enabled the Sonos Arc soundbar to support Dolby Atmos – a first for Sonos – but also paved the way for higher-resolution music playback too.
It proved a controversial change, mind. Sonos S2 left some of the company’s oldest models out in the cold, though owners have been offered discounts on upgrading to S2-compatible hardware.
The arrival of a 24-bit Hi-Res option may be the nudge that those potential upgraders were waiting for. Although there are plenty of streaming services out there, the options for audiophiles unwilling to compromise on quality compared to their original CD rips are comparatively rate.
As for how many tracks in the catalog actually offer Hi-Res quality, there Qobuz is a little more conservative, saying it has 240,000+ albums. Estimates pegged that number at 2m+ a couple of years ago, and the company says it’s adding new Hi-Res music all the time. Still, as with most services which promise a bump in quality, there’s no telling that your favorite artists or songs will be available in the more detailed format.
Qobuz subscriptions start at $12.99/mo (assuming you’re willing to pay for a year’s service in one go; the same plan is $14.99/mo if you want to pay monthly).
Qobuz streaming on Sonos in 24-bit Hi-Res is available from today, for users in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States. You’ll need to be running the Sonos S2 software, of course, on whatever speaker system you have running.


text:
Happy Thanksgiving from Gaylord Opryland! It’s definitely a day to be thankful in Nashville, as its iconic hotel re-opened November 15 after being closed for six months. The hotel suffered more than $200 million in damage as a result of the May floods that devastated the city.
The hotel, which draws visitors from around the country, was flooded in some places with as much as 12 feet of water, resuting in its closure — a big impact for its employees and the nearby businesses.
After months of cleanup, the hotel is back better than ever, and decked out for Christmas.
I’m here with my family for Thanksgiving and excited to share snippets of the our holiday as we explore this Southern icon reborn. We’re checking out their tradition of “A Country Christmas,” which draws more than 1 million people each year, and bringing you some insider tips to navigate the attractions.
Our first adventure was braving their new “Ice!” exhibit last night. Stay tuned for the full story on that … next post!


text:
And Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) said, back off, Verizon, it’s ours through the end of the year. So Verizon scheduled the arrival of the Pre for its company for January.
Today, however, TheStreet reports exclusively that Verizon Wireless is backing away from the Palm Pre like it’s a blind date with leprosy and Ebola.
A Palm rep told TheStreet the company has never named Verizon as a partner.
So what would account for the Verizon Wireless change of heart? Well, consider how poorly Palm Pre sales have fared at Sprint (less than 1 million sold, reportedly); also consider that Verizon is said to have wanted its app store on the Pre. Palm has its own app store and understandably would not want to compete with its carrier customer.
Meanwhile, Palm announced today it will debut the Pre in the U.K. next month.
.@bcntelecom1 expands reach in Canada with @telus partnership goo.gl/fb/vyLZ6i
January 15 2019 @ 19:53:17 UTC


text:
Love birds support local blooms
TOOWOOMBA florist Marie Streidl is encouraging local love birds to support the region’s flower industry by buying a bunch of blooms this Valentine’s Day.
Mrs Streidl of Swish Flowers said the cut flower industry had sustained significant damage during the recent floods across the state.
“Entire farms have been wiped out,” she said.
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation’s lifestyle horticulture team leader Shane Holborn said buying a bunch of Queensland fresh flowers would help the state's cut flower and nursery industries to get back in business.
“Quite a number of Queensland's flower businesses were affected by flooding,” he said.
“From flower farmers in the Lockyer Valley to the wholesalers at Rocklea, Brisbane, the industry has been hit hard.
“There is no better time than right now to buy some of Queensland’s beautiful array of fresh flowers to lift someone’s spirits, thank them or to say “I love you”, while helping out the industry.
“Don’t wait for Valentine’s Day – why not thank a volunteer for their hard work, give a bunch to a neighbour to cheer them up, or send some flowers to your loved ones just to show you care.”


text:
Is Alternative Leather the Future of the Fashion Industry?
The fashion industry accounts for as much as ten per cent of global carbon emissions, according to United Nations Environmental Programme—more than international flights and shipping combined. To achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius within that time, at COP26, the latest UN climate summit, signatories to the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action—including Burberry, H&M Group, Inditex, VF Corporation and Kering—upgraded their commitment, pledging to cut emissions by 50 per cent in the next ten years. “We have to do it; there is no choice unless we have already planned to head to Mars,” says Dr Gloria Lei Yao, the director of project development at The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited (HKRITA) and director of the Textile Bioengineering Informatics Society. “We should be realistic: it will be a challenge for everyone to survive on the planet if we don’t change.”
Don’t miss: 5 Shocking COP26 Facts Show How Unsustainable The Fashion Industry Is
In the race to decarbonisation, one pivotal change to the supply chain is the sourcing of sustainable materials. In the luxury fashion market, there are numerous leather products—largely handbags and shoes. Leather’s carbon footprint is relatively huge because of the emissions associated with animal husbandry and the toxic chemicals used in the tanning process. Let’s face it: while brands may be shifting to organic cotton, upcycling, natural dyes and offsetting the emissions from fashion shows, they’re unlikely to ditch leather any time soon. For luxury brands such as Hermès, Prada and those in the Kering group, leather products account for about half of their sales; if the industry really wants to achieve its environmental impact goals, this would be the place to start.
Source Credit: This article originally appeared on Tatler Asia by Tatler Asia. Read the original article - https://www.tatlerasia.com/style/fashion/sustainable-alternative-leather-the-future-of-fashion-industry


text:
Shadow of the Tomb Raider is announced for September
Shadow of the Tomb Raider has been announced with a September release date.
The third part in Square Enix's rebooted Tomb Raider series has been given a September 14 release date on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
Described as Lara Croft's defining moment, it will be unveiled in full on April 27.
The only bad news is that there's no mention of a Nintendo Switch release.
The Square Enix announcement only mentions PS4, Xbox One and PC, while the Nintendo logo is also absent from the trailer.
On the plus side, PS4 users won't have to wait a year for a port to release.
Rise of the Tomb Raider was a timed exclusive on Xbox One, before launching on PS4 a year later.
Xbox One X support is also confirmed, which means PS4 Pro capabilities are sure to follow.
In the meantime, fans can check out the Shadow of the Tomb Raider announcement trailer (below).
The cinematic trailer shows Lara running, jumping, climbing and sliding through the undergrowth.
It ends with Lara emerging before the Mayan pyramids, giving fans the first clue about where the game is set.
Fans can find out more about the game by visiting the Shadow of the Tomb Raider website.
The website features the official trailer, as well as mysterious puzzles that will appear later today.
Fans who solve the puzzles will have a chance to play the game early and meet the developers at the reveal event.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider's announcement comes just days after the launch of the new film.
Alicia Vikander stars as Lara Croft, alongside Dominic West, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu and Kristin Scott Thomas.