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Mphasis reported its revenue rose 4.6 per cent sequentially as growth in direct sales helped offset contraction from HP business and said it was continuing to ramp down its India BPO business.
Mphasis has been struggling for the last year as business from its parent HP failed to materialize and the company was forced to rely on its own sale capabilities. For the quarter ended June, Mphasis' revenue rose to Rs 1496.4 crore. Margins expanded 20 basis points to 12.7 per cent Growth was powered by a 10.7 per cent jump in revenue from the Direct International business. Revenue from HP fell 3.1 per cent in the quarter. HP provides about 29 per cent of Mphasis' revenue.
The company reported a net profit of Rs 156.3 crore, hurt by losses and charges on sales of its BPO business. Excluding those exceptional items, Mphasis reported a profit ofRs 174.2 crore. "These results reinforce our confidence in growing Direct International faster than market. This quarter saw strong growth and continued momentum in new wins. Good start to FY16" Ganesh Ayyar, chief executive officer, Mphasis, said .
Ayyar added that the company had won deals worth $76 million in the first quarter. Mphasis has been refocusing its business around digital, governance and risk mitigation. Earlier this year, the company launched Next Labs to incubate ideas in these areas.
Mphasis, which has been pulling out of the domestic BPO business, said it was also ramping down some contracts in the unit for which it had to provision for charges.
The company, which has sold parts of the business to Hinduja Global Services and Karvy Data Management, said it estimated losses of about Rs 2.4 crore from the sales.
Read More News on
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British manufacturing on the rise
- November 5, 2019
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British manufacturing is rising at its fastest pace in three years, according to a survey by the CIPS/NTC. Factory gate inflation hit its highest since the survey began in 1992.
Domestic demand appeared to be driving the gains as new exports orders grew at the slowest rate since the start of the year. New orders overall, however, rose at their fastest pace in 13 months.
The UK Report on Manufacturing is a monthly publication, researched and published by NTC Research on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply. It is based on a survey of over 600 business executives in UK private sector manufacturing companies and is designed to provide the most up-to-date picture of business conditions in the UK private manufacturing sector. Data were first collected in January 1992.
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Receiving Wide Coverage…
Eternal Feud: It's the banking sector's version of the Hatfields and the McCoys: the merchants and the card companies are at it again. And this time, there's a tech twist.
Home Depot has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Visa and MasterCard, charging that retailers pay too much on transactions from debit and credit cards and that the card issuers are in cahoots to prevent the use of chip-based cards that require a PIN number.
"While chip-and-PIN authentication is proven to be more secure, it is less profitable for Visa, MasterCard, and their member banks and it provides a greater threat to their market dominance," the home improvement chain said in a lawsuit filed this week.
If the gripes about swipe fees sound familiar, it's because Home Depot opted out of an earlier agreement in a price-fixing case that addressed many of the same issues. Visa and MasterCard settled with a number of retailers in the 2012 case for $7.25 billion.
Elsewhere, Visa will launch a new Canadian advertising campaign expressing its disappointment that Wal-Mart stores in the country have threatened to stop accepting Visa cards as soon as next month. The fight is – once more – over transaction fees.
Wall Street Journal
Pinschmidt, Out: Treasury's deputy assistant secretary of the Financial Stability Oversight Council is leaving the regulatory body this summer. Patrick Pinschmidt, who also serves as the council's executive director, has not announced his next move. He will be replaced by Jonah Crane, a Treasury advisor and former staffer to Sen. Chuck Schumer.
Ahead of the Curve: The Bank of Canada is developing a digital version of its currency to be used on a blockchain. The R3 consortium is involved. (Speaking of crypto Canuck cash, whatever happened to Royal Canadian Mint's MintChip project? Ah, it got privatized.)
Trans-Atlantic Tremors: Fox Business provides a quick roundup of how the biggest U.S. banks are responding to an upcoming vote in Britain over whether the country should leave the European Union.
Pennywise: PNC and TD Bank have discontinued the use of coin-counting machines after the popular service they use, Penny Arcade, was found to shortchange customers, BankRate.com reports. Relive the rise and fall of these once-fashionable branch fixtures here.


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Google announced that Android 12 is supporting a new play-as-you-download functionality for newer games. Announced during the Google for Games Developer Summit, this allows players to start playing faster than ever and lets the games be started after only downloading the essentials for running.
The play-as-you-download function isn’t completely new to Android. However, this new Android 12 firmware will make the system default to it for new Google Play titles.
The way that the procedure works is that the system will split up the largest assets of the game. The categories of the split will involve what is immediately needed to run the game and what can simply be downloaded later. The remaining pieces will be added in the background without getting in the way of playtime.
During the digital conference, Google stated, “We’re seeing 400-megabyte games becoming available in 10 seconds instead of several minutes.” It also claims that this will make for a dramatically upgraded user experience.
The company adds that players won’t have to change their game if they choose to opt into the play-as-you-download feature, doing away with fears of losing progress. “If you use the Android app bundle format, simply upload your game, and we’ll do the rest on
While developers currently have to join the beta for this option, in the future, Google will default to this system for games, with it becoming mandatory in August.
For those wondering when their phone will be receiving Android 12, Google shared a roadmap with beta dates, confirming a final release is coming sometime after August.
- PlayStation Backbone controller gets an Android version ahead of PlayStation Showcase
- PlayStation VR2’s best launch game isn’t the one you we’re expecting
- The best mobile games of 2022: 6 must-download titles from a shockingly great year
- You can try Google Play Games on PC today as beta expands to the U.S.
- The Netflix app on your phone is hiding dozens of games, and they’re great


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Pon becomes world’s biggest bicycle maker through US takeover
Dutch transport conglomerate Pon, which owns Gazelle, Union, Swapfiets and a string of other cycle companies, has taken over US company Dorel Sports, known for both the Cannondale and Schwinn bike brands.
The deal makes Pon.Bike the biggest bike firm in the world, ahead of Taiwan’s Giant, with annual sales of €2.5bn.
Pon has been building up a cycling empire for the past nine years, after first taking over Gazelle in 2012. It later added Kalkhoff and Focus in Germany, Cervélo and Santa Cruz in the US and Dutch firms Urban Arrow and BBB Cycling. In 2019 it took a majority stake in Dutch shared bike company Swapfiets.
Pon Holdings chief executive Janus Smalbraak said the takeover was a logical move for the company because economies of scale will allow it to better meet growing demand for bikes, including electric versions.
‘Cycling is not only healthy but has an increasingly important role to play in ending urban congestion,’ he said. ‘It is also the most sustainable form of transport.’
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British Airways’ latest ‘To Fly. To Serve’ advertising campaign, was unveiled (6 September 2013) The TV advert follows a customer journey using a ‘micro to macro’ style of filming, the footage shows close up shots of the intimate details of flying, panning to wide shots of the aircraft in motion. It draws contrasts between them both, showing the care and thought that goes into every part of their journey. The end frame poignantly shows the British Airways logo being stitched into fabric, with the voiceover commenting ‘To Fly. To Serve. Today. Tomorrow.’
Abigail Comber, British Airways’ Head of Marketing, said: “We wanted to show travel and innovation at its best — the people behind the scenes, the attention to detail, our engineering prowess and the care and expertise to get 100,000 people in the air every day. It is beautifully crafted with a light-hearted tone and proudly features real people from around the airline.”
The campaign uses TV, cinema, press, digital, outdoor media and social media, and will run until October 2013, in two different phases. The film is directed by Martin Krejci, with cinematography from Anthony Dod Mantle, who won an Oscar for his involvement in Slumdog Millionaire. It features a vibrant soundtrack ‘Experience’ (Starkey Remix), by the acclaimed Italian composer and pianist, Ludovico Einaudi.
Created by BBH, the TV advert will also run in a number of the airline’s international markets, including USA and India — for the first time in seven years. The press and outdoor advertising showcases the innovative ways in which British Airways helps its customers, featuring its mobile boarding pass and digital bag tag, as well as its latest aircraft — the superjumbo A380.
Hamish Pinnell, Creative Director at BBH London, commented: “This campaign launches the next chapter of ‘To Fly. To Serve’. It presents the sheer scale of British Airways’ numerous innovations and new services, and sets the platform for the future. We were able to work with some true craftsmen, Martin Kreici, Nadav Kander and Leandro Farina, and the result is beautiful work produced with the same attention to details applied by British Airways everyday.”
In social media, a digital campaign to coincide with the launch of the Dreamliner 787 will commence on 19 September 2013, and again on 24 September 2013 for the A380 flight to Los Angeles. It invites social media users to ‘tweet’ a message using #racetheplane @British_Airways. Each tweet will fuel a virtual version of the aircraft, racing against the actual flight, with prizes to be won.
Find out more visit
Live broadcast Unravel Travel TV
Unravel Travel TV Twitter
Unravel Travel TV on You Tube
Unravel Travel TV


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After a successful test at select locations, Fazoli’s is launching its first-ever wing lineup at all company-owned locations by October 1, 2020. Franchisees are expected to start rolling out the new wings early this fall.
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Fazoli’s new Wingville menu features chicken wings prepared in fryers and tossed in your choice of mild, medium, hot, honey BBQ, hot honey BBQ, Parmesan Garlic or Asian Chili sauces.
With the installation of new fryers in the chain’s kitchens, Fazoli’s culinary team has even more new deep-fried menu items in the works, including fried mozzarella skewers, toasted ravioli, Pasta chips, Italian nachos and fried zeppole, just to name a few.
New chicken wings will be available for dine-in, drive-thru, online ordering and delivery by October 1, 2020.
Interestingly enough, Fazoli’s says sales increased by 11 percent at select locations where the new wings were initially tested.
Image – Fazoli’s


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Bac Ninh to develop hi-tech agriculture
|Green grapes are grown in net houses in line with high-tech production model of Liem Anh Hi-tech Organic Agriculture Cooperative. (Photo: VNA)|
To realise this goal, Bac Ninh is rolling out a series of measures to attract resources for sustainable development of hi-tech agriculture.
The hi-tech production model at the Liem Anh Hi-tech Organic Agriculture Cooperative in Viet Doan commune, Tien Du district, is a dream of many farmers. The cooperative, with director Nguyen Thanh Liem at its lead, generate around 1 billion VND (41,135 USD) in profit each year. The success is attributable to Liem’s resolve to study and apply scientific-technological advances to production.
Liem graduated university with a degree in biology technology and got a job at a clean food in Hanoi to gain experience. He realized that farmers mostly use traditional farming techniques and rely on experience. As a result, production value is low and products do not meet food safety standards. In 2015, he decided to quit his job and return to the home village to start his own business in clean agriculture production.
He started by upgrading his family’s dairy farm on 1.3 ha of land, dividing it into three zones, one for raising fish and storing water for irrigation, pens for raising cattle and chicken, and the biggest zone for growing vegetable.
In 2017, Liem built more than 700 sq.m of net house to grow tomato, cucumber and fruits using modern technology, which generated total value five-fold that of rice cultivation.
Encouraged by the initial success, he and seven other households in the commune established the Liem Anh Hi-tech Organic Agriculture Cooperative with a total land area of 5 ha. They began to grow several varieties of grape, and now the cooperative has 3,500 sq.m of land under grape.
Liem said cooperatives help improve farmers’ income and also address the dilemma of bumper harvest resulting in lower prices faced by households engaging in small-scale production.
According to him, the cooperative will continue to improve product quality while expanding its farming area. It will transfer farming technology to local farmers in order to create a sustainable production and sale chain.
Besides Liem’s cooperative, there are also many hi-tech agricultural models in Bac Ninh. The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said there are 72 hi-tech farms with total acreage of 160 ha, many of which generate incomes ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of VND each year.
The department’s director, Dang Tran Trung said for a province with small natural area and big population in a convenient location like Bac Ninh, it is an urgent need to develop hi-tech agriculture.
Bac Ninh is home to 16 industrial parks, 62 craft villages and 22 industrial clusters with over 17,000 enterprises and 300,000 workers. This means the demand for safe vegetable and fruits is huge, not to mention canteens in schools, hospitals and businesses in the province.
However, local hi-tech agriculture establishments have not been able to meet demand. The provincial authorities plan to designate concentrated hi-tech agricultural zones based on the natural conditions and advantages of each area.
The province will also support the development of farm produce value chains based on diversifying forms of connection and cooperation between production households and enterprises. Households and cooperatives will also receive help to buy high-quality varieties and modern farming machines.
Bac Ninh will enhance linkages with and trade promotion with nearby provinces and cities, especially the capital city of Hanoi, to sell its safe farm produce.
TIN LIÊN QUAN


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The Zigbee Alliance has announced a new Certification Program that creates new business opportunities for members, and makes it easy for new entrants to join the growing ecosystem of Certified Products that work with major consumer and commercial IoT platforms. The new program is now open, and permits members — and for the first time, non-members — to quickly adopt, sell, and market Certified Products under their own brand while maintaining those products’ Certified status.
For new entrants to the IoT, or companies looking to fill a gap in their portfolio, this program offers an easy, fast, and affordable avenue to implement Certified Products from Alliance Participant and Promoter member companies, and then market those products under their own brand. Approved products can then carry the Zigbee Certified logo, leveraging the brand recognition and interoperability mark of Zigbee and allowing companies to create products that work with the leading consumer and commercial IoT and smart home platforms, or even create their own from the diverse portfolio of Zigbee Certified Products.
For Zigbee Alliance Participant and Promoter members, this program opens new markets and sales channels by enabling them to offer Certified Products to customers for re-branding and non-functional modification while maintaining those products’ Certified status. Adopter-level members of the Zigbee Alliance are also eligible to receive unlimited Certification Transfers on products from Participant or Promoter companies, and market those products using their own brand.
Industry analysts project Zigbee technology will ship in 3.8 billion (85%) of the 4.5 billion 802.15.4 units predicted to hit the market in 2023. As consumers embrace the smart home, and leading ecosystem providers – such as Amazon, Comcast, Huawei, IKEA, Legrand, Schneider Electric, Signify (formerly Philips Lighting), Somfy, and Samsung SmartThings – continue to create products based on the Zigbee Alliance’s wireless standards, IoT product developers are eager to participate in and build on the network of thousands of Zigbee Alliance Certified products already making meaningful connections between humans and the objects in their environment.
How the Program Works
Participant or Promoter members are now populating the online Certification Transfer Tool with products available for a Certification Transfer. To receive a Certification Transfer, you must be either a Zigbee Alliance Member (in good standing), or be a new company who has never been an Alliance member.
To participate in the program, products for certification transfer must:
- Be previously Certified by the Zigbee Alliance (Zigbee 3.0, Zigbee Smart Energy, and Green Power devices)
- Be Certified as an “end product”
- Be enrolled by a Participant or Promoter Company for certification transfer in the member certification web tool
The new Certification Transfer Program is open now. To share more about the program, the Zigbee Alliance will be holding a public webinar on August 22, 2018 at 7 am to go over the details of the process and the benefits to those who take part in the program. Register here.
The Zigbee Alliance | www.zigbee.orgSponsor this Article
Circuit Cellar's editorial team comprises professional engineers, technical editors, and digital media specialists. You can reach the Editorial Department at firstname.lastname@example.org, @circuitcellar, and facebook.com/circuitcellar


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#DitchTheCan (DTC), the company behind new energy drink, KAOS Gold Energy, and the concept “Social Network Marketing,” announced that it will be teaming up with TVA Media Group, Inc. (TVA) – one of the top independent media companies in North America that has turned hundreds of companies into household names- to launch a national ad campaign this spring. TVA will be producing a 28:30 infomercial, supported by :30 and :60 DRTV spots, promoting both DTC’s product and their unique network marketing opportunity that allows people to get paid daily to drink and promote energy drinks.
The campaign will take place over the course of several months and will include mixed media channels such as television, airlines, print, radio, internet and social media, for an expected accumulated total of more than 100 million impressions. Campaign components will include a minimum of 25,000 television airings in Nielsen-ranked DMAs, four DRTV spots on major airlines, 12-15 TV and radio talk show interviews, 100-400 newspaper features placements, 100-400 radio feature placements, top story feature placements on the homepage of various internet news portals, and streaming video featured on various internet news portals.
“TVA was so impressed by DTC’s Social Network Marketing model, they suggested a shared risk partnership right off the bat,” said DTC Co-Creator Brian Krogstad. “We are excited that they see the enormous potential in this industry-changing concept. TVA has over 25 years of experience in performance-based media and we are confident that their expertise and connections make them the best partner to take DTC to the next level.” Traditional network marketing has been slow to adopt social networking, but DTC is looking to change that and is ready to embrace what they consider an untapped market. The company’s official launch took place earlier this month and they have already received enormous attention from network marketing industry veterans and social media celebrities, alike.
In addition to their revolutionary marketing concept, DTC boasts a compensation plan that includes cash back on every order, free personalized websites, instant notifications and real-time commissions – all considered game-changers to experienced network marketers. KAOS Gold Energy features 80% less sugar and 70% fewer calories than the leading canned energy drinks, is gluten-free, and can be taken anywhere. Initial production is slated to begin within weeks at TVA’s studio.
For more information please contact: Alex Theis at: 858.218.3234 or visit:www.DitchTheCan.com
#DitchTheCan is a new initiative backed by Life Force International (Life Force). Life Force is a privately held leading natural health and wellness company, that manufactures, markets and distributes nutritional and personal care products through a global direct sales force of over 50,000 active independent Members, Distributors and Customers with international subsidiaries established in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore plus export sales to other countries.
About TVA Media Group:
Located adjacent to Universal Studios Hollywood, TVA has for the past 25 years created successful productions and media campaigns for Fortune 500s, startups, Top 100 PR firms and ad agencies, non-profits, professionals, and government agencies worldwide. TVA has an A+ rating with the BBB, Class 1 credit rating with D&B, hundreds of online references and case studies covering thirty product categories; and has won every major award in advertising, DRTV and PR.


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Transportation and logistics suppliers supporting relief efforts to the Gulf Coast report that shipments of supplies continue unabated almost two weeks after Hurricane Katrina made landfall.
Atlanta-based UPS said the job is getting so massive that it’s now working directly with the governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to better support their Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
In consultation with Gov. Kathleen Blanco (LA-D) of Louisiana and also with Gov. Haley Barbour (MS-R), UPS is placing individual liaison officers at the command of the state governments. Two hurricane relief officers have been assigned to each of the two states, one to the governor and a second to the top Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official in the state, UPS said.
As of Sept. 8, UPS had moved more than 4 million pounds, or 2,000 tons, of supplies for the relief effort, noted Mike Eskew, the company’s chairman & CEO. “UPS is pledging its people and equipment to assist the states as part of what we call Operation Expedite Help,” he said. “Katrina has stretched the resources of every local, state and federal agency. The business community can play an important role in the relief effort – and that’s why UPS has established Operation Expedite Help.”
He also said UPS Supply Chain Solutions, the company’s logistics arm, has been asked to assist the Salvation Army in setting up a new distribution center for hurricane relief outside Atlanta.
EA Logistics, a Chicago, IL-based freight forwarder, said that it’s seeing increasing numbers of aid shipments to the Gulf states.
“It’s been 24-hour days around here since the storm hit,” said Mike Ellis, the company’s president. “We’ve been moving everything from the slings used in the sandbag drops to insurance claims forms to generators, pumps and other equipment to assist in the recovery.”
Utilizing satellite-tracked, team driver trucks, EA Logistics is keeping its customers up to date with exact locations and estimated time of arrival for shipments. “Each day brings new challenges and we’ve become very creative to give our customers the best possible options,” said Ellis. “Some of the transportation solutions we’re providing are not part of our usual service offerings, but with this extraordinary situation we’re doing whatever we can to help.”
To discuss the Katrina disaster and its effect on the trucking industry or to share your personal experiences, please visit FleetOwner's Katrina Blog at blog.fleetowner.com/katrina.
To view the archive of FleetOwner’s ongoing Katrina news coverage, go to www.fleetowner.com/katrina.


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"Technology in Education: Global Trends, Universe Spend and Market Outlook"
In 2015, spending on hardware for educational purposes amounted to $15 billion, an increase of 7 percent from 2014, according to Futuresource Consulting, a U.K.-based provider of ed-tech research.
The researchers found that products chosen forclassrooms differ markedly. In countries where teachers continue to stand in front of the class for instruction, display devices are more prevalent. That accounts for the fast growth of interactive flat panels in China, and interactive whiteboards in Spain, Italy, and Russia.
In Germany, so-called "visualizers" are popular. These devices take images of documents and project them onto a screen.
Vol. 35, Issue 29, Page 5Published in Print: April 27, 2016, as Digital Education


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Microsoft’s hopeful iPad killer, the Surface, will launch on October 26, reports CNET.The report comes from one of Microsoft’s SEC filings. Microsoft has yet to publicly announce an official date.
October 26 is the same day that Windows 8 launches, and the Surface will come pre-loaded with it.
These will be the slightly pared-down Windows RT tablets. The more heavy-duty hardware, called “Surface Pro,” launches roughly 90 days later, according to the report.
How much will it cost? Microsoft said in a statement that “suggested retail pricing will be announced closer to availability and is expected to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet or Intel Ultrabook-class PC.”
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Neil Howe, CEO of Howe Marketing Consultants, believes that in today’s more competitive marketplace, gaining celebrity recognition and becoming an educator and authority in your field of expertise are keys to small business success.
Being on the first page of Google is no longer enough for small businesses to stand out. Atlanta-based, Howe Marketing Consultants has recently added a new service focusing on helping clients gain authority and recognition in the marketplace in order to meet this need.
Howe explains, “Becoming the authority and educator in your market can jump your business five years ahead of your competitors almost overnight. People you have been talking to about your message are all of a sudden listening.”
Internet Marketer and Author Dan Kennedy echoes Howe and adds, “The simple truth is, if you aren’t deliberately, systematically, methodically – or rapidly and dramatically – establishing yourself as a celebrity, at least to your clientele and target market, you’re asleep at the wheel, ignoring what is fueling the entire economy around you, neglecting development of a measurably valuable asset.”
Client Rebecca Happy agrees. “I recently did some work with Neil Howe [Howe Marketing Consultants] when I was looking for some media coverage from a publicist. I was ready to ramp up my visibility to scale my business. As a man of action, Neil was able to almost instantly get me picked up by dozens of media outlets across the USA. I am so glad he showed up at the right time.”
Howe Marketing Consultants will be on hand for the 2014 North Fulton Business Expo hosted by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce on March 27-28, 2014. Howe will focus on educating small businesses about the need to increase their authority to stand out in the marketplace. He will also be giving away free authority marketing packages as a prize for a select few who visit his booth and leave a business card. The authority marketing package will help winning businesses with coverage in major news markets such as ABC, NBC, CBS and large newspapers.
Ken Bolden says, “Neil Howe [Howe Marketing Consultants] is exceptional at what he does, he stays on top of new and improved methods to stay on top of his game. He has a great personality and is easy to work with. When Neil steps into the picture his competition doesn’t have a chance.”
To learn more about Neil Howe, CEO of Howe Marketing Consultants or about authority marketing please visit: http://HoweMarketingConsultants.com


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Dot-coms shifting to online ads
More dot-coms put marketing budget in online ads Web ads are easier to track, more focused, less costly
By Michael McCarthy USA TODAY
NEW YORK — Dot-com advertisers are beating a hasty retreat toward the safety of cyberspace.
As the dot-carnage of dying Web firms piles up, survivors are shifting from big bucks television and print advertising to cheaper online ads.
Dot-com advertisers outnumber “traditional” marketers on the Web by two to one, says a recent report by Web ad tracker AdRelevance, a unit of Media Metrix that tracks Internet ads.
Dot-coms made up 68% of the Top 200 in June 2000, up from 54% in July 1999, and accounted for 77% of ad impressions in June vs. 64% in July 1999.
“Dot-coms are spending more and more money in the online medium,” says Marc Ryan, director of media research for AdRelevance.
That shift to cheaper online alternatives makes sense, says Charlie Buchwalter, vice president of media research.
“Online is their market,” he says. “It’s where they come from. It’s what they understand.”
Driving the U-turn is more than cost. Online ads are more targeted, and results more easily tracked. Profitability (or at least the prospect of it) is what is being demanded now by the venture capitalists who freely bankrolled 1999’s dot-com ad spree: $3.1 billion poured into the coffers of off-line media and ad agencies in a quest for brand recognition.
“The dot-coms don’t have open checkbooks from VCs anymore,” says Jim Nail, senior analyst at Forrester Research.
A survey of 66 e-tailers by The Boston Consulting Group and trade group Shop.org found the share of their ad budgets devoted to online advertising “increased sharply” to 59% in the second quarter from 49% in the first. The amount spent to acquire each customer fell to an average of $40 in the second quarter from a peak of $71 in the final quarter of 1999.
“Given the tighter capital markets, online retailers are being more focused in their approach to marketing as they strive to acquire and retain customers,” says James Vogtle, director of e-commerce research at Boston Consulting.
Even many of the starstruck dot-coms that shelled out more than $2 million apiece for 30 seconds of fame during Super Bowl XXXIV in January are on board with the new austerity.
* Kforce.com: The online recruiter is shifting from “mass to more targeted communications,” says Ken Pierce, chief marketing officer. Translation: Goodbye TV, hello online.
Will Kforce.com buy ads in big TV events such as the Super Bowl again? “Doubtful,” says Pierce. “We viewed it as a one-time event.”
* Agillion: This business-to-business company bought Super Bowl commercial time in 10 major markets. Now, CEO Steve Papermaster says, “Our marketing and advertising will shift to become as targeted and pinpointed as it can possibly be.”
* LifeMinders: The e-mail marketer paid $2 million-plus to run the self-described “worst commercial” on the Super Bowl. Now it has dropped the dot-com from its official name and put all of its ad budget online, says Melissa Radin, vice president of marketing.
Dot-com advertisers “won’t play much of a role” in such TV events as the Olympics and the upcoming Super Bowl, says Buchwalter. Only the biggest and most financially stable (that is, profitable) dot-coms, such as Monster.com and E-Trade, have signed up for Super Bowl XXXV.
Observers say the advertising industry, while taking a hit from reduced dot-com spending, remains healthy, as traditional advertisers continue to spend big in a robust economy.
Says Nail: “They may have to cut back on the caviar at holiday parties. But the ad business is still doing quite well.”


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Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
Students who have grabbed bagged lunches in Tarble have noticed the missing bottled water and paper bag packaging, this semester. Earthlust considers its No Bottled Water a successful mark of their activist presence on campus, along with other environmental initiatives.
This No Bottled Water campaign began when Earthlust members approached Linda McDougall, director of Dining Services, about eliminating bottled waters in bagged lunches. Natali Cortes ’13, a member of Earthlust, explains that this idea originated from a workshop they attended at the Power Shift Conference at Penn State University last semester about eliminating water bottles.
The impact of cutting plastic water bottles is significant, even at a small college like Swarthmore. Cortes reasoned, “Swarthmore uses roughly 11,000 water bottles a year in bagged lunches, and [the initiative] seemed like a clear way to cut back….I just don’t think we have the right to generate so much avoidable waste when we’re not even the ones feeling the consequences of it.”
Cortes said, “I think students are generally understanding of the change, and have reacted favorably. I’ve heard a lot of positive feedback from students, and had some really good discussions with people who have approached me with their concerns.”
But one student, Rakan Nimr ’12 said, “Basically, it’s almost as if Earthlust is forcing everyone who may not be as environmentally-conscious as they are to conform to a set of standards that seem ridiculous…College students are already broke, so being forced to buy a reusable bottle or canteen is unfair. Yes, they may be inexpensive, but every little thing adds up. Wasn’t it enough that everyone recycled the plastic bottles after finishing them?”
Other students are beginning to accept these changes, believes Jamie Layton, a Dining Services staff member who swipes students’ cards. She says that several students complained when the change was initially enacted. But now, they seem to have adjusted. The money saved from purchasing bottled water and other recent green changes have gone back in to the food budget for purchasing relevant products, such as igloo coolers.
Other Earthlust and Dining Services partnerships have focused on reusing coffee mugs. Last year, the Mug Board was placed by the Sharples coffee station to encourage reusing coffee mugs. The coffee bars now also give a ten-cent discount for students using their own mug.
Earthlust is preparing for another outreach program, entitled GreenMarch!. This month-long program focuses on “cross-collaboration and dialogue between diverse student groups and academic disciples to highlight the intersectionality and interdisciplinary nature of environmental justice and sustainability,” as laid out in its mission statement.
Working closely with SusCom, Earthlust wants to address other sustainability projects around campus. According to Robertson, potential ideas include “using cloth instead of paper towels to wipe down machines in the weight room, investigating and putting an end to the mass-delivery of Verizon phone books that no one uses, having the college purchase more environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies, discouraging excessive elevator use, purchasing a curtain for the loading dock, and more.”
Earthlust also anticipates working with SusCom, Good Food, Environmental Justice, and the Green Advisors “to improve labeling and accessibility of recycling and composting receptacles and awareness of what happens to things that we throw into each bin,” Robertson said.
Cortes says, “Earthlust’s big challenge for the new year will be keeping up the great momentum we have going, especially considering how productive the semester we just came off of was.”


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Manchester transit fare project builds momentum for U.K. contactless payments
In seeking to establish a London-style Oyster card system in its city, Manchester officially launched its contactless payments capabilities on the Metrolink Tram on Monday.
Transport for Greater Manchester has worked with Visa to deliver "Get Me There" contactless technology on debit or credit cards, allowing the occasional Metrolink traveler to more easily make payments when using the trains. Regular riders obtain discounts through the use of TGM's "anytime" travel cards.
Manchester is advancing its contactless payment transportation network to become part of the U.K.'s growing trend of new payments technology for travel.
Visa research indicates that nearly half of U.K. commuters consider contactless payments as the single most significant improvement to their overall public transportation experience. In that regard, TGM officials see the rollout as a way to get commuters more comfortable using the system, especially since Visa also reported that public transport use could increase by 27% if payment was made easier.
"People now expect to pay as swiftly and seamlessly for travel as they do for any other purchase, so bringing contactless to Metrolink is a huge step forward for the city, and a boost to customer experience in on the U.K.'s largest tram network," Stephen Rhodes, customer director at TGM, said in a Monday press release.
Commuters also noted that the "touch and go" card linked to an app provided convenience, with 24% saying it provided the ability to track spending, while 45% found the reduced time waiting to purchase tickets and 59% cited it alleviating the need for carrying cash as key benefits.
"The U.K. continues to lead the way when it comes to contactless payment systems on public transport," Steven Orelowitz, head of transit, Europe for Visa, said in the press release. "By adopting a contactless system that enables customers to simply turn up and travel without having to work out which ticket they need, Manchester has put itself up there with some of the most forward-thinking global cities when it comes to ensuring that locals and visitors can move around with ease."
With much of the attention on London and Manchester as cities that have transformed into cashless hubs, the city of Bristol in the U.K., a leading university city in the country, has nearly 75% of its transactions taking place with contactless technology, according to data from Paymentsense.
The advancement of contactless payment on Manchester's Metrolink system, however, will add to the growing numbers of consumers choosing to tap and go with a card in the U.K.
Other data supporting this trend includes research from UK Finance that indicates 725 million contactless card transactions took place in the U.K. in April of 2019, a 22.4% increase over the 592 million in the same month a year earlier. The data included both U.K.-issued cards and cards issued overseas.
The total value of contactless transactions was £6.8 billion in April 2019, a 22.1% increase from £5.6 billion in the same month a year earlier.
Mastercard reported late last year that the transit companies benefit from reducing the costs of collecting fares at the stations deploying contactless technology in the U.K.
In a case study of Transport for London's Oyster contactless card network for trains, buses and the Underground Tube, Mastercard found that the cost of collecting fares dropped from about 14% to 9% by 2015 alone, while revenue rose from 86% to 91%.
In other parts of Europe, Visa reported late last year that Poland was going to be the first country in the world to have 100% of its checkout terminals capable of accepting contactless payments.
Visa also cited Singapore as one its largest cities for contactless payment acceptance, with more than 40,000 contactless acceptance points added for the Land Transport Authority of Singapore's bus and train network.


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26 October 2021
We have spent the past few weeks travelling around south east Queensland filming the draft of KBL Thoroughbreds, who are sending a quality group of well educated 2 year olds to the Magic Millions 2YO's In Training Sale.
With state borders still shut until late December, Kandice Pritchard from KBL Thoroughbreds wanted to showcase her draft to potential purchasers with extra video content to help them with the buying choices.
We created videos of the 2 year olds at their home training tracks under saddle and also parade videos. In addition, we created this promotional piece for them to use on social media to promote themselves at the sale.


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Pasadena Water and Power officially announced a new e-bike rebate pilot program that will launch July 1 with rebates of as much as $1,000.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles defines e-bikes as “a bicycle fully equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts.”
The new pilot rebates will apply to new Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes with a limit of two per PWP residential electric service account. Scooters, mopeds, segways and e-bike conversion kits will not qualify.
The rebate amounts will range from $500 to $1,000 for e-bikes purchased at retailers within the City. Further details about the program, including how to apply, will be announced online at PWPweb.com in late June.
- $500 for the purchase of a new qualifying electric bicycle from a bike shop located in the City of Pasadena.
- $250 bonus for the purchase of a qualifying new e-cargo bike or adaptive e-bike from a bike shop located in the City of Pasadena.
- Additional $250 bonus is available if the customer is enrolled in PWP’s income-qualified bill assistance program.
The pilot program joins a robust suite of PWP rebates focused on sustainable energy, electrification and helping customers save on their utility bill. For more information on PWP rebates, including electric vehicle rebates and incentives for energy efficient appliances, visit PWPweb.com/SaveMoney.


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BAJA NORTE, Mexico (BRAIN)—Preparations are underway for the first-ever mountain bike stage race in the mountains and deserts of Baja California.
LAKE FOREST, CA (BRAIN)—GT Bicycles is launching a new BMX team program dubbed the Project, made up of 10 riders from around the world who were selected through an online contest held on the Vital BMX Web site.
LAGUNA HILLS, CA (BRAIN)—As the popularity of triathlons grows in the United States so do sales of bike travel cases that allow athletes to fly to faraway races, according to a story in Thursday’s New York Times.
LOS ANGELES, CA (BRAIN)—A group of 25 volunteers from Cannondale, Mike’s Bikes, Helen’s Cycles and “Bike Tech” recently dedicated themselves to this year’s AIDS/LifeCycle.
PACOIMA, CA (BRAIN)—Kemco Group International has partnered with Kunshan Giant Light Metal Technology to produce Vuelta-branded wheels.
Move over Cannondale and Trek, President Bush could be riding a new brand in the next Tour de Crawford. Seems Dubya picked up a shiny new Cult Black Gold XTR carbon hardtail mountain bike while visiting Slovenia earlier this week.
"Unfortunately, Tuesday's (Lakers) crowd of power players, millionaires, industry frauds, celebrities and trophy girlfriends were afraid to stand because they thought the change in atmospheric pressure would affect the Botox in their cheeks."
NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia (BRAIN)—Ryders Eyewear has a new marketing coordinator.
Jenya Draganov brings an outdoor industry background and fresh ideas to the value-priced eyewear manufacturer, as well as a love for climbing, kayaking, backcountry skiing, surfing and Latin American culture.
WATERLOO, WI (BRAIN)—The Midwest has been getting hammered with recent flooding and many Trek employees are still on flood watch.
PACOIMA, CA (BRAIN)—FMF Racing has decided not to renew its five-year distribution agreement with Kemco, according to Kemco vice president Tom Curran.
Curran said FMF represented less than 20 percent of Kemco’s overall business.
CHICAGO, IL (BRAIN)—“If the top candidate for the key leadership position in the world is willing to meet with people from our industry, you don’t say 'sorry' that I’m on vacation,” said Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong.
BOULDER, CO (BRAIN)—Selling Cycling 2008 consists of 28 three-to-five-minute training modules, available either on DVD or online.
There is also online Product Category training for 32 different bike and accessory categories, and over 4,000 individual product SKUs from 75 top brands.
PHILADELPHIA, PA—Fuji Bikes is working with Jinxed Philadelphia and R.E. Load Baggage to produce the Rolling Canvas Art Collective in an effort to highlight the use of bicycles as a means of artistic expression.
ASHLAND, OR (BRAIN)—United Bicycle Parts has expanded its product offerings with three new lines—Genius, Orange and Grammo.
WESTPORT, CT (BRAIN)—Cannondale Bicycle Corporation and Kind Shock Hi Tech have reached an agreement in a trademark challenge regarding Kind Shock’s use of the name Dcannon for its house brand in the U.S. market.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO (BRAIN)—Moots Cycles has named Rob Mitchell president. Mitchell takes over for Chris Miller, who remains as owner and chairman of the board.
Editorial cartoon in the Wichita Eagle Newspaper, Wichita, KS—a city of 300,000 with no bike lanes.
CHICAGO, IL (BRAIN)—Hundreds of e-mails and phone calls went to retailers and suppliers Monday urging them to come to Chicago Thursday night to attend a fundraising event for Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN)—Stock values for Taiwan’s two leading bicycle makers, Giant and Merida, are going up as investors bet that rising oil prices will boost bicycle demand.
NEW YORK, NY (BRAIN)—Rodale has promoted Loren Mooney to editor-in-chief of Bicycling magazine, effective September 2. She will take over for Steve Madden, who was promoted to vice president, editorial director of Rodale International.


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Spectacular Entertainment on Saudi National Day Across Dubai
Dubai celebrates Saudi National Day with spectacular entertainment, fun-filled activities, and unbeatable offers.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 19 September 2022: Dubai’s residents and visitors are in for a real treat this year with celebrations for Saudi National Day taking place across the city from 23 to 26 September.
With the close ties between the UAE and KSA, and with so many Saudi nationals living in and visiting Dubai, the city will host an extensive programme of special celebrations for the Kingdom and its people, including spectacular concerts and entertainment, unbeatable retail promotions, fun-filled activities, and amazing hotel deals.
Arabic music sensations Assala Nasri, Fouad Abdelwahed and Aseel Hameem will be taking centre stage to honour Saudi National Day with an upbeat showcase featuring all of their chart-topping tunes on 24 September at Coca-Cola Arena. Tickets are available online on dubai.platinumlist.net, with ticket prices starting from AED 195. Doors will open at 8.15 PM, with the show beginning at 9 PM.
As part of the Saudi National Day celebrations across the city, top retail brands throughout Dubai’s malls will offer from 25 per cent up to 75 per cent off across fashion clothing, accessories, footwear, cosmetics, beauty and perfumes, optics, home and outdoor furnishings, electronics, pharmacies, as well as department stores and hypermarkets.
Shoppers can also take advantage of 40 percent off selected items at Arabian Oud parfums until 30 September while Jacky’s Electronics will give out free gift vouchers of up to AED 1000 on all purchases from 20 to 25 September.
In honour of the 92nd Saudi National Day, shoppers should head over to City Walk for special retail deals including 15 percent sale on all products at Lasoul and 23 per cent off on all services at Sisters Beauty Lounge from 23 to 25 September.
Over the same period, foodies can take advantage of exclusive food offers at La Mer including 20 per cent off at Pistachio ice cream at the Inventing Room and a 20 percent sale on all menu items at Selfietime Café.
Visit The Beach for more enticing gastronomy offers including a special menu starting from AED 62 at Buffalo Wild Wings, a special Saudi National Day sushi platter priced AED 92 at Sushi Art, and an all-Italiana brunch at Eataly at Pavilion.
Take advantage of various offers at Bluewaters on 23 September including 10 percent off on bicycles and 25 percent off on clothing and accessories at Ciclista, as well as 23 per cent off on fashion items at Obrabo.
The Outlet Village will celebrate Saudi National Day with live music and will surprise its visitors with free giveaways on 23 September.
Head to The Track at Meydan Golf for the Saudi National Day Run, an exhilarating night run on 23 September from 8 PM. Adults over 16 can either walk or jog distances of 10 km, 5 km or 3 km, while children up to the age of 15 can dash across the 1 km route. Tickets are available online at PremierOnline, priced at AED 63 for 1 km Juniors and AED 78.75 for 3 km, 5 km and 10 km Adults.
Celebrate this Saudi National Day with full fervour and festivities for the entire clan at Aventura – Dubai’s largest zipline park – from 23 to 25 September. The park will be open for visitors from 5 PM to 12 AM and will offer its single circuit experience for only AED 75 on bookings made online on www.aventuraparks.com using the special promo code: KSA2022 at checkout.
Thrilling stunts, freestyle motocross and record-breaking tricks will all be on display at the Crusty Demons World Domination Show on 23 September at Coca-Cola Arena. Tickets are available online at coca-cola-arena.com, with ticket prices starting from AED 150. Show starts at 8 PM.
Running until 30 September, Saudi citizens can indulge in family-friendly fun at Dubai Dolphinarium with 25 per cent off VIP seat tickets to watch the amazing Dolphin & Seal Show beginning at 11 AM, 2 PM, and 6 PM daily (except on Tuesdays). This exclusive deal will be valid only on counter purchases or bookings made online on www.dubaidolphinarium.ae upon entering the promo code: KSA92 at checkout. To avail the offer, ticket holders must present their National ID card (issued by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) at the Dubai Dolphinarium reception.
Take the kids for free to Dubai Parks and Resorts this Saudi National Day. From 23 September until 28 September, Saudi citizens get one free entry for a child with every paying adult when visiting Motiongate and Bollywood Parks. The offer is valid on 1 Day Single Park tickets or 1 Day 2 Park tickets. To avail the offer, tickets have to be purchased at the gate upon presenting a National ID card (issued by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).
Catch some traditional dancing with the Al-Harbia Band and Al Ayyala Band while shopping at City Centre Mirdif, City Walk, Nakheel Mall, Dubai Festival City Mall and Bluewaters on 23 September from 4 PM until 10 PM.
Dubai Festival City Mall will also be hosting a special IMAGINE fountain show to honour Saudi National Day on 23 September.
Visitors and residents can enjoy incredible sights of Dubai’s most famous landmarks illuminating the colours of the flag of Saudi Arabia, including Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Ain Dubai and the Dubai Frame lighting up green on 23 September at 7 PM. Dubai’s sky will also be lit up with amazing fireworks at The Beach at 9 PM.
Dubai, the much-loved destination for tourists travelling from the Kingdom, will warmly welcome families and visitors arriving by plane for this year’s Saudi National Day celebrations. Dubai International Airport will tag passenger bags with the country’s national flag and display welcome greetings on its screens.
Extending the Saudi National Day celebrations has been made simple with exclusive Stay 7, Pay 5 offers at Dubai's top hotels and resorts. Select a beachside retreat or a city getaway near top attractions, with incredible deals and offers to choose from, including:
Stay, Play, Vacay at Caesars Palace Dubai. Visitors are invited to stay longer and enjoy two additional free nights when booking for five nights at this hotel on Bluewaters Island. Children can discover all the fun at the Empire Kid's Club with daily activities and welcome surprises.
Families can enjoy the pristine 500-metre private beach and five temperature-controlled infinity pools. And there is more fun to be had with special family offers across Bluewaters Island.
Spend a dream staycation this Saudi National Day at one of Dubai's most iconic resorts, Atlantis The Palm Hotel & Resort. Book a stay in the luxurious Imperial Club Rooms or Suites for seven nights and pay only for five nights. While staying at the hotel, conquer the world's largest waterpark, Aquaventure Waterpark, soak up the sun at the WHITE beach club or indulge in fine dining at any of its celebrity chef restaurants.
Located on the waterfront of the pristine Pearl Jumeirah, Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai will allow guests to enjoy the Arabian Gulf blue waters and uninterrupted panoramic views unlike anywhere else in the city. Guests planning longer stays can save more and take advantage of additional benefits including complimentary buffet breakfast, and access to the hotel's pool and beach.
With its beachside location, top restaurants, three pools and a luxurious spa, Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection will be the perfect destination for KSA National Day celebrations. Guests can avail two nights free when paying for five, including breakfast. Just steps away from the city's leading attractions and a short hop from Bluewaters Island, the resort is located in a prime position allowing guests to soak up everything Dubai has to offer – from catching a movie at Roxy Cinemas to taking in the sweeping views from Ain Dubai.
Or celebrate Saudi National Day at Lapita, Dubai Parks and Resorts, Autograph Collection with exclusive offers for a fun-filled family staycation! Book a Royal Suite from AED 3999 or a Villa from AED 4999 inclusive of breakfast and Q-Fast access, upon entering the special promo code THM. Alternatively, enjoy a full-board staycation in a Deluxe King Room for two persons from AED 790 when using the promo code D60. Bookings need to be made directly via the hotel website: www.lapitahotel.com.
Every year, Saudi National Day is celebrated on 23 September to commemorate the 1932 decree issued by King Abdulaziz Al Saud renaming the Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz to Saudi Arabia. Join in the celebrations as Dubai honours Saudi Arabia on its National Day and check out Visit Dubai for more information and @CelebrateDubai and @StyledbyDubai on social media channels.
About Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment
Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), is responsible for developing Dubai’s retail and festival sectors and supporting the positioning of Dubai as a world-class tourism destination with year-round family entertainment, shopping and events.


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What makes Internet of Things special? It’s not the things, according to a Microsoft official.
Defining the Internet of Things (IoT) can be difficult as it is a broad category that can include just about any object with sensors and an Internet connection. It is also sometimes referred to as the machine-to-machine (M2M) market, and by Cisco as the “Internet of Everything.”
But while many have focussed on adding sensors and Internet connections to ordinary objects, Microsoft has downplayed the connected objects in favour of the data they produce.
“The Internet of Things is a great buzzword,” Lee Hickin, Internet of Things group lead at Microsoft Australia, said at a media lunch Wednesday.
“It defines a great move and shift in the IT industry today and across manufacturing and all these areas, but it only really adds any value to a business ... when you take the value and use the data.”
“Beyond that, it’s just a great tinkerer’s dream.”
Others in the tech world have taken a more things-focussed view of the Internet of Things.
“It’s a massive blurring of the edges where the Internet industry is wondering what is possible if anything is connected to the Internet,” Phil Morle, CEO of the tech startup incubator Pollenizer, said in a recent and separate interview.
“This is the next platform wave after PCs and mobile. Now it’s going to be stuff.”
The Internet of Things need not be limited to objects that didn’t used to be connected, according to the Microsoft definition.
Illustrating the breadth of this term, the company presented an “Internet of Things” case study about how Dental Corporation, part of BUPA, integrated data from invoice systems across many different dental practices and gained insights. Dental Corporation has yet to connect any actual medical devices to the Internet, in part due to privacy concerns about public health data.
“It’s not just about the things,” stressed Hickin. “The real transformative business value of the Internet of Things approach is going to be using that data.”
Without the things, the definition begins to sounds a lot like big data, and this was a point that the Microsoft official acknowledged.
"Big data ... fundamentally underpins the value strategy of doing anything in the Internet of Things because the Internet of Things is about getting lots of data and understanding it.”
Telsyte analyst Foad Fadaghi agreed the Internet of Things concept builds off of big data.
“It is the same thing. It is the evolution of the same thing. It is literally the same thing … It’s the same vendors. It’s the same partners and integrators.”
In a report commissioned by Microsoft, Telsyte found that Internet-connected things like the Nest thermostat are much less important to businesses than the insights gained from data.
“At the end of the day, for businesses those things are very much commodities,” said Fadaghi. “Those things are just part of the fabric of the Internet of Things. They’re not where the value is contained.”
“The surveys showed that the value is contained in the ability to make better decisions.”
The report found that two-thirds of Australian organisations that have deployed and measured IoT solutions have achieved 28 per cent cost reductions in their day-to-day operations.
However, only 26 per cent of the more than 300 Australian organisations surveyed said they have deployed Internet of Things solutions, and nearly half said they had no immediate plans to deploy.
Barriers to adoption include technology challenges, cost, security and lack of in-house skills, the report said.
Telsyte surveyed 306 Australian business decision makers, spread evenly across IT, C-level and business management roles. Telsyte looked across all major industries and spoke with organisations that had at least 20 employees, said Fadaghi.


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Editorial: What plastic bag ban? California stores still doling out disposable sacks
Didn’t we ban single-use plastic shopping bags in California? Yes — in 2014, though the law didn’t take effect until two years later because the plastic industry tried to overturn it on the 2016 ballot.
But you can hardly tell from a trip to the grocery store, where there are still plenty of plastic bags at the checkout, albeit thicker versions that are supposedly better for the environment. (Spoiler alert: They are not.)
The law banning their flimsier cousins required sturdier replacement bags be offered for a fee, reusable up to 125 times and “recyclable in the state.” They would be available for shoppers who forgot to bring their own bags or who need a plastic bag that could be reused many times and would not end up in the waste stream.
But over the last few years the rules haven’t been enforced and distribution of these thicker bags at grocery and other retail stores has proliferated. Also they are generally not being recycled — in the state or anywhere else. “These bags that were intended to be a true reusable bag, a low-cost reuse option, have become de facto single-use bags,” said Mark Murray of Californians Against Waste, one of the organizations leading the fight against disposable plastic packaging.
So much for California’s plastic bag ban. It seems we have simply replaced one environmental menace with another.
The “chasing arrows” symbol on a plastic bag, container or bottle doesn’t mean it actually can be recycled. It’s time to change that so consumers know exactly what they are buying.
That’s why it’s very good news that Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta is cracking down. On Wednesday, he sent letters to the seven leading manufacturers of plastic grocery bags sold in California asking them to provide proof within two weeks that their sacks are being recycled, as claimed, and to explain why some bags sport the “chasing arrows” symbol. (California lawmakers passed a law last year prohibiting the use of that symbol unless the product makers can prove they are actually being recycled.) We can’t wait to see their response.
Proof is going to be hard to come by since, as Bonta said, most, if not all, plastic bags probably aren’t being recycled. The majority of curbside recycling programs aren’t able to handle them and there isn’t a reliable in-state market for their materials, he said. Indeed, environmental groups estimate that less than 6% of all single-use plastic in the United States is recycled.
Does this signal the end of the ubiquitous plastic shopping bag in California, eight years after they were outlawed? We can only hope. It would be a fitting capper to a year in which the California Legislature passed a landmark measure, Senate Bill 54, that could reshape the U.S. plastic trash landscape over the next decade by prohibiting the in-state sale of all types of plastic packaging that can’t be recycled at high rates. Most plastic isn’t expected to meet that standard, so the law would have the effect of forcing the switch to compostable or truly reusable substitutes.
Recycling is not — and never was — a realistic solution to deal with the millions of tons of disposable plastic that is used every year. Like fossil fuels, the only long-term solution is to phase out all single-use plastic — certainly not allow a similarly environmentally bad substitute to take over.
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Whenever Facebook gives itself a facelift, a certain subset of (crazy) users get mad and threaten to quit. This lastest update, though, is probably the least irrational-rage-inducing one yet, mostly because it’s so subtle you might not even notice it.
Facebook described the overhaul in a blog post, noting, “You may recall that last year we experimented with a complete redesign of News Feed for desktop and mobile. People who tested it told us that they liked the bigger photos and images, but found it more difficult to navigate Facebook overall. The updated design has the best of both worlds: it keeps the layout and navigation people liked, but offers bigger images and photos, as well as a new font. The current design on mobile remains the same.
Here’s why this is the least controversial Facebook update ever:
It looks better
The changes here are visual, and they privilege images in a way that makes the page look less cluttered and more appealing. Attachments will get more space, and shared photos will come up full-size. Multiple shared photos will be presented in a collage format. In addition to featuring images more prominently, the fonts have changed. Mac users get Helvetica, and PC users get Arial. And the left-hand column has been simplified, so there’s no more long lists of apps you barely ever use.
It has the same functionality
This isn’t necessarily a boon. Even though Newsfeed keeps tweaking its algorithm to improve, it’s still a flawed surfacing tool, and it buries good posts. But at least they didn’t mess it up any further, right?
Facebook reassured marketers and advertisers that this change doesn’t affect how their ads appear on the site.
Facebook’s mobile app is now influencing desktop (not the other way around)
This change makes the desktop version look more like the mobile version, and that’s a good thing. It’s too bad they didn’t just release a version of Paper for desktop, because Paper is even prettier.
We had a huge heads-up
This makeover has been in the works since March 2013, so it shouldn’t be a surprise. Facebook has taken its time with the rollout to make sure they made something users liked, which is why what it unveiled today is a less radical redesign than it initially planned. “Over the last year we have been taking time and listening to what people think about the redesign,” product manager Greg Marra told TechCrunch. He described “lots of interviews with users to understand what parts were working and what parts were not. Some changes were getting in the way of using Facebook.”
So, basically, this is a boring update. Don’t be that guy who creates a “Facebook sucks now I’m quitting unless they change the design back” page.
H/T TechCrunch | Illustration by Jason Reed


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- Burger King brought Chicken Fries back to its menu in 2014, after a college student in the company's Leadership Development Program noticed people talking about the beloved menu item on social media.
- Chicken Fries were a huge hit and became a permanent menu item. It also sparked a major shift in Burger King's strategy, according to José Cil, the CEO of the chain's parent company, Restaurant Brands International.
- "I think the key lesson was that everything starts with understanding what the guest wants," Cil said.
- Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.
Chicken Fries sparked a revolution at Burger King.
In 2014, Burger King was in the early stages of a turnaround effort. The chain had undergone a massive restructuring effort after being acquired by investment firm 3G in 2010. The menu had been simplified to speed up service, and CEO Daniel Schwartz and President José Cil had been accelerating international expansion.
Then came the return of a product that would help spark a seismic shift in how Burger King evaluated its menu: Chicken Fries.
"One of probably the biggest moments in the business from a shift-in-mindset standpoint was when we re-launched the Chicken Fries," Cil, who was named CEO of Burger King's parent company, Restaurant Brands International, in January, recently told Business Insider.
"It was a great example of our team mining social media and connecting with our younger guests," Cil said. "We have a very loyal following of millions of guests, and they were demanding Chicken Fries."
Chicken Fries had been removed from the menu years before. But, customers were demanding their return on social media, with some going as far as creating a Change.org petition to bring back the menu item.
According to Cil, a college student in the company's Leadership Development Program was the one who made the case to bring back Chicken Fries. Apparently, the trainee noticed that social media data was dominated by people calling for Chicken Fries to come back.
"We did more research," Cil said. "We did some focus-group testing. We developed a product, innovated on the product, on the packaging as well, tested it, and saw that it was going to resonate well, and we launched it."
The Chicken Fries were an immediate hit and became a permanent menu item in 2015. Beyond simply driving sales, they helped Burger King and Restaurant Brands International develop a new menu strategy that has yielded items from Mac n' Cheetos to a $5 monthly coffee subscription deal.
"I think the key lesson was that everything starts with understanding what the guest wants," Cil said.
"When you get too internalized and too focused on strategies that don't pay attention to what the guests are looking for, you see companies and brands lose focus," he continued. "Our learning from that exercise was that we need to start everything we do thinking about the guest."


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Bridal fashion shopping event, Pure Sobo, will hold its next edition on January 10 at Thackers Banquets in Mumbai, to showcase a range of clothing and lifestyle products in the city for the winter wedding season.
Design duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla have collaborated with footwear brand Needledust to launch a collection of juttis for the winter wedding season and celebrate the brands’ one year collaborative anniversary.
It is hard to imagine a more venerable luxury brand than Cartier, which has a reputation for artisanal excellence second to none. Yet, the majority of its audience is that lodestone of modern marketing, millennials.
At the Vogue Fashion Festival in Paris on Friday, the British businesswoman revealed her future plans, with a focus on Victoria Beckham Beauty, and talked about her vision of feminism and her business approach.


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GM to start selling Spark EV in U.S. late next year
General Motors, which has failed to meet sales goals for the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, plans to begin selling an all-electric version of the Chevrolet Spark initially in California and Oregon in the third quarter of next year.
In addition to California and Oregon, GM said the Spark EV will be sold in Canada, Europe and Korea.
The electric model will start at less than $25,000 after a $7,500 U.S. tax credit, the company said yesterday in an e-mailed statement. Michael Albano, a GM spokesman, declined to provide an exact price.
The gasoline-powered Spark has a starting price of $12,245, according to Edmunds.com.
The Spark EV is part of GM’s effort to produce as many as 500,000 vehicles annually by 2017 with some form of battery propulsion. GM made the announcement about the electric Spark ahead of this week’s Los Angeles Auto Show.
The small car follows the Volt, which first went on sale in late 2010, and has failed to meet Chief Executive Officer Dan Akerson’s sales target of 60,000 globally this year, including 45,000 in the U.S. Akerson backed away from his goal in June, saying sales would probably total 35,000 to 40,000.
Through October, GM sold 19,309 Volts in the U.S. The Volt, which starts at $31,645 after the $7,500 tax credit, can travel more than 30 miles (48 kilometers) on electric power before being propelled by a gasoline engine.
GM has also said it plans to begin production of a Cadillac two-door, plug-in hybrid called the ELR based on Volt technology late next year.
The plug-in Spark EV, which doesn’t have a gasoline engine to power it after its battery is depleted, will have an optional system that can recharge the battery to 80 percent of capacity within about 20 minutes, Detroit-based GM said.
Using a dedicated 240-volt outlet, the car recharges in fewer than seven hours, the company said.
The automaker hasn’t stated a range for the Spark EV beyond saying it expects the model to have “among the best EV battery range in its segment.”
Rebecca Lindland, an industry analyst with IHS Automotive, test-drove a Spark EV and said her car had an estimated range of 55 to 75 miles.
“That was not hyper-mile usage so I’m thinking they will push for the 100-mile-range mark,” she said in an e-mail.
Nissan Motor’s all-electric Leaf, which starts at $35,200 before the $7,500 tax credit, averages 73 miles per charge.
GM began selling the gasoline-only Spark in the U.S. this year and has reported 8,447 sales through October.
Next year, GM plans to integrate the Apple iPhone’s Siri in the Spark and Chevrolet Sonic LTZ and RS models to perform a number of voice-activated tasks, the automaker said in a separate statement.


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New fish and chips at the former Miss Fish site in Halesowen
A NEW fish and chips has opened in downtown Halesowen and is a hit with customers.
Fish & Chips Halesowen opened in the former Miss Fish unit on Hagley Road.
It belongs to Loukia Pantelis, whose sister ran Miss Fish.
Loukia, a 53-year-old married mom, worked at Miss Fish from 1983 to 1986, so she’s making a comeback in town!
She said: âI decided to take it back and have it completely renovated.
âI spent a lot of money to do it.
âIt has gone very well so far.
“We had a very good reception.”
The new fish and chips
Loukia said her husband Hermes Pantelis, who is a builder, renovated the store and her electrician-in-law Ari Aristotelous did all of the electricity.
She said the store, which opened last Thursday (April 22), employs six part-time workers and is open from 11:45 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Loukia said she plans to run a 50% off promotion for two days in a few weeks.
The fish and chips has a Facebook site.
I love local businesses
We are launching our Love Local Business campaign to encourage people to spend their money locally as they emerge from months of restrictions and closures.
Love Local Business is a follow-up to the successful campaign of the same name we ran in the News Group last summer and over Christmas.
The aim is to promote all the fantastic traders we have in our cities and to urge our readers to give them their custom at this key time in the struggle to overcome the financial implications of the pandemic.
As a member of the Newsquest Publishing Group, the Halesowen & Dudley News reaches a huge percentage of the local population through our well-established regional brands, including print publications, record online audiences and social media.
Any business wishing to be featured in the campaign, call 01905 742372 or email [email protected]


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Facebook today launches it’s first virtual reality app dubbed as Facebook 360, as the name suggests the app will provide an immersive and easier way to discover 360 photos and videos.
The app is compatible with Samsung Gear VR, powered by Oculus and to download this new 360 app from Facebook head over to Oculus app and search for Facebook 360, or visit the Oculus site to get started.
At launch, the app will feature four feeds:
- Explore: Discover some of the most interesting and popular 360 content on Facebook from media companies, organizations and individual creators.
- Following: Experience 360 content that your friends have posted on Facebook as well as 360 content from Pages and people you follow.
- Saved: Find all the 360 content you’ve saved from News Feed ready for you to enjoy at a more convenient time.
- Timeline: Relive your memories in a new way through your own 360 photo and video uploads.
Moreover you can also react to 360 photos and videos and can share them on Facebook, with more social features coming soon.


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07 July, 2014
Will Uber Serve Customers With Disabilities? – Next City
Will Uber Serve Customers With Disabilities? – Next City: The ADA requires vehicles-for-hire to offer “reasonable accommodations” for wheelchair users, but “generally that phrase has meant nothing,” says Sandra Rosenbloom, an urban planning professor at the University of Texas-Austin and a transportation expert at the Urban Institute. And though wheelchair-accessible vehicles are rare both in the traditional taxi system and through rideshare services, traditional taxi companies are required in many cities to make some of their vehicles wheelchair-accessible. Companies like Uber and Lyft have no such obligation.


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Small travel agencies have long complained that pricing agreements between large hotel chains and the OTAs limit how they can price rooms, and it looks like someone is finally listening.
The Office of Fair Trading has accused Expedia, Booking.com and InterContinental Hotels Group – operator of the Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza brands – of infringing competition law by signing deals that limit the discounts offered to consumers on rooms.
The OFT began an investigation into a handful of major hotel and booking firms in September 2010 following a complaint from a small online travel agent.
Its preliminary findings, presented to Expedia, Booking.com and IHG in a statement of objections, allege that the three firms entered into arrangements that violated competition rules between October 2007 and September 2010 by restricting other travel agents’ ability to discount the price of room-only hotel accommodation.
When hotels sell directly to consumers they are free to set out their own retail prices. But the OFT alleges that, even when selling through the likes of Expedia and Booking.com, some hotels have been dictating the prices those agents should charge. It said the alleged infringements were anti-competitive because they limited price competition between online travel agents, and make it harder for smaller agents to compete.
Clive Maxwell, OFT chief executive, said: “We want people to benefit fully from being able to shop around online and get a better deal from discounters that are prepared to share their commission with customers.
“The OFT’s provisional view is that Booking.com, Expedia and IHG have infringed competition law. However, these are the OFT’s provisional findings only. All parties will now have a full opportunity to respond to our statement of objections before we decide whether competition law has in fact been infringed.”
The OFT warned that while it only investigated “a small number of major companies, with a view to achieving a swift and effective outcome”, its investigation is likely to have wider implications as the alleged practices are potentially widespread in the industry. UK hotel room revenue was worth just over £10bn in 2010.
In a statement Expedia said: “The statement of objections does not establish that any laws have in fact been broken. Expedia will now review the statement and provide its response to the OFT in due course. For obvious reasons, Expedia is unable to comment further at this stage.”
Mark Datta, managing director of travel agent Blink Booking, said: “We’ve long believed the big online travel agents have been guilty of denying consumers the best prices, and that hotels’ hands are tied by price parity agreements.
“The online travel market may appear to offer plenty of choice and competition, but the reality is that there are lots of different shop windows selling the same rooms at the same prices – with those prices agreed through parity deals between the big groups and the big online travel agencies.”
“Smaller internet travel agents have long wanted to offer lower prices to customers by sacrificing some of the margin on the prices we buy rooms at from the hotel groups. However, there is pressure to maintain pricing to protect the interests of a few big travel groups, at the expense of the traveller.”
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Hyundai Creta 2018 bookings begins. Autocar India reports that Hyundai Creta facelift can be booked at company dealerships for an amount of Rs 25,000. Hyundai is expected to launch the 2018 Creta facelift sometime in the month of June this year.
Story first published: Thursday, May 3, 2018, 11:13 [IST]


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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Google Inc would pay Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc a whopping $2.5 billion if it decided to walk away from its proposed $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola, a source close to the situation said.
The reverse break-up fee represents 20 percent of the total size of the deal, announced Monday.
On the other side, if Motorola were to decide not to go through with the deal, it would have to pay Google a $375 million break-up fee, the source said. That represents 3 percent of the deal valuation of $12.5 billion.
Google said on Monday it would buy phone hardware maker Motorola Mobility to bolster adoption of its Android mobile software and compete with smartphone rival Apple Inc.
In its biggest deal to date, Google said it would pay $40 per share in cash, a 63 percent premium to Motorola Mobility’s Friday closing price on the New York Stock Exchange.
Lazard advised Google on the deal, while Motorola used Centerview Partners and Frank Quattrone’s Qatalyst Partners, sources told Reuters.
Reporting by Nadia Damouni, editing by Gerald E. McCormick


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Since its inception in 2020, bitcoin has become a phenomenon that has moved many financial professionals and people to test the idea and potential of this new technology. But not as well identified within the mainstream media, this cryptocurrency can be a fixture in entire world economies and currency exchange marketplaces. With recent controversies, the global world may be forced to change its attitude towards this new currency, but perhaps for the better.
The basic idea behind bitcoin is that we now have computers which are tasked with maintaining a virtual ledger called the “blockchain” that records transactions of the currency. Dealings are registered in blocks as the program functions to make sure there is absolutely no double spending or dual access. After the ledger is tampered with, it can end up damaging the worthiness of a single currency unit, that may eliminate the global economy then.
Most traditional money services such as banking are more worried about securing their accounts and controlling cash transactions and/or fraud. This has led to banks’ closure of accounts which they sense may have been useful for illegitimate reasons. But bitcoin differs because it works like a universal currency, delivering economic services in a real way that’s much more transparent and safe.
When it comes to money, the biggest risk is needless to say the increased loss of the money. For this reason people and companies are prepared to hold onto the cash as an investment decision. But with Read Webpage of bitcoin, there is a greater financial risk than ever before. Without physical assets, the worthiness of the money is based on how many models from the currency exist completely.
With https://www.dwebguide.com knowing of the monetary value of each unit, it really is nearly impossible to generate large amounts of money. Because of this, the value of the bitcoin would need to fluctuate at an extremely high rate, which would drive the price of bitcoin in to the stratosphere.
One reason why individuals and companies aren’t currently considering entering the marketplace is due to the huge amount of initial funds required to begin to attempt to penetrate the marketplace. Although Decentralized Web like banks have got a tremendous amount of capital to get, the potential for reduction due to poor management will be possibly massive. Also, many could not be certain that this new method of generating cash will continue steadily to operate at the near future.
Some cyber security experts forecast that banks will simply be hacked, which may mean the increased loss of all their clients’ funds. Other professionals think that a failure of the kind or kind would destabilize the banking system worldwide, which could result in a large economic surprise that would most likely result in an internationally depression.
At this point, it is difficult to produce a decision on if the global economic recession might lead to the collapse of this currency, or if it could sustain itself through this event. Even though price of inflation will decrease as more products from the money are manufactured certainly, it is improbable that there will be a fast increase in the amount of units of the currency. Addititionally there is learn more that if the currency continues to grow, then the nationwide authorities of a country could begin issuing even more digital currency.
One might also see that hyperinflation could occur if the value of the currency were to jump so much that the government loses control on the distribution of the units from the currency. Also, if it is feasible for this type of situation to occur even, it really is quite improbable to occur. Many people assume that the price tag on bitcoin will crash so much that it’ll find yourself devaluing the currency, which may take place earlier than later rather.
After years of study and development, this new currency could have found a whole new economy rendering it unique from the others. If you’re skeptical of the hype about this new currency, you should think about performing some extensive study on it to find out what others have to say. In the current climate, the proper sort of information might have a big impact on your decision making processes.
The simple fact is that it is very unlikely that this currency will ever disappear from the physical world. As long as people are ready to use it to transact and deal, and if government authorities maintain their hands off, it’ll be for quite some time around.


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Things are getting worse for malls across America. So much worse that their owners are walking away early from struggling properties, a trend that has mortgage bond investors bracing for losses.
Mall operators, eyeing defaults caused or made more likely by shuttered stores such as Sears Holdings Corp., are handing over their keys to lenders. That’s forcing loan-servicing companies to either take a shot at running the properties or sell them cheap. And if they’re unable to salvage the debt payments, investors in commercial mortgage-backed securities will take a hit.
The number of mall loans issued since the financial crisis identified as “highest risk” has almost tripled to 29 this year, according to Wells Fargo & Co.
Last month, Washington Prime Group, a REIT, said it gave up on two malls in Kansas whose loans had either defaulted or were headed for default, according to Deutsche Bank AG. And this month, Pennsylvania REIT announced it fled a mall in Wilkes Barre that had a loan headed for default, and it may abandon the Valley View Mall in La Crosse, Wisconsin, for the same reason.
“Experienced borrowers will act in their economic interest and will turn in the keys to malls that don’t merit further investment. They don’t want to service the loan anymore,” Edward Reardon, head of CMBS research at Deutsche Bank, said in a phone interview. “We think the number of malls that don’t merit investment will expand.”
This is happening because malls are losing anchor stores and as a result would have to significantly cut rents for existing occupants, Reardon said, noting that mall owners fleeing their properties early is a “relatively new phenomenon.”
That may mean trouble ahead for investors. While the delinquency rate in the CMBS market is now at post-crisis lows, the mall-related pain may not show up for a couple years, according to analysts. That’s because the securities with the highest exposure have loans that won’t mature until 2021 or later.
While many mall loans since the financial crisis got scooped up into CMBS and several of those debts are now at risk, very few are being bundled into new securities anymore because of the concerns about defaults.
So-called co-tenancy clauses for smaller mall tenants have helped hasten the trend. While each clause is different, they generally say that if the mall doesn’t have a certain number of anchors, the tenant can terminate its lease. For instance, as Sears closed stores following its bankruptcy, the contracts allowed others to leave.
That doesn’t mean these beleaguered malls are dead. The door is still open for investors to swoop in and snatch them up on the cheap.
Take the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills, a mall 15 miles northeast of its namesake city. The mall’s mortgage, which pegged the center’s value at $190 million in 2006, was packaged into a CMBS pool. It eventually fell into default, with the borrower failing to pay more than $100 million in loan principal, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Great Neck, New York-based Namdar Realty Group and Mason Asset Management bought the property for $11.35 million earlier this year. The mall remains open.
It’s an extreme example that illustrates why the CMBS market is reticent about buying up mall loans, even as many shopping centers across the country are performing well.
“We talk about these malls all day long,” said Ben Easterlin, head of commercial lending at Atlanta-based Angel Oak Companies. “We have not seen any of these malls in a CMBS lately and don’t expect to, frankly.”
But his firm is open to financing them if the numbers make sense. Easterlin said he’s “kickin’ the tires” on lower-grade shopping centers away from major metro areas, ones that are still solid, well-positioned properties, but won’t find an outlet in the CMBS world in part because “it’s easier to value a mall in L.A. than it is in Sheboygan.”
Pacific Retail Capital Partners, an investment firm that specializes in buying and operating malls near major metro areas with strong sales figures, manages more than $1 billion of retail assets. But this year it has seized on the increasing number of mall defaults by getting into the business of special servicing, or managing distressed properties on behalf of mortgage bondholders.
A default doesn’t necessarily mean a mall lacks merit, said Steve Plenge, managing principal of Pacific Retail — it could’ve just been mismanaged. So far, Plenge’s firm has taken over the reins of at least two shopping centers that have been returned to lenders after defaults, and he expects the number to grow.
“We think this sector, the servicing business, will get bigger for us,” Plenge said. “There will be more defaults, more foreclosures.”


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HISBE was founded by Ruth Anslow, Amy Anslow and Jack Simmonds. The self-described supermarket rebels opened their first store in 2013. Intent on making real change in the supermarket industry they started with a 3,000 square foot shop.
Now with a crowdfunding campaign launched in early February they intend to open a second location. With 20 days left on their campaign they have managed to reach their £450,000 goal securing the funds needed for a new site.
Due to Hove’s expensive business rates and rents they have chosen Worthing for their second shop. After such a successful campaign the shop could be open in April. The Worthing store is part of HISBE’s vision for a chain of 5–10 stores across Sussex by 2025.
In order to raise the funds required HISBE used the Triodos Bank crowdfunding platform.
Who is HISBE?
As a not-for-profit community interest company HISBE doesn’t give it’s profits to shareholders. Instead it invests the money back into the business. Paying its employees a living wage. They also invest locally, 58p of every £1 they spend is spent in Sussex.
Here is Ruth Anslow’s Ted talk about how they got started:


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Beyond Meat Plans To Debut Plant-Based Bacon
Much loved plant-based meat brand Beyond Meat has announced that bacon will soon be added to its popular range.
According to Bloomberg, there is no launch date for the plant-based bacon yet. That said, conversations with potential buyers are already underway.
Beyond Bacon will join an expanding range from Beyond Meat, which now includes burger patties, sausages, beef crumble and ground beef.
The brand’s expansion comes in the wake of massive success with its existing products.
While launches have been well received in chains such as A&W, Tim Hortons, and Carl’s Jr, Beyond Meat shares are currently sitting at $215.
Have you tried any of Beyond Meat’s products? Let us know in the comments below.


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Family, friends and restoration shop surprise Richard McBride at Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals
Registry-keeper Jeff Helms confirms the car’s validity and has it undergoing restoration
This is the third car in a 30-day countdown to Barrett-Jackson’s annual Scottsdale collector car auction
You’d be hard pressed to find a cleaner Chevelle than this one, even at SEMA
This is the 26th in a 30-day countdown to Barrett-Jackson’s annual Las Vegas collector car auction
This is the first car in a 10-day countdown to Barrett-Jackson’s annual Northeast auction
The price tag of a completely restored 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 hardtop can range from $120,000 to $166,000, but Dream Giveaway may let one go for $3.
This is the 30th vehicle in the 30-day Countdown to Barrett-Jackson’s 47th annual Scottsdale auction.
H&H Classics reports that its recent Live Auction Online produced more than £700,000 ($863,325) in sales with a more than 70 percent sell-through rate. The top sale of the online event was a 1934 Alvis Speed 20 SB Vanden Plas 2-door saloon, one of only 8 known to still survive, for £103,500 ($127,650). H&H Classics […]
Even as many businesses and sports events are being allowed to re-open across the country, automotive events that draw large crowds continue to be cancelled. The latest include the annual AACA Eastern Fall Meet at Hershey, Pennsylvania, and the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance. “Please note: As of 5/28/2020, the Eastern Fall Meet has been […]


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Recently one of my readers asked me how I felt about my prediction a year ago that dedicated e-readers were doomed to decline. This was before the Pew Internet & American Life Project reported that "The percent of U.S. adults with an e-book reader doubled from 6% to 12% between November 2010 and May 2011," while "roughly the same percentage" of people were using tablets in May 2011 as had been using them in November 2010. You know what? I still feel good about my prediction.
You see, if you take a closer look at the Pew report, E-reader Ownership Doubles in Six Months (PDF Link) you'll see that tablets still gained 3% more owners. True, the growth rate for tablets has slowed down some and e-book readers appear to be growing faster, but has it really.
You see I'm also on record as saying that the Android Linux-powered e-readers were quickly evolving into tablets. Like what tablets you ask? Try the Amazon Kindle and the Barnes & Noble's Nook Color: they're both powered by Android
The Nook Color is already an Android tablet. It runs Android 2.2. It also has a small, but growing number of Android applications including Fandango, Evernote and Seesmic and, a personal favorite of mine for reading news Pulse News.
While Amazon hasn't announced that there's a Kindle Tablet on its way, I know from numerous sources that one, or more, are on their way. Once I had a clearer idea what's what with it, I'll be reporting on what industry insiders have told me.
So, if anything, I'm surer than ever that the day of the dedicated e-reader is done-except at the bottom end-is done. Now, and then, why should companies bother to make devices that only let you read books when with Android it's so easy to make these devices into full-scale tablets? I can't think of a single good reason. Can you?


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The US-ASEAN Business Council in partnership with the Office of SMEs Promotion Thailand (OSMEP) and Thammasat Business School is proud to present a Webinar on “Enhancing Digital Skills for Thailand SMEs in COVID-19”.
What the participants will learn:
· The Thailand Government measures to support small business
· Adapting to the COVID-19 crisis
· The digital payment and cashless transactions as tools to reach more customers
· Future initiatives to maximize digital commerce
· Dr. Wimonkan Kosumas, Deputy Director-General Office of SMEs Promotion, Thailand;
· Ms. Natsicha Voraprukpisut, is a Head of Market Development for Thailand, located in Bangkok. Natsicha is focusing on developing new business, market segments for Mastercard through partnerships, digital and innovations. Joining Mastercard in 2013, Natsicha has brought her 15 years of experience in financial services and banking in many areas. She has lived, and now worked across Asia-Pacific countries including Japan.
· Ms. Boonthida Ratanavilaikul, is currently the Marketing Manager (Thailand and Indonesia) at FedEx.