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Fearful of COVID-19, Amazon workers ask for state probe of working conditions
Workers at Amazon’s Eastvale fulfillment center in Riverside County filed complaints with state and county regulators Wednesday, asking for investigations into what they say are dangerous working conditions that pose a threat to public health during the coronavirus pandemic.
The fulfillment center was the second in Southern California to report an employee testing positive for COVID-19 in late March. Workers were informed of a second case at the same facility shortly after. On April 2, The Times confirmed that a third worker at the facility, which Amazon refers to as LGB3 for short, had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and that cases had also occurred at five other Amazon facilities in the region.
For the record:
8:35 a.m. April 9, 2020An earlier version of this story stated the LGB3 fulfillment center was the first Amazon facility in Southern California to report an employee testing positive for COVID-19. It was the second.
But it wasn’t until Tuesday night that Amazon sent a mass text to all workers at the facility informing them of the third case — five days after it was reported in The Times. According to screenshots of the text obtained by The Times, the third worker last reported for a shift March 31.
That delay put the more than 3,000 workers at the facility at risk, the complaints argue, and is representative of what they characterize as Amazon’s slipshod response to the COVID-19 pandemic within its operations.
The filings, compiled by the Warehouse Worker Resource Center on behalf of LGB3 employees, allege that Amazon never stopped operations to clean and disinfect the parts of the facility where the infected workers had spent their shifts and that the company has failed to adapt its operations to promote social distancing.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that employers close off areas that people with COVID-19 have visited and “wait 24 hours or as long as practical before beginning cleaning and disinfection,” as a precaution to ensure that cleaning crews encounter minimal levels of active virus.
Despite Amazon’s official recommendation that employees wash their hands often, the complaints allege workers must walk several minutes each way to the restroom to access hand sanitizer or soap and water, and that hand sanitizer dispensers are often empty. A typical employee is allowed only 30 minutes total for bathroom breaks during a 10-hour shift, in addition to a 30-minute lunch break and two 15-minute breaks, though Amazon says it is relaxing those strict standards during the pandemic.
In a statement, Amazon spokesman Timothy Carter said accusations that workers were being put at risk are “simply not true.”
“We are supporting the individuals who are recovering,” he said. “We are following guidelines from health officials and medical experts, and are taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of employees at our site.
“Like all businesses grappling with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we are evaluating and making changes in real time, and encourage anyone to compare our overall pay, benefits and speed in which we’re managing this crisis to other retailers and major employers across the country.”
According to interviews with workers at the facility, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid retaliation, only some employees and managers are wearing masks, even after Amazon pledged to provide masks to all workers by this week in response to worker activism at Amazon warehouses in New York City and after Riverside County officials ordered all residents to cover their faces when leaving home.
“Every time I come into work ever since the pandemic started, I’m coming into work with anxiety. I’m on edge all the time,” one worker said. “There’s a big question mark: Who has it? Why isn’t everybody wearing a mask?”
Coronavirus relief efforts are leaving some delivery workers unprotected, they say.
Hundreds of workers at LGB3 signed and submitted a petition to managers after the first two reported cases in late March, asking Amazon to close the warehouse for two weeks, give all workers full pay during the closure, provide free testing for COVID-19, and offer time-and-a-half hazard pay, child-care subsidies, permanent paid sick leave, and an end to write-ups based on productivity rates.
Amazon has not responded directly to the petition but has implemented a number of new procedures in the last few weeks in response to the pandemic.
On March 30, Amazon warehouse workers in New York staged a walkout over the lack of protective gear and other safeguards. After the walkout, Amazon said it would provide masks to all warehouse workers and perform daily temperature checks on all arriving employees. (It also fired an employee who helped organize the walkout, saying he disregarded an instruction to self-quarantine in attending.)
The company is taking the temperature of employees at the beginning of their shifts, turning away anyone who has a fever over 100.4 degrees and requiring them to stay home for at least three days. After public pushback, the company said that workers who are turned away will be paid for up to five hours of their shift that day.
The company is also offering unpaid sick leave to all employees who wish to stay home and two weeks’ paid leave to any who test positive for COVID-19.
To increase social distancing at its logistics facilities, the company has also canceled the stand-up meetings that typically begin each shift, staggered shift times, spread out tables and chairs in break rooms, asked employees to remain six feet apart, and suspended exit screenings, which the company performs to check if employees are stealing merchandise, to reduce crowding at exits and entrances.
Amazon also says that it has increased the frequency and intensity of cleaning and sanitizing of surfaces, such as door handles and screens, that employees touch during a workday, and that workers are being asked to clean their workstations with sanitizing wipes at the beginning of their shifts. The company also announced Wednesday that it was testing the use of disinfectant fog, a cleaning method often used at hospitals and on airplanes, at the Staten Island warehouse where workers staged a walkout.
But workers say these measures are failing in practice. The LGB3 facility has only three break rooms, and even with staggered break schedules, people inevitably crowd around sinks, refrigerators and microwaves, with pressure to get back to their workstations on time making it difficult to wait for traffic to clear.
The complaints ask the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health to conduct an immediate on-site inspection of the facility and the Riverside County Department of Public Health to “use the full extent of [its] unique emergency authority” to address the issues raised by workers.
Neither department could be reached for comment by the time of publication.
Riverside has become one of the counties in the state that are most heavily affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, with 1,280 confirmed cases and 33 deaths as of Thursday afternoon.


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Elsword Elesis Second Job Class Trailer
KOG reveals Elesis’ second jobs in Elsword: the Blazing Heart and the Grand Master.
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domain: news


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Saturday, Jul 20, 2019
Jul 19, 2019-Friday
Metro cities -
Other cities -
WhatsApp to soon add QR Code support, here’s how it works
Jul 13, 2019 12:32
WhatsApp has been spotted with QR Code support once again. This feature allows users to add quick contacts.
Mission moon: The journey of a lifetime
Jul 13, 2019 18:58
It’s been 50 years since Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin stepped out of Apollo 11 on to the moon’s surface on July 20, 1969. Will we – ordinary men and women – ever be able to travel to this luminous silver orb in the sky? Is this in the realm of scientific...
Microsoft to make Windows 10 password-free by 2020: Report
Jul 12, 2019 19:47
Microsoft has been making efforts to rid Windows of passwords for quite some time. The company now wants to push biometric sign-in and PIN code-based sign-in.
Google has a hidden Wimbledon tennis browser game: How to play
Jul 12, 2019 18:26
Google’s latest Easter Egg is a hidden Wimbledon-themed tennis game. Here’s how you can play the game on your PC or mobile.
Google promises action against those eavesdropping on users’ conversations
Jul 12, 2019 16:47
Google drew wide criticism after reports surfaced that third-party contractors were eavesdropping on users’ Assistant conversations.
YouTube introduces ‘Learning Playlists’ for educational videos
Jul 12, 2019 14:54
YouTube’s playlist for educational videos will not be part of the platform’s recommendations algorithm.
Realme X ‘Blind Order’ begins, here’s how you can pre-order the phone
Jul 12, 2019 15:34
Realme X and Realme X Spiderman: Far From Home smartphones can be pre-ordered in India. Here’s everything you need to know.
Asus expects 10% revenue from networking products in India
Jul 12, 2019 13:07
Asus said it will expand its networking products in India like consumer routers which support ‘AiMesh’.
Google removes Nest app from smartwatches
Jul 12, 2019 12:52
Google’s Nest app for watchOS and Wear OS will no longer be available.
Google Maps users in India can now find public toilets through the app
Jul 12, 2019 20:03
Google has partnered with the Indian government to launch “Loo Review” campaign.
Google’s new social network ‘Shoelace’ aims to help people connect offline
Jul 12, 2019 19:37
Google’s Shoelace aims at connecting people with ‘shared interests through in person activities’. Here’s everything you need to know about Google’s new social networking platform.
iPhone parental control app ‘OurPact’ back on App Store
Jul 12, 2019 12:14
Apple had removed OurPact from App Store earlier this February due to privacy reasons.
Human workers had access to over 1,000 Google Assistant recordings
Jul 12, 2019 11:49
Google acknowledged that its employees can access the leaked Assistant recordings. The company is investigating the matter and promised it will take action.
Facebook’s AI bot beat professionals in Texas Hold’em Poker
Jul 12, 2019 12:36
Facebook AI Research and Carnegie Mellon University built an AI bot which beat five poker professionals making profits of about $1,000 per hour.
Tesla seeks Apple’s help to nail robocar-secrets thief
Jul 12, 2019 11:31
Tesla’s ex engineer who worked on the it’s autopilot program is accused of having taken thousands of confidential files to his new company, XMotors.ai.
Parliament Live Updates
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Google Doodle Marks 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 space mission


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DeKALB – A new tobacco store could be headed to DeKalb in the building once used by Beef Shack on West Lincoln Highway.
The DeKalb Planning and Zoning Commission this week approved in a 6-1 vote a petition submitted by DINA 5 Inc. asking for a special use permit to operate a retail establishment at 1180 W. Lincoln Highway. Commissioner Maria Pena-Graham cast the lone dissenting vote.
The DeKalb City Council will have the final say on the request, set to go before a vote Monday.
DINA Inc. is eying about an 1,800-square-foot building and is looking to do business as “Smoker’s Choice”.
Attorney Omar Younis, who is representing DINA Inc., said his clients would like to run a store out of DeKalb.
“We are now under a written lease agreement to lease this property, 1180 W. Lincoln Highway,” she said. “We are contingent upon receiving a special use from city of DeKalb to operate a retail tobacco establishment that would sell just tobacco items. And there would be no smoking.”
The building has been vacant for about a year and used to be home to Beef Shack restaurant, according to city documents.
The tobacco store would not make for a first for DeKalb. There are two existing tobacco stores licensed in the city. They are Lucky’s Tobacco, 110 E. Hillcrest Drive, and The Smoke Shop, 818 W. Lincoln Highway.
The hookah bar Aromas, 811 W. Lincoln Highway, recently closed but it used to sell tobacco products on site as well as allow smoking, including indoor recreational marijuana use.
City Planner Dan Olson said the petitioner’s plans for the site are compatible with the surrounding area. He also said it satisfies the city’s comprehensive plan.
The permit, if approved, would stipulate that the tobacco store must remain at least 200 feet from a residential properties, public or private schools, according to city documents. The shop would also need to be at least 200 feet away from other retail tobacco stores.
“The proposed location meets all the setback standards,” Olson said. “It’s a freestanding building, of course. That was done to avoid any retail tobacco store multi-tenant structure where you had sharing of ventilation.”
City staff are recommending that the city council approve the permit request with three conditions: The drive-thru on the east side of the building would not be used, smoking would be prohibited inside the building, and no building expansions would be allowed except with additional public hearings.


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- Glenn Ford free, after serving 30 years for murder he didn’t commit
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Google unveils cloud-based music service
NEW YORK (AP) - Google Inc. unveiled its long-planned music service Tuesday, but it will likely need deals with the recording industry to reach its full potential.
Called “Music Beta by Google,” the service lets users store their tunes remotely and access them from any compatible device, including mobile phones, tablets and computers. So far, it does not offer music downloads or song sales and it doesn’t let people listen to music they haven’t physically uploaded.
The service will be available by invitation only starting on Tuesday, free of charge while it is being tested. Google announced the new service at its yearly conference for software developers in San Francisco. It did not say whether, or how much, it plans to charge eventually.
Google’s music service comes just six weeks after Amazon.com Inc. announced a similar offering. The online retailer’s service also lets users play songs they have uploaded to the cloud on their computer or on a smartphone that runs Google’s Android. Apple Inc. is also believed to be working on a similar service.
A big hurdle has been getting deals with major record labels. Google did not mention any agreements on Tuesday, though the company has been in discussions with record labels over licensing deals.
Google said users will be able to upload up to 20,000 songs to “the cloud” _ tech speak for storing data on remote servers and then accessing them through an Internet connection. Users can create playlists manually, or based on a particular song.
Among the services that Music Beta does not offer is “de-duplication,” which lets users skip uploading their own copies to the cloud if there is an identical file already available. Multiple users could stream music from a single file, and users with large music collections could save a lot of time waiting for perhaps thousands of songs to upload.
This, she said, is a “perfect example” showing that copyright law is antiquated. Google’s music service, as it stands, is “not as innovative as it could be because Google feels its hands are tied,” Samuels said.
Google, based in Mountain View, Calif., also unveiled a movie rental service that’s now available on the Android market, its answer to Apple’s app store. Movies are available to rent for $1.99, $2.99 or $3.99.
And in a future-is-now moment, the company previewed a service it is calling Android (at) Home, which lets Android applications interact with appliances and electronic gadgets in the home. It allows Android-based devices to control lights, dishwashers, music players and a slew of other devices.
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The conventional Chromebooks aren't bigger than 13-inches, with the current leader being Acer Chromebook 15. But, we will have at least one more option with Asus launching its first 15-inch Chromebook - the C523.
The new Chromebook is pretty similar to other low-end Chromebooks ASUS has mad recently, like the 12-inch C223 and the 14-inch C423. This one has a 15.6-inch display with full HD resolution, an optional touchscreen, and a battery life up to 10 hours. It measures 15.6mm in thickness and has a weight of 3.2 lb.
The processor that will power the new Chromebook is unclear because the specifications page is just a placeholder that reads the new device has "Windows 10 Premium." What's imperative to understand is that Windows 10 Premium doesn't exist.
Asus has confirmed that the C523 will hit the market shelves early next year, at least in the UK market.
Besides, Samsung is also said to be working on a new line of Windows laptops that will be advertised as the "Notebook Flash." The price bracket for the new product family remains uncertain but the company's IP activity patterns point towards high-end devices that may see the light of day in the first quarter of 2019.
The company is expected to launch the new line of laptops in Europe and might end up making it available to a wider audience. The Samsung Notebook Flash line could be a successor to the NoteBook 3 and Notebook 5 models launched back in April. Both the laptops came with seventh- and eighth-generation Intel chips based on the configuration - and DDR4 RAM, as well as an HDD-SSD storage combo and screens with resolutions up to 1,920 by 1,080 pixels (FHD).
The new series could aim at users looking for a mid-range product, but the company has previously curbed those price ranges due to the low-profit margins. Samsung won't likely launch the new lineup this year, as it would be difficult for the company to secure the trademark Notebook Flash until January next year.


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The fast food chain Supermac's has started removing plastic straws from all its restaurants.
The company is replacing them with paper straws at 116 stores across the country.
Supermac's said the process has already begun, with the plastic ones being phased out over the coming weeks.
Managing director Pat McDonagh said it's one of a number of measures being introduced to cut down on single use plastic.
He explained: "Continuing from [the straws], we intend to over the next couple of months to replace the plastic punnets with paper punnets which are obviously of food grade.
“We recognise the strain that single use plastics are having on our environment and that every little bit counts."
Welcoming the announcement, Environment Minister Richard Bruton said such "practical steps" are necessary to put Ireland on a more sustainable path.
Supermac's joins companies such as McDonald's and Starbucks, who've already committed to ditching plastic straws.


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Finnish energy and heat producer Fortum (HEL:FORTUM) announced on Thursday it is acquiring Crisolteq, a domestic specialist in the recycling of valuable metals in lithium-ion batteries, for an undisclosed amount.
The deal strengthens Fortum’s position in the recycling of high-value materials in Europe and boosts the Finnish company's existing battery business, according to the statement.
The business generated EUR 2.1 million (USD 2.34m) in revenue in the fiscal 2019.
"The electrification of our society will significantly increase the demand for batteries in the future. The recycling of valuable metals decreases the environmental load of electric vehicle (EV) batteries by reducing the need to excavate valuable metals," Fortum's vice-president Kalle Saarimaa said.
Founded in 2005, Crisolteq has developed a unique hydro-metallurgical recycling process that allows a recycling rate of over 80% for lithium-ion batteries compared to the current recycling rate of about 50%. Cobalt, manganese and nickel are recovered in the process and can be used for producing new batteries.
The Finnish company has an industrial-scale hydro-metallurgical recycling facility, a production plant, and research and development activities in three different locations in Finland.
(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.115)
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CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - Visit North Carolina recently announced that domestic visitors to and within Cabarrus County spent $469.31 million in 2018, an increase of 5% from 2017.
“Cabarrus County continues to attract travelers with innovative offerings and unmatched hospitality,” said Donna Carpenter, Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO. “New ideas from both our organization and tourism partners in Cabarrus County keep visitors engaged and provide plenty of reasons to return.”
In 2018, Charlotte Motor Speedway made history with the inaugural Bank of America ROVAL 400 race, and the Cabarrus County, NC Destination & Motorsports Guide garnered awards from the North Carolina Travel Industry Association and U.S. Travel Association for its use of augmented reality.
“Tourism is a vital part of Cabarrus County‘s economy,” said Tim Hagler, Charlotte Motor Speedway VP of Community Relations and CVB Board of Directors Chairman. “Our county has had positive increases in visitor spending for 27 of the past 28 years. Last year, Cabarrus County had a record year with more than $469M in visitor spending. That influx of outside dollars pours into the growth of our local businesses and creates jobs. It is our goal to continue this trend by promoting our tourism destinations and attracting even more people from around the country and the world to experience the great things in Cabarrus County.”
2018 Cabarrus County tourism impact highlights:
- The travel and tourism industry directly employs4,650 people
- Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Cabarrus County was $111 million
- State tax revenues totaled $26.57 million and local tax revenues totaled $8.27 million from travel to Cabarrus County
- If not for state and local taxes generated by tourism in Cabarrus County, each household would pay $493 more in taxes
- Cabarrus County ranks 12th in travel impact among North Carolina’s 100 counties
An at-a-glance fact sheet of this information can be downloaded here. These statistics come from “The Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties.”
This study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by the U.S. Travel Association.


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MOSES LAKE — Wine, shopping and art brought lots of people to downtown Moses Lake on Saturday for Sip and Stroll, put on by the Downtown Moses Lake Association.
This year’s event featured stops at 12 different businesses in downtown Moses Lake, mainly along Third Avenue. Each stop had wine. Some businesses also had art on display or live music.
“It’s fun,” said Laurie Vaillancourt, who was participating in the event for the second time. “I get to see stores I haven’t seen before.”
The event sold out pretty quickly, a first for Sip and Stroll.
“We always come pretty close to that point between 3:30 and 4 o’clock,” said Denise Lloyd, treasurer for the Downtown Moses Lake Association. “It’s never been 1:30 and we’re out of everything. I think the weather has something to do with selling out.”
Registration for the event began online in advance of Saturday’s event. The tickets that weren’t sold online were available for purchase the day of the event. Attendees received a wine cup, 10 tasting tickets and a lanyard.
“Next year, we will definitely up our numbers,” Lloyd said. “We only ordered so much wine and had the vendor bring so much. We had a lot of disappointed people, which is sad.”
Sip and Stroll featured wineries from Moses Lake, Quincy, Royal City and around eastern Washington: Cascade Cellars, Camas Cove Cellars, Beaumont Cellars, Jones of Washington, Chris Daniel Winery, Winchester Estates, Burke Vineyard, La Paz Creek Cellars, Maryhill Cellars, Ceili Winery, Four Lakes Winery and Milbrandt Vineyards. Participants were able to purchase their favorite wines at the end of the event.


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Chinese Startup TuSimple To Launch Its Driverless Trucks By 2018
With TuSimple’s phenomenal financial backing, the Chinese Startup is aiming a certain disruption in the Driverless Truck Market. The company plans to test its fleet of self-driving trucks in Arizona and Shanghai in 2018, thereby leading to its commercial worldwide launch by 2019. With existing competition from Tesla, Uber, and Waymo- The company is focusing on being a standout with its supreme technology and effective influence.
To test its actual performance, TuSimple is focused on introducing about 60 to 100 specially-retrofitted big rig trucks on Arizona roads. Each will have three radars, 10 cameras, and a control system that analyzes traffic conditions in real time. One of their trucks have already completed a 200-mile Level 4 test drive between Yuma, Arizona and San Diego in June. Level 4 vehicles can drive themselves in almost any setting and will safely stop if they request the human driver to take over and get no response.
Autonomous commercial trucks could lower logistics costs by 40 percent in the US and 25 percent in China, primarily because neither food nor rest would be needed, and also because of increased fuel efficiency. TuSimple’s major objective is to transform the way we send, deliver, and receive commercial goods in the future.


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- Victoria’s Secret is financing an $8.3 million settlement between workers in Thailand and their former employer over unpaid severance following a factory closure.
- Labor groups advocating for the 1,250 workers — who made bras for Victoria’s Secret, Lane Bryant and Torrid — say they were fired without legally mandated severance in 2021.
- According to the Worker Rights Consortium, Victoria’s Secret’s loan to the factory’s owner is "historic" and “the most any brand has ever contributed to help resolve a wage theft case.” Sycamore Partners, the private equity firm that owns Lane Bryant and Torrid, did not contribute or engage the labor groups that pushed for payment, the groups said.
Labor groups declared the settlement a victory for workers, whose struggles are often hidden in modern supply chains.
“Low-wage garment workers left destitute by injustice meted out by global supply chains is nothing new,” David Welsh, Thailand country director for the Solidarity Center, which also pushed for payment, said in a press release. “What’s new is they did not accept their fate — and won.”
Welsh added, “We also hope this represents a model for the type of domestic, governmental, international and brand engagement to resolve future cases where garment workers are left in similarly desperate straits.”
According to the group, the government of Thailand ordered the Brilliant Alliance factory to pay severance within 30 days, after the factory closed March 2021. The owner, Clover Group, told its employees that it did not have the money to pay and they should agree to wait a decade for full repayment.
The amount was the “largest theft — and now the most back pay — we’ve ever seen at an individual garment factory," Workers Rights Coalition Executive Director Scott Nova said in a statement.
Reuters reported on Thai government records showing the total severance payments amounted to around $8.3 million and noted that it was unclear what portion of the settlement was paid via Victoria’s Secret’s financing.
In an emailed press release, a Victoria’s Secret spokesperson said that “[w]hile the workers impacted by the closure were not our employees and our merchandise was not produced in the factory at the time of the closure, we were committed to ensuring the factory owners satisfied their obligation to their workers.”
The spokesperson explained that the company had been “in active communication” with the factory owners for months to reach a resolution.
“We regret they were not ultimately in a position to conclude this matter on their own so to ensure the workers received their full severance amounts owed, Victoria’s Secret agreed to advance the severance funds to the factory owners,” the spokesperson said, adding that the company “will continue to hold ourselves and our partners accountable for the high standards we set for the fair treatment of workers.”
A spokesperson for Sycamore Partners did not immediately respond to request for comment.


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Apple TV Plus might have a much smaller library than all of the other major streaming service, but there’s a deeper concentration of quality according to a IMDb users.
A study aggregating reviews from users of the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), found that Apple TV Plus content had the highest overall rating.
The average score for the library is 7.08 out of ten, which is higher than HBO Max, Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu and Prime Video. It also beats newcomers like Peacock and Paramount Plus.
The data compiled by Self Financial (via 9to5Mac) does say the average score for Apple TV Plus content has dropped from 2021 to 2022 (from 7.24 to 7.08), but the service still tops the pile for the second year running.
Apple TV Plus does seem to be placing a greater focus on quality the some rivals, but lags way behind the likes of Netflix when it comes to the amount of content regularly hitting the service.
The likes of Severance, For All Mankind, The Morning Show, Ted Lasso and WeCrashed have been rewarded at award ceremonies, while Coda won the best picture Oscar.
In second place for the second year running is HBO Max. It’s content library amassed a score of 6.88, while Disney Plus is in third place with an average score of 6.71, according to aggregated IMDb review scores. Netflix was in sixth place (6.62).
Of course there weren’t the only metrics provides, and others can provide fuller context.
Self FInancial also looks into the value for money offered by the service. For example, HBO Max has the most films deemed ‘excellent’ by IMDb reviewers (a score of 8 and above) per dollar of the cheapest subscription cost (23). Netflix still has more ‘excellent quality’ TV shows than HBO Max (619 vs 230, to be precise).
Netflix also provides, by far, the most content. HBO Max is in second with 3,503, so while there’s plenty of choice, finding the best stuff can be more difficult. Apple TV only has 147 titles in total, but of those shows, viewers are certainly kinder when it comes to reviews.
You might like…
The post Apple TV Plus beats Netflix, Disney Plus in the most important metric – quality appeared first on Trusted Reviews.


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200 attendees gathered at Unbounce on Sunday to witness the startup teams competing in Startup Weekend Vancouver’s 7th annual competition.read more
Techvibes recognizes and honours these people and their companies through the Canadian Startup Awards, now in its fifth year.
The awards are spread across five categories, which each have three to six finalists.
Let's get nominating. Here are this year's categories.read more
Circle Medial, a San Francisco-based startup that helps doctors make house calls, has raised $2.9 million in venture capital, the company announced on Nov. 20.
While Circle Medical is based in California and its app is only available in San Francisco, the startup has a strong Canadian connection.read more
Vancouver's Grouplend announced this week that it is rebranding itself as Grow Financial.
Since launching in 2014, the company's model has evolved from peer-to-peer lending to a much more robust financial platform, using cutting-edge software and advanced data analytics to create revolutionary financial services that extend far beyond loans.read more
Sarbjeet Singh says he thinks your bike lock should know who you are.
He’s the co-founder of Grasp, a Waterloo-based startup that’s developed a keyless bike lock that uses fingerprint recognition.
Singh says he got the idea when he was on the way to work and one of his friends missed the commuter train.read more
According to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, Americans spend $15 billion annually playing fantasy sports online with approximately $11 billion of that amount being spent on fantasy football.
The NFL’s annual revenue falls just under $10 billion currently which means the "derivative" market has grown larger than the foundational market. That's nuts.read more
For a team of four Torontonians, the results of the 2015 BattleHack World Finals must have seemed like deja vu.
It was the second year in a row that Alex Christodoulou, Christopher Larsen, Ernst Riemer and Maya Kennedy came second in the international competition.read more
Recently, out of curiosity, I decided to drop by the Toronto Startup Job Fair not so long ago hosted at MaRS. There I saw an impressive showing of folks who were ready and willing to put themselves out there to work at a tech company in Toronto.
While impressed, I was equally dismayed at the purely transactional nature of the event. Really short conversations, exchange of cards, pamphlets and hard copy resumes. You’re in and out, under 2 minutes.read more
Vancouver's Control, a management and analytics platform for online payments, has been selected to join MasterCard’s Start Path program.
During the six-month program, Control will get mentoring from MasterCard experts, access to the company’s commercial partners and the opportunity to integrate with MasterCard solutions.read more
The DMZ at Ryerson University, in partnership with Innovation Birmingham, launch the Next Big Idea Contest - an innovation competition for startups based in Ontario and Greater Birmingham, U.K.
The competition will enable winning tech entrepreneurs to spend two weeks abroad in the sister incubation centre scaling up internationally, meeting with expert advisors and scoping out ways to expand their businesses on a global scale.read more


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No, Honduras is not making Bitcoin its official currency
The Central Bank of Honduras has denied rumors that Bitcoin would be adopted as legal tender, according to a statement posted earlier this Wednesday.
The central bank has clarified that it is the only issuer of notes and coins in the country in accordance with the law. At the same time, it has made it clear that it “does not monitor or guarantee” payments using crypto.
Bitcoin remains unregulated in Honduras and most countries do not recognize it as an official currency.
The Central American country says it will continue to assess the feasibility of developing a central bank digital currency.
The central bank’s statement comes after rumors that Honduras would use Bitcoin as its official currency began circulating on Twitter earlier this week. However, they have now been proven to be totally false.
After El Salvador, a penniless country in Central America, made Bitcoin legal tender in September, many community members assumed other nation-states would follow suit. BitMEX CEO Alexander Höptner predicted that up to 10 countries would become the largest legal tender for cryptocurrency by the end of 2022.
So far, this has not been the case, with multiple countries, such as Mexico, explicitly denying any plans to adopt Bitcoin.
Meanwhile, El Salvador’s own cryptocurrency experiment appears to be on shaky ground after it has postponed issuance of its acclaimed Bitcoin bonds.
In addition, Bitcoin adoption is struggling to gain traction in the country. According to a recent survey, a whopping 86% of merchants have not made a single transaction with the largest cryptocurrency.
In other news: Sint Maarten is considering using Bitcoin Cash as its official currency.


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Two new spin-off companies recognised in 2016
Along with the announcement of the final Innovation metrics for 2016, came the formal recognition of the two new UCT spin-off companies, Dream Haven and Cape Bio Pharms:
Dream Haven (Pty) Ltd
Dream Haven (Pty) Ltd has been established by Maxillofacial surgeon, Dr Rushdi Hendricks, to develop a novel medical device that will address sleep apnoea. Dr Hendricks invented the device with Prof Deon Bezuidenhout (Health Sciences). Successful animal trials have been completed using TIA Seed funding and further funding is currently being sought for the human trials.
The company will also commercialise another invention that Dr Hendricks co-invented, the maxillofacial distractor, which reconstructs the upper jaw bone. This formed the core of Dr Hendrick’s PhD studies, with co-inventors Prof George Vicatos and James Boonzaier providing Mechanical Engineering design. This device has been successfully used in eight patients and is closer to market.
Cape Bio Pharms (Pty) Ltd
Cape Bio Pharms was started up to produce proteins in transiently modified tobacco plants at commercial scale. The proteins can be used as reagents, incorporated in diagnostics and even as vaccines. UCT has drawn together a partnership with a company that will undertake the purification and marketing of the proteins into their current market base. The products have been selected based on a NIPMO-funded strategic review and TIA Seed Funding support to the Biopharming Research Unit (Molecular & Cell Biology) was used to further developed of the products. These will create a pipeline of products that will be commercialised by the company.


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While central banks and governments globally have intervened with unprecedented lending pledges to keep struggling businesses afloat, they cannot bear this burden alone. For SMEs in particular, without the track-record, credit rating or manpower to rely on traditional bank lending processes during this crisis, Supply Chain Finance (SCF) presents a means to tap into security within their supply chains.
“The current pandemic has placed an even greater emphasis on faster and more reliable access to working capital, as businesses face pressure on their finances. Indeed, the financial strain exacted by COVID-19, as well as physical lockdowns, have resulted in dramatic disruption to supply chains. With 44% of businesses in the manufacturing sector invoking ‘force majeure’ clauses, SCF is emerging as a means of critical support.”
Financial IT: How do you see the global supply chain finance market evolving and what can we expect from the coming months and years?
Kevin Day: Supply chain finance (SCF) or reverse factoring is gaining greater and more widespread traction as a form of finance and in recent years, we have seen considerable growth in SCF volumes internationally. In 2019, for example, SCF saw 25% growth in the DACH region alone, and 23% in the US and Mexico in the first half of 2019. Furthermore, the International Chamber of Commerce last year found trade and supply chain finance to be a top priority among banks’ strategic focuses.
The potential for its continued progression is also significant. Indeed, McKinsey & Company has reported that there is potential for much broader adoption of supply chain finance, with an estimated $2 trillion in readily financeable payables worldwide. Furthermore, growth is only likely to increase further as businesses look for financial support to weather the current strain on capital due to COVID-19.
Financial IT: What impact is the current COVID-19 pandemic having on demand for supply chain finance?
Kevin Day: As referenced already, the current pandemic has placed an even greater emphasis on faster and more reliable access to workingcapital, as businesses face pressure on their finances. Indeed, the financial strain exacted by COVID-19, as well as physical lockdowns,have resulted in dramatic disruption to supply chains, with 44% of businesses in the manufacturing sector invoking ‘force majeure’ clauses.SCF is emerging as a means of critical support.
While central banks and governments globally have intervened with unprecedented lending pledges to keep struggling businesses afloat, they cannot bear this burden alone. For SMEs in particular, without the track-record, credit rating or manpower to rely on traditional bank lending processes during this crisis, SCF presents a means to tap into security within their supply chains.
Financial IT: How is digital innovation changing supply chain finance for lenders, buyers and suppliers?
Kevin Day: Supply chain finance has traditionally been harder for smaller businesses to provide with paper-based and time-intensive processes making it viable only to larger corporates. So, by making these services faster, simpler and more transparent, technology has had a major democratising effect on supply chain finance. For example, lengthy and manual steps, such as Know-Your-Customer checks during onboarding, are now quicker and more straightforward for SMEs to meet, without compromising on a lenders’ compliance requirements.
For traditional lenders, embracing technological capabilities that allow for these efficiencies, makes offering supply chain finance to a wider range of businesses far more profitable. Furthermore, it is also critical to remaining competitive in a market where they also viefor businesses against smaller, specialised lenders.
Financial IT: Are there regions that are leading in embracing innovation in SCF?
Kevin Day: Worldwide, lenders are recognising the potential of technology to revolutionise the SCF process, with 40% of all supply chain financing now involving digital solutions. But, one region we are particularly excited to be seeing evolve is APAC, particularly after the opening of our Singapore office last year.
SCF is still in its infancy in APAC, but it has the potential to grow quickly, due partly to the deficit in trade finance. According to a 2018 survey done by the International Chamber of Commerce, 51% of financing requests received by banks were from SMEs. However, 40% of these are rejected.
APAC sits at the heart of innumerable, complex global supply chains, with many emerging markets such as Vietnam and Indonesia establishing themselves as core to global trade networks – particularly now that COVID-19 is forcing supply chains in the region and elsewhere to shift and adapt. This makes solutions that can help shore up supply chains and get businesses the support they need indispensable and for us at HPD LendScape that is a very exciting opportunity.
Financial IT: HPD LendScape recently announced the enhancement of its supply chain financing solution – can you tell us a bit more about this?
Kevin Day: As mentioned already, supply chain finance has for a long time been relatively difficult for smaller businesses to access. However, as it has done across the entire financial sector, technology has helped to put SMEs on an even footing with larger corporates and we are excited about the role of our platform in making this possible.
By bringing together lenders, buyers and suppliers on one platform to enhance visibility and efficiency in SCF processes, we have been able to make the offering faster and more straightforward for SMEs to access, while also making it more profitable for lenders to actually offer the service. The digitalisation of once manual, paper-based processes is even more important in the context of COVID-19, where social distancing and lockdowns make the physical exchange of paperwork all the more complex.


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A look at some recent surveys and reports dealing with risk and compliance issues. Send surveys and reports to firstname.lastname@example.org.
A report from the European Central Bank found credit card and debit card fraud within the Single Euro Payments Area increased in 2012 for the first time since 2008. The increase was due mainly to higher Internet fraud. The total value of fraud increased by 14.8% in 2012 compared with 2011, reaching 1.33 billion euros, the report found. On average, the report found cards issued in France, the U.K. and Luxembourg experienced the highest losses from fraud as a proportion of regular transactions.
A study of whistleblower programs in more than 8,000 organizations in 21 industries by ethics and compliance consultancy Navex Global found companies are investing more time and resources in reporting programs. The report found an increase in the number of reports being filed, and that companies are taking longer to address these issues. It also found employees are increasingly opting for online methods to report concerns, rather than traditional phone hotlines. The number of employees reporting on phone hotlines dropped to 36% in 2013 from 52% in 2012, while the number using online methods rose to 20% in 2013 from 15% in 2012.
A survey underscores the growing importance social media has garnered as a tool for investors Seventy percent of the nearly 500 institutional investors and sell-side analysts surveyed by communications firm Brunswick Group said digital media will have a greater impact in future investment recommendations and decisions. The survey found 29% of respondents saying they are following up on ideas initially identified on social-media platforms, with 28% of the respondents in the U.S. and Asia, and 25% in Europe saying they have made an investment based on information they saw in a blog.
Cyberattacks on Target and other big retailers gave caught the attention of American companies, as a survey from research firm BAE Systems Applied Intelligence found 60% saying they plan to increase their cybersecurity budgets as a result. The survey found 53% of respondents said cyberattacks are now one of their top three business risks.
A review of of the disciplinary actions reported by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in 2013 by law firm Sutherland Asbill & Brennan found in 2013 Finra’s fines dropped significantly but Finra brought nearly the same number of disciplinary actions as it did in 2012. In 2013, Finra imposed fines of $57 million, a decrease of 27% from the $78 million in fines it assessed in 2012.The number of firms expelled by Finra declined 20% in 2013, while the number of individuals suspended or barred rose 22%.
Audit fees have sagged since the recession, and that trend may increase the possibility of misstatements going undetected, according to a study by researchers at Texas A&M University and University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Since the financial crisis, fees have fallen approximately 10% for all companies between 2006 and 2010, and companies that don’t fully pay their auditor for risk have a 29% higher risk of restatement, the study found.
Write to Ben DiPietro at email@example.com, and follow him on Twitter @BenDiPietro1.


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Loosen your belt buckles, New York--Papaya King is selling hot dogs for a steal this weekend.
The frankfurter flogger is dropping its hot dogs and papaya drinks to just 32 cents Friday and Saturday to celebrate its 85th birthday.
That means you could get two hot dogs and a drink for just 96 cents.
A classic dog normally sells for about $3.00.
The New York fast food chain started on the corner of 86th Street and Third Avenue on the Upper East Side in 1932.
Papaya King said the dirt-cheap dogs would be available between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. at its Brooklyn and East 86th Street locations.
The offer was also available at its Las Vegas store.


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Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) November 29, 2013
Nerium reviews have been flooding the Internet and Brandy Lopez reveals the truth about this skin care cream being the world’s most powerful wrinkle fighter.
Nerium AD, a new age-defying skin care cream proven to reduce wrinkles by as much as 30 per cent in fewer than 30 days, has just been release to the consumer. This specific cream has a higher concentration of NAE-8, plus other protein blends that ensure your skin gets the rejuvenation it needs.
The product spokesperson, Brandy Lopez, points out those women over 30 within the United States of America can now breathe a sigh of relief this new age-defying, wrinkle reducing face day and night cream they have been searching for all their life.
“Nerium will help them look younger and feel better about themselves,” said Lopez.
“It will also prevent them from further worrying that people thinks they look old the next time someone looks at their face,” added Lopez.
Nerium, which is made from all natural products and completely safe, according to the product spokesperson, has successfully gone through rigorous dermatological testing before being made available to the American consumers. This is the bold claim that prompted an investigative review.
The Nerium Review further notes that this product is the result of many long, hard hours in the labs.
“Finally, you can now get an anti-aging night cream that actually works,” said Lopez, adding that the formula that Nerium AD uses has been clinically proven to fight unattractive wrinkles, skin discoloration, pore enlargement, loose skin, and more.
One of the products chief ingredients that works the real magic is said to be the NAE-8 extract. According to Lopez, it is a powerful and essential ingredient that consumers won’t find in any other so-called anti-aging cream.
“The NAE-8 extract, plus all the other effective ingredients (we use nothing but the best) makes the Nerium AD cream by far the single most potent anti-aging cream you will ever find, period,” claimed Lopez.
According to Lopez, consumers can now finally purchase and regularly use the only cream that works. “C’mon! Let’s start getting those wrinkles off, tonight!” she said.
The Nerium AD product line is a one-of-a-kind, and according to the spokesperson, they are not just saying that without proof.
Substantiating their claim, the spokesperson further remarked, “We can back it up with our customer reviews, and with the fact that we’ve found the perfect combination of highly potent, natural, chemical ingredients, all of which are highly effective on any skin type regardless of your age and/or skin condition.”
Another reason Lopez gave why Nerium AD is said to be the best in the business is that the formula used has been clinically proven to reduce signs of aging. “What this means is that Nerium AD was tested by impartial lab scientists who are in no way associated with us,” notes Lopez.
To access a comprehensive Nerium review, visit http://adskincare.com/nerium-review.


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Bergstrom opens Chevrolet dealership in Madison
NEENAH – Bergstrom Automotive purchased Stark's Chevrolet franchise in Stoughton and relocated it to 1225 Applegate Road, adjacent to Bergstrom Cadillac on the beltline in Madison.
The new facility opened Tuesday as Bergstrom Chevrolet of Madison. It is the only Chevrolet dealership in the Madison city limits, according to the company.
Stark will continue to operate Buick GMC in Stoughton.
Bergstrom Chevrolet of Madison will sell the full line of Chevrolet cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles, plus certified used vehicles. The service and parts departments and body shop will be open six days a week.


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Those who are afraid that they may lose their identity may have a new weapon in their arsenal as developers have come forward with a new ‘paranoid wallet’ that blocks remote credit card thieves from wirelessly scanning their cards from a distance. The new wallets are a sign of the times when fears over identity theft are at an all time high. But does this level of paranoia actually help protect people from a new world of hackers and thieves? Or is it simply a waste of money?
In the past most people were worried about muggers taking away their wallets and losing their credit cards along with its cash. But then just recently passports started carrying something known as an RFID chip. These Radio Frequency Identification Chips essentially started emitting bits of data into the world around users as they walked through busy or crowded areas. While the chips would make it easy to make purchases without actually pulling out the card and sliding it through the magnetic strip, the difficulties were also considered numerous. And as the technology became more widely used so did the security concerns. Passengers traveling overseas from crowded airports could subject themselves to security risks if hackers utilizing radio receivers alongside specially designed computer systems were standing by picking up data from passing passengers.
The wallets, made by various corporations hoping to offer a safe alternative, have been proven to have their limitations for one thing. When they are open they do not block the frequencies, for example. But they essentially attempt to build a faraday cage, or barrier around the RFID chips in order to block out the outgoing radio waves. Privacy advocates for years have suggested that systems such as these may become integral to security in the future if we are to continue down the road toward a more wireless future.
But perhaps the real problem with this system is that it is depending on the consumer to accept the responsibility to protect their identity when mandatory identification items, such as passports, are needed for identification in order to travel overseas. Perhaps the real burden of protection should be resting on the shoulders of those producing the RFID chips. Many privacy advocates are suggesting products such as these wallets are actually symptomatic of a deeper and more troubling concern with certain establishments’ desire to embrace convenience and productivity over safety. If lines move more quickly, for example, a business is able to sell more products in a given day and hire fewer employees to process transactions. But then if their customers or employees are put at risk as a result due to a hasty RFID system that allows invasion of privacy, perhaps the system was too quickly embraced.
Still, those with RFID credit cards, passports, and ID badges have been snatching up these often expensive wallets in the hopes they will make them safer in the future. Of course those not wishing to spend quite so much can easily turn an ordinary wallet into a makeshift, but functional faraday cage and RFID blocker by lining the wallet’s interior with everyone’s favorite staple of paranoia: Tin Foil.


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Royal Caribbean takes on four agencies
Cruise brand Royal Caribbean has appointed four new agencies for the UK and Irish market. Red Consultancy will look after the company's UK day-to-day consumer and trade comms, OMD has been appointed to handle social media, O'Hea PR will handle PR for Ireland, and Good Relations will focus on the launch of the firm's newest ship, which launches next year. Red said it would work to "address misperceptions of the cruise market and reposition Royal Caribbean’s premium offering among a new generation of travellers".
Bottle wins payment firm allpay
The agency Bottle has been retained by payment services specialist allpay, which collects more than £5bn a year from more than 55 million transactions. Bottle is tasked with increasing brand visibility, and was taken on following a recommendation from a client who used to work with Holly Tyzack, Bottle's head of editorial, who will lead the account. The account was previously held by Spreckley.
Publicis acquires content marketer for estimated £10m
Publicis Worldwide has acquired content marketing agency August to join its stable of agencies in London. The sale is believed to have been for £10m. August has 65 staff and clients include Gap, Ikea, Ocado, Hiscox and Renault. Read the full story from PRWeek sister title Campaign.
Startup PR Academy to launch for SME market
Sallie Boyce, the founder of Communica PR and formerly of Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Rostrum PR, is launching The Startup PR Academy. The new service is a membership model aimed at start-ups, with Boyce saying the goal is to help clients "ingrain PR into the fabric of their business, so it becomes second nature". The new brand launches on 16 November, the first day of UK Global Entrepreneurship Week.
Knight Frank appoints Blue Rubicon and StockWell
Real estate consultancy Knight Frank has appointed Blue Rubicon and StockWell from the Teneo Group to launch its ‘Global Cities’ report, following a competitive pitch. The agencies, led by Blue Rubicon director Charles Stewart-Smith, will provide media and digital support for the brief, which will focus on the media launch of the report.
Foursquare names Dorothy Jean Chang as PR director
Location sharing and listings app Foursquare has appointed Dorothy Jean Chang as director of PR. Chang is based in New York with the business, which relaunched and refreshed its brand last summer. Click to read the full story from PRWeek US.
Alexander PR bags Felix Conran and Ohyo account
Alexander PR has been appointed by Felix Conran and Ohyo to launch a new bag created through a collaboration between the designer and the collapsible water bottle maker. The agency has been briefed to help drive sales of the multipurpose Ohyo bag through fashion and lifestyle media titles on and offline. Felix is the grandson of designer and restaurateur Sir Terence Conran.


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Our roving video reporter, Murray Newlands, attended ForumCon in San Francisco yesterday and interviewed Internet Brands CTO Joe Rosenblum. Rosenblum explained to Newlands how the company's latest release of vBulletin can help brands create and manage content online and how brands can more directly connect with their online communities.
Everyone knows that social media can't be ignored as part of the marketing mix, but many companies still struggle to integrate social into their lead generation and sales processes. Watch this webcast to hear how companies are generating demand (and sales) using social media and the tools and technology they use to successfully track resulting leads and revenue.
Learn more about the latest trends and perspectives and where social media is headed, including:
- What's working in social demand marketing
- How social can be integrated and measured as part of your existing campaigns
- Real world case studies of brands that used social media to move the needle
Watch now. Or later but click, sign up and watch whenever you want.
Red Tettemer +Partners has teamed with Dial For Men again for a second "get men clean" event. Last August, the agency put together an event in Granby Colorado and over the course of the two days did everything they could do to get men dirty...so they could then use Dial to clean up.
This year, the agency is doing it all over again with "40 Days of Filth," a more social media-focused approach that includes challenges and prizes over the course of the 40 days. Well, actually, the challenges consist of sitting on your ass and clicking around to enter a drawing but, hey, that's actually challenging for some.
Check it all out on the brand's Facebook page.
In yet another crazy outing, plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Salzhauer, who previously spoofed Old Spice work...twice, is out with new work that has some fun with Justin Bieber.
In the new video, Salzhauer remakes Bieber's "Boyfriend" into a raptastic "If I Was Your Surgeon." In the video, which is promises to make any woman look like Barbie or Megan Fox, Salzhauer promises free Botox to anyone who posts his video, gets five shares of retweets and calls to make an appointment. Way to enlist the image conscious to up your social cred, Dr.
Some choice lyrics:
"I don't need triple whoppers but I see that you do."
"Hey girl let me suction you."
"Keep you looking hot girl like a Barbie doll."
In a grand social experiment, L'Oreal Paris wants to know once and for all whether or not hair color defines the woman. Do blondes really have more fun? Are all redheads feisty and fiery? Are brunettes always brainy? These are the burning questions the campaign hopes to answer.
Working with New York agency Campfire, the brand has launched the 20123 Hair COlor Census across Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. On the Facebook page, visitors can offer their opinion, join a "hair tribe," read beauty blogger content, express their own color identity with downloadable wallpaper and posters, get coupons and, of course, check out L-Oreal's new Healthy Look Creme Gloss semi-permanent color products.
On Pinterest, beauty bloggers will be invited to create "Turn It Up" inspiration boards, pin stuff from the Facebook app and enter a contest for a chance to win a year's supply of Healthy Look Creme Gloss.
Hmm, should we try it out? How would we look at a brunette? Or a redhead? Or our original blond?
Mizbala, Publicis Israel is jumping on the Pinterest bandwagon with Punsulin, a campaign for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation which calls attention to the plight of children with diabetes and hopes to raise money for the cause. Pinsulin aims to collect one million pins by the time International Awareness Day for Juvenile Diabetes rolls around on November 14.
There aren't too many pins yet but hopefully it will gain steam.
Now this is funny. Hilarious, actually. Lexington, Kentucky ad agency Cornett just launched a video campaign for Thomas & King, one of the largest Applebee's franchises in the country. The agency teamed with several female "social media experts" for a series of tutorials on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
That's really all we're going to say about the campaign because if we say any more, we'll ruin the surprise.
Usually when a brand creates a virally-intentioned video, press commentary comes after its release. In a strange twist of events, the revers happened last week. The Onion wrote a lengthly article about a "cool new Tide detergent video" which went on and on ans on about, well, how cool the video was. Trouble is, the video didin't exist yet.
But that didn't deter Digitas from whipping up the video in a couple of days and posting it everywhere The Onion said it would be posted. As described in The Onion piece, "it's [the video] got these cute, funny talking animals, a cool indie-rock song, and it's just so hilariously random. And it's got this amazing cameo by Bret Michaels, which is so funny because Bret Michaels is hilarious and from the '80s."
CMP.LY, a company that enables brands to adhere to disclosure in social and digital media, today announced $2.4 million is Series A funding led by Innovation Ventures L.P. headquartered in DE and PA-based Originate Ventures. David J. Freschman, Managing Principal of Innovation Ventures and Eric Arnson, Managing Partner of Originate Ventures, join CMP.LY's board of directors.
Series A participants also include angel investors Jay Baer and Steve Garfield. They join seed investors Safir Capital, Angel Street Capital and others.
Of his company's offering, CMP.LY CEO Tom Chernaik said, "Leading brands understand that they must better measure program performance and manage risk as they roll out increasingly larger social initiatives. Among the companies that have turned to CMP.LY to address trust, transparency and regulatory compliance are well-known brand Jamba Juice, digital marketing agency 360i, social marketing agency Big Fuel, public relations agency Coyne PR and word-of-mouth and social media marketing agency Zocalo Group."
In a heartfelt three and a half minute video Buddy Media CEO Michael Lazerow, without saying a word, shares his feelings on life, fear, drive, his life-long heart condition, his motivations and, yes, the $689 million he just made selling Buddy Media to Salesforce.com. It's a very moving video that sheds some light on the man behind one of the biggest social media brands ever to have existed.
Lazerow, at times wiping away a tear but mostly smiling throughout, shares with us his heart condition which first affected him when he was 18 months old. He suffered heart failure and again when he was 19. The second time his heart valve stopped working, his blood pressure fell to zero and he was given three hours to live. Thankfully an emergency valve replacement saved his life.
It's an unflinching look at the man behind Buddy Media and three other companies he founded prior.
As king of one of the biggest social media companies on the planet, it is ever so appropriate Lazerow turn to social media itself to share his innermost thoughts at this penultimate moment in his life.


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Better collaboration between carriers, shippers and supply chain partners is leading to more “driver-friendly freight” and higher yields or all parties.
In an article about supply chain partnership trends, Fleet Owner magazine quotes businesses who are feeling the effect of buying power swinging towards transportation service providers and drivers.
“We believe that the trucking industry – and the truckload segment specifically – is starting to experience a paradigm shift where carriers will increasingly be in a more favorable position to choose who they serve and who they provide capacity to,” Paul Newbourne, senior vice president of logistics operations for Armada Supply Chain Solutions, says.
“In our view, it will be even more important than it has been in the past for shippers and receivers to make sure that they are doing everything they can to present themselves as customers of choice for their carriers,” he stresses. “At the core of this is shippers finding ways to help deliver improved efficiency to their carriers while at the same time generating value for themselves.”
[otabox padding=”20″]<< The Ontario Trucking Association recently unveiled a unique multimedia package to assist carriers in communicating driver friendly polices to their supply chain partners and helping them to become “Customers of Choice. Click here for more. >> [/otabox]
Jett McCandless, founder and CEO of CarrierDirect, an advisory firm to trucking and logistics providers, explains that overall there is still little appreciation for the steep increase in motor carrier costs over the last six years. Since the size of the rate increases required to address those costs may be too large for shippers to absorb at once, it’s becoming more important for carriers and customers to establish collaborative initiatives, explains Derek Leathers, president and COO of TL carrier Werner Enterprises.
“We lagged for a time [on rate increase] because we fixed shipment issues,” he explains. “We collaborated with shippers; we worked together to find yield for us and service and capacity for them.”
Leathers stresses that from here on out, “we have to price for shipper practices” in terms of the impact they may have on Werner’s 9,000 drivers.
“We recognize turnover at an account level now,” he says. “We cannot afford to put drivers in a situation where we’ll lose him or her over [shipper dock practices].”
Newbourne adds that there is a safety aspect to such shipper practices as well.
“All the carriers we talked to have a first priority on safety—safety for the public as well as for the safety of their driver,” he explains. “Yet apparently they are still routinely getting loads tendered to them and pressure by certain shippers to do things which would jeopardize safety.”
“This seems like a good opportunity to collaborate to find the right solution to meet that shipper’s needs without exposing a carrier or the public to additional risks,” Newbourne emphasizes.
“Every carrier [Armada talked to] also expresses concerns about the treatment of the driver at shipping and receiving locations,” he notes. “They cite regular reports and feedback from their drivers of unprofessional and/or rude treatment by facility personnel as well as a lack of simple, basic necessities, such as access to restrooms or vending services.”
To combat those and other issues negatively affecting carrier operations, Armada invested in what Newbourne calls a “field services team” that’s focused full-time on identifying trends and behaviors that add value to the supply chains of Armada’s clients.
“They are also responsible for initiating follow-up to make the necessary improvements by engaging those stakeholders to change process and protocols in order to get better results,” Newbourne points out.
“The key to this solution is the collaborative approach with all of the stakeholders,” Newbourne stresses. “It is critical that they always find a solution that is a win-win for everyone. Now, not all of the wins are equal and sometimes it appears one side might give a little bit more. But everyone needs to win.”
Newbourne says there are seven key areas of carrier operation ripe in his estimation for positive change through collaboration with shippers and other supply chain participants. They are:
- Carrier load/unload dwell time
- Days of the week shipping volumes
- Weekend shipping options
- Holiday/severe weather planning
- Order lead time and date changes
- Accessorial cost management
- Scheduled shipping programs
He stresses, however, that those areas cannot be properly addressed via collaborative undertakings unless the following seven critical points are incorporated:
- Safety needs to be a priority focus.
- Operations must comply with the law.
- Truck drivers need more consideration.
- Two-way communication is essential.
- Sustainability is everyone’s concern.
- Carrier utilization must improve.
- Customers must be willing to partner with carriers.
Click here to read the full Fleet Owner article.


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Adobe finally kills off the Flash brand
In with a bang, out in a Flash.
Adobe quietly announced last night that it’s killing off the Flash name, partially putting an end to the insecure and hack-prone software. Starting in January, Adobe is pushing developers to use Adobe Animate CC, an application based on the more secure and versatile HTML5.
“Adobe has a history of pioneering and advancing industry standards. We embrace standards and, where none exist, we create them,” the company wrote in Flash’s obituary. “Flash has played a leading role in bringing new capabilities to the web.”
Despite that the Flash name is disappearing, Adobe will still support the software as it is still used on games and some ads.
It could be said that Flash was dealt its fatal blow in 2010, when Apple founder Steve Jobs trashed Flash. “Flash is a spaghetti-ball piece of technology that has lousy performance and really bad security problems,” Jobs reportedly said.
A year later, Adobe scrapped plans to develop Flash for mobile devices, instead focusing its efforts on HTML5. From there, it only spiraled down for the company, with Amazon and Google announcing it will stop showing user’s Flash-based ads over the past few months.
Agencies, however, have struggled giving up on Flash to develop ads because of its familiarity and unwillingness to learn new applications. That poses problems, like in July when hackers infiltrated ads on Yahoo’s network of websites and infected people with malware that allowed them to remotely operate their computers.
‘There was nowhere to air it’: Why a CBD brand is leveraging digital video as part of its ad strategy
Two years after the Farm Bill legalized hemp, CBD brand Sagely Naturals is adding video advertising to its marketing strategy.
Consultancy businesses tried to promise they’d upstage agencies — it hasn’t really worked like that
So far this year there has been about $15 billion dollars worth of media billings by advertisers to marketing services businesses — none of which has gone to consulting firms.
Member ExclusiveDigiday+ Research: The future of agency work is remote(ish)
The share of agency professionals who said they do not want to return to full-time office work has risen by more than 40% this year.
SponsoredMarketing teams are revisiting brand suitability on social media in 2022
Brands and people want to know that social media apps are safe places to connect, free from exposure to harmful content. Brand suitability describes the practice of determining a particular brand’s tolerance of advertising alongside safe but sensitive content. Heading into 2022, brand suitability will continue to be at the forefront of the advertising industry’s […]
How esports org 100 Thieves will boost its M&A strategy with $60M in Series C funding
As esports organizations expand their offerings in search of a cohesive and profitable business model, the acquisition of new companies can help bring in fresh ideas and unique revenue streams.
‘Brands have really taken note of this interest’: How Sanctuary is partnering with brands as Gen Z, millennials seek out astrology content
This year, brands like McCormack, Venmo, Away, Benjamin Moore and Le Creuset have worked with Sanctuary to create custom branded content -- matching paint colors, spending habits or cookware to specific astrology signs, for example -- that’s then posted on Sanctuary’s Instagram page.


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SOLID FOUNDATION: Jim Moon, president of Moonworks, shows off his company’s gutter products. Two decades after its founding, his company ranks as one of the fastest-growing businesses in Rhode Island, according to Inc. Mazagine.
Moonworks President Jim Moon found business opportunity in the gutter.
The University of Rhode Island business-school graduate had been running a kitchen-remodeling company in Boston for five years when his father in Rhode Island introduced him to a new set of leaf guards he had installed on his house.
They were called Gutter Helmets, a brand of solid-aluminum gutter guards that channel rainwater off a roof while blocking leaves and debris.
A Gutter Helmet salesman had left a 10-minute video about the product that Moon watched and was so impressed with he decided to take his career in a whole new direction.
“It was so short and sweet – I loved the enthusiasm,” Moon said about the Gutter Helmet pitch. “It was 1993. I sold the kitchen business and got straight into the gutter business. I had just one product, Gutter Helmets.”
Two decades later Moonworks, the gutter business Moon launched in response to his father’s home-improvement project, is one of the fastest-growing companies in Rhode Island.
Last year, Moonworks ranked 2,307th on Inc. Magazine’s 5,000 fastest-growing companies list.
According to Inc., Moonworks’ revenue more than doubled from 2007 to 2010, when it made $12.8 million.
Since then the company has continued to grow, expanding from 60 employees in 2010 to 90 this year.
Reflective of that kind of growth, Moonworks is no longer just a one-product enterprise.
From Gutter Helmets, Moonworks has expanded into several home-improvement markets, including roofs, replacement windows and, most recently, energy-efficiency retrofits.
“The idea to branch out really came from our customer base,” Moon said. “We have 50,000 customers and they kept telling us ‘you guys are great, you should do roofs, windows and decks.’ We thought it was silly if we didn’t diversify.”
In all areas, Moonworks does evaluations, product sales and installations.
Workers in the different segments of the company – gutters, roofs, windows and energy efficiency – specialize in their particular area, with only limited crossover to the other segments.
Although gutters still represent Moonworks’ main revenue stream, with roughly half of current sales, Moon said the other segments are catching up quickly.


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Consumers don't go by the hype surrounding a gadget
Melbourne, Dec 5 (ANI): No matter how much hype surrounds a gadget, consumers' opinions of the device would not be affected by the claims made by its creators, reveals an Aussie survey.
The survey conducted by PC Authority magazine involved 20,000 customers and ranked several hyped items last for reliability and service.
The survey, which lasted for a year named Sony mp3 Walkmans as the best music players, followed by iRiver and Samsung units. owever, despite all the hoopla surrounding Apple's iPod range, it did not feature in the top three consumer favourites.
Apple had launched a massive marketing campaign promoting the 4th generation iPod nano, but still Sony's mp3 players, with forgettable names such as "NWZE436FR", were favoured for their cheaper prices.
PC Authority editor Zara Baxter said the latest iPods were rated highly for reliability, but consumers were cunning enough to realise that other music players could do the same job for less money.
In fact, Apple's much-hyped iPhone also missed out on the best Smartphone/PDA award, which was in turn given to Asus, followed by the BlackBerry the runner-up.
However, Apple was applauded for its MacBook laptop and PC range, with consumers happy with customer support and reliability.
Nikon won the award for best digital cameras, followed by Panasonic and Canon.
The best internet service provider award went to the relatively unknown Westnet, followed by Internode. (ANI)
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Platforms such as Kstart, Microsoft Accelerator, TechHub, GSF have opened doors for startups and mentors like Ratan Tata, Mohandas Pai and Rajan Anandan are available to help entrepreneurs develop their ideas.
Leaning forward, Ratan Tata, chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons is intently trying to listen to the ‘Team Indus’ entrepreneurs explain how and what their four-legged, mini-tractor shaped robot does. Present at the launch of Kstart, a seed-cum-accelerator, Tata in conversation with Vani Kola, MD, Kalaari Capital, said, “As a young employee in Jamshedpur, when I had an idea, I would go to my bosses and they would tell me not to be so eager and that something was being done in a particular way for 30 years. And I would quietly go back. I yearned for an environment where I could be heard if I had an idea.”
Platforms such as Kstart, Microsoft Accelerator, TechHub, GSF, etc. open various doors for startups as mentors like Tata, Mohandas Pai, Rajan Anandan, are available to help entrepreneurs develop their ideas into a viable business model. Tata joined Kalaari Capital’s advisory board this year.
India stands third in the global startup ecosystem with around 4,200 startups by 2015 end. Earlier this month, $650 million fund manager Kalaari Capital launched its own accelerator and mentor programme in India for startups. Nasscom too announced its fifth batch under its 10,000 Startups Konnect programme, shortlisting over 200 applicants.
US-based TechHub that provides co-working space and a community of sorts for entrepreneurs has partnered with ‘Google for Entrepreneurs’ this month.
“With the startup ecosystem taking shape, it’s good more incubators and accelerators are coming up. But most of them are just announcements and lot less is happening on ground,” said Rajesh Sawhney, founder, Global Superangels Forum (GSF) accelerator. Four-year-old GSF receives over 1,000 applications a year of which it chooses just 10-15 startups to work with. “We don’t fund ideas, we fund teams. We want them to at least build their product, have a small team in place and show some traction—good or bad,” he added.
If entrepreneurs are to be believed, accelerators and incubators are indeed important to get a head-start when one is starting afresh. The hand-holding process starts right from the beginning, that is helping in hiring—in many cases even finding a co-founder.
“We started when I was in college and had zero knowledge or experience of how things worked. We are glad we spent our starting-up time at TLabs as that opened a lot many doors for us,” said Azhar Iqubal, co-founder, Inshorts. Earlier NewsInShorts, the company in partnership with media houses dilutes news articles into 60 words for quick read. It has investors such as Tiger Global, Times Internet, Flipkart founders Sachin and Binny Bansal among others.
The TLabs accelerator programme launched by Times Internet works with young startups for a limited period of time providing mentorship, opportunities to meet and discuss ideas with industry stalwarts. Within four months at TLabs,
InShorts (earlier NewsInShorts) was able to launch its Android application—a big leap for them from having just a Facebook page before they enrolled for the TLabs programme.
So how important are platforms like accelerators, incubators or the common working spaces for startups? “You can’t quantify the impact of their help, but it really calms you down when you are working with people who are going through the same challenges as you are. You know you are not alone,” Iqubal sighed.
Sawhney said that accelerators largely help in three ways: finding a right mix in the team, opening new doors to make their initial product or service viable and lastly, help the founders raise funding.
“It’s not to say that if we hadn’t enrolled in an accelerator programme we wouldn’t have got to where we are, but it definitely would have become much difficult. We didn’t know anything related to raising funds and when you are starting out, you need someone to tell you how system works,” said Gaurav Agarwal, founder, Gamezop.
The company recently raised seed round of $350,000 from talent management firm Kwan, Snapdeal chief product officer Anand Chandrasekaran and redBus co-founder Phanindra Sama, among others. Agarwal said GSF’s role was instrumental in helping them find potential investors.


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Photos: Monalisa shared her beautiful pics on social media...
Updated: May 10, 2023, 07:14 IST
Monalisa became bride wearing a red dress, said- she stole my heart
The beauty of 'Haseen Dilruba' Monalisa has gone crazy
This time did not share a simple saree look but became a bride
Wearing a Nath, mang tika, and heavy jewellery in it, she is looking very beautiful.
Decorated gajra in hair, dot on forehead, became a brand new bride
Sharing pictures of the bride, Monalisa showered love on her husband
Monalisa's caption caught attention, she said, "She has stolen my heart"
These pictures of Monalisa in bridal wear are from her show 'Bekaboo'. (PC. Social media)


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Verizon has teamed up with mobile couponing firm Cellfire to offer a free digital coupon service that its mobile and Fios TV customers can use in grocery stores.
The program, called “Spend Smart,” lets Verizon customers use mobile coupons in more than 20 grocery chains across the country. Participating stores include Safeway, ShopRite and Kroger.
“Mobile use and coupon use are both on the rise, and this initiative marries both of these trends by offering a solution for customers right on their device,” said Karen Meleta, VP of corporate communications at ShopRite. “It is a time-saver for them.”
Consumers can pre-select the coupons they want on their mobile phones, on a Verizon microsite, www.vzspendsmart.com, or on Fios TV’s Widget Bazaar Applications Marketplace. Consumers must also register their loyalty club numbers from participating grocery stores to their Verizon Spend Smart account, tying the effort to the grocery stores’ loyalty programs. The saved coupons will be applied to consumers’ purchases when they enter their loyalty numbers at the point of purchase.
“Americans redeem coupons,” said Richard Williams, executive director for digital media operations at Verizon Wireless. “We realized there was an opportunity to tie this to the mobile handset. ”
Cellfire first began working with Safeway last summer on digital coupon efforts for the chain, making it one of the first to offer a mobile loyalty program.Kroger began working with Cellfire for mobile coupons in 2008.
ShopRite is promoting the service on its Facebook page and through its e-mail list. Meleta said using mobile coupons is a natural transition for the company’s customers.
“The mobile device is something they are comfortable with, and using coupons is familiar, so it is easy to educate consumers,” she said.
The brands and products that the coupons correspond to rotate every two weeks, across all grocery categories. l


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LONDON (Reuters) - J Sainsbury (SBRY.L), Britain’s third-biggest supermarket group, has lifted its market share, helped by investment in its cheaper own-brand products, industry data showed on Tuesday.
Market researcher Kantar Worldpanel said Sainsbury’s sales rose 6.4 percent in the 12 weeks to October 28, increasing its share of the UK grocery market to 16.8 percent from 16.4 percent a year ago, as the group also continued to benefit from its sponsorship of the summer’s Paralympic Games.
Britain’s No. 4 grocer Wm Morrison Supermarkets (MRW.L) saw sales slip 0.4 percent in the period, pushing its market share down to 11.5 percent from 12.0 percent a year ago.
“Morrison’s performance this month will cause concern. Recent announcements about the development of online and convenience, which are the two fastest growing grocery channels, will no doubt be given added urgency as these channels continue to deliver growth for competitors,” said Edward Garner, director at Kantar Worldpanel.
In September, Morrison said it would ease back on its investment drive, reducing its new space target for the 2012-13 year due to expectations that high fuel prices and government austerity measures were likely to weigh on consumer spending well into next year.
Kantar said market leader Tesco (TSCO.L) achieved sales growth of 2.1 percent over the 12 weeks, with its share falling 0.5 percentage points to 30.5 percent.
Britain’s second-largest supermarket group Asda, part of Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N), saw its market share edge down 0.1 percentage point to 17.5 percent.
Privately-owned German discount retailer, Aldi, saw sales rise 29.0 percent in the period, pushing its market share up to 3 percent.
The data comes on the day a separate industry survey showed British retail sales slowed sharply in October as shoppers limited spending to essentials, dampening hopes that consumers will drive the economic recovery.
Following is a summary of Kantar’s market share figures in percent:
Reporting by Neil Maidment; Editing by Mark Potter


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Not to be outdone, Amazon is also expanding its streaming video services to Japan.
Netflix recently confirmed that it will officially launch in Japan – its first Asian country – on September 2nd. Now, Amazon has announced that it will also launch its Prime Instant Video offering in Japan in September.
This will be only the fourth country in which Amazon offers free Prime Video streaming to Prime subscribers (the US, UK, and Germany).
“As we’ve shown with the launch of Prime Video in the U.S. and around the world, we are investing significantly to bring high-quality, local and popular programming to Prime members, and our customers in Japan should expect the same investment,” Jasper Cheung, president of Amazon Japan, said in a statement. “We’ve been offering videos and DVDs in Japan for 15 years — we know the entertainment customers want — and we plan to deliver it with Prime Video, all at no additional cost.”
Amazon has offered Prime services in Japan for a decade, but this is the first time it’s adding Prime Instant Video to the package.
“We are passionate about making distinct, exclusive entertainment that will become Prime member’s next favorite TV show or movie, and we know Prime members in Japan will love what we introduce just for them,” said Amazon Studios VP Roy Price.


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Yuthasak Supasorn, Director General of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), has unveiled the fascinating program attendees can enjoy at this year’s Thailand’s most prestigious annual B2B travel trade event, which runs from May 31 to June 2
brought to you Tourism Authority of Thailand
The theme of this year’s Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) is Visit Thailand 2023: An amazing new chapter. Can you explain the purpose behind it?
We would like to invite friends from all over the world to come to our wonderful country and write their own impressive chapters which they can then share with their friends and family.
We focus on experiential tourism and hope to provide fresh travel experiences, aiming to create meaningful travel experiences for travelers and benefit local communities and the environment.
How will this theme permeate the entire project of TTM+? Can you share more about the planned showcase?
Over the three days of TTM+ 2023, the “Amazing New Chapter” experience will be depicted through many displays – such as Araksa Tea Garden, an organic tea garden in Chiang Mai; Ruk-Khon, a group of shadow puppet artists in Nakhon Si Thammarat; Luk Wa Group, a group of Young volunteers promoting Phetchaburi’s unique handicrafts; and Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, a center for alternative medicine and herbal healing.
Other events include an exhibition and tasting of seasonal fruits from the Eastern region, and an organic coffee brewing demonstration, which will be served alongside Thai desserts.
How will specially curated tours complement the showcases to enrich the attendee experience?
In addition to the presentations at the event, we also provided buyers and media with before and after tours to experience Thailand’s many new chapters first-hand.
The pre-tour features a bespoke itinerary highlighting responsible and sustainable tourism in Bangkok. “A New Chapter in Bangkok Food Tours” features food walks and Michelin bus food tours in the Bang Rak district.
The “Bangkok Multicultural Neighborhood Scootdy Tour” includes a scooter ride to the charming Kudichin neighborhood, while the “Bangkok and Beyond Tour” takes participants on an eco-friendly electric boat and tricycle to nearby Nonthaburi province.
The post-tour event for buyers and media aims to showcase meaningful travel experiences in all five regions of Thailand in terms of food, local lifestyle and local wisdom.
What are the highlights of TTM+ 2023? Are these also new to the trade show?
In addition to the trade segment, event highlights at TTM+ 2023 include Thailand Product Update, which will inform buyers, sellers and media about the latest developments and the latest travel products and services.
TTM Talk will focus on the future of tourism in Thailand and a GMS media briefing where GMS countries will provide updates on their tourism status and trends.
A newcomer to the trade show is Amazing Thailand Culinary City, a trade and consumer event. This will expand the prospect of Thai food tourism to an international level and serve as a live B2B stage between buyers and 30 Thai entrepreneurs, offering gourmet experiences ranging from food tours, dinner cruises to Thai cooking classes. The event will also include panel discussions as well as presentations and tastings of Thai cuisine.
How will TTM+ maintain TAT’s commitment to sustainable development?
At TTM+2023, TAT’s sustainability efforts are reflected through our criteria for selecting sellers.
Eligible sellers must have sustainability programs and activities, such as CSR programs about the environment, reducing electricity usage, conserving water, supporting local communities, or providing guests with insight into a community’s history, culture, or background.
In addition, the Thailand Pavilion also has a Sustainable Tourism Goals (STGs) standard exhibition to promote our active implementation of STGs in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The drive will be a national drive covering tourism across Thailand.
Want to learn more about Thailand’s leading annual travel trade event?
For more information on TTM+ 2023, please visit here.
For the latest news and updates on tourism in Thailand, visit here.


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E. coli-still circulating
According to FSIS, while Ranchers Beef ceased operations on
Further reports from CFIA dated October 27 through November 6 state that the source of E. coli-in not only ground beef, but also several other cuts of beef distributed through Canada-was directly attributed to Ranchers Beef. The company is currently under receivership and no longer operating. Remaining product in the Ranchers Beef warehouse has been detained by CFIA for further testing. When asked whether there was any connection between the company closing and CFIA action, CFIA spokesman, Garfield Balsom, said there was no correlation.
Two further, non-related recalls centered around potential E. coli contamination were announced by General Mills and Cargill. General Mills has recalled Totino’s and Jeno’s frozen pizzas with pepperoni contained in the toppings. The recall affects approximately 414,000 cases of pizza products currently in stores and in consumers’ freezers. According to CDC, 21 cases of E. coli from ten states have been isolated with eight people being hospitalized-four with kidney failure.
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Bison Gear & Engineering has promoted Bunnyray Larmond to senior application and sales engineer. Larmond joined the company four years ago as an application engineer after receiving his Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Wright State University in Dayton,OH.
Linda Ray joined Nordson Corp. as global business development manager for new markets in the Adhesive Systems Group. She will be based in Duluth, GA.
Juanita’s Foods (Wilmington, CA) has appointed brothers Mark and Aaron De La Torre to co-CEOs of the family owned company.
Eggland’s Best promoted John Cavaliere to marketing director and brought on Roger Koman as marketing manager and Sandy Ko as director of food science.
CPM Acquisition Corp. (CPM), a supplier of processing equipment to the animal feed, oilseed and food processing industries, has acquired Nanjing Ruiya Polymer Processing Equipment Cp., Ltd. of Nanjing, China. The CPM Ruiya Extrusion division will be aligned with CPM Century Extrusion.
Phillip Nelson, Purdue’s Scholle Chair Professor in Food Processing, has received the World Food Prize, an international award recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. Nelson is being honored for his work in aseptic processing, developing the “bag in a box” technology to process large quantities of seasonal crops such as tomatoes and oranges for long-term storage and bulk transportation.
Conwed Global Netting Solutions, supplier of lightweight plastic netting, has acquired the Tie-Net Unit of Tipper Tie, Inc., located in West Chicago.
Clemson University broke ground for a new 28,000 sq.-ft. building to house components of the packaging science and graphic communications departments in what will be the future home of the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics.
The 54th annual ISA International Instrumentation Symposium will be held May 5-8, 2008 at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front Hotel in Pensacola, FL. The symposium, dedicated to innovative instrumentation techniques and applications, is sponsored by the Process Measurement and Control, Test and Measurement, and Aerospace divisions of ISA.