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Ghanaian rapper Asem has announced that he is patiently waiting on Shatta Wale and Samini’s beef to come to an end so that the winner of that beef will finally face him.
He made this announcement via a tweet on Tuesday, 23rd February 2021.
Shatta Wale and Samini have been beefing each other the entire day which has compelled Samini to announce that he is going to release a diss song to Shatta to salvage the number of diss tracks Shatta Wale has done against him.
According to Asem the clash between Samini and Shatta Wale is a healthy one for the Ghanaian music industry. Hence waiting on them to beef the winner.
SEE TWEET BELOW;


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China today gave official notice that it is accepting shipments of U.S. pork, a move that should prove a boon to the U.S. pork industry. Pork produced on or after May 1 now can be exported to China.
The Asian nation closed its market to U.S. pork in late April 2009 in the wake of an outbreak in humans of novel H1N1 influenza, which the media misnamed “swine” flu. While in March it agreed to reopen its market to U.S. pork imports, China took until now to begin accepting product.
The U.S. pork industry exported nearly 400,000 metric tons of pork worth nearly $690 million to China/Hong Kong in 2008, making it the No. 3 destination for U.S. pork. Last year, U.S. pork exports to China/Hong Kong were down by 38 percent, falling to just under $427 million.

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Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) introduced the Data Breach Prevention and Compensation Act on January 10, 2018 in an effort to increase accountability of large Credit Reporting Agencies (CRAs) for data breaches involving consumer data. The bill, drafted in response to the September 2017 Equifax data breach revelations, seeks to impose direct administrative supervision over data security at CRAs, mandatory penalties on CRAs for data breaches, and increased compensation to consumers for stolen data.
In a press release issued this morning, Senator Warner explained that “[t]his bill will ensure that companies like Equifax – which gather vast amounts of information on American consumers, often without their knowledge – are taking appropriate steps to secure data that’s central to Americans’ identity management and access to credit.”
The major impacts of this proposed bill are three-fold.
1. Strict Liability Penalties
Most notably, the proposed bill seeks to impose strict liability penalties for breaches involving consumer data at CRAs. The current regulatory landscape for CRAs does not mandate penalties for consumer data breaches and, instead, provides for discretionary penalties based upon culpable conduct. In a departure from the status quo, this proposed “strict liability” means a CRA would be subject to automatic penalties for a data breach, even if there is no allegation that the CRA acted negligently or was otherwise culpable for allowing such a breach to occur.
The proposed mandatory strict liability penalties are uniquely heavy-handed as well – starting with a base penalty of $100 per consumer with one piece of personal identifying information compromised. Any additional pieces of personal identifying information compromised per consumer will be subject to a $50 penalty, with a total penalty capped at 50 percent of the CRA’s gross revenue from the prior year.
The bill also proposes to double the automatic per-consumer penalties and increase the maximum penalty to 75 percent of the CRA’s gross revenue in cases where the offending CRA fails to comply with the Federal Trade Commission’s data security standards or fails to timely notify the agency of a breach. This final provision appears to be a direct response to allegations that Equifax delayed notifying consumers and government agencies after its breach occurred.
2. Distribution of Penalty Proceeds
The second major impact of the bill concerns the proposed distribution of penalty proceeds. Current law does not require governmental agencies to distribute penalty proceeds to the affected consumers. The proposed bill seeks to change this status quo, requiring the FTC to use 50 percent of any penalty to compensate consumers. The remainder is allocated to the FTC to conduct cybersecurity research and inspections.
3. Direct Supervision of CRAs’ Cybersecurity by FTC
Speaking of the FTC, the third major impact of the bill is the proposed vesting of the FTC with direct supervision of cybersecurity at CRAs. The FTC currently lacks the authority to oversee the credit reporting industry as a whole, and CRAs in particular.
The bill attempts to fill that perceived regulatory void by creating an Office of Cybersecurity at the FTC to conduct annual inspections and ongoing supervision of cybersecurity at CRAs. Senators Warren and Warner propose that a new career official, to be known as the Director of Cybersecurity, should be appointed and tasked with supervising this office. One additional feature of the bill is that it proposes to authorize this new FTC office to promulgate new regulations outlining effective data security standards for CRAs and require CRAs to implement such standards by seeking injunctive relief in federal courts.
What Should CRAs Expect?
Given these proposals, what should CRAs expect moving forward? For starters, the proposed scope of the bill is limited to CRAs generating more than $7 million in annual revenue from the sales of consumer reports – meaning that only the largest CRAs would be affected. For entities within the bill’s purview, however, a regulatory sea change would be expected if it became law. The strict liability standard, in particular, would entirely upend the current liability landscape for CRAs and would require covered CRAs to essentially act as insurers of the security of the consumer data they possess.
The FTC’s proposed abilities to impose harsh strict liability penalties without a finding of culpable conduct and to seek injunctive relief to require that CRAs implement security measures of its choosing would likely constitute a significant burden to CRAs beyond what is currently required by federal law.
Likelihood of Bill Becoming Law
From a purely political perspective, a treacherous road appears to be ahead for the bill to become law. Democrats, of course, do not currently control either chamber of Congress and would need to build bipartisan support to pass the bill. It appears unlikely that President Trump would sign the bill into law, given his disinclination to enact new regulations and his stated goal to deregulate various related industries.
The financial services industry should not entirely discount the bill, however, as the Equifax breach affected a significant portion of the nation’s population, including lawmakers, and appeared to anger lawmakers from both parties. Thus, if a significant quantum of grassroots and lawmaker anger remains after the Equifax breach, the political will to enact this law may exist after all.


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Tesla Motors says it has begun taking orders for the Model S, an all-electric sedan that carries seven people and travels an extraordinary 300 miles between charges. A press release posted on the company’s website yesterday declares that the new model, expected to cost about $50,000, will be rechargeable from 120V, 240V, and 480V outlets. Using the 480V outlet, the company says the Model S can be recharged in 45 minutes.
The announcement is significant for several reasons: Up until now, pure EVs have offered a driving range of 70-150 miles, with recharge times typically taking six hours. Tesla’s latest claims would represent a huge boost for EV technology.
Tesla says the Model S will offer a choice of three battery packs, which will enable ranges of 160, 230 or 300 miles per charge.
The website press release did not indicate what type of battery would be used, how big the battery pack would be, nor what it will weigh. It also did not say how long it would take to charge the vehicle at 120V or 240V.
The California-based car company said it expects to start production of the Model S in late 2011.
Could our view of distant galaxies be obstructed by a lawnmower? That unlikely question is at the heart of a growing debate between the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and a robot manufacturer that seeks to build self-guided lawnmowers.
Design News readers spoke loudly and clearly after our recent news story about a resurgence in manufacturing -- and manufacturing jobs. Commenters doubted the manufacturers, describing them as H-1B visa promoters, corporate crybabies, and clowns. They argued that US manufacturers aren’t willing to train workers, preferring instead to import cheap labor from abroad.
Using wireless chips and accessories, engineers can now extract data from the unlikeliest of places -- pumps, motors, bridges, conveyors, refineries, cooling towers, parking garages, down-hole drills and just about anything else that can benefit from monitoring.
Focus on Fundamentals consists of 45-minute on-line classes that cover a host of technologies. You learn without leaving the comfort of your desk. All classes are taught by subject-matter experts and all are archived. So if you can't attend live, attend at your convenience.


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Consumer association Consumidores Financieros, Asociación Civil para su Defensa has filed a class action lawsuit against Banco Columbia SA over credit card commissions, according to an Aug. 3 statement.
The association alleges that the bank inserted a clause in credit card contracts by which it collected "agent commissions" of 6.50 Argentine pesos when customer use Rapipago and Pagofácil payment services. The class action calls for the removal of said fee.
Banco Columbia said it was analyzing the demand and would not officially respond to it immediately.
As of Aug. 3, US$1 was equivalent to 17.63 Argentine pesos.


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Additional dairy assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is being made available to producers. The support will be offered through the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP) and a new Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP). Each program is intended to help producers who have suffered through market abnormalities related to COVID and drought conditions.
“USDA is announcing a second set of payments of nearly $100 million to close-out the $350 million commitment under PMVAP through partnerships with dairy handlers and cooperatives to deliver the payments,” USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt said in a press release. “USDA is also announcing new assistance targeted to small to medium size organic dairy farmers to help with anticipated marketing costs as they face a variety of challenges from weather to supply-chain challenges.”
The new ODMAP is aimed at helping the organic sector, which has encountered a series of unique challenges in recent years. Administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), the program will provide financial support to cover a portion of producers’ estimated marketing costs for 2023. Up to $100 million has been allocated for the program.
The PMVAP provides assistance to dairy producers that received a lower value because of complications created by COVID and ensuing federal policies. The first round of payments issued as part of the program were distributed to more than 25,000 eligible producers. More than $250 million in payments were sent out to dairy farmers through the PMVAP. Industry groups have expressed their support for the additional dairy assistance being made available.
“While losses due to the combination of unforeseen market circumstances and an inadequate Class I pricing system have not been fully remedied, USDA and congressional efforts will aid thousands of dairy producers who otherwise would have absorbed losses created by policies that didn’t work for them,” said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “It’s heartening to see such effective leadership for our industry on Capitol Hill as well as in the administration.”


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Apple has added a new one to its social media accounts. The company has created an official account for itself at TikTok, one of the most popular social media platforms of recent times. The created account is currently empty and is being followed by very few people.
US-based technology giant Apple today serves consumers with dozens of products. Technology enthusiasts closely follow tablets and other consumer electronics products as well as smartphones made by Apple. Apple, on the other hand, advertises the technological products it releases on the internet, using social media or other online platforms.
In our news that we share with you from time to time, we are talking about the posts made by Apple’s social media accounts. Now it seems that a new platform has been added to the accounts. Apple opened an official account for TikTok, one of the most popular social media platforms of recent times. Apple thereafter; In addition to Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, it will also share on TikTok.
No sharing has been made from Apple’s TikTok account so far
No sharing has been made from the TikTok account opened by Apple so far. Also, Apple did not follow any person or institution from its official TikTok account and did not like the sharing of anyone. However, the company seems to start sharing on this platform in the coming days and will share its product promotions via TikTok.
The official account created by Apple via TikTok can be accessed under the username “@apple”. It seems that consumers have not yet fully discovered Apple’s TikTok account. Because Apple’s TikTok account is currently being followed by very few people. However, after Apple started sharing on TikTok, this account is expected to increase in popularity and be followed by more users.


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Dick's Sporting Goods is ramping up its recruitment efforts to staff its new Field & Stream store, a specialty concept focusing on outdoor merchandise.
The company, which is licensing the name from the iconic outdoors magazine, expects to open the store in August in Cranberry Township.
The Findlay-based retailer said in an announcement Tuesday it is "currently hiring hunters, anglers, campers and outdoor enthusiasts" for a store it claims will "offer the finest selection of merchandise from the most trusted outdoor brands and provide in-depth professional services for archery equipment, fishing gear, firearms and more."
Dick's did not divulge how many employees it expected to hire.
Tim Schooley covers retail, real estate and construction. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.org or 412-208-3826.


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Sony have surprised several people with their cross-generation approach when it comes to major first party releases. Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales both released for PS4, and Horizon Forbidden West will as well, while there are questions about God of War: Ragnarok as well. Sony have said on multiple occasions that they’re going to keep releasing games for the PS4 for at least a couple more years- but one game that definitely won’t be cross-gen is the upcoming racing sim Gran Turismo 7.
Sony recently published a new video highlighting some major games that are going to be releasing for the PS5 in the near future, and confirmed while showing off Gran Turismo 7 (starting at the 0:21 mark) that the game will be coming exclusively to PS5, with no PS4 release planned. The video states that the game will launch in 2021.
Meanwhile, Sony mentioned in a previous video that Gran Turismo 7 was one among several upcoming first party titles that was due out in the first half of 2021. It seems, however, that they have now updated that video to remove that launch window for the game- so it might not necessarily come out in the first half of the year.
Gran Turismo 7 will support ray-tracing and run in 4K at 60 FPS. It will also leverage the DualSense’s unique features.
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You can follow this event on Twitter using #UnlockTheBox
The Internet age has given rise to an explosive proliferation of diverse voices and new innovative ways to access them. But in the video marketplace, it is still challenging for independent and minority voices to connect rich and diverse content to consumers.
To that end, last week the Federal Communications Commission announced two items for its February agenda critical to giving consumers, content creators, and tech innovators greater opportunities than ever before. One would create a competitive marketplace for consumer choice on video devices, lowering the enormous costs they currently shell out to their cable providers; the other seeks to examine the systemic problems content creators face in gaining viewership in a world where Big Cable has all the leverage.
Join us for a conversation about the systemic challenges of bringing diverse voices to the video marketplace and giving consumers greater choices in accessing content.
*Lunch will be provided*
Brian Woolfolk, Principal at Swan Creek Strategies
Mark Cooper, Economist at Consumer Federation of America
Joseph Torres, Senior External Affairs Director at Free Press
John Bergmayer, Senior Staff Attorney at Public Knowledge
Eric Easter, Chairman of the National Black Programming Consortium
Chris Lewis, Vice President of Government Affairs at Public Knowledge
Image credit: Flickr


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A message to our customers
At Logic, we believe in product quality.
Health authorities in the US and Canada are investigating possible cases of respiratory illnesses, which have been allegedly associated with vaping, and we would like to share our position with you.
What we understand from the US health authorities investigating these cases is that many of the patients in the US acknowledged a history of vaping e-liquids containing THC (cannabis oil). On November 8, 2019 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that vitamin E acetate has been found in all lung samples from 29 patients in 10 states and has identified it as a “chemical of concern” in vaping-related illnesses. Vitamin E acetate is an additive found in some vaping products, typically those that contain THC (a component of cannabis).
At this point in time, very little information has been released about the reported Canadian cases and we do not know if the patients were vaping THC or other illicitly obtained, unregulated e-liquids. Health Canada is advising consumers that “Products obtained from the illegal market are not subject to any controls or oversight and may pose additional risks to your health and safety”. This is sound advice. We recently learned that a London, Ontario teen who fell ill this summer “regularly added THC to his vaping fluid,” which consisted of illegal flavours such as “cotton candy”.
We are not aware of any Logic product being linked to these reports and being part of the respective investigations. In our Logic range of nicotine-containing products, we do not offer THC/cannabis e-liquids and we do not use vitamin E acetate. All Logic e-liquids are subject to a robust product stewardship program, including toxicological assessments and quality control of all ingredients used. Only after having passed thorough this examination are Logic e-liquids released for sale.
We believe that e-cigarettes should be thoughtfully regulated, existing regulation should be enforced and that minors should never vape. This is why our company supports rigorous age verification, health warnings, clear ingredient and nicotine disclosure and the ban on the use of advertising, images and flavours that appeal to youth.


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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Mercer County vape shop is among six vaping dealers across the nation targeted in a lawsuit from the U.S. Attorney over the altering of vape products without FDA auth
Men’s grooming and lifestyle consumer brand Manscaped has launched across 800 Woolworths stores nationwide.
The product range comprises electric trimmers, after-shaving wipes, deodorant, bo
CALABASAS HILLS, CALIF. – As part of its 2021 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, The Cheesecake Factory Inc. announced it will transition 75% of its pork supply to gestation crate-free pr
Greetings from Magic Kingdom! We hopped aboard the resort Monorail today to take a look at everything that’s happening in the park, so let’s go!
We first made a stop at Uptown
888-776-0942 from 8 AM - 10 PM ET
The addition of the Springfield, MO , and Canton, NY , facilities strengthens Tosca's service to its cheese customers and adds capacity for future
Drug smugglers lost out on a shipment of cocaine hidden in crates of bananas after it was delivered to Czech supermarkets before it could be intercepted in Germany.
The entire haul was eve
Garena Free Fire Max redeem codes for today, July 19 are available now. The codes bring in a fresh dose of freebies for gamers. If you've been playing the popular game, you must be knowing all a


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Encyclopaedia Britannica to end print edition
A small part of my childhood just died. Encyclopaedia Britannica is to cease publishing its print edition after more than 200 years, reports the Daily Telegraph. I used to spend hours browsing through our set. I learnt so much.
The publisher is ditching its weighty tomes to concentrate on an internet version, after recognising that knowledge was changing so quickly that the they were becoming obsolete as soon as they were issued.
Its handsomely-presented volumes have been in print since they were first published in Edinburgh in 1768. They will stop being available when the current stock of 2010 editions runs out, the Chicago-based company said. Executives said the end of the printed, 32-volume set had been foreseen for some time.


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Lenovo is to launch an Android tablet for the business market designed to ease deployment and security concerns for IT administrators and improve user productivity. The Lenovo ThinkPad tablet will ship...
Apple has also patented a system that could enable users to authenticate themselves with multiple devices
Factory shutdowns in China have already hit Surface device production and will affect revenues in the current quarter, Microsoft warns
Windows 10X operating system will offer better support for multi-screen devices and run applications in containers for improved security
Cumulative update issued on Tuesday loads incorrect user profiles and resets desktop and Start menu
Sales of new iPhone 11 models drove Apple's quarterly revenues up to $91.8bn


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Last year, with more than 600,000 call centre workers, the Philippines officially overtook India as the world’s call centre capital. (BBC, 15th May 2012)
Filipinos pride themselves on being approachable and friendly – a trait which is essential for speaking to strangers on the phone every day. But a good phone manner is no longer enough. The industry is changing fast and in order to be competitive, call centres in the Philippines are investing in technology.
Raffy David at Teleserv, a call centre that caters for both Philippine and overseas clients, says: ‘It’s all about enhancing the customer experience. We want to give them a fast, efficient and highly personalised service.’
Morrisons, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket chain, is also investing in customer service. Morrisons differentiates itself through its focus on freshness of produce and through its exceptional customer service. The company recognises that its store colleagues have a direct impact on the level of customer service provided, which in turn affects the levels of repeat business the company receives.
It has therefore an ongoing programme of training and development to ensure its store colleagues have the skills, both personal and professional, to deliver a personalised service for customers. Fundamental to this approach is a focus on engaging employees and gaining their commitment.
Teleserv in the Philippines is benefitting from new technology initiatives. As it now gets an increasing number of queries via email, the company has developed a system which filters emails so that common topics are grouped together. This allows the agent to write one answer to multiple queries.
Another of the firm’s innovations is a system that groups all social media into one folder, allowing employees to instantly see every message, no matter how it comes into the centre.
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Japanese yen’s digital plan to become clearer in late 2022, ruling party official says
By Leika Kihara and Kentaro Sugiyama
TOKYO, July 5 (Reuters) – Japan will have more clarity on what a digital yen would look like at the end of next year, said a lawmaker overseeing the ruling party’s digital currency plan, potentially starting a war of territory between traditional lenders and online platform operators.
The Bank of Japan launched the first phase of its central bank digital currency (CBDC) experiment in April, joining its counterparts aiming to keep pace with the rapid pace of private innovation.
It hopes to move to phase two next year to define some key functions of a digital yen, such as the entities that will act as intermediaries between the BOJ and deposit holders.
“By the end of next year, we will have a clearer picture of what Japan’s CBDC would look like,” Hideki Murai, who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s panel on Friday, told Reuters on Friday. digital currencies.
While no immediate decision is made on whether to issue a CBDC, more details on its design could spark debate on how issuing CBDCs might affect financial institutions, he said. .
This could test the BOJ’s argument that a digital yen will not crowd out or interfere with private companies, Murai said.
Japan’s financial industry is already facing massive changes as non-bank retailers begin to offer various means of online settlement, venturing into commercial bank territory.
If the CBDC is designed in a way that makes commercial banks key intermediaries, it could shift the business and data from those platform providers to banks, Murai said.
“If the BOJ were to issue CBDC, it would have a huge impact on financial institutions and Japan’s settlement system,” Murai said. “The CBDC has the potential to completely reshape the changes taking place in Japan’s financial industry.”
Murai also said the BOJ must ensure that a digital yen is made compatible with the CBDCs of other developed countries, in part to counter China’s rapid progress towards issuing a digital yuan.
The BOJ is one of a group of seven major central banks that are jointly reviewing the main characteristics of CBDCs.
“If a digital yuan becomes so convenient that it is frequently used by tourists or becomes a primary means of settlement for trade, the relationship between the yen and the yuan could change” and erode the yen’s status as a safe haven currency , said Murai. (Reporting by Leika Kihara and Kentaro Sugiyama; Editing by Sam Holmes)


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Google about to offer yet another incentive to go Nexus
As if instant software updates and the lack of custom user interfaces or bloatware wasn’t enough, Google may be about to offer yet another incentive for Android fans to snap-up a Nexus device.
A teardown of the forthcoming Google Photos update (v1.21) indicates that the company is about to offer users free, unlimited photo and video storage at original quality resolution.
Android Police (via CNET) discovered a line in the code reading: “Unlimited free storage for original quality photos — videos uploaded from your Nexus device.”
Right now, resolution is capped at 16-megapixels, which is still rather huge, especially given the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X only have 12.3 megapixel cameras.
See also: Nexus 6P review
It’ll be more of a boost for those recording video on the 4K-capable video camera, who’ll no longer have to settle for 1080p back-ups.
It’s not yet clear when Google plans to serve up the update for Nexus device owners, or whether the feature will be rollout out to other Android users.
Android Police also points out it’ll be interesting to see how this works with photos that aren’t taken by a Nexus device.
If serious photographers were able to upload their 40-megapixel photos via the Nexus, that could be a huge boon to photographers.


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‘There’s still work to be done’
The push comes as the industry’s all-important upfront ad haggle is about to begin, and Madison Avenue is called upon to expand early efforts to invest more in diverse-owned channels that have long been overlooked. Many media agencies, including Magna Global and GroupM, have been hosting sessions to familiarize clients with these media channels, and have made commitments to allocate a portion of their clients’ budgets to diverse-owned publishers. OMG has not made a specific pledge to allocate clients’ budgets to diverse-owned media; instead, it launched a Diverse Creators Network last summer, which aims to elevate creators of color.
“We need more clients and agencies to get serious about these initiatives, which means following the audience and having an impact with their marketing resources and dollars. If we get fair and equal representation, client businesses will be healthier,” said Raymond Goulbourne, executive VP of media sales at BET.
RSVP for Ad Age Next: Multicultural Marketing on May 9 at AdAge.com/NextMulticultural
Omnicom named Clorox, State Farm, Delta and Hormel among its clients involved in the initiative. The next event in the series is slated to take place in October.
“Representation continues to be a critical factor shaping the marketplace and we’re encouraged by the expanding number of brands leaning into minority targeted investments—but, there’s still work to be done,” said John Kozack, EVP of US Multimedia Sales at TelevisaUnivision, which is involved in the initiative. “The population surge and economic power of US Hispanics offers the biggest growth opportunity for brands today, which is why we’re working closely with agency partners like OMG to help clients build reach to incremental audiences.”
Vevo’s Robert Vélez, VP of US multicultural and Latam sales, echoed that “multicultural buys have become the keystone of a mass-market strategy.”
“Where your ad runs is an endorsement of the surrounding content, so it’s imperative to invest in premium, diverse-led content that truly embodies cultural nuance and is accurately and fairly representative,” Vélez added. “Advertisers need to take accountability and responsibility for the environment where their ads run.”
Read Ad Age’s latest news on diversity, equity and inclusion.


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(REUTERS) -- Stocks rose modestly on Friday, putting equities on track for a fourth day of gains as more strong earnings partially offset a weaker-than-expected reading on economic growth.
Both Amazon.com Inc. and Expedia Inc. reported profits that topped consensus estimates. Expedia surged 27 percent to $41.50 and was the top percentage gainer on the S&P 500, followed by Amazon, which climbed 15.3 percent to $225.98.
With 287 S&P 500 companies reporting, about 73 percent have topped expectations, according to Thomson Reuters data.
Economic data has been mixed in recent days, a trend that was reflected in the latest report. First-quarter gross domestic product expanded at a 2.2 percent annual rate, below the forecast of 2.5 percent.
Earnings have been spectacular, and that's a shot in the arm to investors, but GDP is acting as a counterweight, said David Dietze, president and chief investment strategist at Summit, New Jersey-based Point View Wealth Management.
When coupled with other weak data, the ghost of a slowdown starts to loom and that's causing investors to pause a little despite better-than-expected results from blue chips like Amazon.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 33.72 points, or 0.26 percent, at 13,238.34. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 2.70 points, or 0.19 percent, at 1,402.68. The Nasdaq Composite Index put on 15.20 points, or 0.50 percent, at 3,065.81.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq were both on track for their best weeks in a month. A blowout quarter from Apple Inc gave the Nasdaq its best day of the year earlier this week.
The moves in the indexes have wiped out much of April's losses. After three days of gains, the S&P is well above its 50-day moving average.
Procter & Gamble Co. cut its full-year profit view and posted lower earnings. Shares fell 3.5 percent to $64.55, the biggest percentage decliner on the Dow.
Starbucks Corp. fell 5.1 percent to $57.57 and was one of the biggest percentage decliners on the Nasdaq 100 <.NDX> as weakness in Europe pressured global sales.
Earnings at both Chevron Corp. and Merck & Co. came in slightly above estimates. Merck shares dipped 0.1 percent at $38.42 as revenue trailed the Wall Street view, while Chevron was 0.1 percent lower at $106.17.
Ford Motor Co.'s results surpassed expectations as its North American unit reported the best profit in at least 12 years. But the stock fell 1.6 percent to $11.67 after executives said it lost U.S. market share in April.
Consumer sentiment was little changed in April, as Americans expected the economy to slowly improve though they were less cheery about the state of their own finances, a survey showed.
Earlier in the week, reports showed jobless claims data remained above levels from earlier this year, while demand for long-lasting manufactured goods tumbled by the most in three years in March.
(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)


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Christmas tree season expected to be greenBy KIMBERLY HOUGHTON
Union Leader Correspondent
November 15. 2013 10:08PM
LITCHFIELD — Area tree farms are getting ready for Black Friday, which marks the unofficial start of New Hampshire's Christmas tree business.
The state's holiday tree industry is valued at about $4 million annually, according to the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food.
For Paul Lemire, owner of Noel's Tree Farm in Litchfield, the kickoff of the tree season Nov. 29 has been months in the making.
"We have been working for weeks now getting stuff ready and getting everything finalized. We expect this to be a big year for us," said Lemire, who owns the farm with his wife, Catherine. Their tree operation consists of about 9 acres and 9,500 trees on the plantation.
They hosted Gov. Maggie Hassan on Friday, at which time she cut the state's official first Christmas tree of the season.
This is the second time the Lemire family has had a visit from a governor. Two years ago, former Gov. John Lynch and his wife also toured the farm and selected some personal trees for the holiday.
"I was so pleased to hear that my farm was chosen this year," said Lemire, who said he welcomed the governor and Lorraine Merrill, commissioner of agriculture.
Last year, Noel's Tree Farm, at 21 Charles Bancroft Highway, sold about 3,000 trees, and Lemire is anticipating a similar season this year. Holiday favorites include balsam, Fraser, Canaan and concolor fir trees, according to Lemire, who favors the concolor white fir tree. "They seem to last really, really well, and have a very citrusy scent," he said.
After Thanksgiving, there are only four weekends before Christmas Day, said Lemire, explaining the tree season will be shortened by a week because of the calendar.
"Black Friday weekend will be crazy for us. Many people will come to cut down their own trees," he said.
In addition to harvesting its own trees, Noel's Farm also purchases trees for resale from other growers. It also sells wreaths and other greenery items for the Christmas season.
Lemire said his business just finished building its second fire pit, and he is optimistic it will draw big crowds in the coming weeks.
"It is like a festival," he said, adding there is a petting zoo and reindeer at the farm and visits from Santa Claus on Sunday afternoons.
The tree farm will open for the season Nov. 29.


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Homebuying in San Clemente in the third quarter rose 16 percent as 309 residences sold vs. 266 a year ago, according to CoreLogic.
Here are nine trends in and around San Clemente from the report:
1. San Clemente ZIP code 92672 -- 152 homes sold in the period vs. 109 a year ago. That's a sales gain of 39.4 percent. Median selling price of $865,000 vs. $755,000 a year ago, a gain of 14.6 percent.
2. San Clemente ZIP 92673 -- 157 homes sold, same as a year ago. Median of $820,000 vs. $882,500 a year ago, a loss of 7.1 percent.
And here's some countywide trends of note for the July-to-September period:
3. Orange County median price for the quarter was $643,000 -- up 4.9 percent or $30,000 in a year!
4. Countywide sales were 10,077 -- up 0.2 percent in a year!
5. Local single-family home sales totaled 6,111 -- down 3.9 percent from a year ago. Median selling price was $705,000 -- up 3.7 percent from a year ago.
6. Resales of O.C. condos were 2,920 -- down 0.7 percent from a year ago. Median selling price was $450,000 -- up 5.4 percent from a year ago.
7. Builder sales in the county were 1,046 -- up 38 percent from a year ago. Median selling price was $820,000 -- down 0.6 percent from a year ago.
8. In Orange County's 27 least expensive ZIPs -- median sales price at $568,750 and below -- 2,754 homes sold. That's down 5.6 percent compared to a year ago.
9. In the 27 priciest ZIPs -- median sales price beginning at $705,000 -- 3,147 homes sold. That's up 8.9 percent compared to a year ago.
- Violent weekend in Orange County punctuated with double-shooting in Santa Ana
- Man driving a stolen vehicle avoids capture after running through an Irvine supermarket
- Retail-restaurant roundup: Mini burgers coming to Aliso Viejo, a new pie shop in Seal Bea
- Suspect in Santa Ana hit-and-run that killed motorcyclist turns himself in
- Shooting wounds man in alley behind Costa Mesa taverns


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Order pizza with one touch of a fridge magnet ‘panic button’
By Niki Goddard on Thursday, March 29, 2012
If picking up your phone to order a pizza is simply too much of an effort for you there is now another way; a pizza panic button.
Red Tomato Pizza in Dubai has produced a 'VIP Fridge Magnet' that, when pressed, will transmit a signal that connects to the internet and orders your favourite pizza for you via the company's online ordering system.
The button's built-in Bluetooth chip connects to your mobile phone and transmits a pre-programmed pizza order back to the Red Tomato Pizza restaurant. Once your order's been received, you'll get a confirmation via SMS.
Unfortunately pizza buttons are not available in the UK, we'll have to put up with getting our phones out and using an app like out-of-date plebs. But, as ordering online increasingly becomes the norm, I predict that more and more companies will be inventing new ways for us to buy their product.


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Anmol Gupta Delhi 16th December 2015
Harley-Davidson launched its 2016 model lineup in India starting at Rs 4.52 lakh (ex-Delhi) for the new Street 750. In the new Street 750, the suspension and engine sees a few changes along with a revised braking system.
In the Sportster series, the revamped Iron 883 and Forty-Eight are now priced at Rs 7.37 lakh (ex-Delhi) and Rs 9.12 lakh (ex-Delhi) respectively. With the update, these motorcycles get vlog lighter alloys, revised seating and new suspension which includes adjustable rear shocks.
Happyho also provide best tarot reading services in Noida and Delhi NCR India area.


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Fred DeLuca started Subway at the age of 17 with a $1 000 loan from business partner Peter Buck. Today it's the largest fast food chain in the world. Here are his lessons on building a successful business. Vital Stats Player: Fred DeLuca ... Entrepreneur, 3 weeks ago
13 things you didn't know about Subway - MSN Canada, 1 month ago
1 images for "fred deluca"
Former New England Mafia boss Francis "Cadillac Frank" Salemme was ordered held without bail Wednesday in the 1993 murder of a Boston nightclub manager, but his lawyer said he denies participating in the killing and will fight the charge "tooth and ...ABC News, 2 weeks ago
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In the few years leading up to 2015, McDonald's painted the picture of a kingdom in decline. Once the pinnacle of fast food, Mickey D's and its burger peers had lost their luster as clever competitors (Taco Bell, Dunkin Donuts, Chick-fil-A) and ...QSR Online, 3 weeks ago
FORT WAYNE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SUBWAY® restaurants has launched the " Fresh Water 4 All " campaign to help alleviate the global shortage of clean drinking water. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: ...Benzinga.com, 1 month ago
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July 06--Connecticut-based Subway sandwich shop will add up to 150 new jobs in state over the next few years as it begins the launch of its digital group. Subway Digital, the chains' new division that launched in early June, will evaluate all ...Bloomberg, 1 month ago
on your WebpageAdd Widget >Get your members hooked!


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Florida Food Products (FFP), one of the world’s largest independent providers of natural ingredients has reached an agreement to acquire Javo Beverage Company subject to customary closing conditions. Javo is a natural extractor of clean label coffee, tea, and botanicals with a focus on beverage applications. Javo is widely recognized for its proprietary extraction capabilities that facilitate the delivery of exceptional cold brew coffee solutions to industry-leading consumer brands, manufacturers, and restaurants.
FFP is an innovator, formulator and producer of naturally sourced clean label ingredients. Its products provide nutrition, improve texture and flavor, extend shelf life and provide consumers with clean label and natural products. FFP is one of the largest independent providers of clean-label ingredients, and the company’s portfolio focuses exclusively on natural solutions. FFP’s portfolio of natural ingredients has applications across every segment of the food and beverage industry, along with a rapidly growing presence in the health and wellness category.
In 2021, Ardian, a private investment house, acquired a majority stake in FFP from MidOcean Partners and established a new partnership to accelerate FFP’s long-term growth objectives. Under this partnership, FFP has completed the acquisition of Comax, T-Bev, and now Javo. With the support of the Ardian and MidOcean teams, FFP has scaled dramatically and has more than doubled over the last year, with revenue approaching $300 million.
FFP’s portfolio diversified
The addition of Javo further diversifies FFP’s portfolio, adding a number of new natural ingredients, while significantly enhancing its growth profile. FFP plans to use its expanded capabilities to offer innovative solutions that provide consumers great tasting, clean label products with the health attributes and transparency they desire. As part of FFP’s growth plans, the company continues to expand its talented executive team, accelerate its investment in innovation and enhance its capabilities and services with new facilities, equipment and locations.
“We’re ecstatic for Javo to join the FFP platform,” says Jim Holdrieth, FFP CEO. “Javo’s best-in-class products are supported by a talented team and unique manufacturing capabilities that will drive a series of innovative new product launches. As part of the FFP family, we’re confident that Javo can offer our customers compelling new solutions that build on our deep portfolio of clean label ingredients.”
“Our investment in Javo is a testament to the differentiated capabilities and resources that Ardian has brought to the FFP platform,” says Thibault Basquin, deputy head of the Ardian buyout team. “As we move forward, the FFP team will be able to leverage further our extensive experience in the ingredient sector to efficiently evaluate new opportunities and be the buyer of choice for natural ingredient businesses.”
“Javo is an impressive organization, which will play a critical role in our continued expansion in the beverage category,” says Christopher Sand, managing director in the Ardian buyout team. “Javo’s innovative products complement FFP’s portfolio of natural ingredients and will position the Company for accelerated growth. We intend to continue our strategy of building the world’s largest independent provider of clean label ingredients by expanding our portfolio of best-in-class products, acquiring additional clean label ingredient businesses, and investing in our talented team, advanced facilities, and innovative pipeline.”
“The addition of Javo to the FFP platform is a continuation of the exceptional growth that we have seen since our initial investment in 2018, and further solidifies our position in natural beverage ingredients and solutions,” says Steven Loeffler, principal at Midocean Partners. “Building upon the solid foundation we have established over the last four years, FFP is poised to dramatically increase its scale as it launches exciting new systems and expands into a series of high-growth adjacencies. We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Jim Holdrieth, the FFP management team, and Ardian as we progress in this exciting new phase for FFP.”
The transaction is anticipated to close in the third quarter of 2022. Houlihan Lokey acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Javo. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.


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Montreal ESG tech firm Novisto raises $20m in Series B funding
Novisto, a Montreal startup that helps large corporations track and report on ESG performance, has raised $20m.Read More
The tech startup ecosystem in France is witnessing a spectacular growth, thanks to the fresh pool of aspirational entrepreneurs and investors.
French startup Meero wants to make the web and mobile apps look beautiful by helping businesses get good photos.
The company has raised a new $45 million round led by Alven Capital and Idinvest. New funds come eight months after a $15 million raise.
Meero, a Paris, France-based platform that gives access to professional photography at an affordable price, raised €15M in Series A funding.


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Publication | BRG
FTC Imposes Personal Liability on CEO for Company’s Subpar Security, Privacy, and Records Management Programs
Matt Meinel and Michael Snodgrass
On January 10, 2023, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) finalized its enforcement action against Drizly and against its CEO in his personal capacity for failure to implement proper security, privacy, and records management measures. This is the first time the FTC has held a company official personally liable for privacy and security compliance, a practice the FTC promises to continue. This decision comes on the heels of the recent criminal jury verdict against Uber’s former chief security officer, harkening what may become a trend of holding corporate officers liable for security-related decisions and actions.
In its enforcement action, the FTC emphasized that, in addition to Drizly’s poor security practices, the company’s poor privacy and records management practices dramatically increased the negative impact of the security incidents on consumers—and therefore dramatically increased Drizly’s penalty.


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Union for the Mediterranean Women Business Forum promotes role of women in circular economy and in tech and innovation
November 25, 2019
The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Women Business Forum 2019 took place in Barcelona on 19-21 November within the margins of the Smart City Expo World Congress. It convened women entrepreneurs, national women business organizations, international leading organizations and business support schemes from the Euro-Mediterranean region to share knowledge and ideas on various business opportunities, good practices and innovative and successful business models. This year’s forum focused on promoting the role of women in the circular economy and in tech and innovation.
During the roundtable on Women in the Circular Economy, challenges and opportunities for women in the Euro-Mediterranean region were discussed and different business models were presented. One of the main barriers for women is access to finance, namely lack of available finance and lack of loans. Political support is needed to help women access finance and grow their business.
The speakers highlighted the need for more coaching and capacity building to promote women-led businesses as they often struggle to sell their business ideas to investors.
In the session tackling access to finance, speakers emphasized the need for economic incentives, not just cutting taxations, but providing incentives for large enterprises when they incorporate smaller businesses led by women.
During the roundtables on Women in Tech and Innovation, speakers underlined the need to attract more women to the sector and addressed the issue of access to finance for women in tech and innovation.


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August 2015 saw the government claim that Britain had returned to its rightful role as a global brewing powerhouse, with community pubs minister Marcus Jones declaring that a new brewery opens in Britain every other day.
A surge during the past two years has seen breweries opening up at rate of three every week ? with all regions sharing this success.
Craft breweries, including Magic Rock in West Yorkshire, brew pubs such as One Mile End in East London, and award-winning regional breweries, like the Peak Districts Thornbridge, are all playing a part in the British beer boom. And the result has been an economic boost and jobs for young people. The latest figures show the beer and pubs sector is now responsible for 869,000 jobs in the UK.
However, while the rest of the UK has seen a slowdown in the number of new breweries being created as of late, London has reached a new high; jumping by 24 per cent in just a year from 29 in 2014 to 36 in 2015. This is according to UHY Hacker Young, which also suggested the ever-growing popularity of craft beer, alongside other boutique food and drink products, has meant the number of micro-breweries within the city has rapidly increased.
Read more about craft beer:
- Heineken buys stake in Californian brewer to take US craft beer vibe global
- Craft beer craze continues as former Magners sales head joins Scottish brewery
- HonestBrew uses strong customer base to bottle up crowdfunding round
The firm also claimed the success of such breweries has led to numerous business opportunities, including The Camden Town Brewery recently being acquired by AB InBev in a deal worth a rumoured 85m.
One of the key factors in the rising popularity of craft beer is its reputation as a luxury product, UHY explained, often viewed by consumers as an aspirational item.
James Simmonds, partner at UHY Hacker Young said: Craft beer has quickly become the drink of choice for pub-goers- especially in London which has cemented its position at the centre of the UKs craft beer industry. Its not surprising that London has such a large amount of new microbreweries, with the high numbers of young professionals working within the City.
He explained that because craft beer is viewed as a luxury good, customers are prepared to pay a higher price in comparison to other more commercially branded beers.
Simmonds added: Many microbreweries within London have had such success in the last few years, that they have now become household names and this in turn has only spurred more entrepreneurs to try their hand at brewing. The popularity of craft beer has spread from its core followers in the ‘hipster’ areas of Shoreditch and Hackney across the Capital and the rest of the UK.


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Meet the next generation of consumers where they are now. Join us virtually for The New Consumer, on March 30, for tips from Clutch, Mars Wrigley and more. Sign up for free.
Women’s Health Thursday kicked off Vision21, its yearlong multiplatform initiative aimed at encouraging its audience of 45 million (combined print subscribers and social and website visitors) to “dream big” in 2021.
The Hearst Magazines title said 92% of respondents to a survey last November said they wanted to reshape their vision for a fresh start in 2021.
“This initiative is so what Women’s Health does,” editor in chief Liz Plosser told Adweek. “The pandemic year put their life on pause.


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Why this is important to Wisconsin businesses: Demand is outpacing supply of RVs, boats, bicycles and more.
Social distancing rules implemented during the pandemic have caused an unexpected boom in Canada's recreation sector. Camping, biking, boating and golf are some activities that have been deemed safe, and Canadians are embracing them with renewed vigor.
Recreational vehicle sales and rental companies have seen business boom this summer, and it makes sense: with vacation options limited, RVs offer the opportunity for families to travel together, eat together and rest together in a confined, socially distanced environment.
Boat sales and rentals have also spiked during the summer of 2020. Many boat dealers have noticed people either trying it for the first time or upgrading their existing boats for newer, bigger models, leaving one businessman to predict that “we are going to have one of our best years in a decade.”
Bicycles have also become a hot commodity in 2020. Cycling not only allows the rider the opportunity for exercise, but a chance to commute without taking public transit. Many cities (including Toronto) have accommodated this shift by opening additional bike lanes.
Demand has stretched beyond boats and RVs: Consumers have also taken to golf, camping, paddleboarding and birdwatching. The trend is expected to continue through winter: Statista reports that revenue in the winter sports equipment segment is expected to grow by 3.9% annually from 2020 to 2023. Canada is the world's sixth-largest winter recreation equipment market, with an estimated $509 million USD in annual revenue.
The only problem has been supply. Canadian consumers have found themselves short of purchase options due to supply chain disruptions and increased demand. The bicycle market has been particularly hard hit, especially with regard to models under $1,000. Some estimates suggest new bicycles might not be available until next year. Reports have also suggested that other outdoor equipment such as tents, life jackets and dehydrated camping foods are also sold out.
Wisconsin-based sports and recreation equipment suppliers could find an eager and receptive market for their goods in Canada.


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Most U.S. companies are able to peddle their wares to other markets and cultures, but do home-grown companies have an advantage? Beyond Meat (BYND -9.13%) is facing some competition from Chinese meat-alternative producer Zhenmeat, which is launching products that are geared to Chinese tastes.
Does Beyond Meat have a chance?
Beyond Meat released its first products in China this past April in collaboration with Starbucks. The company's product line features various takes on ground meat, such as burgers and meatballs, as well as sausages, and these are on the menu at the pilot Starbucks China locations.
Zhenmeat, however, is playing up to the traditional Chinese palate, with a plant-based pork tenderloin and plant-based crayfish. Pork and crayfish are both extremely popular in China, which boasts the highest rate of pork consumption in the world and one of the highest of crayfish.
In the U.S., Beyond Meat's biggest competitor is Impossible Foods, which sells its products directly to consumers as well as in restaurant chains.
Making headway everywhere else
This month, Beyond Meat opened two new production facilities in Europe, with which it intends to increase its development of the European market. It also rolled out a new multi-burger package available in Walmart and Target to increase affordability and accessibility.
In the company's first quarter, which ended March 28, sales increased 141% year over year to $97.1 million. The share price has climbed accordingly and is up over 100% year to date despite COVID-19.


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After over a century of irresponsible treatment of our environment, our plant -humanity is in need of a quick solution. Hemp may just be one of the pieces to this giant puzzle.
Within the last decade, cannabidiol (CBD) has become one of the most popular natural alternative medicines for people around the world. With such a versatile amount of health bene¬ts, CBD seems to provide a therapeutic solution for almost anyone out there.Due to this, more and more people seek to give CBD a try.
“Don’t drink and drive – smoke and fly” is an expression that you’ll often hear from cannabis consumers when discussing the use of cannabis while or shortly before operating a vehicle, but how safe is it to consume cannabis and get behind the wheel?
Back in 1990, scientists made a remarkable discovery that both changed the way we view the human body and cannabis: the endocannabinoid system.
Once upon across the green and pleasant land that now constitutes the UK, it was a common sight to see hemp growing.
Since Colorado launched adult-use sales back in 2014, becoming the first U.S. State to legalise recreational use of the plant, the ‘centennial State’ has already turned over $6 billion in cannabis sales revenue. This is according to the Colorado department of revenue.
Imagine being on the best campout ever, purposefully cut-off from everything, with like-minded girlfriends all around you, and a dab bar that opens at 7 a.m.
The approval of license applications for craft cannabis growers in Canada is so slow that, micro-cultivators say, for 150 license requests submitted by March 2018, only two were granted by this point in 2019, and none of the licenses are for growers in Alberta (arguably the country ́s richest province), and the only province where rules forbid growers from selling directly to retailers.
Kush Cannabis Seeds have been breeding for over 15 years. Their genetics have been collected from the purest strains that date back generations in the Hindu Kush and decades in North America. They have searched long and hard for genetics that are stable and offer something far from the norm, while taking the utmost care to only release what we know is the best, which is why we are releasing them to you; we have been meticulous in our production to ensure you have the best quantity and quality available.


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Last week, PageFair released its 2017 Adblock Report, and the news was not good for publishers and advertisers.
By PageFair’s count, in December, some 615m devices had ad blocking software in use, a 30% jump from the previous year. All told, 11% of the global internet population is now using ad blocking technology.
And it gets worse. Consider the following:
Perhaps most disturbing is the fact that mobile ad block penetration in the U.S. and U.K. is only 1%. The vast majority (94%) of mobile ad block usage is in Asia-Pacific. With PageFair stating that “mobile adblock is ready to expand into North America and Europe,” the monetary impact of ad blocking, which is already estimated to be in the tens of billions of dollars annually, has the potential to grow significantly.
Despite the widespread distaste for digital ads, 77% of ad block users say they’d be willing to view some ad formats. They cite disruptive ad formats and concerns over malware as the primary reasons for using ad blockers. But it’s not clear how publishers and advertisers can actually address this, as evidenced by the ineffectiveness of ad block walls, which have become one of the more commonly used tactics publishers use to mitigate ad blockers.
For the time being, it would appear that ad blocking will only continue to grow, and the effects on publishers and advertisers will get worse before they get better. And there’s a real question as to whether they will ever get better.


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The Hatchery supports startup food and beverage entrepreneurs in their brand-new, 67,000-square foot facility through private and shared kitchen production space, event and coworking space, a full curriculum of robust offerings, and an on-site micro-lender Accion; and also assists local residents in job training and placement in the food and beverage industry through a variety of programs. Natalie has been featured in publications such as Forbes, Food Dive, WGN Radio, WTTW, Chicago Woman, and Food Business News. She recently received the leadership award for Vision from the Specialty Food Association.
More info on SFA News Live: Natalie Shmulik of The Hatchery Chicago on Food Startups
The Hatchery Chicago To Host Annual Fundraising Event
Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal.


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According to a new market research report, growth in the pet population, the increasing purchase of pet insurance by consumers, pet humanization with consumers calling themselves pet parents within the growing global urban population, and an increased awareness of animal welfare needs because of social media are helping the veterinary industry to maintain growth at 6.2% a year, globally. Worth $13.5 billion in 2017, the United States is the world’s largest pet care veterinary services market in terms of value, which is well ahead of the United Kingdom’s $2.6 billion.
All research is United States focused in nature.
Veterinary Practice Trends
- According to Constance Hardesty, MSc, an award-winning veterinary journalist that specializes in trends, technology, and business management, “while telemedicine is being widely adopted in the human healthcare model, it’s been slower to catch on in the veterinary world because of difficulty of negotiating the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), which mandates that veterinarians can’t diagnose or prescribe via electronic means unless they’ve previously seen the patient in the flesh.”
- However, because of COVID-19, this has changed. In March 2020, at the outset of the pandemic, the FDA made a decision to ease restrictions temporarily on the use of telemedicine by veterinarians so they could more easily treat pets during the crisis. Specifically, the FDA announced that “In order to help veterinarians utilize telemedicine to address animal health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA generally does not intend to enforce the animal examination and premises visit portion of the VCPR requirements relevant to the FDA regulations governing Extralabel Drug Use in Animals…This will allow veterinarians to prescribe drugs in an extralabel manner…without direct examination of or making visits to their patients, which will limit human-to-human interaction and potential spread of COVID-19 in the community.”
- “This pandemic has had impacts on many of our everyday lives and professions, and during this time, we need to provide veterinarians with the latitude to expand the use of telemedicine in the care of animals, not only pets but also the animals that produce our food,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said in the press release.
- The sudden need for veterinarians to provide care remotely has prompted a deluge of solicitations from telemedicine platform providers and spurred uncertainty among practitioners, many of whom have logistical and safety concerns regarding privacy, medical record keeping and invoicing.
- Jack Advent, the executive director of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association stated that “The hard part is trying to figure out how to charge for it, and making sure the communication with clients is captured appropriately in medical records. Once we’re through all this, I can see people coming back and revisiting this, and trying to get something established. When we get that window, we’d better be thinking about how we’re going to deal with telemedicine [post crisis].”
- Virtual care is one of the greatest opportunities, and challenges, facing medicine in this digital age. “Using telemedicine in the delivery of veterinary medical services offers benefits for clients, patients, and the profession. However, those veterinary services must be provided with professionalism and adhere to a high standard of quality, whether delivered in person or through electronic means.”
2. Big Data and Wearables
- Wearables to monitor pet health is a major trend in the treatment center segment, according to MarketResearch.com. It can be used to synthesize data, diagnose, and then assess potential diseases by veterinary practices.
- Wearables can be used to track an animal’s body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, and pH levels among other things. This data can then be relayed to both the owners of the pets and to the veterinarians caring for them.
- Veterinarians can diagnose and treat diseases more effectively, accurately and faster by tracking the vital health parameters by using this technology. An example of this is AniV8’s collar-mounted device. “AniV8, Inc. is collaborating with Elanco Animal Health to evaluate AniV8’s wearable technology in research settings. It is based on high quality science, using patented proprietary algorithms and cloud-based data analytics to measure the quality, rather than quantity, of movement. It is the first wearable health monitor to diagnose and monitor osteoarthritis pain in dogs and cats in this way.”
- As illustrated by the graphic below, devices like wearables can take unstructured data and produce actionable insights from veterinarians that encourage proactive choices from owners and better long-term health outcomes for the pet.
- According to Bob Vetere, president and CEO of the American Pet Products Association, “with this big data, vets will be able to better take care of them, address their needs, and enhance their lives and ours.”
Consumer Pet Care Trends
1. Sustainable Pet Care Products
- This trend is shaping many industries, and not only pet care. It is a result of consumers’ desire to reduce their impact on the environment, and that starts with the kinds of products they purchase.
- Seventy-three percent of consumers, according to this 2018 Nielsen report, would change their consumption habits to reduce their impact on the environment. They also expect clear product packaging which precisely indicates sustainability elements, and pet care brands are no exception.
- There is a growing number of pet care companies attempting to tackle the issue of sustainability by bringing more sustainable products to market and forging partnerships with retailers and recycling firms to help with recycling schemes.
- “From a pet food packaging perspective, I expect one overarching trend in 2020, and that is the continued adoption of sustainable packaging materials for pet food products,” said William Kuecker, vice president of marketing, North America, for Mondi Consumer Flexibles. “The packaging industry has been aggressively developing a variety of sustainable options for pet food brands that will continue to deliver the freshness, convenience and outstanding appearance that recent Mondi/Dow consumer research demonstrates consumers are seeking. These options will also allow brands additional opportunities to reach their corporate sustainability goals and for consumers to feel that a brand is aligning with their ideals and aspirations.”
- Don King, the vice president of marketing for Champion Petfoods also affirms that this is an important trend by asserting that: “[T]he call for sustainable farming practices, standards around animal welfare and visibility to the product creation process will be important as pet lovers increasingly demand accountability and respect for the impacts food making has on the world around us. Pet lovers continue to connect the dots between the quality of the food and food ingredients they put in their [own] bodies and their quality of life. This same thinking will impact their pet food purchase decisions in the year ahead.”
- For the pet industry to be truly successful at meeting sustainability needs, according to experts, the science behind the efforts at all levels will have to be present and constantly evolving. “Functional and nutritional claims to improve pet well-being are important to create brand differentiation,” said Juan Gomez-Basauri, Ph.D., global director for Alltech’s companion animal business. “Brand owners will be relying on proper scientific information; that is, science which is relevant to pets’ nutritional needs. Pet research can become quite expensive, but it is necessary for the pet’s benefit. Sustainability will continue to be part of the conversation, from upcycling to recycling, from sustainable packaging to sustainable ingredients, but the science behind these sustainable efforts needs to be there.”
2. Natural and/or Organic Pet Food
- Often when consumers use the terms organic or all-natural, they are indicating that they want food with whole, natural, and non-GMO ingredients. The ingredients should also be human-grade. The term “whole foods” refers to foods that are as close to their natural form as possible.
- In a study done by Farm Journal, more than 82% of U.S. households in the lower 48 states buy organic food on a regular basis, accounting for 5% of total U.S. food sales in the country. Organic pet food sales closely follow this rise.
- The organic trend has gone hand-in-hand with all natural and holistic pet food sales. Ingredients rich in Omega 3 and 6 for skin and coat health, along with natural prebiotics for digestion are being predicted to soar. Pet food that is all natural is also in high demand, and the demand will only continue in the years to come. All natural pet food contains minimally processed ingredients and no artificial additives.
- “Pet food makers have absolutely seen an increased shopper expectation for pet food products on the shelf that mirrors human food options,” says Mary Emma Young, senior director of communications for the Pet Food Institute. “Our society’s relationship to pets has evolved over the decades, with dogs and cats now being beloved members of the family,” she continues. “Whether it’s clean label, sustainability claims, functional nutrition or free-from claims, pet lovers increasingly look for labels and packaging that reflect their personal food philosophy and needs.”
- Fruits, vegetables, and alternative proteins are three ingredient trends for natural and organic pet food.
- The graph below illustrates the United States sales of natural and organic pet food from 2009-2019.
3. Pet Subscription Services
- From 2011 to 2016, subscriptions services have grown 100% for each of those years, and pet owners want to get in on this phenomenon. Eleven percent of US shoppers who purchase dog or cat food are interested in seeing more freshly-made pet meals delivered to their home.
- The driver of this trend are Millennials. Their preference for subscription-based services (33% of Millennials report being members of at least one retail subscription service) extends to their pets as well. In the US, pet owners aged 18-34 are more likely (17%) than older pet owners to express interest in the home delivery of freshly made pet meals, compared to 12 percent of pet owners aged 35-54.
- Moms and Millennials are two demographic cohorts that appear to be the largest number of subscribers to pet food delivery services. The drivers of this, according to pet food professionals, are “convenience, customizability and health concerns.”
- Younger consumers, according to market researchers, tend to show less brand loyalty than baby boomers or even Generation X. However, according to the results of a GfK survey, there may be a way to appeal to Generation Z and Millenials and get their loyalty.
- This study revealed that young people would be more devoted to a brand or retailer that allowed them to give input or help shape a product. Fifty-eight percent of the Generation Z respondents said they would be more loyal to a customizable product, compared to 32 percent of baby boomers.
- As an example of the rise of pet subscription services, “PetPlate, a direct-to-consumer subscription service that delivers pet meals, has closed a US$4 million seed round led by Dane Creek Capital. Other notable investors include Amity Supply, SWAT Equity, The Yard Ventures, Castor Ventures and BrandProject, PetPlate’s first institutional investor. The company will use the funds to scale operations to meet demand.”
4. Grain-Friendly Foods
- As vegan and vegetarian lifestyles in the U.S. have trended up, so has gluten and grain-free food. There has been a 600% increase in Americans switching to a vegan lifestyle in the last three years. “Vegans are also likely to want to provide a vegan lifestyle to their dogs.”
- Clearly there is an uptick in people choosing to be vegans and vegetarians. But, in the last year, “concerns about grain-free pet food have been raised by the FDA. The FDA is investigating a link between canine dilated cardiomyopathy and certain grain-free foods. No definitive link has been found at this time.”
- Based on this FDA investigation there have been pet food brands that have either reintroduced or have started to emphasize the importance of grains in a pet diet. Some marketing for that on the brand labels are “with wholesome grains,” “grain-inclusive,” “intentional grains” or “grain-friendly.” There are also brands that are synergizing and offering both grain-free and grain-inclusive diets “within the same product line in order to give consumers the variety they demand.”
- Some examples of that include “Natural Balance adding three grain-inclusive formulas to its limited ingredient dog food line; Canidae adding several dog diets to its PURE line that include wholesome grains such as oatmeal, barley and brown rice; and “I and love and you” brand offering dog formulas with ancient grains such as millet and sorghum.”
- In conclusion, while the exact nature of the correlation between grain-free food and DCM is still unknown, most vets now suggest avoiding grain-free food when possible.
5. Solutions-Based Products
- Today, consumers are investing in solution focused functional products not only for themselves, but for their pets as well. These products can be described “a life-stage formula, a performance supplement or a diet designed to target a specific health issue.”
- One example of a solution focused function food is a new line of formulas being released by Blue Buffalo. These products feature solution-based benefits “such as L-carnitine and less fat to maintain or lose weight, prebiotic fiber for high digestibility, Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for skin and coat health, and glucosamine and chondroitin for mobility support.“
- Not to be left out, Purina has created a veterinary formula to tamp down a major cat allergen originating in feline saliva. “Called Fel d1, the formula includes an egg-based ingredient that contains Fel d1 antibodies and claims to have a 47% success rate after three weeks of feeding.”
- “Petcurean added skin and coat formulas to its GO Solutions line and also added a new salmon small bites recipe to its GO Sensitivities line.”
- In general, “the use of hemp oil and cannabidiol (CBD) in pet supplements offers health benefits and could be considered solution-based as a supplement. However, the future of these products is uncertain as they remain federally unregulated.”
6. ‘Lickable’ Treats, Wet Options and Rotational Feeding
- The trend of wet pet foods and treats from 2019 has not abated and was seen again this year at the Global Pet Expo. In fact, it has expanded to include “mousse textured supplements, frozen treats, bone broths and novel canned foods.”
- An example of a brand manifesting this trend is Caru Pet Food. “They added lickable smoothies to its Daily Dish line, which are wet treats that can be fed straight from the tube, over kibble as a meal enhancer or poured into a dish. The Daily Dish line also includes bone broths and wet “stew” diets for cats and dogs.”
- The Dogswell brand has launched a performance supplement for dogs, which is also considered a crossover into the solution based functional trend described in the prior trend. “Tiki Pets has come up with new mousse treats that also boast functional claims, such as skin and coat health, digestion support and a “light trim and fit” option for weight control.”
- Another brand following the lickable trend is Cloud Star. “They have debuted Ice Treats, a dairy-free human-grade frozen coconut treat for dogs.”
- One of the rising trends in dog nutrition is the idea of “rotation feeding”, that is, switching out the main protein in your dog’s diet. For example, feeding your dog duck, then lamb, then chicken, and then back to duck.
- Four benefits of rotational feeding for a dog are keeps things interesting for the pet, builds healthy digestive & immune systems, helps with flexibility and affordability, and optimizes diet options.
- The driver behind rotational feeding appears to be pet parents who believe that just as humans don’t like to eat the same thing every day, their pets don’t care to either.
- “Rotation feeding was introduced for those who were either making their own food or using recipes that they weren’t sure were properly balanced, and wanted to use ‘rotation’ as a form of improving the chance of a balance from the variety,” explains Dr. Oscar E. Chavez BVetMed MRCVS MBA, Chief Medical Officer at Just Food For Dogs.
The COVID-19 Effect — Pet Owners and Veterinarians
- Research has shown that veterinary professionals are already at high risk of suicide due to occupational stress, depression and burnout. COVID-19 is adding to that stress.
- Back in mid-March among, American veterinarians, professional concern was much higher than personal concern, but by the end of March into the first week of April, that gap narrowed. By early April, vets were nearly as concerned for their own personal safety as they are for the safety of their practices. Some of the biggest increases were seen in the United States; in mid-March just over a third were quite or extremely concerned from a personal perspective; by early April that had increased to 7 in 10.
- Based on research done at the end of the third week of May, veterinarians in the United States foresee some improvement in the effect of coronavirus on their practice, but the overriding sentiment is the situation will remain unchanged for the immediate future.
- The majority of veterinarians in the United States continue to be implementing some client footfall limiting practices, Principally these measures continue to be phoning to assess urgency (45%) and asking clients to wait outside while staff assess pets inside the clinic (89%). More veterinarians are seeing non-emergency cases now.
- A sign of recovery is a steady increase in the reported number of client visits. The US has seen a particularly large increase since the previous wave (54%).
- While there is still a decline in revenue for a good proportion of veterinarians, some can see the light at the end of the tunnel with a reported increase in revenue. The US is showing an increase of 51% since the previous wave.
- A Packaged Facts April 28/May 5, 2020, survey of pet owners reveals that among adults overall, 8% report having adopted a pet specifically because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting stay-at-home period. By type of pet, among current pet owners, 9% of dog owners have adopted a pet specifically because of the pandemic compared with 10% of cat owners, and with 13% of those with other types of pets (including fish, birds, small mammals and reptiles).
- While 8% of adults overall have adopted a pet because of COVID-19, that rate climbs to 19% among those with children under-age six in the home and rises to 10–11% among those with children ages six–17 at home.
- Pet adoption has been heaviest for “other” types of pets, rather than dogs or cats as the most popular types of pets, because pet adoption also ties in to a multiple-pets in household trend. “Among recent pet adopters, 90% have a pet dog, compared with 75% of pet owners overall, and 70% have a cat, compared with 56% of pet owners overall.“
- Across the United States, from New York to Wisconsin and North Carolina to Colorado and New Mexico, animal shelters are reporting huge upticks in the numbers of animals they’ve been able to adopt out or place in foster homes.
- When you have been ordered to shelter at home, and even touching someone has become forbidden, many people have turned to animals for companionship. “Being socially isolated, you’re at risk for depression and loneliness, and, in older adults, we know loneliness is associated with early death, Alzheimers,” says Sandy Branson, who researches the impact of pets on well-being at the University of Texas’ Cizik School of Nursing. “They think it’s as serious as smoking cigarettes.” According to Branson’s research, while pets cannot completely fill the void left by isolation from other humans, they do provide emotional support, fulfill the human need for touch, and offer significant relief to their caretaker’s stress and anxiety levels. “Giving to another being is a reason to wake up in the morning,” Branson says.
- COVID-19 has also brought its share of challenges to the pet-adoption world. “One of the reasons fostering rates are so high is that adoption rates have been slower to skyrocket because of simple logistics. Big, open house-style, animal-human meet-and-greets that are ordinarily a shelter staple are simply not possible during a viral outbreak, so many shelters are hosting adoption visits only via appointment and are having people collect animals curbside, or making the whole process, from first meeting to home inspection, virtual.”
- Even though it is undisputed that there has been a marked increase in pet adoption, recent data suggests that overall adoption trends have leveled out over the past two months because there aren’t enough animals available to adopt.
- Based on the data from 24PetWatch, “fostering for cats has skyrocketed, while dogs in new foster homes have tapered off.”


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- Two months into year 2020 and some Nollywood actresses have already splashed millions on new cars
- Legit.ng gathered a list of some top actresses that have added a new luxury automobile to their collection
- PAY ATTENTION: Do you have news to share? Contact Legit.ng instantly
Nigerian celebrities are known to enjoy living the big life and this is evident in how many of them go the extra mile in purchasing luxury items that are worth several millions of naira.
Sometimes, these items may not necessarily be an urgent need but just a way of adding to their collections and also having the opportunity to show off their popping lifestyle to fans on social media.
The previous year witnessed entertainers from the music and movie industry occasionally coming to the photo-sharing app, Instagram, with the news that they just bought a new house or car, and this year doesn’t seem like it is going to be any different.
Legit.ng has gathered a list of four Nollywood actresses that have added a new multi-million automobile to their garage.
Check them out below:
1. Nkechi Blessing Sunday
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The actress known for mostly appearing in Yoruba movies celebrated her birthday on Friday, February 14, and it seemed the best way she could think of treating herself to something special is to buy a brand new car.
An excited Blessing flooded her page with photos of a new Toyota Venza that she acquired.
2. Biodun Okeowo aka Omoborty
The screen diva had congratulatory messages pour in for her on social media after she shared the news that she had just become the latest owner of a Mercedes Benz.
Asides from her fans, colleagues also flooded her comment section to congratulate her on acquiring the new whip that costs millions of naira.
3. Linda Osifo
The Nollwyood screen diva took to social media to show off her brand new car some days ago. Osifo joined the Mercedes Benz gang and she showed off the car in videos shared online. The actress acquired a red Benz GLE 450 Coupe. She shared videos on her Instagram story to show off the Benz immediately it arrived in her home.
4. Gift Mbanaso
Like colleague Nkechi Blessing who bought her new car as a birthday gift to herself, movie diva Gift Mbanaso clocked a new age on February 24, and to make the occasion memorable the actress was gifted a brand new car.
An excited Mbanaso took to her official page on Instagram, to share photos of her new Lexus SUV.
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better


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Barnes & Noble’s eBookstore Is Neither Sound Nor Fury
I had to write this post after reading all the headlines on Twitter about Barnes and Noble’s ebookstore presenting real competition for the Amazon Kindle. It’s not and here’s why.
First, BN’s ebookstore is simply that, a store. There is no device. Kindle captured the burgeoning ebook crowd not because it simply provided books in digital but because there was a bookstore tied to a device that made purchasing so simple you could explain it to your mom or your five year old.
Second, BN has no such device and there are no plans to release such a device until 2010. 2010 is a long way off. The fabled Apple tablet may have come by then. The PixelQi netbook that has a dual screen (eink like and straight LCD) may have captured the attention of the market. 2010 is eons away in technological time. Further, there is no confirmation that BN will even sell the device. Instead, the news is that BN will be the exclusive content provider of digital books for the Plastic Logic device. Have you seen the Plastic Logic device? It’s big which means expensive (the Kindle Dx cost $449) and unweildy.
Third, BN price matching Amazon gives people no incentive to leave Amazon if they are already customers there. Without a matching device, how many existing customers are going to suddenly start reading on their iPhones or laptops who are not already ebook readers? Certainly not enough to challenge Amazon’s domination. People who are already ebook readers understand that there are a plethora of stores and price matching opportunities out there.
Fourth, BN’s inflated book count of 700,000 includes over 500,000 public domain books fed by Google Book. Of the remaining books, BN.com’s ebook store has the worst content availability. This morning is the release of Meredith Duran’s ebooks, Bound by Your Touch and Written on Your Skin. Neither books are available at BN.com. Both are on sale at Fictionwise.com, BooksonBoard.com, and Amazon. BN is not even winning the simple content game.
Fifth, BN promises multiformats but will be wrapping those formats in it’s own DRM. BN promises that its books WON’T be compatible with the Sony Reader or the Kindle. Just what we readers need and want.
BN brought nothing new to the game. It’s offering eReader format which are already available at ereader.com or fictionwise.com, both vendors offering customer rewards programs that BN is not. It’s not a leap to say that these two sites, owned by BN, will be totally subsumed into the BN.com ebook site, but until that time, there is no incentive for a reader to leave eReader.com or Fictionwise.com.
The roll out of BN.com’s ebookstore brings nothing new. It’s not a Kindle killer. It’s barely competition for the existing ebook stores out there. Frankly, it was aweak rollout. If this is the understanding of the market that BN has in its upper management, it will be nothing but a failure.


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After revealing last week that their launch for sci-fi strategy title Planetary Annihilation would be coming very soon, developer Uber Entertainment has today announced that the game's launch build is now available to those who jumped in early.
Revealing the news through their Steam page
, Uber noted that the release build would feature “a number of upgrades, including “enhancements to both single-player and multiplayer”. “It will also include two new features: resource-rich gas giants and the “Annihilaser,” a celestial laser of doom that obliterates planets with each tremendous blast,” they added.
Actual details on the enhancements have been left out, so presumably players will have to find out all the nitty gritty details themselves. Those who still haven't yet jumped on the pre-order bandwagon can do so here before
its launch on September 5th, for a $30 price tag. Considering its original launch on Steam had it pegged for $100, the low launch price is definitely worth it, though you can check out the latest gameplay trailer below if you aren't quite sure what to expect.


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For all the attention lavished on online auctions, e-marketplaces and dot-com initial public offerings, those are minor issues in the overall scheme of e-business. The real value of the Internet to businesses will come from streamlining and enhancing communication and data sharing at every level of a product's life cycle.
Most pundits and supply-chain experts assert that such tools, once fully developed and properly applied, will help improve production and demand forecasting, slash warehousing and inventory costs, enhance customer service, facilitate design collaboration, assist employee training, compress product development and delivery times, and generate new growth and revenue.
Even makers of complex products such as automobiles, for example, are banking on the Web to help them build and deliver custom-ordered vehicles in a fraction of the time it takes them to make standard models today.
IBM Corp. global marketing executive Archie James told attendees at Plastics News' Feb. 22-23 e-briefing in New Orleans that the Internet's supply-chain potential can be summarized in the following scenario: Within seconds of a customer removing a plastic toy from the shelf at Wal-Mart, an oil field foreman in Texas knows that another few ounces of black crude must be drawn from the ground to make that toy's replacement.
Or, as Raymond Pollard, director of global strategic alliances for GM TradeXchange, phrases it: "When the customer looks at leather seats on the Internet, the cow in the field will wince!" GM TradeXchange is General Motors Corp.'s online supplier marketplace.
Almost everyone recognizes that changes wrought by the Internet will be swift, sweeping and profound.
Keith Goodwin, vice president of Americas operations for Cisco Systems Inc., told e-briefing attendees in New Orleans: "The business climate used to be like a ship on the ocean. Today the business climate is like a raft on a white-water river. Change is happening, and agile companies will win."
Cisco should know. Founded in 1984 as a two-employee company in San Jose, Calif., the maker of computer networking hardware was valued at 12 cents a share at the time of its 1990 initial public offering. A share is now worth roughly $140, and the firm, employing 25,000, has sales of more than $12 billion and a market-capitalization second only to Microsoft Corp.
Cisco's application of the Internet to its own business practices has produced astonishing results unmatched by any corporation to date. Goodwin estimates its transition to the Web, where Cisco today takes 85 percent of its orders, has helped his firm save $175 million in annual operating expenses, slash its order cycle time by 70 percent, and cut inventory for Cisco and its partners by 45 percent. The bottom-line impact to Cisco in fiscal 1999 of applying Internet business solutions to its operations: $825 million.
That's all well and good, you say. But, by the very nature of its products, Cisco's entire customer base is immersed in the Internet culture. What does that have to do with me — a medium-sized, Midwest plastics processor? The answer is "plenty," because increasingly your customers and suppliers will be demanding that you deal with them online in a fashion not unlike how Cisco deals with its partners.
Witness the online "superexchange" formed recently by rival automakers GM, Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG, through which they intend to conduct nearly all their supplier business in the foreseeable future. Anyone who wishes to have any hope of supplying those firms soon will need to interact with them online.
Lee Sage, global automotive leader for consultants Ernst & Young LLP in Cleveland, told a gathering of automotive suppliers in Detroit March 6: "There is $123 billion in inventory somewhere between the customer's driveway and the steel mill. That's the opportunity that exists for e-business" in the automotive industry.
Still, apart from the need to squeeze out inefficiency and keep pace with customers, many people are missing a key point about the true potential of e-business, according to one independent consultant. Ed Matheny, a former member of Andersen Consulting's chemicals practice who since January has run his own Decatur, Ga.-based firm called Atlantic Systems, is frustrated by the current obsession with Internet-driven cost cutting.
"It's a little haphazard of folks not to focus some of their efforts around revenue generation and competitive differentiation," he suggests. "They need instead to focus on top-line growth." After all, Matheny noted, a dollar of cost savings has a real value of one dollar. But every dollar of revenue generation can translate into roughly twice that in real value, after factoring in its impact on market share, company valuation, compound growth and the like.
Cost reduction is fine, "but too much anything is not a good thing," said Matheny, who has conducted more than 150 workshops with resin companies, chemical suppliers and plastics processors around the world.
Matheny complains that too few of these companies are focusing on delivering value online.
"People worry about everything being commoditized online, on the sell-side. I believe the Internet will allow you to differentiate your product on the basis of services, alliances, information, convenience, etc."
Currently, he contends, value-added services such as technical support, research and development skills, applications expertise and the like get lumped into an indistinguishable bundle and that suppliers frequently do not get the price or credit for them that they deserve. He believes the Internet can change that.
In many respects, he says the plastics industry lags other sectors in its adoption of the Internet, but the industry's extreme fragmentation makes it a prime candidate for the e-revolution.
"There are a ton of inefficiencies in the [plastics] supply chain," which translates into a huge opportunity to effectively apply e-business principles.
Others agree. Richard Crawford, chairman of Cambridge Industries Inc., a Madison Heights, Mich., supplier of plastic automotive components, said: "The Internet will drive any inefficiencies out of systems [that currently exist]. You'll see changes that you wouldn't believe."
Bill Lloyd, global purchasing director of Troy, Mich.-based Delphi Automotive Systems, suggests the Web can be "an enormous facilitator for clarity and transparency" throughout the entire supply chain. Delphi already has participated in more than 60 online procurement events with auction partner FreeMarkets Inc., and last year alone saved more than $60 million. Lloyd believes e-business offers tremendous opportunities for the 213,000-employee Delphi.
"You learn to live with the [price] transparency, and you adjust," Lloyd said by telephone. "When price and quality are givens, innovation and creativity will be the differentiating factors."
Additionally, he noted, ingenuity thrives in an environment of worry and uncertainty. He believes that the current angst over e-business provides a useful tension to spur creative solutions.
The breakneck pace and novelty of change may have us all confused now, but some believe that will all change.
Textron Automotive's Larry Hamilton says: "I think the `e' eventually will be removed. In three to five years, it no longer will be e-business; it'll just be business. It'll be the way we all operate."


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New Post has been published on http://www.clohound.com/apple-watch-contains-hidden-accessory-port/
Apple Watch contains hidden accessory port
The Apple Watch would have a hidden connection that could be used in the long term, for example ‘smart wristbands.
Watch Apple would at the bottom, into the slot where interchangeable wristbands are retracted, a hidden connection. Reported TechCrunch based on multiple sources.
Apple has never officially called the jack. The connection would resemble the Lightning connector that is in iPhones and iPads. According to sources from 9 to 5 Mac is the connection, however, only on the developer version of Apple Watch.
According to TechCrunch, the connection would be used only for diagnostic purposes, such as installing the operating system and service by Apple. In time, the port, however, would also be suitable for accessories for consumers think the sources of TechCrunch.
That would according to the site eg wristbands can be with additional sensors. According to rumors, Apple was much more than just build the heart rate in the Apple Watch, however, the company was technically still pending. Also, an external battery in the wristband would be a possibility.
Competitive smart watchmaker Pebble announced the possibility for such a smart straps already recently for its new Pebble Time. Or Apple already directly what plans the connection port appears possible next Monday. Then the company holds a large press presence.
– Apple Watch, iPads, iPhones