text:
Will Microsoft and Yahoo take on Google?
Friday, 24th July 2009
There has been a lot of comment in the press recently (http://digbig.com/5bacen), that Yahoo may be ready to set aside its differences with Microsoft and make an alliance against a common enemy, Google. While Google continues to dominate the internet search market a new chief executive at Yahoo and the new Bing search engine from Microsoft have changed the dynamics of the negotiations between the two companies. At the moment Yahoo claims two-thirds market share of the email market; which encourages its customers to continue to use the home page to search, and 20% of the search market.
The two sides are in the final stages of talks about a deal that could see Microsoft take over the running of Yahoo's search-based advertising business, in return for guaranteed payments to Yahoo. The shape of the deal is still unclear, and commentators believe that the negotiations could still break down.
In on-again-off-again talks over the course of almost eighteen months, Microsoft repeatedly tried to buy Yahoo, finally offering $46bn for the company last year, only to be turned down by former chief executive. A later attempt to tie up an advertising alliance also collapsed.
At the same time, Yahoo has made an acquisition and redesigned its homepage.
The new home page, called Front Doors offers direct links to popular sites like Facebook, Twitter, Ebay, and others. It is currently available only for the USA site (http://m.www.yahoo.com) and features colourful icons, popular search topics, and new avenues for advertising. While it has been seriously de-cluttered, compared with Google or Bing sparse homepages Yahoo's search bar is still accompanied by an assortment of other information
At the same time, Yahoo has agreed to acquire Xoopit, a start-up that helps people share content from their in-boxes with social-networking sites such as Facebook, (http://digbig.com/5bacep).
In 2008, Xoopit won the Yahoo Open Hack contest for building an application that runs on top of Yahoo Mail. and digs through a person's in-box to reveal photos and other media lurking within, including both attachments and Web addresses that link to sites such as Flickr or Picasa Web Albums.
Earlier this month, Yahoo introduced its news Search Pad feature (http://digbig.com/5baceq). Still in beta testing, it gives users a platform on which they can create notes based on their search results, share the information with friends, family, or business associates, and save the results for future use.
A FreePint Subscription gives access to all Content, Community and Consulting:
Contact us to discuss your requirements or to
check if your organisation already has a FreePint Subscription


text:
Hilton Worldwide to prepare for stock market floatation
The company ceased trading on the New York stock exchange in 2007 when it was bought by Blackstone for $26b, including $6b debt, in what was the hotel industry's largest private equity buyout.
It has since expanded by more than 1,000 hotels to the 4,000-strong portfolio it is today, across more than 90 countries countries. The company, which has nearly 120 properties in the UK, operates hotels under 10 brands including Waldorf Astoria, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Doubletree by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn.
Headed by chief executive Christopher Nassetta, with headquarters in McLean, Virginia, near Washington DC, the company is believed to have appointed Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley to oversee the flotation, early next year. The UK arm of the business is head by Simon Vincent, who is Hilton Worldwide's area president of Europe, Middle East and Africa.
It is unknown what the value of Hilton Worldwide is or what proportion of it Blackstone will want to sell.
With Blackstone acquiring the company just prior to the economic downturn, the owner quickly oversaw a fall in its investment. However, this has improved through a debt restructure and recent improvements to occupancy and room rates.
The Hilton Worldwide name came about after the United States-based Hilton Hotels Corporation reacquired the overseas rights to the brand when it bought Hilton International for £3.3b from the UK-based Hilton Group, now renamed as Ladbrokes.
A spokesperson for Hilton Worldwide declined to comment on what he described as "rumour and speculation". The story regarding the potential stock market floatation was broken yesterday by the Wall Street Journal.
Blackstone completes Hilton Hotels Corporation takeover >>
Hilton International sold to US cousin for £3.3b >>
The Caterer and Hotelkeeper Interview - Simon Vincent, Hilton Worldwide >>

domain: news


text:
It’s getting closer and closer to the rumored iPhone 11’s launch date as Apple typically unveils new smartphones toward the beginning of September. We’ve known for a while that this would be the case this year as well, but up until now, we haven’t had a precise date to look forward to. Now, we do, and it’s all thanks to Apple’s own software.
Today, Apple released the seventh beta of iOS 13 and iPadOS for testing before both systems are released to the public next month. Of course, developers immediately got their hands on the fresh update and began digging for any evidence pointing to an iPhone unveiling. iHelpBR did, and it managed to find the supposed date for when the iPhone 11 will become official.
According to a certain screenshot inside iOS 13 and iPadOS, Apple will unveil the new iPhone 11 on September 10th. The validity to this claim traces back to the screenshot I mentioned which is titled “HoldForRelease.” When an image has this name attached, it typically means Apple doesn’t want you to see it yet, especially if a certain calendar app is displaying your new phone’s release date.
As you can see, the “HoldForRelease” image above features the iPhone home screen with the Calendar app displayed right at the top dated “Tuesday 10.” A similar splash screen can be found if you set up a new iPhone with iOS 12, only on last year’s OS, the image is dated “Wednesday 12,” the same day the iPhone XS was unveiled.
This leak all but confirms Apple will unveil its next phones on September 10th. With August winding down, there’s a good chance we’ll also get the official invites from Apple for the event which, undoubtedly, will hit the web with a flurry of hype.
What can you expect from the iPhone 11? For one, it looks like the names will be iPhone 11 (iPhone XR replacement), iPhone 11 Pro (iPhone XS replacement), and iPhone 11 Pro Max (iPhone XS Max replacement and worst name of them all). Secondly, the latter two devices will likely get three rear cameras as opposed to two.
There will also be improved performance thanks to an A13 processor, larger batteries, faster wired charging, and improved wireless audio capabilities.
Of course, all three phones will also ship with iOS 13, Apple’s newest mobile OS which comes with features like dark mode and Haptic Touch for all iPhones.


text:
Business is blooming for mom-daughter florist shop
ORMOND BEACH -- Trish Bruno's daughter, Ashlee, was 6 years old when Bruno and her husband opened a cash-and-carry flower shop in Daytona Beach near the Seabreeze Bridge.
Now married and a mother herself, Ashlee Roberson, 27, is the lead designer and co-owner of Simply Roses Florist in Ormond Beach with her mother.
Together, with their staff, the two women have managed to hang on in an industry that has seen a number of other players close their doors in recent years because of the recession.
Last year, in fact, was the best year in terms of business for the 22-year-old family-owned Simply Roses.
"We did over 100 weddings last year and service four funeral homes. In a down economy, we are up almost 40 percent over last year," Bruno said. "We have had steady increases for the past eight years, but the last 18 months has far surpassed our expectations."
She attributed the growth to her faith and passion for the business.
"One day I just walked in the store and decided we were going to be the best florist in this town. We do not take our business success for granted. We are so grateful and thank God for our blessings every day," she said, noting that flowers are a luxury item, especially in weddings.
For a while, Roberson said, business fell off because people were cutting back on flowers for weddings or making their own centerpieces. "People always got married though," she said. They continued to operate, however, in the same vein and it worked out in the end. Their service area spans from Palm Coast to Ponce Inlet.
Simply Roses has moved a couple of times during the past two decades. It was housed at 200 S. Nova Road until recently. Then about a month ago, Bruno moved it to Rivergate Shopping Center, at the corner of Nova Road and Granada Boulevard. The florist shop's new 2,400-square-foot space, which formerly housed an ice cream shop, is a far cry from the 600-square-foot store she opened in 1989.
"We wanted to stay in the area," Roberson said. The new site, about a block from the last location, has more exposure to walk-by traffic as well as parking, she said.
Bruno did not grow up wanting to be a florist. She was prompted by her spouse to open what then was simply a cash-and-carry flower business.
"My husband thought it would be a great business for me," said Bruno, who had two children when the store opened. She now has four and everybody in her family jumps in to help when there are big orders to get out.
Bruno said she quickly went from just selling flowers to becoming a florist in response to customer demands. She was able to make the leap, initially, by hiring a European-trained floral designer.
"She (the former employee) took us to the next level," Bruno said.
Meanwhile, Bruno also enrolled in design classes as time permitted.
"I'm trained, but she is a natural," she said about Ashlee.
Roberson said the shop's larger storefront offers more display space. They also sublet space in the front to a friend who operates an event décor business.
Besides the weddings, the business provides florist services for several area funeral homes.
Joe Pinello, owner of Pinello Funeral Home in Daytona Beach, said the owners of Simply Roses solicited his business when he opened 10 years ago, and it has been a great relationship.
"They do a great job and are an easy family to work with, even on special orders," Pinello said. "That is the type of florist you want to work with."


text:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Heinz Results Sour
Eagle Bridge, NY — June 2, 2006 — H. J. Heinz Co. announced yesterday that it is planning to slash 2,700 jobs, eliminate 15 to 20 factories, and cut spending by $355 million. Heinz also announced that it would increase advertising 19% to $317 million.
W Ketchup CEO Dan Oliver reacted to the news by saying: “Heinz spends over $300 million on promotion, but no amount of advertising can convince consumers that Heinz tastes better than W Ketchup. These actions may not force Teresa Heinz and her husband John Kerry to downgrade to first-class from their private jet, the Flying Squirrel, but any reduction in the amount of Teresa’s money going to liberal causes, like Kerry for President, is something all Americans can celebrate.”
Heinz also announced that it is launching 100 new products, and that it’s fastest growing markets are Russia, India, China, and Indonesia. W Ketchup Chairman Bill Zachary commented: “Our fastest growing market is America, and, unlike Heinz, that’s the only place we manufacture and distribute our delicious ketchup.”
In side-by-side taste tests of the leading brands, W Ketchup is second to none. W Ketchup is also the only brand of ketchup to donate a portion of each purchase to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for the children of service members killed in the line of duty.
To order delicious W Ketchup, please visit our website at:
Founded in 2004, W Ketchup™ is a private company that makes ketchup in America solely from ingredients grown in the USA and does not support the Democratic Party. For more information visit www.wketchup.com, call 1-866-WKETCHUP, or write to 954 Lexington Ave, #236, New York, NY 10021-5013.


text:
(LEX 18) — Attorneys for Michael Avenatti have filed a motion to have extortion charges against the outspoken lawyer dismissed.
Court documents show that Avenatti claims to have evidence that a Nike employee approved payments to two well-known basketball players, Romeo Langford and Zion Wiliamson. Among the evidence is a text conversation between Carlton Debose, a Nike Elite Youth manager, and an unnamed assistant coach at Kentucky.
There is no proof that either Langford or Williamson received payment.
The motion does not imply any wrong doing on behalf of the assistant coach. Instead, the texts show that Debose appeared to be aware of payments made to high school players.
"Debose acknowledged in an exchange of text messages with an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky that Nike was funneling payments to high school players through at least ten different EYBL coaches," reads the motion.
Avenatti stands accused of trying to extort money from Nike to help cover up the scandal. His attorneys vehemently disagree.
"Contrary to Asst. Director Sweeney’s press statement, at no point did Mr. Avenatti promise to “cover up” Nike’s misconduct in exchange for payments," reads the motion.


text:
Image: A 3D printed Facebook logo is seen in front of a displayed cyber code in this illustration taken March 22, 2016. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
(Reuters) – Facebook Inc is creating an app for television set-top boxes, including Apple Inc’s Apple TV, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The world’s biggest online social network is also in discussions with media companies to license long-form, TV-quality programming, the Journal reported on Tuesday.
Facebook declined to comment.
An app for set-top boxes would bring Facebook closer to live video and video advertisements.
Getting advertisers to buy more video ads is key to Facebook’s continued revenue growth as such ads fetch higher rates from advertisers than text or photo-based ads.
Live video is also becoming a highly competitive feature on social platforms, with companies competing to stream major sports events and exclusive video components from high-profile events such as the Oscar and Grammy awards shows.
In April, Facebook expanded its live video product, Facebook Live – a potential threat to broadcast television, giving it prominent placement on its app and rolling out features to make it easier for users to search and comment in real time.
(Reporting by Arunima Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D’Souza)


text:
After the launched of the new iPhone 6s in the Indian market just a while back, Apple has now launched the iPad Pro in the market too. The Pro Tablet will be available in Apple retail stores from second week of December 2015.
While there is no official confirmation of the price from Apple’s side, NDTV’s Gadgets 360 reported from trusted sources that the prices for the iPad Pro would start at Rs. 67,900 for the 32GB Wi-Fi only model. The 128GB Wi-Fi model will cost Rs. 79,900/-, while the 128GB Wi-Fi + cellular model will be priced at Rs. 91,900. Official Apple retailers in India will be receiving the iPad Pro stock this week.
NDTV Gadgets 360 also reported that the the Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard will not launch in India along with the iPad due to supply constraints all across the globe.
The iPad Pro has a 12.9-inch 2732×2048 retina display, which gives you a total of 5.6 million pixels on screen. It is packs a powerful “desktop class” A9X processor, which is 1.8X times faster than previous processor. Apple demonstrated its impressive processing power by running AutoCAD computer aided design software at its launch event.
For professionals seeking out a smaller but robust device to edit and process images, the iPad pro seems to be a good bet, especially with Adobe’s recent push with developing capable apps for mobile devices. Adobe also recently made Lightroom for mobile a free download. However, we have to wait to see how potential users react to the pricing of this Tablet. We however, cant wait to get our hands on one for an indepth review. So watch this space for more!
If you like our content, don’t forget to show us your support-
Receive regular e-mail updates by subscribing to our Newsletter


text:
In Scotland, the public are being warned about a scam targeting people who have a lost pet. The scammers contact the victim by phone and pretend to be from a vet stating that their pet has been found but needs urgent immediate treatment. The scammers request upfront payment over the phone. This scam was highlighted by Perth and Kinross Council Trading Standards.
Scout is fast. He gathers all the latest info and gets it to the team faster than any human could. He can cover 100m way faster than Usain Bolt (6.14 secs) and has a toy hamster, called Hammy.


text:
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A former president of retail chain Kmart has been named president and CEO of Pier 1 Imports.
Fort Worth-based Pier 1 on Monday announced the appointment of Alasdair James.
James, who has served as Kmart president since 2014, begins his new duties May 1 with the home furnishings company. James replaces Terry London, the chairman of the board of Pier 1 who has served as interim president and CEO since January.
Kmart is a wholly owned subsidiary of Illinois-based Sears Holding Corp. Sears last month reported a fourth-quarter loss of $607 million, or $5.67 per share.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
- Phoenix-area mayors ready to join forces to land Amazon headquarters
- Feds buy land to open up access to 2 Arizona forest areas
- Main Street Minute: Big-name companies set to attend Phoenix job fair
- Target is raising minimum hourly wage to $15 by end of 2020
- Tucson shooting memorial picks up $61K from National Park Service


text:
Here’s some yay! news: MemPops‘ owner Chris Taylor confirmed today that he will be opening a second store in the Crosstown Concourse.
MemPops has been throwing out hints via social media for the past couple days.
Taylor says the store will be near the loading dock by Mama Gaia. At 650 square feet, this location will be smaller than the one out east, but Crosstown will serve as a MemPops central of sorts — all popsicles for both locations will be made in the Church Health Center kitchen.
Late last year, Todd Richardson of the Crosstown Concourse told the Flyer that they were in talks to bring in an ice cream place. Taylor says MemPops is not what Richardson was referring to.
Taylor says he approached Crosstown with the idea. “I live like two blocks away,” he says. “I always thought MemPops would work [in Crosstown].”
Taylor says the Crosstown location will serve all MemPops staples, but he doesn’t count out creating Crosstown-specific pops. He’s shooting for an April opening.


text:
1 million whiskey barrels comes from this distiller you've probably never heard of
Every once in a while, a series of headlines will blare from national outlets with some version of “you're drinking a lie!”
These stories aim to “expose” the alleged secret of whiskey sourcing, the practice in which a brand buys new make or aged whiskey and sells it under its own label. And there's been some high drama around it, with several brands — Templeton Rye being the poster child — landing in hot water with lawsuits related to false claims about their products' origins.
While misleading or downright fake claims are shady, the practice of sourcing liquor is nothing new or unusual.
"It's not that it was secretive, it's that nobody really cared (before)," Wes Henderson, chief innovations officer for Angel's Envy, told the Courier Journal in 2016. "For 100 some odd years or more, bourbon producers have made product for each other."
Like many other brands, Angel's Envy hassourced whiskey from mammoth producer MGP, located at a sprawling, 80-acre facility just outside Cincinnati in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.
And while there's been a stigma about so-called sourced juice for some whiskey enthusiasts, at least until relatively recently, it's been less of a secret — and carried less stigma — in other spirits. Look at Johnnie Walker Scotch, said Andy Huenefeld, co-founder of Sour Mash Tours and host of the Sour Mash podcast. “They buy barrels from various distilleries across Scotland (and blend them) until they reach something they like.”
The scotch industry has been doing it for eons, added MGP Vice President of Brands Andy Mansinne.
“They do it with Irish whiskey, they do it in Mexico with tequila, and even in the wine industry, you grow some of your own, you buy some on the open market and you contract with farmers to help with the remainder of your supply. This is not anything that is an 'aha moment.' ... Horse trading of barrels has been going on for years.”
So why the stigma when it comes to whiskey? First, let's step back to understand why sourcing whiskey is even a thing.
Think about a new-to-the-market brand, Huenefeld said.
“If they turn their still on today, it's at least two years before they can produce a straight bourbon and longer than that before it would be very high quality," he said.
Unless the brand has another income stream or plenty of capital, “they need something to sell. They have a cool label but no whiskey.”
A supplier like MGP can step in to fill that gap. While they can customize a mash bill and produce for the brands, as can newer models like the collaborative distillery Bardstown Bourbon Company, “more often I think brands are buying products that are already aged because their goal is to get a product out as soon as possible,” said Huenefeld.
And that wasn't cool with everyone, especially given the less-than-transparent labeling practices of some brands.
“With any kind of product you expect the brand on the label to be where it was made,” Huenefeld said.
One reason bourbon gained popularity is that it tied in with a lot of other trends, he said, like the farm-to-table movement.
“People are interested in the process and art, and the romantic notion of distilling and (aging). … I think there might be a sense that if you source products right away you skip the hard work and go right for the cash register, and I'm sure there might be people out there that turn their nose up at that," he said.
To that, I have to ask: With American whiskey booming, and distillers already unable to keep up with demand, what would the industry look like without the endless barrels of custom whiskey coming out of MGP?
With bourbon tourism heating up and the MGP distiller providing so many brands with their actual liquid, the facility was on lockdown. No tours, no gift shop, no media.
Until recently, that is.
Along with rolling out its own spirits brands for the first time, MGP has opened its doors to a few media, and when I got the invitation to visit, I couldn't resist a chance to look behind the curtain at the "Oz" of the whiskey world.
It has only been part of Kansas-based Midwest Grain Products since 2011, but its history extends back to the middle of the 19th century.
“Anybody who dives a little deeper into the history of whiskey, especially in this area of Ohio, Indiana, Northern Kentucky, they will realize how important that distillery is and always has been,” said Molly Wellman, celebrated bartender and owner of Japps Since 1879 in Cincinnati. Established in 1847 as Rossville Distillery, it's changed hands several times, known as LDI (Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana) for a while, and is best known as the historic Seagram's distillery — the name is still on some buildings, and it's the only geolocation that comes up when you try to check in on Instagram.
MGP is the leading U.S. producer of rye and gin, referring to itself as "Masters of Rye," and “do a pretty good job” in bourbon and vodka, Mansinne told the small group of writers assembled for a tour in February. In fact, according to a 2018 NBC News story, MGP is “one of the five largest bourbon manufacturers … (supplying) over a million cases of bourbon a year to the industry.”
(To put that into context, all American whiskeys — including bourbon and Tennessee whiskey — sold in the United States in 2017 totaled 23 million cases, based on numbers from the Distilled Spirits Council.)
And they're hiding in plain sight.
It's “the largest distiller you've never heard of,” MGP's Mansinne said. It's not that they were trying to be secretive, he said, though they sign confidentiality agreements with all of their clients — which is why you don't see any brand names listed in this article. They're just “quiet.”
So we donned hard hats and safety glasses for our visit to this great and mysterious place.
“This isn't a Disney tour,” we were told several times, along with jokes about no T-shirt sales. And it looked like … a working distillery. No great revelations, just equipment like you might see at any large scale producer. They keep a tight lid on numbers but do share that it's a 24/7, 365 facility.
This may not be Disney, but it's where some magic has happened. “MGP makes excellent whiskey, especially the stuff that's 10 years or older,” said Huenefeld. When enthusiasts can find something with that age on it from the distiller, “it flies off the shelf,” he said.
I learned that myself, the hard way, after tasting what I've found to be my soul mate whiskey at the 2019 Bourbon Classic recently. The 12-year Old Carter barrel strength (at a whopping 134.9 proof!) is one of the best things I've ever tasted, and it came from barrels right there in Lawrenceburg.
When I went to my local shop the next day to see if by some miracle they might have a bottle, I found that the last one had sold the day before.
What is it that makes these whiskeys so special? Wellman pointed to the water supply as one factor.
“In Kentucky, you talk about the limestone shelf and water, well that extends into Indiana and Ohio as well,” the bartender said.
Distilling has been going on at the site for some 200 years, MGP Master Blender David Whitmer said. “When you look at maps from the 1800s in this area ... there were 12 distilleries,” he said. Sitting on the Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer as they are, “when you have that natural year-round 56-degree water that's pure and cold it was golden.”
So golden they've recently decided to launch a line of branded spirits, hitting the market with George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Remus Repeal Reserve; Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey and a barrel proof; Eight & Sand Blended Bourbon Whiskey; and Till Vodka.
But wait, aren't they competing with their own clients? Mansinne assured us not. All their products are blends, meaning there will never be a duplication of client's custom recipes. And, repeating a phrase often heard in the industry, “a rising tide lifts all boats,” he said.
In other words, you can't have too much whiskey — or too many in the game.
How have they fared so far with their inaugural whiskeys? “If we draped all of our medals on the bottles, it would look like a general in WWII,” Mansinne said.
One thing's for sure. You may not be able to go and buy the T-shirt, but you know where the whiskey in these bottles is coming from.
Tell Dana! Send your restaurant “Dish” to Dana McMahan at firstname.lastname@example.org and follow @danamac on Twitter.


text:
ACCRA, Ghana, April 10, 2018/ — A large trade delegation from the oil and gas industry in Scotland will be visiting Ghana from the 9th -11th of April 2018. The aim of the visit is to gain a thorough understanding of local market conditions while investigating local investment opportunities. It is intended this will be achieved through Scottish companies partnering with local Ghanaian oil and gas companies interested in bringing new technologies and skills to Ghana.
Leading the trade mission to Ghana is Cameron Douglas, Scottish International Trade Advisor for Sub-Saharan Africa at Scottish Development International – Scotland, UK.
Commenting, Cameron said: “Seen by many as the gateway to the West African oil and gas sector due to its relative stability and ease of doing business, Ghana presents a great opportunity for Scottish companies looking to explore the region. The recent successful resolution in the maritime border issue with Ivory Coast has increased this already strong interest in Ghanaian opportunities available to suitable Scottish companies”.
Scotland has a strong history of bringing successful trade delegations to Ghana, with 14 companies visiting in June 2017. Interest from the Scottish supply chain has continually grown, and I am delighted to be bringing our largest ever Sub-Saharan delegation to Ghana in April, with just over 20 companies involved. This shows the growing importance being placed on Ghana by Scottish companies, but crucially this interest is mutual, with Ghanaian businesses keen to learn more about the capabilities of the Scottish supply chain and offer the possibility of beneficial local partnerships.
In the last six or so months, there has been three Ghanaian oil and gas delegations to Scotland, with the most recent group visiting around Subsea Expo, Aberdeen in February. The group of around 25 delegates connected with a wide range of oil and gas supply chain companies, while attempting to forge partnerships with Scottish companies and import new technologies and skills, together with ways to reduce costs by optimising outputs. The visit organised and led by the UK Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC) was so successful that another much larger UKGCC trade mission to Aberdeen is being planned for June later this year.
2018 is expected to be a big year for Ghana, with their being clear opportunities to improve and grow not only Ghana’s young oil and gas industry, but also the lives of citizens through bringing opportunities to train and work in this vibrant, international industry. It is our hope to support these ambitions and deliver success for both Ghana and Scotland as a result.”
Though some Scotland-based companies are already operating in Ghana, there is scope for more to be active here through developing partnerships and transferring some of the technologies, educational capabilities and skills that have been built up over the 50 years of operating in the North Sea.
Scotland is a true Global Hub for oil and gas and associated education and training. The oil and gas cluster makes a huge contribution to the Scottish economy and Scotland has grown many creative and innovative companies already operating in over 100 countries worldwide.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Scottish Development International (SDI)
Scottish Development International (SDI) is the international economic development arm of Government in Scotland and provides a broad range of services to support companies and institutions to help them develop their overseas business. SDI also helps overseas businesses tap into Scotland’s key strengths in innovation, knowledge, high levels skills and technology. Operating in 29 countries around the world, SDI opened its first office in Africa in the British High Commission in Accra in June 2014. Whilst regional in its geographic focus, sectorally the focus of activity in Africa is primarily oil & gas and education & training related to oil & gas.
The following 22 companies will make up the mission:
Aberdeen Drilling School
Air Control Entech
Apollo Offshore Engineering
Aquatic Engineering & Construction
Forth Valley College
Global Pipe Components
McDermott Marine Construction
OES Oilfield Services
People Factor Consultants
Turnkey Environmental Management Services
University of the West of Scotland
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 26, 2018/ — GE Power and FieldCore, the company’s independent field services execution arm, have successfully restarted Metahara Sugar Factory in Ethiopia, seven months after the plant was severely damaged by a major thunderstorm. The outage execution service of two steam turbines, which lasted 20 days, succeeded in bringing back the 5000-person workforce and solving sugar scarcity for more than the 100 million people in Ethiopia.
Metahara’s Deputy Factory Manager Mr. Fahmi Dawud said the team providing solutions and getting the factory back up and running in a record 20 days was a miracle. “We had lost all hope that these extremely aged units, manufactured by Compagnie Electro Mecanique, in the 1950s, would ever come online again due to the damage. Hotels and supermarkets had run out of sugar, and it was a critical situation. We are excited to hear the machines humming again.”
“GE Power and FieldCore are proud to have helped bring sugar production back to Ethiopia,” said Elisee Sezan, General Manager, GE’s Power Services business for Sub-Saharan Africa. “We all experienced a great sense of accomplishment when the turbines were revived at startup and we heard the them working again. This project reflects the passion, the wealth of power generation experience and the world-class services capabilities that keep GE and FieldCore competitive and consistent around the globe for our customers,” he added.
The Metahara Sugar Factory is in the Oromiya Regional State, about 200 kilometers from Addis Ababa and it produces about 136,000 tons of sugar annually, representing an estimated 20% of Ethiopia’s sugar consumption.
Daniel Hailu, Executive Country Business Leader for GE’s Global Growth Organization, explained that sugar is a key commodity for Ethiopia, both for local consumption and export. He said: “It’s extremely important for the country’s foreign currency revenue stream. We are honored to participate in such a crucial project for the country.”
GE works with the government, state owned enterprises as well as private sector corporate customers in Ethiopia to support economic growth through infrastructure development in the power, healthcare and transport/aviation sectors. In 2016, GE opened a 60-capacity permanent office in Addis Ababa, and now has over 40 employees – 90% of which are Ethiopians.
LAGOS, Nigeria, March 21, 2018/ — One of Nigeria’s largest producers of day old chicks, animal nutrition and medicaments, Farm Support Services Ltd, recently hosted a series of three educational poultry seminars to approximately 700 farmers in Sagamu, Ibadan and Akure.
Topics at the seminars included optimal poultry production, biosecurity, feed quality and risk management, and heat stress management. Farm Support Services invited Cargill’s animal nutrition business in Sub Saharan Africa to provide technical expertise on poultry nutrition and its application on farm and introduce its range of Provimi products.
Olumide Origunloye, Managing Director of Farm Support Services, commented, “Our mission is to add value to the lives of our customers, consumers, families and communities by providing high quality products and contributing to the success of our customers.”
He added that the seminars go a long way to support the farming community to refine farm management and animal health, which impact performance, and ultimately profitability.
“There is a lack of adequate knowledge regarding animal farming and feeding. By running these educational seminars, we believe that farmers can improve their practices and up the bar as far as poultry nutrition and general farm management goes,” he said.
During the seminars, Farm Support Services launched Cargill’s Provimi range of products including its premix and basemix. Basemix is a new concept to the Nigerian market. It is a macro pack containing a blend of high quality vitamins and minerals (premix), amino acids, Monocalcium Phosphate, salt, enzymes, toxin binders and other additives. Basemix is an all-in-one approach that combines world-class nutrition technology in a “rip-and-tip” bag, and helps to streamline mixing operations for farmers and feed millers.
According to Origunloye, Farm Support Services will focus on growing and progressing in the agricultural market in Nigeria. “Our expansion plans include developing agents in three locations in the North and three in the South-East regions of Nigeria over the next three to six months,” he concluded.
Guests gather around as Farm Support Services launches Cargill’s Provimi range of products including its premix and basemix. (Source: Farm Support Services.
Seen at the educational poutry seminar, hosted by Farm Support Services, at Ibadan: (from left) Ercole Pavesi, Regional Director Sub-Saharan Africa for Cargill’s animal nutrition business; Kunle Ogunwomoju, Director of Farm Support Services; Mrs Egunyinka, a guest; Olumide Origunloye, Managing Director of Farm Support Services, and Andrew Catlett, Technical Application Specialist for Cargill’s animal nutrition business. (Source: Farm Support Services.
Seen at the educational poutry seminar, hosted by Farm Support Services, at Ibadan: (from left) Ercole Pavesi, Regional Director Sub-Saharan Africa for Cargill’s animal nutrition business; Kunle Ogunwomoju, Director of Farm Support Services; Mrs Egunyinka, a guest; Olumide Origunloye, Managing Director of Farm Support Services; Andrew Catlett, Technical Application Specialist for Cargill’s animal nutrition business and Dr Femi Adigun, Assistant General Manager (Sales & Marketing) for Farm Support Services. (Source: Farm Support Services.
Seen at the the educational poutry seminar, hosted by Farm Support Services, at Ibadan: (from left) Ercole Pavesi, Regional Director Sub-Saharan Africa for Cargill’s animal nutrition business; Olumide Origunloye, Managing Director of Farm Support Services, Kunle Ogunwomoju, Director of Farm Support Services, and Andrew Catlett, Technical Application Specialist for Cargill’s animal nutrition business. (Source: Farm Support Services
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 16, 2018/ — Across Africa, hotel investment is soaring with international brands making the continent their key focus for growth. But what does this mean for the industry? The Hospitality Leadership Forum brings together top international speakers and experts to consider the future.
With hotel investment volumes across sub-Saharan Africa forecast to grow year on year between 10 and 20 percent in 2018 to about $500million (R6.07billion), the sector is undergoing a boom.
In June this year, The Hospitality Leadership Forum brings together key personnel from across the world for a unique three-day conference focused on the future of the sector across Africa. Each session carries a panel of up to ten industry experts giving a varied view on each topic.
“This year is set to see a transformation in the way the hospitality industry operates across Africa and everyone wants to understand the new developments and what they mean on the ground” said Christine Davidson, Vice President of dmg events in Africa.
“There have been announcements almost weekly from international hotel brands looking to expand on the continent, who are investing millions of dollars, and governments are recognising the vital role tourism plays in their future economy.”
“The Hospitality Leadership Forum, offers the opportunity to discover what’s new and hear from some of the people driving the change.”
This year’s conference is part of The Hotel Show Africa from June 24 to 26 at The Gallagher Conference Centre, Johannesburg.
The programme offers essential information and insight for all verticals in hospitality, from the changing role of the hotel general manager to empowering women in leadership, which opens the first day.
There are sessions on new data protection regulations and why investing in high tech security is the future, to discussions on why your marketing needs to be agile to adapt to a fast moving tourism landscape.
With technology spending in the hotel sector forecast to grow 7 per cent this year, the first session on Day 3 of the conference considers what the future will look like. Panelists include Adam Burt, Area IT director Africa & Indian Ocean for the Radisson Hotel Group and Gillian Saunders, Deputy CEO of Grant Thornton.
The conference will also look at ‘superbuilds’ and brands that are new to Africa. These large, mixed-use multiple-accommodation complexes – seen only in Dubai and the USA – are being constructed across the African continent and the conference offers the chance to hear first- hand from the people investing, planning and managing them.
Day 2 has a keynote session looking at why new hotels will look very different and how operators are more involved in the construction phase than ever before. You’ll also see why hotel lobbies are set to become the heart of the hotel. Panelists include Adriaan Davidson, Director, Savile Row; Graeme Erens, CEO & Executive Creative Director, Genius Loci Worldwide, Dubai; and Zinon Marinakos, MD Africa, DSA Architects International.
One of the highlights of Day 2 is a panel discussion that targets the most important role in a hotel: the changing role of the hotel general manager. No one has to understand the future of the industry so thoroughly.
This session – for GMs only – will examine the challenges today…and tomorrow. Panelists include Patrick Serakwane, GM, Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge; Luigi Rosi, GM, Happy Valley Hotel, Swaziland; Dale Simpson, Curator, Radisson Red Hotel, Cape Town; Brett Hoppe, GM, Sun Time Square, Sun International and Joep Schoof, GM of Spier Hotel & Leisure.
A major concern in the industry is security & compliance and the conference will look at mitigating the risks and explore the opportunities offered by the new digital economy. This session will give insights into the GDPR legislation, PCI compliance, security platforms and why investing in high-tech security is the future of smart hotels, speakers include Busisiwe Mathe, Director of Cyber Security & Privacy at PwC.
“We sincerely believe this is the main conference event for the hospitality industry and we are so pleased that so many senior people have agreed to be part of it,” said Davidson.
“This is not only about understanding the way hotels will operate in the future, it’s also about understanding the changing expectations of guests. We all know that free high-speed Wi-Fi is no longer the benefit it was five years ago, all guests expect it. We know that check-in times have to be fast and painless. But how is your hotel viewed from a sustainability perspective? Are you offering a unique experience? What do you offer that others don’t? Delegates will have the opportunity to consider all this and more at the Hospitality Leadership Forum.”
Hotel Show Conference 2017. (Source: dmg events)
Joep Schoof, GM of Spier Hotel & Leisure. (Source: dmg events)
Busisiwe Mathe, Director of Cyber Security & Privacy at PwC. (Source: dmg events)
Martin Kubler, CEO of sps:affinity. (Source: dmg events).
Dale Simpson, Curator, Radisson Red Hotel, Cape Town. (Source: dmg events).
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 15, 2018/ — Cross border e-commerce continues to provide significant growth opportunities for retailers and manufacturers with an international online product offering. According to a 2017 DHL report, cross-border retail volumes are predicted to increase at an annual average rate of 25% between 2015 and 2020 (from USD 300 Billion to USD 900 Billion) – twice the pace of domestic e-commerce growth. Steve Burd, Vice President of Sales for DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, says that this highlights a boundless opportunity for African businesses looking to take a piece of the cross border e-commerce pie.
Burd says that as the market leader in express logistics, DHL Express works with thousands of e-commerce customers around the world, with a lot of them at start-up phase. “We are therefore well aware of the perceived hurdles involved when considering to trade across borders.”
He points to five common areas which domestic e-commerce customers consider to be a challenge when deciding where to trade internationally.
1. The cost of express shipping
There is no risk at offering your customers an express delivery option, says Burd. “Customers want choice, not only in their product selection, but also when and how they receive it. In our experience, customers are willing to pay a fair price for a faster, more efficient service.”
2. Returns rates
“We’ve found that the return rates are actually much lower on international shipping. Businesses could always do it on a trial basis and measure the benefits over losses and adjust their strategies accordingly.”
3. Basket values
“We have found that basket values often increase with the introduction of express shipping. Customers tend to buy more to justify the premium shipping costs.”
4. The customer’s business is doing well locally
Evidence shows that international customers will spend significantly more than local ones, says Burd. “So even if international traffic to your website is small, it can be worth a lot for limited effort. There are free online tools available which will give you an indication of your international traffic on your website – this will provide an idea of which countries to focus your efforts on. There is no risk in opening doors to the international market – only the risk of getting left behind.”
5. Unfamiliarity with customs procedures and processes
“This is where your choice of delivery partner comes in. If your paperwork has been done correctly, there shouldn’t be any customs delays or worries. Collaborating with an experienced partner that has extensive knowledge and know-how of customs procedures on the African continent will assist the business’ e-commerce offering to evolve.”
To further connect and support the e-commerce industry in Africa, DHL Express recently signed on as title sponsor for the 2018 DHL eCommerce MoneyAfrica Conference & Exhibition (Confex), taking place on 14 and 15 of March this year.
“The DHL eCommerce MoneyAfrica Confex has established itself as one of Africa’s biggest opportunities to bring stakeholders in the fintech and e-commerce sectors together. This year’s event features presentations and knowledge sharing from an array of African and international thought leaders, geared at enabling participants to formulate innovative strategies to unlock more opportunities on the continent,” concludes Burd.


text:
Because the world wasn’t already confusing and disturbing enough, a new YouTube video posted by a Thai cosmetic company is giving us an extra dose of crazy.
Cosmetic maker Seoul Secret Thailand uses two images in its new video; one of actress Sirin “Cris” Horwang and the other of a model whose skin has been darkened.
Horwang starts the flick by discussing her struggles in the entertainment industry and how she has to keep her skin white in order to remain on top of her career.
You don’t need to speak Thai to get the message:
But the ad for product, Snowz, has caused outrage, even in Thailand where skin-whitening products enjoy a concerning amount of popularity.
“You just need to be white to win,” Horwang tells viewers, before adding that if she stopped taking the cream, she would become a “dusky star”, while the screen shows the black model looking downcast and dismayed.
Social media has been the place for people to share their disgust and dismay, while some actually want to know where they can purchase the product.
— Nick Day (@NickDay13) January 8, 2016
Thai craze for whiteness rears its ugly head again. It never ends. Thai ad agencies are the worst of them all! https://t.co/ixUe65pdrj
— Kaewmala (@Thai_Talk) January 8, 2016
In a press release the company said the video was intended to share real-life insight “that every woman has experienced: people who have white skin tend to be so attractive that they ‘steal the scene’ from other people”.
On Saturday morning, Seoul Secret pulled the video and issued an apology.
“Our company did not have any intention to convey discriminatory and racist messages,” it said. “What we intended to convey was that self-improvement, in terms of personality, appearance, skills and professionalism, is crucial.”


text:
We found 297 items for the tag: Mouse
GIGABYTE GM-M7800S Swarovski Crystal Mouse
Jul 10, 2009 2:52 am
GIGABYTE shows us a collector's edition mouse featuring the famous crystals everyone loves.
Sharkoon Rush FireGlider Laser Gaming Mouse
Jun 15, 2009 4:14 am
Get ready to set the world on fire with Sharkoons full featured gaming peripheral.
Razer Launches Ultrathin Gaming Surface
May 29, 2009 6:56 am
Sphex doesn't compromise tracking or durability
CM Storm Sentinel Advance gaming mouse (video)
May 27, 2009 8:30 am
5000 DPI accuracy with dual laser sensors
GIGABYTE Launches Luxury Wireless Mouse
May 26, 2009 8:21 am
Swarovski Crystal, quality leather, and 18K gold
GIGABYTE intro wireless mouse w/ Swarovski element
May 26, 2009 4:15 am
Microsoft Announces Notebook Cooler
Mar 11, 2009 6:35 am
New colors for Arc mouse as well
Razer showcases new gaming peripherals at CES
Jan 9, 2009 6:04 am
try keep your pants on after seeing these beauties
Logitech geared up for CES - a treat for gamers
Jan 7, 2009 3:00 am
Full refreshment of G-series products
GIGABYTE GM-M7700 Wireless Laser Laptop Mouse
Dec 10, 2008 5:00 am
A pint size squeaker with a lot of guts - GIGABYTE makes a mini gaming mouse!
Competition: NZXT Avatar Gaming Mouse Giveaway!
Dec 9, 2008 1:36 pm
Reminder - Win a new gaming mouse for Xmas
GIGABYTE GM-M8000 GHOST Gaming Mouse
Dec 7, 2008 5:00 am
Trigger happy times with the latest offering GHOST mouse from GIGABYTE along with an awesome soft gaming surface, too.
Logitech release customizable ID Grip for G9 mouse
Dec 6, 2008 2:33 am


text:
An Accel partner said the investment in Kekanto came as the firm realized there was “an acceleration of high-quality opportunities” in Brazil.
A developing relationship between investors and entrepreneurs in Brazil comes as venture capital firms in the United States are starting to take notice.
The venture capital firm is a co-investor in a Brazilian online handicrafts marketplace, elo7.
The investment firm run by the Russian billionaire Yuri Milner is dedicating more resources in China and other emerging markets.
The media conglomerate, which is in the midst of a phone-hacking scandal, nominated the venture capitalist James W. Breyer to the board, adding that Kenneth E. Cowley and Thomas J. Perkins would step down as directors.
Silicon Valley’s largest venture capital firms are raising their stakes in so-called enterprise companies.
As investors chase after the latest social network start-ups, company founders are in a better position to keep control and get rich while still attracting investors to their company.
The venture capital firm announces it has closed two new funds, which together represent $2 billion in new commitments.
One fund will focus on young start-ups, while the second will involve itself with later-stage financings.
Rovio Mobile, the Finnish company behind the mobile game Angry Birds, has raised $42 million from investors, including the venture capital firms Accel Partners and Atomic Ventures.
Accel’s Jim Breyer is turning his attention to New York, where he sees significant opportunity in social media, e-commerce and entertainment start-ups.
The fashion retailer favored by young Wall Street bankers has attracted venture capital funding from Lightspeed and Accel Partners.
Groupon has walked away from Google’s $6 billion takeover offer, according to a person close to Groupon. The rejection at least temporarily thwarts Google’s efforts to buy the social buying site.


text:
San Diego Comic-Con 2014 has officially come and gone, with hundreds of thousands of attendees taking part in the yearly activities. And while comics, movies and TV shows took prominence, there was a large gathering for video games as well, as various panels and events around the convention center kept thousands occupied over the four-day weekend.
In terms of panels, Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham stole the show with the introduction of components from the classic 60’s Batman series, including Adam West, who happily took the stage with other voice actors to discuss the sequel, due for release later this year. Other panels revolving around Sunset Overdrive, Halo, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor and Assassin’s Creed: Unity also drew crowds.
Devoted game spaces were also a big hit around the show, as both Nintendo and Microsoft hosted game lounges for gamers to drop by and play casually, getting hands-on with forthcoming games for Wii U, 3DS and Xbox One, including Forza Horizon 2, Super Smash Bros. and more. Square Enix hosted a facility a few blocks away alongside Deep Silver, showcasing games coming from both companies in a bar setting.
There were also activities that players could take part in if they wanted to get a piece of the action. 2K Games teamed up with Nerdist Industries to host a Borderlands-themed laser tag arena, as well as a free candy station and an interactive stage. Meanwhile, a few blocks away at the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade, Ubisoft set up the Assassin’s Creed Experience, where players could check out a demo for the forthcoming Unity game (due this fall), along with an obstacle course and a “leap of faith” station, should they feel compelled to try it in real life.
Indeed, video games continue to play a big part in the yearly San Diego event, and it’ll get even bigger next year.


text:
The business climate in Colorado is strong and welcoming to entrepreneurs. Looking at the Kauffman Foundation rankings, Colorado shows up as second on The Index of Mainstreet Entrepreneurship; fifth in Startup Activity and seventh on the Index of Growth. With those numbers, it is easy to say that entrepreneurship in Colorado is alive and well.
As Colorado consistently outperforms the nation's economy, large firms, and young companies are optimistic about the future. In a survey conducted by the University of Colorado Boulder, Leeds School of Business, expectations for sales, profits, hiring and capital expenditures all remained above neutral.
The state boasts an entrepreneurial culture and business climate that favors new business. The number of successful businesses leads to an extensive network of support for those who are ready to launch. The entire study is available online for those who want an interesting read.
Boulder is taking the top honors for startups with recent articles in Forbes citing the city as the number one spot for female entrepreneurs with the most women-owned businesses. It seems that Colorado is regularly recognized for a tolerance for risk as well as consumer support where many Coloradoans consider it their civic duty to buy local whenever possible.
And take a look at Boulder-based Stryd; a local company that makes wearable power meters that clip on the shoe and measure metrics such as running technique, stride and muscle intensity. On August 29th, Stryd won the top award at the Global Innovation in Sports Competition hosted in Rio de Janeiro and judged by the likes of Nike and Under Armour.
Throughout the state, changes that are impacting business startup are evident. Building starts are indicators for the growth that is underway. You can start a business efficiently and with less capital in a state that is welcoming growth and opportunity. Is the time right for you to join the trend? Comment your idea below.


text:
In this Issue:
DISH Network Made Millions of Illegal Calls According to FTC Allegations
Even though consumers requested that DISH Network and its telemarketers stop calling them and put their numbers on an internal do-not-call list, the company repeatedly violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) by making millions of illegal calls, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has alleged.
DISH, as well as third parties authorized on the company’s behalf, placed calls in an attempt to sell the satellite television company’s programming, goods and services. According to the complaint filed in federal court in Illinois, “millions” of outbound calls were made illegally since September 1, 2007.
The agency is seeking a permanent injunction as well as monetary penalties of up to $11,000 for each violation of the Rule that occurred on or before February 9, 2009, and up to $16,000 for each violation that occurred thereafter.
DISH is already facing similar litigation. The Department of Justice, on behalf of the FTC and the Attorneys General of California, Illinois, Ohio, and North Carolina, is currently litigating a case launched in 2009 against DISH over allegations that DISH and authorized third-party telemarketers made calls to consumers on the National Do Not Call Registry, as well as robocalls (autodialed recorded messages) to consumers in violation of the TSR.
To read the complaint in FTC v. Dish Network, click here.
Why it matters: FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said the suit was a reminder to all companies that the agency vigorously enforces the Do Not Call rules. “It is particularly disappointing when a well-established, nationally known company – which ought to know better – appears to have flagrantly and illegally made millions of invasive calls to Americans who specifically told DISH Network to leave them alone,” he said in a statement.
Class Action Alert: Angie’s List Engaged in Deceptive Automatic Renewals, Suit Alleges
Angie’s List, a well-known Internet site that provides its members with forums to post and access reviews about local service providers, engaged in fraudulent and deceptive conduct and breached its membership agreements by automatically renewing members’ subscriptions at higher prices than those for which they contracted, a new class action suit claims.
The suit filed in federal court in Indiana alleges that despite Angie’s List’s commitment to “placing the interests of the consumer first,” the site charged one membership fee for new members and a distinct, higher renewal fee for renewing members.
The higher “Membership Renewal Fee” is not mentioned on Angie’s List’s Web site, nor is it referenced in the FAQ regarding membership fees. Thus, Angie’s List “conceals from prospective members all information regarding the Membership Renewal Fee,” according to the complaint.
The suit estimates that Angie’s List fraudulently renewed memberships over one million times.
The complaint also alleges that Angie’s List breached its membership agreements by unilaterally changing its business model. Specifically, in 2010, Angie’s List modified its business model in 30 of its local markets to create multiple subscription options for contractor services, automotive repair, and medical services. Under the new model members have the choice to subscribe to individual lists, a “bundled” option of all three or choose among the service options. Angie’s list did not inform them of the three options. Instead, Angie’s List renewed existing members for the “bundled” option, charging them for all three of the service plans, contrary to the language of the membership agreement which permitted Angie’s List to automatically renew members only in the membership plan in which they had previously enrolled.
The suit seeks to certify two national classes: one for all members who were renewed at a higher rate and a subclass of those who were renewed after the 2010 change and charged for the “bundled” option. Both groups seek treble damages as well as costs and attorneys’ fees.
To read the complaint in Fritzinger v. Angie’s List, click here.
Why it matters: Companies that offer automatic renewals have faced regulatory and class action scrutiny in recent years and must be sure to clearly and conspicuously disclose all material terms of their programs.
Settlement Updates: Facebook and Google Face Speed Bumps
Internet giants Facebook and Google both recently reached record deals in privacy-related cases, both of which now face criticism.
In July, Facebook agreed to pay $20 million to settle a class action suit alleging its “Sponsored Stories” – an ad feature that combined a Facebook member’s name and profile picture with an advertiser’s logo and a message that the user “likes” the company – violated user’s privacy and publicity rights. The proposed settlement immediately made headlines as it created a $10 million fund for a cy pres award for privacy-related groups and slated an additional $10 million for class counsel, with no cash payout for the plaintiffs. Facebook also agreed to make changes to the site, including additional notice and engineering controls.
However, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Seeborg of the Northern District of California recently denied preliminary approval of the deal. “[T]here are sufficient questions regarding the proposed settlement that it would not be appropriate simply to grant the motion and postpone resolution of those issues to final approval,” he wrote. Those questions include whether a cy pres-only settlement can be justified on the basis that the class size (estimated at 70 million users) is simply too large for direct monetary relief, as well as the propriety of the $10 million counsel fee.
Judge Seeborg also requested more information about the proposed injunctive relief and an explanation as to whether the $10 million cy pres recovery is fair, adequate, and reasonable. Cy pres payments are intended as compensation for past alleged wrongdoing and the parties failed to provide adequate support for the amount, he wrote. “Although it is not a precise science, plaintiffs must show that the cy pres payment represents a reasonable settlement of past damages claims, and that it was not merely plucked from thin air,” the court said.
Judge Seeborg denied the motion for preliminary approval without prejudice, however, leaving the parties to decide whether to negotiate for modifications to the agreement or present a renewed motion for preliminary approval with additional evidentiary and legal support to allay his concerns.
In other news, Google’s record $22.5 million settlement with the FTC over allegations that it misled consumers about the use of tracking cookies is facing its own problems.
Although the fine was the largest ever levied against a defendant for violating an existing consent order, Commissioner J. Thomas Rosch dissented from the settlement agreement because Google did not admit liability. “Condoning a denial of liability in circumstances such as these [imposing a record fine] is unprecedented,” he wrote. “It arguably cannot be concluded that the consent decree is in the public interest when it contains a denial of liability.”
In agreement with Commissioner Rosch, public interest group Consumer Watchdog filed a motion with the California federal court overseeing the case seeking leave to file an amicus brief in opposition to the order.
“The parties’ submissions here do not even acknowledge the controversy regarding the FTC’s action,” the group wrote. Noting that the standard is whether the proposed settlement is “fair, adequate, reasonable, and in the public interest,” Consumer Watchdog said it can aid the court in making the appropriate evaluation.
To read the order in Fraley v. Facebook, click here.
To read Consumer Watchdog’s motion, click here.
Why it matters: Both cases illustrate the potential pitfalls to settlement even in high-profile matters. Cy pres settlement funds have become increasingly common, particularly in suits concerning privacy violations; however, courts are taking a closer look at the terms of settlements like these where plaintiffs receive little or no financial award. And the issue of whether defendants can deny liability in settlements and consent orders continues to play out in both the courtroom and with federal agencies.
WOMMA Releases Updated Social Media Guide
The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) released a new version of the group’s Social Media Marketing Disclosure Guide (WOMMA Guide), updating the original version released in 2010.
The WOMMA Guide is intended to highlight best practices and responsibilities of using social media. Notably, it helps marketers and advocates comply with the FTC’s Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (FTC Guides), which require endorsers – including bloggers – to disclose any material connection they might have with the companies whose products they mention.
Emphasizing the need for adequate disclosures that are clear and prominent, with easily understood and unambiguous language, the WOMMA Guide advocates a three-step “best practices” model for marketers: (i) institute a company-wide social media policy in line with the FTC Guides, (ii) make sure that advocates have a similar policy in place, and (iii) monitor what both employees and advocates do on your behalf.
The WOMMA Guide includes sample “best practices” language for various platforms, including blogs, microblogs, online comments, social networks, video sharing websites, photo sharing websites, curated content, and podcasts. For example, the WOMMA Guide suggests model disclosure for a microblog like Twitter that would include a short phrase indicating that a “material connection” exists or a hashtag like “#spon,” “#paid,” or “#samp.” WOMMA also strongly recommends including a link on a Twitter profile page, close to the endorsement or testimonial, that directs readers to a full “Disclosure and Relationships Statement” which should state how the advocate works with companies in accepting and reviewing products and include a list of any conflict of interests that might affect the blogger’s credibility.
In addition to providing examples of disclosures for various platforms, the WOMMA Guide also addresses situations that may require additional disclosure issues. Contests and promotions, “like-gating,” and the use of social incentives, among other issues, are “challenging and emerging areas” which may require additional consideration, the WOMMA Guide notes.
To read WOMMA’s updated Social Media Marketing Disclosure Guide, click here.
Why it matters: Brands are increasingly using word-of-mouth marketing programs in social media, so they must be careful to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Advocates also must be sure to adequately disclose their relationships to marketers. The FTC has recently taken action against both advocates and marketers for failing to comply with the FTC Guides. WOMMA’s model disclosures offer important guidance for marketers and advocates seeking to comply with the requirements, in addition to material available from the FTC.
NAD: Chrysler Substantiated “Most Awarded” Claim
Claims that the Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee was the “most awarded” sport utility vehicle over the lifetime of the brand were adequately supported, the National Advertising Division (NAD) recently determined. The claim, however, should not be tied to a specific model year.
The case stemmed from a challenge by Jaguar Land Rover North America LLC to Chrysler’s claim that Jeep was the “most awarded” SUV ever, which appeared online and in television commercials. Although Chrysler presented evidence that the Grand Cherokee has won 189 awards since its launch 20 years ago, Land Rover said the number was exaggerated.
Land Rover argued that Jeep claimed numerous “awards” that were “at best merely ratings, descriptions, or endorsements, and included awards that numerous competing vehicles also received.” The mere inclusion in a group of products that receive a positive endorsement from a trade publication, consumer group, or government agency does not constitute an “award,” Land Rover said.
However, the NAD agreed with Jeep’s argument that awards given to more than one vehicle per year should be counted as awards when they were some of “the most prestigious and coveted recognitions in the automotive industry,” like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s “Top Safety Pick” or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s star rating system.
The NAD wrote, “consumers would not reasonably construe the claim as referring exclusively to awards that were given to a single vehicle.” The NAD reasoned that some of the most meaningful awards in the industry are given to more than one vehicle. Thus, NAD “was not persuaded that these important, safety-related awards should be excluded from the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s awards tally merely because the awards were issued to more than one vehicle.”
However, NAD did recommend that the advertising make clear the “most awarded” claim relates to the lifetime of the vehicle and not a specific model year and that Chrysler should revise advertising that tied the claim to a given year.
To read the NAD’s press release about the decision, click here.
Why it matters: Although this case has important implications for the automobile industry in terms of the ability to tout awards and accolades, it is important to keep in mind NAD’s qualification that “the meaning of the term ‘award’ is highly dependent upon the context . . . [i]n some contexts, it is possible that the term ‘award’ might refer only to single recipients rather than multiple ones.” But in other contexts – like in the automotive industry – some of the most meaningful awards are given to more than one vehicle, the NAD said, accepting a “more expansive” definition of “award.”


text:
aaron • September 21, 2020 • Comments Off on Facebook’s Brand New Dating Provider: A Match Built In Heaven, or Hell?
Facebook Inc. (FB) – Get Report is venturing in to the dating that is online having a new feature that, after present difficulties with delicate user data, some specialists state the social media giant can’t afford to get incorrect.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the feature that is new called Dating, through the F8 developer seminar final Tuesday. He stated that the online dating sites platform begins evaluation later this year and certainly will allow Twitter users to satisfy brand new individuals, focusing “on long-term relationships — not merely hookups. “
“we would like Facebook to be someplace individuals may start relationships that are meaningful” a Facebook representative stated. The industry keeps growing quickly: the marketplace research firm IBISWorld stated that the industry that is dating increased by nearly 50 percent from $1.9 billion in 2013 to $2.8 billion in 2017.
The news headlines was “a little bit of a shock, ” considering how much is a russian mail order bride that the announcement came regarding the heels of this Cambridge Analytica information abuse scandal, relating to Mark Brooks, CEO associated with the internet consultancy that is dating Brooks.
Pages on the Dating platform would be split from users’ normal Facebook pages, in addition to task defintely won’t be distributed to buddies on Facebook, an ongoing business representative said. The business will not actually have intends to show adverts or even to use private information on the Dating function to focus on advertisements across Facebook’s different products, the representative said.
Brooks stated that Twitter has elements which can be perfect for a internet dating platform, particularly its vast reach of greater than two billion users, but “if they’re going to take full advantage of Dating, users have actually to trust Facebook. “
With all the Cambridge Analytica data abuse and Zuckerberg’s Congressional testimony perhaps not far behind the announcement of Dating, “it’ll truly cause some social visitors to be reserved, ” said Needham analyst Kerry Rice.
“But it will probably not be their core company, ” Rice said, including which he does not know anybody who visits Twitter discover times. “It really is according to linking with whom you understand, perhaps maybe not who you have no idea. “
The organization might be incorporating extra energy or “stickiness” to your Facebook software, since it has been doing in past times with the addition of features such as for example Marketplace and Twitter Live. It really is not clear how a ongoing business will monetize the software, nonetheless, considering that Facebook will not want to run advertisements or cost a subscription charge for Dating.
Facebook’s main competitor in internet dating, Match Group, Inc. (MTCH) – Get Report, having said that, has existed for a time that is long internet dating is its single focus, Rice said. The products that are dating includes brands such as for example Match, Tinder, PlentyOfFish and OkCupid, together with business makes cash on its online dating sites by offering subscriptions, premium services and advertisements. Match Group had been spun out as a general public business from IAC/InterActive Corp. (IAC) – Get Report in 2015.
After Twitter’s statement may 1, Match stocks plummeted more than 20%.
Even though Twitter had been to absorb Match’s whole company, at an industry limit of nearly ten dollars billion, it can amount to merely a percentage that is small of’s market cap of $511.4 billion.
“I’m not sure it’s going to ever be adequate to go the needle for Facebook, ” Rice stated.
IBISWorld analyst John Madigan agreed that Twitter’s endeavor into online dating sites could possibly be harmed because of the “bad optics” surrounding its maneuvering of sensitive and painful individual data.
“Finally, their rivals are not always worried because Facebook continues to be reeling from Cambridge Analytica, ” Madigan stated. “they don’t really feel threatened. “
“we are flattered that Facebook is getting into our room — and views the opportunity that is global we do — as Tinder continues to skyrocket, ” Match Group CEO Mandy Ginsberg stated in a declaration. “we are astonished during the timing because of the level of individual and delicate information that is sold with this territory. “
Match’s moms and dad company IAC additionally weighed in from the competition, with CEO Joey Levin commenting, “Come on in. The water’s warm. Their item could possibly be perfect for US/Russia relationships, ” alluding to Twitter’s previous problems with Russian nationals making use of the platform to influence the 2016 U.S. Presidential election.
As the popularity of the Dating function depends in component in the protection of Facebook’s information, competitors like Match and EHarmony Inc. Will benefit from the also business tightening its defenses because apps such as for example Tinder and Bumble utilize Twitter profiles to validate users’ identities.
“Facebook really assists these apps detect defective pages and bad actors, ” Madigan stated. “It really is great for everyone. “
Madigan stated it would seem anticompetitive and against the company’s best interests that it is unclear whether Facebook will choose to revoke the ability of third-party apps to use Facebook profile information in this way, but.
“It is simply not fair, ” Brooks stated.
Facebook is a keeping in Jim Cramer’s Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Desire to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells FB? Learn more now.


text:
Nordstrom Rack (top) is coming to McCarran and Kietzke, while The Cheesecake Factory (bottom) has plans to build in Meadowood Mall.
- Filed Under
Renoites, what else could you want for?
The news that Nordstrom Rack is coming to McCarran and Kietzke satisfies a long-requested retail outlet on your wishlist.
It tops a list of soon-to-be arrivees that also includes Cheesecake Factory and Dunkin' Donuts.
Cheesecake Factory will remodel 775 Gastropub's space at Meadowood Mall. The city of Reno has accepted the franchise's property submittal, and is currently reviewing the building permit request.
The upscale casual dining restaurant chain first opened in 1978 in Beverly Hills, Calif., and has more than 170 locations worldwide.
And East Coast transplants are looking forward to a series of Dunkin' Donuts coming to the area soon. Not one, not two, not three, but nine Dunkin' Donuts franchises are planned to open from 2015 through 2020.
Finally, the region will get yet another Walmart. The Supercenter is set to open at Outlets at Sparks in mid-2015.


text:
Ebay is suing Amazon employees for allegedly attempting to steal its top sellers as the battle between the ecommerce giants intensifies. Three Amazon employees have been accused of breaking racketeering…Read More
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Sign up to our daily newsletter to get all the latest retail tech news and insights direct to your inbox.
29/09/2020 11:42 AM
Described as the Pokémon Go app for sneakerheads, Aglet gives sneaker fans the closest experience they can get to owning the most coveted pairs of sneakers all without owning any.…


text:
This article appears to be a little out of date. Please keep in mind that information may have changed after it was last updated.
The information for 2019 is listed below. We’ll update this page with information for Christmas day 2021 as soon as it’s available, so stay tuned.
There’s a lot going on in London on Christmas Day, contrary to common assumption – and the images shown in these photographs and these ones. We’ve previously prepared a list of things to do on Christmas Day in London, from guided walks to boat tours, as well as where to have your Christmas dinner. Here are some of the places in the capital that will be open on December 25th — but make sure to double-check the hours since they may change from typical. Just keep in mind that there will be no public transportation available to bring you there.
On Christmas Day, museums and tourist sites in London open their doors.
It’s few pickings here, as most of the major museums and galleries close on December 25th (understandably) — for many, it’s the only day of the year they shutter.
Body Worlds, a new anatomy exhibition featuring meticulously preserved actual human corpses, is the only attraction we know of that will be open on Christmas Day. It has filled the void left by Ripley’s in more ways than one, taking over the property on Piccadilly Circus and providing tourists with something to do on Christmas Day. The average visit to Body Worlds lasts 1.5-2 hours, and we recommend purchasing tickets in advance to ensure entrance. The hours of operation on Christmas Day are 11 a.m. to 5.15 p.m.
On Christmas Day, the JW3 Jewish Centre in North Finchley is open as usual, and it is the only ice rink (that we know of) that welcomes skaters on December 25.
Hampton Pool is a swimming pool located in Hampton, Virginia.
Restaurants open on Christmas Day in London include:
You’ll have to make a reservation if you want a full-fledged Christmas supper in London, as walk-ins will be difficult to come by on Christmas Day. Here are a few places that serve Christmas supper on Christmas Day, however, there are numerous more options.
If you’re looking for anything other than turkey on Christmas Day, several Chinese eateries in Chinatown are open. It’s mostly a question of showing up and seeing what’s available, though if you have a favorite, it’s worth calling ahead to confirm Christmas hours. Similarly, many Kosher eateries in north London are open, although it’s advisable to call ahead to confirm.
If you haven’t made a reservation and are hungry, your best chance is to go to one of London’s major hotels, where the kitchens should be open to serve visitors.


text:
TRG Vehicle has joined the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA).
All BVRLA members are quality assured and operate under a code of conduct, which gives customers the reassurance that they are dealing with a reputable company that will offer the highest levels of service, backed up by the BVRLA's free conciliation service.
Nigel Schroder, managing director of trg Vehicle Hire, commented: "TRG has made great strides since its inception in 2011; we always strive to bring a fresh approach and try to explore new initiatives to support our customer base.
"Joining the BVRLA was the obvious next step for the business – as we gain traction. We look forward to being part of such a prestigious body and benefiting from the networking opportunities which will undoubtedly be presented to us."
"New entrants are vital if we want to ensure a strong, healthy rental industry, and it is great to welcome trg into membership," said BVRLA chief executive, John Lewis.
"We hope they take an active role in the association as we strive to raise standards and strengthen the industry’s position within the wider transport community."


text:
The race among semiconductor makers to gain an edge in the booming market for specialised Artificial intelligence processors has just given rise to the world’s biggest computer chip.
A Californian-based start-up has unveiled the world’s largest computer chip. The Wafer Scale Engine, designed by Cerebras Systems, is slightly bigger than a standard iPad.
The firm says a single chip can drive complex artificial intelligence (AI) systems in everything from driverless cars to surveillance software.
The most powerful desktop CPUs (central processing units) have about 30 processor cores – each able to handle their own set of calculations simultaneously.
GPUs (graphics processing units) tend to have more cores, albeit less powerful ones.
The most powerful GPUs, including speech recognition, image processing and pattern matching, have as many as 5,000 cores.
But Cerebras’ new chip has 400,000 cores, all linked to each other by high-bandwidth connections.
The firm claims the Wafer Scale Engine will reduce the time it takes to process some complex data from months to minutes.
Cerebras has started shipping the hardware to a small number of customers.
It has not yet revealed how much the chips cost.


text:
65% of marketing emails were opened on a mobile device last quarter; Android tablet use doubles
The amount of marketing email opened by an Apple iPhone or Apple iPad was flat in the fourth quarter at 50%. But Android handsets and tablets saw a 40% increase in emails opened, going from 10% of the total in Q3 to 14% in the following quarter. The stats also indicated that iOS users spend the most time viewing junk email, with 38% of them spending 15 seconds or longer going through such missives. 35% of Android users spent the same time reading the email.
Desktop usage is declining throughout the U.S., according to the stats. Maine and Vermont, the last two holdouts, both opened marketing email on a smartphone more than 50% of the time in Q4. Texas was the leader with 57% of such email read on a smartphone.
Thanksgiving is a big day for mobile device usage. Last year's Turkey day holiday saw 60% of marketing email opened by a smartphone. The best day of the year for desktops was Cyber Monday when 40% of the email was read on a desktop. Still, smartphones opened the messages 45.5% of the time on that day.
source: MovableInk via FiercreMobile


text:
Browse by month:
- RECENT STORIES
Jackson-Lansing Business headlines• Lazeez Flavors of India grocery store and take-out eatery is closed 1:17 PM
Lazeez Flavors of India has closed, but the owner is hoping it will reopen elsewhere in the future.
• Sponsored Content: How Michigan businesses can take advantage of pro bono accounting services 2:35 PM
Many established Michigan businesses recognize the importance of assisting start-up and small businesses in reaching their potential to improve the state's economic climate. That's why they are pledging their services in coordination with Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC). Developed by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), PMBC is a program designed to introduce opportunities to Michigan companies that help them...
• Sponsored Content: 4 tips to keeping your data safe in the cloud 2:30 PM
We all store things on our electronic devices that we don't want to lose. At the tip of our fingers we have access to photos, videos, important documents, and software that we keep safely stored on our hard drives. For extra security, some even store all of their data in the cloud. But what happens if you don't take...
• Cooperstown Softball Complex back under original owner, who hopes to sell it 2:24 PM
As of Saturday, Oct. 18, Don Hoadley and Parnall Properties Inc. assumed ownership of the property 30 days after an attorney ruled the property abandoned by former owner Mark Raczkowski and BRAZ, LLC.
• Michigan film credits would continue under Senate-passed bill 11:45 AM
The Senate has passed legislation tweaking the state's film law.


text:
Wednesday, Jul 6, 2022
Science and Tech
Amazfit T-Rex Pro smartwatch launched in India at Rs 12,999
Amazfit Trex-Pro is an upgraded version of T-Rex, which was launched globally during CES 2020.
Amazfit T-Rex Pro smartwatch to launch in India this month
Amazfit Trex-Pro is an upgraded version of T-Rex, which was launched globally during CES 2020. Amazfit T-Rex Pro will be available on Amazon as well as on its official online store.
India wearables market grows 144% in 2020
India was the only country in the top 20 to see triple-digit growth in wearables in the year 2020 and continues to be the third-largest wearables market globally, IDC said in a statement.
Amazfit GTR 2e, GTS 2e smartwatch to launch on Jan 19
According to the company, both the smartwatches retain all the essential features of their counterparts, the GTR 2 and GTS 2 but will be available at a more affordable price point.
Rupee rises 9 paise to 79.24 against US dollar in early trade
8 mins ago
Birthday Special: Have a look at Ranveer Singh’s top 5 performances
23 mins ago
TikTok to restrict livestreams to viewers who are 18 years and above
26 mins ago
Aadhaar compulsory for getting compensation in human-elephant conflict cases
35 mins ago
Ajmer dargah cleric arrested for call to ‘behead’ Nupur Sharma
39 mins ago
Domestic LPG cylinder gets dearer by Rs 50 New
52 mins ago
Udaipur murder: NIA issues notice to Bihar man detained in Hyderabad
1 hour ago
Uttar Pradesh: Man booked for forcing wife to attend wife-swapping parties
1 hour ago


text:
Direct-broadcast satellite providers last week announced plans that should help them to compete in the broadband Internet space, as well as further strengthen their relationships with hardware vendors.
EchoStar Communications Corp. said last Monday it would invest $50 million in Gilat-To-Home, a joint venture created to launch a two-way, Ku-band, satellite-based Internet service for consumer use later this year. Microsoft Corp. and Israel-based Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. were initial investors.
GTH had previously said that it would work with EchoStar to send both its Internet and EchoStar's Dish Network video signals to a single satellite dish. The companies demonstrated the product with a live feed at last week's National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas.
EchoStar has a similar deal with iSKY Inc., which plans to deliver a two-way broadband service via Ka-band satellites late next year. EchoStar previously announced a $50 million investment in iSKY.
And DirecTV Inc. parent Hughes Electronics Corp. said last week that with the help of America Online Inc., it will aggressively market a new "AOL via DirecPC" broadband service this summer. Today's DirecPC platform requires a telephone-return path, but the company expects to have a two-way connection via Ku-band satellites late this year.
By 2003, Hughes plans to use Ka-band technology for its new "Spaceway" service, which would offer faster connections than DirecPC's Ku-band service.
DirecTV will also introduce a receiver with "AOL TV" capabilities in the second half of this year, president Eddy Hartenstein told analysts during a conference call last Wednesday.
Philips Consumer Electronics Co. said last week that it has agreed to manufacture and sell new DirecTV receivers. The company already markets DBS boxes for Dish. "We desire to be service-provider-agnostic and let the consumer decide," Philips Home Access Solutions senior vice president of marketing and sales Bo Ferm said.
Philips plans to ship its DirecTV retail products-including a high-end model with Dolby Laboratories Inc.'s "AC-3" capabilities-in the third quarter of this year.
Philips will introduce its own AOL TV set-top box late this year, but the first-generation models won't include DirecTV receivers.
The company is eager to manu-facture integrated products that combine DBS, personal-video recorders and Web access, Ferm said, adding, "Consumers will be confused if there are too many remote controls and too many user interfaces to deal with."
Philips plans to build a low-end DirecTV receiver to help speed conversions from Prime-Star by DirecTV medium-power service to high-power.


text:
A scandal that may change IT - January 17, 2018
Security experts found a bug in computer chips made in the last decade that may leave a huge vulnerability in almost every computer in the world. Every manufacturer is affected, but Intel has the biggest problem. Their shares already dropped significantly, and the market may change greatly. End-users should pay extra attention to security now.
At the beginning of the year, a serious security flaw was revealed in Intel, AMD and ARM chips. There are two vulnerabilities, Meltdown and Spectre. The more serious one only targets Intel CPUs, while the other affects virtually all modern chips in the world.
What is the problem?
In the last decade, all Intel CPUs started to use technique that leads to this problem. It’s called speculative execution and can be used by attackers to read out protected data, like passwords from computers. Since this is a hardware problem, it affects all brands using Intel CPUs: Windows PCs and Apple Macs alike. Another vulnerability affects AMD and even ARM chips, too, so smartphones aren’t safe either.
Hardware and software manufacturers believe that the problem can be solved by software patches, but this has a price: performance will fall 5-30% due to the patch. This may be a problem for home users, but corporate users will have even more serious problems.
The market may change
According to Reuters, “some of Intel Corp’s (INTC.O) data center customers (…) are exploring using microchips from the market leader’s rivals to build new infrastructure after the discovery of security flaws affecting most chips”. The reason is simple: Intel’s chips suffer the most because of these vulnerabilities, and they may take the biggest performance hit, too. But they have the biggest market share, 98% in data centres, so this may be a huge change for the whole market.
Ever since the first news of these vulnerabilities were published by The Register, Intel’s stocks are constantly falling while their biggest competitor’s, AMD’s are rising. It’s hard to know how the scandal will end, but there are some professionals who now recommend AMD over Intel and even the slightly weaker ARM chips may be in focus due to the mentioned performance fall.
What an end-user can do?
A home user has limited options to deal with this problem. At the moment, there are no new CPUs that are absolutely safe from the vulnerability, so buying a new computer is not an option. The only thing everyone can and should do is keeping their computers’ and smartphones’ software up-to-date all the time. Microsoft and Apple have already released updates to deal with these problems, and probably will make new, better patches in the future.
This means that keeping our computers updated is not only important for new functions, but for safety as well, which should be a priority for everyone who has investments.
Disclaimer: This analysis is for general information and is not a recommendation to sell or buy any instrument. Since every investment holds some risk, our main business policy is based on diversification to minimize threats and maximize profits. Innovative Securities’ Profit Max has a diversified portfolio, which contains liquid instruments. This way, our clients can maintain liquidity, while achieving their personal investment goals on the long term.


text:
Computer specialty store Alternate Belgium organizes tonight a 24-hour live stream and auction for ‘Make-A-Wish’. On top of that, they also auction a custom-made Corsair Hydro X Gaming PC.
Alternate Belgium ties in with the annual tradition and organizes again an annual campaign for Make-A-Wish. With their online community of gamers, it is of course no problem for them to cast this in a corona-proof jacket. This year they are organizing a 24-hour during livestream.
24 hours of gaming and collecting donations for Make-A-Wish, that’s the purpose of the live stream that Alternate Belgium will broadcast tonight (18th of December 2020). In terms of location, they can count on the “De Stroming” conference center, which has made a hall available. The livestream will be on Twitch.tv, a live streaming platform for gamers.
“We currently have more than 6,300 followers on our Twitch channel. We want to use this channel to raise money for Make-A-Wish,” said Alternate Belgium Marketing Manager Damir Cenanovic. In addition, they are also launching an auction in collaboration with BVA Auctions of a custom built water-cooled computer. “This computer was worth about $ 3,000 at the time it was built.” The proceeds of this auction will go entirely to Make-A-Wish.
The Alternate Belgium livestream will be shown on their Twitch channel. –https://www.twitch.tv/alternatebe
The auction can be found on this website:
YouTube link to the auction of the custom-built pc:


text:
Historic fraud led to Jay Peak’s auction. How will the resort's sale impact Vermont?
Live call-in discussion: A Utah ski conglomerate has bid $76 million for the Northeast Kingdom ski resort Jay Peak. This hour, host Connor Cyrus speaks with a reporter about the historic fraud that put the ski resort into receivership and with its president about what the sale means for hundreds of employees.
Our guests are:
- Liam Elder-Connors, a reporter at Vermont Public who's followed the EB-5 fraud for years
- Steven Wright, president and general manager of Jay Peak Resort
Broadcast live at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.


text:
Arrrrr! The Consumer Electronics Association is standing up for its customers against crazed copyright law proposals in the US (via Boing Boing):
"Our nation's leadership in innovation is being threatened by the content industry's campaign to extend intellectual property law so as to grant them the right to dictate the design of technology. The content industry's campaign is to the detriment of consumers, business and the nation's economy. It's time for them to stop.
Passing HR 1201 would be a good first step to cleaning up this mess. This bill would merely ensure that consumers, libraries, and educators can use new technology without threat of liability, so long as they don't violate the copyright law."


text:
Hidden Sugars May be Making Your Child (and you) Fat
According to a new study published in the online open access British Medical Journal, parents are being misled when it comes to hidden sugars that may be making your child and you fat with this popular food item.
Summer will be here soon, and so will thirsty children and adults who typically bring a cooler filled with drinks to a soccer or baseball game to quench those thirsts. And while you as a parent may be patting yourself on the back watching your active child burn off those calories during the game, it turns out that you may be unknowingly replenishing all those spent calories (and more) with the beverages you brought to the game. But we’re not talking about sodas here, rather fruit-based beverages that come in those handy packs with a straw.
According to new research the sugar content of fruit drinks, including natural fruit juices and smoothies is significantly higher than that recommended on a daily basis for children. And surprisingly, it may be healthier to buy a fruit drink rather than an advertised 100% fruit juice beverage.
Scientists from the University of Liverpool recently decided to determine the actual amount of sugars in fruit juices, juice drinks and smoothies marketed to children. According to the university’s news release and published open access study in BMJ Open, 203 beverages marketed for children were identified in supermarkets that consisted of 21 100% fruit juices, 158 juice drinks and 24 smoothies. The focus of the analysis was the amount of free sugars found in the typical 200 ml servings. Free sugars were defined as those added to the drinks that included glucose, fructose, sucrose, table sugar, and glucose-fructose syrup.
Hidden Sugar Amounts in Kid's Drinks
What the researchers found was that:
• Sugars content ranged from 0 to 16 g/100 ml with a mean average of 7.0 g/100 ml.
• Juice drinks averaged the lowest sugar amount (5.6 g/100 ml); 100% juices came in 2nd highest at nearly twice the juice drink amount at 10.7 g/100 ml; and, smoothies were the highest of them all at 13.0 g/100 ml.
• 85 of the 203 beverages tested contained at least 19 g of sugars—a child's entire maximum daily amount of sugars with 57 containing sugar (sucrose), 65 containing non-caloric sweeteners, 5 containing both sugar and non-caloric sweeteners ( see Fake Sugars that Kill); and, 7 containing glucose-fructose syrup.
• Beverages were misleading the consumer by referring to intake levels that apply toward an average sized active adult woman rather than the levels that apply toward a child.
“Unfortunately our research shows that these parents have been misled. The sugar content of the fruit drinks, including natural fruit juices and smoothies tested is unacceptably high. And smoothies are among the worst offenders,” stated co-author Professor Simon Capewell. “Manufacturers should stop adding unnecessary amounts of sugars, and therefore calories, to their fruit drink/juice/smoothie products. Our kids are being harmed for the sake of industry profits. If companies can’t slash sugar voluntarily, the government should step in with statutory regulations.”
Tips for Reducing the Amount of Sugar in Your Child’s Beverages
As a result of the findings, the researchers offer this advice for reducing sugar intake:
• Fruit should preferably be eaten WHOLE, not as juice
• Parents should DILUTE fruit juice with water or opt for unsweetened juices, and only serve these drinks during meals
• Portion sizes should be limited to 150 ml/day (not the current 200ml)
University of Liverpool “How much sugar is in your child’s fruit drink?”
“How much sugar is hidden in drinks marketed to children? A survey of fruit juices, juice drinks and smoothies” BMJ Open Vol. 6 issue 3; Jane Boulton et al.
Image courtesy of Pixabay


text:
February 17, 2022
The future is here as Ireland’s first ever contactless food store has opened its doors.
“Friction-free” food shopping is the motto of a new hi-tech new store, Market x Flutter, in Dublin.
The store, which was unveiled for the first time yesterday, allows shoppers to select their purchases and leave, without a till in sight.
And we took a trip out to the new shop yesterday, to test drive how it will actually work.
Developed for Irish betting company Flutter by Compass Group Ireland, it stocks fresh meals including a selection of hot and chilled dishes to-go, as well as drinks and confectionery items.
Customers simply “check in” when entering the shop by scanning a QR code on their phone and then freely wander through the store, selecting and bagging produce at their leisure.
With no scanning or queuing in sight, shoppers then walk out with their bag of shopping.
AI-powered computer vision, and almost 80 cameras tracking customer purchases, will then trigger a receipt to be delivered to their phone moments after they leave the store.
Find out more here