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“The Mate 30 Pro is also expected to come with the SuperSensing camera technology”
Huawei Mate 30 Pro flagship could ditch Corning’s Gorilla Glass for a new AIR Glass, if a trademark is to be believed. Huawei recently received a trademark for AIR Glass, which has appeared on the WIPO’s website. The trademark was filed under “Class 9,” which is related to “covers for smartphones; cases for smartphones; and protective glasses, and more.” If the speculations are to be believed, Huawei could place the AIR Glass screen protector on top of the Mate 30 Pro’s screen instead of the Gorilla Glass. While the brand hasn’t officially announced anything, it seems to be developing its own screen protection technology, which could debut with the Mate 30 Pro.
Apart from Huawei AIR Glass, the company has recently also received a trademark for a camera term called SuperSensing. The company originally introduced this camera technology with the Huawei P30 series smartphone, which have a 40MP main sensor in their multi-camera setup. The Mate 30 Pro is said to come with two 40MP cameras at the back, so it makes sense that Huawei will equip the flagship with the SuperSensing technology. No other details have been revealed by the trademarks.
According to the earlier reports, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro is said to come with a triple camera setup at the rear – 40MP + 40MP + 8MP. The main 40MP sensor is said to feature an aperture of f/1.4-f/1.5 and RYYB pixel layout. The secondary 40MP sensor is tipped to be an ultra-wide-angle lens with a 120-degree field of view. The third sensor is said to be an 8MP camera with 5X zoom capabilities.
As for the other specs, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro is said to sport a 6.71-inch Super AMOLED display with a high refresh rate of 90Hz. The phone is expected to be powered by the Kirin 985 processor, aided by a 4,200mAh battery with 55W fast charging support. Unfortunately, there’s no word when exactly Huawei is planning to launch the flagship.


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Today, we’re trying something new and reporting on a current event in the world of rideshare and how it will affect drivers. Our regular rideshare round-up of all the top news stories from the week will be published tomorrow. But today, RSG contributor, Christian Perea, takes a look at the real reasons why Uber is leaving Broward County. There is a lot of good analysis in this post and we break down exactly why these fights between Uber and local governments are breaking out and what they mean for drivers and passengers.
If you drive in Florida, you need to be aware that an important deadline is about to pass in Broward County on July 31st. A complete pull-out by Uber and Lyft from the Broward market. So if you are one of the unlucky Broward drivers whose job is on the line, that really sucks. But at the end of the day, this is all a political maneuver on behalf of Uber and Lyft. So let me explain how it works.
Every so often, a local government manages to pass actual legislation on Uber/Lyft. When this legislation includes fingerprinting, background checks, market controls on drivers, etc., Lyft and Uber almost always threaten to pull the plug. If the government doesn’t loosen the requirements, Uber and Lyft leave the market.
This has already happened in San Antonio, Buffalo, Kansas, Hamptons, New York and now Broward (just to name a few).
Usually Uber and Lyft will mobilize a full fledged political campaign composed of lobbyists, drivers, petitions, passengers, etc to get these laws overturned. As riders write, tweet and sign petitions to their local legislators, political pressure rapidly builds in support of Uber/Lyft. More often than not, an agreement is reached before the companies pull out of the market.
However, if all of the above brinksmanship fails, then Lyft and Uber will leave a market. Don’t think for a second that they are giving up though.
Background Checks, Drug Tests, and Insurance
Generally, three things will trigger Uber and Lyft to leave a market; Fingerprinting, drug-tests, and commercial insurance. Broward managed to hit all three of them. So good job Broward!
From a driver’s perspective, fingerprinting and licensing creates a barrier of entry for new drivers entering our market and over-saturating it. So in the short-term, drivers obviously win. More business for us drivers that are already on board and more surge for us. It is a no-brainer. So it seems.
However, this is a huge problem for Uber and Lyft because a big part of their business model is being able to easily scale up (and in the future scale down) the number of drivers. Adding FBI fingerprinting and drug tests creates an extra hoop for potential drivers to jump through.
Considering the quality of cab drivers (including the one that hit and run my car last week) I think it’s safe to say that the extra special background checks that the FBI or whatever state entity/fingerprinting company that takes your local politician to dinner every week is pretty close to worthless. Those who are timid about the invasion of privacy that comes from having your fingerprints stored in a government database will not bother to drive or sign-up. Those who are criminals already know how to fake their piss test because its more or less an IQ test.
Plus, myself and a lot of drivers think we should be allowed to smoke a blunt when we aren’t driving the towns drunks around. We need it after listening to Becky say “totes” for the 100th time or watching you slam our doors all night.
24/7 commercial insurance is also pretty impractical. It’s clear that insurance companies have a lot to gain from every driver purchasing separate commercial insurance policies instead of operating under something more universal like Uber or Lyfts insurance. Generally, Uber and Lyft will continue to operate in a market if this is the single issue however they will pay for any commercial insurance tickets that a driver receives. That being said, adopting the same commercial insurance as a limo or taxi will increase costs dramatically. This increases prices and now we end up at square one where transportation sucks for everybody again.
Uber and Lyft’s Strategy in Leaving
“If Uber or Lyft allow themselves to acquiesce to strict regulations from local governments, it will set a precedent with EVERY other city that they can create the same regulations, and thus the entire business model becomes threatened.”
Had Uber stayed in San Antonio last April, there would likely be a litany of local governments adding a bunch of silly regulations to each TNC driver. Fingerprinting, certificates, licenses, drug tests, draconian insurance requirements, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, cats in the trunk, etc.
The logic of local regulators is that all of those regulations were apparently effective at making cabs a reliable and safe mode of transportation that everybody loved before Uber. 😉
The problem with many of theses regulations is that they are often reactionary in nature and try to conform old regulations and rules to a new and innovative form of transportation.
When Uber or Lyft leave a market, they place themselves in a power position where they come across as the victim and paint the local government as a corrupt stalwart that is unwilling to accept new technology. I’m not saying that this is true, but it’s definitely their angle.
The Picture that Uber and Lyft Want to Paint
“An American tech company enters San Antonio/Tulsa/Broward and creates thousands of jobs almost overnight. It lowers instances of drunk driving. It costs 1/3rd as much as a taxi ride. Stimulates the local bar and restaurant scene, tracks its drivers via GPS and ratings to make sure that they are not rude. Fills transportation gaps from under-served communities. They have a faster response time than an ambulance……is forced to stop operating due to onerous restrictions by local governments and pressures from entrenched taxi and limo companies. Once again, government acts to destroy jobs due to shady bureaucratic interests under the guise of safety to prevent growth.”
It’s hard to to not look bad as a local politician if this sort of picture gains traction with voters. Regardless of your opinion on Uber and Lyft, there is no denying that they are popular services that have generated a great deal of public support. Uber and Lyft count on this popularity and pressure to get their way.
The End Strategy
A lot of people have gotten used to taking those cheap and convenient UberX/Lyft rides on the weekend. Once they are gone though, you can bet we still aren’t going to call for a cab. They sunk their own ship a long time ago for most of us (especially millennials) so instead, people will just demand that Uber and Lyft return to their market.
Not wanting to be painted as faceless bureaucrats (and often after election season is over), government officials are more willing to negotiate with Uber and Lyft on terms that allow them to return to the market. This is already happening in San Antonio.
Of course, if officials are unwilling to negotiate, Uber and Lyft can almost surely find a candidate that is more friendly to their cause. Someone who would be willing to bring back the popular, cheap service that vaguely creates jobs and fights against drunk driving. That person also just so happens to need campaign donations.
At the time of this article, Uber had over 70k signatures on a petition to keep Uber in Broward. You can sign the petition yourself here.
I don’t think that Uber and Lyft will leave places like Broward and San Antonio forever. They are just being patient and fighting industry stalwarts with an effective strategy. In the end there will likely be a middle-ground in regulations that allows for everybody to operate and prosper. Except taxis.
So if you’re a driver in one of these war-torn Uber cities, know that Uber will be back, but it is a very real possibility that you could go a few weeks or worst case scenario, a few months without any Uber income. If anything, it may be a good time to really motivate yourself to find another source of income or maybe even start a side business that will align with your driving. That way, when Uber does come back, you’ll be even better off than you were before.
How This Strategy Could Backfire for Uber and Lyft
So far, Uber pulling out and often times, just threatening to pull out has sent a pretty strong message (New York is a great example of this). If your local government passes a certain threshold of regulations (usually FBI fingerprinting and piss tests), Uber and Lyft will leave your market. Okay, well now every city government and taxi lobby knows exactly what they need to do to get Uber and Lyft to leave their market.
The cab union gets its ultimate demand. Lawmakers can still make a case for appearing to be willing to work with ride-hail companies while painting Uber and Lyft as too arrogant to accept regulations. This creates an easy way to accept campaign financing from the Cab and Limo Lobbyists without facing the risks of angering the public.
This could place Uber and Lyft in a long term position where they will have to eventually accept the conditions of local governments. The question becomes how they can steer it in such a way as to make it efficient and safe for all parties involved. Considering that the services are superior and supported by the public I don’t see this happening on a wide scale but you never know.
At the end of the day, Uber is offering a service that the public loves and Uber has a lot at stake in regards to keeping the barrier to entry very low for its drivers. Ultimately, there will be a few cities that try and fight Uber but as we saw this past week in New York, public pressure can have a big impact on politicians.
Drivers, what do you think about the news that Uber is pulling out of Broward County? Will they really pull out or do you think the government will come to a last minute agreement with Uber? If you’re a driver in Broward County, we’d love to hear from you. What are your plans if Uber leaves?
-Christian @ RSG

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As we have already said two of the main trends of the Mobile World Congress of 2019 are the folding phones or folding screens and the 5G network that sneaks in large part of the companies present in this fair of the mobile phone or smartphone.
And, of course, Motorola doesn't want to stay behind in the market either. However, instead of launching its own 5G phone, the company opts, for the moment, to go step by step and first launch an accessory that can offer 5G connection.
This is the new Moto 5G Mod and, although it seems, a priori, a case or case for smartphone, it is, rather, a complement with a greater and more complete scope.
The inconvenient? Well, first, that at the moment it only works with the signature Moto Z3 phone, and second, that it is only available in the United States, although it is not yet on the market.
According to Motorola sources, the Moto 5G Mod accessory arrives from the hand of the Verizon phone operator throughout the first half of 2019, but there is no specific date on the company's roadmap.
Its price, also to be determined, according to the same sources, is much lower than the average price of a phone with 5G of those that will be launched in 2019. But, for now, they do not even have an approximate figure to determine if It is an expensive or cheap accessory.
The firm announces its Moto Z3 as the first 5G upgradeable phone on the market and promises, thanks to this accessory or Mod speeds ten times greater, reduced delay or delay time, a faster mobile access point and an extra integrated battery.
In this way, you can easily add to your Moto Z3 5G connection and a large battery to get a better performance and benefit.


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Facebook doesn't have time to monitor hate speech when there are root vegetables letting it all hang out on their website.
The social media juggernaut recently pulled an ad for the Gaze Seed Company featuring Walla Walla onions in a wicker basket, claiming the post displayed the products with "overtly sexualized positioning."
Waiting for your permission to load the Facebook Post.
"I guess something about the two round shapes there could be misconstrued as boobs or something, nude in some way," Jackson McLean, a manager at the Canadian company told CBC News. "I just thought it was funny. You'd have to have a pretty active imagination to look at that and get something sexual out of it."
McLean then reposted a picture of the titillating bulbs to his company's Facebook page with the caption, "Just got notified by Facebook that the photo used for our Walla Walla Onion seed is 'Overtly Sexual'… Can you see it?"
Although he requested Facebook to reconsider its ban and didn't get a response for days, social media did what it does and attention to the plight of the onion ad was brought to the head of communications at Facebook Canada.
"We use automated technology to keep nudity off our apps, but sometimes it doesn't know a walla walla onion from a, well, you know," Meg Sinclair told the CBC. "We restored the ad and are sorry for the business' trouble."
Between January and March of 2020, Facebook took down 39.5 million pieces of content for "adult nudity or sexual activity," according to The Guardian. 99.2% of the material was removed automatically, "without a user reporting it."
In 2018, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg commented on how the company deems certain content inappropriate, per the outlet.
"It's much easier to build an AI system that can detect a nipple than it is to determine what is linguistically hate speech."
Meanwhile, McLean said he believes an algorithm was probably responsible for the allium-based error.
"Hopefully an actual human gets to look at the photo to decide that it's not actually sexual at all," he mused. "It's just onions."


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It’s been just over 5 years since Kate Middleton walked down the aisle to her Prince and became the Duchess of Cambridge. Royal watchers are celebrating the happy couple who have maintained a strong relationship while in the spotlight and have since welcomed two adorable children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Show More Summary
Prince William and Kate Middleton tied the knot in the event of the year back in 2011. Five years later, we're still obsessed with the couple. In honor of their anniversary on April 29, take a look back at the sweetest moment of the whole day: their now-iconic balcony kiss.
Five years ago, an estimated one billion viewers watched Catherine Elizabeth Middleton inch down the aisle of Westminster Abbey to wed Prince William, future monarch to the United Kingdom. Observersin the U.S. awokebefore dawn, as early as 4 a.m. on the East Coast, to watch the spectacle unfold. The wedding of [...]
William and Kate's fifth wedding anniversary is this week, and we can hardly believe it's been so long since the already-iconic royal wedding. While you're being wistful going over all the nostalgic photos from the event, don't forget that the movies have tried to capture a royal wedding with as much magic as the real thing. Show More Summary
Fashion designer sues over dress at royal wedding, Getty Images claims Google Image Search promotes piracy and Goodlatte talks copyright reform. The post 3 Count: White Royal Wedding appeared first on Plagiarism Today.
If you enjoy royal romances, dreamy gazing, surreptitious holiday hand-holding, and the occasional interesting outfit, what better place to look for them than this truly gigantic round-up of the last five years of Cambridge Wedded Bliss? (With, of course, Bonus Harry. Apparently, it’s not a party without him.) (Speaking of royal romances, it’s an apt Read More...
Can you believe it's been five years since the day of the century royal wedding? On Friday, April 29, 2011, many moons before the world became enamored with Prince George and Princess Charlotte, Kate Middleton officially became Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Show More Summary
Five years ago we huddled around our televisions at 4 a.m.wide-eyed and giddily awaiting the Royal Wedding. Worth it? You bet. From Kate’s long-sleeve lace Alexander McQueen gown, to Pippa’s figure flaunting dress, to the newlyweds spontaneous double kiss on the balcony (!!) – it was, and still remains, the wedding of the century. Why? Because every single detail was […]
Celebrate 5 years of wedded bliss with the happy royal couple by looking back on their sweetest moments.
Post by Tanvier Peart. With almost five years of wedded bliss, you would think the Duchess of Cambridge would be comfortable with the royal life -- but that doesn't appear to be the case. In fact, there's speculation that Kate Middleton feels "absolutely terrified" she'll make a mistake, which kinda makes you love her even more. Show More Summary
Happy 5th royal wedding anniversary! Looking back on the events of April 29th, 2011, we vividly remember Catherine's Alexander McQueen wedding gown (all that lace!), the Cartier Halo tiara she borrowed from the Queen (so much sparkle),...Show More Summary
Post by Nicole Fabian-Weber. What a royal mess! Five years after Kate Middleton and Prince William got married, Christine Kendall, the owner of a small design studio in London, is claiming that Alexander McQueen stole the idea for Kate's wedding dress from her. Show More Summary
Did Kate Middleton say "yes" to a stolen dress?! Bridal designer Christine Kendall is taking Alexander McQueen to court claiming that creative director Sarah Burton stole her ideas for the royal wedding gown! And before you jump to conclusions, the fashion house is already slamming the allegations as "ridiculous!" As you may remember, Burton was honored for the [...]
There are few dresses in recent memory — perhaps in history — as famous as Kate Middleton's custom Alexander McQueen wedding gown by Creative Director Sarah Burton. Now, five years later, another designer has filed a lawsuit claiming the design was a knockoff of one of her own.Christine Kendall,... Continue reading
Dozen previously unpublished photos of the 1981 royal wedding were released for an auction back in September, 2015. These nostalgic pictures were taken by a relative and the only photographer who was allowed to take informal photographs...Show More Summary
If you want to blend in with the locals of Westeros, these are the tips you need: how to dress, how to speak, and what to do if invited to a royal wedding.
Post by Meredith Gordon. Pippa Middleton took center stage at her sister Kate's royal wedding (mostly due to her fabulous derriere), but Pippa and Kate's mom Carole is also a bit of a head turner herself. In fact, Pippa and Carole look more like twins than mother and daughter. Show More Summary
Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (aka Kate Middleton) happily paint an Elephant Parade statue while visiting the Mark Shand Fountadion in Kaziranga National Park during day four of their royal visit on Wednesday (April 13) in Guwahati, India. That same day, the 33-year-old royal and Kate, 34, enjoyed some sight seeing [...]


text: Maybe it's because of the NBA lockout, but basketball players are out in force this Fashion Week. Amar'e Stoudemire debuted his collaboration with Rachel Roy, Dwyane Wade is wondering what to call his new line, and Carmelo Anthony has made the Anna Wintour connection. Last night at Cynthia Rowley, Wade's Miami Heat teammate Chris Bosh explained the NBA's own catwalk to us: "We always have that infamous walk from the bus to our locker room and that’s when a lot of camera time is involved. People watch that a lot. They always show that on TV. You always want to make sure you have your clothes right and make sure you’re looking good, and for me it helps with my game, because it makes me more serious, it puts me in the mood to go out there and do my job."


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Top 3 tips for SMBs headed digital
More small businesses are finding a niche online, but for some there are missteps along the way. Huzzah Media offers their top three tips for SMBs headed digital.
"For SMBs today, particularly those on Main Street, going digital can be a daunting task - in fact our recent study found that seven in 10 say time and cost restraints prohibit them from improving their online presence," said Lance Brown, vice president of product development for Huzzah Media. "The truth is businesses that understand how to approach their online program will be better poised to compete and thrive. As overwhelming as it may seem, there are simple things small business owners can do to get started today."
First, take it social. "Establish and maintain your key social network platforms, like Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. Customers want to engage with brands beyond where they are being sold to, so social media is a great way to stay engaged and show your store's personality. Remember to keep up with them or you risk losing momentum you have when you set them up," advise the Huzzah experts.
Second, reward your locals. Rewards programs are known for building loyal, return customers - if the rewards are relevant to that shopper. So reward local shoppers with special savings passes, offers and more that will bring them back to your store.
Finally, start with the website and don't forget mobile. Make websites simple to navigate, filled with relevant information for your shoppers; while building the website, don't forget about mobile viewability. And, says Huzzah, consider a mobile app.
"With an app, you can more easily let your customers know about discounts, deals and exclusive offers. As well as use it to track and send invoices and do business on the go. For some, like Blade Runners Commercial Landscaping, it has resulted in big returns," say the experts.
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Hawaii: Most millionaires per population
Hawaii continues to lead the nation in the percent of millionaires per overall population.
Phoenix Marketing International of New York defines a millionaire household as one with $1 million or more in investable or liquid assets, excluding sponsored retirement plans and real estate.
The marketing firm announced Friday the number of millionaires in the U.S. has declined by 14 percent over the past two years.
But 6.4 percent of Hawaii’s households, or 28,363, are millionaires.
That’s down from 7.26 percent in 2008 but still high enough of a percentage to lead the nation for the second year in a row.
Rounding out the top five states in millionaires per population are Maryland (6.3 percent), New Jersey (6.2 percent), and Connecticut (6.2 percent). These states maintained their order of ranking from 2008.
Virginia (5.5 percent) cracked the top five in 2009, up from sixth place in 2008, while Massachusetts (5.4 percent) came in sixth in 2009, down from fifth place the previous year.
“While the top states in millionaire percentages were little changed from the previous year, overall, the market downturn has taken its toll on the ranks of millionaires in most states,” said David Thompson, managing director of the Phoenix Affluent Market.
Founded in 1999, Phoenix Marketing International has offices across the country and partnerships with many of the largest companies in the financial services, pharma, automotive, healthcare, and travel and leisure industries worldwide.
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Taking daily supplements of the extract of French maritime pine bark, Pycnogenol®, may shorten the duration of the common cold and reduce the severity of sore throat, congestion, headache, coughing and sneezing, says a new study from Italy.
Chocolate lovers rejoice! A new report gives more support to previous claims that chocolate may give a healthy boost. The authors of the report found that chocolate consumption may lower the risk of diabetes.
Cherries do more than fill a tasty pie! A new study reports that consumption of Montmorency tart cherry juice caused changes in uric acid metabolism, which can have an impact on joint pain, gout and inflammation.
Time for an Oil Change Time for an Oil Change and even some forms of cancer. Olive oil is versatile, delicious, and easy to use in cooking. But why not switch things up? A variety of other oils also offer benefits for heart health and beyond.


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Three UK customers can avoid paying recently hiked charges for multimedia messages by using the likes of WhatsApp and Skype instead, the mobile operator has said.
The carrier announced a steep increase of the price of its MMS offering last week. It said that, starting from June 13, pictures and videos of up to 300KB sent as MMS will cost £0.40, compared to 17.4 pence before the change.
It's worth noting that the new price is similar to that of rival operators—Vodafone charges £0.45 per MMS, O2 £0.35, and EE £0.40.
However, it's unclear whether it actually has become more expensive for the network to deliver multimedia messages. A Three UK spokesperson declined to comment, beyond telling Ars that the change "follows a regular review of our pricing."
In a somewhat surprising move, Three UK has suggested that customers use online messengers instead of MMS to send pictures and video:
There are other ways to send multimedia messages whilst keeping the costs at bay. Mobile applications are probably the most popular method. In fact some of them, like Skype are preloaded on most of our phones.
Also, all of our tariffs include Internet allowance so using applications like Skype, Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger or Viber to name a few, for sending MMS will use the data included in your package.
The company has also reminded customers that in certain cases they could be billed for MMS when they didn't intend to send one. This could happen when an emoji is included in the message on some older Samsung phones, when a text message is sent to an email address, or when it has a subject line.


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In a mall, signs tell the story. In a Walgreens in South Cape Village, a shopping center in the town of Mashpee, on Cape Cod, signs tell you which goods are in short supply: pain relievers, adult diapers, antacids, eggs, and Donettes. “Due to high demand / We have a limit of TWO per household,” the signs say. “If the shelf is empty, product is out of stock temporarily.” A sign gives “the facts about ibuprofen and COVID-19.” (Despite an early warning from the French health minister, there is no evidence that the pain reliever worsens symptoms of the coronavirus.) Signs all over the store, and a soothing voice on the speakers, remind customers that Walgreens is concerned about their safety and ask that they observe a distance of six feet as they follow the blue arrows taped to the floor, indicating the direction of traffic in the aisles. The cash registers have brand-new Plexiglas shields around them and Q-tips for use with the keypad. Everyone in the store is wearing a mask.
South Cape Village, which sits on a small highway, is built to imitate a quaint old town center. Streets have names such as Joy and Commercial. There is a cute, tiny bus shelter. Walking through the shopping center now, with its parking lots nearly empty, feels like walking through a deserted town, with giant barren squares and shuttered stores. Signs announce the status of every business. The pizza store is offering curbside delivery: “Park in marked spaces and we will see you on the camera. Please remain in your car.” The handwritten sign on the sporting-goods store reads “Temporarily closed.” Dunkin’ Donuts is open: “WE’RE HERE TO KEEP YOU RUNNIN’ EVEN IF IT’S FROM A DISTANCE.” Procuts promises, “WILL REOPEN ASAP!” Mattress Firm asks you to “kindly call our contactless store.” After Dunkin’ Donuts, you have to walk all the way to the other side of South Cape Village to find two more stores you can actually enter: a supermarket and a liquor store. Roche Bros., the supermarket, asks, in large letters, “In cooperation with the CDC recommendation and the Governor’s request, please wear a face mask before entering the store.” The liquor store has a laser-printed sign: “Here at South Cape Wine and Spirits we have been taking this situation very seriously. Our staff has been diligently taking the proper cleaning and disinfecting steps to make the store as clean as possible.”
Inside the store—which is indeed very clean—there are no further signs of a pandemic, save for one that informs customers of a change in store hours “due to this Unforeseen situation.” There are no taped arrows, no masks on anyone, no gloves or Plexiglas shields or Q-tips at the cash register. What there is at the register is a display of wine, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay from the Trump Winery, in Charlottesville, Virginia. The employee who sold me a bottle of the red (it was twenty-seven dollars and god-awful: like a mouthful of oak-bark shavings when opened, fading to vinegar and finishing dry and raspy) told me that the store wasn’t requiring masks because “some people don’t want to wear a mask.” He also told me that business was good, if a bit “unusual”—for example, he said, the store was selling more tequila than usual.
Two realities sit side by side in South Cape Village: one dominated by the pandemic and the other inconvenienced by it. In one, masks, gloves, shields, and Q-tips signal concern and responsibility, and, in the other, open smiles and bare hands signal a sort of defiant optimism. The liquor store embodies the particular spirit of anti-lockdown protests on Cape Cod: not so much the zombie invasion of the Ohio protests as the glib, relentless cheer of your Fox News-watching uncle who likes to tease you for your self-seriousness. Unlike protests in the Midwest and South, which are coördinated and funded by Republican mega-donors, the small insurrection on Cape Cod appears to be homegrown. “I think this will all go away a lot sooner” than experts predict, Toby Brown, the owner of a Nantucket sprinkler and property-management company, told me on the phone, although he admitted that he’d said the same thing in March, when he was still hoping to take an April cruise with his friends. “When President Trump said Easter was his goal—it’s good to have a goal, to be positive, even if it didn’t come true,” he added. Brown is not a coronavirus denialist—a friend of his, he said, has been sick—but he thinks the reports of the number of cases might be exaggerated, and he favors opening up the island, with some precautions, such as asking summer residents to self-quarantine for two weeks. (Brown even said that he has volunteered to get groceries for his customers who are coming to their second homes.)
Brown speaks admiringly of a group called United Cape Patriots, which has held two protests on two consecutive weekends. The first demanded that Cape Cod follow President Trump’s suggestion and allow businesses to reopen. The second, held this past Saturday, focussed more narrowly on gun shops, which under Governor Charlie Baker’s coronavirus orders are not allowed to sell firearms to the public. (Brown was disappointed that he couldn’t make the protests—the journey from Nantucket to the Cape is long, and ferry service is infrequent these days.) The founder of United Cape Patriots, a retired Boeing executive named Adam Lange, told me that he started the group three years ago as an alternative to the local Republican establishment, which he views as too timid. “They don’t like to do negative campaigning,” he said, something United Cape Patriots embraced in their protests against the sanctuary movement. Their protests on behalf of reopening Cape Cod are positive campaigning.
“Cape Cod has had a relatively mild infection rate, just twenty deaths,” Lange said, underestimating the number of deaths by nearly half: thirty-seven people had died by the time we spoke, and seven hundred and fifty-six had become ill. In most Cape Cod towns, though, the rate of infection is indeed much lower than the statewide average. “Boston is going to be shut down for a long time,” Lange said. More than three hundred people have died in Boston, with over nine thousand confirmed cases of COVID-19. “But we are a different story. Yes, as the country opens up, you have people travelling back and forth, and sometimes someone will catch the virus. But, as a community, we are destroying the economy over twenty deaths.”
The other big issue, in keeping with priorities tweeted by the President, is insuring that guns and bullets can be sold during the pandemic. Fifteen Massachusetts businesses and individuals have filed a lawsuit against Governor Baker, alleging that his coronavirus orders violate the Second Amendment. I talked to one of the plaintiffs, Toby Leary, the co-owner of Cape Gun Works and an activist of the anti-lockdown protests. He told me that his store is a “twenty-thousand-square-foot state-of-the-art facility,” with two indoor shooting ranges. Leary manufactures guns and sells to law enforcement—essential services under the Massachusetts coronavirus orders—so he is allowed to operate on a very limited basis. But he used to sell between ten and thirty guns a day, he told me, and now he sells only one every three or four days. Proceeds from record-breaking gun sales in March have allowed Leary to keep his staff of about twenty people employed since the governor’s order went into effect on April 1st, but he won’t be able to continue much longer if the order is not lifted.
Leary’s argument for the lawsuit is twofold. First, he sees the designations of essential businesses as arbitrary. “I don’t see how you can tell Best Buy that they can be open because they sell appliances and tell the mom-and-pop shop across the street that they can’t be. I don’t see how ice cream, liquor, tobacco, and electronics are more essential than guns.” The other argument rests on principle. “The Second Amendment is bestowed upon us,” Leary said. I pointed out that the rights to freedom of religion and freedom of assembly are also guaranteed by the Constitution but are clearly limited in the current emergency. Leary agreed, and argued that closure orders should be replaced with reasonable-precaution guidelines. Otherwise, he said, “it’s about control, not safety.”
By Massachusetts standards, Cape Cod leans conservative. Trump got more than forty per cent of the vote here in 2016, compared with just over fourteen per cent in Boston. Lange told me that he is afraid to go to Boston, not because of the risk of becoming infected but because carrying pro-Trump signs in the city would be dangerous. I asked if he was in touch with anti-lockdown protesters anywhere else in the country, and he said no. “The left is really good at that—they have Indivisible here, and Democratic Socialists of America,” he said wistfully. “Those are national organizations. Conservatives are too dumb for that. We are just grassroots.” Loneliness, at least for now, may be the fate of anti-lockdown protesters in a small liberal state whose Republican governor believes in science.
A Guide to the Coronavirus
- Twenty-four hours at the epicenter of the pandemic: nearly fifty New Yorker writers and photographers fanned out to document life in New York City on April 15th.
- Seattle leaders let scientists take the lead in responding to the coronavirus. New York leaders did not.
- Can survivors help cure the disease and rescue the economy?
- What the coronavirus has revealed about American medicine.
- Can we trace the spread of COVID-19 and protect privacy at the same time?
- The coronavirus is likely to spread for more than a year before a vaccine is widely available.
- How to practice social distancing, from responding to a sick housemate to the pros and cons of ordering food.
- The long crusade of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the infectious-disease expert pinned between Donald Trump and the American people.
- What to read, watch, cook, and listen to under quarantine.


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TORONTO, ON – October 5, 2015 – Québec Linge, a leading textile rental services and supply company in North America, today announced expanded partnerships with Chef Works and Dickies that will enhance its uniform offering for the Food and Beverage (F&B) industry. In addition, the company announced the launch of new ‘Focused F&B eStores’ that make it easier for restaurant customers to place orders and manage uniform programs online.
“Executive chefs have been asking us for more comfort and fashion for themselves and their team,” said Andrew Steiner, VP of Marketing and Customer Operations at Québec Linge. “At the same time, managers are looking for uniform programs for their front-of-the-house employees that support their restaurant image and are easy to manage. Chef Works and Dickies each have an incredibly strong brand presence in the F&B industry and these partnerships allow Québec Linge to expand our offering and deliver a more diverse rental and purchase offering to the market.”
In addition to the new products, Québec Linge is launching a new online ordering tool that will help restaurant customers simplify their uniform programs and manage costs by offering customized online stores with specific, approved products, logo customization options and employee spending allowances. Focused F&B eStores are the latest addition to Québec Linge’s suite of digital tools that were launched in the last year to help improve the customer experience and provide better service through technology. Together with the online Customer Portal, Québec Linge customers have more visibility and control over their uniform and linen programs.
“We believe that the broad offering from these strategic vendor partnerships and our new Focused F&B eStores will position us as a true partner in the F&B industry and allow us to offer a full range of solutions to existing and prospective customers,” said Steiner. “We’ve never been better positioned to serve F&B customers and these latest advancements will solidify our industry leadership in this space.”
Québec Linge is the largest official industrial laundry partner to Chef Works in North America and will now offer a broad range of uniforms and aprons featuring light-weight, blended fabrics, Cool Vent™ technology, women’s fits, and more colors and styles for restaurant employees. Products were tested to ensure they retain their quality and appearance after multiple washings throughout the duration of a customer’s rental contract.
Québec Linge is recognized as one of the largest uniform rental and linen supply companies in Canada. Operating more than 35 production facilities and service centers throughout Canada, Québec Linge provides linen, uniforms, floor mats, restroom products and facilities services to nearly 80,000 customers every week. Founded in 1925 in Vancouver, the privately held company is still owned and managed by the Steiner family. Commitment to the customer, personalized service and innovation has sustained the company for nearly 90 years. Additional company information can be found online at www.quebec-linge.com.


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The Oxygen OS 2.2.0 update has started rolling out for OnePlus 2 users. The over-the-air update will be reaching users gradually, and one can also check manually under System Updates.
The update brings a plethora of changes such as fixes for dual SIM preference selection issues, adds NTFS and exFAT support for OTG and screen temperature adjustment options from screen settings. It also fixes bugs seen earlier in Google Camera photo-sphere and panorama. One will also find security patches alongside general fixes and other optimisations.
With the new update, users will now find a hide search bar option in launcher settings. You can also get your hands on new holiday wallpapers. Besides, the new update also adds some UI enhancements.
With the OnePlus 2, the company has built a device that competes with the likes of the Google Nexus 6P and others. In fact, the superior specs sheet at a comparatively lower price gives it an edge over the other flagships.
Design-wise, the metal-frame design makes it look premium. It sports a 5.5-inch 1080p display. As promised, the smartphone also comes with a fingerprint scanner and USB Type-C port. The fingerprint scanner is faster than the iPhone TouchID and lets you save up to five fingerprints, says OnePlus.
On the camera front, it comes with a 13-megapixel snapper. It also gets a new camera and a new solution that allows you to take 50MP photos and there’s also the slow motion mode. It comes powered by Snapdragon 810 coupled with 4GB of RAM and houses a 3,300mAh battery.


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Don't give it to the kabaadiwala! India creates 18.5 lakh TONS of e-waste per year but Delhi residents don't have a clue what to do with it
- Delhi is the second highest producer of junk mobile, laptop and home appliances in India
- A new report has found that 90 per cent Delhiites have no clue about how potentially dangerous 'e-trash' must be disposed
- See more news from India at www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome
A new report has revealed how Delhi remains one of the most uneducated cities on e-waste despite being the second highest producer of junk mobile, laptop and home appliances in India.
A report by think-tank Toxics Link has revealed that 90 per cent Delhiites have no clue about how potentially dangerous 'e-trash' must be disposed.
In fact, 50 per cent said that they just sell it to the local kabaadiwala, a practice known to lead to informal recycling causing irreversible harm to humans and the environment.
An activist from Greenpeace stands on a truck carrying an installation made from hazardous e-waste, a reminder of the enormity of the e-waste challenge, during a protest in New Delhi
This new report comes four years after the Ministry of Environment and Forests created the ‘E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules to enforced the handing-over of e-waste to authorised agencies only.
Violating these rules can earn you a fine of up to Rs one lakh, or a maximum jail term of five years.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) maintains a list of at least 29 ‘licensed e-waste processors’ but this information seems to have gone unnoticed by city residents.
What is e-waste?
E-Waste is the term used to describe old, end-of-life or discarded appliances that use (or used) electricity.
It includes computers, consumer electronics, fridges that have been disposed of by their original users.
E-Waste contains both valuable materials as well as hazardous materials which require special handling and recycling methods.
At the same time, it highlights how manufacturers of electronic items, who were entrusted the responsibility of consumer awareness on e-waste, have completely abdicated from their responsibility.
Priti Mahesh, Chief Program Coordinator, Clean Industry, Toxics Link told Mail Today: “If this is the awareness level in the top five cities, then imagine the situation in smaller towns and cities".
The study was conducted across five metropolitan cities, including Mumbai and Bengaluru.
In Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai, 93%, 90% and 74% respondents respectively said they did not know anything about the ‘E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011’ or its legalities.
The study further revealed that as many as 61 per cent of the respondents were ignorant about the impacts of improper disposal of electrical and electronic equipment.
A new report has revealed how Delhi remains one of the most uneducated cities on e-waste, despite being the second highest producer of junk mobile, laptop appliances in India
Satish Sinha, Associate Director, Toxics Link told Mail Today: “There is an urgent need to create awareness among consumers.
"The producers, government, and agencies responsible will have to make joint efforts to ensure improved compliance to rules on e-waste".
As per an ‘Assocham-Frost & Sullivan Study,’ 2016, India produces 18.5 lakh Metric Tonnes (MT) of e-waste each year. Mumbai leads the metropolitan cities at 1,20,000 MT generation.
Delhi-NCR follows at the second spot (98,000 MT) and Bangalore comes third (92,000 MT).
Crude dismantling of e-waste is scientifically proven to produce toxic elements like lead, plastic, chromium, mercury, beryllium, cadmium and acids.
These lead to a variety of fatal and incapacitating diseases of the kidney, liver, immune system and lungs, and can cause cancer.


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US ports so far have been doing a reasonably good job loading and unloading mega-ships within the required berthing windows, but carriers’ relentless deployment of ever-larger vessels will soon catch up with terminal operators.
A judge has put an end to months-long industrial actions, in which dockworkers at the port of Santos disrupted operations and even boarded vessels.
Hanjin Shipping has set up a yard to accept and store its empty containers in central New Jersey.
Spot freight rates in the Asia-US trade edged lower for the fourth consecutive week.
The Hanjin Shipping bankruptcy may be behind a recent surge in freight moving inland from West Coast ports.
India is taking measures to reform its marine terminal bidding process as it seeks to attract more private investment to the port sector.
Colombo International Container Terminals this week hosted the MSC Maya, reportedly the largest container ship ever to call Sri Lankan shores.
Container shipping on Asia-Europe enters its slack season that will last until the pre-Chinese New Year pick up.
A national freight forwarder and customs brokers trade group is urging federal officials to clarify regulations that would increase the value threshold of goods that are exempt from paying duty from $200 to $800, and to tighten the scrutiny of duty-free goods as they come in to prevent abuses of the rule change.
The South Carolina Ports Authority is suing a pair of contractors over the initial design of a containment area that ultimately will support the wharf of a new cargo terminal in North Charleston.


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Suzuki’s new Watergrip propeller range
Suzuki has launched a series of new performance propellers for its outboard motor range at the Japan International Boat Show in Yokohama in March.
The new standard Watergrip propellers will benefit from a new inter-changeable bush system that has been designed to reduce slippage and protect the outboard from impact. Furthermore, the new bush system can be easily replaced when required, without the need for a special press fitting machine.
Suzuki’s new DF325A and flagship DF350A models receive their own Watergrip Dual propellers, which will help achieve higher performance and stability and a more efficient conversion of engine output to thrust with contra-rotating propellers.
Previewed as a concept, a third addition to the Watergrip range will be a new series of Suzuki propellers designed to give more steering stability.
By Jake Frith
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Inhabitants of 35 of the 50 United States are in luck, as Nintendo has announced the locations of the Best Buy stores set to feature demos from Nintendo’s E3 showing. 89 US stores are on the list, stretching from Lynnwood, Washington down to Miami, Florida. However, Canadians shouldn’t feel too left out either, since 21 Canadian stores will also be displaying the demos for players to try.
While E3 demos have traditionally only been playable for those who make the pilgrimage to the show each year, Nintendo seems to be eschewing the pomp and circumstance of the stage in favour of an inclusive, universally available approach involving a Nintendo Direct broadcast around the time of the show. Having said that, though, there are still no plans to bring those demos to Europe– not that those of us here expect anything by this point! For the list of participating US stores, check out the link below!


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We call it how we see it here on Dealspwn. We've frequently castigated EA for anti-consumer practices; we berated Microsoft for their failures in communication and advocacy of DRM back in the days of Don Mattrick, who sort of sounds a little bit like the worst Mafioso ever; we lamented Nintendo's lunacy, waged war on WB snipping bits off of Shadow of Mordor, slammed industry cancers like on-disc DLC, ludicrous season passes, and the heady age of multiplayer serial codes.
Now it's Ubisoft's turn.
The French publisher has had a number of major screw-ups in the last twelve months, from trying to argue that one of the biggest studios in the world didn't have the resources to develop female characters, to charging £50 for standard PC games, to forcing Uplay into everything, to writing off 60 FPS as an industry standard. That last one is bitterly ironic considering that the jewel in their winter release slate -- Assassin's Creed: Unity -- appears to be laughably unable to hit 30 FPS on a consistent basis, let alone 60.
It's a far cry (sorry) from the company we all saw swoop into E3 last year and save everybody's bacon. This is the company that stuck by Rayman despite dismal sales, the company that (along with Obsidian, of course) finally brought us a South Park game that did the IP justice, these folks gave us Sid Meier's Assassin's Creed Pirates! Now, however, their biggest game of the year has been found out to be a buggy mess, their stringent, launch-day embargo lies in ridiculed ruins, and one wonders whether or not this will have a knock-on effect for Far Cry 4 and The Crew.
Where did it all go wrong?
Ubisoft has found itself breathing the same rarefied air as EA and Activision over the past few years, with an enormously strong portfolio of critically-acclaimed and bestselling IPs. Yves Guillemot has looked about himself to find only Peter Moore and Andrew Wilson grinning and waving at him from golden thrones atop the mountain of success. The more one thinks about it, the more the parallels between EA and this year's Ubisoft begin to fall into place: the ruthless exploitation of IPs for annual releases that decline in quality? Hello yearly Ass Creed! Attempting to steer crowds away from popular platforms to use proprietary service? Screw you, Uplay! Making an utter shambles of your flagship title due to bugs and crashes? Hi Unity, meet Battlefield.
Talking absolute rubbish and making contentious statements has been de rigeur at EA for many years, and now Ubisoft are starting to garner headlines for the same wrong reasons. The pupil, it would seem, has become the master.
That's not a good thing. It's also not really true, either. In a manner typical of 2014 Ubisoft, they've managed to screw that up too.
There's no space any more for a heavy-handed publisher attempting to run roughshod over the gaming press and consumers alike. We've been banging on about this ever since Mattrick's reptilian grin unleashed the ill-fated original concept for the Xbox One -- transparency and communication are utterly crucial. That means being upfront and honest about your game's shortcomings, that means actually doing some sodding QA before you charge £50 for the privilege of your latest annualised knock off and not putting a ridiculous, time-gated, launch-day embargo in place. Our new rule going forwards, following in the steps of Kotaku's move yesterday, and our own actions, will be to refuse time-gated, launch-day embargoes. That is to say, if members of the public can buy and talk about a game, so will we. And as Jon tweeted earlier this morning, frankly that's a worst-case scenario.
EA have generally been horrible at communication too and, worse still, incredibly slow to action. It took them a year to "listen to their fans" and bring an offline mode to SimCity despite saying that it was impossible at launch. It took DICE the best part of a year to apologise for the state of Battlefield 4 and finally admit that they'd screwed up. But I like the fact that EA postponed Hardline's release because it wasn't ready. It was a rare example of the company saying something honest and acting appropriately, something that I wish I could have said about Unity.
There's a really good game buried underneath Unity's litany of sins, and this whole furore could have been avoided, which makes it all the more galling.
As for Uplay, well, Ubisoft need to learn how to make a service that works before shoving it down people's throats. I have no problem with publishers taking their products off of Steam, but they need to make it worthwhile. Origin's digital prices are still ridiculously high (but easy to get around thanks to the grey market of key sellers), but EA have tidied up that service, dished out freebies, and given people reasons to use it. Better yet, once I sync my console profiles with Origin, it all loads up without me having to do a thing. Uplay, by comparison, is a clunky bundle of awfulness when it works, which is relatively rare. This is why Ubisoft resorted to the stick rather than the carrot to drive users towards Uplay. They simply don't have any carrots when it comes to Uplay.
The sad fact, of course, is that actually Ubisoft have always been like this. Remember the bare-faced lies consumers were given about From Dust only needing one-time activation, and then requiring an always-on connection? Remember when Ubisoft followed in EA's footsteps back in 2012 to bring in the Uplay Passport? Remember when, in the same year, one of Google's Information Security Engineers called Uplay "a rootkit" and demonstrated how the service posed a serious security threat to its users?
These things have since been fixed and addressed, but really they never should have happened in the first place, and wouldn't have happened had Ubisoft not been actively engaging in anti-consumer practices.
How Ubisoft acts going forwards will be crucial. They must fix the issues being seen with Unity, they must improve the stability of Uplay and their netcode (or The Crew is DOA), and they must not insult the intelligence of their fanbase. Otherwise they might just find themselves in line for a Golden Poo next year if the award goes international.


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Hanesbrands buys Alternative Apparel, announces in-line preliminary Q3 results
Hanesbrands is continuing its growth-by-acquisition strategy and the outcome is clear from the looks of preliminary Q3 results reported on Wednesday.
The global marketer of everyday basic apparel announced the acquisition of Alternative Apparel for $60 million in cash, as well as strong preliminary third-quarter sales.
The company expects to report third-quarter net sales of approximately $1.80 billion, EPS of approximately $0.55, and adjusted EPS of approximately $0.60.
Full third-quarter results and full-year guidance will be announced on November 1.
In the second quarter of 2017, net sales jumped 12 percent to $1.65 billion, which was proceeded by a strong first quarter and record breaking Q4 2016 results.
The positive results are due to an acquisition strategy that has included the acquisition of brands such as Pacific Brands Ltd., Gear for Sports, Knights Apparel, and more.
Now Hanesbrands has eyed the Georgia-based company, Alternative Apparel, which is expected to have full-year 2017 net sales of approximately $70 million.
“This is an exciting acquisition that supports our activewear growth strategy,” said Hanes Chief Executive Officer Gerald W. Evans Jr., in a news statement. “We will be able to leverage our global low-cost supply chain, which is a recognized social, environmental and ethical leader, with another strong brand to expand our market and channel penetration, including online.”
The acquisition closed on Friday, October 13.
“Alternative Apparel has an attractive business model, a very strong and differentiated brand, and a highly talented team of employees,” Evans added. “Adding the Alternative brand and product lineup further diversifies our sales mix as we emphasize growth across all channels, including online.”
Copyright © 2023 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


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Chemical peels were the leading type of facial treatment throughout the country in 2017. According to statistics, 2.82 million Americans used facials four times or more within six months in 2018.
Thanks to non-surgical and non-invasive cosmetic procedures, lasers, peels, and hydradermabrasion are becoming more popular than ever. As people are becoming more welcoming to the cosmetic industry, both men and women are considering undergoing the same procedure they were hesitant to try just a few years ago.
Researchers estimate that the medical spa industry will almost double in size, reaching $6 billion by 2022. With this new insight, what treatments should professionals add to their service menus to reap the biggest returns on investments?
Looking at the consumer trends in 2017 reveals a glimpse as to what the top revenue-generative types of facial treatments in 2019 will be.
The FDA has approved chemicals peels to treat wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots. There was a 15.9 percent increase of chemical peels performed within the United States in 2017, amounting to 118,523. Data shows that this number will continue to grow throughout 2019.
The percentage of microdermabrasion procedures performed in the United States has dropped more than eight percent since 1997. A new and improved version of microdermabrasion called hydradermabrasion has emerged that works similar to the traditional form of microdermabrasion but, instead, uses hydrating serum to further excrete dead skin cells.
Even though the percentage of microdermabrasion facials performed in the United States has fallen by eight percent, since news of this new form of dermabrasion has spread, percentages are expected to increase in 2019.
Photorejuvenation is a skin treatment that utilizes lasers, photodynamic therapy or intense pulsed light (IPL) to treat certain skin conditions. It can also reduce the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots, and uneven skin textures.
This treatment emits a light that heats up the collagen underneath the skin to stimulate the body’s collagen production. This new collagen helps fill in fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scars. IPL also helps reduce discoloration and flushing of the skin.
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, photorejuvenation was ranked the 6th most popular nonsurgical treatments in 2017 and increased 34.3 percent since 2012. Considering this treatment had a very good year in 2017, data indicates that photorejuvenation facials will be popular in 2019, as well.
NON-SURGICAL SKIN TIGHTENING
Non-surgical skin tightening has been clinically proven to tighten and smooth skin on the face and neck. This type of procedure works by heating deep layers of the skin to stimulate the collagen and elastin production to gradually improve the skin tone and complexion.
There are plenty of skin tightening procedures that have been approved by the FDA to improve and tighten the surface of the skin.
Non-surgical skin tightening procedures have become popular recently and data shows how procedures performed rose almost 65 percent since 2012. Research also suggests that the percentage will only increase throughout 2019.
Ablative fractional resurfacing is a laser treatment for fine lines, wrinkles, scarring, and skin discoloration. It is predominately used to correct deep wrinkles, but it is also beneficial for reducing the appearance of sun and age spots, as well.
This treatment works by delivering short, concentrated, pulsating beams of light to the top layers of the skin. The percentage of fractional resurfacing performed has had a huge jump since 2012, amounting to an almost 420 percent increase. Data trends suggest that the percentage will only increase this year.
Throughout 2017, these previously mentioned types of facials have been readily sought-after. Clients claim that treatments like chemical peels, hydradermabrasion, and fractional resurfacing have had promising results and statistics show that these treatments will guarantee an impressive return on investment.


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Christy Sports announced the opening a new store in Aspen, CO, located at 303 East Durant Street. The location was previously an Aspen Sports store and recently vacated as part of Vail Resorts’ exit from Aspen.
The Christy Sports store sits inside the St. Regis Aspen Resort and will provide year-round specialty outdoor rental and retail services.
“We are very excited to continue our strategic growth, offering new and current guests the opportunity to experience our world-class service at the new Aspen location,” said Gary Montes de Oca, chief development and strategy officer at Christy Sports. “This new location is another great example of our thoughtful expansion to locations where we see a guest need for the best service experience in the outdoors. We are providing an omnichannel service network where and when it is most convenient for guests to maximize their outdoor experiences in the Rockies and beyond.”
Opening the store in the St. Regis marks a return to the town for Christy Sports, which last operated in Aspen in the late 1990s. With two entrances, one on Durant Street and one inside the St. Regis, it’s an optimal location to serve hotel guests, visitors and locals. The new Aspen location complements the three Christy Sports stores located nearby in Snowmass to provide a holistic service experience throughout the region.
“Returning to Aspen has been a longtime goal for us. The opportunity to fill the void in outdoor service for Aspen and St. Regis guests is something that we are so pleased to support,” said Dan Fox, chief store operations officer at Christy Sports. “Our partnership with the St. Regis brings together the shared value of best-in-class service that we know as the Christy Difference. Our team is eager to bring that experience to both our guests and our partners in Aspen.”
The new location will open on May 26.
Headquartered in Lakewood, CO, Christy Sports operates more than 60 locations in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Washington, and Montana.


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Inventors claim small businesses are struggling to survive due to fakes; state platform has ‘power to fix’ challenges
View the original article here: Bed Scrunchie urges Amazon to tackle copycat brands
The article was originally posted on IPMagazine.
Each article is copyrighted to their original authors. We do not own any rights to the news or the images used. Whilst every care is taken to ensure that the news posts published are accurate, we cannot guarantee the authenticity of the news article on every occasion. There’s no copyright infringement intended. The news is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice.


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As Magna International Inc. assesses the future of its investment with founder Frank Stronach in Magna E-car, the joint venture electric-vehicle business will receive a $12-million boost from Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd.
Magna E-car and Hyundai are setting up a joint venture that will own a research and development facility the electric vehicle company has established in Aurora, Ont., to experiment with battery cells as auto makers develop battery-powered cars and trucks.
“We’ve invested roughly $30-million; they’re going to take 40 per cent,” John Simonetti, Magna E-car’s chief financial officer said Monday. “What this does is put $12-million of cash on my balance sheet.”
Magna E-car assembles the battery packs that hold the cells and link the battery power with the rest of a vehicle, but so far is just doing research on cells.
“If we can make our own better next-generation cell, so be it, we’ll invest the money in a manufacturing facility and away you go,” Mr. Simonetti said from South Korea, where he signed the deal with Hyundai.
Magna holds 73 per cent of the E-car partnership with Mr. Stronach, but he controls the joint venture, which was set up as part of the $865-million (U.S.) buyout of his controlling interest in Magna in 2010. He invested $80-million for the controlling stake while Magna contributed another $145-million in cash and assets related to vehicle electrification that Magna had previously held.
While sales have risen for three straight years – to $92-million last year from $5-million in 2009 – losses before interest and taxes have also risen. Losses deepened to $91-million last year from $45-million in 2009.
That’s fairly typical for companies in a startup mode, especially with just a relative handful of electric vehicles on the road in North America.
While auto makers spend tens of billions of dollars to develop battery-powered vehicles and other new, more fuel-efficient technologies, the difficulties facing suppliers of the components were underlined last week when Azure Dynamics Corp., was granted protection from creditors under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.
The company, which is based in Burnaby, B.C., and is listed on the TSE, has much of its operations in the United States and is a key supplier of components to Ford Motor Co. for the auto maker’s battery-powered version of the Transit Connect commercial van.
Azure noted in court filings that sales of battery-powered Transit Connects were forecast at 410 in the fourth quarter of 2011, but totalled just 176.
Magna has deep pockets with more than $1-billion in cash, but it warned last week in the proxy circular for its annual meeting that “it does not intend to extend equity funding for E-car on a pro rata basis under the current ownership structure.”
Magna E-car will require additional funding in 2012, Magna noted, possibly as early as the current quarter.
As a result, a special committee of independent directors was set up in February to explore the options Magna has for its investment in Magna E-car.
The special committee chairman is independent director William Young.Report Typo/Error


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Whilst this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday season continues to rumble on, the spike95 team have taken a quick look back at just a few of the lessons we picked up over the last week:
- Sales up, increased pressure on card payment systems to perform and be secure – stats from Barclaycard put sales on its cards 6% ahead of the previous year’s event with £2.9 bn spent on Friday and a forecast of £4 bn including Cyber Monday. Nationwide reported a 13% rise in transactions and most other card companies have given similar indications. Of total spend, two thirds is estimated to have been taken online. I’m sure you’ve seen numerous other figures reported but there’s no doubt that the overall trend is an upward one.
- Outages are still happening and mistakes being made – in the UK, Currys PCWorld and Game were just two retailers who made the press for their site going down at a critical time (though problems were quickly resolved). We’ve seen other reports from across the globe and no doubt there were others we’ve missed!
- 404 pages are improving (even if the messages arguably mask the real underlying problem!).
- Beyond simple site availability, functionality under load remains a key element to test. Various load-related functional errors have been seen including sites not displaying full search results, missing shopping cart buttons and problems linking to third party payment engine APIs.
- Twitter complaint traffic again shows a direct correlation to website downtime – corporate reputations continue to be damaged as angry customers take to the airwaves to air their frustrations.
- Mobile traffic and purchasing up significantly – September 2016 was reported as the month where mobile access exceeded the desktop for the first time and we see this trend only increasing – with a Black Friday forecast of up to 70% arriving via mobile, including mobile traffic in your end to end simulations is more important than ever. We’re also seeing an increasing need to look at front end optimisation with challenges such as testing responsive web design requiring new approaches.
- ISPs and mobile networks remain under pressure – at time of writing, Down Detector’s top 10 outages over the last weeks is dominated by ISPs and mobile providers suggesting that just getting to sites remains an issue for many willing to spend, spend, spend.
- World-class system performance is a journey not a switch – Despite the flexibility with modern cloud stacks and the ability to quickly add more processing power, the days of simply throwing tin at the problem are long gone. Of course, AWS, Azure and the others do allow us to more easily host complex architectures and platforms. Advances in performance management tooling also give clear warning of the need to quickly spin up more resources but this still won’t fully get round the fundamentals of poor software performance engineering.
With spike95’s help we’re pleased to say our clients bucked the trend. One major online-only retailer had a fantastic season with revenues up and reputation maintained. Their platforms scaled to successfully support increased traffic and sales.
How? A clear strategy and well understood goals were key, as of course was the ability to change those goals regularly as they worked in an agile fashion to bring new features to market quickly. Early lifecycle performance testing was also critical giving early insight into design failings, performance defects and inability to scale at the right time (when the system could be re-engineered without expensive rework). A solid volumetric model was created for end to end testing and combined with custom developed monitoring and analysis tools and techniques. Real confidence was gained by heavily testing the production stackitself, simulating anticipated load levels loads alongside real traffic in the weeks leading up to the Black Friday and Cyber Monday period.
So now we look forward to the rest of the Christmas season and to 2017’s other major peaks. For those who were left wanting the journey starts now, time to plan ahead for Black Friday 2017!
email@example.com / +44 (0)20 336 95 95 1


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Polaris Donates $154,125 to Wounded Warrior Project
Polaris, its dealers and Victory Motorcycles have teamed up to donate $154,125 to the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). The donation is part of Polaris’ continuing relationship with the WWP, an organization that raises awareness and aids injured servicemen and women. Earlier this year, Polaris also gave away three special, blacked-out Ranger RZR XP 4 900 Side-by-Side vehicles to WWP veterans.
“Our relationship with the Wounded Warrior Project allows Polaris and our dealers to support the men and women who selflessly sacrifice for our nation through their military service,” says Scott Wine, Polaris Industries CEO. “We consider it an honor and a privilege to partner with the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that lends a hand to those who merit it most. We hope this donation helps these brave men and women return to the rich, active lives they truly deserve.”
On the opening night of the Company’s summer sales meetings, Polaris announced it would donate $25 to WWP for each rider that rode an all-terrain vehicle or Side-by-Side at the Polaris demo track, a winding set of man-made dirt trails intended to provide dealers with a chance to experience riding the latest Polaris products. That promise led to $44,500 in donations, powered by more than 1,700 demo rides.
The following week, at the 72nd edition of the legendary motorcycle rally at Sturgis, a year-long effort from Polaris-owned Victory Motorcycles and its dealers culminated when Steve Menneto, Polaris’ vice president of motorcycles, announced that Victory would contribute an additional $100,000 to WWP. The money represented an incredible number of demo rides conducted throughout the year at Victory dealerships as the brand challenged consumers with the phrase “Ride One and You’ll Own One,” then backed it up with the promise of donations to WWP for each ride.
In addition to donations made by Polaris and Victory, the Company offered dealers the opportunity to contribute to WWP as well. More than 100 Polaris dealers combined to generously add $9,625 of their own money, bringing the donation total to $154,125.
I have been working exclusively in digital media since 1997. I started out with TSN.ca, spending nearly nine years creating and editing content on Canada's leading sports website. I left to join VerticalScope, Inc., one of the world's largest online publishers, to start a number of powersports publications. While at VerticalScope, I've helped create and oversee content for a wide variety of different publications, including ATV.com, Off-Road.com, ArcheryTalk.com, Tractor.com, RVGuide.com, and many more.
More by Lucas Cooney


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QRS Corp. (Nasdaq: QRSI) fell 2 1/2 to 16 Thursday after the company said its president and chief operating officer has resigned.
QRS, a Richmond, California-based company that makes e-commerce software for the retail industry, said Shawn O’Connor is leaving to pursue new opportunities. Chairman Peter Johnson will take over until a replacement is found.
In separate news, QRS also said that Sean Salehi joined the company as chief technology officer. Salehi comes to QRS from Fair, Isaac & Co., where he was chief information officer.


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Disneyland guests will be able to unlock hotel doors with phones
Fox Business Flash top headlines for August 3
Check out what’s clicking on FoxBusiness.com.
This is how people in the future will unlock doors.
As phones become more and more advanced, they are becoming more and more necessary for day-to-day life. Now, according to a new update from Disney, they’ll also be an integral part of vacationing as well.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS
Disneyland recently announced several new features that guests will soon be able to access on the official Disneyland app. According to the press release, a feature that has yet to be implemented but is coming soon is the ability to unlock their hotel room doors with the app.
Once it is implemented, guests will be able to go directly to their hotel room without having to personally check in. The app will provide them with a digital key that will provide guests with their room number and notify them when the room is ready.
The app will be able to use a phone’s Bluetooth to unlock the room door. According to the press release, only the primary guest on the reservation will have access to the digital key.
DISNEY DREAM CRUISE SHIP TO MAKE RETURN TO THE SEAS IN AUGUST
Disneyland implemented an online check-in service through the app earlier this spring, allowing guests to start the process up to five days before arriving.
The digital key will also grant guests access to certain areas of the hotel, such as pools and fitness centers. It can also be used to charge dining and some shopping services directly to the hotel room.
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Traditional hotel keys will still be available from the front desk for guests that don’t want to worry about their hotel key running out of battery during the day.
Source: Read Full Article


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Nona Gaprindashvili, the world’s first female grandmaster, has sued Netflix for $5 million in defamation. According to a Los Angeles judge, the suit will proceed.
In September, the Georgian chess master filed a lawsuit alleging that a line from the “The Queen’s Gambit” series, in which a character incorrectly states that she has “never faced men,” is “grossly sexist and belittling.”
Nona had faced dozens of male competitors by 1968, the year in which the wildly popular limited series “The Queen’s Gambit” is primarily set.
The streaming service had previously attempted to dismiss the defamation suit, claiming that the series is a work of fiction.
However, federal judge Virginia Phillips denied their motion on Thursday, stating that “the fact that the series was a fictional work does not insulate Netflix from liability for defamation if all of the elements of defamation are otherwise present.”


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GOLFZON Honored For Third Consecutive Year With “Editors’ Choice Award” For
“Best Simulator” By Golf Digest
STERLING, VA, USA – (April 10, 2019) GOLFZON (www.golfzongolf.com ) has again been recognized by Golf
Digest, the world’s top golf publication,as an Editors’ Choice Award winner for “Best Simulator/Premium” in
the Best Gear & Gadgets area, the publication announced on Wednesday.
GOLFZON was also chosen in 2017 and 2018 and will have placement and a
description of its state-of-the-art golf simulator in the May 2019 issue of Golf Digest.
The Editors’ Choice Award program was launched
in 2016 with the mission of identifying “The Best Things in Golf,” with an
emphasis on lifestyle properties, products and services. There will be
exclusive coverage of GOLFZON and other winners in Golf Digest’s print and digital editions, on GolfDigest.com, as
well as potential expanded coverage on Golf
Digest Stix and social platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
is excited to be recognized for a third consecutive year by the world’s most
widely-read and respected golf publication,” said Tommy Lim, CEO of GOLFZON
America Inc. “Our technological advances globally and more recently in the
United States marketplace are allowing us to introduce more golfers,
homeowners, clubs and businesses to GOLFZON. We are grateful to Golf Digest for recognizing the
excellence of our simulators. This honor once again emphasizes our company
philosophy of making golf more enjoyable for everyone.”
Golf Digest is the most widely-read golf
publication in the world and goes by the mantra of THINK YOUNG/PLAY HARD, a viewpoint
similar to GOLFZON and its global efforts to bring golf simulators to more
potential and dedicated golfers for fun, instruction and competition. Click to go to the Golf Digest Article.
Based on GOLFZON research from 2015, 80 percent
of total new golfers in South Korea use simulation golf to get started and then
experience green-grass golf, including the successful introduction to the game
for many PGA TOUR and LPGA players. There are 57 million rounds of golf played
on GOLFZON simulators annually around the world.
GOLFZON has had a busy early 2019 with
participation in the Consumer Electronics (CES) Show in Las Vegas with multiple
sports simulators; the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, partnering with PGA Magazine on a closest to the pin
contest; the Home Builders Show in Las Vegas; and the 5th USGA Golf Innovation Symposium in early
March in Tokyo, Japan, the bi-annual gathering presented by the USGA in
conjunction with the Japan Golf Association (JGA).


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Later this year, Apple is going to be putting a new iPhone on sale, an iPhone that is likely going to be called iPhone 5S. Either right now, at that point, or at some time down the road, buyers might look into whether or not to buy the new iPhone 5S or one of Apple’s older iPhones, particularly the iPhone 4S. Before the iPhone 5S launch, there are some things that prospective buyers will want to know.
While we still don’t have a date set in stone, it’s painfully obvious that Apple will be releasing a new smartphone sometime this year. That smartphone is likely to be in the form of an iPhone 5S, an incremental ‘S’ iPhone model that is said to be coming with new hardware and software features, features that will likely draw the attention of millions of consumers.
Read: iPhone 5S Rumor Roundup.
The device will replace the current iPhone model, the iPhone 5, which ushered in a new era of Apple’s iPhone with its aluminum design, 4G LTE data speeds and larger display. And while the iPhone 5S is coming to replace the iPhone 5 as Apple’s flagship, it likely won’t replace the iPhone 5 completely, even if rumors suggest that Apple will be killing off the current iPhone.
There is also a very good chance that it won’t kill off Apple’s iPhone 4S, the predecessor of the iPhone 5, and a device that is currently being sold through the Apple Store for $99 on-contract.
Despite its age, the iPhone 4S remains a viable option for many smartphone shoppers, shoppers who don’t necessarily need the latest hardware or software and are content with a device that does the job.
While it’s not confirmed, we believe consumers around the world will be faced with not one, not two, but three iPhones later on this fall. That said, there will be many consumers who will be trying to decide which device to get in the build up to the iPhone 5S launch. More specifically, many consumers will be weighing whether to buy the new iPhone model, the iPhone 5S, or the older iPhone model, the iPhone 4S.
For those that are indeed weighing that decision, here are some things to consider before latching on to one of these devices.
While we still don’t know what the iPhone 5S will look like exactly, rumors suggest that the device will be coming with a design that is similar to the iPhone 5, much in the same way the iPhone 4S resembled the iPhone 4. This means a few different things that buyers need to be aware of.
First, it means it will likely have a 4-inch display. The iPhone 4S was the last iPhone to sport a 3.5-inch display which means that the iPhone 5S will have a larger display. It does not, however, mean that the device is going to be a monstrosity.
As we saw with the iPhone 5, Apple was able to keep the device at a very reasonable size, even with the screen size increase. Instead of bulking up in width, the iPhone 5 is a bit taller than the iPhone 4S, something that allows for the display to fit into the form factor quit nicely. Specifically, the iPhone 5 measures in at 7.1mm thin and 112 grams heavy while the iPhone 4S and its smaller display is 9.3mm thin with a weight of 140 grams. So, we should see an iPhone 5S that is much lighter and thinner than the iPhone 4S.
It should also include an aluminum back with its design, rather than the glass found on the iPhone 4S, glass that is susceptible to cracking. In addition, while the iPhone 4S comes with a 30-pin dock standard, the iPhone 5S will come with the Lightning standard. This is important because it means that old chargers won’t work with the iPhone 5S and it also means that the iPhone 4S is at risk of missing out on new accessories. Accessory makers will be focused on providing top-of-the-line accessories to the current standard while the 30-pin dock standard will likely see far less support.
There is still no word about how much the iPhone 5S will cost but given that Apple has stayed consistent with its iPhone and iPad pricing, there is no reason to believe that the company will increase or decrease the $199.99 price point that we’ve seen for its 16GB iPhone.
So, buyers should expect the iPhone 5S to arrive with three different price points, at least, with $199.99, $299.99 and $399.99 being the asking price at Apple and through carriers.
Those who are looking to spend far less than that will likely find the iPhone 4S price to be much cheaper. Apple typically keeps three iPhone models around, keeping its flagship at $199.99 while dropping the other two models to much cheaper price points. Currently, the iPhone 4S sits at $99 while the iPhone 4 is free on-contract.
Buyers should expect the iPhone 5 to drop to $99 with the iPhone 4S moving to free in just a few weeks. Apple is rumored to be announcing the iPhone 5S in September.
Something that buyers will need to keep in mind though is the fact that the overall cost for these devices will be expensive. While the iPhone 4S’ up front cost will be cheap, buyers will still need to pay into a data plan, a data plan that could cost quite a bit of money.
With the discounted price tag being one of the most attractive features of the iPhone 4S, buyers will need to weigh whether or not that $200 will be worth not having all of the upgrades that are afforded to iPhone 5S owners.
iPhone 5S rumors suggest that the next iPhone will have a killer camera, something that is not surprising given the lack of a redesign and given that iPhones always see their cameras improve. Apple is going to need some killer features to help sell the incremental iPhone 5S and a stellar camera will certainly help with that.
Rumors suggest that we could see a 12-13MP camera on the back alongside a pill-shaped dual-LED flash. The camera is thought to be an improvement over the iPhone 5’s and could be heavily focused on delivering high quality photos in low-light environments.
Whatever the case may be, the iPhone 5S will have a better camera than the iPhone 4S’. Even if it kept the iPhone 5 camera sensor, it would still be better than the iPhone 4S camera.
Something that those who take lots of photos and video need to think about before settling on the iPhone 4S now, or after the iPhone 5S launch.
Another rumored iPhone 5S upgrade is a new processor. It’s not clear what chip Apple will be putting inside the iPhone 5S, rumors suggest either the A6X or a new A7, but either way, the processor should help to provide better overall performance on the iPhone 5S.
Geeks and average smartphone users alike should care about processing power, thanks to the performance upgrades that next-generation chips bring. We’ve seen improvements as far as gaming performance is concerned. Games look and run better than ever. We’ve seen chips bring battery life enhancements. And new processors also mean faster speeds for multitasking, scrolling and opening applications.
The iPhone 5S’ processor is guaranteed to trump the iPhone 4S’ A5 chip and that should translate into improved gaming, good battery life, and a snappier user experience overall.
Those looking for speed and performance will want to heavily consider the iPhone 5S.
In all likelihood, the iPhone 5S will come in three storage variants. A 16GB model, a 32GB model and a 64GB model. There is a chance that Apple could add a 128GB model for power users or simply drop the 16GB model and add a 128GB option, but at this point, it’s not clear. Instead, buyers should expect the expected.
Currently, the iPhone 4S is only available in 16GB form and we can’t help but think that that won’t change with the arrival of the iPhone 5S. There is a possibility that we could see it drop to 8GB like the iPhone 4, but given app and file sizes, Apple may opt to keep it at 16GB.
Whatever the case may be, there will be less of a selection when it comes to the iPhone 4S. Count on that.
The iPhone 4S is available on a host of carriers in the U.S., including the AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. Smaller regional carriers also sell Apple’s aging smartphone. And despite its age, we expect the iPhone 4S to remain available on many of these carriers, even after the iPhone 5S launch.
Apple’s iPhone 5S should come to many of the same carriers though there is a very good chance that it will be coming to U.S. Cellular as well. Whether or not the iPhone 4S makes it to the nation’s fifth largest carrier is up for debate, but besides that, we expect there to be no other major differences between the carriers.
One of the biggest things that consumers will need to consider between the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 4S is the fact that the iPhone 4S does not come equipped with 4G LTE data speeds. In the past, this may have been something that consumers could give up thanks to awful battery life, lack of coverage and unreliable networks.
However, those days are over. Apple’s iPhone 5, like other 4G LTE phones, gets great battery life. 4G LTE is also now widespread across the country and is being utilized by all five of the nation’s largest carriers.
The iPhone 5S will certainly have 4G LTE data support and it’s possible that it could have better battery life than the iPhone 5. Rumors of a Sharp IGZO display have helped to fuel that possibility.
iPhone 4S users unfortunately will never have access to data speeds that can rival home Wi-Fi networks as it doesn’t have support for LTE. For a device like the iPhone, which is made to be portable, passing up on LTE is going to be tough.
Believe us. Once you start using LTE, it’s virtually impossible to go back to anything else.
iOS 7 will be stock on the iPhone 5S. Apple launches new software with new hardware every year. It will also be coming to the iPhone 4S in the fall. However, it won’t be the full iOS 7 update that comes with the iPhone 5S.
When iOS 7 arrives, iPhone 4S owners won’t get the benefit of AirDrop or the ability to view photo filters within the Camera application. That means that users won’t be able to get a preview of a filter before the photo is taken. Those aren’t going to be deal breakers, but it’s something that prospective iPhone 4S buyers need to think about, especially given that future updates may exclude far more.
The iPhone 5S on the other hand will be afforded all that iOS 7 has to offer, and more. We say more, because there are rumors that it will come with a fingerprint reader on board for added security, something that will likely tie into iOS 7 and the lock screen. It’s also possible that it will get other unique features though those aren’t yet know.
Those that don’t need all of the software features of iOS 7 will be fine with the iPhone 4S. But those that want the full package will need to think about buying the iPhone 5S so as not to miss out on any features.
Finally, the last and maybe most important thing that buyers need to think about is longevity. Apple does a fantastic job of keeping its phones up-to-date with new software for years after their release but every iPhones life comes to an end at some point.
Given that the iPhone 4S is closing in on the two year mark, next year’s iOS 8 update will likely be its last major update, meaning users who buy now won’t get the same type of software support that iPhone 5S users get.
Furthermore, because its old, and Apple will need to sell devices, we will likely see iOS 8 for the iPhone 4S stripped of several features while the iPhone 5S, like the iPhone 5 and iOS 7, should get most of the new software.
Given that the iPhone 5S will likely be $200 more, it’s something that contract signers need to consider. Yes, the iPhone 4S will still get lengthy support, up until iOS 9 comes out, but the iPhone 5S will get support for two more years. And that may be worth the extra money.
This article may contain affiliate links. Click here for more details.


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BRIDGETON, Mo. — A new gun range recently opened in St. Louis County. Range USA is having a grand opening this weekend. Customers over the age of 21 will get discounts, and prizes.
Range USA is one of the biggest gun schools in the world. Every year, they teach tens of thousands of people how to use guns.
“There is a tremendous opportunity to grow our store footprint in St. Louis and surrounding areas,” said Tom Willingham, founder of Range USA. “Not only did we open in Bridgeton, but we also have another store under construction in O’Fallon. That’s how confident we are in the St. Louis market for growth potential.”
There are 20 open-to-the-public 25-yard shooting lanes with a full-time range safety officer on duty at all times. Residents of Bridgeton can learn how to use their weapons through online and in-person classes taught by certified teachers.
The new store is located at 11808 St. Charles Rock Rd., near Bridgeton. The grand opening is from Friday, January 20 to Sunday, January 22.


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fter two months of speculation, Wachovia and Prudential have come together on terms of their brokerage joint venture. The deal creates the third largest retail brokerage firm in the US, according to the firms.
Donald A. McMullen, Jr.
, president of Wachovia's Capital Management Group, predicts that the combination will allow the firms to slice $220 million after tax from its operating expenses by 2005. In the meantime, the new company will record merger-related and restructuring charges and exit cost purchase accounting adjustments of approximately $681 million after tax in connection with the transaction over the 18-month integration period.
The deal combines the retail brokerage and clearing arms of both firms into a new Richmond, Virginia-headquartered entity to be called Wachovia Securities once the integration of the two firms is completed. The merger itself is expected to close in the third quarter. Wachovia will own 62 percent of the combined firm and control three board seats while Prudential will own the remaining 38 percent and control two board seats.
The firms claim the combined brokerage will control client assets of $537 billion and had an estimated combined net revenue of $4.2 billion in 2002. It will also have more than 3,500 brokerage locations, including 791 dedicated retail offices in 48 states and the District of Columbia.
Twenty-five year Prudential veteran John Strangfeld
, a vice chairman of Prudential Financial and leader of that company's Investment Division, which includes the retail securities brokerage and clearing operations, will serve as chairman of the combined firm. Strangfeld, a 25-year employee of Prudential, has led Prudential Securities for the past two years. He will continue in his position as a vice chairman of Prudential Financial.
Daniel J. Ludeman
, currently president and CEO of Wachovia Securities, will be the president and CEO of the new firm. He is a 24-year veteran of the brokerage industry. Strangfeld will report to Donald McMullen.
The units of Prudential included in the new firm are: the Private Client Group, which includes Prudential Securities' domestic and Latin American branches, and Wexford Clearing Services Corporation, as well as all supporting functions for these businesses, according to the firms.
Excluded from the new firm are Prudential Securities' widely acclaimed, independent equity research department and its domestic and international equity sales and trading group. These will continue to operate as a unit of Prudential Financial and will be called the Prudential Equity Group. Other Prudential units excluded from the new firm are: Prudential's international private client and global derivatives operations and the Prudential Bank and Trust.
The units of Wachovia included in the new firm are: the entire Wachovia Securities retail brokerage firm, including its Private Client Group, its in- bank Investment Services Group and its Independent Brokerage Group, which includes First Clearing Corporation, as well as selected supporting functions.
The new correspondent clearing unit will operate under the Wexford name and will be among the nation's top five clearing firms, serving approximately 200 broker-dealers nationwide.
Wachovia's Equity Capital Markets group, which conducts equity research, underwriting, and sales and trading for retail and institutional clients under the Wachovia Securities brand, will continue to operate separately from the retail brokerage group.
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