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H&M this morning released its first commercial for David Beckham Bodywear, which will make its debut during the second quarter of the NFL championship final.
Starring the man himself, the 30-second black-and-white ad, set to the song Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood by The Animals, shows close-ups of the soccer star’s many tattoos and flawless body.
Of course we do get a glimpse of the products in question, right at the very end. The soccer star sports a pair of briefs, which will retail for $12.95 (N 2,100), and trunks, which will be priced at $14.95 (N 2,400).
Mr Beckham admitted he was excited that the ad would be airing in such a high-profile spot.
He said in a press release: ‘I’m excited about my bodywear ad featuring in this year’s Super Bowl.
‘My design team and I spent 18 months developing the collection, it’s been a fantastic collaborative experience, and I’m very happy with the end result.
Like every fan, I’m looking forward to Super Bowl Sunday.’
Steve Lubomski, Director of Marketing for H&M North America, echoed the star’s sentiments.
He added: ‘We’re thrilled about David starring in our Super Bowl spot, which kicks-off the North American launch of the global David Beckham Bodywear collection.
We’ll reach a significant number of our consumer base during the Super Bowl, and we’ll continue the momentum with a 360 degree marketing campaign that includes social media, national advertising, PR and consumer engagement.’
H&M is also promoting the launch with a huge ad on the corner of 8th Avenue & 34th Street in Manhattan.
A full body-length image of Mr Beckham modelling the new trunks will be hand-painted over a period of two weeks and completed by Super Bowl weekend. The process will be captured on video and shared as a time-lapse video on YouTube.
The David Beckham Bodywear line will go on sale on Thursday, just in time for Valentine’s Day.


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Ricoh Americas Corp. announced that Norihisa "Nori" Goto, current vice chairman of the company and president and CEO of Ricoh U.S., will become chairman and CEO of Ricoh Americas Corp. Goto will also continue his responsibilities as president and CEO of Ricoh U.S. Susumu "Sam" Ichioka, the current chairman and CEO of Ricoh Americas Corp., will assume a new position at the parent company Ricoh Company, Ltd., in Tokyo.
Additionally, Martin Brodigan, former president of Ricoh Canada, Inc., was named chief financial officer (CFO) of Ricoh Americas Corp. Glenn Laverty, executive vice president of direct operations at Ricoh Canada, is being promoted to president of Ricoh Canada.
Kyoji "Ken" Tokuhiro, currently general manager, Business Strategy and Planning Center at Ricoh Company, Ltd., will lead the Strategy and Planning Office for Ricoh Americas Corp. Kuni Minakawa, CFO of Ricoh Americas Corp. and Sam Hosoe, senior vice president of the Strategy and Planning Office, will also assume new roles at the parent company in Japan.
Hideaki "Hugh" Urabe, the current senior vice president of corporate marketing for Ricoh Americas Corp., will become the president of Ricoh Latin America. At the same time, Kiyohshi "Kiyo" Shimizu, president of Ricoh Latin America, was appointed senior vice president of channel development strategy, in the Strategy and Planning Office.
Yoshimi Kobayashi, who is currently general manager of the International Marketing Department, Multifunction Product Business Group, at Ricoh Company, Ltd., will become senior vice president of corporate marketing.
to Daily News

domain: news


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Fast Food Kids’ Meals
Health and Wellness
January 25, 2009
Researchers assessed the nutritional quality of kids’ meals offered by major fast food companies using standards delineated by the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and U.S. Dietary Guidelines. Each meal was analyzed for items like total energy, fat, sodium, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, added sugars, protein, calcium, iron and vitamins A and C.
Lunches that met all NSLP criteria offered a side of fruit plus milk and were mostly deli-sandwich-based. These meals contained about one-third the fat, one-sixth the added sugars, twice the iron and three times the amount of vitamin A and calcium as those meals that did not meet the criteria. The remaining 97% were more than one and a half times more energy dense. Several of these meals contained fried potatoes and a sweetened beverage.
Chicken-based meal combos accounted for 51% of the meals that did not met NSLP guidelines. Many of those meals were fried. Twenty-eight percent of meals not meeting the guidelines were burger-based. On the flip side, bean burrito meals contained high amounts of fiber and deli-sandwiches with cheese, fruit and milk were high in calcium.
While most meals analyzed contained adequate protein, more than one-half exceeded recommendations for sodium. Average iron from kids’ meal combos was low. Fiber was low too. Fat fared better, though. More than 30% of the meals provided fewer than 30 percent of their calories from fat. More than 66% provided less than 10% of their calories from saturated fat.
“We did see some surprises in our study. There were more healthful choices available than we would’ve first thought,” says Dr. Sharon L. Hoerr, Professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Michigan State University. “However, there are many improvements to be made. For example, with the fiber content on most meals coming in very low, the fast food industry needs to make an effort to include more whole grains.”
The diet quality of kids’ meals offered at fast food restaurants warranted study, says Hoerr, because nearly 25% of children aged four to eight consume some type of fast food daily. Also of concern are rising obesity numbers and the trend for kids to consume more calories out of the house. Clearly, fast food has a significant role to play in overall nutrition.
“My co-authors and I would like to see the fast food industry making an effort to make kids’ meals healthier. One way they can do this is by making the default choice a healthy choice. Small modifications, like a change from fries to fruit, can make a world of difference,” she says.
Hoerr points out that the results of this study are actually somewhat encouraging. Since fast food chains are not required to meet NSLP standards, the fact that even a tiny percentage made the grade suggests that a nutritional reformulation of kids’ meals is doable – and doable in a way that is tasty to younger eaters.
“We want to be a nation with freedom of choice. But we also have to be able to choose things that are healthy and nutritious. In this case, palatable, healthy options have to become available to us.”
FDA regulations require restaurants to provide nutrition information only if they make a health or nutrition claim. That said, the majority of fast food companies analyzed for this study publically provided their nutritional information. Meals were examined at Arby’s, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, KFC, McDonald’s, Sonic, Subway, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, and Whataburger in the Houston, Texas market.


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ID Verification Market Size
- The global ID verification industry reached $7.6 billion in 2020.
- The industry is predicted to grow at a CAGR of over 13.1% by 2026.
- Thales Group and IDEMIA are some of the biggest players in the ID verification market.
The global ID verification market reached $7.6 billion in 2020. Companies like Thales Group, IDEMIA, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Jumio, and GBG dominated the industry due to the rapid innovation and adaption of novel technologies.
Global ID verification market
- According to a report by Markets and Markets, the size of the global ID verification market was $7.6 billion in 2020.
- The market was projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.1% to 15.6% until 2026.
- One of the main drivers of the market are the continued rise of digitization and the increased threat of identity theft.
- In 2018, the number of people that experienced identity theft was over 14 million.
- In 2019, in the US alone, identity theft amounted to over $1.9 billion in revenue lost to fraud.
- The 2020 pandemic has also been a great catalyst for the increase in fraudulent activities, with over 29% of people reporting that there is a significantly higher risk of identity theft by August 2020.
- As such, governments have been quick to promote and start using different initiatives to improve the digital safety of their citizens.
- Some examples include the use of electronic ID cards (eID), smart border control with facial recognition, and advanced video analytics.
- Some of the most prominent players in the ID verification industry include Thales Group (France), IDEMIA (France), LexisNexis Risk Solutions (US), Jumio (US), GBG (UK), Onfido (UK), Signicat (Norway), Trulioo (Canada), IDnow (Germany), Mitek Systems (US), Acuant (US), AU10TIX (Israel), SecureKey (Canada), WebID (Germany), Innovatrics (Slovakia), Intellicheck (US), and Shufti Pro.
In order to find the market size and some of the top players in the ID verification industry, we primarily used industry reports such as Mordor Intelligence, Markets and Markets, and Globe Newswire. This allowed us to find the market size and the most prominent players in the industry. We, then, examined each player mentioned by the different industry reports and included only those with the highest revenues. It is important to note that we have excluded Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax from our list because they focus on providing credit reports to individuals and businesses, with verification services occupying a minor part of their overall revenue. On top of that, their annual reports did not provide us with the means to calculate the revenue generated by their ID verification services.


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Pandora’s Q2 report: more subscribers lessen losses but listener hours & active users, are down
Pandora’s exiting of the Australian and New Zealand markets has not affected its revenue improvement.
In its second-quarter financials, the Oakland, California-based company seemed to have turned the corner, helped by some recent executive hires.
More work has to be done, but the markets were impressed, as Pandora shares rose 12% after the financials were announced.
Revenue grew 12% to US$384.8 million, and $10 million above what it had forecast.
Subscription revenue jumped 25% to $68.9 million, with Pandora adding 351,000 subscribers in three months to hit 6 million by June 30.
The number of these have been steadily rising – from 4.86 million in June 2017 to 5.19 million in September to 5.49 in December and 5.63 million in March.
Pandora did not specify the number of Premium subscribers, who pay $9.99 per month (or $14.99 for the family plan) and Pandora Plus customers that pay $4.99 for ad-free radio.
But the growth of subs revenue indicates the company has tapped into the lucrative Premium tier.
Ad RPM (or revenue per thousand impressions) was up 24% to $66.15 from $53.34 a year earlier.
“We are on track to get back on growth in ad revenue,” said Pandora chief executive Roger Lynch, who joined last year,
Monthly active users continued their slow decline, dropping to 71.4 million from 76 million in Q2 2017.
Pandora was last profitable in 2014, but its losses are lessening, narrowing to $99.5 million in the three months ended June 30 from $289.7 million a year earlier.
Total Pandora listener hours were 5.09 billion for the second quarter of 2018, down from 5.22 billion for Q2 2017.
The company is being optimistic about its performance in the third quarter, expecting revenue of between $390 million and $405 million, above financial analysts’ forecast of $394.6 million.
Lynch is ticking off a couple of new features that he thinks will improve financial performance.
The company was late introducing its family plan for Premium, but since its addition on May 29, it seems to have driven traffic.
Lynch confirmed paid subscribers listen to music three times longer than their ad-supported counterparts.
Pandora has also struck new partnerships – AT&T, T-Mobile, Snap and live streaming financial news network Cheddar – designed to bolster its customer base “at the lowest acquisition costs” by being offered as a package to those companies’ customers.
These also “position us to further accelerate growth and ownership of the expanding digital audio marketplace,” Lynch said.
New features have been customised playlists based on past listening tastes for premium users, and speeding up access to its music through the Snapchat app.


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By Lisa Pauline Mattackal and Medha Singh
(Reuters) – Think about digitally inscribing 3D pictures of objects reminiscent of multi-colored spheres onto a tiny fragment of bitcoin. Then think about promoting them for $16.5 million.
Simply if you thought crypto could not get any stranger, bitcoin by chance births a brand new breed of NFTs.
The brand new entrants have materialized in 2023 following bitcoin community upgrades that enabled every satoshi – the smallest denomination of bitcoin, or 100 millionth – to retailer a couple of megabytes of information, from textual content and pictures to audio and video.
The info storage was an unintended consequence of the upgrades. Now crypto fanatics have embedded a complete of 385,000 “inscriptions” generally known as Ordinals on bitcoin since January, together with greater than 200,000 picture recordsdata and over 150,000 textual content ones, in keeping with Glassnode Market Intelligence.
“I feel that is actually the beginning of a basic shift in what you are able to do with bitcoin,” stated Alex Miller, CEO at bitcoin developer community Hiro.
The coloured balls type a part of TwelveFold, a set of 300 pictures of 3D objects rendered in a sq. grid, from NFT builders Yuga Labs, finest identified for its Bored Ape Yacht Membership. It calls the set “a visible allegory” for information on blockchain.
They grew to become a profitable allegory this month when the corporate auctioned 288 of them off for $16.5 million, in keeping with information from analysis agency Delphi Digital.
Different top-selling Ordinals – named after the software program protocol that facilitates inscription – embody JPEGs of rocks and shadowy topped figures which have offered for $213,845 and $273,010 respectively, in keeping with Galaxy Digital Analysis.
Though the marketplace for bitcoin NFTs has solely been going since January, Galaxy estimates it might be price $4.5 billion by 2025, basing its bullish forecast on components reminiscent of the expansion of the extra established NFT market and the truth that bitcoin is by far the preferred cryptocurrency.
Caveat emptor, although: Little could be precisely foreseen within the extremely unpredictable marketplace for non-fungible tokens, it will seem.
Total gross sales of NFTs – excluding Ordinals – stood at about $1 billion final month, in keeping with CryptoSlam information, a restoration from the $324 million in November however nonetheless a fraction of the roughly $5 billion seen final January and $2.7 billion in Could.
Nonetheless, bitcoin NFTs have constructed up a head of steam in a brief area of time. Satoshis inscribed with NFTs are concerned in about 7% of the full variety of bitcoin blockchain transactions, in keeping with Glassnode information.
Transactions aplenty, https://www.reuters.com/graphics/FINTECH-CRYPTO/WEEKLY/klvygnxeavg/chart.png
‘KIND OF FRIVOLOUS’
One of many largest challenges for this new class of NFTs is the dearth of a user-friendly marketplaces, with early transactions happening over-the-counter on shared on-line spreadsheets, in keeping with market gamers.
This lack of infrastructure is a particular barrier to entry, Delphi Digital stated.
Not everyone seems to be comfortable about this surge of exercise, particularly some bitcoin purists who imagine the cryptocurrency ought to solely be used for funds.
The typical price to make a bitcoin transaction, measured over a 7-day interval, has spiked to $1.981, its highest since November, as Ordinals buying and selling surged in contrast with underneath $1 at the beginning of February, in keeping with information from Blockchain.com.
“We wish transactions to stay as cheap as attainable so folks world wide can run companies and ship cash,” stated Cory Klippsten, CEO of bitcoin-focused monetary providers agency Swan , who sees issues in “having it priced out by means of this non-monetary use case that is form of frivolous”.
Some critics say Ordinals are additionally clogging up the community; the 7-day common of time to verify bitcoin transactions spiked to over 186 minutes in late February, its highest since November’s bitcoin selloff, in keeping with Blockchain.com.
That is since dropped to over 124 minutes, although that is nonetheless considerably longer than the vary of 12.8 to 35 minutes transaction time in January and February.
“Ordinals have introduced some extra eyes to the community,” stated Brendon Sedo, a developer on the Core DAO blockchain. “However NFTs on bitcoin are a distraction from the community’s core function, which is to function a permissionless community that’s globally accessible, 24/7, and uncensorable.”


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Taiwan-based ODM Quanta Computer has begun volume production of the new 12-inch MacBook Air, paving the way for Apple to launch the device in the first quarter of 2015, according to sources at Taiwan-based supply chain. Quanta has stepped up efforts to recruit more workers in order to ramp up the production, revealed the sources.
Chinese gadget maker Xiaomi was in the news a lot yesterday. The company announced a US$1.1 billion round of funding that values four-year-old Xiaomi at $45 billion, and then a number of sites ran with stories showing purportedly leaked photos (one is pictured above) of an upcoming Xiaomi laptop that looks like a MacBook Air. But that last story simply isn’t true, the firm stated today. “That’s false news,” says Kaylene Hong, Xiaomi’s communications manager, to Tech in Asia.
Following a pilot production at the end of 2014, Apple’s new 12-inch MacBook Air is expected to enter mass production in the first quarter of 2015, according to sources from the upstream supply chain. And with the Apple Watch also beginning production at about the same time, Apple’s supply chain players have started accelerating their supplies of related components.
MUMBAI/BANGALORE: A new software security threat is giving sleepless nights to India’s information guardians and has prompted companies such as ITC and Future Group to take swift action to protect their systems. The Bash bug, or Shellshock as it is popularly known, is said to be more dangerous than the Heartbleed computer security flaw discovered earlier this year. Unix-based operating systems such as Apple’s Mac OS X and Linux are vulnerable to the bug, which allows hackers to gain control over a user’s computer remotely without authorisation.
Microsoft is facing increased competition from MacBooks and Chromebooks, with the global notebook OS market share for Windows 8 already dropping to below 90%, according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers. Thanks to iPhones and iPads, demand for Apple’s Mac series products has also been rising in the past few years. Meanwhile, Google is seeing increased Chromebook demand from the US and the UK’s education procurement and enterprise markets.
Apple’s new 12-inch MacBook Air will enter mass production in the third quarter, filling the gap between the 11- and 13-inch MacBook Airs as well as enhancing Apple’s leadership in the small-to-medium-size ultra-thin notebook market, according to sources from the upstream supply chain. Quanta Computer will be responsible for the assembly of the 12-inch device, said the sources, adding that so far, they have not heard any changes coming to the 11- and 13-inch MacBook Air products.
MacBook shipments in 2014 are likely to drop by about 15% from 12 million units in 2013 to 10 million units or even 9.9 million units, according to some of Taiwan-based supply chain makers. MacBook shipments in January-February 2014 were as expected, but Apple has significantly decreased shipments in March, the sources said.


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The torn up airline seats in the Hong Kong Productivity Council's plastics technology lab reveal one possible future that the government-funded research center sees for the Chinese plastics industry.
There, in the midst of prototypes of water-assisted molding machines and micro-part injection presses, HKPC researchers have started dismantling airline seats, looking for opportunities for the local plastics industry.
HKPC's thinking is straightforward. It expects China's domestic market for manufacturing aircraft to start to take off, similar to the country's automobile industry today. And the group doesn't want Hong Kong's local plastics companies to be left at the gate.
``We are trying to look at the windows of opportunities,'' said L.M. Li, general manager of HKPC's manufacturing technology division.
``We view aviation as the next wave of development in the Chinese local market,'' Li said.
One possibility is with European conglomerate Airbus, which plans to start assembling its A320 model at a joint venture plant in Tianjin as early as 2008. And Li believes there are opportunities for local plastics companies. For example, a recent HKPC mission to Europe found members of the Airbus supply chain looking for plastics parts suppliers in Asia.
But that's not the only opportunity HKPC is considering.
Li and other officials said in an Oct. 6 interview that this year HKPC and its partners in industry have commercialized or are about to commercialize technology for water-assisted molding machines and micro-part fabrication, and diffusion bonding techniques for mold making.
In the past, HKPC research helped Hong Kong's local plastics machinery industry develop an all-electric injection press, said Thomas Kwok Keung Lee, principal consultant in the manufacturing technology division.
The council sees its HK$447 million (US$57.3 million) annual budget helping local companies, especially small and midsize enterprises, to boost their competitiveness in areas such as plastics, metals, environmental compliance and management systems.
Hong Kong firms are major investors in China. HKPC estimates that companies in the city of 7 million people own about 15,000 plastics factories employing a whopping 2.5 million people in China's Pearl River Delta manufacturing zone, directly across the border from Hong Kong.
In spite of that investment, HKPC officials have suggested that some smaller Hong Kong firms are still too dependent on competing in low-value, lower-margin manufacturing, instead of relying on technology.
``As the majority of Hong Kong's [small and medium-size] manufacturers are still engaging in low value-adding [original equipment manufacturer] modes of operation, they are faced with other challenges, including the rising production costs in the Pearl River Delta, stringent environmental regulations, and intensified competition in the international arena,'' said Stephen Lee, acting executive director of HKPC, in a Sept. 20 HKPC news release.
Li said HKPC has identified other markets it sees as higher value for the local plastics industry: automotive, medical devices and optics, including lenses for cameras imbedded in mobile phones.
He said the group first identified auto parts as a market 10 years ago, when China made only about 200,000 vehicles a year and projections called for it to make 1 million by today. Instead, China makes about 4 million cars a year.
He said the aircraft market could be similar because demand in Asia is growing, as low-cost carriers create demand and make air travel a mass market like they did in North America, according to Li.
But there are only about 20 companies in China capable of producing world-class aviation parts, compared with thousands in North America, forcing even Chinese manufacturers to import many key components and creating opportunities for sophisticated suppliers, Li said.
In general, HKPC tries to find technologies that have higher barriers to entry, like micro injection molding, and develop either technologies to license to machinery makers or techniques to provide to processors, said Samson Kwok Wai Suen, senior consultant in the manufacturing technology division.
HKPC said it focused on water-assisted molding systems because it's a technology available mainly in Europe, and Hong Kong firms were finding it tough to get adequate technical support.
Like gas-assisted molding, water machines are good at making hollow parts and have faster cooling times than gas technologies, HKPC said.
``Once [local manufacturers] acquire the technology, they can differentiate themselves from the lower-end manufacturers in China,'' Kwok Wai Suen said.
The projects are funded jointly by government and industry, and require at least two local companies to put in at least 10 percent of the government contribution.
Government spending for its recent plastics-related projects include HK$9 million (US$1.15 million) on micro-fabrication and developing micro-molding presses, HK$2.3 million (US$295,600) on water-assisted molding technology, HK$6.4 million (US$822,500) on diffusion bonding and HK$1.5 million (US$192,800) on compounding techniques for environmentally friendly thermoplastic elastomers.


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The old pit town lost 5% of its high-street shops last year – but both the council and creative locals are trying to think again Most towns and cities have the strange, uncertain spaces some people call “edgelands”, but Doncaster’s seem to go on for ever. Thanks to the Yorkshire town’s proximity to four motorways, the expanses around it are full of retail parks and distribution centres, those leviathans that sit at the heart of 21st-century consumerism. Three of them belong to Amazon. The two nearest the town centre are comparatively modest, set in a business park that also includes a Morrison’s supermarket and a Holiday Inn Express. But the newest is a breathtakingly vast black-and-silver box covering 1.1m sq ft (102,200 sq metres). On a day when bright sunlight seems to make it glow, driving around its seemingly endless walls proves to be a mesmerising experience, only spoiled by the unshakeable feeling that my little hire car and I are being watched.
Read full story


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HOLLY HILL, Fla. – The owners of Copper Bottom Craft Distillery opened its doors Wednesday to make and distribute hand sanitizers free of charge and the phone hasn’t stopped ringing.
“Everything has been sold out so I said, you know what, that’s what we do. We make alcohol,” co-owner Jeremy Craig said. “We’ve been getting calls from health care clinics, police departments. People can’t get it.”
The owners showed how they make the hand sanitizer five gallons at a time, to fill four ounce bottles. Craig said they use very high proof alcohol and dilute it down with a little bit of water and xanthan gum.
Residents lined up at noon to fill their four ounce bottles, including Rosemary Calhoun who works in the court system and wants to protect herself and others.
“I have searched for hand sanitizer in all the stores and have not been able to find any," she said. “I think that’s a wonderful service that they’re providing to the community. I chose to make a donation and I hope that others do as well to help support them and their efforts.”
The owners said they’ve put their business on the back burner for now, to focus on helping the community and they encourage others to buy and support these types of businesses.
“I know other businesses, if they’ve got the ability to do things, especially in a time like this," Craig said. “It kind of brings people together and that’s what we’re trying to do. Small businesses like us are going to be the ones that are really going to get hurt in something like this. So, we’re trying our best to stay a float like everybody else.”
The distillery will continue to make hand sanitizer while supplies last and appreciate donations that include xanthan gum, white table sugar and bottles. Monetary donations are also accepted.
Copper Bottom Craft Distillery is open Wednesday thru Saturday, from noon to 7 p.m.


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What They Are Saying: Manufacturing organizations encourage deregulation, lower taxes
Washington, April 30, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, the House Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access held a remote hearing titled “Supply Chain Resiliency and the Role of Small Manufacturers.” To add to the hardships from COVID-19, small manufacturers continue to face challenges to meet their labor needs. In response, the Committee's witnesses, manufacturing associations, and small business owners submitted letters for the record on the importance of deregulation, lowering taxes, and leveraging purchasing power for our nation's manufacturers.
David Taylor, President and CEO of Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association: "Of course, to get people into the workforce, they first have to want to work. This is one of the problems of the current moment because of Congress’ policy of subsidizing state unemployment compensation payments. The federal government was correct to respond to the needs of our citizens caused by the economic shutdown triggered by the pandemic. Many people are still dealing with both the health crisis and the economic consequences of the shutdown. The impulse to be generous is understandable, but, regrettably, the federal taxpayer subsidy to state unemployment benefits is keeping many employees out of the workforce."
Wes Hampp, Founder and Managing Partner, Holleway Capital Partners (Overland Park, KS): "Congress should write tax policies that encourage, not discourage, long-term investing in America’s small businesses and small manufacturers. Doubling the capital gains rate for anyone with an annual income over a million dollars would be a major setback for entrepreneurs or those that are considering starting a small business, particularly a manufacturer. Small business owners build their small business over years (and in some cases the majority of their lifetime), and they typically get to sell that investment once. When they sell their business, they take the money and either retire or start a new business."
Carlos Ruiz, Owner of HT Metals (Tucson, AZ), Member of Job Creators Network: "It’s been so challenging to find qualified workers to fill open positions at HT Metals that I’ve been exploring using a temporary work agency. But this can’t go on forever. Not only is the labor significantly more expensive, but the job candidates rarely have the right skills and experience to effectively get the job done. Pile-on the threat posed by higher taxes and more regulations that will spike the cost of everyday operations and small businesses face a scary future. Components included in the two 'infrastructure' packages that the Biden administration has unveiled are of particular concern."
Guy Berkebile, Owner and Founder of Guy Chemical (Somerset, PA), Member of Job Creators Network: "Proposed tax hikes from the Biden administration would reverse the gains small businesses experienced as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—making pandemic recovery even more challenging. With the financial savings from the tax relief following its passage in 2017, Guy Chemical was able to build a new laboratory that was five-times larger than our previous one, invest in new chemical compounding equipment, and purchase new packaging lines... The extension of expanded unemployment benefits and other policies that incentivize staying home, rather than showing up to work will continue to be another challenge for small businesses. Small businesses can’t effectively provide consumers with goods and services while operating on a skeleton staff."
Scott N. Paul, President of Alliance for American Manufacturing: "Americans are rightly concerned that years of tax and trade policies that encourage outsourcing, coupled with a failure to invest in our domestic manufacturing base, have brought into clear view our inability to protect the health and safety of Americans during a time of national crisis. Focusing on supply chain challenges and constraints with a bias towards a continued reliance on imports is the wrong approach. Now is the time to break the vicious cycle of implementing policies that reward imports over domestic production. Both our economic and national security are at stake. We must be better prepared for the next crisis, and that requires taking bold action, starting right away."
The Texas Association of Manufacturers: "Our highest priorities include measures that will aid in the Texas recovery, but are also applicable to the rest of the country: strengthening economic tools to attract new investment, providing pandemic liability protections for all businesses (and especially our essential manufacturers), securing stable funding streams for high-quality workforce training programs that provide an exceptional rate of return for the economy, and defending a reasonable regulatory structure that allows all manufacturers to operate freely in our marketplace."
Cato Institute: "During the COVID-19 pandemic, state and federal governments temporarily suspended hundreds of regulations to boost domestic production, investment, and adjustment during the national emergency, revealing in the process that these “never needed” regulations discouraged economic growth and dynamism while providing little, if any, public benefit."


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早前富士康鄭洲廠爆出疫情傳聞，並有消息指將影響 iPhone 14 Pro 及 iPhone 14 Pro Max 的出貨量。Apple 在美國時間 11 月 6 日罕有地發出新聞稿，確認中國鄭州的組裝工廠受 COVID-19 影響，產量將顯著減少。
Apple 稱，現時預計 iPhone 14 Pro 和 iPhone 14 Pro Max 的出貨量將低於之前的預期，客戶將經歷更長的等待時間才能收到新產品。
【相關消息】鄭洲疫情「逃亡」潮 傳富士康保 iPhone 產能大幅加薪 員工 11 月上班獲 15000 人民幣補貼
【相關消息】iPhone 出貨恐受影響！官方證富士康鄭州廠疫情傳播快 專車接員工返鄉
CUPERTINO, California COVID-19 restrictions have temporarily impacted the primary iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max assembly facility located in Zhengzhou, China. The facility is currently operating at significantly reduced capacity. As we have done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prioritizing the health and safety of the workers in our supply chain.
We continue to see strong demand for iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models. However, we now expect lower iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max shipments than we previously anticipated and customers will experience longer wait times to receive their new products.
We are working closely with our supplier to return to normal production levels while ensuring the health and safety of every worker.
即刻【按此】，用 App 睇更多產品開箱科技影片


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13 April 2015, Lagos – As the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) prepares to announce the inflation update for March, 2015 (Q1 round-up) economy analysts are expecting further push up not just for the March, 2015 but also indicating further rises in the months through second quarter 2015 and beyond going by some underlying factors. NBS is set to release the figures officially by Thursday this week.
This forecast is coming despite the recoveries Naira had recorded against US Dollar in the period under review (March-April). Analysis of the foreign exchange rate of the local currency indicated that the value of the Naira appreciated against the US Dollar by 1.98 per cent from US$/N203.06 in February, 2015 to US$/N199.11 at the end of March, 2015.
However, economists at First Securities Discount House Limited (FSDH) observed that a number of imported transactions were carried out in the month of March at an exchange rate range of US$/N210 – US$/N225. They therefore posit that local prices are yet to fully absorb the impact of the 15.26 per cent devaluation of the Naira experienced in the month of February 2015.
Consequently they anticipate that the full effect of the devaluation will at some point in time during the course of the year reflect in the inflation rate and this should result in a spike to 11 per cent, indicating that inflation rate may exceed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) target range of 6 – 9 per cent.
The FSDH Inflation model indicates that the price movements in the consumer goods in March 2015 would increase the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to 168.47 points, representing a month-on-month increase of 0.96 per cent.
The model also estimates that the increase in the CPI in March will produce an inflation rate (year-on-year) of 8.6 per cent, higher than the figure recorded in the month of February. Looking ahead, according to FSDH analysts, the inflation rate for the month of April 2015 is expected to be higher than the March 2015 figure. Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of February 2015 had pushed the Headline Index to move up by 8.4 per cent year-on-year, as against 8.2 per cent in January, 2015.
CPI measures inflation rates and the increase reflects rising cost of goods in the economy. In the last CPI Report NBS said all the components that contributed to the index increased at a faster pace during the period, noting that the only exception was Recreational & Culture which also increased but at slower pace. According to the report, Food prices as observed by the Food Sub-index increased at a faster pace in February partly due to increases in prices of imported food items.
The Imported Food Sub-index increased by 8.8 per cent (year-on-year), the highest increase recorded since February 2013. The Food Sub-index rose by 9.4 per cent (year-on-year). In the Group report, NBS said while most groups that contributed to the Food Sub-index increased at a faster pace during the month of February 2015, the pace of increase was weighed down by a slower increase in the Bread & Cereals sub-group.
The pace of advances recorded by the “All Items Less Farm Produce” or Core Sub-index increased for the second consecutive month in February, 2015. The Core Sub-index increased by 7.0 per cent (year-on-year), 0.2 percentage points from 6.8 per cent recorded in January 2015.


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This is cnet and here are the stories that matter right now.
A new Apple TV with 4K functionality might arrive by the years end, according to a report by Bloomberg.
It's no secret that Apple is late to the 4K streaming party.
The products already on the market from Invideo, Roku, Google, and Amazon Experts say Apple would need to offer content in 4K, revamp its iTunes Video Store and offer a new, competitively priced Apple TV to stay relevant in that space.
A South Korean court has approved a warrant for the arrest Jay Y. Lee the acting head of Samsung With connection in a political scandal, according to both the Associated Press and Dow Jones.
This ruling actually reverses a decision made last month where a court had rejected the request for an arrest warrant.
Finally, Google Fiber parent company, Alphabet, appears to be moving the division in a new direction.
According to Wired, the focus is shifting toward high-speed wireless technologies as the substantial cost of laying down fiber optics is proving impractical.
Stay up to date with the latest by downloading the cnet tech today app in the Apple or Google Play store.


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A Case of the Blues
People packed Campbell Hall on the evening of Tuesday April 28 to hear materials and electrical and computer engineering professor Shuji Nakamura give a lecture on the technology and innovation that earned him the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics.
“It was very simple, no?” joked Nakamura, downplaying the sheer amount of effort it took to go from being an engineer with an idea at a small Japanese company to becoming the inventor of the bright blue LED, an innovation that led to the white LED and a global revolution in energy efficiency.
While LED lighting has been in use since its inception in the 1960s, the technology had limited application, which grew as more light-emitting diodes were developed in different colors of the spectrum. For decades, the blue LED remained elusive and the most difficult to create until 1993, when Nakamura debuted his blue LED, demonstrating the brightest blue light that had been developed at the time.
Today, LED lighting is ubiquitous, from screen displays to interior lighting. Coupled with solar cells, white-light LEDs have been fashioned into durable, clean-burning, energy efficient and economical light sources for schoolchildren in poverty-stricken off-the-grid environments by the UCSB-affiliated nonprofit Unite to Light.
There’s more to come, said Nakamura. Laser-based solid state lighting, the subject of ongoing research and development at SSLEEC, promises to be the next generation of energy efficient powerful lighting, he said, using even less material and delivering more light.
“Everything will be smaller and better,” he said, “in terms of cost and efficiency. So what we are focusing on now at UCSB is laser lighting.”
Meanwhile, materials professor Steve DenBaars, who is also co-director of the campus’s Solid State Lighting and Energy Electronics Center (SSLEEC), announced that, in response to the need for better lighting in Isla Vista, he and Nakamura will be donating personal funds to an effort to bring LED lighting to the streets of the nearby community.
Led by professors DenBaars, Nakamura, Umesh Mishra and James Speck, the SSLEEC is a collaborative research center at UCSB, focused on the advancement of solid-state lighting and energy efficient power switching technology, using wide-bandgap semiconductors.


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Infrared filters like the Kaya Optics PF4 were available accidentally on Sony cameras some years ago, before being quickly taken off the market. Since then, voyeurs have developed an extensive after-market and DIY system for these types of filters that can "see" through clothes. Kaya's new filter allows you plug and play functionality into your existing recorders that use CCD (Charged Coupled Device).
The PF4 is probably either going to be banned pretty soon, or have strict restrictions placed on where and when you can use them. Until then, we look forward to seeing more mannequin nipples.


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A recent Chromium review commit has been spotted that allows an image from Google Photos to be used on a new tab page in the Chrome browser. This will be made possible via a new option that's currently in the Canary Channel of the browser, and lets users pick their own wallpaper. Since there's no indication that this will be platform-specific, whatever custom background is chosen could reasonably show up across all devices that are being synced via the logged in account. Moreover, by pulling directly from Google Photos, the process of getting the task done would be simplified. Rather than downloading an image directly and then selecting it from the file explorer, users could just sync it directly from their account. That would make it much easier for users who want to customize their look frequently without wasting time on extra clicks and multi-window navigation.
For now, the feature to change the new tab page background isn't showing up outside of the hidden 'flags' settings so it seems to still be in testing. If development continues relatively smoothly, it should eventually be made an option without the need to access the hidden settings at all across each of the browser's channels. For now, the commit indicates that only a single image can be chosen. That isn't necessarily likely to remain the case either if the feature is rolled out more widely. Some other devices under the Chrome umbrella, such as Chromecast, already allow Google Photos feeds to be rotated through at various user-selected intervals. The search giant might ultimately choose to limit that functionality to save RAM and other resources but a cycling background image option remains a possibility.
This is actually the second wallpaper-focused update Google has recently made to its Chrome-branded products, as an update noted in June showed work on a new Chrome OS wallpaper picker which also had the option to display randomized images from a set of pre-set categories. While no Google Photos integration was seen in those previous commits, it's not unlikely that the company plans to bring a similar functionality across all Chrome products.


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The Downtown Highland Park Business Alliance, in conjunction with its local businesses and entertainers, will host its inaugural Oktoberfest event in Downtown Highland Park on Saturday, September 21 from Noon to 10 p.m. along Second Street, from Central Avenue to Beelow’s. The FREE event will celebrate the kick off of Oktoberfest for attendees to enjoy family friendly activities, live interactive entertainment, food and beverages in a relaxed and safe atmosphere.
Some of Highland Park’s most celebrated food vendors including Once Upon a Bagel family of restaurants, Backyard Grill, Beelow’s, Ravinia Brewing Company, Highland Pop, and New York Slices will be serving traditional Oktoberfest fare like pretzels, brats and German beer, as well as local favorites like hotdogs, hamburgers & fries, pizza, tacos and two full bars featuring Oktoberfest inspired cocktails.
Downtown Highland Park’s Oktoberfest will showcase a full line up of entertainment from the Razny Jewelers Main Stage. The event kicks off with family friendly entertainment starting at noon with The Performers School hosting Laendler dance lessons from The Sound of Music, a Youth Talent Showcase, Irina Makkai Dance performance, live music by local kids music companies such as Midwest Young Artists Conservatory, and Polka Dance lessons from Arthur Murray Dance.
The street will be filled with plenty of food and drink vendors, as well as kids crafts and activities including face painters, henna and glitter tattoo artists and games from 12-3 p.m. At 6 p.m. live musical performance will take over the Razny Jewelers Main Stage including local favorite The Saturday June Band and Daniel Cronson Band


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Read articles from United Arab Emirates
Doctors in the UAE are alarmed by how the youth are increasingly taking to e-cigarettes after targeted campaigns make them look cool. Their comments came after a study conducted in the US found that more adolescent e-cigarette users report vaping within five minutes of waking up.
According to the study published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open, teens are getting addicted to e-cigarettes younger; with addictions being more intense.
Interestingly, between 2014 and 2017, less than one per cent of e-cigarette users reported using the devices within five minutes of waking up, while by 2021, the total drastically grew to 10.3 per cent.
Nearly a quarter of students in the UAE used an e-cigarette in the past month, a study has found.
Research carried out at three universities in the country recorded higher vaping rates than other recent studies in the Emirates and elsewhere in the Gulf.
Experts have given a warning that while e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, they do pose a risk to health and could be a gateway to more hazardous tobacco smoking.
Students at one private and two public universities were polled on whether and when they had used e-cigarettes.
Could the days of the cigarette be numbered as millions of people worldwide switch from smoking to vaping?
When vape retailers say this is a process now well under way, that’s one thing, but when one of the world’s largest tobacco producers supports the argument, backed by industry groups and experts from the US to China, that’s another. Joe Dunne is director of Hale Vaping, which accounts for 45 percent of the Irish vaping market. He tells smokers eager to quit to see vaping as a “new miracle drug” they can use at their own initiative in order to take personal responsibility for their own health. [...]
Starting January 1, water pipe tobacco (shisha) or electrically heated cigarettes cannot be sold in the UAE unless they bear the digital tax stamp (DTS), the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has said.
These products cannot be sold, transported, stored or possessed without the tax stamp.
The DTS system helps the FTA “improve its ability to collect excise tax charged” on such products on being imported or manufactured locally. It also enables “stakeholders to analyse the supply chain to better control illicit tobacco products”.
E-cigarettes will not be offered as an aid to help smokers quit until the full health impact is determined, doctors have said.
This week the government's product regulator said e-cigarettes and vaping products could be sold legally from mid-April.
Regulation will ensure consumers will have transparency over the vaping products they buy and help authorities stamp out black market and unregulated sellers.
But government doctors said the country will not go as far as some nations in promoting the devices to problem smokers.
New regulations will allow the legal sale of e-cigarettes and vaping devices in the UAE for the first time.
Manufacturers will be allowed to sell the battery-powered products as long as they meet new standards and carry health warnings similar to traditional cigarettes.
The Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology confirmed the move on Sunday. The new rules - known as UAE.S 5030 - allow the sale of electronic cigarettes, electronic pipes, electronic shisha devices plus the liquid refills.
A new UAE study has confirmed what every shisha lover has long suspected: there are higher levels of cancer-causing metals in shisha products than in cigarettes. The research was co-authored by Professor Mohamed Al Hajjaj of the University of Sharjah, Abdus Khan of Khalifa University, [...] The study looked at 13 medwakh tobacco products and three shisha products, analysing their properties to determine metal concentrations. Their findings may not have been surprising, but they were terrifying all the same. [...]
A rising number of UAE residents are seeking help after becoming hooked on shisha, an addiction expert has said.
Johanna Griffin, a Dubai-based specialist, said there has been a noticeable spike in patients attempting to kick the habit. They had often started smoking shisha, she revealed, unaware that evidence suggests they can be more dangerous than cigarettes.
Kamal Naji, 27, quit cigarettes before turning to shisha, which has now become a “part of his life”. He enjoys one immediately after finishing work, and another in the evening.
Residents in the UAE are confused over the rules surrounding the personal use of e-cigarettes, both in public places and at home, and are calling for clearer rules on the issue. However, the Dubai Municipality has made it clear that e-cigarettes are treated like any other cigarettes in Dubai.
Despite a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes in the UAE, many residents are still unclear as to whether they can legally smoke the device in designated public areas.
The UAE could be set to lift its ban on e-cigarettes and other similar products, it has been revealed. Authorities have begun a preliminary project to assess whether electronic nicotine devices should be allowed to be used legally in the country. Currently, e-cigarettes are banned in the Emirates due to concerns over their impact on user health.


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TOKYO, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Trade deficit of Japan, the world's third economy, jumped 65.3 percent from the previous year to a record 11.47 trillion yen (about 112.41 billion U.S. dollars) in 2013, marking the third straight year of red-inked trade balance, the Japanese government said Monday.
The record deficit, compared with the previous record 6.94 trillion yen (about 67.82 billion dollars) logged in 2012, was triggered by the yen's continuous depreciation and Japan's enlarging domestic energy demands which contributed to the large amount of imports, said the country's Finance Ministry in a preliminary report.
Japan's imports increased for the fourth straight month and jumped 15.0 percent to a record 81.26 trillion yen (794.15 billion dollars), with 17.5-percent and 16.3 percent increases respectively in liquefied natural gas and crude oil, said the ministry.
On the contrast, exports increased 9.5 percent in the last year to 69.79 trillion yen (about 682.06 billion dollars), rising for the first time in three years on the support of a weaker yen.
The yen depreciated by 21.8 percent against the U.S. dollar from the year before on an average basis in 2013 on the aggressive monetary easing by the Bank of Japan.
Exports to China increased 9.7 percent to 123.43 billion dollars in 2013, while imports from China were up 17.4 percent to a record 172.49 billion dollars, said the ministry.
Shipments to the European Union gained 7.7 percent to 68.41 billion dollars, and imports from the region increased 15.2 percent to 74.46 billion dollars.
The country's exports to the United States expanded 15.6 percent to 126.36 billion dollars, while imports jumped 12.0 percent to 66.55 billion dollars.
In December 2013, Japan's trade deficit logged 12.70 billion dollars, marking a record for the month and the 18th consecutive monthly deficit, with exports climbing 15.3 percent on year to 59. 71 billion dollars and imports jumping 24.7 percent to 72.42 billion dollars.


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In a bid to enhance transaction quality and efficiency especially in area of failed transactions and dispense errors, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has revised timelines for reversals and/or resolution of refund complaints on electronic channels, with effect from June 8, 2020.
A statement by Director, Corporate Communications department of the CBN said failed ATM transactions will now be resolved in three days
The statement reads: “On-Us’ ATM transactions (when customers use their cards on their bank’s (ATMs) shall be instantly reversed from the current timeline of three days. Where instant reversal fails due to any technical issue or system glitch, the timeline for manual reversal shall not exceed 24 hours.
“Refunds for failed “Not-on-Us” ATM transactions (where customers use their cards on other banks’ ATMs) shall not exceed 48 hours from the current 3-5 days.
“Resolution of disputed/failed PoS or Web transactions shall be concluded within 72 hours from the current five days.
“All banks are directed to resolve backlog of all ATM, POS and Web customer refunds within two weeks starting June 8, 2020.”
The statement added that key service providers in the Nigerian payments system have also committed to provide an integrated dispute resolution platform for the industry and enhance their payment system infrastructure and processes to reduce incidences of transaction failure.


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Apple users beware. Unveiling its new software at the WWDC event, Apple is in trouble. Users who have tried the HomePod beta report various issues.
Organizing the traditional WWDC event a while ago, Apple introduced new versions of popular operating systems. Bringing modern capabilities to the company’s cutting-edge products, these software managed to excite users.
Aware of this excitement, Apple launched the beta program, allowing users to install new software early. However, the beta process is a bit of a pain for the company. According to incoming information, HomePod is experiencing the biggest of problems.
HomePod owners should not install beta software
If you have an Apple HomePod or HomePod mini, you may want to avoid the latest beta update. According to 9to5Mac, the new software is causing a number of issues for users. Some users are finding that their wireless speakers are overheating and shutting down, while others are reporting issues with Siri being unable to pause music using voice commands.
While the problems affecting the general user experience infuriated HomePod users, Apple has not made a statement on the subject. However, the company is aware of these problems, which are probably inherent in beta programs, and will make the necessary correction shortly.
Unlike the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch, Apple’s beta version of HomePod is only open to specially invited users. But that doesn’t mean it’s hard to reach. The beta version, which can be found with a simple Google search, can be downloaded by users. However, it is worth noting that users should be careful.
So what do you think about this subject? Will HomePod problems be fixed soon? You can share your views with us in the comments section.


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Something peculiar is going on in the restaurant industry: Wine bottle prices are at an all-time high, even at establishments that many would consider casual, more affordable options. While we can’t pinpoint exactly why this is happening, we’re pretty sure it has something to do with financial institutions giving easy-access loans to new restaurants, in turn pressuring said restaurants to price hike in order to repay said loans.
It’s mind boggling that payment processors like Toast are offering up to $300,000 in loans, but it leads us to think that these post-pandemic lump sums of money are more predatory than they are practical. The price markups could be indicative of restaurants attempting to inflate costs in a place where the customer is least likely to notice: the bottle list.
The phenomenon seems to be riding shotgun with the pervasiveness of high-low concept restaurants and other casual establishments where $25 pizzas share a menu with $90-plus bottles of wine. It’s a tried-and-true rule that alcohol sales offset poor food margins, but are people actually willing to turn a blind eye and pay outrageous prices for drinks when everything else on the menu is in line with a casual, lower-spending atmosphere?
On this episode of the “VinePair Podcast,” Adam, Joanna, and Zach ponder if rising restaurant wine prices are due to a raft of new loans that have targeted restaurants of late, offering quick infusions of cash in exchange for a cut of all credit card transactions. Do operators think that guests are less likely to notice price hikes when it comes to booze? Tune in for more.


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Real Estate Giant’s New-Energy Vehicle Bet Has Yet to Pay Off
The new-energy vehicle unit of Chinese real estate conglomerate China Evergrande Group reported that its net loss widened further last year as it continued to pour money into development of its nascent automotive business.
Hong Kong-listed China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group Ltd.’s (Evergrande NEV) net loss came in at nearly 7.7 billion yuan ($1.2 billion), up from 4.9 billion yuan in 2019, according to the company’s 2020 annual report released Thursday.
Evergrande NEV, which had once been China Evergrande Group’s health care subsidiary, reported its annual revenue jumped 174.8%, mainly driven by the company’s health management business, the report showed.
Evergrande NEV’s earnings reflect the parent’s willingness to spend to achieve its automotive ambitions, even as it continues to rely on its legacy health care business. At an earnings briefing Thursday, the unit’s Chairman Shawn Siu said that Evergrande NEV has spent 47.4 billion yuan so far on its new-energy car business, including nearly 25 billion on core technology acquisition and research and development.
To fund these investments, Evergrande NEV has been out raising money. Just in January, it drummed up HK$26 billion ($3.3 billion) through a private sale of Hong Kong-listed shares to six investors including Greenwoods Global Investment and Liu Minghui, chairman of China Gas Holdings Ltd. The company said that it plans to use the new funds for technology development, production of new-energy vehicles and to repay debt, as it aims to become “the world’s largest and most powerful new energy vehicle group.”
China Evergrande Group got into the NEV business in 2018, and the next year started acquiring companies in the global automotive industry through its heath care subsidiary, Evergrande Health Industry Group Ltd., which it renamed in September 2020 as Evergrande NEV.
“Evergrande had nothing to make cars with” China Evergrande Group CEO Xu Jiayin said at a company event in November 2019, before adding “we’ve bought all the technology and companies that we can lay our hands on.”
However, Evergrande NEV has yet to start mass producing its NEVs and continues to rely on its health management division for much of its revenue. Last year, that division pocketed 15.3 billion yuan in revenue, compared with about 187.5 million yuan from its auto business, according to the annual report.
The report showed that the loss was primarily due to a decline in gross profit from its health management business and higher expenses for marketing, interest and R&D from its new-energy vehicle business. In 2020, Evergrande NEV poured almost 1.7 billion yuan into R&D, according to the report, a torrent compared with 2019’s total of 295 million yuan.
Much of its NEV division’s revenue still comes from sales of batteries for electric vehicles. Last year, the revenue generated from the company’s new-energy vehicle business shrank by 71.6% to 187.5 million yuan, mainly due to a drop in battery sales that occurred as it upgraded its product line, according to the report.
However, Evergrande NEV said that it has established R&D bases in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Osaka, Japan, to develop EV batteries. The company aims to begin mass producing its self-developed batteries in the second half of this year, Siu said at the briefing.
In its annual report, the company did not disclose the mass production timeline for its Hengchi line of vehicles, which it unveiled last year. The company only said that it will “endeavor to facilitate the mass production of the nine Hengchi models at full speed.”
Ding Yi and Heather Mowbray contributed to this report.
Contact reporter Timmy Shen (email@example.com) and editor Michael Bellart (firstname.lastname@example.org)
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High Capacity Li-Ion Battery 2600mAh for N58A, N50(A), N55(A), D50, D55 Series Radios Battery has a Android Connector to use with any cell phone car cord with Android connector. Call 847.725.8500 #5g #AndroidembeddedinTwoWayRadio #ATTBusinessSolutions #ATTEnhancedPushToTalk #band14 #DealersWanted #digitalcommunication #DigitalDMRTierIITwoWayRadios #DMRTwoWayDigitalRadios #DMRTierIICompatible #FirstRespondersESChat #firstnet #FirstNetBand14networks #Hytera #improvingemployeepr
We attended the IWCE trade show in Orlando, FL. USA, there we released our new PTT Radio models: the real two way radio outlook touch screen PTT Android radio N58, our smaller handheld PTT network radio N45 and our full keypad DMR digital radio D57.
We were very busy both days, as many customers showed a lot of interested in Talkpod America's new product solutions. We are pleased to introducing our total PoC and DMR solution to the world.
Some famous platforms such as Zello
Nextel Communications said it has no plans to abandon its iDEN platform as a result of the wireless carrier's pending $33.8 billion merger with Sprint, despite reports, rumors and conjecture to the contrary. Since the merger was first announced in late 2004, many industry analysts have speculated that the combined company would dump iDEN — the standard over which Nextel's Direct Connect push-to-talk (P2T) service operates — in favor of Sprint's CDMA network, a move that would


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The S&P 500’s top losses on July 26 were:
Nielsen Holdings, which is a global information, data, and measurement company, was the S&P 500’s top loss on July 26. After declining for two weeks, Nielsen Holdings started this week on a weaker note and declined as the week progressed. Nielsen Holdings opened lower on July 26 and declined to 7.5-year low price levels.
The selling pressure increased after the announcement of the weaker-than-expected second-quarter earnings report. According to management, the EPS in the second quarter was $0.2—a drop of 47% YoY and also less than analysts’ EPS estimate of $0.37. Management lowered its fiscal 2018 EPS guidance 36% to $0.98, which was less than analysts’ forecast of $1.51. The weak guidance is due to increased regulations on data collection services and the impact of the European GDPR data security act on the company’s sales.
On July 26, Nielsen Holdings declined 25.23% to $22.11.
Facebook was among the S&P 500’s top losses on July 26. After gaining in the first three trading days of the week, Facebook opened lower on Thursday and ended the day at 2.5-month low price levels.
The selling pressure in Facebook increased on Thursday amid more concerns about its slowing growth. The active daily users in the US region remained unchanged in the second quarter, while the active daily users in the Europe region declined compared to the first quarter. David Wehner, Facebook’s CFO, expects the revenue growth to decline in the coming quarters, which weighed on Facebook and triggered a sell-off on Thursday.
On Thursday, Facebook declined 18.96% and closed the day at $176.26. Facebook is part of the S&P 500 Information Technology sector, which declined 1.64% on July 26.
Next, we’ll discuss how the US Dollar Index and Treasury yields performed in the early hours on July 27.


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New York, NY – May 27, 2015: MPOWERD, Inc., the maker of Luci inflatable solar lights, announced today that they have delivered over 2,000 lights to victims of the deadly Nepal earthquake.
Following the disaster, MPOWERD, a Certified B Corp, immediately mobilized a large-scale donation of 1,200 lights and began offering special discounted pricing to individuals, groups and charities distributing the lights in Nepal.
"We think when disasters occur there is a shared global responsibility to mobilize resources as quickly as possible,” says John Salzinger, Co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer of MPOWERD. “But then the key is to continue to help once the news cycle moves on. In keeping with our sustainable business model, we’re affordably providing lights to organizations already set up to assist the affected populations.”
Nepal’s 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed over 8,000 people and crippled much of Nepal’s already weak infrastructure, including the electric grid. Millions have been displaced from their homes and left without shelter, food and access to reliable electricity.
Luci lights are a safe and sustainable alternative to harmful kerosene lamps often used in energy challenged countries and communities recovering from disaster. Luci lights are now available in over 80 countries as well as in 700 retailers in the US, where the company leverages high volume retail sales to lower costs and sell affordably into developing markets.
To efficiently deliver and distribute the lights on the ground in Nepal, MPOWERD collaborated with organizations Byond Disaster Relief, Rotary International (Taiwan), Global Peace Foundation, and Sam Johnson Volunteer Student Army.
As a socially conscious, award-winning consumer products company, MPOWERD Inc. develops and manufactures game-changing personal clean energy products for use by people living and playing on and off the grid. MPOWERD is a Certified B Corp committed to transforming people’s lives and protecting the planet by making its products available and accessible the world over. www.mpowerd.com


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Market Foolery, Oct. 29, 2013
The following video is from Tuesday's Market Foolery, in which host Chris Hill and Motley Fool analysts Mike Olsen and David Hanson give their Foolish take on the biggest investing stories of the day.
Appledelivered a beat on earnings as well as on revenue, and iPhone sales are up 26% year over year from fourth-quarter results in 2012, but the stock was flat on the news. Is Apple stock doomed to lag the market indefinitely? In the lead story on today's Market Foolery, the guys discuss why shares didn't pop after this earnings report, and what it means that Apple is starting to look like Microsoftdid a few years ago.
Then, a close look at why BP popped today. Shares of BP hit a 52-week high after Q3 earnings results came in. The company saw profits fall off 34% but is increasing its dividend. The guys discuss why the market is reacting the way it is to BP, what they think of the stock, and how it compares with some of the other big players in the energy space.
And finally, McDonald'sis dropping Heinzketchup, after Bernardo Hees took over as Heinz's CEO; Hees was formerly CEO of Burger King Worldwide. The guys discuss McDonald's relationship with Heinz, and why the move reminds them of a child throwing a tantrum.
The tech war rages on
The tech world has been thrown into chaos as the biggest titans invade one another's turf. At stake is the future of a trillion-dollar revolution: mobile. To find out which of these giants is set to rule the next decade, we've created a free report called "Who Will Win the War Between the 5 Biggest Tech Stocks?" Inside, you'll find out which companies are set to dominate, and we'll give in-the-know investors an edge. To grab a copy of this report, simply click here -- it's free!
The article Market Foolery, Oct. 29, 2013 originally appeared on Fool.com.
Chris Hill has no position in any stocks mentioned. David Hanson owns shares of Apple. Michael Olsen, CFA, owns shares of Microsoft and ExxonMobil. The Motley Fool recommends Apple, Chevron, and McDonald's and owns shares of Apple, McDonald's, and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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CRITICS have stated вЂthey’re no dissimilar to medication dealers’. Who should you avoid whenever you are only a little strapped for money?
вЂњThere’s absolutely nothing smart about an online payday loan.вЂќ
They certainly were designed to protect low-income earners, but brand brand brand new regulations built to clamp straight straight down on payday lenders have really had the effect that is opposite consumer advocates have actually warned.
Payday advances, or payday loans, are not as much as $2000, typically a few hundred bucks, and fee quite high prices of great interest вЂ” sometimes equal to 300 % when determined for a rate that is annualised.
Low-income earners frequently end up switching to payday loan providers which will make ends satisfy, but end up caught in a financial obligation spiral of back-to-back loans with astronomical interest repayments.
Australia’s biggest lender that is payday detailed pawnbroker money Converters, the other day reported a 20.5 percent escalation in its half-year income to $187.7 million, many thanks to вЂњrecord breaking December lending performanceвЂќвЂ” likely as a result of people experiencing the monetary pinch within the lead-up to xmas.
Cash Converters’ personal loans had been up 25.5 percent to $23 million, while its cash advance payday loans were up 7.7 percent to $24.2 million, mostly as a result of a rise in its online and business that is mobile.
Money3, the lender that is second-largest reported an 86.6 % escalation in income to $63.6 million when you look at the 2013/14 monetary 12 months, assisted along by one more 13,671 unsecured вЂ” this is certainly, high-interest вЂ” loans to a complete of 33,724.
The problem with pay day loans
Cash advance repayments will get away from control. Courtesy Pew
The industry today is split between your shopfront that is traditional such as for example Cash Converters, while the brand brand brand new revolution of online loan providers such as for instance Nimble, which may have sprung up to target a somewhat wealthier, tech-savvy demographic.
Customer Action Law Centre leader Gerard Brody said tighter credit rating rules introduced in the last couple of years, including a limit regarding the charges which can be charged and a strengthening of income evaluation tests, have not had the required impact.
вЂњThe reforms introduced in 2013 had been supposedly built to improve customer protections, and now we’re beginning to look at impact, which will be which they obviously haven’t changed techniques,вЂќ he said.
Underneath the strengthened laws, loan providers providing small-amount loans of significantly less than $2000 may charge no more than 20 percent associated with the lent quantity being an establishment cost, plus 4 percent every month when it comes to lifetime of the mortgage.
As an example, borrowing the most of $1200 from online loan provider Nimble more than a 30-day loan duration can cost you $336 in charges and interest.
In the event that you come across more income difficulty and also you can not repay it over time, then you will find a complete additional collection of costs. Simply being a couple of weeks late regarding the loan will certainly see you slugged with a dishonour charge of $35, along with a day-to-day standard charge of $7 although the account stays in arrears.
It would cost you an extra $133 if you were two weeks late on that loan. And so the original $1200 loan becomes a repayment that is total of1669. You have effortlessly paid 39 percent interest for the loan that is six-week.
The money Store ended up being recently struck with an archive $19 million fine. Supply:News Limited
Money Converters is Australia’s biggest lender that is payday. Supply:News Limited
Money3 composed yet another 13,671 loans that are unsecured 2013/14. Supply:News Limited
STEER CLEAR OF THE APPEAL OF FAST CASH
then-Finance Minister Bill Shorten originally proposed 10 percent plus 2 percent, but this is watered down. Mr Brody states the cap that is current nevertheless too substantial into the loan providers.
It was fought byвЂњThe lenders and their place won down,вЂќ he said. вЂњSince the reforms those bigger loan providers such as for example Cash Converters or Money3 have actually expanded, in some instances overpowering a few of the smaller providers that have been possibly struggling to conform to the regulations. The quantity of financing they are doing has increased.вЂќ
The credit reforms show up for independent review in July this current year, and Mr Brody claims the Centre is calling for the further lowering associated with the alleged cap that isвЂ20-4. He included that greater anti-avoidance supply within the legislation would ensure it is more risky for loan providers to try to circumvent laws to charge really interest that is high.
вЂњLenders in this sector have experienced a long reputation for developing their agreements in an exceedingly way that is cleverвЂќ he said. Some of these contractual structures are hard to tackle.вЂњAt the momentвЂќ
The problem are going to be tested into the Federal Court later on this current year when money Converters faces a class-action lawsuit brought by attorney Maurice Blackburn, which alleges clients had been charged as much as 633 percent interest on cash advance payday loans.
The team is looking for $40 million in damages after an appeal to truly have https://personalbadcreditloans.org/payday-loans-co/ the situation struck out ended up being rejected in with the case to resume on July 6 september.
Carmel Franklin, seat of Financial Counselling Australia, stated although some regarding the rogue players had kept the industry considering that the guidelines had been tightened, loan providers still targeted susceptible customers.
вЂњCertainly those larger players nevertheless available in the market, since they truly are able to work inside the laws, they’ve a larger share of the market,вЂќ she said. вЂњIt does mean they have got much more cash to help keep on marketing and people that are encouraging utilize loans whenever that will never be the greatest or only option.вЂќ
Customer Action Law Centre CEO Gerard Brody is calling for tougher financing guidelines. Source:Supplied
Tom Godfrey, spokesman for customer team Selection, stated it absolutely was deeply regarding the industry is apparently growing. вЂњThere’s absolutely absolutely nothing smart in regards to a loan that is paydayвЂќ he said. You need would be to compound your debt you have.вЂњIf you may be having problems handling your bills, the very last thingвЂќ
But should we be therefore critical? Dr Marcus Banks, research other aided by the class of Economics, Finance and advertising at RMIT and writer of numerous reports in the lending that is payday, warns that consumers should steer clear of the вЂњlazy moralismвЂќ of criticising payday lenders.


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As the liquor privatization bill gets set for a hearing in the state Senate later this month, one of the key issues will focus on where alcohol will be sold.
A state Senate panel is slated to hold a hearing on April 30, and other hearings are expected. Last month, the state House of Representatives passed a liquor privatization bill, marking the first time a chamber of the General Assembly has ever done so.
The legislation would allow sales of beer and wine at beer distributors, grocery stores and retail outlets. Target and Wal-Mart say they would sell alcohol if liquor privatization in Pennsylvania occurs; the two retail giants sell alcohol in other states.
A big question centers on convenience stores. Some convenience store chains want to sell beer in the Keystone State. Sheetz has sponsored a website - FreeMyBeer.com - to make its point, and the Altoona-based chain's executive vice president, Louie Sheetz, argues that consumers are being left out of the debate.
Gov. Tom Corbett has made liquor privatization a top priority. Corbett and other Republican supporters say it's long past time to get out of the booze business, and they argue that private vendors would offer bigger selection, better prices and help the state's revenue picture.
Democrats and labor opponents argue that privatization won't help price or selection, and contend it will lead to a spike in underage drinking.
Expect the debate to heat up in May and June. Corbett and other supporters have said they would like to get privatization done before the Legislature recesses for the summer.
With hearings taking place in the coming weeks, we'd like to know: where would you like to buy beer or wine? Where don't you want to buy it? Sound off in our poll, and share your thoughts in the comments section below.


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Financial services group Suncorp has announced the appointment of Leo Burnett Sydney as the new creative agency for over-50s insurance brand APIA.
Leo Burnett replaces DDB Melbourne on the account, with the latter left off Suncorp’s creative agency roster following a review earlier this year.
Suncorp recently implemented a masterbrand strategy which brings together the group’s network of brands, including AAMI, Bingle, GIO and Australian Pensioners Insurance Agency (APIA).
However, the new strategy was found to conflict with DDB’s rival banking client, Westpac.
Suncorp’s executive general manager of brand and marketing, Mim Haysom, said the group was thrilled to have Leo Burnett come on board to support the APIA brand.
“Leo Burnett offers a wealth of experience and capabilities, which has been proven with their support for the Suncorp brand,” she said.
“Their creativity will play a critical role in helping us achieve our brand strategy for APIA, which focuses on meeting the needs of our customers in the over-50s market.
“We were impressed with the strategic thinking Leo Burnett brought to the pitch and their values of collaboration, innovation and partnership, which are a great fit with our own.”
Leo Burnett Australia CEO Melinda Geertz said the agency was also excited to be working with APIA and is looking forward to solving business challenges with creativity.
“The team are absolutely thrilled to be working on APIA,” she said.
“I know we are going to collectively deliver some great work for the brand and the broader Suncorp business.”
Leo Burnett has already begun working with the APIA team.
Twitter has just experienced its fastest growth in revenue since 2014, with the social media platform benefiting from increased interest from advertisers. Revenue was up 74 per cent YoY, according to the company’s Q2 results, reaching $US1.19 billion ($1.6 billion) from $US683.4 million ($925 million) 12 months ago. The strong results came in the same […]
Wild Turkey has announced the launch of its new global creative campaign and platform, ‘Trust Your Spirit’, featuring the brand’s creative director and spokesperson, Matthew McConaughey. The global campaign and platform ‘Trust Your Spirit’ is to encourage people to be bold, unapologetically themselves, and stay true to who they are. The global tagline and ethos […]
Telecommunications company Optus has announced it will launch the world’s first TikTok sign-language activated filter. Featuring Optus ambassador Ian Thorpe, Optus will unveil a branded effect that shows TikTok users how to say key phrases in Auslan sign language, including ‘How are you?’ and ‘It starts with Yes’, through the hashtag challenge #SignYes. Optus will […]
Podsights has revealed new insights into the effectiveness of advertising in podcasts, tracking global and Australian podcast advertising trends. This is the first Australian report to be published since ARN partnered with Podsights to set the standard for best-in-class podcast advertising measurement. The report includes additional analysis and follows a series of Measurement Masterclasses held for […]
NGEN’s 2021 charity cup has raised over $175,000 for UnLtd charity partner Gotcha4Life. Gotcha4Life is a not-for-profit foundation raising awareness and funding to provide educational workshops and innovative programs that build mental fitness in individuals and communities. While Sydney and Brisbane completed the Charity Cup in June, before Covid restrictions hit, the final leg in […]
Australian tech incubator Cicada Innovations and Biennale of Sydney are launching the ‘New & Sustainable Materials Challenge,’ in an effort to create a more sustainable future. The works of chosen material-makers will be showcased to millions of Biennale audiences, exhibition partners, and exhibition makers globally. The Challenge is open to any Australian and UK startups, […]


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FORMER BRAVES DALE MURPHY APPEARING IN SALT LAKE CITY
Jul 08, 2014
: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
1362 E. Timpanogos Hwy
Lehi, Utah 84043
The Mobil Super-branded RV will make its first pit stop at Grease Monkey from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and will be joined by Braves legend Dale Murphy. Fans can win autographed baseballs, pick up free Mobil Super items and meet mascot Super Sam.
Utah Business Social
Utah PR Spring ConferenceMay 7, 2015Join your colleagues from Utah Business along with PRSA & IABC for this important, 1-day event th...
30 Women to WatchMay 21, 2015Utah Business Magazine along with Snell & Wilmer are proud to announce the 16th annual 30 Women T...
CXO of the Year 2015Jun 25, 2015Utah Business Magazine along with Stoel Rives - are proud to present the 2015 CXO of the Year Awa...


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Panaji, May 1 (IANS) Kingfisher and Budweiser beer sold in glass bottles may be off counters in Goa by next week, the state’s only liquor trading body warned Wednesday.
In a statement issued here, the Goa Liquor Traders Association (GLTA), which represents a majority of the liquor traders in Goa, have asked all its members to stop selling the bottled beers because of the chaos caused by the insistence of both companies to retain and return empty bottles, and demand a deposit from the customers who prefer to take the bottle away, instead of consuming it at the point of purchase.
“GLTA members have resolved to stop purchase of Kingfisher beer (bottles) 650 ml and 330 ml pints and also Budweiser pints from all distributors of Goa due to the empty bottle deposit system, which exists nowhere in India,” says the written statement issued by GLTA and signed by four of its top office bearers.
Beer bottles manufactured by the two brands, in the dimensions mentioned, will be taken off the shelves from May 8, the statement further says.
Canned beer, however, will be allowed to be sold, the association, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary Dattaprasad Naik, said.
The association members are expected to meet top officials of UB distilleries to resolve the issue as far as Kingfisher is concerned, an official said.
Goa, one of the top beach tourism destinations in the country, is reputed for selling the cheapest liquor in the country, thanks to a relaxed tax regime as far as alcohol is concerned.
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by authors, news service providers on this page do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Hill Post. Any views or opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual.
Hill Post makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site page.


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Shares of Force Motors zoomed over 6 per cent to touch the day’s high level of Rs 1247.35 per share on the BSE intraday trade on Wednesday. The stock of the auto company surged on the back of more-than-double total sales during March 2022 on a month-on-month basis.
The company reported total sales of 2690 units in the previous month as compared to 1131 units sold in February 2022. Similarly, the company also registered around a 31 per cent surge in the total sales growth from 2058 units in March 2021.
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The company sold 2,392 units in the domestic market and exported 298 units in March 2022, it said in a filing on Wednesday.
Force Motors is one of India’s largest of makers and is known for brands like Tempo, Matador, Minidor, and Traveler. It mainly deals into commercial vehicles and tractors segment.
The stock on Wednesday closed at nearly 1 per cent higher at Rs 1182.7 per share on the BSE.
The counter in the last one month has gained over 21 per cent on the BSE as compared to around 13 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex, while it has surged over 14 per cent in the last five sessions as against over 1 per cent rise in the benchmark index during the same period.
According to brokerages reports, the demand for the overall automobile segment is seen improving with the recent March auto sales numbers across sectors and categories.
Improved freight rates and the government’s infrastructure push are aiding CV (commercial vehicles) demand and it continues to grow on increasing economic activity and high-capacity utilization, Motilal Oswal said in its report.
In CVs, volume was supported by strong freight availability, increased activity in road construction, and a gradual pick-up in demand, Nirmal Bang said in a report, expecting a further sustained uptick in CV volume in the coming quarters as economic activities gather pace and financing issues / cash-flow constraints are ironed out.


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Samsung Galaxy A54 5G and A34 5G Launch on March 16 with Flagship Features and Affordable Price
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G are the latest mid-range smartphones from the South Korean tech giant. Launching on March 16, the phones bring a lot of flagship features to an accessible price point. Both devices have a 6.4” Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. The Galaxy A54 is powered by the 5nm Exynos 1380 chipset and comes with 6GB/8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB of expandable storage. The Galaxy A34 features the 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 1080, 6GB/8GB of RAM, and 128GB/256GB of expandable storage.
Camera-wise, the Galaxy A54 has a 50MP f/1.8 main camera with OIS, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, and a 5MP f/2.4 macro snapper. For selfies, there’s a 32MP f/2.2 front-facing camera. The Galaxy A34, meanwhile, has a 48MP f/1.8 main camera with OIS, an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, and a 5MP f/2.4 macro shooter. For selfies, there’s a 32MP f/2.2 front-facing camera. Both phones ship with Android 13 based One UI 5.1 out of the box and are guaranteed to get four years of Android OS support and five years of security software support.
The Galaxy A54 5G comes in four colors: Awesome Lime, Awesome Graphite, Awesome Violet and Awesome White. The Galaxy A34 5G comes in four hues: Graphite, Lime, Silver, and Violet. Prices start at £349 for the Galaxy A34 and £449 for the Galaxy A54. There’s currently a promotion in which customers who pre-order the Galaxy A54 between March 30 and April 6 will also get a free pair of Galaxy Buds2 worth £139.
0. “Samsung Galaxy A54 gets unboxed early (Video)” Geeky Gadgets, 13 Mar. 2023, https://www.geeky-gadgets.com/samsung-galaxy-a54-and-a34-get-unboxed-early-video/
1. “Galaxy A34 and Galaxy A54 unveiled in an unofficial Unboxing Video” Royals Blue, 15 Mar. 2023, https://www.royalsblue.com/galaxy-a34-and-galaxy-a54-unveiled-in-an-unofficial-unboxing-video
2. “Samsung Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A34 debut with 120Hz SuperAMOLED screens – GSMArena.com news” GSMArena.com, 15 Mar. 2023, https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a54_a34_official_price_availablitity-news-57909.php
3. “Samsung Galaxy A54 5G Review: First Impressions” TrustedReviews, 15 Mar. 2023, https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/samsung-galaxy-a54-5g
4. “Samsung Galaxy A54 is a new mid-ranger with a flagship design” Android Central, 15 Mar. 2023, https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/samsung-galaxy-a54-launch
5. “Samsung's stunning new budget smartphones make the Galaxy S23 look very expensive” Express, 15 Mar. 2023, https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/1746499/Samsung-Galaxy-A34-A54-5G-launch-release


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The Hajjar STEM Center was transformed into a buzzing center of culinary innovation and, later, an auction house and Manhattan club scene during the Sip & Savor special fundraising event, held March 5. The first gathering of its kind to take place on the D-E campus was, by all accounts, a fantastic experience.
Sip & Savor featured Chef Marc Forgione as the guest of honor at a pre-event VIP Champagne Reception. Among his many achievements, Chef Forgione was crowned the winner in 2010 of the Next Iron Chef TV show on The Food Network. During Sip & Savor, Chef Forgione spoke about his fascinating career, including growing up in the kitchens of his father, the famed American cuisine restaurateur Larry Forgione; his experience earning a Michelin star (also in 2010); and the excitement and logistical convenience of opening a new restaurant (American Cut) in Englewood, NJ. He then autographed his recently released cookbook.
Guests were treated to opportunities to bid on silent and live auction items, with Fox News commentator (and D-E parent) Vipp Jaswal gamely taking on the responsibilities of auctioneer. The event ended with guests dancing in the Taub Innovation Center and hanging out on the Massoud Steps, enjoying real-time event photo uploads to the huge plasma screen.
“We were thrilled to confirm that Sip & Savor raised more than $154,000 with 275 guests in attendance,” said Special Events Director Bea Movsesian. “The best selling items from the Live Auction, both of which resulted in quick bidding wars, were reserved seats and parking spaces for both Commencement 2016 and 2017, and tickets to the critically acclaimed Broadway show Hamilton. Our dedicated, creative team of volunteers went far ‘above and beyond’ to organize a night to remember for foodies and oenophiles alike. Best of all, the net proceeds from this event go to professional development funds directly tied to following through on our D-E School mission.”
Movsesian also gave thanks and credit to the volunteers and the chefs and restaurants, catering organizations, and beverage companies that participated in Sip & Savor and helped to ensure the event’s success. Click here to view the YouTube video link featuring the slideshow of sponsors that played during Sip & Savor.
Sip & Savor Participants
Wine & Beer
Aria Wine Bar, NYC
Bradley Alan Imports
Grape D’Vine (Sparkill, NY)


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Apple has started taking online orders for the iPad 2 tablet Friday morning and its stores will begin sales at 5pm EST today.
Those ordering online (the website kicked in at 4am EST) are being promised free shipping and engraving for the "thinner, lighter, faster" iPad 2, which starts at $499 – the same price as the original (Take a first look at the iPad 2 here).
A report Friday morning from Apple Insider] said that early birds who ordered online should get their iPads in two or three days, but that those ordering later in the morning were being informed that their tablets won't arrive for two or three weeks.
Wall Street Apple watcher Gene Munster of Piper Jaffrey has said he thinks Apple will sell more than 1 million iPad 2 units over the next four weeks, though he doesn't expect lines to be as long as they were for the original iPad since Apple has far more distribution outlets this time around. Last year, the iPad was initially available at about 1,200 Apple Stores and Best Buy stores, whereas this year Target, Walmart, AT&T and Verizon are also hawking the tablet at their stores.
VERIZON VS. AT&T: Which offers the best iPad 2 plans?
The iPad is by far not the only game in tablet town anymore, with Google Android-powered devices such as the Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab gaining popularity as well. But Apple's addition of cameras to the iPad 2, along with a much more powerful processor in the dual-core A5 and more functional software in iOS 4.3 shows that the company isn't getting too comfortable with its lead.
Fresh research from market watcher ChangeWave shows that the iPad still dominates tablet purchasing plans, with about 27 per cent of 3,000 people surveyed saying they plan to buy a tablet and more than 4 out of 5 of them indicating an iPad will be their choice.
The iPad 2's availability slips in ahead of RIM's PlayBook tablet release, which is expected in April. The PlayBook is seen as a contender in the business tablet market, where customers have expressed both excitement and frustration with the iPad.
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Read more about data center in Network World's Data Center section.


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Pfizer said Thursday third-quarter earnings fell sharply due to a $2.8 billion charge to end its involvement with the poorly selling inhaled insulin drug Exubera.
But excluding one-time charges, profit beat analysts' forecasts as overall revenue fell just 2 percent, less than Wall Street had expected. Cholesterol fighter Lipitor lost ground and sales of several other important Pfizer drugs plunged due to competition from cheaper generics.
Deutsche Bank analyst Barbara Ryan said Pfizer's abandonment of Exubera was irrelevant from a financial perspective because the drug had such dismal sales.
"They tested the patient (Exubera) and there was no pulse, so it's going from zero to zero," she said.
The world's biggest drugmaker earned $761 million, or 11 cents per share, in the third quarter, compared with $3.36 billion, or 46 cents per share, a year earlier.
Excluding special items, profit was 58 cents per share.
Analysts' average forecast was 52 cents, according to Reuters Estimates.
In addition to the Exubera charge, Pfizer said results were hurt by restructuring expenses tied to cost-reduction initiatives.
Revenue fell to $11.99 billion but was $270 million higher than the average Wall Street forecast. Pfizer said positive foreign exchange factors boosted revenue by $300 million.
"Despite our best efforts, Exubera has failed to gain the acceptance of patients and physicians," Chief Executive Jeff Kindler said in a press release. "We have therefore concluded that further investment in this product is unwarranted."
Exubera, developed in partnership with Nektar Therapeutics, was approved by U.S. regulators in January 2006 and made history as the first form of inhaled insulin. Other companies are trying to develop similar products.
New York-based Pfizer said it would return its worldwide Exubera rights to Nektar and work with doctors over the next three months to switch Exubera patients to other diabetes treatments.
After being launched, many investors assumed Exubera would become a sure-fire blockbuster, on the theory that diabetics would prefer an inhaled form of insulin over traditional injectable forms of the hormone used to control blood sugar.
Instead, Exubera became a dud, with paltry sales. Some analysts speculated the bulky canister device used to administer the powdered drug was a turn-off to patients.
In view of the hefty Exubera charge, Pfizer slashed its 2007 net earnings forecast. But excluding special items, it issued a slightly improved forecast of $2.10 to $2.15 per share, thanks in part to lower expenses.
For 2008, it said it still expects earnings, excluding special items, of $2.31 to $2.45 per share.
Deutsche Bank's Ryan said Pfizer's earnings report was encouraging, given the company's financial forecasts for this year and next.
"They're delivering on their guidance, which can be viewed as a meaningful positive considering all the challenges the company is facing," she said.
Global sales of Pfizer's array of medicines fell 4 percent in the third quarter, hurt by recent patent expirations on its Zoloft anti-depressant and Norvasc medicine for high blood pressure. The end of patent protection opened the door to competition from cheaper generics.
Zoloft sales plunged 73 percent to $124 million, while sales of Norvasc fell 47 percent to $640 million.
Lipitor sales fell 5 percent to $3.17 billion, hurt by competition from a generic form of the Merck cholesterol drug Zocor.
Pfizer said it now expects full-year sales of Lipitor to fall 3 percent to 5 percent, a more cautious view than its prior forecast that sales could be flat to 5 percent lower.
Bright spots in the third quarter included Pfizer's Lyrica treatment for neuropathic pain, whose sales surged 37 percent to $465 million, and schizophrenia drug Geodon, which rose 13 percent to $228 million.
Arthritis drug Celebrex continued to rebound following sales declines related to safety concerns. Third-quarter sales rose 8 percent to $577 million.
Revenue from impotence treatment Viagra rose 6 percent to $450 million, while revenue from relatively new cancer drug Sutent more than doubled to $151 million.


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The Independent Television Commission has slammed the ad as "shocking" and banned the commercial from U.K. television.
The ad begins with a newborn child flying through a window before aging decades in seconds--then crashing and screaming into a grave as an elderly man. It was designed to illustrate the phrase: "Life is short. Play more."
The ITC, which has the power to ban ads that it considers unsuitable to be shown onscreen, said it received 136 complaints about the Xbox ad.
The Guardian Unlimited Web site reports that the ITC has also expressed its displeasure to the Broadcast Advertising Clearance Center, which had approved the Xbox ad.
In its ruling, published this week, the ITC said that "the man's screams throughout his life's journey suggested a traumatic experience, which, together with the reminder that life is short, made the final scene more shocking."
Microsoft issued a statement in response to the ITC's ruling, apologizing to anyone who was offended or upset by the ad.
The company is expected to continue showing the ad in cinemas, however, which are not regulated by the ITC.
The ad can be viewed on the Playmore.com Web site, which includes a warning about its "potentially shocking and disturbing nature."
ZDNet UK's Graeme Wearden reported from London.