text:
#AceFinanceReport – American markets have been rallying to record highs following the announcement of a preliminary agreement with Beijing to resolve a year-long trade row that saw tariffs on billions of dollars worth of goods imposed by both sides.
Photo Courtesy: RT Business https://t.me/Business_and_finance_News/1733
Business and Finance News, [Dec 13, 2019 at 22:13]
“ NASDAQ closed 0.2 percent ahead on Friday, building on the previous day’s gains of 0.73 percent, while the S&P 500 performed similarly, retaining Thursday’s 0.86 percent jump and gaining slightly again – both remaining at all-time closing highs of 8,734 and 3,168, respectively. The DOW, meanwhile, saw less growth than Thursday’s 220-point leap, but nonetheless closed over 3 points ahead “
The “phase one” trade deal with Beijing, announced on Friday, will halt a scheduled US tariff hike that was set to take effect later this week, and will see Washington scale back existing levies on certain goods in phases: In return, China agreed to increase its purchases of US agricultural products up to $50 billion.
#AceFinanceDesk reports …………Published: Dec.14: 2019:
Editor says #AceNewsDesk reports are provided by Sterling Publishing & Media News here: https://t.me/SterlingPublishingPanel and all our posts, links can be found at here Live Feeds https://acenewsroom.wordpress.com/ and thanks for following as always appreciate every like, reblog or retweet and free help and guidance tips on your PC software or need help & guidance from our experts AcePCHelp.WordPress.Com or you can follow our breaking news posts as a member on Telegram https://t.me/acebreakingnews


text:
August 3, 2022 908 PM
MARFA — The Marfa Recycling Center has suspended its acceptance of plastics, a temporary measure brought on by shifts in the global economy of recycling, according to the city’s recycling supervisor.
“Nobody is moving plastics right now,” said Richard Villareal.
Surrounding recycling centers that would normally take Marfa’s materials are not currently accepting plastics, explained Villareal — previously, Friedman Recycling in El Paso took Marfa’s plastics, he said, but when he called them recently about taking the accumulated materials off his hands, he learned the center there had changed hands. When he called the company that accepts Marfa’s cardboard and paper products, he was told it wasn’t interested in plastics.
Villareal made calls to other recycling companies, but had no luck — ”It’s all the same story,” he said. “It’s not one place, it’s all over.’
Now, the Marfa recycling center has about 14 bales of plastics it needs to offload — a relatively small amount, said Villareal, considering those have piled up over the last nine months. He estimated about 75% of the products that wind up at the center are cardboard, with plastics comprising a fairly small percentage of the output.
Put simply, plastics are not currently profitable, and if they can’t be sold for a profit, recycling companies aren’t interested in taking them — then there’s the matter of arranging transportation from a remote location like Marfa.
But Villareal and the City of Marfa are currently in talks with Butts Recycling in San Angelo, the company that handled Marfa’s recycling pre-pandemic, in hopes of striking a deal. The company will need to come back to the city with a price for the pickup, ostensibly by Monday.
The values of plastic and other materials fluctuate, explained the general manager of Butts Recycling, and right now the plastics market is down — as of right now, the company is still accepting plastics, but they are hoping the market sees a rebound soon.
“It’s a commodity,” said General Manager Shawn Stine. “A lot of time it follows the petroleum market — if petroleum is going down, that goes down. It’s just a commodity, so it bounces around more than anything else.
“It’s tough,” he continued. “It’s getting low, and hopefully it’ll bounce back, but sometimes when it gets low, it’ll be hard to move it. It takes money to process it.”
Villareal noted the recycling industry was thrown into upheaval several years ago when China, once the largest buyer of plastics from the U.S., stopped accepting most plastics. Recyclers in the U.S. then had to find buyers; a lot of plastics ended up in landfills.
Stine confirmed that Butts Recycling is currently in talks with Marfa to see if the company can help the city out.
In the meantime, Villareal made the decision to stop taking any more plastics to avoid a pile-up. “I did not feel it would be feasible to stockpile plastic when I have no idea when anyone would ever pick it up in the future,” he said.

domain: news


text:
Soaking up the rays as Bloom blossoms in the sunshine
Bloom continued to blossom in the sunshine yesterday as thousands of visitors from across the country descended on Dublin's Phoenix Park for the penultimate day of Ireland's biggest gardening festival.
As temperatures topped 20 degrees in the capital, sunseekers of all ages were making the most of the long weekend at the outdoor extravaganza, which concludes today.
Among the lush show gardens, meanwhile, Barry Kavanagh was soaking up praise, as well as the rays, after scooping the Designer's Choice Award for his old-school creation, 'Across Boundaries'.
Speaking about the therapeutic patch, inspired by the social farming movement, the landscape designer said: "I wanted to showcase social farming in Ireland.
"That's where people in a dark place, like depression or that, come out of conventional therapy into a working family farm. So I created a little garden that feels calm, relaxed, a place you want to be.
"Getting an award was the last thing I expected. I'm absolutely blown away."
Now in its tenth year, a record 92,000 people have already joined in Bloom's birthday celebrations since Thursday.
Among them was the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Ireland Yue Xiaoyong who, on his first official outing yesterday, paid a visit to 'Yi (Friendship) Garden' by Meng Pan.
Gardening gloves, gazebos and grills were just some of the items being snapped up by green-fingered festival-goers in a bid to make their own back garden a bit more zen this summer. More than 200 retailers and 50 of the country's top nurseries are featured at the Bord Bía event, which continues from 9am to 6pm today.
But there was also live music by Newry rockers The Four of Us, a cookery demonstration by celebrity chef Catherine Fulvio and a fashion show by Debenhams for those who prefer to sew than mow.
Elsewhere in the Food Village, Cork company Glenilen Farm had sent to Drimoleague for an emergency supply of its new frozen yoghurt to ensure there were no disappointed punters with the forecast for more sunshine - albeit with some showers - today.
Eoin Keogh, national account manager for Glenilen Farm, said: "Lemonade sales are flying because of the weather and we had to get more of our frozen yoghurt up tonight. This and the National Ploughing Championships are the two highlights [of the year] for us."
As the sun beat down in the President's back garden, even the sheep were shedding a layer during a shearing demonstration in the Bloom Farmyard.
At a Marie Keating Foundation mobile information unit, community information nurse Ursula Clancy reminded Bloomers not to forget the sun cream on day five of the festival.
She said: "We've had a lot of people calling over - the good weather has inspired them.
"It's more difficult to get people to have an interest in skin cancer awareness when the weather isn't so sunny."
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the capital, thousands of music fans were soaking up the rays and the tunes at the Forbidden Fruit festival in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, among them Conor McGregor and Bono.
The UFC fighter was surrounded by fans as he made his way through the crowds.


text:
Lohvinau House of Literature in Belarus will be one of the few shops one can buy Nobel Prize-winner Svetlana Alexievich’s books in her native country. Her books are hard to find because Alexievich has been critical of the authoritarian government. Books aren’t outright censored in Belarus, but Lovhinau faces fines for distributing books that haven’t been licensed by the state....more
Posts Tagged: Brazenhead Books
A new wall mural has been installed in Los Angeles’s The Last Bookstore to coincide with a new rare books section.
Bookstores in train stations and airports are seeing sales rise as they begin acting more like traditional independent bookstores and less like chains, offering personalized recommendations from booksellers and stocking lesser known literary fiction....more


text:
Independent meeting planning company Bishop-McCann has acquired ASE Group, the meeting and events division of ASE Group Inc., which is focused on conferences in the franchise industry. Both companies are headquartered in the Kansas City, Mo., area.
“ASE will enhance our innovation, and they are known for their creative branding strategy,” says Rob Adams, Bishop-McCann president and CEO. “The combined entities will bring operational efficiencies that will ultimately benefit our clients and the industry.”
ASE Group CEO Bonnie Siegel, who founded the company in 1988, plans to retire.
Bishop-McCann is a CMI 25 company, putting it among the 25 largest independent meeting and incentive companies serving the corporate meetings market in the U.S. As of June 2019, the company reported 81 employees. In 2018, it produced 430 corporate meetings and incentive programs.
This may be the first deal among independent planning companies in 2020, but it follows a busy year of acquisitions in 2019. The sales included BCD M&E buying L37 Creative, Augeo buying MotivAction, and InComm buying Meridian Loyalty.


text:
Starting Monday, May 1, Lexus Division will require sales of its certified used cars and trucks to include vehicle history reports from Carfax Inc.
Executives of the luxury brand say the policy will help its dealers comply with a new California law called the Car Buyer's Bill of Rights. Other states are considering similar measures.
The California law takes effect July 1. Among other things, it seeks to protect consumers from false claims about used-vehicle certification. It outlines items that the law's sponsors say dealers should know about the history of vehicles they sell and advertise as certified.
Marv Ingram, national certified pre-owned/fleet manager for Lexus, says the law's language is ambiguous. It could cause some dealers to violate the law unknowingly, he warns.
"We wanted to take that liability off our dealers," Ingram told Automotive News. "It's in California (now), but it's going to go across the country pretty soon."
Ingram says that 87 percent of Lexus dealerships that take part in the company's certified-used program already provide Carfax reports to buyers. "It's no major change," he says. "It's added peace of mind."
Several other automakers also require vehicle history reports from Carfax as part of their certified programs. They include Toyota, General Motors, the Chrysler group, Mercedes-Benz USA LLC, American Honda Motor Co. and Volkswagen of America.
The new California law makes it illegal for a licensed dealer to advertise or sell a vehicle as certified if the dealer "knows or should have known" that:
- The vehicle had frame damage.
- Its odometer shows fewer miles than driven, because of odometer tampering or replacement.
- A manufacturer or dealer had to buy back the vehicle under a lemon law or similar legislation.
All sell certified used
Ingram says all 217 U.S. Lexus dealerships sell certified used vehicles. Those stores now determine whether a vehicle is suitable for certification by examining its history of service at Lexus dealerships.
Certified Lexus vehicles are no more than seven model years old, have no more than 60,000 miles, and have had no major damage.
The used vehicles are inspected, reconditioned and covered by a factory warranty.
Last month, Lexus sold 3,741 certified used vehicles. That is down 6.5 percent from March 2005, but up 23.6 percent from February 2006.
Overall, the industry sold 150,461 certified used vehicles in March. That was a 1.5 percent increase from March 2005.
From January through March, the industry sold 399,646 certified used vehicles - virtually unchanged from the year-ago period.
You may e-mail Arlena Sawyers at [email protected]


text:
August 10, 2015 |
NEW DELHI: Government is considering a proposal to allow sugar mills to export to China under the preferential quota system as part of a strategy to help them liquidate surplus stocks. India exports 10,000 tonnes of white sugar to the EU and 8,100 tonnes to the US through the preferential quota system, under which exports are permitted at low tariffs. After the quota is reached, a higher tariff is applied on additional exports. Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan ...
September 4, 2006 |
NEW DELHI: CII wants the cap on the application amount for retail investors in IPOs to be raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. This will provide greater leeway for retail participation, according to CII capital market panel chairman Nimesh Kampani. He said it was necessary to have retail quotas in IPOs to avoid unequal distribution of wealth. CII has proposed a restructured quota system for IPOs with 35% for individual applications worth Rs 10 lakh and less, 10% for applications...
April 14, 2006 |
Indian industry just keeps on harping on Affirmative Action as the best possible antidote to the quota system that the government proposes in the institutions of higher learning and private sector jobs. It is time they demonstrated their version of affirmative action, may be as a pilot project in some states. The lessons learnt from such projects can be used as inputs in formulating a more inclusive and approach for tackling the inequality prevalent in the society.
April 5, 2012 |
NEW DELHI: Putting speculation of modifications in sugar exports rules to rest, food minister K V Thomas said that the sugar exports will continue as per the prevailing quota system. "There will be no change in the rules for sugar shipment . The present system will be applicable for exporting the export the third tranche of 1 million tonne as well," he said. The empowered group of ministers on food, in its recently held meeting, had asked the food ministry to lax norms and...
April 16, 2012 |
NEW DELHI: Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar's outburst against the slow pace of sugar exports in a recent letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has taken the food ministry by surprise. Though none of the officials came out in open, they countered the allegations hurled at the food ministry in the letter. In the letter, Pawar appeared to be critical about the existing quota system of allocating export quantity among mills, which the...


text:
Stocks close mixed after Trump reportedly OK’s additional tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports
|09/14/2018||Posted by BusinessMediaguide.Com under General World News||
Stocks closed mixed Friday, surrendering earlier gains after Bloomberg reported President Donald Trump instructed his administration to follow through with tariffs on roughly $200 billion worth of Chinese imports — despite a fresh round of trade negotiations between the world’s largest economies having been proposed days earlier.
Here’s the scoreboard:
Dow Jones industrial average: 26,154.40 +8.41 (+0.03%)
S&P 500: 2,905.19 +1.01 (+0.04%)
Nasdaq Composite: 8,010.04−3.67 (-0.05%)


text:
Deliveroo France and circular-packaging company barePack have started offering customers of the delivery service the option to get their food delivered in reusable containers, according to a report from Green Queen. Around 60 of Deliveroo’s restaurant partners are already participants in the program, which is live in Paris with plans to expand to other areas of France in the future. The program is also available to customers in the London area.
Deliveroo and Singapore-based barePack first partnered in 2020 to bring the reusable container option to customers in that city-state.
The Paris deal is similar. Deliveroo customers wanting their meals in reusable containers must first download the barePack app and sign up for a monthly or yearly subscription, which go for about $2.43 and $23 USD, respectively. The barePack app will provide a passcode users can enter into their Deliveroo account that then allows them to select the barePack option from participating restaurants at no additional charge.
Customers can return containers to any restaurant participating in the Deliveroo-barePack Paris program. All containers are professionally washed and returned to the circular system.
Deliveroo is the first major delivery service to offer a program for reusable containers. While 60 restaurants in a single city is only the smallest of dents, it’s nonetheless a dent in the world’s restaurant trash problem. If the Paris program is successful, it could bode well for reusables throughout the rest of Europe, where serves multiple countries, including the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and its home country, the U.K. The company also operates in Australia, Hong Kong, Kuwait, and the UAE.
No delivery service in the U.S. has yet to implement a widespread reusables program, though the hope is that a company as large as Deliveroo could wield a certain amount of influence over others. DeliverZero is a smaller operation that offers reusable packaging in parts of the U.S., and Dishcraft offers its own “containers as a service” program for restaurants. Some chains, including McDonald’s and Burger King, are working with TerraCycle’s circular packaging business Loop in the U.S. and elsewhere.


text:
- Taboola Blog
FreedomPop campaigns performed more effectively than projected against CPA goals, especially in regards to international acquisition efforts with Taboola.
March Madness readership Gif. Breaking it down by day, we looked at the popularity of each team by readership—the number of people who read about each team.
The Taboola creative strategy team has taken a look at landing page best practices for a Taboola user. The big news—gamification is king.
We partnered with The Trade Desk. Marketers can scale their native placements—reaching one billion users in 50 markets monthly across top publisher sites.
Our creative strategy team tested creatives over time to determine campaign best practices—best titles, image best practices, and much more.
We’re excited to announce the expansion of our offering from article, video, gallery and product recommendation to app downloads for mobile marketers.
Bombfell, a styling service for men, worked with Taboola to achieve a 960% increase in mobile leads – here’s how they did it.


text:
Chipmaker Cirrus Logic Inc. has acquired Arizona-based Acoustic Technologies Inc.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Acoustic Technologies, founded in 1998, develops embedded firmware voice processing technology, including noise reduction, echo cancellation and voice enhancement. The company employs 30 workers who have been hired by Cirrus Logic, officials said Tuesday.
Austin-based Cirrus Logic (Nasdaq: CRUS), founded in 1984, develops integrated circuits for products such as smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices. It employs about 652 workers.
In July, the company posted a first-quarter profit of $20.6 million on revenue of $155.1 million compared with a profit of $6.9 million on revenue of $99 million during the same period last year.
An April lawsuit accused company executives and board members of dumping millions of dollars worth of stock last year before it was disclosed that the company had increased its dependence on Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) as a customer. The lawsuit indicates that 91 percent of Cirrus Logic’s sales were based on Apple products during the third quarter of fiscal 2013.


text:
Earlier this week a petition popped up to keep Whole Foods from achieving special dispensation to annex part of the Coignet building site; last week the Gowanus Institute launched its campaign against Whole Foods; Also, last week the BSA delayed a vote for another month on a variance for allowing food at the Whole Foods site.
But that was then and this is now…
The Gowanus Alliance is a group that represents a (large) variety of businesses within Gowanus and have personally helped community by getting trees at Ennis Park. Yesterday, we discovered (or saw in a tag on FB), that the group is promoting a petition in favor of the Whole Foods. The petition explains that Whole Foods has:
….proven they are socially, environmentally and economically responsible company.”
It also states:
Products sold at WHOLE FOODS are products that are responsible for thousands of jobs at hundreds of companies run by fine people. Many of these companies are local businesses.”
You can review the petition here
Some may agree with what this petition is saying, while others may disagree. It seems that the building of the Whole Foods store connotes a very strong opinions for and against. As stated before… some in the Gowanus area (and throughout Brooklyn) believe the Whole Foods store will finally make Gowanus into a strong and healthy neighborhood, while others believe Whole Foods will mark the death of a community. This war between the two opinions looks to be just starting. One can expect more evidence from both sides to come out in the next few weeks. …the battle continues…
*although GYFO attempts to be a neutral site with snarky comments here and there, this particular issue lacks the full neutrality that it deserves. Whole Foods is a place that we personally shopped for a good portion of our lives, but Whole Foods also represents a type of store that has inadvertently or purposely pushed out the smaller stores under the flag of “American competitive business”. If you drive from Upstate New York all the way to Brooklyn you’ll run into ghost towns that have boarded businesses closed by lack of foot traffic… that is, all closed except giant big box stores that now house all the products that once were sold and even produced in the area. We felt it was necessary to point out that we have an opinion that could possible seep into the reporting of the Whole Foods issue.


text:
|In first for Europe, Malta to legalize recreational marijuana, with several other countries on the cusp
The EU’s smallest nation aims this week to become its first to legalize cannabis to grow and consume, edging out Luxembourg and Germany.
|Investing in Cannabis: 3 Top Trends for 2022
Despite near-term federal regulatory reforms being in question, three trends seem poised to perform critical roles for investing next year.
|Legal weed: More than 400 New York localities opt out of cannabis sales. Here's where
Dec. 31 is the deadline for cities, villages, and towns to opt out of allowing local retail cannabis licenses for dispensaries or lounges.
|Mayor signs bill repealing St. Louis ban on possessing small amounts of marijuana
The mayor of Missouri’s largest city and cultural center signed a law allowing cannabis possession and cultivation of up to six plants.
|South Dakota Voters Disapprove of Governor’s Cannabis Approach
South Dakotans who voted to in 2020 to legalize cannabis for medical and adult uses seemingly do not appreciate the governor’s obstruction.


text:
American golf legend and style guru Fred Couples showcased ECCO shoes’ new hybrid line at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
The coolest man in golf made ECCO’s hall-of-fame bound Street shoe famous after his performance in the 2010 Masters tournament. Now he’s set to illuminate the Danish shoemaker’s new innovation, BIOM Hybrid.
Couples has favoured ECCO’s spikeless shoes for years now. It looks as if the new BIOM Hybrid model is set to become his new favourite.
Showcasing a completely anatomical last developed by scanning more than 2,500 feet, BIOM Hybrid combines ECCO Natural Motion technology with the company’s patented, award-winningGolf Streetoutsole. The result pairs the human body’s evolutionary system for absorbing impact with a non-cleated shoe bottom that provides superior durability, comfort, traction and stability on or off the golf course.
“ECCO has revolutionised golf footwear by pioneering new trends and technologies like the hybrid and Natural Motion categories,” says Michael Waack, Head of Global Golf at ECCO. “With the market still chasingGolf Street, BIOM Hybrid is an innovation that takes the next step forward
Ecco Golf Shoes


text:
11 November 2016
Seminal RPG joins Monopoly, Scrabble, Game of Life, chess and draughts in The Strong museum’s collection
Arguably the world’s most iconic tabletop game, Dungeons & Dragons, has earned a place in the National Toy Hall of Fame.
The RPG, which first appeared in 1974, was nominated alongside board game Cluedo and card game Uno for this year’s additions to the collection in The Strong museum in Rochester, New York.
Non-game contenders included Transformers, pinball, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Nerf, Care Bears, colouring book and bubble wrap. Fisher-Price Little People and the swing joined D&D as 2016’s inductees.
The three new additions join dozens of toys and games in the 18-year-old Hall of Fame, including Monopoly, Scrabble, The Game of Life, Twister, chess and draughts, as well as the Game Boy, Lego, Atari 2600 and playing cards.
There’s not enough words here to full explore the importance of D&D to not just tabletop gaming, but both niche and mainstream culture as a whole. Since the game was first published four decades ago, millions of players have used it to expand their imaginations, develop important skills and – most importantly – have fun.
We’ll leave you with two of the statements included in Wizards of the Coast’s announcement of the induction, which do a lovely job of summarising why D&D deserves its place.
"D&D has become a rite of passage for children of a creative temperament,” said lead designer Mike Mearls. “It's incredible to think that what started as the marriage of tabletop wargames and pulp fantasy novels has become the iconic storytelling pastime for multiple generations.”
Wizards associate brand manager Shelly Mazzanoble added: "Dungeons & Dragons is not just a game – its legacy has been a part of our culture for generations. But perhaps its most important influence is with the positive impact it has made on children and adults in the form of enhanced social, math, analytical, reading, writing, and creative skills and friendships that have lasted for decades. It is an honor to be part of a team that continues to fuel an inextinguishable spark of imagination for years to come."


text:
A cargo ship docks at the international container terminal in Zhoushan Port, East China’s Zhejiang Province. (Photo: cnsphoto)
BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) -- China's international trade surplus in goods and services stood at 243.9 billion yuan (about 34.4 billion U.S. dollars) in June, official data showed.
Trade income amounted to 1.57 trillion yuan while expenditure stood at 1.33 trillion yuan, according to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.
Breaking it up, China's goods trade income stood at 1.44 trillion yuan with an expenditure of 1.12 trillion yuan, leading to a 317.8-billion-yuan surplus, data showed.
Meanwhile, services trade saw a 73.9-billion-yuan deficit, as services income and expenditure stood at 131 billion yuan and 204.9 billion yuan, respectively.


text:
Financial institution clients grow alongside processing partner TMG
DES MOINES, IA (February 1, 2016) — The card-issuing partners of payments processor TMG (The Members Group) grew their credit and debit portfolios by 15 percent on average in 2015. In addition, overall spend on all credit and debit cards processed by TMG was up 32 percent year-over-year. TMG’s leadership attributes its clients’ success to the processor’s own growth and evolution, as well as its focus on collaboration with forward-thinking credit unions and community banks.
“The financial institutions that have selected TMG as a processing partner are progressive, innovative and tenacious in their pursuit of growth,” said Shazia Manus, CEO of TMG. “Their ideas and expertise work in concert with that of TMG’s to produce outstanding experiences for the consumers they serve, and that translates to growth.”
Manus says TMG’s business goals, product offerings and data-driven consultation are designed to help financial institutions navigate a rapidly changing financial ecosystem. This is critical in a time when technology and innovation are reshaping the experience consumers expect from their credit unions and banks. Ninety-eight percent of TMG’s credit clients have successfully converted their mag-stripe cards to EMV chip cards; 40 percent have either completed the same or are in process to completion on the debit side. As for digital wallets, 75 percent of TMG’s clients have enrolled in at least Apple Pay, if not also Android Pay and Samsung Pay.
Client success has translated into success for TMG, which now serves seven of the 13 largest U.S. credit unions. In 2016, TMG will more than double conversions (new and/or current partners moving card programs from another processor) as compared to 2015. In 2015 alone, the company improved revenue by more than 20 percent, positioning the processor for investment in future technology. In addition, TMG saved its issuing partners more than $40 million in potential fraud losses, a 31-percent increase over 2014 fraud savings.
TMG’s staff, which grew by nearly 30 percent in 2015, makes up what Manus describes as a strong organizational foundation for the future. Employees of TMG and its sister companies are happy, as evidenced by parent organization Affiliates Management Company’s second consecutive year on the Top Workplaces list. It’s a distinction given by The Des Moines Register based on employee surveys.
“The most important part of TMG’s growth story is we accomplished all this while staying true to our core values and fulfilling our brand promise of making life easier,” emphasized Manus, who cited a 99-percent contract renewal rate, which the company has enjoyed for 10 consecutive years.
Both clients and cardholders continue to report excellent experiences as a result of working with TMG staff.
According to TMG’s 2015 client satisfaction survey, 80 percent or more of responding clients are satisfied to very satisfied with each of the following:
- Responsiveness to trends and consumer demand
- Innovation and technology to help financial institutions stay competitive
- Commitment to developing products for future needs
“The payments industry experts who work at TMG are excellent at spotting the trends and anticipating the challenges facing our clients,” said Manus. “Our product team brings customized solutions to our clients often before they even know they need them. Our clients are not only receptive; they are eager to try new things, volunteering for pilot programs, participating in our client advisory groups and challenging our teams to help overcome the most pressing competitive threats. That’s how our partnerships continue to produce measurable, meaningful results for our clients.”
Cardholders, too, report high satisfaction with a variety of omnichannel interactions with TMG’s consumer services division. Ninety-three percent of surveyed cardholders were satisfied to very satisfied with the clear and knowledgeable answers they received from live agents. Ninety-one percent of cardholders were satisfied to very satisfied with the ease of navigation inside TMG’s IVR system, a 10-percent improvement from 2014. Ninety-six percent of cardholders were satisfied to very satisfied with TMG’s ability to quickly contact them on behalf of their credit union or bank after a potentially fraudulent transaction occurred, and 97 percent were satisfied to very satisfied with the fraud detection service.
“TMG is an extension of our own team, working to advance our portfolio objectives with innovative tactics and holistic management,” said Mike Terzian, SVP and chief marketing officer for Partners Federal Credit Union, who notes the cast and employees of The Walt Disney Companies who Partners serves are accustomed to high-quality interactions and exceptional experiences. “Through our partnership, we have increased our capabilities and extended payment services far beyond the traditional plastic. As a result, our payment strategy is thriving with both checking accounts and credit cards experiencing significant growth.”
“Since partnering with TMG in 1997, our credit card product has evolved from just another service to a robust offering with serious impact on our bottom line and our member experience,” said Dave Cale, president and CEO of Financial Plus Credit Union. “With each passing year, the TMG team presents new ideas for stepping up our payments game. Recently, we’ve engaged in the company’s Portfolio Management Solution Services to recharge our credit card program. We’re in the process of implementing quite a few of TMG’s recommendations and look forward to rolling them out to our members yet this year.”
TMG is dedicated to creating customized, technology-driven card processing and payment solutions for credit unions and community-based financial institutions across North America. Innovations in fraud management, loyalty programs, alternative payment systems and analytic reporting, and the competitive advantages they create, have helped TMG forge a new standard in offering cutting-edge credit, debit, ATM, prepaid card products and a P2P payment solution. For more information, visit www.tmg.global.


text:
Mar 9 2017 | India Opportunities
Oppo smart phone unit coming up in Greater Noida
Chinese smartphone maker Oppo is setting up manufacturing unit in Greater Noida spread over 110 acre. The company has invested Rs 145 crore for the project. The commercial production is likely to start by December, 2017.


text:
Till now, the rumor mill has produced news that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 6 will feature 6GB of RAM, a 5.8-inch touchscreen (mostly probably keeping the QHD resolution), a 12 MP primary snapper, and 64 or 128GB of storage space (might go up to 256GB).
Recently another update came into the limelight. As per a new report, the Note 6 will have IP68 certification. This essentially means that the Note 6 will be dustproof and the water resistance will be at par with the Galaxy S7 - capacity to withstand submerging in water with 1.5m depth for close to 30 minutes.
The phone will supposedly boast an iris scanner, as per a new news released earlier today from an interesting import of this smartphone into India. Contrary to what has been with the earlier versions of this smartphone series, this new Note 5 will be available in the European market. The handset could be released as early as June, as per the opinion of certain analysts. That being said, Samsung could also follow the general schedule for Note launches and unveil it in late August or early September of this year. Right now it is indeed quite tough to predict the Korean giant's course of action.


text:
We were one of the proud sponsors of Lancashire’s Red Rose Awards, celebrating the cream of the county’s business community, which was held on Thursday 13 March. It is the third year running we have sponsored the event and been involved in the judging process.
The 2014 awards ceremony was a record-breaking celebration. With more than 1,160 guests in attendance, the awards evening at Blackpool’s stunning Winter Gardens saw the largest dinner gathering in a single room ever held in Lancashire.
Visitors were welcomed with a drinks reception, sponsored by Bizspace, and our Sales and Marketing Director, Emma Long, was on hand to present the E-Commerce Award to winners, Rossendale-based One Iota.
Earlier in the year, Emma also had the task of co-judging three of the categories, by reading through entrants’ written applications and quizzing them after face-to-face presentations.
Almost 140 Lancashire businesses were finalists at the event, with 26 being named as winners in their categories.
We were delighted to see our business relocations partners, Andrew Porter Limited, receive an award on the night, scooping the title of Growing Business of the Year. And it was great that our co-working partners, Neardesk, were able to come along to the event and celebrate with us on the evening, as well as our PR company, Wyldfire PR and Marketing.
Richard Slater, publisher of Lancashire Business View and producer of the Red Rose Awards said: “It was a remarkable night of celebration for Lancashire business.
There’s a renewed vigour and confidence in the county’s business community and this was demonstrated by the demand to be a part of the event; we’re told this is the biggest dinner gathering ever seen in one room in the county
“There is no question, Lancashire was the winner.”
Emma added: “It was a real privilege to be a judge and to find out about more about the strong and supportive business community there is in Lancashire.
“We have a large number of customers throughout the county and we love to be able to celebrate good news, business growth, innovation and success.”
We are currently trialling a special service for businesses in the Lancashire area that are looking to grow during 2014. Teaming up with our long-standing customer NXO, which has been based at our Preston Technology Centre for 18 years, we are offering new customers moving into the centre preferential rent as well as 12 months of mentoring and guidance. Marketing specialist NXO will deliver one-to-one seminars and group workshops helping businesses to set goals for business growth and work towards achieving them.
We have several large business centres located throughout Lancashire offering business space for rent, including:


text:
It’s game time! As the Portland Trail Blazers enter the NBA playoffs as a No. 4 seed, capping off what has been an exhilarating 2015 season, many wonder just how far they will go. But for Better Business Bureau, who is a proud sponsor of the Blazers, it can’t get much better than this.
BBB and the Blazers entered into a partnership last year sharing a common interest in educating, community support and consumer protection. And with the help of BBB’s Accredited Businesses, the Blazer/BBB partnership has come to fruition.
So, was it worth it?
You better believe it.
I was in awe last month when I watched 18-year-old Spencer Mitton of Anchorage, Alaska, accept a $10,000 scholarship check from BBB CEO Tyler Andrew in front of 20,000 cheering fans during the Portland Trail Blazers halftime show. It was a huge moment for this young man, BBB and the Blazers because it reinforced the commitment that both organizations made to improve the lives of young consumers.
Like the Blazers, BBB strives to stay relevant—which has been increasingly difficult in today’s digital world. A partnership with the Blazers put BBB back into the mix.
During the 2014-15 season, the Blazers partnership connected BBB with 950,000 fans across the Northwest. With the support of our Accredited Business partners, BBB’s brand and mission was showcased in front of fans during every home game, in the community, at an exclusive watch party, during the first-ever Blazers/BBB Business Summit at the Moda Center and now in the playoffs.
This is a partnership that works—for everyone.
“We have already had the pleasure of working successfully with BBB,” said Steve Scott, Trail Blazers Vice President of Corporate Partnerships Marketing & Sales. “Based on our experience with BBB during Secure Your ID Day, we know this partnership will provide security to many deserving members of our community.”
Now with the NBA playoffs in motion, BBB and our participating Accredited Businesses have an even bigger opportunity to leave our mark. As thousands of fans pile into the Moda Center, they’ll see BBB’s seal on the LED board, hear about our mission over the radio and read about us in the Rip City Magazine. This connection drives trust and connects consumers with an added resource to help improve their lives.
Just ask Spencer Mitton, who created this 90-second video about BBB:
His video entry on how BBB protects people from identity theft earned him a scholarship to BYU so he could pursue a career in engineering.
So the next time you’re at a Blazers game, or when you’re watching them on TV during the playoffs, look for the seal and be reassured that the Blazers/BBB partnership is not only working, but making a difference to the people we serve.


text:
If you are a vegan, you ought to have heard of Plant-Based Network, the popular vegan television network. That’s right, the one which has recently made its debut on Roku streaming. Well, they are here with some good news! They have recently announced their forthcoming dating show The Vegan Cupid Show. The show will be hosted by Karine Charbonneau, the vegan professional matchmaker.
Curious to know the format of the show? Well, the show will partly be a talk show and will partly be the dating game. What makes it all interesting is that it has been made exclusively for vegetarians and vegans.
So the way show will work is the Charbonneau will be setting up one lucky bachelor or bachelorette with one of the three potential matches.
People are also going to be interviewed about their thoughts on vegan dating, love, and relationships
So get ready as the vegan fun is about to begin this week itself. Charbonneau will be hosting an exclusive mixer in Los Angeles. At this mixer, she will be interviewing potential contestants for the exciting The Vegan Cupid Show. However, there is still some time in the filming of the show as it is taking place in Los Angeles later this year. You can catch the Plant-Based Network on several platforms. These include Roky, Apply TV, the Plant-Based Network website, and Amazon Fire.


text:
Norway sees opportunity in pre-pack and Asia recovery
A strong growth in consumer demand for pre-packaged products is providing a new opportunity for salmon farmers who have seen sales and prices shrink because of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the latest update from the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).
“After a very turbulent period, we see that the price drop for salmon is starting to level off. There is still a large reduction in sales to individual markets, but at the same time there are several positive features to track,” said NSC seafood analyst Paul Aandahl.
Exports of fresh whole salmon from Norway to Asia as a region increased by 12% during Easter week (week 16), said Aandahl, with an improvement in logistics to China leading to increased exports of fresh whole salmon of 137% to 837 tonnes.
“Other markets that have a positive trend are Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea,” said Aandahl. “These are markets where home consumption of Norwegian salmon more than compensates for the loss of restaurant consumption.”
The NSC’s envoy to China, Victoria Braathen, said that after three weeks of higher exports than the corresponding weeks last year, the Chinese market was fully back for Norwegian salmon.
“As China is moving towards a normalisation in activity level and demand, we see no reason why this trend should not continue,” said Braathen.
Salmon’s bigger UK share
Norwegian whole fresh salmon exports to the UK in Easter week were down 24% compared to Easter week last year, but Aandahl said the longer trend to the UK and EU had been upwards.
“Norway has exported more Norwegian salmon to Spain and the UK in recent weeks,” said the analyst. “In both of these markets, we see that salmon accounts for a larger share of total seafood consumption. This means that more and more people are choosing salmon.”
The NSC said that based on panel data from consumer analysis giant Kantar, salmon sales in the UK increased by 18% in volume and 20% in value in weeks 9 to 12 (February 24 to March 22), while the broader seafood category increased by 7% in volume and 11%.
Sales up in Spain
In Spain, domestic consumption of salmon increased in volume by 12%, while the value increased by 21% in the same period.
In France, home consumption of salmon increased by 21% in volume, and seafood in total increased by 11% in the same period.
“We are observing that salmon are getting more shelf space in stores, while at the same time some fresh fish counters are operating at reduced capacity,” said Trine Horne, the NSC’s envoy to France.
“Simplicity stands strong, and increased availability of finished products of both cod and salmon is helping to increase home consumption. We see strongest growth for frozen products. Both salmon and cod products increase more than the seafood category in general.”
Exports of fresh salmon fillets to the United States have stabilised at the same relatively low level as in recent weeks, said Egil Ove, the NSC’s envoy to the US.
“Last week, 331 tonnes of fresh salmon fillets were exported to the United States,” said Ove.
“At the same time, exports of fresh whole salmon have fallen sharply as a result of the loss of the restaurant segment and appear to have stabilised.”
Ove pointed out that freight capacity also limited the export opportunity to the US.


text:
Jack Schofield reports for the Guardian Unlimited about Microsofts offer to Chinese governements and students to buy a stripped down version of Windows XP (Starter Edition) and Office (Home and Student 2007) for 3 US dollar.
Schofield asserts that piracy has been good for Microsoft in the sense that is has cut out a market for them. Microsoft has decided that it is time for them to start harvesting. 3 US dollar is relatively cheap, compared to the 100-500 US dollar users in the West have to pay for normal versions of Windows XP and Office. This volume low margin strategy might work if the legitimate offer satisfies the former users of pirated software, because of the increased safety due to online updates that are possible.
Read Schofields article here.
Microsoft's other China strategy against piracy is to sell pre-installed software, read more here.


text:
Get access to everything we publish when you sign up for Outside+.
>> Star Trac has promoted three employees: Terry Woods is now director of product management (formerly senior product developer); Randy Bergstedt, formerly director of marketing, is now vice president of global marketing; and Paul Ireland is now vice president of North American sales. In addition, Star Trac has hired a new European marketing director. Darryl Vides started the day before the IHRSA show and has been on the road nearly non-stop since then, getting to meetings in Finland, Russia, Italy, The Netherlands and the Czech Republic, as well as to the FIBO show in Germany.
>> TAIWAN — At the recent Taispo trade show in Taiwan, Fitness Master won one of three awards for fitness equipment given by the show organizing group, Taiwan Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. In the elliptical category, Fitness Master’s Joong Chenn Industry Co. Ltd took the prize for its Fitnex E70. The judges said they chose the product because it had a simple and pleasing arc design instead of more traditional angles, used pearlized silver paint on shrouds, it had an easy-to-operate console with large and bright buttons, its ergonomics followed a user’s motion, and it had a bigger steel frame to promote stability. Other winners included a treadmill, also by Joong Chenn, called the Steelflex XT7600, which the judges said had a pioneering one-touch operation. That brand is Joong Chen’s international brand. The third winner was a bike called the MAG 5200 by Tonic Fitness Technology. For background, in 2004, Tonic won for its True 400 HRC treadmill and Johnson for its Newjet 6000 treadmill. The association said the awards are designed to stimulate better R&D and spur innovation in equipment.
Click here to see photos of all three winners.
>> GERMANY — In other awards, there was one fitness winner among the winners of the 12th ispo BrandNew awards for new companies. A German company called Handytrim (www.handytrim.de) won for its upper-body toner. The Handytrim is about the size of a slim yo-yo and uses a resistance cord that unfurls from the inside to pull on and tone various upper-body muscles. Among the eight additional awards was one from Australia (soccer training), one from Denmark (bike accessories), three others from Germany (cycling apparel, surf lounger and bike hardware), one from the USA (wakeboarding gear), one from Finland (swim distance tracker), and one from Russia (apparel). There were about 130 applicants from 19 countries for this summer’s awards. Winners earn a free booth at the ispo show in Munich, Germany, and a lot of exposure internationally to media and distributors. For more on the current winners or to get information about upcoming award applications for the winter 2005 ispo show, go to www.ispo-brandnew.com.
>> As a kickoff for the month of May (National Physical Fitness and Sports Month), the government President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports held another Healthier US Fitness Festival on May 2 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. — a free public celebration with sports and dance demos, health information and screenings, fitness tips and demos, and talks by athlete celebrities. Speakers included Lynn Swann, television sportscaster/NFL Hall of Fame member, and Denise Austin, health and fitness leader/television personality. More than 80 sports and fitness organizations setup booths or gave demos. Those participating included the Outdoor Industry Foundation (www.outdoorindustry.org) as well as the SGMA (www.sgma.com). More at www.fitness.gov.
>> According to recent research presented at the American Heart Association science research meeting, the affluent — in the past, less likely to be fat or obese than the poor — are catching up with the poor, who have historically had higher rates of obesity and ill health. “This is a very surprising finding,” Jennifer Robinson, of the University of Iowa, whose study was presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association, told the Associated Press. But it “underlines the whole complexity” of the obesity epidemic, she added. “Affluent” is defined as those making more than $60,000 a year. The difference has been because fresh foods and produce tend to cost more and be less available in lower-income and urban areas, where fast food and other high-fat choices are easier to find. The data was culled from decades of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), a government database. According to the data, in the early 1970s, 22.5 percent of people with incomes below $25,000 were obese. By 2002, 32.5 percent of the poor were. Just 9.7 percent of people with incomes above $60,000 were obese in the 1970s — a figure that jumped to 26.8 percent in 2002. All income was adjusted to reflect year 2000 dollars.
>> The Yoga Journal (www.YogaJournal.com) has won its third consecutive Maggie Award for “Best Health and Fitness” Magazine. The awards, given by the Western Publications Association, reflect excellence in magazine and electronic publishing in the Western United States. “We are honored that the Western Publications Association has named Yoga Journal ‘Best Health and Fitness Magazine’ three years in a row,” said Kathryn Arnold, editorial director of Yoga Journal. “Our mission is not only to show readers how they can improve their health and well-being with yoga, but also to inspire them to bring yoga into all aspects of their lives — their work, home life, relationships, and more. We’re delighted that the Western Publications Association has recognized this achievement.”
>> Allegedly to reassure the Nike swooshed footwear doesn’t end up on Kmart shelves, Nike has pulled its footwear from Sears. Nike attributed the yanking of its product, at Sears since early 2000, to “the regular course of brand management,” according to a company spokeswoman. The company has declined to confirm the move, effective as of October 2005, was due to concerns that the new Sears Holdings Corp. might sell the brand in its Kmart discount division as well. Nike has been known to be extremely protective of its image and distribution. Meanwhile, Sears will continue to carry brands such as New Balance, adidas and Skechers. Discounter Kmart recently bought Sears in a $12.3 billion deal that created the third-largest U.S. retailer, Sears Holdings Corp.
>> CANADA — Canadian Business magazine has selected Good Life Club owner David Patchell-Evans as Canada’s “move innovative” executive. Patchell-Evans, on the cover of the issue dated April 25-May 8, operates 101 Good Life Clubs with 250,000 members with a staff of 3,300 and revenues of $100 million (approximately USD $80.3 million). He has said he plans to open 30 new clubs in the coming year with the objective of operating 200 facilities by 2009. http://www.canadianbusiness.com/
>> The California Physical Therapy Association has begun a statewide campaign called “Move California” to promote active, healthy lifestyles in the Golden State. The program is intended to educate and motivate Californians about the critical need for a vigorous, hearty lifestyle and the fundamental role that physical therapists play in helping people to attain and sustain such a lifestyle. “People don’t stop moving because they grow old,” said Dr. Patricia Evans, a physical therapist and CEO of CPTA. “People grow old because they stop moving. As we grow older, we have a tendency to stop or cut back on our exercise, and that is precisely when we need to continue it.” Move California includes several public components, including educational elements and literature, as well as statewide and regional outreach campaigns. Currently, Move California includes two educational modules, which are supported by PowerPoint presentations, fact sheets, advertisements and literature: “Backpack Safety for Kids” and “Fall Prevention for the Aging Population.” The next module will be centered on childhood obesity.


text:
Bessemer Venture Partners has introduced a new investment fund for early stage ventures that has a total capitalization of $3.85 billion. The BVP VII fund includes a range of financing options, and is focused on strategic investments in technology, media and telecommunications sectors.
This will be the company’s eleventh fund, and it will invest in a wide variety of sectors, including financial technology. According to the statement made by the firm, “This new fund enables us to continue supporting entrepreneurs at scale, strengthening our established emphasis on early-stage investments.”
The announcement comes just about half a year and nearly six months after the company announced the establishment of a $250 million fund for investments related to decentralized technology. The fund will include investments in consumer cryptocurrencies, such as the increasing adoption of blockchain technology by companies such as Sorare, which enables global football fans to have ownership over digital collectibles.
Bessemer manages more than $20 billion worth of assets and has a portfolio consisting of more than 200 different firms. Pinterest, Shopify, Yelp, and LinkedIn are just a few of the companies that received early stage financing.


text:
Last year’s Samsung Galaxy Note7 was a hazard for flights. After discovering that the device could spontaneously combust without warning, flights banned it, Samsung recalled it and Note fans wept over it.
With the well-received successor — the Samsung Galaxy Note8 — the company wants you to know that they haven’t forgotten what has happened. And they did that by giving 200 lucky people a brand new Galaxy Note8 for free.
Reportedly, Samsung Spain handed these devices out to these passengers as part of a campaign they had with Iberia airlines. According to the translated version of this report, each box also carried a text that read “A year ago, we asked you to turn it off, we welcome you today on board”.
These 200 lucky passengers were aboard an Iberia flight from Madrid to A Coruna, Galicia when cabin crew wheeled in a cart full of Galaxy Note8s and handed each one of them a brand new device. The passengers were obviously overjoyed.
— Iberia (@Iberia) October 23, 2017
It’s interesting that Samsung would use such a trying time in their history to promote their new device. That said, I don’t think the passengers really minded. After all, who wouldn’t want to be handed a brand new flagship smartphone the next time they take a flight?


text:
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is planning to unify the messaging features of Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The big tech companies are facing mounting pressure from various US federal departments.
Simons says it “could be the right remedy to rein in dominant companies and restore competition.”
Facebook had planned to gobble up even more of the social media market.
More people that ever think big tech companies should face antitrust scrutiny.
The US Senate seems to have fallen out of love with tech companies.
Google were forced to offer alternative default search engines on Android – but now they want search engines to bid for the chance to appear as a default option.
Gabbard has consistently spoken out against censorship and promoted free speech online.
The illusion of choice is getting weaker.
Hughes is working with a group of academics to tackle Facebook’s monopoly.


text:
Feature Article: Drilling for diesel
This is the most easily dissected component of the price of a retail gallon of diesel fuel. The federal excise tax on diesel nationwide is 24.4 cents per gallon, and EIA’s average for the state excise taxes was in November 2009 an extra 23 cents, making up 47.4 cents per gallon of the then average $2.79 price, or 17 percent. Compared to other categories, the tax portion of a gallon of diesel in real terms is static. That’s why you’ll see the percent number there rise and fall in inverse relationship to diesel’s price itself. In the third week of January, with average diesel retail standing at around $2.92 per gallon, for instance, tax accounted for 16 percent of the price.
Tax is a primary reason diesel prices are different from state to state, with surcharges as low as 13 cents and as high as 38 cents in addition to the 24.4-cent federal tax. “I’d bet 90 percent or more of the difference” from state to state, says Rayola Dougher of the American Petroleum Institute, “is the difference in the tax base.”
In California, where API data on local, state and federal taxes puts overall diesel tax at nearly 71 cents per gallon, the January 20 average diesel price minus taxes was $2.40 a gallon according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report; in the much lower tax state of Oklahoma (38.4 cents per gallon), the price minus taxes was $2.34, a pretty six pennies’ difference, but after all close enough to be accounted for easily in greater transport and other costs.
Truckstops often have relatively little profit on diesel
By Misty Bell
When diesel prices go up, many times the eyes of consumers turn first to truckstops. But truckstop operator Jim Hays says this blame is usually misplaced.
“Sometimes we’re selling at break-even. Sometimes we might make 2 or 3 percent,” says Hays, owner of Dodge City Travel Center, located at Exit 299 on I-65 in Dodge City, Ala. “It’s very competitive, and the margin’s typically very low.”
In Hays’ situation, he actually is the wholesaler and the retailer because his company also functions as an oil stocker. Typically, he contracts with oil companies for supply, then sells the fuel at a mark-up to retailers, including the Dodge City Travel Center. From there, Hays says, “the travel center has a mark-up to retail.”
It’s mostly a game of give and take, with wholesale pricing often changing day to day and those prices taking a few days to get to consumers. Then, at times when prices are moving rapidly, “we won’t have any [profit] margins at the pump,” Hays says. “That’s just the nature of the beast. If one of my competitors doesn’t move up, I may stay down and have a little price war. It’s all about trying to be competitive.”
Ultimately, Hays says, prices are determined by supply and demand, over which he has little control. He uses Hurricane Katrina as an example.
“You had a situation where the pipeline from Texas … was actually shut down for a number of days,” he says, causing many retailers along the Gulf Coast to run out of fuel. “The stock market or the price being auctioned on the mercantile exchange during that time skyrocketed. … The merc jumped like $2 a gallon,” Hays says. Because of the decreased supply, the prices jumped at the oil company level, which led to the increased costs being passed to consumers. “So much of the anger was directed at the retailer, but the retailer, if he was actually able to get a load of fuel, he had to pay the increased price for it.”
In the end, Hays says while he is running a business, he recognizes the importance of looking out for the people who are buying from him. “It’s not rocket science,” he says. “We just try to make a little money and pass a good deal on to our customer. Without those customers, we couldn’t stay in business.”


text:
Disney plans to release four more classic animations in 3D after the overwhelming success of The Lion King remake.
Although some were sceptical about the necessity of seeing Mufasa die in three heart-rending dimensions, the larger-than-life big cat conversion topped the US box office in September, taking over $100 million globally to date.
Next on the 3D make-over list is Beauty and the Beast 3D, which will open in January 2012.
Be our guest
After that, you can look forward to Finding Nemo in September 2012, Monsters Inc 3D in January 2013 and The Little Mermaid 3D in September 2013.
"We're thrilled to give audiences of all ages the chance to experience these beloved tales in an exciting new way with 3D," said Alan Bergman, president of Walt Disney Studios, who is no doubt also thrilled about the massive box office receipts.
While original 3D features may be causing jitters in the movie industry, Disney has the perfect combination of nostalgia, marketing budget and pester power to ensure each 3D conversion is a success.
None of the proposed conversions are older than 1989, however; presumably converting the earlier hand-animated features like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Sleeping Beauty will be a more labour-intensive matter.
Remaking The Lion King in 3D reportedly cost Disney under $10 million.
Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox
Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team.
Former UK News Editor for TechRadar, it was a perpetual challenge among the TechRadar staff to send Kate (Twitter, Google+) a link to something interesting on the internet that she hasn't already seen. As TechRadar's News Editor (UK), she was constantly on the hunt for top news and intriguing stories to feed your gadget lust. Kate now enjoys life as a renowned music critic – her words can be found in the i Paper, Guardian, GQ, Metro, Evening Standard and Time Out, and she's also the author of 'Amy Winehouse', a biography of the soul star.


text:
Memory maker Mushkin recently announced its intentions to revive its lineup of graphics cards, starting with a family of NVIDIA GeForce GTX cards. It has taken the next step by preparing two AMD/ATI graphics card, both using the popular Radeon HD 4850 circuit. Mushkin ultimateFX Radeon HD 4850 will be the first factory overclocked card where the clock frequencies has been pushed to 700MHz GPU and 2020MHz memory.
The reference models comes with 625MHz GPU clock frequency and GDDR3 memory operating at 1986MHz. Both cards will also use a special PCB and a new GPU cooler that should make cooling more efficient, but also need two expansion slots.
Neither prices nor amount of memory of the cards were revealed but since they will start shipping any day now you should find out soon, both coming in Mushkin’s characteristic wooden boxes.


text:
Apple | Tier10lab
They’re the crossover athlete everyone talks about. The guy that plays football, but everyone says would make a top tier MLB player. There have been plenty of rumors about if such a transition might happen for years, but nothing ever really came of them. But now, after spending all this time sitting in the bleachers, it appears they’re finally ready to step out onto the ball field and take a swing.
A few months ago, we ran a piece regarding Apple’s foray into the automotive market, but it seems that progress has hit a roadblock.
Last month, news reports began to leak that tech giant Apple was quietly putting together a team of crack engineers and automotive experts to begin work on the smartphone manufacturer’s first foray into the automotive world. The past several years have seen a hiring blitz take place, with Apple looking to poach top workers from potential competitors like Tesla and from related technology manufacturers, like A123 Systems which makes batteries for electric cars. It’s become the hottest news item of the year in the automotive world and shows no signs of slowing down. All signs point to a singular focus on the development of an electric self-driving car. However, one glaring questions remains.


text:
ROGERS, Ark. — Grammy-nominated band OneRepublic is bringing their Never Ending Summer Tour to the Walmart AMP.
Alongside NEEDTOBREATHE, the band will be in Rogers on Tuesday, Aug. 9. The music starts at 8 p.m.
Tickets go on sale Friday, March 4 at 10 a.m. and range in price from $35 to $149.50.
You can purchase tickets by calling (479) 443-5600, online, or in person at the Walmart AMP or Walton Arts Center box offices. Tickets go on sale Thursday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m, with pricing ranging from $30 to $59.50 plus fees. The AMP Box Office sales opens10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Walton Arts Center Box Office opens 10 a.m to 2 p.m. on weekdays.
OneRepublic is known for hit songs Counting Stars and I Lived.
HOW TO ADD THE 5NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KFSM in the Channel Store.
For Fire TV, search for "KFSM" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email firstname.lastname@example.org.


text:
Coral Gables, Florida; Omaha, Nebraska; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Duluth, Minnesota and Rockville, Maryland round out the top five in Livability.com’s “Top 10 Best Foodie Cities 2015” list.
This list is a deviation from others who cite many of the country’s largest major metropolitan cities like New York City, San Francisco or Los Angeles as the best foodie destinations.
Livability has applied its own yardstick to measure food culture cities in the U.S. According to a press release: the editors first analyzed Census data to find cities with high concentrations of restaurants and bars. Using data from Esri and other sources, they looked for cities whose residents choose to eat at independent restaurants rather than chains or fast-food establishments. The editors also looked at access to healthy food and farmers markets, which provide at-home cooks with fresh ingredients. They also factored in the adult obesity rate. Factors like James Beard Award winners, Michelin stars and even Yelp reviews were also used to narrow the list to the final Top 10.
The complete list of Top 10 Best Foodie Cities, 2015 includes:
- Coral Gables, FL
- Omaha, NE
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Duluth, MN
- Rockville, MD
- Bellevue, WA
- Stamford, CT
- Tempe, AZ
- Burlington, VT
- Walnut Creek, CA
February 22, 2018 | Pizza Expo News
Our first episode of the Pizza Expo Update Show will get ready for International Pizza Expo next month. Managing Editor Mandy Detwiler sits down with show director Bill Oakley to give you the skinny on what to expect on the show floor. Bill outlines this year’s show floor changes. Pizza Expo will take place in… Read More ›
Find out what to expect on the show floor at International Pizza Expo, March 20-22. Managing Editor Mandy Detwiler interviews show director Bill Oakley on show floor changes and its new location in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Read More ›
February 21, 2018 | Pizza Headlines
By Jeremy White Want a first-hand glimpse of what’s going to be happening at International Pizza Expo 2018 in Las Vegas? Well, you’re in luck — Pizza Today is launching the Pizza Expo Update Show tomorrow! From an interview with show director Bill Oakley to a look at the competitions and everything in between, the… Read More ›


text:
Cummins (CMI) Q2 Earnings & Sales Top Estimates, Decline Y/Y
Cummins Inc. CMI reported second-quarter 2020 earnings of $1.95 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.85. Higher-than-expected contribution from Distribution, Engine and Power Systems segments led to the outperformance. EBITDA from the said segments came in at $160 million, $150 million and $91 million, which topped the consensus mark of $101 million, $85 million and $76 million, respectively.
The bottom line, however, declined from second-quarter 2019 earnings of $4.27 a share amid coronavirus woes. Cummins’ revenues also declined 38% year over year to $3,852 million. However, revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,569 million.
Cummins Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Sales for the Engine segment declined 47.3% year over year to $1,423 million. The segment’s EBITDA declined to $150 million (accounting for 10.5% of sales) from $416 million (15.4% of sales) a year ago. Decline in global demand in truck and construction markets resulted in lower on- and off-highway revenues than the prior-year quarter. Sales slid in all regions served, apart from China.
Sales for the Distribution segment totaled $1,605 million, down 20.8% year over year. Revenues from North America declined 25% and international sales were down 12% from the year-ago quarter. The segment’s EBITDA fell to $160 million (10% of sales) from $172 million (8.5% of sales) a year ago amid lower demand and unfavorable forex translations.
Sales for the Components segment declined 37.7% from the prior-year quarter to $1,150 million. The segment’s EBITDA was $141 million (12.3% of sales) compared with the year-ago figure of $297 million (16.1% of sales). Sales in North America and international markets declined 55% and 9% year over year, respectively. Weak demand in Brazil, Europe and India weighed on international sales. Nonetheless, sales surged 63% year over year in China on the back of record level of truck production.
Sales for the Power Systems segment declined 35.4% from the year-ago quarter to $777 million. The segment’s second-quarter 2020 EBITDA declined to $91 million (11.7% of sales) from $173 million (14.4% of sales) in the year-ago period. Power generation and industrial revenues fell 37% and 33%, respectively, from a year ago. Lower demand in mining and oil/gas markets weighed on the segment’s sales.
Sales for the New Power segment were $10 million. The segment recorded EBITDA of negative $38 million amid high product and technology-related expenses.
Cummins’ cash and cash equivalents were $1,751 million as of Jun 28, 2020, up from $1,129 million on Dec 31, 2019. Long-term debt totaled $1,639 million, up from $1,576 million on Dec 31, 2019.
While the firm expects third-quarter sales to improve sequentially, coronavirus-led uncertainty still looms large. On account of this, Cummins refrained from providing any forecast for full-year 2020.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Cummins currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the auto sector include Sonic Automotive Inc. SAH, Lithia Motors LAD and AutoNation AN, each carrying a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
These Stocks Are Poised to Soar Past the Pandemic
The COVID-19 outbreak has shifted consumer behavior dramatically, and a handful of high-tech companies have stepped up to keep America running. Right now, investors in these companies have a shot at serious profits. For example, Zoom jumped 108.5% in less than 4 months while most other stocks were sinking.
Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for “stay at home” technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early.
Click to get this free report
Cummins Inc. (CMI): Free Stock Analysis Report
AutoNation, Inc. (AN): Free Stock Analysis Report
Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH): Free Stock Analysis Report
Lithia Motors, Inc. (LAD): Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment Research
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.


text: SAN FRANCISCO -- When Yahoo! ( YHOO) missed estimates during the second quarter, investors gave the company what amounted to a "Get Out of Jail Free" card. After third-quarter results are announced Tuesday, however, the struggling Internet giant might have to serve some hard time. Given the current weakness in online display advertising, the company can't help but feel some pain, especially because of its heavy investment in that area, where it is known as a market leader. According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau, total revenue generated from search ads in the first six months of the year was up 24% compared to the same period a year ago, but revenue from display ads was up only 19% from the same period a year ago. "Our channel checks indicate the market for display ads, particularly branded or CPM-based ads, continues to worsen beyond our prior expectations and from Q2 levels," wrote Bank of America analyst Brian Pitz in a research note. "Given the current market environment, we believe advertisers are likely to hold back on discretionary brand-building dollars in favor of measurable search and performance-based display advertising." Analysts expect Yahoo! to earn 9 cents a share on revenue of $1.37 billion, excluding traffic acquisition costs. Yahoo! is also up against an investor base that is growing increasingly impatient with its performance. During its second quarter, the company had the distraction of Microsoft ( MSFT)-induced proxy battle to blame, at least in part, for its earnings miss. On Jan. 31, Microsoft made an unsolicited bid of $31 a share to purchase Yahoo!. The deal collapsed even after Microsoft raised the bid to $33 a share. Amid all the merger talk, activist investor Carl Icahn added to the chaos by seeking to oust Yahoo!'s entire board. In the end, he settled for three seats, including one for himself.


text:
WebdragonCMS 8 coming soon
In the second half of 2013, Webdragon will be releasing version 8 of our flagship website management software, WebdragonCMS. This coincides with the forthcoming milestone of 8 years since Webdragon was established.
WebdragonCMS 8 has a focus on accessibility, mobility and dependibility.
We are excited about this new release, will publish more information as the release date approaches.


text:
Spotify declared that it has reached 70 million subscribers via a tweet last night [January 4]. Previously, in August 2017, the Swedish company announced it had surpassed 60m subscribers. The news puts Spotify well ahead of Apple Music which, in September 2017, told Billboard that it now counts well over 30 million paying subscribers.
Hello 70 million subscribers ????— Spotify (@Spotify) January 4, 2018
Spotify’s announcement comes on the back of news that the streaming platform is reportedly planning to go public on the New York Stock Exchange in the first quarter of 2018. The confidential documents were filed with the SEC last month.
Spotify’s valuation last month was reported as $19 billion (£14.05 billion). It would be one of the largest consumer tech companies to go public in recent years.
Newly released market figures for the UK and the US in 2017 have revealed how streaming is driving the return to growth in recorded music.
You can read Music Week’s look at Spotify and Apple’s streaming numbers in 2017 and what they mean here.


text:
Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are already available for pre-order since the 6th October 2022 in Singapore. Managed to get them and their casing as review units
Tag: Pixel 7
Google announces Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro today. With new hardware, the camera comes with Super Res Zoom, Macro Focus, Cinematic Blur, and Photo Unblur features
Mark your calendar as Google is going to announce the Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro in a Google Event on the 6th October 2022 at 10am ET (10pm SGT).


text:
Talk about the beauty of having a diverse partner network. On the heels of announcing a partner to develop search capabilities for its PLM platform, open source vendor Aras announced this week the development of Android and iPhone mobile applications that specifically work with its Aras Innovator PLM platform. The apps, developed by Aras partner Porchys, allow companies to extend all the product-related data and PLM processes to their mobile users on the go. With this first-generation of Android and iPhone apps, users will be able to securely access, manage and edit information in Aras from their smartphone, and the apps can be configured and extended to support company-specific processes. Aras President Peter Schroer cited the new mobile apps as a “great example of the benefits of an open source approach.” He just might be right.
During a teardown of the iPad Air and Microsoft Surface Pro 3 at the Medical Design & Manufacturing Show in Schaumburg, Ill., an engineer showed this "inflammatory" video about the dangers of maliciously mishandling lithium-ion batteries.
Science fiction author Isaac Asimov may have the best rules for effective brainstorming and creativity. His never-before-published essay, "On Creativity," recently made it to the Web pages of MIT Technology Review.
Much has been made over the potentially dangerous flammability of lithium-ion batteries after major companies like Boeing, Sony, and Tesla have grappled with well-publicized battery fires. Researchers at Stanford University may have come up with a solution to this problem with a smart sensor for lithium-ion batteries that provides a warning if the battery is about to overheat or catch fire.
In this new Design News feature, "How it Works," we’re starting off by examining the inner workings of the electronic cigarette. While e-cigarettes seemed like a gimmick just two or three years ago, they’re catching fire -- so to speak. Sales topped $1 billion last year and are set to hit $10 billion by 2017. Cigarette companies are fighting back by buying up e-cigarette manufacturers.
Focus on Fundamentals consists of 45-minute on-line classes that cover a host of technologies. You learn without leaving the comfort of your desk. All classes are taught by subject-matter experts and all are archived. So if you can't attend live, attend at your convenience.


text:
Rivian featured by Forbes magazine
With the emergence of Rivian – a new and perhaps unexpected entrant to the electric vehicle market – innovation in mobility and mobility tech is fast gaining momentum, accelerating towards an exciting future for the global automotive market.
Are the 2020s gearing up to be the decade of the EV? As a primary investor in Rivian, we look forward to finding out!
Read the article in its original location here.
(Image credit: Forbes magazine)


text:
By Brian Wafula
Kenya might not be amongst the countries with the highest imposed tax rates, but at this rate of taxation, it is almost clear that individuals living below $1 a day are going to face life in a rough manner.
Last week, it came to Music Copyright Society of Kenya’s (MCSK) attention that entertainers, DeeJays, and Comedians alike were flooding Social Media with live performances and entertainment to their fans.
Most musicians would go live on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and many other platforms as they responsibly heed to governments directive of staying at home and (keeping a social distance) avoiding crowded places.
The organization thus decided to give out a warning to those going life on Social platforms advising them to acquire relevant Licenses before broadcasting their shows.
Apparently now, the National Treasury has published draft rules bringing the digital media market under the tax house, termed as the Value Added Tax (Digital Market Place Supply) Regulations of 2020.
This implies that lovers of live streaming media, music, and podcasts and the general subscription-based media users will be imposed with value-added tax (VAT).
Subscriptions to famous streaming sites such as Netflix will now be subject to VAT charges as the definition of the digital market place brings to focus any platforms making direct transactions with their users in Kenya.
These regulations precede the passing of provisions on tax modules in the digital market place through the Finance Act, 2019 which gave the Cabinet Secretary of the National Treasury with the sole responsibility of setting taxing modalities.
Other targets by the new VAT net are the sale of event tickets, software programs, downloadable digital content as well as web-hosting services.
It is the local citizen who is going to shoulder the costs of this imposition of new tax models with respective suppliers expected to surrender all the records of their supplies made in the country indicating VAT deductions against their supply values.
Failure to which will attract tough penalties including being barred from accessing the local digital market place. Consequently, for the cut to effect the action and reaction, firms in the digital market place will be the subject of income tax at the rate of 1.5 percent of gross transaction values under the proposed Digital Services Tax included in the Finance Bill, 2020.
In spite of the move to include digital businesses under tax havens, analysts argue the move is still audacious. And a catch comes to the implementation of the tax regulations to the ever amorphous digital transactions.


text:
Sir Tom creates fashion waves on the High Street
Great news for struggling TV talent show The Voice, elderly judge Sir Tom Jones has sparked a fashion revival in men over the age of sixty.
The obvious on screen elegance of Sir Tom, who will be seventy two next month, has finally inspired fellow British pensioners to spruce up their dowdy image, new sales figures have revealed.
Said Lizzie Singleton, spokesperson for Debenhams; “Sir Tom is persuading the nation’s elderly men to throw away their pipe and slippers and follow his advice to become sex bombs”.
Sales of slim fit, sharply tailored suits similar like the singer wears have rocketed since Sir Tom began to appear on the BBC programme, says fashion store Debenhams.
The retailer has reported a 20% increase in their fashion forward, slim cut brand; Red Line. Sales of the range are peaking online during the times that ‘The Voice’ airs as people log on to Debenhams.com as they watch the Welsh crooner.
The top three best selling suits online have been from the Red Line collection with the number one suit being a silver grey style, very similar to Tom’ favourite.
Lizzie Singleton continues; “We’re seeing the emergence of Darby Dazzle, older men who still take pride in their appearance, and want to look good for the women in their lives.”
Until now, older men have all tended to buy the same style of clothing after retirement, checked shirts, beige nylon waist length trousers and white soft soled shoes or trainers.
White caps, a dark suit and black tie for funerals, grey socks and huge numbers of Y-front pants are crammed into elderly male wardrobes all over the country.
Said Debenhams Lizzie Singleton: “They’ve tended to take their fashion tips from the bowls club rather than the cat walk.”
“Even previously trendy men seem to adopt this slightly bizarre ‘God’s Waiting Room’ dress code after they retire from work.”
“However, Sir Tom has demonstrated how age is no barrier to looking fantastic. Women still adore him and it is this fact which we believe has persuaded so many older men to finally discover a new interest in fashion.”
“All men want to be attractive to women as Tom Jones, no matter how old they become – it’s not unusual.”
Red Line suits are available nationwide and online at Debenhams.com, suit prices start at £120.


text:
Restaurant chain TGI Fridays is to equip its servers with Dell Venue mTablet E-Series mobile POS devices, enabling them to quickly serve customers, process orders and payments while at tables.
Working in collaboration with Microsoft, TGI Fridays will provide eight-inch devices that use the new Fridays Service Style technology and run on Windows 8.1, Microsoft’s latest operating system.
“We’ve always prided ourselves on giving our guests the best experience possible, particularly in their interactions with our people,” said Tripp Sessions, vice president and CIO of TGI Fridays. “Windows 8 gave us a platform that allowed us to develop a new user interface, which gives our servers even better tools to delight our guests and make their experience even more enjoyable.”
Running on Oracle’s Micros Restaurant Enterprise Solution (RES) 5.4, the devices will improve server-customer interaction, reduces table wait times and regulates the pace of the orders sent to the kitchen.
Oracle’s Micros RES 5.4 also enables TGI Fridays to manage the various aspects of running a restaurant, from tableside ordering to traffic and queue management.
“TGI Fridays is rethinking how technology can lead to restaurant innovation,” said Tracy Issel, general manager of Worldwide Retail, Consumer Goods, Hospitality and Travel for Microsoft. “We are helping it change the way food orders are processed and wait staff and managers do their jobs, reinventing the customer experience, one restaurant at a time.”
TGI Fridays has already completed a six-city pilot in the US cities of Texas and Minnesota and plans to deploy the tablets in 80 additional restaurants. In total, the company will provide staff with more than 2,000 tablets by March.
Share this story


text:
It’s no surprise that woman-owned businesses are on the rise!
A recent study shows that “between 2014 and 2019, the number of women-owned businesses climbed 21% to a total of nearly 13 million (12,943,400).” In addition, evidence shows that when woman-owned businesses achieve financial stability, they are more inclined to give back to help their local communities. That’s the good news…
The other side of that news is that, like all emerging businesses, women-owned businesses often face significant challenges as they try to grow and succeed. Generating awareness is one of those challenges – surrounded by larger, more established competitors, can take unreachable amounts of money to generate adequate marketing and media to compete and make an impact. As an independent, female-owned business, I often face similar challenges and know that I’m not alone.
Since I launched BRA-sériē three years ago, I’ve met so many inspiring women along this incredibly wonderous, challenging and rewarding journey – which is what inspired me to take my advocacy for all woman-owned businesses to another level.


text:
New Delhi: In the time where there is no dearth of cases where e-retailers have delivered stones and rocks to customers instead of goods, a college student forced Snapdeal to sell him an iPhone 5S Gold for just Rs 68.
And he did it without any life hack, payback, or following any illegal way.
Here’s how the impossible happened.
The apple device is listed at Rs 28,999 on the e-commence site. But, Nikhil Bansal from Technical University spotted a mind-boggling deal on Snapdeal – 99.7% off on iPhone. He grabbed it in no time and placed the order on February 12.
However, he didn’t receive the phone as apparently that was not an offer but a technical glitch from the retailer’s side, so his order was cancelled.
While many of us might not have taken the things further, Nikhil filed the complaint against Snapdeal in the district Consumer forum in Sangrur, Punjab for not obliging the promised.
The court pronounced the verdict in Nikhil’s favor and ordered Snapdeal to ‘honor the deal’ – sell iPhone at Rs 68. Moreover, a penalty of Rs 2,000 was also charged on the company.
Feeling embarrassed, Snapdeal decided to fight the case and appealed against the court’s order. However, the company again lost the battle and was further fined with Rs 10,000 to close the case.
The fined sum will be deposited in the consumer forum.
The biggest outcome from this incident is that now the e-retailers will find it difficult to ignore customer interest and satisfaction.
19 Feb 2015


text:
Like Dyson, Aston Martin Wants to Jump Industries Too
It’s not uncommon for big companies to jump industries from time to time. One of the most recent, and most provocative, has to be Dyson – the well-known vacuum cleaner brand that recently announced that it would soon jump into the electric car market. Admittedly a move that should scare any EV manufacturer out there – Dyson has made a career out of finding flaws usually overlooked and perfecting the products they were derived from – it’s still a little too early for anyone to start beating their chests in fear of another competitor. And, that’s why we’re looking at this Aston Martin vacuum cleaner. It’s not likely to be something that every really hits the market, but the significance remains. This rendering was posted along with a tweet from Andy Palmer himself congratulating Dyson for joining the independent British car company club:
“Congratulations @Dyson on joining our independent British car company club. We’re looking forward to branching out into vacuum’s…..
Of course, we would love to see an AM-branded vacuum at some point – after all, Aston does build some pretty fine pieces of machinery, but could it really top the quality of a Dyson? Hard to say, but if you look at cars like the Aston Martin Vulcan, Valkyrie, and DB11, it’s hard to bet against the brand, wouldn’t you say? After all check out that huge spoiler on the rear, the massive five-spoke rear wheels and what about that nod to the V-12 thanks to those six exposed cylinders on each flank? Surely, Palmer just tapped into one of his artists downwind and well below his paygrade to throw this together in 20 minutes for a tweet, but it has us asking the question: Why not? What do you guys think? Would you invest in an Aston Martin vacuum cleaner with all the fixins, including V-12 suction, or would it be a little too expensive for your taste? Let us know in the comments section below.
Well, it’s that time of year where scary things happen; when the supposed dead rise and walk among us; when spooky things lurk just beyond the shadows; watching and waiting. Yes, it’s Halloween and there are plenty of frightening relics oxidizing away in your neighborhood junkyard just waiting for a chance to come back from the dead.
The TopSpeed staffers have put together our five worst nightmares of automotive resurrection in the list below. It contains vehicles that should have never been made and whose rightful place is deep inside the bowels of the crusher.
These are vehicles that are both terrible in their mere existence and terrible in the negative ramifications that would befall their respective makers for constructing such fiends. These are vehicles that, if they were people turned zombies, Rick Grimes of The Walking Dead wouldn’t hesitate to exterminate with his .357 Colt Python.
So hold on tight, grab a weapon, and fight your way through our list of cars we’d hate to see become the undead.
Aston Martin Vs. Skater Race
There are some “versus” videos that we come across that once we read the titles we simply just keep moving. Things like “Dodge Viper vs. Tomahawk Superbike” come to mind. C’mon, same engine but the bike weighs over 1,000 pounds less. Yeah, no need to watch that one. Other times titles are so intriguing we cannot pass them up, regardless of how obvious they seem.
In a day’s work, we came across this gem titled “Aston Martin vs. Inline Skater” and thought “what the…” Thinking it was going to be some sort of goofy prank, we almost skimmed right past it, but figured watching it wouldn’t hurt.
To our surprise this is a legit video of a German man racing an Aston Martin Vantage, from what we can tell. You may be wondering how the man on the skates plans to keep up with the Aston Martin, which has about 400+ horsepower. Well, he specially fitted three miniature jet engines, which produce 300 horsepower, onto a suit and used them to propel him down a 1/4-mile straight. According to the driver of the car, the skater claims that he has reached upwards of 120 mph and had no objections after finding out the Aston Martin could clear a 1/4-mile in 13 seconds.
You might still think there’s no chance for the inline skater, but you may be shocked to see just how fast those inline skates will go. Plus you can get a good laugh at the driver of the Aston Martin as he is more impressed with the speed of the skater than trying to win the race.
Sit back and enjoy the video above. Oops, we almost forgot, don’t try this at home.
One of the benefits that Aston Martin enjoyed while he was under the ownership of Ford was the use of the Blue Oval’s parts bin to cut costs. Save for some switchgear and nav systems, only a few items were visible to the customer. At least that’s the idea. Edward Legge, general manager of Rio Prestige hire, received a damaged key fob from a rented V8 Vantage that gave him and his team quite a surprise.
The person borrowing the luxury GT somehow damaged the rich leather covering the fob, revealing a Volvo logo underneath. It wasn’t a Volvo stamp in the plastic or a small, blocked out Volvo logo. No, this was a fully decorated Volvo key that nobody bothered to disguise. That’s not something the owner of a $120,000 V8 Vantage wants to see.


text:
September 13, 2019 1:18 pm
Microsoft will host its fall event on October 2 where it is likely to unveil a slew of Surface products. But the presence of CEO Satya Nadella means that there might be some bigger announcements that it might make.
October 03, 2018 4:45 pm
Microsoft announced the Surface Pro 6, Surface Laptop 2, and Surface Studio 2 at an event in New York. Here are the details on price, specifications
October 01, 2018 8:48 am
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 has been leaked, this time in a high-quality unboxing video posted to YouTube.
September 09, 2018 11:20 am
Microsoft has started sending invites for a new Surface event that will take place on October 2 in New York.
August 07, 2018 8:07 am
Surface Laptop is an ultrathin, stylish laptop from Microsoft to take on the likes of the Apple MacBook. Priced Rs 86,999 onwards, the laptop will start selling in India this August.


text:
Netflix and chilling blue screen of death
The dark satanic rumour mill has manufactured a hell on earth yarn claiming that Microsoft might be thinking of buying Netflix next year.
Users should pay
Europes big telcos including BT, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom want users to pay for the costs of data fuelled by the global streaming and internet boom.
Adverts will be the least of your worries
Netflix's desire to boost its bottom line with advertising might be coming with more problems than hopeful users might think, according to a bloke who has had a look at the new code.
This will go down well
After failing to get Big Tech to pay any significant amounts of tax, the government's of France, Italy and Spain are stepping up pressure on the European Commission to come up with legislation that ensures Big Tech firms partly finance telecoms infrastructure.
Expect a visit from the boys
Media streaming outfit Netflix has earned the wrath of the Tame Apple Press by working a way around paying a huge amount to the fruity cargo cult Apple for doing very little.
Vole adverts plan could be the beginning of a take over
Software King of the World Microsoft might be thinking of snapping up the streaming outfit Netflix.
Time to return to the 16th century
A Russian court fined Meta Platforms $54,030 for failing to delete posts that contained what it calls "LGBT propaganda.”
Dimensity 1200, Unisoc also made on the list
Netflix has a demanding rule for qualifying to play in HD, HDR, and supported chipsets. The chips from HiSilicon, MediaTek, Qualcomm, Samsung, and Unisoc made it on the list, but surprisingly, Netflix announced official support for Exynos 2200.
A federal jury convicted former Netflix vice president of IT Michael Kail on 28 fraud and money laundering counts.
It is the only one which can handle HEVC video fast enough
Netflix says that Apple fanboys who want to see its 4K HDR on a Mac will have to invest in the Apple T2 Security chip even though the tech has been standard for years.


text:
Flexa, a payments network, has recently added Cardano’s native crypto token ADA as a payment option. This latest development came hot on the heels of Bitpay adding support for meme crypto token Shiba Inu while shunning ADA.
Flexa shared the news via an announcement on Twitter, in which it stated that the company will provide instant ADA payment support at more than 40,000 locations throughout the USA. Some of the merchants that are open to payments through Flex for point-of-sale purchases include the likes of Whole Foods, Gamestop, Barns & Noble, and Nordstrom.
The addition of ADA support is a part of the campaign titled ’25 days of Flexa’. During the campaign, Flexa has added not just support for ADA, but for a variety of other crypto tokens as well. Some of the tokens for which Flexa has added support include Solana, Filecoin, Avalanche, and a variety of DeFi tokens.
Recently, Flexa has increased its digital asset industry presence. It has also created SPEDN, a mobile app, for the facilitation of cryptocurrency payments. Flexa is currently partnering with Gemini, a prominent crypto exchange, which also played a role in shaping the ’25 Days of Flexa’ campaign.
After Flexa announced the addition of ADA payment support, Cardano supporters were rejuvenated. When Bitpay had earlier rejected ADA in support of Shiba Inu, the Cardano community was infuriated, as was the creator of Cardano, Charles Hoskison, who had a Twitter outburst. Flexa’s addition of Cardano support could be to change the general perception of digital assets like ADA, which have utility. Typically, it is thought that such tokens will never be used for payments