text:
How Advancements in Tire Tech Are Injecting New Life Into Older Cars
After years of commuting, numerous runs through the canyons, and a couple of track days, the summer tires on our 2007 Dodge Magnum SRT-8 had definitely seen better days. Beyond the fact that the wear indicator was nearly flush with the tread, it was clear that the rubber itself had lost a step or two over time. Even under ideal conditions, the braking distances had grown, the turn-in response had become less urgent, and any feel that those tires had previously bestowed upon this steering rack was now long gone.
Clearly, it was time to swap these puppies out for a new set, and that got me thinking about a conversation I’d had with a Bridgestone engineer while I was out at Willow Springs Raceway for the U.S. launch of the Maserati MC20 earlier this year. The company’s Potenza Sport is the factory-installed summer tire not only on Maserati’s new sports car, but also other exotics like the Lamborghini Huracán STO and Ferrari Roma. Horsepower, I posited to this engineer, is something that automakers seem to have collectively “solved” years ago; The trick these days is more about figuring out how to effectively use all of it, and that challenge is increasingly becoming tire manufacturers’ responsibility.
The Drive and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Read more.
Granted, it’s his job to say this, but he insisted tire tech is up to the task and told me why. “The technology is evolving at a rate that’s almost like cell phones,” he said. “There are things we can do today that weren’t possible even just a few years ago.”
While researching tire replacement options for the wagon a few weeks later, I discovered that Bridgestone now makes the Potenza Sport in the same staggered sizes as the Goodyear Eagle F1 summer tire that was originally equipped on the Magnum SRT-8. That got me wondering about how much tire design has changed since this Dodge was new, and what that might equate to a decade and a half later for a near-stock vehicle like this.
And as Dale Harrigle, Bridgestone’s chief engineer for replacement tires in the Americas, explained to me recently, ditching older tires for new ones tends to have inherent benefits regardless of how much meat is left on the bone.
“It’s especially true for tires that have seen a number of heat cycles from track days and spirited driving,” Harrigle said. “The rubber goes from what’s called a “green” state to the “cured” state during the manufacturing process, but that curing process never completely stops – it always continues to a small degree. When you heat the tire up during a track day or something like that, you accelerate that curing process through those heat cycles, and that’s why the grip degrades over time.”
But after bolting up a set of these Potenza Sports, it’s clear the benefits go beyond just fresh materials. Improvements in steering feel and weight were immediately obvious even just plodding around town, and a quick jaunt out to the network of epic canyon roads in the Angeles Forest just a few miles northeast of downtown L.A. revealed noticeably sharper turn-in and more urgent braking response with no discernable compromise in ride quality or road noise.
The Bridgestone rubber doesn’t wholly reinvent the car – which makes sense considering it was already on summer tires to begin with – but the performance improvements are tangible in comparison to the set that it was previously getting around on. And all things being equal, I also think it’s fair to say that the car would out-perform another stock Magnum SRT-8 on the OE tire in the vast majority of real-world metrics.
I was curious about how seemingly disparate parameters like noise and grip have been improved across the board over the years, so I asked Harrigle about how performance tire development has changed over the past decade or so.
“A lot of our initial development work used to be done through trial and error,” Harrigle said. “The single biggest thing that we can do today that we couldn’t do 10 years ago involves digital modeling. We can model so much more of the tire performance and how the tire works with the vehicle as a system. We have robust digital models of things like the tire profile and the contact patch, and we’re moving that technology into additional areas like tread compounds.
The balance of winter, wet, and wear performance of a tread compound can now be simulated on the computer to a substantial degree, along with things like hydroplaning characteristics and rolling resistance, he told me.
“Just about every key performance parameter of the tire can be modeled to some extent before we ever build our first development tire, and the technology continues to improve all the time,” Harrigle said.
Considering the fact that the Potenza Sport is going up against some formidable competition in the max performance summer tire segment that includes the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, the Pirelli P Zero, and the Continental ExtremeContact Sport, Bridgestone certainly couldn’t afford to phone this one in.
Michelin, for instance, used similar simulation tools to develop and optimize tires like the Pilot Sport 4S K1 for the new Ferrari 296 GTB, while their other summer tire offerings like the Primacy 4+ combine multiple layers of rubber into their design in order to provide consistent braking performance as the tires wear and tread depth is reduced. Meanwhile, Pirelli has integrated a polyurethane sponge into the internal design of tires like the P Zero in order to absorb vibrations and reduce noise, improving comfort levels in a segment that normally requires significant compromise in that regard.
Interestingly, Harrigle says that winter capability, wet grip, and tread wear are still core design metrics that need to be considered even during the development of a summer tire like this.
“Just about every tire compound out there is a trade-off between those parameters – winter, wet, and wear,” he said. “Those are the performance attributes where we’re making engineering trade-offs. So for a tire like Potenza Sport, where winter performance is obviously not really a concern, we can focus more of our engineering efforts on the trade-off between wet grip and wear life. We can use those digital models to get us in the ballpark of where we want that balance to be, and also how we balance the compound performance with the geometry of the tread pattern.”
Dry grip is of course high on the list of priorities as well, but the physics behind dry grip is more readily understood than what’s occurring with, say, wet grip, so it’s a bit more straightforward to tune a tire to hit a specific target for dry grip. “The goal here is to achieve a certain level of dry grip while also making sure that these other aspects of the tire’s performance hit their targets as well,” he adds.
Beyond the use of digital modeling, there have also been significant advances in material technology over the past few years that have changed the internal construction of performance tires like these. “For example, this tire uses a hybrid cap ply, which is the layer just underneath the tread surface,” he said. “It’s a mixture of nylon and aramid in the same cord composite, and that provides several benefits. Nylon shrinks when it gets hot, so it does a great job of controlling the tire growth at the high speeds that this tire is rated for. Meanwhile, aramid is very stiff, so the combination of those two materials gives us high-speed control, as well as great steering feel from that stiffness.”
Other technical advances have also enabled tire manufacturers like Bridgestone to do things with their tread designs that formerly weren’t possible. 3D printing, for instance, allowed engineers to create unique shapes for the Potenza Sport’s sipes, the small slits that are cut into the tread surface which primarily benefit wet weather handling. Here those unique shapes are designed so that the sipes can intermesh under braking and during other maneuvers. “And when those sipes intermesh, it makes the tires much stiffer,” Harrigle says. “So we can improve cornering performance and braking performance, but still have enough siping in the tire to give us that wet grip when it’s required.”
Although the iterations of the Potenza Sport for the Maserati MC20 and Lamborghini Huracán STO were developed specifically for those vehicles, while the Magnum now rolls around on what is ostensibly an off-the-shelf version, it turns out that OE-spec tires are usually very similar to their garden-variety counterparts. “Many of the OE targets that we receive are geared toward making sure that the car ‘feels’ like that particular brand of vehicle. A lot of the difference in feel between, for example, a VW sedan, a Honda sedan, and a Nissan sedan within the same category is achieved by the tuning of the tires during the OE development process,” Harrigle says.
Looking down the road, he points to continued advancements in both digital modeling and materials will only continue to elevate the performance metrics for tires like the Potenza Sport, but he sees other aspects of tire design taking on increasing importance as well.
“The modeling is also only going to get better over time, and that’s going to allow us to balance those engineering trade-offs on a much finer scale,” he said. “But I think fundamental materials science is where Bridgestone really excels, and that’s where we’re going to see the biggest gains over the next five to ten years. There’s plenty of performance still to be had here. And in the context of our other product lines, that materials science is going to drive improvements in aspects like sustainability and rolling resistance as well.”
More On Tires From The Drive
Do you want a set of Bridgestone Potenza Sports yourself? Click here and grab yourself a pair.
Look no further: the best tire brands are right here.
When looking for new tires, here’s where we recommend you shop.
Keep your ride on the road, or off it, with the best all-terrain tires.
Own a Mustang? Keep yourself off YouTube the next time you peel out at Cars and Coffee with the right rubber.
Here are the best ultra-performance tires.
Source: Read Full Article


text:
Many restaurants and businesses are offering free food and other services to thank veterans on Monday, Nov. 11. Many of the offers require proof of military service. Participation may vary so check ahead with your favorite location.
Active and retired military can receive a free Patriot French Toast Combo and Coffee on Nov. 11.
Veterans and active duty military can get a free meal from a menu of eight entrees: Classic Bacon Cheeseburger, 6 oz. USDA Select Top Sirloin, Chicken Tenders Platter, Double Crunch Shrimp, Fiesta Lime Chicken, Oriental Grilled Chicken Salad, Oriental Chicken Salad, or Three-Cheese Chicken Penne.
Buffalo Wild Wings is offeing free small boneless wings and fries for veterans on Nov. 11.
Veterans or active duty military get a free Chick Special and regular drink.
Select Chick-fil-A locations will offer a free Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich to all active military personnel and veterans from 10:30 a.m. until close on Nov. 11. No purchase required; military ID required. Not available at all locations.
Veterans receive a complimentary meal from special entrée choices including: Chicken Crispers, Margarita Grilled Chicken, Bowl of Chili or Soup & Salad, Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas, Just Bacon Burger, Oldtimer with Cheese, or Cajun Chicken Pasta.
On Nov. 11, active duty and retire military members and their families get buy-one-get-one free entrée.
Active duty or retire military get a free unlimited buffet on Nov. 11.
On Nov. 11, all U.S. military veterans and active duty military will receive a complimentary Pumpkin Pie Latte (iced or hot) or a slice of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca Cola Cake.
All active duty military and veterans eat from a special menu on Nov. 11.
Active duty, retire or veterans get a free order of sweet cakes on Nov. 11.
Active duty and retired veterans receive a free breakfast on Nov. 11.
On Monday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., veterans and active military members can receive a free Lunch Combo, which features four slices of Little Caesars deep dish pizza and a 20-ounce drink.
On Nov. 11 from 3-6 p.m., veterans and active duty military receive a free American Roadhouse Meal.
Metro Diner will offer 50 percent off for active and retire military on Nov. 11.
Military veterans, active duty service members, police, firefighters and first responders and their immediate family members receive 20 percent off on Nov. 11.
Pilot Flying J is offering all active duty and retire military a free Pilot coffee and PJ Fresh breakfast sandwich, breakfast pizza or breakfast grill item on Nov. 11.
Red Lobster is offering a free appetizer or dessert on Nov. 11 with valid military ID. Appetizers include Sweet Chili Shrimp; Mozzarella Cheesesticks; Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut Shrimp; Seafood-Stuffed Mushrooms; Lobster and Langostino Pizza; Signature Shrimp Cocktail or Langostino Lobster-Artichoke-and-Seafood Dip. Desserts include Vanilla Bean Cheesecake; Key Lime Pie; Warm Apple Crostada; Chocolate Wave; or Brownie Overboard.
On Nov. 11, veterans and active duty military will receive a free Red’s Tavern Double Burger with bottomless steak fries.
On Nov. 11, veterans and active duty military with valid ID will receive a free Pulled or Sliced Pork Big Deal combo; dine-in only.
Veterans and active duty military will receive the first 6oz. of yogurt free on Nov. 11.
Veterans and active duty personnel will receive 50 percent off regular dinner pricing on Nov. 11.
Veterans and active duty military can get a free lunch from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Veterans receive free all you care to eat Breakfast Bar on Nov. 11 until 11 a.m.
Veterans, active duty service members and spouses can enjoy a free tall hot brewed coffee (12 oz) on Nov. 11.
Veterans and active duty military can enjoy a free lunch on Nov. 11 at Texas Roadhouse. Offer good from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. off special menu of 10 entrée choices.
Bed Bath & Beyond is offering VetReward subscribers with 25 percent off their purchases for shopping on Nov. 11.
Goodyear Auto Service and Just Tire
Goodyear Auto Service and Just Tire locations nationwide will offer military members free car care checks and tire installation. The free car care checks include checks on tires, brakes, alignment, battery, wiper blades and shocks and struts.
On Monday, Nov. 11, Kohl’s is doubling its Military Monday discount for all active and former military personnel and their families by offering a 30 percent off in-store discount. Kohl’s typically offering a 15 percent in-store discount on Military Mondays.
Publix is offering veterans, active military personnel and their families 10 percent discount on Veterans Day.
Some SportsClips locations are offering free haircuts to service members and veterans - check here for participating stores and store hours.
Military members – active duty, reserves and retirees – can visit the World of Coca Cola free of charge year-round. Through Nov. 11, members of the armed forces can purchase up to four half-price general admission tickets. Tickets may be purchased with a valid Armed Forces ID card at the attraction’s ticketing windows

domain: news


text:
The U.S. company, Seeo, funded by the Department of Energy, have recently developed batteries that can store signifcantly more energy than current electric vehicle batteries can. If these batteries are up to the task, the potential is that they could extend the range of electric cars considerably.
By using these materials developed at a U.S. Department of Energy lab, the batteries can store two times the amount of energy compared to the standard batteries in electric cars.
According to Hal Zarem, the CEO of Seeo (a start-up that uses this battery technology), if this battery technology is commercialized, it is possible to give affordable electric cars a full range of 200 miles per charge.
Batteries capable of doubling current range of electric cars
The cheapest electric cars today cost around $30,000 and they can only attain a maximum range of 100 miles. But with this innovative technology, the improved storage capacity of the electric car battery could be used to reduce the size of the battery pack by one half, and still maintain its usual driving range.
This will result in the reduction of the cost of electric cars. As it is, the cost of a conventional battery pack ranging 100 miles is approximately $10,000.
Zarem’s company, Seeo, which is based in California, has recently raised $17 million from several investors which include Samsung Ventures and plans to deliver batteries to its target customers for testing this year.
Seeo design replaces lithium-ion batteries with solid-state counterpart
These batteries, made of solid electrolytes, have several advantages. Seeo has developed a battery that uses pure lithium, enabling the battery to store more energy.
Advertisment - Learn more
Other battery companies have developed batteries using pure lithium combined with solid electrolytes. However, the energy storage capacities of these batteries are usually less than the Seeo type batteries.
Solid electrolytes don’t normally conduct ions as good as liquid electrolytes. In addition, pure lithium usually forms metal filaments, or dendrites. These substances cause short circuits. Battery manufacturers resolve this problem by adding lithium ion into another material like graphite.
In the case of Seeo’s battery, the solid electrolyte that is used has two polymer layers. One layer conducts ions and is soft, while the other layer forms a physical barrier between the electrodes and is hard. Thus short circuits do not occur, since there are no dendrites or metal filaments that form.
New technology resolves limitations of previous EV battery storage
There are other companies which also produce solid-state batteries with pure lithium. However, they were forced to alter their construction which decreased the batteries’ storage capacity. This is largely due to the voltage limitations of solid electrolytes.
Seeo is not revealing its secrets on how it was able to solve that problem. The company claims that its batteries can be produced by using conventional equipment used in manufacturing lithium-ion batteries. This enabled Seeo to keep their costs down.
But some aspects about the batteries are still up in the air. For instance, Seeo is not yet certain as to how many times this new battery can be recharged. The company’s prototype battery cells have so far survived more than 100 charges. However, to be viable, they must be able to last longer than 1,000 cycles.
Photo by: Michael Coghlan on Flickr


text:
San Diego Comic-Con (opens in new tab) is every comic-book and movie fans' Mecca. Every year, there's new and exciting exclusive material that debuts at the event. Yet, due to the ongoing pandemic, this year's event will take place online, and will feature a couple less panels to get excited about.
First off, DC announced their own online-only event, Fandome (opens in new tab), which will see new teases for The Batman (opens in new tab), Zack Snyder's Justice League (opens in new tab), and James Gunn's The Suicide Squad. Now, Deadline (opens in new tab) reports that Marvel Studios will be "sitting on the sidelines" for Comic-Con @ Home.
This seems to be backed up by Marvel's own website (opens in new tab). While they could add more Marvel content to Comic-Con @ Home, the comic book producers have so far revealed three panels that are definitely happening: Marvel's 616 on Disney Plus, a documentary series about the origins of some of our favourite superheroes; Marvel HQ, which will feature "comic-book read-alongs" and all sorts of other goodness; and Marvel Comics: Next Big Thing, focussing on the future of the comic books.
This could all change, but all indicators point to Marvel's MCU heroes being absent from the event. However, don't let that dull your excitement – there will be over 300 panels at San Diego Comic-Con @ Home, including ones on The Walking Dead, new Marvel TV show (opens in new tab) (but unrelated to MCU) Helstrom, The Simpsons, a Constantine reunion with Keanu Reeves, and much more.
The virtual event will take place between July 23 and July 26. Stick with GamesRadar+ for all the best coverage from the event.


text:
Here’s our best look at Samsung’s Galaxy M12, a budget smartphone with a 7000mAh battery
Samsung launched the Galaxy M series in India last year to compete with Chinese OEMs like Xiaomi and Realme in the budget and lower mid-range segments. The Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 were the first phones in the series, and they were followed by the Galaxy M30, Galaxy M30s, and Galaxy M40 over the course of the year. Since all of these devices target different price brackets, Samsung has been busy launching refreshed models for each device this year. Up until now, the company has launched the Galaxy M11, Galaxy M21, Galaxy M31 to succeed the Galaxy M10, Galaxy M20, and Galaxy M30s, respectively. It seems like the company is ready for another generational refresh, as renders of the upcoming Galaxy M12 have now surfaced online.
Noted leaker OnLeaks has shared the following renders of the Galaxy M12, which give us a good look at its design and highlight some of its features. As you can see in the images attached below, the upcoming Galaxy M12 is a far cry from its predecessor. It offers a more modern design with a square camera module and a two-tone finish on the back panel. Over on the front, however, it features a similar Infinity-V display with an angular waterdrop-style notch for the selfie camera.
Unlike the Galaxy M11, which featured a rear-mounted capacitive fingerprint scanner, the Galaxy M12 features a side-mounted scanner integrated into the power button. The renders further reveal that the device will include a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB Type-C port. Although the renders reveal no hardware specifications, OnLeaks claims that the device will pack a 6.5-inch flat display and measure 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm (10mm with the camera bump).
It’s worth noting that another Galaxy M21 leak was recently shared by 91mobiles, which showcased live images of the device’s back panel. However, the previously leaked images don’t match these new renders, as they don’t include the same two-tone finish. And the display specifications shared by the publication don’t line up with the information shared by OnLeaks either. According to 91mobiles, the Galaxy M21 will feature a 6.7-inch hole-punch display and a massive 7,000mAh battery.
The report further claims that the Galaxy M12 is currently in development at Samsung’s facility in India, and it will go by the model number SM-M127F. One of the images showcases the model number etched onto the back panel along with the model number SM-F127G. This suggests that the device could be launched as the Galaxy F12 in some regions. As of now, Samsung hasn’t released any official information about the device.


text:
As the competitive pressure from fintechs in direct lending increases, and customer expectations around immediate access and service grow, banks need to react. In response, Finastra, one of the world’s largest fintechs, has reimagined the loan origination and relationship manager experience in a way that promises to unlock new growth prospects for banks’ frontline staff.
The company recently launched its Fusion Credit Connect solution on Salesforce AppExchange and Finastra’s FusionFabric.cloud, bringing together Finastra’s proven lending ecosystem with the Salesforce Platform, integrated via APIs on FusionFabric.cloud. The new, all-in-one solution will enable banks to identify opportunities faster, simplify complexity, reduce time to close, and increase revenues with an enhanced user experience from the origination through to decisioning of a loan. Greater efficiency and enhanced communication capabilities will also boost customer experience for borrowers.
Eli Rosner is Chief Product and Technology Officer at Finastra and the driving force behind Finastra’s FusionFabric.cloud platform – an open and collaborative developer platform and marketplace for financial solutions.
What has been the Finastra response to financial technology innovation?
As a fintech company, Finastra has always focused on innovation. But while the old industry model tended to be for technology firms and banks to innovate in isolation – we firmly believe the future is all about innovation through collaboration. That’s why we advocate and support co-innovation between banks, fintechs and other players across the financial services and technology ecosystem.
How has this changed over the past few years?
With Open Banking, open APIs and the rise of cloud-based computing we recognised the importance of accelerating business transformation through a more collaborative approach to technology.
Most recently, the pandemic has also brought the future forward and accelerated digital transformation for banks in recent months, as they look to support customer demand.
Our ethos around collaboration underpinned the development and launch of our open and collaborative developer platform FusionFabric.cloud. By opening up our core systems in retail banking, payments, lending, corporate banking, and treasury and capital markets with open APIs, we enable financial institutions and other third parties to develop applications that work with them. Finastra has evolved from packaged software to micro-services, open APIs and continuous delivery. All of this is made possible with our platform and marketplace.
How have you created a culture of change inside the company?
Through our whole approach to innovation and collaboration. Everyone is encouraged to share ideas and participate. We regularly run hackathons with our partners, developers and Finastra experts from across the world – with everyone working together on effective solutions to solve the challenges our customers face. The realisation that banks can no longer meet the needs and expectations of their customers alone means collaborative ventures built on shared data, transactions and algorithms are on the rise.
The Fusion Credit Connect app on Salesforce AppExchange and FusionFabric.cloud was born out of an initial innovation sprint. Our FusionFabric.cloud open platform for innovation is encouraging industry collaboration and this integration is very much about unlocking the potential for enhanced customer experiences.
What fintech ideas have been implemented?
A range of fintech apps are already available through our FusionStore. These include apps for consumer banking, corporate banking, lending, payments and treasury and capital markets. The Fusion Credit Connect app is just one example. Our approach means that innovative applications can be developed quickly, at low cost and made available through the app store by banks, fintechs, system integrators, independent developers, consultants and students. FusionFabric.cloud will help transform the financial services industry in the same way that mobile app stores have transformed our everyday lives.
What benefits have these brought?
Each app brings its own unique benefits. The overall benefit of an open, collaborative platform-based approach is that it democratises access for all, accelerating open collaboration and innovation across financial services and helping deliver a great customer experience.
We are seeing the appetite for Open Banking picking up pace. We recently surveyed more than 750 banks and financial institutions across the US, UK, Singapore, France, Germany, Hong Kong and UAE, and found that 86% of banks surveyed are looking to use open APIs and enable Open Banking capabilities in the next 12 months. Increased collaboration will be key to success.
Do you see any other industry challenges on the horizon?
Regulation and the cost of R&D threatens to hamper fintech development. Our survey found that almost half of respondents believe that regulations are holding back innovation. Some 48% of banks state that ‘regulation is too tight’, 10% more than 2019. The same percentage (48%) believe there is ‘not enough government or industry support to foster innovation’. Furthermore, the cost of fintech research and development is of concern in some regions, particularly in the US, UAE and APAC.
Can these challenges be aided by fintech?
In our survey, 83% of financial institutions and banks agree that fintech regulation should be harmonised between different geographies. The success of regulatory sandboxes in Singapore for example, should give more authorities the confidence to follow suit and support innovation where possible through favourable regulatory support and R&D spending. Most governments will understand that fintechs have been a valuable testing bed for new technologies, ranging from cryptocurrencies to AI.
Meanwhile, fintechs will have a critical role in technological harmonisation. Fintechs have forced traditional banks to modernise and offer customers a truly digital experience. Traditional banks are now keeping step with customer demands, for example, through banking apps offering payment and account aggregation facilities. Where traditional banks may lag behind, is in the back office, where there is an ongoing battle to successfully merge digital innovation with siloed systems, but here fintechs partnerships and a platform approach can have a critical role to play in joining the old with the new.
Any final thoughts
The future of finance is open, driven by open APIs and the platformification of banking. In this landscape, data intelligence will be a key competitive differentiator. The challenge will be how best to use the data effectively. While agile challenger banks and fintechs are already experimenting here, traditional banks mustn’t fall behind the curve. Data intelligence will be a key focus as they aim to personalise their services and become more embedded in customers’ lives.


text:
Newcastle-based bakery and “food-on-the-go” retail giant Greggs said on Monday it will temporarily close all its shops and scrapped its 2019 final dividend amid the coronavirus impact on its business.
Greggs, which has more than 2,050 shops in the UK, said it does not expect a rise in year-on-year profit for the current fiscal.
In a long stock exchange statement, Greggs CEO Roger Whiteside said: “Greggs is a great business that employs over 25,000 people, and prides itself on the way that it deals with the many stakeholders we rely on in order to make good freshly prepared food available across the UK.
“However, given the current and likely impacts of coronavirus we are now planning for the closure of our shop estate by close of business on Tuesday 24 March in order to protect our people and customers.
“Whilst it is impossible to provide clarity on the outlook for the weeks and months ahead, we have set out the information that we are able to in this update …”
Greggs shares fell another 8% on Monday, meaning the firm’s stock has fallen about 47% since February 21 to give it a current stock market value of £1.4 billion.
CEO Whiteside continued: “Greggs has acted quickly to follow Government guidelines, helping to prevent the spread of the virus in our shops and supply chain.
“In addition to increased hygiene and separation measures we converted all of our shops to provide a solely take-away service accepting card payments only and have been advising all customers to follow social distancing guidelines while waiting to be served.
“It is now clear that to protect our people and customers we need to go further and temporarily close our shops completely.
“During this period, with support from the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, we intend to maintain employment of colleagues at full contract hours for as long as is practicable.”
On the impact on sales, Whiteside said: “We, like other consumer-facing businesses, have seen a sharp reduction in footfall in many of the areas where we trade over the last week.
“Initially the impact was seen in transport hubs and in central London, and has since affected other towns and city centres across the UK.
“Suburban areas have seen the lowest levels of decline.
“At our preliminary results announcement on 3 March we disclosed that company-managed shop like-for-like sales grew by 7.5 per cent in the nine weeks to 29 February 2020.
“For the two weeks that followed company-managed shop like-for-like sales growth averaged 4.1 per cent and in the most recent week to 21 March 2020 we saw a 9.9 per cent decline.
“The rate of decline has been increasing each day as more and more customers heed the government advice on social distancing, and we would expect this to increase further if we were to continue to trade.”
On the firm’s financial position, Whiteside said: “Greggs has always maintained a strong balance sheet and at the end of this week we expect to have cash at bank of £60 million, having made our normal payments to staff, suppliers and landlords (including March quarterly rent payments).
“In order to protect our financial position, we are reducing cash expenditure to protect our liquidity in the short term whilst continuing with key long-term strategic programmes.
“We have reevaluated our capital expenditure plans, and intend only to complete existing shop projects, whilst deferring new shop openings and planned refurbishments.
“In our supply chain we will only spend where necessary to maintain continuing operations and will delay building work, with the exception of our major automated cold store project which is strategically important and will continue.
“Overall we expect to remove £45 million from this year’s planned capital expenditure programme.
“We will not now pay the previously-announced final dividend for 2019, which was due to be paid on 21 May 2020, and have stopped the programme of share purchases by our Employee Benefit Trust.
“These two actions will avoid around £40 million of cash outgoings this year.
“We welcome the government’s swift action in suspending business rates for a year and the support for continued employment through the job retention scheme.
“These will be essential for any consumer-facing business at this time.”
On Greggs’ liquidity outlook, Whiteside said: “There are many forward scenarios but we are planning our finances around the most severe, being that our shop operations remain closed for a prolonged period.
“Our weekly cash outgoings in such a situation are estimated to be £5 million, assuming government relief for business rates and that employment support is available to maintain all of Greggs jobs.
“This includes rents paid monthly in advance but not those paid on quarterly in advance, which total £11 million per quarter and next fall due at the end of June.
“Assuming that there continues to be material disruption, we will be asking our landlords to accept a monthly, as opposed to quarterly, payment basis from June.
“This minimum level of cash outflow will only be reached once we have met our existing supplier obligations relating to recent trading and our capital investment programme.
“We are in the process of arranging financing to cover the possibility of a closure period of anything from six weeks to three months.
“We start from a position of having no debt, and believe that Greggs should meet the eligibility requirements of the Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) scheme, being a UK incorporated company that makes a material contribution to economic activity in the United Kingdom.
“We have approached the Bank of England for support from the CCFF and are working with our banking partners to determine the most effective overall solution.”
Looking forward, Whiteside concluded: “Providing forward guidance is impossible in the current environment but the board no longer expects to make year-on-year profit progress, which we stated was our expectation at the time of our preliminary results announcement on 3 March 2020.
“As and when we are able to provide further information we will do so.
“Whilst the outlook during this crisis remains uncertain Greggs is a resilient business with strong growth credentials and we should be confident of its ability to navigate this event and return to growth when the economy recovers.”


text:
Branson’s Most Popular Light Display Gets Ready to Light Up
Even Brighter for the 2016 Christmas Season
BRANSON, MO October 15, 2016: Branson’s Gift of Lights will be bigger and better than last year. With new additional light displays and a spectacular new light tunnel addition, Branson’s Gift of Lights Christmas drive thru will be sure to remain Branson’s premier Christmas light display destination.
Branson’s Gift of Lights opened last year as Branson’s first Christmas light display to feature 100% LED lighting displays. Operating with 100% LED lights is not only great for the environment, but it allows for the lights to shine brighter than normal.
Steve Hager, manager of the Branson Gift of Lights project said, “We are very excited about this year’s Christmas drive thru. We have been able to add a tremendous amount of new displays, including an updated nativity scene with a synchronized reading of the birth of Jesus, and several custom built displays. There is so much to see this year; it’s going to be fun.”
Construction for this year’s light display is scheduled to begin on October 3rd. The light display will be open to the public beginning on November 1st and will remain open through December 31st.
Branson’s Gift of Lights is guaranteed to make everyone’s holidays shine a little brighter this Christmas season.
Branson’s Gift of Lights is honored to once again have Branson Scenic Railways as a presenting sponsor as well as welcoming Blueline Rentals this year as a new sponsor. Some sponsorship opportunities are still available. Branson’s Gift of Lights has become an important attraction for Branson Scenic Railway’s Christmas tours.
Branson’s Gift of Lights is located on Expressway Lane just north of Sight and Sound Theater. The drive thru was operated in previous years by the Branson Chamber of Commerce & CVB but last year the chamber decided to not do it. It was continued by others in the community.
ALL NEW 100% LED LIGHTED CHRISTMAS DRIVE THROUGH ANNOUNCED AT EXPRESSWAY LANE IN BRANSON
Branson, MO, October 15, 2015 – Branson will be shining SUPER LED bright this Christmas season with an all-new LED LIGHTED drive through display. Over 300 brand new displays will be featured at the Expressway lane location just off of Shepherd of the Hills Expressway in Branson. Previously the Branson Chamber/CVB had operated at this location for several years.
“The Christmas light drive through has become an important part of the Branson Christmas experience,” said Steve Hager, manager of the project. “We wanted to keep the tradition alive for Branson’s visitors and locals that have experienced this year after year.”
Winterland Inc, the premier 100% LED lighting display company in America, stepped up to make the event possible and take it to the next level. According to Winterland’s owner, David Fred, the event will feature Branson’s first 100 % LED lighting displays, which will also be Branson’s first environmentally friendly drive through. “We are excited to bring a new drive through to Branson at a familiar place. People will have to see it to believe it.”
Branson Scenic Railway is excited about the new lights, as the display has become an important part of the Polar Express train that leaves on 75 trips in November and December. In fact, Branson Scenic Railway has become a premier sponsor of the new Branson drive through show. “We are excited about all new displays being a part of this drive through and this is beneficial to the thousands who ride our trains,” said Alan Kamp, President of Branson Scenic Railway.
With the new drive through display also comes a new name, Branson’s Gift of Lights.
“This is a gift to our visitors and locals,” said Hager. “We can’t wait to see the smiles and joy of kids and adults alike.”
Plans call for Branson’s Gift of Lights to open on November 1st and run through January 2nd, 2016 from dusk to 11:00 pm. For more information call 417-336-2744.


text:
In continuation to our previous edition in this edition, let’s discuss about the evolution of D2C.
According to the study published in European Journal of Social Psychology in 2009, the researchers found that it took participants an average of 66 days to form a new habit, although the time frame varied depending on the individual and the nature of the habit. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a surge in the number of online buyers across most categories, and a considerable proportion of these customers expressed their intent to continue shopping online even after physical stores reopen.
The last two years saw a significant shift in consumer behavior. Smartphones and access to the internet have impacted buying behavior. Consumers now discover new products, compare features, and read reviews to make a choice. They check social media before making that final ‘check out’. This consumer shift to purchase various categories online is destined to stay as a habit, and the ‘stickability’ of this shift looks encouraging for those with a robust online presence.
The proliferation of new D2C businesses has disrupted traditional shopping patterns, leading to fundamental changes in how brands interact with their customers. As a result, customer preferences and expectations have undergone a transformation, which has spurred a shift in how brands reach out to their customers. For instance, companies in the telecommunications, grocery, and automotive industries are increasingly adopting direct-to-consumer channels to sell their products directly to consumers, bypassing intermediaries such as dealerships.
According to a report from Shiprocket, since 2016, India has witnessed the emergence of over 800 direct-to-consumer businesses as new market players. The report mentioned that compared to traditional brands like Revlon and Lakme, which took several decades to reach INR 100 crore revenue, modern D2C brands such as Sugar and Mamaearth were able to achieve this milestone in roughly half the time. These businesses have entered the market to fill gaps in product and price that are still not being met by industry incumbents. As a result, established players are now either acquiring or creating their own D2C platforms. Factors such as internet usage, online behavior and shopping patterns, and category preferences of potential customers determine the addressable opportunity in a particular category. By multiplying this with the average order value or spend in a period, the potential for growth in a segment or category can be estimated.
The D2C industry has embraced new marketing strategies like omnichannel marketing and hyper-personalization, which have helped in acquiring and retaining customers. The sector is successful in keeping customers informed and offering them tailored choices based on their preferences. The rise of online shopping is disrupting traditional industries and opening new business opportunities for merchants. D2C marketers aim to engage with customers by targeting smaller audiences, digital natives, and millennials. This approach also presents significant profit margins for start-up businesses.
There are several factors contributing to the growth of the direct-to-consumer (D2C) sector, such as significant untapped markets, supportive ecosystems, expansion into related industries, online market potential, and brand loyalty. However, in 2023, the D2C industry is expected to face external challenges that will require Brands to develop more strategic approaches. Additionally, with increasing competition, Brands will need to come up with specific plans to stand out in the market. As over 80% of Indian pin codes now have access to doorstep deliveries, various categories such as food, clothing, and cosmetics are likely to expand into tier 2 and 3 cities.
Although D2C businesses may face challenges such as stagnant revenue, low customer retention, and high customer acquisition costs, the overall trend is still strong. Despite challenges such as strong competition from established players and challenges in offline ecosystems, D2C brands would succeed through innovation in business models, product and price offerings, and access to growth capital. To fully realize the potential of this market, strategic investments in marketing automation and logistics technologies will be crucial to serve India’s billion consumers and scale the business rapidly.
Author: Kanwal Rai


text:
A picture drawn at Pearson Hall, Sonning Credit:The Woodley and Earley Art Group
More than 100 unique and original pieces of art will be up for grabs at an exhibition in Woodley.
The Woodley and Earley Arts Group is hosting the show and sale at the Oakwood Centre this month.
Artists and crafters will display and sell their pieces during the event at the centre in Headley Road, Woodley, Berkshire.
The show will be held on Friday, April 20 and Saturday April 21, running from 10am to 5pm each day.
Expect a wide range of subjects to be represented among the 100+ exhibits comprising oils, acrylics, watercolour, pastels and other media. Members will also display diverse crafts such as jewellery and greetings cards.
The group is in its 24th year and welcomes all levels of artists to the group. The group holds two exhibitions each year and also organises full day workshops which are held locally.
Entry to the event is free.


text:
While it was exclusive to see a checkmark next to the Twitter account of a public personality, but now Facebook is luring celebrities to their site by offering the coveted verified account.
Yesterday, the site began letting people with a large number of subscribers to show their government IDs to prove their actual identification. This way, Onika Tanya Maraj can be Nicki Minaj, Tauheed Epps can be 2 Chainz, and Teyana Taylor could get tagged in her leaked nude photos. Unlike Twitter, Facebook encourages site users to register using their real names. Now your favorite MCs and celebrities who have been verified on Facebook will get more display on Facebook’s “People To Subscribe To” list.
“This update makes it even easier for subscribers to find and keep up with journalists, celebrities, and other public figures they want to connect to”, said a Facebook spokesman.
© 2012, @BWyche. All rights reserved.


text:
In my recent travels across America, one thing has become abundantly clear: Demand for organic food is soaring. The current organic market has grown to more than $35 billion in annual sales, and with companies like Walmart and Target making organic widely available, its growth is expected to continue. Supply, on the other hand, is not growing fast enough to meet demand. There’s just not enough organic food to go around in the U.S., so producers are now going overseas to help meet America’s increasing call for organic foods.
American Farmers, this is a big opportunity!
George Siemon, CEO of Organic Valley, which is now a billion-dollar cooperative of dairy farmers, has seen a 15 percent growth rate in the past year—but can only fill 60 percent of his orders. Recently, when I spoke to him after he received the Rodale Institute’s Organic Pioneer Award, he said, “We’ve gone through the Dark Ages, and butter is back in.” But he still can’t find enough farmers to supply it.
And it’s not just the big food companies that are having a hard time finding supply. In Boulder, Colorado, I met a young goat farmer. More than anything, she would like to find certified-organic alfalfa to feed her goats, but she can’t “at any price.” (Her name is Taber Ward, and she’s at Mountain Flower Goat Dairy, if you have a source for her.)
Organic CSAs and small farmer’s markets have gotten the bulk of the media/mind share attention (and have been rising steeply in number in the past few years: up 76 percent since 2008). But there’s a real need right now for large-scale production so that American consumers can buy the organic foods they desire at their local supermarkets.
Small local farms alone aren’t enough to save the world. Transitioning the world to organic is the only way we can store enough carbon underground in the soil to stop climate change from destroying our ability to survive on this planet. Yes, regenerative organic farming can reverse climate change—and people want to buy its harvests!


text:
Sunday, 3 July 2016
USA SALES JUNE - FCA produces the best june month in Eleven years at nearly 200,000 units.
FCA US LLC today reported U.S. sales of 197,073 units, a 7 percent increase compared with sales in June 2015 (185,035 units), and the group’s best June sales in 11 years.
The Jeep®, Dodge and Ram Truck brands each posted year-over-year sales gains in June compared with the same month a year ago. The Jeep brand’s 17 percent increase was the brand’s best June sales ever, while Ram achieved its best June sales in a decade.
“Strong Jeep and Ram Truck brand sales fueled our best June sales in 11 years,” said Reid Bigland, Senior Vice President – Sales, FCA – North America. “In spite of some severe stock market volatility in June, the American consumer stayed focus on buying new vehicles and propelled FCA to six vehicle sales records last month.”
Four of the six sales records in June were set by Jeep brand models. The Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass and Jeep Renegade each posted their best June sales ever. The Jeep brand continues to set records by logging its best June sales ever. In addition, the Ram ProMaster City van and the Fiat 500X each turned in their best June sales ever.
Jeep brand sales were up 17 percent for its best June sales ever and its 33rd-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. The Jeep brand has set a sales record in every month dating back to November 2013. Four Jeep brand vehicles set June sales records. The Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass and Jeep Renegade each posted their best June sales ever. Sales of the Jeep Grand Cherokee were up 9 percent for its best June sales since 2005. The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and the Grand Cherokee each won their segments last month in Strategic Vision’s annual Total Quality Impact™ (TQI). The Grand Cherokee won in the Mid-size SUV category while Wrangler Unlimited topped the Entry SUV classification.
Ram Truck brand sales, which include the Ram pickup, Ram ProMaster and Ram ProMaster City, were up 14 percent for its best June sales in a decade. Ram pickup truck sales increased 14 percent in June, the pickup’s best June sales since 2004. In addition, the Ram ProMaster City van recorded its best June sales ever. Last month, the Ram Truck and Mopar brands introduced the Mopar ’16 Ram Rebel, the most recent limited-edition vehicle created using a unique selection of performance parts and accessories from the service, parts and customer-care brand of FCA US. The Mopar ’16 Ram Rebel will feature a limited production of just 500 vehicles, upgraded with Mopar Custom Shop options. Additional parts and accessories are available at the dealership for even further customization.
Dodge brand sales were up 3 percent in June compared with the same month a year ago. Sales of the Dodge Grand Caravan were up 79 percent last month for the minivan’s best June sales since 2008. In addition, sales of the Dodge Durango increased 38 percent for the full-size SUV’s best June sales in a decade. The Dodge brand is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Dodge Viper with five limited-edition models that commemorate the final year of Viper production and highlight several of the most iconic special edition Vipers of the past. Also last month, the Dodge Challenger led the Specialty Coupe segment for total quality in Strategic Vision’s Total Quality Impact™ (TQI).
Sales of the 500X – in its second month of year-over-year comparisons – were up significantly in June compared with the same month a year ago. FIAT brand sales, which include the Fiat 500, Fiat 500L and 500X, were down 19 percent in June, compared with the same month a year ago. For the second-consecutive year, the 500 was tops in total quality in the Micro Car segment in Strategic Vision’s annual Total Quality Impact™ (TQI).


text:
“Bitcoin has emerged as the institutional safe-haven asset,” MicroStrategy Co-Founder @michael_saylor says. “In the modern era, cash is becoming a liability because the money supply is expanding at 15% and the purchasing power of the cash keeps degrading.“ Full interview: https://t.co/a6Lgt8GEcL
Amsterdam overtook London as Europe’s largest share trading center in after Brexit saw about half of the U.K. capital’s trading volumes move to the EU, according to FT https://t.co/GQPHAKq1F1
The burden of burnout should not fall on individuals. It’s a major organizational issue — and leaders need to treat it that way. https://t.co/juSrCBgQ8l
Here’s a roundup of some of the best lessons learned over the course of the pandemic on how to make working from home work better. https://t.co/ci5SlsrZ3J
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said helping users make money from their followers is a key part of the company’s effort to build subscription products and diversify revenue https://t.co/pvN77utofi
A French nun, believed to be the world’s second-oldest person, has beaten Covid-19 — days before her 117th birthday. Sister André, born Lucile Randon, tested positive for the virus in mid-January in the city of Toulon, French media reports. But just three weeks later, doctors say she has recovered. "I didn’t even realize I had it," she told French newspaper Var-Matin. Link in bio for more.
Are IG “influencers” worth it? How to deny the ask?
Since pre-launching until now, there have been tons of self claimed influencers who DMed me asking for collaborations. Using influencer is a nice marketing tactic but honestly these self claimed ones are just ruining the idea. I can’t believe people who have about 2000 followers or lower have the nerves to ask for “free” items to “promote” on their platforms. My products are not even expensive, they are less than CAD$20/each. At this point, I really don’t know how to decline their “offer” nicely anymore. How should I reply to their DM and say something similar to “F*k you, pay it yourself?”


text:
Disruption caused by the installation of new back-office software at distributor Westcon took the shine off parent Datatec's results.
Datatec, which also owns integrator Logicalis, admits it "underperformed" in its fiscal first half to 31 August as Westcon's results fell short following the roll-out of new ERP software at its North American business.
According to its unaudited results, London and Johannasburg-listed Datatec's first-half pre-tax profits fell four per cent to $57.7m (£36m) year-on-year, while revenues rose six per cent to $2.77bn as a number of acquisitions – including that of 2e2's continental European business – bolstered the top line.
While Logicalis performed in line with expectations, Westcon was singled out as the problem child as an ongoing ERP update caused operating disruptions, adversely impacting revenues, particularly in high-volume transaction business.
To date, the system has only been implemented in North America.
Westcon's overall revenues inched up three per cent to $1.96bn as increases in Latin American, Europe and AME offset lower sales in Asia Pacific and a "significant" revenue drop in North America.
The distributor, which draws 48 per cent of its revenues from networking giant Cisco, saw EBITDA fall from $62.1m to $45.7m year-on-year.
Meanwhile, Logicalis saw revenues rise 12 per cent to $767.3m, which included $58.4m from the 2e2 acquisition. Europe accounted for 29 per cent of the total, compared with 26 per cent last year. Its operating profit rose 45 per cent to $32.7m after charges for depreciation and amortisation of intangible assets.
Datatec chief executive Jens Montanana said: "Performance in parts of Westcon's North American business, where the new ERP system has been implemented, has been disappointing. The volume shortfall in that region has been the main reason for the group's underperformance in the period.
"We are experiencing varying trading conditions in many parts of the world with Europe recently showing signs of improvement, while developing markets have been impacted by currency volatility."
MSP plans to use new acquisition to expand its security offerings
Reseller also saw its operating profit fall five per cent in its financial 2017
Wendy Bahr to bring 18-year spell at networking giant to an end
AdEPT says latest purchase will push revenue beyond £50m


text:
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — While WNY residents are likely happy with what they’re seeing at the pump, the opposite could be true at their local grocery, well beyond double-digit increases thanks to events in 2015 and beyond.
But while people are getting a break at gas stations, food staples at the grocery are what’s making up the difference.
That’s a big change say experts with the Food Systems Planning and Health Communities Lab at the University at Buffalo.
“Historically, food prices are actually going down,” said Jennifer Whittaker with the food lab. “But recently, they’re going up across the country, primarily because of environmental stresses, but also disease because our food system is very interconnected across the country.”
But many don’t think about environmental factors in the west affecting food prices in Western New York.
“Really, it’s the most intimate connection people have to the environment and it’s a main driver for all the other activities that go on in our lives,” said Kelley Mosher, a project assistant with the food lab.
The biggest stress on the environment in 2015 — and technically months before — is the ongoing drought in California, which has affected produce prices across the board. There’s a price for convenience.
“Right now, you can buy strawberries and it’s February, so obviously, those are being shipped in from somewhere else,” Whittaker said.
The choking supply of water is hurting produce farmers. But it’s also affecting dairy and meat farms, many of which were already decimated by disease in 2015.
“If you think purely from a numbers standpoint, conglomeration is making things cheaper, but disease is a side effect of that,” Whittaker said.
In other words, massive farms keep costs down, but once disease takes hold — as it did last year, costing millions of beef cattle and chickens — it could lead to the price increases we’re experiencing now.
Western New York is actually in a good place when it comes to the increase in basic items. Thanks to the regions competitive local dairy market, experts say it now makes more sense to buy local.
“A lot of people are unaware of what’s going on, or they don’t necessarily see the interconectedness of the food system because we’ve done such a great job creating this web within our industrialized food system,” Mosher said.
Those problems aren’t the end, experts say. The next issue — or increase — is likely around the corner.
“I think those problems are going to continue to be problems as long as our food system stays as large and industrialized at the moment,” she said. “It’s really a matter of taking a step back and looking at the way things are right now and evaluating how we can make positive change to prevent those things from happening to begin with.”


text:
- Edcon BRPs say they have signed an agreement to sell parts of the fashion retailer Edgars to Retailability.
- Retailability owns the brands Legit, Beaver Canoe and Style.
- Competition authorities must still give the go-ahead.
The business rescue practitioners (BRPs) for Edcon say they have signed an agreement to sell parts of fashion retailer Edgars to Retailability.
Edcon, which owns Edgars and Jet Stores, announced in late April that it would file for voluntary business rescue after the nationwide lockdown exacerbated its already dire financial position. In June, its BRPs said the only way to save the company and the jobs of its thousands of its employees was through an "accelerated sale" of its divisions to interested parties.
Retailability, a fashion retailer and holding company, owns the brands Legit, Beaver Canoe and Style, and operates in over 460 stores across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, and eSwatini.
"The transaction, if successfully concluded, will be a positive outcome for the business rescue process, as Edgars with its great brands, product offerings and retail footprint, will be well served in the hands of an experienced Retailability team," the practitioners said in a statement.
The next step is getting the greenlight from competition authorities for the sale to go ahead. The statement did not say what parts of Edgars Retailability was interested in acquiring.
"This significant step will not only save a significant number of jobs, but importantly, will lead to the sustainability of a proudly South African iconic brand, whose continuity would serve the greater economy."


text:
Motorola has started rolling out the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update to a couple of devices, which include the Motorola Droid 2 Global and the Motorola Droid Pro, and the update has been released as an OTA update.
The Android 2.3 Gingerbread update brings a range of new features to both devices, including a number of bug fixes, and if you haven’t got it yet, you can get it manually by heading to your settings menu.
You can find out more information about the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update for the Motorola Droid 2 Global here and the Motorola Droid Pro here.
Source Everything Android
Filed Under: Android News, Mobile Phone News


text:
ZURICH, Aug 8 (Reuters) - The Swiss blue-chip SMI was seen opening 0.1 percent lower at 9,146 points on Tuesday, according to premarket indications by bank Julius Baer .
Here are some of the main factors that may affect Swiss stocks:
* OC Oerlikon Corporation reported first half net profit up 11.6 percent at 48 million Swiss francs($49.35 million).
* Banque Cantonale de Geneve reported that its first half operating income had increased by 8.2 percent to 183.1 Million Swiss francs.
* Galenica confirmed its guidance for 2017 after reporting a first half net profit of 62.1 million Swiss francs.
* Swissquote Group said H1 net trading income had risen 40.6 percent to 10.4 million francs.
* Vifor Pharma raised its 2017 net sales and EBITDA guidance after reporting a 13.6 percent rise in net sales to 625.7 million Swiss francs.
* LafargeHolcim's Nigerian-based unit - Lafarge Africa - is consolidating its businesses on the continent to simplify its ownership structure and operations, its head of strategy told Reuters on Monday.
* Buyout firm Lion Capital is working with Credit Suisse to explore strategic options for Dutch discount retailer HEMA, sources familiar with the matter said, reviving previous efforts to find a new owner for the business.
* Forbo Holding AG said it has raised 91 million Swiss francs after selling 63,000 treasury shares; the placement represented 3.5 percent of Forbo's share capital and most of the treasury shares it holds
Switzerland's seasonally adjusted jobless rate remained static at 3.2 percent in July, according to data from the government's economics department. ($1 = 0.9727 Swiss francs) (Reporting by Zurich newsroom)


text:
Watch Kawasaki motorcycle videos in the Motorcycle USA Kawasaki video section.
After battling at the racetrack, Superbike Smackdown X moves to the street to see how the same six Superbikes perform on the open road. Read the full 2015 Superbike Smackdown X Street.
Watch the 2015 Superbike Smackdown Track Video introduction to see how MotoUSA puts its the top production sportbikes to the test in the 2015 Superbike Smackdown Track shootout. Read the full story in MotoUSA’s 2015 Superbike Smackdown X Track.
An omni present force in World Superbike racing, Kawasaki’s Ninja ZX-10R goes up against the latest and greatest competition in the 2015 Superbike class. Watch the 2015 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R comparison video and read the full story in MotoUSA’s 2015 Superbike Smackdown X Track.
The oldest motorcycle among the entry-level sportbikes tested, the 2015 Kawasaki Ninja 300 ABS faced stiff competition from the likes of Honda, KTM and Yamaha.
MotoUSA heads to Southern California’s Auto Club Speedway to test the new supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2. Read the full review of the bike in the 2015 Kawasaki Ninja H2 First Ride.
Kawasaki has brought the Versys 1000 LT to the United States for the first time. Watch as we take a ride in Italy on the biggest Versys. Read the 2015 Kawasaki Versys 1000 LT First Ride for the details.


text:
Warning letters to be sent out in illegal TV crackdown
Internet and television providers are sending out warning letters to households believed to be watching pirate TV, either from illegal downloads or Andriod/Kodi devices.
According to reports, the UK’s main internet providers are launching a new crackdown on illegal streaming today with firms contacting households that have utilised their broadband connection to watch pirate TV shows.
The popularity of Kodi boxes and other Android enabled devices have allowed more people than ever to watch pirate shows, however, Virgin Media, TalkTalk, Sky and BT are all attempting to crack down on the use of such platforms.
Such users will be targeted first rather than those simply streaming videos.
The letter sent out by providers will simply state where content can be downloaded legally and does not mean that legal action will be taken.
According to reports, the letter reads: “Get it Right is a government-backed campaign acting for copyright owners who think their content’s been shared without their permission.
“It looks like someone has been using your broadband to share copyrighted material (that means things like music, films, sport or books). “And as your broadband provider, we have to let you know when this happens”
A landmark case against illegal streaming software is currently under appeal in the UK, with the result having an impact on the future of Kodi and Android boxes.


text:
Huawei changing to the new HarmonyOS isn’t a matter of “if” but rather “when.” Ever since the Chinese tech company received trade sanctions from the United States and was dubbed “a national security threat,” the latest Huawei devices are unable to use Google and most especially the Android operating system.
Now, the Chinese company is allegedly speeding up the process of launching its own operating system. This is to avoid their devices from relying on Google.
News of Huawei developing a new operating system first blew up last year amid the U.S. sanctions. The company had officially unveiled the HarmonyOS in August 2019 during the company’s inaugural developers’ conference.
The company thus became the second company after Apple that manufactures its own hardware and software. Huawei developing a new OS comes at a critical time.
All of the company’s latest smartphones are just using an open-source version of Android. Because of this, their devices now lack the services that run Google Maps, YouTube, Gmail, and especially the Google Play Store.
While Huawei has already put in place alternatives for these services, developing their own OS would be the more practical solution.
For a long time, Android and iOS have held a duopoly in the smartphone OS market. But the introduction of a new OS, and from a giant company like Huawei at that, would definitely shake the balance between smartphone operating systems.
The HarmonyOS is already running on several of Huawei’s products but is yet to make its appearance on a smartphone device.
In China, called the “biggest smartphone market in the world,” the HarmonyOS is sure to make a big impact.
This is because the U.S. apps that are popular in the west aren’t exactly essential in that region. But the lack of U.S. apps would definitely affect how Harmony OS performs and how people accept it in the west.
A recent report by Notebook Check suggests that Huawei could launch the new HarmonyOS by December. However, this launch is only limited to developers.
The report indicates that Huawei would be sending out smartphones containing the new OS to developers. The company hopes that doing so would entice them into making suitable apps.
Since the company wants around 200 million devices to have the HarmonyOS in its first year, sending it out early to the developers would seem like the right move.
Featured image courtesy of Omid Armin/Unsplash
School holidays can be a special time for extended families to gather. Children may see…
Given how much COVID-19 is dominating Australians’ lives, our governments should be telling us everything…


text:
Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 sell 2 million in 2 weeks
That’s a lot of Pokémon. And that’s a lot of 2’s.
This news comes from Famitsu via Eurogamer (since I can’t read Japanese) who notes that the versions have stayed atop the sales charts for two weeks and have now sold a combined 2,035,471 copies.
That’s a lot of Pokémon.


text:
Seventy-five years ago a feisty 65-year-old chicken salesman (once a farmhand, an army mule-tender, a locomotive fireman, an aspiring lawyer, an insurance salesman, an amateur obstetrician, a political candidate and a ferryboat entrepreneur, among other professions) set out to give his neighbors the best fried chicken out there. A decade later that secret recipe and his finger lickin’ good® fried chicken made Colonel Sanders one of the most recognizable men in the world.
“Colonel Harland Sanders’ iconic legacy and world-famous Original Recipe® chicken are what set Kentucky Fried Chicken apart from the rest. His entrepreneurial spark and unrelenting appreciation for hard work, philanthropy and showmanship (or what he called “a little Colonel-ing”) are exemplary of the ‘American Dream,’” said Kevin Hochman, chief marketing officer for KFC US. “We want to remind today’s hardworking folks that his passion, dedication and famous secret blend of 11 herbs and spices are alive and well across our 4,300 restaurants in the US.”
In honor of this momentous anniversary, KFC is reintroducing the brand’s greatest asset—the Colonel himself—by bringing his down-home values and recipe for the world’s tastiest chicken to life via web, broadcast, social media and in-store experiences. You can view the all-new television spots below.
Genres: Comedy, Storytelling, People
Categories: Fast food, Retail and Restaurantslbbonline.com, Wed, 27 May 2015 10:21:14 GMT


text:
Einride recruits from Uber, Volvo Car Mobility and DHL
Stockholm, Sweden - In 2020, transport tech company Einride initiated partnerships with several well-known brands such as Oatly, Coca-Cola European Partners and Lidl. The team is now being strengthened with heavy industry names from Uber, Volvo Car Mobility (M) and DHL.
Kalle Persson, former Development Manager at iZettle and Head of Product at Volvo Car Mobility (M), joins the company as Chief Product Officer (CPO). Malena Heed, former Head of PR and Sustainability at iZettle and Communications Manager for Uber Nordics, takes on the role of Communications Director. Joakim Jansch, with over 30 years of experience from leading positions within DHL and the international logistics industry, assumes the role of Sales Director Sweden.
“We set the global speed record and were the first in the world to drive an electric, autonomous truck on public roads, so technically there is no doubt that we are world leaders. Now it is up to us to maintain this role in the tech landscape and at the same time switch up commercially, something this group of outstanding new recruits affords us,” says Robert Falck, CEO and founder of Einride.
Einride, which in addition to self-driving Pods also has Europe's largest fleet of electric heavy trucks, offers a platform for sustainable and cost-effective shipping.
“Einride has in a short period of time made an impressive mark on the industry. I look forward to working with the team to show that the transition to more sustainable and cost-effective shipping can easily begin today,” says Kalle Persson.
Einride is a Swedish technology company that develops and provides freight mobility solutions based on electric and autonomous vehicles, leading the transition to sustainable transport. It was founded in 2016 by Robert Falck, Linnéa Kornehed and Filip Lilja, and became the world’s first company to operate an autonomous, all-electric freight vehicle on a commercial route on a public road. For more information on Einride and its sustainable, autonomous, and freight management solutions, visit https://www.einride.tech/press or reach out to firstname.lastname@example.org.


text:
UK-headquartered game publisher and developer Codemasters, which has recently
been making moves into the MMO business with the Western licensing of Korean title RF Online
, has announced that it is teaming with Turbine to be the online service provider for Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach
Codemasters will be responsible for hosting, community management, technical support and billing for D&D Online
in Europe when it launches next year, and this continues the company's move into the online arena
, following the July set-up of Codemasters Online Gaming, a new division of the company will focus specifically on massively multiplayer online games and online casual games.
The UK-based publisher and developer previously dabbled in the MMO market with its now-cancelled title Dragon Empires
, but it seems likely that Codemasters' recent venture capital funding
by Benchmark Capital has refocused part of the company on areas that VCs currently find interesting, such as casual gaming and online subscription-based gaming, while still continuing with a core of console and PC-based games such as Ricky Ponting Cricket
and the TOCA Race Driver
"Codemasters' investment in online gaming makes them the right partner for Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach
in Europe," explained Jeffrey Anderson, president and CEO of Turbine. "We are convinced that Codemasters will provide the best exposure and customer support for this highly anticipated title."


text: Viewers don’t seem to make huge distinctions between TV and made-for-web video ads, either. A January 2013 Starcom study found that US internet users had similar attitudes toward ads during traditional TV and original streaming content. Feelings were slightly more polarized for streaming, with greater percentages of viewers reacting positively or negatively and fewer with neutral reactions. But the study did not indicate the kinds of statistical differences that would make marketers, content owners or streaming companies rethink the advertising model for online vs. traditional TV. Read the rest at eMarketer.


text:
Profit fell at the world's largest retailer. As Fred Katayama reports, rising sales was weaker than expected, pressuring Wal-Mart's stock.
Higher wages and rising expenses for technology investment biting into Wal-Mart's results, lowering quarterly profit more than 8 percent. Sales at existing stores rose. But that was weaker than expected as unusually warm weather and falling food prices bit into the top line. Wal-Mart's CFO said food deflation continues to be "challenging." Shares of the world largest retailer, which have risen nearly 12 percent this year, dropped sharply at the start of trading. One bright spot: a jump in digital sales, just like archrival Target. Helping Wal-Mart on that front: its acquisition of startup Jet.com in August. Cowen analyst Oliver Chen said, "We were pleased to see E-commerce growth accelerate to 20.6 percent from 11.8 percent last quarter." Like Target, Wal-Mart was optimistic about its outlook ahead of the holiday season, lifting the the low-end of its profit forecast for the fiscal year.


text:
Apple Poised To Open ‘Many’ Retail Stores In May
The Vice-President of Apple Deidre O’Brien has told employees in a weekly staff video update that the company plans on opening “many more” of its retail stores in May, according to Bloomberg. However, the update did not specify what stores or regions O’Brien was referring to.
MacRumors, however, reported that the company doesn’t plan on opening most of its retail stores in North America until mid-June. It is unclear when Australia’s 22 Apple retail stores will reopen.
The vast majority of Apple’s retail stores outside mainland China have been closed due to COVID-19 since the 14th of March 2020. One single store has been reopened during this period, with one South Korea location opened for repairs and purchase pickups on the 18th of April.
During this Apple closure, consumers in Australia have been able to make purchase on the online Apple store. To get around being unable to return items 14 days after purchase, Apple has said it will accept any returns within 14 days of them reopening stores (though they will not be accepting returns of connected iPhones or trade-in devices).
Apple promised to pay the company’s hourly workers, including many of those working at its retails stores, during the COVID-19 closure.


text:
The British makeup artist fell in love with Kim after seeing her reality show, and said:
Some of the cosmetic procedures he's undergone include:
Wardrobe malfunctions, so evil yet so AH-Mazing!
Toni Braxton is the latest victim of the ol' malfunction scheme as her dress started to fall off her right on stage during a performance!
We're guessing Miz Braxton was doing too much shimming to keep her already teeny tiny outfit on.
And what happens during a wardrobe malfunction? Well, in Toni's case, a full moon came out…a damn fine, fit and luscious full moon!
But you won't believe what happened after the incident! Let's just say, gurlfriend is a PRO, and you CAN rely on the kindness of strangers.
[Image via YouTube.]


text:
There’s no doubt Princess Diana was one of the biggest figures in the fashion world during her time. Her legendary ‘revenge dress’ was by far one of the most memorable looks in pop culture.
The late princess was never afraid to push style boundaries, despite her royal title. Diana managed to make jumpers and cycling shorts look chic. She donned oversized blazers and baseball caps yet still managed to look as classy as ever.
She certainly wore some of the most beautiful ball gowns, but it was her casual, dressed-down looks that cemented her as a true fashion icon.
Her style has continued to inspire many, including Hailey Bieber who has channelled Diana in a photoshoot for Vogue Paris.
The 22-year-old honoured the late Princess Diana in the striking photoshoot which has sent fans into a frenzy on Instagram. Hailey’s followers were stunned by the resemblance between the pair.
One commented, ‘Strong Princess Di vibes here.’
‘I thought this was Princess Di’ another said.
Hailey heralded Diana as one of her inspirations. The model said, ‘All credit and inspo to the amazingly beautiful and iconically stylish Princess Diana who I’ve looked to for style inspiration for as long as I can remember.’
She added, ‘Thank you for leaving behind such an iconic fashion and style legacy.’
Hailey’s Vogue Paris shoot was released ahead of Diana’s 22nd anniversary.
The mum-of-two tragically passed away on August 31, 1997 in Paris, France. Diana was only 36-years-old when her life was cut short after that horrifying car accident.


text:
Singaporean man Ng Kheng Wah (57), company directory for T Specialist International, is jailed for illegally supplying North Korea with various luxury goods.
Ng shipped an estimated S$6 million worth of wines, spirits, jewellery, perfumes, cosmetics, and musical instruments to North Korea in violation of the 2006 United Nations Act and Singapore’s Penal Code banning trade with Pyongyang since November 2017.
His company, T Specialist, was found to have supplied the luxury goods to a North Korean department store chain called the Korean Bungsae Shop.
The transactions occurred over the course of several years, from November 2010 to January 2017.
The illegal goods were shipped through Dalian, China. Ng did not declare to Singapore Customs that the final delivery port was in North Korea.
Bungsae Shop, owned by father and son group Li Ik and Li Hyon, paid T Specialist through front companies located in Hong Kong and China.
According to Today, the son reportedly studied in Singapore in 2014.
Ng and his business associate Wang Zhiguo (57) are also charged for cheating five banks of more than US$95 million (S$129 million).
The Bungsae Shop owed T Specialist about US$20 million in 2013.
Facing a cash flow problem, Ng then used fraulent invoices to address his business issue.
Through Wang’s Pinnacle Offshore Trading business, T Specialist got fake invoice financing loans from banks for non-existent goods.
The administrative officer of T Specialist, Sherly Muliawan, filled up templates of the falsified invoices which she submitted to DBS Bank, CIMB Bank, Maybank, RHB Bank, and OCBC.
T Specialist fooled the banks even further by shipping hundreds of cartons of Watari instant noodles.
Ng reportedly paid the loans in full.
Ng was sentenced to two years and 10 months in jail while T Specialist was fined S$880,000. Wang, a Chinese national and Singapore permanent resident, was jailed for one year.
The administrative staff was not charged./TISGFollow us on Social Media
Send in your scoops to email@example.com


text:
The shrimp farmers in Khulna district are struggling to cope up with the Covid-19 pandemic effect amid the low price of shrimp.
At the beginning of the pandemic, the shrimp farmers were counting a huge loss due to the high price of fish fry and fish feed and the drop in shrimp prices also added to their woes during the outbreak.
Fisheries officials, frozen shrimp export organizations and shrimp farmers said frozen shrimp export is the second largest sector in the country and shrimp is being cultivated in Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira and other districts in the country.
The frozen shrimp organisations have stopped collecting shrimp from the farmers. As a result the prices of shrimp have fallen in the local market, which affected the shrimp farmers badly.
Toufique Mahmud, fish inspection and quality control inspector, said a total of 29,540 metric tonnes of shrimp has been exported from Khulna region in the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The market value of the shrimp was Tk 2,360 crore.
But in the current 2020-2021 fiscal years, some 21,490 metric tonnes of shrimp has been exported and the price of the shrimp was found Tk 1,571 crore, which showed a good sign in the export sector, he said.


text:
As you may already know, or if you read the news we previously brought you about The Daily coming out, it was released yesterday exclusively as an iPad app. It’s the first off its sort, bringing the national news to the public eye everyday through a tablet. Another first is that it comes with a yearly subscription on the App Store at just $39.99 a year or $0.99 a week. Fees are paid through your iTunes account direct.
Autoblog have reviewed the app describing it as visually stunning. They believe The Daily provides more than enough for its $0.99 price tag. They say enough ‘to keep you reading for an hour.’ You can see their whole review here.
The Daily is led by Publisher Greg Clayman and Editor-In-Chief Jesse Angelo and unlike daily newspapers, it offers an array of features including video, audio, photography, variety of text, touch interactivity as well as offering social feeds and real-time data. Some of the features above are included in a video from The Daily.com that can be watched below.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of News Corporation Rupert Murdoch believes The Daily will mold the future of ‘how stories are told and consumed in this digital age.’ Read the full press release here.
It is no surprise that an app like this was created seeing as over 2% of internet traffic comes from Apple devices. You can read more about this here.
Have you tried The Daily app yet? Let us know your thoughts?
*Identifying Monetised Links - outgoing links that we monetise are marked with an '*' symbol.


text:
Output 1070 Ti GeForce GTX is almost Halloween (October 31) confirms the promises Gigabyte.
In the absence of the need urgently to bring to market graphics card for gaming new generation (Volta) NVIDIA continues to squeeze the life out of Pascal. The next goal of the company from Santa Clara is the juxtaposition monitored by PWM version of the accelerator Radeon RX Vega 56 new models of GeForce GTX 1070 Ti on the chip GP104. The latter has already been confirmed by the developer of the overclocking utility MSI Afterburner. Besides, earlier it was announced its key characteristics and declassified the date of announcement of 26 October.
Resource Tech ARP has found out more details about the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti. In particular, the us site reported that on 26 October is expected to be only a formal announcement of the GTX 1070 Ti, and sales of its various versions will start a week later — November 2. The source also said the recommended price of new items, which will be $429, not $ 450-460, as we expected. Accordingly, under the current pricing on the reference card Radeon RX Vega 56 in the region of $500 (the recommended price — $399) NVIDIA might be more efficient and cheaper competitor. However, AMD still have a few weeks to affect AIB partners and distributors. Now due to cryptocurrency miners wanting to buy Radeon chips, Vega and Polaris 10 10 enough, but relying only on them would be from Sunnyvale too rash.
Given our earlier preliminary specifications GeForce GTX Ti 1070 remain in effect. The new modifications to the core Pascal GP104 will include 2432 stream processors, texture units 152, 64 block rendering and 256-bit memory bus. The size and frequency of buffer memory GDDR5 will be the same as the GeForce GTX 1070 — 8 GB and 2000 (8000) MHz, respectively. GPU frequency is expected to range 1607-1683 MHz and a maximum power consumption of the accelerator under load — 180 watts. Through overclocking future owners of GTX 1070 Ti can advance the performance of their cards to the GeForce GTX 1080. Note that the limitation of memory bandwidth to 256 GB/s will not give the new “Titanium” to surpass the level of the senior model.
Output 1070 Ti GeForce GTX is almost Halloween (October 31) confirms the promises to get the Gigabyte with Aorus Ti GTX 1070 to the wallets of gamers.
© 2017 – 2019, paradox. All rights reserved.


text:
Porsche Consulting and Sakuu to Create 3D Printed Batteries Together
One of the first industries to use 3D printing was the automotive sector. Initially, the main application was prototyping, as the technology allows parts to be manufactured quickly, while the design can be easily changed. Though as we know that has changed in recent years as more and more end-use parts are being made. In addition, 3D printing is also being used to produce batteries. The market for this was worth $18.7 billion in 2020, according to EMR, and is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 19.4% from 2023-2028. By 2026, the market value is expected to reach $54.2 billion. Now Sakuu announced the construction of gigafactories where 3D-printed batteries will be manufactured. The project is planned in collaboration with Porsche Consulting.
Sakuu, the pioneer of 3D printed Swift Print™ solid-state battery technology, announced plans to build the first additive manufacturing factory for commercial production of 3D printed lithium metal and solid-state batteries. The project is to be led by Porsche Consulting, a subsidiary of renowned automaker Porsche, on the design aspect. Gregor Harman, CEO of Porsche Consulting North America explained:
“We’re thrilled to become an integral part of Sakuu’s journey as it embarks on building gigafactories that break all norms in commercial-scale energy manufacturing. Their seminal and scalable additive manufacturing approach can bring incredible innovation to major industries transitioning to new energy solutions— automotive and beyond”
For the new line of safe, high-energy-density lithium metal batteries, roll-to-roll manufacturing is used in the first plant. This type of manufacturing describes how flexible substrate is unrolled on an assembly line and then materials are applied to that substrate, cleaned, textured or otherwise modified. Further factories then use advanced additive manufacturing to produce the Swift Print™ solid-state battery product line from multiple materials. When it comes to planning the gigafactories, Porsche Consulting can offer expertise, especially in the automotive sector. Furthermore, it is important to Sakuu that design focus on sustainability while maximizing production efficiency. The goal, after all, is to build identical sites worldwide.
The construction of the gigafactories would bring Sakuu closer to its goal of 200 GWh by 2030 for its developing energy storage product line. For more information on this topic, click HERE.
What do you think of Sakuu’s choice of Porsche Consulting to expand their capabilities in making 3D printed batteries? Let us know in a comment below or on our Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.
*Cover Photo Credits: electrive


text:
Loodgieterij online dating
"There are a lot of theories out there about how online dating is bad for us," Michael Rosenfeld, a sociologist at Stanford who has been conducting a long-running study of online dating, told me the other day.
"And mostly they're pretty unfounded." Rosenfeld, who has been keeping tabs on the dating lives of more than 3,000 people, has gleaned many insights about the growing role of apps like Tinder.
Our singles community is massive, and you're only a couple of clicks away from finding a date.
A couple of months ago, I was sitting at a bar minding my own business when the woman next to me did something strange.
(For gay couples, it's more like two out of every three).
The idea is that if you’re faced with too many options you will find it harder to pick one, that too much choice is demotivating.
We see this in consumer goods — if there are too many flavors of jam at the store, for instance, you might feel that it’s just too complicated to consider the jam aisle, you might end up skipping it all together, you might decide it's not worth settling down with one jam. I don’t think that that theory, even if it’s true for something like jam, applies to dating.
The rise of phone apps and online dating websites gives people access to more potential partners than they could meet at work or in the neighborhood.
It makes it easier for someone who is looking for something very specific in a partner to find what they are looking for.


text:
Cryptocurrency prices are falling hard across the board today, with Maker (MKR 5.33%) being a notable exception. At 11:15 a.m. ET, the price of Maker tokens was up a whopping 19% over the previous 24 hours. And it's likely because TerraUSD (USTC) and Terra's Luna tokens (LUNC 0.77%) are trending toward zero at the moment.
For context, a stablecoin is a cryptocurrency for which the price is supposed to always be equal to a government-issued currency -- most often the U.S. dollar. MakerDAO is the organization behind a stablecoin called Dai (DAI 0.00%). Terraform Labs is behind a stablecoin called TerraUSD.
There are other U.S. dollar stablecoins as well, including Tether and USD Coin. And to be clear, different stablecoins use different mechanisms to keep their values, well, stable. And right now, these various stablecoin models are trying to demonstrate their merits in order to gain widespread adoption.
Tether and USD Coin both hold real U.S. dollars in reserve, making them close competitors. By contrast, Dai issues new tokens based on crypto assets locked up in the system. Similarly, TerraUSD isn't backed by dollars but rather by a burning-and-minting symbiotic relationship with Luna.
Without going too far into the weeds, the rivalry between TerraUSD and Dai isn't imaginary. On March 23, Terra founder Do Kwon said on social media, "By my hand Dai will die."
The sad irony is that over the past couple of days, TerraUSD and Luna entered a death spiral, with the value of each declining faster than its algorithmic mechanisms can repair the damage. As of this writing, TerraUSD has bounced off its lows, but it's still down more than 50% from $1, and it's fair to wonder if it will ever recover.
While TerraUSD's demise would be good for Dai because there'd be one fewer player, I'd be cautious approaching the stablecoin space right now. I believe the true takeaway with TerraUSD's decline is that these models are still new and still being tested. Because of this, weaknesses are sometimes unexpectedly uncovered, and the fallout can be swift.
Therefore, if you do chose to buy Maker tokens because of what's happening with Terra, be sure that -- like always -- it's a disciplined investment and not more than you could afford to lose if something goes wrong.


text:
One shopper has revealed her surprise at finding an X-rated mistake inside her Kmart Slow Cooker.
Kmart customer Sandie shared an image of the rude message on the Kmart Hacks & Decor Facebook group, revealing that there’d been an unfortunate spelling mistake in the safety warning on the gadget.
In the video above: Kmart apologises after ‘sex and drug’ ad
For more Kmart related news and videos check out Kmart >>
‘Anyone else see what’s wrong in this picture?,’ she wrote. Adding the hashtags: #welldonekmart #idonthaveoneofthosesorry
On closer inspection, you can see that the word ‘cook’ has been misspelt - with the second ‘o’ being replaced with a ‘c’, resulting in a rather X-rated typo.
Luckily Sandie saw the humour in it all - as did her fellow Kmart Hacks & Decor followers.
‘What a cock-up!’ said one. Added another: ‘Dinner’s in the cockpot!’
More on 7NEWS.com.au
- ‘Not credible’: The truth about Wuhan and its infection statistics
- Reopening the economy after coronavirus: Roadmap for recovery revealed
- Nurse, 29, with coronavirus, called for ambulance before dying at home alone
Said a third: ‘Does this mean the meat will fall off the bone(r)?’
But in an embarrassing twist, it seems Sandie’s slow cooker isn’t the only one affected!
Said another shopper: “That is hilarious. Just checked mine, says the same thing too. Can’t wait to give the other half the instructions!!!”


text:
View 2013 Page 2
We are sorry, article about "View 2013 Page 2" is not found or may be has been deleted. You may read other articles below or searching by type keyword in search form above!
A leak of GizmoChina mention that Lenovo is preparing a smartphone with an amazing battery.
The products allegedly named Lenovo P770 is a smartphone based on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. To accommodate all the needs, Lenovo immerse powerful battery 3500mAh.
BlackBerry seems very serious enrich the application ecosystem. This is evidenced by the achievement of 100 thousand apps in the app store BlackBerry World.
Quoted from Slashgear, Friday (22/3), this means that BlackBerry has added about 30 thousand [...]
Moscow – Thousands of Russian citizens were mobilized to clean up the damage caused by the meteor hit near the Ural mountains failed to find the space rock fragments. Failing that later sparked a conversation about the conspiracy theories about [...]
A man named Jim Stickley so far recorded more than 1000 bank he had robbed.
Uniquely, the hacker genius was never arrested let alone sent to prison.
Yes, Stickley is a ‘tester‘. His job is to penetrate and break through the security of computer [...]
The news about BlackBerry 10 smartphone presence in the cheaper version of the more widely heard.
This time, the phone will be called the BlackBerry R10 predicted that re-emerged in cyberspace, but with different colors.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, Monday [...]
Nikon will launch a digital single-lens reflex (SLR) digital D7100 with a 24.1 megapixel sensor in a number of countries in March 2013.
The camera called Nikon D90 replaces it has a 51-point auto-focus and shutter speed reaches 1/8000 second to 30 seconds.
The issue of global warming causing many manufacturers to make devices that are environmentally friendly. Including one replacement power source for electricity with renewable sources or unlimited.
This one device seems to be an environmentally friendly [...]
If the basic applications like wallpaper request access to the GPS data, then it is suspicious.
More than 100,000 Android apps in the Google Play are included in the category of “suspicious” and “questionable”, according to a [...]
The new generation of Samsung smart phone has been released, introducing the new Samsung Galaxy S5, what can you expect? As we have already known that there are lots of features we can expect such as a more durable design and also a more fun experience [...]
Rumors that Samsung will release the Galaxy S4 Dual-SIM version became a reality.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, Sunday (28/4), the South Korean manufacturer officially introduced the Galaxy S4 Duos.
Besides being able to be pinned two SIM Card at once, no more [...]
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag will be released on October 29, 2013, is known thanks to leak news video trailer will premiere on March 3, 2013 yesterday.
Ubisoft stated that the game can already be ordered, intended for users of the Xbox 360, PlayStation [...]


text:
Amazon has announced its Kindle app for the iPad, which includes features such as a full-colour display, optional page-turning animation, and the company’s Whispersync technology, which synchronizes the app with other devices (such as a computer, iPhone or BlackBerry). However, the New York Times reports that the new Kindle app won’t be available until shortly after the iPad’s U.S. launch on April 3, as Amazon wants the chance to actually test it out on the device before releasing it.
In typical Apple fashion, a shroud of secrecy surrounds the details of its new tablet computer, and only a handful of companies “ including Major League Baseball, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times “ have access to a pre-release version of the iPad. And those who do have access to the device must agree to keep the iPad hidden from public view, chained to tables in windowless rooms, according to the Times. Companies like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, which are both creating apps specifically for Apple’s newest device, must use special Mac software that mimics the iPad. From the Times:
At the offices of Barnes & Noble’s digital unit in New York, 14 developers have occupied a windowless room since January, completely redesigning the company’s iPhone app for the iPad, according to Douglas Gottlieb, its vice president of digital products. The developers hunch over Macs around a big table, and printouts and notecards are taped up on the walls.