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Dozens of Auto Glass Safety Council™ (AGSC) members filled a conference room yesterday to kick off this year’s Auto Glass Week™ in San Antonio.
Wednesday’s AGSC meeting, led by Peter Brown of Tiny & Sons Glass in Pembroke, Mass., highlighted advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) standards, social media followings and new changes ahead for AGRSS™ Standard audits. Brown is a member of the AGSC board of directors and chairs the AGSC’s marketing committee.
“There’s so much info when it comes to ADAS it feels like we’re getting bombarded,” Brown said.
Standards for static and dynamic calibrations do not currently have ample documentation, according to some AGSC members.
One thing everyone in the room seemed to agree on was spending more time educating customers on the technology in their vehicles.
“It’s not uncommon for a customer to walk in and need his vehicle recalibrated and not have the slightest clue on what systems he has or the time it takes to complete it the right way. That’s when we as business owners and technicians need to step in,” Brown said.
Jeff Martineau, an auto glass industry sales representative with Clarity Sales Associates and member of the marketing committee, agreed on having customer education at the forefront.
“We need to do a better job of letting customers know why and when they’re required to have a recalibration,” Martineau said.
Several members noted that the AGSC is moving from its “infancy” stage to adolescence, where the base and verbiage are already established and the focus is now on getting the word out to the public.
Alicia Maples, owner of Fix a Crack, gave a presentation on the importance of knowing a company’s customer base. She highlighted how positive online reviews directly translate into increased business.
“First we must understand where our customers live online. Is it Yelp, Facebook or even Google? No matter the social media outlet we need to do our best to tailor the experience toward them,” Maples said.
She, along with many in attendance, agreed that most customers can leave a review online based on the company’s service and their comments can sway others to or away from the particular business.
AGSC audits were also a key focal point during the meeting. Topics emphasized during the meeting were:
- Businesses know of their audits in advance;
- There are both opening and closing meetings during each audit;
- Some technicians will be observed; and
- The audit follows the entire AGRSS™ Standard.
Following the meeting association members continued exploring San Antonio, gearing up for the rest of the week.
This year there are several new things Auto Glass Week attendees can look forward to, including new competition pairings. This year there will be two spouses competing as well as a father and daughter who are also competing.
Stay tuned to glassBYTEs.com™ for the latest from the event.


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Families on food assistance buying fewer full-fat dairy products
(Medical Xpress)—Efforts to reduce consumption of saturated fat among women and young children receiving food assistance appear to be paying off, according to a study by the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity.
Purchases of whole milk and cheese have decreased among families participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) after the program was revised in 2009 to offer foods that better reflect dietary recommendations for Americans. The study is published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
The WIC program is designed to help meet the nutritional needs of pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and young children who are at nutritional risk. Prior to the WIC food package revisions, allowances of milk and cheese exceeded dietary recommendations for dairy consumption in very young children, and most milk consumed was whole milk. After the revisions, whole milk was authorized only to children under age 2, while women and older children received milk with no more than 2% milk fat. States could further restrict it to low-fat or skim milk. Cheese allowances were largely reduced too.
The Yale researchers examined milk and cheese purchases made at a New England supermarket chain by Connecticut households participating in WIC over a two-year period. Milk and cheese volume purchased by these households were compared before and after the WIC revisions.
The most significant change after the WIC revisions was replacement of whole milk with lower-fat varieties, resulting in a reduction in consumption of saturated fat from purchased milk. Prior to the revisions in Connecticut, whole milk accounted for, on average, 57% of total milk purchases and 56% of WIC milk purchases. Researchers found that this allocation changed significantly with the new WIC packages. The whole-milk share declined to 33% in total milk purchases, and 25% in WIC milk purchases. Purchases of WIC cheese using WIC benefits declined after the revisions by 77%.
The WIC revisions were not accompanied by unintended consequences, such as substantial decreases in milk purchases below recommend levels.
The authors assert that similar results from food policy changes have been seen in other products and policies. A study published in the journal Pediatrics examined juice purchases after the WIC revisions, and found that WIC participants purchased about 25% less 100% juice. A study recently published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that purchases of 100% whole-grain bread and brown rice increased among WIC participants.
"Reducing saturated fat consumption was one of the goals for revising the WIC food packages," says Tatiana Andreyeva, lead author and director of economic initiatives at the Rudd Center. "This study shows that the revisions were successful and necessary, given excessive consumption of saturated fat and calories in vulnerable populations."
The study was funded by a grant from the Economic Research Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

domain: news


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BERLIN, March 2 (Reuters) - Germany’s Continental AG has reinforced expectations for higher sales this year and plans to raise the dividend after posting profit near the high end of expectations.
“The start into the new year has confirmed the expectations set for 2017,” the company said on Thursday, citing a goal to raise sales to over 43 billion euros ($45.28 billion) from 40.5 billion in 2016.
The automotive supplier and tyre maker said it plans to increase the dividend to 4.25 euros per share from 3.75 euros in 2015. The group had already reported core results on Jan. 9.
$1 = 0.9497 euros Reporting by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Maria Sheahan


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Each year, millions of pounds of unnecessary food waste end up in landfills across the county, adding millions of pounds of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere while many people go hungry.
Second Harvest is on a mission to change that. As the largest food rescue charity in Canada, they work with various businesses across the food supply chain to rescue good surplus food so it gets onto people's plates, not into a landfill.
Last year alone, Second Harvest rescued 53.3 million pounds of good, edible food from going to waste in landfills and supported over 4.1 million individuals experiencing food insecurity. If that's not enough to get you excited, their annual signature fundraising event is coming up this June and we're proud to be the official media partner.
On Sunday, June 4th, Toronto's Meridian Hall will light up with Second Harvest's The Rescue Party, a spectacular one-night event where guests can indulge in an evening of fine dining, music and elegance, all in support of food rescue across Canada.
The Rescue Party is Toronto’s most exciting culinary and concert experience of the summer. Feast on unreal dishes and signature bites from the city's most celebrated restaurants like DaiLo, Enoteca Sociale, La Bartola, George and more.
Guests will have full access to food and premium spirits, wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages. Plus, you can treat your ears to the sweet sounds of Sam Roberts with an exclusive live performance. Hosted by the always energetic Kardinal Offishall, who brings his inimitable swagger to the stage, The Rescue Party is an event you don't want to miss.
All proceeds support Second Harvest's work of rescuing food and distributing it to non-profits across Canada, making sure that people have access to the healthy food they need. Each standard ticket costs $300 and is eligible for a tax receipt of $100.
Put on your best cocktail chic attire and get ready for a night of delicious food and awesome live music, all in support of an amazing cause.
To learn more about Second Harvest's work, click here.


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But that’s what happened to off-licence chain Threshers when it decided earlier this year to start selling penny sweets. It was looking to cash in on the recent nostalgia craze, which has also brought Cadbury’s Wispa bar and dandelion and burdock back to our shelves in recent months.
However, Threshers has now come under fire from disgruntled employees, who appear to think selling penny sweets will encourage more children to buy alcohol. One huffily told the Guardian it was “morally dubious and socially careless,” as it would fuel youth disorder and possibly destroy the world as we know it (or something).
Anti-alcohol campaigners even condemned the move on the grounds that the sale of the sweets sent out a message that alcohol was, by association, completely harmless.
The UK high street is a dog-eat-dog world, and specialist retailers need to evolve to survive. As a rather bemused Thresher’s spokesperson said, the chain is also trialling sales of everything from sliced bread to financial services – should it also avoid granary loaves in case they lure in passing teenagers?
Here at MT, we don’t claim to be experts on the teenage mind. But we can’t help thinking there’s a couple of flaws in this theory. For a start, we don’t know many 15-year-olds who would be lured into any kind of shop purely by the prospect of buying penny sweets. And even if they did, are they really likely to buy a 4-pack of Special Brew purely on impulse?
What’s more, if you’re trying to buy booze illegally, ordering a bag of sherbet dips to go with your Diamond White seems like a pretty good way to draw attention to yourself…


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SugarCRM raises $33m to further expansion into enterpriseApril 10, 2012 No Comments
SugarCRM, the world’s fastest-growing customer relationship management (CRM) company, today announced it has completed a $33 million equity and debt financing round. SugarCRM will use the funds to continue its advancement into the enterprise market and to pursue strategic business opportunities.
“NEA supports SugarCRM’s vision to drive increased CRM adoption by offering affordable and easy to use CRM solutions to its customers,” said Brooke Seawell, Venture Partner at NEA. “We believe SugarCRM is uniquely positioned to serve the market and continue to generate impressive results.”
Driven by increased global adoption of SugarCRM and new product capabilities enabling the company’s advancement into the enterprise market, SugarCRM saw strong financial performance in 2011, achieving 67 percent top-line billings growth.
In addition, the company added more than 2700 new companies around the globe to its impressive customer roster last year alone. With more than one million users and 370 channel partners, SugarCRM is now the third most widely used CRM solution in the world.
“In 2011 we saw demand for CRM solutions grow exponentially with an increased number of enterprise companies looking for an open and flexible CRM platform that can effectively scale with their growing businesses. Our growth was up 67 percent last year, and we are off to a great start in 2012,” said Larry Augustin, CEO of SugarCRM. “Adding Brooke’s experience and talent to our Board will help us drive the company to the next level. We are excited to continue our expansion into the enterprise space and are privileged to have the strong support of top investors that have domain expertise in the CRM market and who support our mission.”DATA PRIVACY, News, SOCIAL BUSINESS


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Introducing its first new fall beverage in four years, Starbucks today announced the addition of the Toasted Graham Latte to its seasonal menu.
The latte, which was inspired by graham crackers in milk, features flavors of graham and sweet cream and is topped with cinnamon graham crumbles.
“While there are many customers who want to hold onto summer, there are others who can’t wait for it to end,” said Jimmy Balch, senior designer for store promotions at Starbucks. “We wanted to give those who celebrate fall something special.”
Yet Starbucks’ motivation for the new drink likely lies beyond autumnal celebration. Recent data shows that seasonal beverages can increase customers’ loyalty as well as their check averages.
Looking at the purchasing behavior of pumpkin-spice latte buyers, market-researcher NPD Group found that 20 percent of those customers purchased the seasonal item twice, and around 8 percent bought it three times during the offer period.
During fall and winter 2014, those customers also spent an average of $1.14 more per visit, NPD Group says, often the result of adding food to their beverage orders.
Coinciding with the release of its new latte, Starbucks Tuesday completed its U.S. rollout of mobile ordering and payment to company-owned stores. Starbucks units have seen a “significant uptick” in customer satisfaction after launching Mobile Order & Pay, the company’s CFO noted earlier this month.


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UAE plans clamp on inefficient AC units
Dubai, May 21, 2011
The UAE is in the process of restricting the entry of inefficient air-conditioning units in the country and has begun rolling out energy efficiency labeling system for window type and split-system.
Through a series of initiatives that calls for more efficient and energy-saving air conditioners, the UAE expects to cut down 30 per cent of electricity consumption or save approximately Dh250 million ($68 million) per year.
Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) is currently conducting a massive educational campaign, which will increase the awareness of how inefficient units add on to household and industrial costs.
It has now finalised the energy efficiency labeling system, which allows consumers to distinguish efficient products by the stars and certificates accorded to them.
This standard deals with the energy efficiency labels for single phase household air-conditioners for single package (such as window type) and split-system non-ducted air-conditioners using air and water-cooled condensers for residential or commercial use.
“Through the energy efficiency labeling system, people can see which air conditioners are ideal for use. The labeling scheme categorizes the product from one-star to five-star, the five-star label being the most efficient,” said Mohammad Saleh Badri, acting director general, ESMA.
“Better efficiency means lesser consumption of energy. So, if you use a one-star labeled air conditioning unit, you may save up to 12 per cent but if you use a five-star labeled unit, your cost savings could reach up to 30 per cent.”
Beginning January 2012, no air-conditioning unit will be allowed entry to the UAE unless they comply with energy efficiency labeling system.
“For the ones that are already in the market place, we have agreed with the traders that they have to remove them from their inventory either by selling them or shipping them somewhere else by the end of this year,” Badri added.
“We are also in coordination with the UAE customs to develop electronic links for the traders to get access to the system and have all of their approvals before shipping the units to UAE in advance.”
“We are also discussing ways on how to encourage users to replace their existing low-efficient units. For example, we have developed software where consumers can go to our website and check how much savings – if there is any – are they getting from their current units. In addition, we are in discussions with local governments on how to hasten the process of replacing inefficient units.”
More than 600,000 units of split and window ACs to be traded in the UAE are expected to comply with the Energy Efficiency Standard by 2013.
“We are also in coordination with our counter parts in GCC countries to have one unified system in all countries, therefore, helping traders to have their products freely access all GCC markets without different approval. We are already in dialogue with Saudi Arabia since they are in process of developing the similar labeling system,” Badri said.
Once demand for energy-saving units pick-up, the government will move to remove inefficient products from the market place.
“Air-conditioning units which are not efficient will soon cease to trade in the UAE. We are trying to get rid of low efficient products to assist the economy of the UAE,” Badri said.
“Right now we have developed the system for widow and split ACs, which are the most commonly used. We will expand on chiller type which are vastly used by commercial and industrial sector by 2014.”
Despite the global economic slowdown in 2009 and 2010, the UAE continues to see increase in energy consumption. About 70 per cent of power consumption in the UAE can be traced from the use of air conditioners. – TradeArabia News Service
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Can you picture a community without even one Tesla (TSLA)? Take Tesla Inc. Report for a drive. Given how well-known they’ve grown to be since Elon Musk established the business in 2003, it could feel like a thing of the past.
However, one county in northern China is making it a reality this summer, as was first reported by Reuters.
For the next two months, no Tesla vehicles are allowed to enter the Beidaihe district. In the northern Hebei province, which has 74 million residents and borders the coast of the Bohai Sea, there is a beach resort.
|Bid||648.30 x 1100|
|Ask||648.97 x 800|
|Day’s Range||639.60 – 662.91|
|52 Week Range||608.88 – 1,243.49|
|Beta (5Y Monthly)||2.13|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||87.88|
|Earnings Date||Jul 25, 2022 – Jul 29, 2022|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||N/A (N/A)|
|1y Target Est||908.47|
Why Is This District Banning Teslas?
The purpose for the prohibition is not so much to preserve a serene, car-free coast as it is to accommodate an annual, ultra-secret gathering of top Chinese officials in Beidaihe.
The occasion is always shrouded in secrecy, especially to outside spectators. Every year, some coverage of the summit appears only after it has already taken place, and the actual dates are never disclosed.
The most watched unofficial event in the country’s political calendar, according to journalist William Zheng for the South China Morning Post, was once “an annual break for [China’s top leaders] to switch off and relax on the long beaches of the fabled northern resort town.” However, it has since evolved into a time for the nation’s most powerful to glad-hand, logroll, and gossip with one another.
According to a member of the Beidaihe Traffic Police Brigade, the Tesla ban was implemented because of “national affairs.”
He did not elaborate on why Tesla was singled out for attack as opposed to other foreign automobiles, and Tesla, which dismantled its PR department, was not available for comment.


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McDonald’s Corp. is testing automated voice order-taking at about 10 drive-thrus in the Chicago area, company CEO Chris Kempczinski told an investor conference Wednesday.
“There is a big leap between going from 10 restaurants in Chicago to 14,000 restaurants across the U.S. with an infinite number of promo permutations, menu permutations, dialect permutations, weather — I mean, on and on and on and on,” said Kempczinski, president and CEO of the Chicago-based burger brand, at the AllianceBernstein Strategic Decisions conference.
“Do I think in five years from now you're going to see a voice in the drive-thru?” Kempczinski asked. “I do, but I don't think that this is going to be something that happens in the next year or so.”
Kempczinski said the automated system is about 85% accurate and can take about four-fifths of all orders in tests.
The automated voice order-taking drive-thru test leans on a technology acquisition McDonald’s made in September 2019, when it acquired Apprente, a company that specializes in voice-based conversational technology.
“There's still a lot of work, but I do feel confident that the acquisition that we did with Apprente, the work that we've done since then, we feel good about the technical feasibility of it and the business case,” Kempczinski said in a conference transcript from FactSet.
Humans have to be trained to work alongside the machines, he added.
“One of the things that we've learned in our 10 restaurants that we've done it is: How do you train a crew to actually not want to jump in as soon as they hear a question or a pause?” Kempczinski said. “We've had to do a little bit of training of ‘just keep your hands off the steering wheel, let the computer do its work.’”
Developing a comfort level with the human staff members was important, he added. “We weren't getting enough of the orders to be actually able to be processed through the voice recognition technology,” Kempczinski explained, “because as soon as there was a question or a hiccup, the crew had a tendency to just want to jump in. And it took a little bit of time to actually learn to trust the technology.”
Kempczinski said technology acquisitions can accelerate some aspects of technology for the foodservice company.
“But I think what we've also discovered is, long term, we're not going to be able to always be on the bleeding edge of where technology is,” he said. “The industry is just evolving too rapidly.”
Kempczinski said it was difficult to compete with the best companies in voice recognition, point of sale or customer relationship management systems.
“We're not going to be in that business,” he said. “So if we do acquisitions, it will be for a short period of time, bring it in-house, jumpstart it, turbo it and then spin it back out and find a partner who can kind of take that work and scale it for us. I think that's probably more the model. I don't see us spending a lot of time, energy, effort trying to build our own internal capabilities on technology.”
While automation has applications in some parts of the restaurant business, Kempczinski said, the costs of equipment, such as in automated fryers or automated grills, could be prohibitive.
“Most of those are not ready for prime time, nor will they be ready for prime time over the next five years or so,” he said. “The level of investment that would be required, the cost of that equipment, we're nowhere near to what the break-even would need to be from a labor-cost standpoint, to make that a good business decision for franchisees.”
McDonald’s has 38,000 restaurants in nearly 115 countries, with about 93% of those franchised.
Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless


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Visualizing Trade War Tariffs - Which States Could Suffer the Most?
As the U.S. continues to impose tariffs on goods from China, and vice versa, both countries are raising the stakes of the ongoing trade war. The new 15% tariff on Chinese goods just kicked in, and Asian markets are already feeling the effects. But the U.S. economy is also affected by these ever-escalating tariffs. Our newest visualization takes a closer look at how much each state would be affected by export tariffs imposed by China.
- Throughout the trade war from the past year, the U.S. imposed $250 billion in tariffs on imported Chinese products. China retaliated with $110 billion in tariffs against American exports.
- In absolute numbers, states on the West Coast, Gulf Coast, and Mid-Atlantic region stand to lose the most money as a result of these export tariffs. By contrast, states in the Midwest and Great Plains stand to lose the least amount of money.
- Some state economies rely more on exports than others. For example, exports comprise 26.7% of Louisiana’s economy, compared to only 0.7% of Hawaii’s economy.
- According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, half of all manufacturing jobs in the U.S. are dependent on exports, and one in three acres of American farmland is used for selling agricultural products to other countries.
The data from this visualization comes from a few different sources. We used calculations from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to show the possible cost of tariffs, the Bureau of Economic Analysis to determine each state’s GDP, and the International Trade Commission to find the value of each state’s exports. In the map above, the color of each state represents the impact that export tariffs could have on the state, with lighter shades of pink representing lower impact and darker shades of red or brown representing greater impact. In addition, we used yellow circles to illustrate how much each state’s economy relies on exports; larger circles correspond to a higher percentage of exports as a percentage of GDP.
Top 10 States with Largest Possible Impact from Tariffs
1. California - $13.4 billion
2. Texas - $10.6 billion
3. Washington - 7.5 billion
4. Louisiana - $7.1 billion
5. Illinois - $5 billion
6. South Carolina - $3.9 billion
7. Alabama - $3.4 billion
8. Ohio - $3.2 billion
9. New York - $3.1 billion
10. Pennsylvania - $2.7 billion
The effect of this new chapter of the trade war is, as usual, spilling over to more markets and commodities, such as oil and Big Tech. The tariffs will affect more than just the large markets. In addition, consumers will note the effect of the new tariffs, since many everyday products will increase in price. Economists predict that American households will spend an extra $1,000 a year as a result of these tariffs.
The U.S. and China have agreed to hold high-level talks in October to negotiate better economic conditions. This announcement is already having a positive impact on the stock market, but the question of whether or not tariffs will actually be reduced is still up in the air.
What do you think about the effect of tariffs on the U.S. economy? Please let us know in the comments.


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Download-latest-birthday-cake, more accurately cakes on sunday december 15th at 4:00pm to 6:00pm join alice in celebrating byrd's books' 8th birthday as. Wdaf francisco villegas may be the new manager at kansas city grocery store price chopper "he's like 'no it's a, new delhi: the samajwadi party on friday celebrated the 81st birthday of its founder mulayam singh yadav at the party. Wendy's also tweeted a video on monday and wrote "oh just rolling out free food for our 50th birthday nbd " the short clip instructs customers to download the wendy and a free small soft drink, andrew cuomo on wednesday night brendan krisel patch midtown manhattan ny dozens of protesters crowded the front and.
Wendy's is celebrating turning 50 by launching a new flavor frosty the birthday cake frosty is available now and will be for a limited time the only flavors previously available were chocolate and, a youth in surat who celebrated his birthday with his friends on road by cutting cakes with swords has been arrested by the cops the youth was identified after video of the celebration went viral. A lansing michigan woman says a local bakery attacked her on social media after her complaints over a botched birthday cake and party, in this case the fan didn't get the cake he wanted and no one was able to eat it following that crimson tide loss to the tigers there will be bigger ramifications than just some harmless birthday.
Francisco villegas may be the new manager at the the cashier to take a cake off of her bill because she didn't have, wilx nbc news a lansing michigan woman says a local bakery attacked her on social media after her complaints over a botched birthday cake and party alexandra schroeder says she spent over a


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It is now legal to grow cannabis plants and buy marijuana infused dishes in Thailand. People in Thailand can now grow cannabis plants at home and sell the crop after the country removed marijuana from its list of banned narcotics.
The country is the first to take such a step in Southeast Asia, a region known for its strict drug laws. Recreational use is still banned, although proponents say the easing is effectively decriminalizing marijuana.
Agriculture and tourism
The government hopes the development of a local cannabis trade will boost agriculture and tourism. It is even giving away a million cannabis seedlings to citizens to encourage cultivation. “It is an opportunity for people and the state to monetize marijuana and hemp,” Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, said on his social media accounts last month.
He shared a photo on Facebook of a chicken dish cooked with cannabis, adding that anyone could sell the dish if they followed the rules – most importantly, products must contain less than 0,2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
From Thursday, households can grow up to six cannabis plants at home if they register with the authorities. Companies can also grow the plant with a permit. In restaurants, cannabis may be added to dishes and drinks.
Cannabis Clinics and Offenses
Clinics across the country can also more freely offer cannabis as a treatment. Thailand was the first in Asia to limit the use of medicinal cannabis in 2018 legalized† However, using the drug for personal use is still illegal. Officials have warned people against smoking in public, saying it is considered a public nuisance. Violators run the risk of being arrested.
Under the plan, the government also wants to release about 4.000 people convicted of cannabis-related crimes. Thailand, with its year-round tropical climate, has a long history of cannabis. Many local residents used it in traditional, natural medicines. As a result, many people were convicted of minor 'crimes'.
A broader cannabis control bill is currently under consideration in the Thai parliament. Proponents believe that a gradual relaxation of the usage rules could take place in the coming years.
Legal or not?
So is it legal or not? As Thailand's tourism economy recovers from its long Covid slumber, many tourists will wonder if the new liberal cannabis regime means they can light a joint whenever and wherever they want.
The government answer is no, you cannot smoke marijuana in public and it is still illegal to sell or supply products containing more than 0,2% of the main hallucinogenic substance THC.
The official goal is for Thailand to gain an edge over its neighbors by capturing much of the lucrative health treatment market with cannabis derivatives, especially the milder compound CBD. But there is another motive; reduce overcrowding in some prisons.
Which in theory means that now that cultivation of the plant in any quantity has been fully legalized, it's unlikely that the police will arrest people just for marijuana possession. There are already hundreds of companies in Thailand that were active before the new law and offer a whole range of marijuana products, such as restaurants that use the leaves in Thai curries. It is impossible for authorities to see how much THC some products contain.
The government insists they allow production and consumption solely for medical, not recreational purposes, but in practice that line has already faded.
Source: BBC.com (EN)


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West Australia Aims to Increase Exports
West Australian potato farmers are looking to drive up international sales, reports The West Australian. The state’s 70 spud growers are said to be seeking to establish a bulk exporting body by May next year.
After a series of regional grower meetings in recent months, producers stumped up more than USD100,000 to kickstart the new non-profit service provider.
WA Potato Growers Association chief Simon Moltoni, who was cited by the report, said the entity would help drive seven-fold increase with five years of WA’s current 6,000 tons exports a year. According to Moltoni, the body, structured as an “association”, would not transact potato sales but would be responsible for market development and supply chain management, on a fee-for-service basis.
He went on to say that by joining forces to export collaboratively, growers will be able to provide the important critical mass and consistency of supply needed to open doors with big multinational processors. Growers will also benefit from efficiencies on scale.
Work on market development will be ongoing and a list of priority markets for future exports would be developed.
As part of a separately funded project, an industry delegation will travel to Egypt in November to investigate market opportunities and further develop key relationships in-market. WA’s seed potatoes are expected to have big potential in this market, according to the report.
WA growers produce about 80,000 tons of potatoes a year, including seed, fresh and processing stock. Earlier this year, growers near Manjimup were forced to leave potatoes to rot because of a lack of local markets. Moltoni concludes that the entity would be able to provide growers with an alternative to the domestic market, where prices are at the whim of major supermarkets.


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Ever-increasing internet use is causing a drain on energy resources and threatens the future of Google and YouTube, according to experts.
They warn that as people become more reliant on computers and search engines, more power will be required to run websites which could lead to power cuts which cost millions of pounds in lost business every hour.
Scientists estimate that with more than 1.5 billion people online around the world, the energy demands of the internet are increasing by more than 10 per cent each year.
And with the recession taking its toll on the computer industry through falling advertising revenues, many online companies will not be able to cope with the extra costs.
(ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW)
‘In an energy-constrained world, we cannot continue to grow the footprint of the internet … we need to rein in the energy consumption,’ said Subodh Bapat, vice-president at Sun Microsystems, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of web servers.
- A d v e r t i s e m e n t
He said that the costs of running the web servers and data centres that store online information are rising during a time when the industry’s profits are suffering.
‘We need more data centres, we need more servers. Each server burns more watts than the previous generation and each watt costs more,’ he told the Guardian.
‘If you compound all of these trends, you have the perfect storm.’
One website which is thought to be suffering the most is YouTube. Now the world’s third-biggest website, it offers online videos, but it requires a heavy subsidy from its owner Google.


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Handbag designer Joanna Maxham — whose namesake brand has grown nearly 300 percent in the last two years — appears to have successfully charted a trajectory from the corporate world to the creative one.The Connecticut-based designer’s collection of streamlined leather bags is presently sold in over 50 stores in the U.S., with additional distribution arms in Asia and Europe.An alumni of IBM’s marketing department, Maxham decided a career change was in order “three to four years into my career, when I realized I wasn’t doing what I was meant to do. My creative interests came back — I took drawing classes and found more of my calling,” she told WWD.When her husband was assigned a job posting in various countries in Europe, eventually including Maxham's native Poland, she used her family’s relocation as an opportunity to train under an Italian leather-goods manufacturer.It was then that she “noticed a space in the market for handbags that were more minimalist and really good quality, but at a price that is still affordable."“I realized that anything I liked was in the range of $2,000 to $3,000, and what my friends could afford in terms of the quality and styling was not what I was comfortable with.”She launched an initial run of handbags in 2011, but in 2014 ramped up the business with outside investment from a private investor and a sales director. Retailers now include Anthropologie’s Web site, United Arrows and Takashimaya. Bags are priced from $265 to $850.The line is manufactured in Maxham’s native Poland, fabricated from leathers sourced in Italy, France and Spain. Accent hardware is sourced in Italy, Spain, France and Japan.
Harrods plans to remove the famous statue of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed from the bottom of the Egyptian escalators and hand it back to Mohamed Al-Fayed. “We are very proud to have played our role in celebrating the lives of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed at Harrods and to have welcomed people from around the world to visit the memorial for the past 20 years,” said Michael Ward, Harrods managing director. “With the announcement of the new official memorial statue to Diana, Princess of Wales at Kensington Palace, we feel that the time is right to return this memorial to Mr. Al Fayed and for the public to be invited to pay their respects at the palace.” More on the news, with reporting by @loreleimarfil, at WWD.com. #wwdnews
@prada is introducing a new project at its men’s fall 2018 show this Sunday: “Prada Invites.” The fashion house invited four celebrated creative minds – @ronanaerwanbouroullec, Konstantin Grcic, @herzogdemeuron and @rem.koolhaas – to each create a unique item with its iconic nylon material. The designs will be unveiled on the runway show, which will take place at the company’s warehouse in Viale Ortles 25. #wwdfashion #mfwm (📷: @martinocarrera)
@kering_official is spinning off its stake in puma in an effort to focus on its luxury brands, the brand operator announced yesterday. “We are proud to have supported the turnaround of Puma, which now has unrivaled capabilities to take full advantage of the specific dynamics of its global markets and is poised to achieve substantial growth,” said François-Henri Pinault, Kering’s chief executive officer and chairman. Artémis will become a “long-term strategic shareholder” of Puma with a 29 percent stake. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
The fashion world mourns for celebrated street style photographer, Nabile Quenum, who died at age 32 in Paris.
Quenum, creator of the fashion blog “J’ai Perdu Ma Veste,” was a fashion week fixture, and regularly shot for New York magazine’s The Cut, among other outlets, and brands such as Louis Vuitton, Moncler and Adidas. He was also actively involved in the #NoFreePhotos initiative, which kicked off in the fall. Read more about Quenum in @kbsmoke's story on WWD.com. #wwdnews
@verwanggang and @maisonladuree have teamed up on a dessert collab called Vera Wang Pour Ladurée. The collection, which launched this week, features a specialty macaroon, as well as a wedding cake inspired by one of the designer’s gowns. “I could not imagine a more delicate or sophisticated creation to grace any couple’s celebration,” said Wang. #wwdfashion


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NEW ORLEANS – Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday announced a new pricing model and updated packaging for its latest version of its embedded operating system CE .Net 4.2.
Announced last week, Windows CE .Net 4.2 is a real-time operating system designed for creating next-generation smart, connected small-footprint devices. To provide greater flexibility for its customers, Microsoft has designed version 4.2 in two flavours: CE .Net 4.2 Core designed for low-end devices; and CE .Net 4.2 Professional, which offers a richer user interface and enhanced multimedia capabilities.
While historically, Microsoft has taken a one-size-fits-all approach with its licensing fees, the company announced Tuesday that it has changed its ways and is offering the Core OS to users at an estimated retail price of US$3 per license.
According to Debby Fry Wilson, director with Microsoft Embedded, the low-cost licensing scheme gives Microsoft customers more flexibility to leverage their investments with developers.
“(Customers) in turn, save on development costs because there is no need to know different OSes and they have a faster time to market,” Wilson said. “They also save on the licensing costs.”
As part of the Core offering, Microsoft is also offering a new free, non-commercial distribution license enabling its partners and device manufacturers to build prototypes and share device images.
“We take away all the costs in early development to enable collaboration and the addition of new features and functionality in order to foster innovation,” Wilson explained. “We are targeting education, hobbyist as well as commercial markets to ensure that there is no barrier to entry.”
Microsoft Windows CE .Net 4.2 is set for release June 1. For details visit the company’s Canadian Web site at www.microsoft.ca.


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Ooredoo announced another breakthrough for the company, as it has successfully tested the first live eSIM on its world-class Supernet network.
eSIMs are embedded SIMs that will enable Ooredoo to offer a fully digitised user experience without having to insert the normal SIM card in the smart device.
With this advanced technology, customers will be able to switch between their private and business numbers in a single phone without needing to physically swap cards in the phone.
eSIM will also be crucial for the ‘Internet of Things’. Without the need for a physical SIM card, many small devices, such as watches and other wearables, can be connected to the mobile network, completely transforming the digital experience at home or at the office.
Ooredoo’s chief executive Officer Waleed al-Sayed said, “Ooredoo believes in offering and investing in the best services for our country and our people, which is why we are one of the leading telecommunications operators in the world.
“Alongside our amazing 5G roll-out, eSIM technology will enable our customers to seamlessly switch between personal and business accounts, enjoy data like never before and take advantage of our crystal-clear voice services on our Supernet network.”
Currently the eSIM is being tested in Qatar and will be available in the near future when devices are enabled by manufacturers for Qatar.
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Chirpify wants to take the meaning of “hashtag” to a new level.
Chirpify previously focused on allowing consumers to make purchases via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds with specific words. Now, though, the company wants to open their platform up to any advertising or marketing campaign through the use of these “#actiontags.”
Chirpify CEO Chris Teso said the new service allows brands to “connect the dots” between ads on TV, for example, and mobile devices.
“In 1995 using an actual URL in advertisements was commonplace,” he said in a press release. “In 2010 that evolved to Twitter and Facebook brand pages. Today, hashtags are the new URL.”
Chirpify will work with advertisers to create campaigns that include unique hashtags for a promotion. For example, say Nike was advertising new shoes and used the hashtag #NewShoesNike. Once a user includes “#buy,” and “#NewShoesNike,” in a post, Chirpify would then help process that order.
Chirpify has raised $7.3 million to date, including a $4 million round announced in July. Its customers include companies like Adidas, Puma, Green Day, Snoop Lion and the Portland Trail Blazers.


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Promethean burns fingers
Investors found Promethean too hot to handle after disappointing trading figures from the the classroom technology developer.
Digital classrooms?: government spending cuts has helped Promethean lose a fith of its value
The group, which sells interactive whiteboards to schools around the globe, lost a fifth of its value following a surprise slide in profit margins, which fell from 10.3% to 10.6% between January and June.
Chief executive Jean-Yves Charlier insisted that the group's prospects remain bright as classrooms make the move from chalk and books to the digital age.
Cuts to governent spending in the UK and US have yet to hit Promethean, which enjoyed a 31% rise in operating profit to £12.6m during the first half, added Charlier. But shares plunged 29.5p to 118.8p - leaving them 40% below their 200p float price in March this year.
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The wait is almost over. Slutty Vegan to open New York City location in September, 2022.
Slutty Vegan is opening in New York City September 17, 2022. The popular vegan restaurant that started in Atlanta in 2018 debuts in Brooklyn (690 Fulton St.) in less than a month. It’s the brand’s first franchise in NYC and the seventh location to open nationwide. It adds to the growing list of vegan restaurants in New York.
Vegan burgers, with a side of adult
The popular Black-owned plant-based burger brand is known for it’s adult-themed menu items. For example, there’s The Hollywood Hooker. It’s a vegan chopped Philly with jalapeños, bell peppers and caramelized onions. It comes topped with vegan provolone, lettuce, tomato, ketchup and mayo and is served on a hoagie roll. Other eats include the Super Slut, an Impossible burger with guacamole, jalapeños, cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, and Slut Sauce on a Hawaiian bun, plus hot dogs, chicken tenders and even New Orlean-style crispy shrimp.
Today, you can find Slutty Vegan at five locations in Georgia, plus a spot in Birmingham, Ala. Aside from the new Brooklyn location, Slutty Vegan is set to open one more spot in Georgia soon.
The restaurant was the first to receive Pepsi’s Black-owned business grant which gives $10 million to Black-owned businesses.
Pinky Cole making vegan mainstream
Founded by Aisha “Pinky” Cole, who opened her first restaurant – Pinky’s Jamaican & American Restaurant – in Harlem in 2014, the restaurant includes investors like NYC’s Danny Meyer. The restaurant was a dream of Cole’s, who wanted to open “the conversation on vegan food options for people who have never considered them” in communities where there was high numbers of hypertension, obesity, cholesterol and more.
Since she garnered national attention for her long lines in Atlanta back in 2018, Cole’s career and Slutty Vegan have come medi darlings. Recently, she debuted a plant-based spinach dip at Costco stores, and even collaborated with shoe designer Steve Madden on Slutty Vegan shoes. In addition, Cole is DoorDash’s Chief Restaurant Advisor. Expect a cookbook from Cole to drop this fall.
Cole is also the founder of The Pinky Cole Foundation which “empowers generations of color to win in life, financially, and in the pursuit of their entrepreneurial dreams.”
PHOTOS: SLUTTY VEGAN


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QuickLogic Earnings: Here’s Why the Stock is Down Now
QuickLogic Corp. (NASDAQ:QUIK) had a loss and missed Wall Street’s expectations, BUT beat the revenue expectation. The revenue beat is a positive sign to shareholders seeking high growth out of the company. Shares are down 2.06%.
QuickLogic Corp. Earnings Cheat Sheet
Results: Adjusted Earnings Per Share increased to $-0.07 in the quarter versus EPS of $-0.08 in the year-earlier quarter.
Revenue: Decreased 26.88% to $3.02 million from the year-earlier quarter.
Actual vs. Wall St. Expectations: QuickLogic Corp. reported adjusted EPS loss of $0.07 per share. By that measure, the company missed the mean analyst estimate of $0. It beat the average revenue estimate of $0.
Quoting Management: “New product revenue in the first quarter was lower than expected due to a delay in the receipt of an expected large order from a tier one consumer electronics company. This order has since been received and we are on track to meet our forecast for the first half of the year,” stated Andy Pease, QuickLogic’s President and CEO.
Key Stats (on next page)…
Revenue decreased 2.27% from $3.09 million in the previous quarter. EPS decreased to $-0.07 in the quarter versus EPS of $-0.06 in the previous quarter.
Looking Forward: Analysts have a more positive outlook for the company’s next-quarter performance. Over the past three months, the average estimate for next quarter’s earnings has risen from a loss of $0.07 to a loss $0.06. For the current year, the average estimate has moved up from a loss of $0.31 to a loss of $0 over the last ninety days.


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Ford Gets a Modest Lift
Ford Motor Co. (F) said Apr. 26 that it ended up losing less money during recent months than Wall Street had expected, as the beleaguered auto maker struggles to get its finances in order at the same time it improves its products.
The Dearborn (Mich.) company posted a net loss of $282 million during the first quarter of 2007, compared with $1.4 billion in the same period last year. "Our first quarter results came in somewhat stronger than expected, but there are many uncertainties going forward. We remain focused on improving our quality, productivity and business performance," CEO Alan Mulally said in a press release Apr. 26.
The company has had to take tough steps during the first quarter to survive. Ford cut 18,000 positions in North America. It also sold businesses -- even its luxury car maker Aston Martin went for a paltry $848 million (see BusinessWeek.com, 3/13/07, "After Aston, Could Jaguar Be Next?").
The payoff was that Ford ended up losing 15 cents per share during the first quarter, while analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial had expected 60 cents loss.
Ford has also been trying to win customers by doing things like introducing new products and improving existing ones. Thanks to such efforts, Ford's first-quarter revenue was $43 billion, up from $40.8 billion a year ago. The consensus estimate was for only $34.45 billion.
After the news investors bid up Ford's stock by 4.1% to $8.20 per share on the New York Stock Exchange Apr. 26. But they continue watching the company closely.
"Although Ford released first-quarter results Thursday that showed signs of hope, a closer look at the numbers offers a stark reminder of the challenges facing the company as it fights for survival," Morningstar analyst John Novak said in an Apr. 23 research note. Among other things, he pointed out that Ford's North American retail market share (excluding fleet sales) fell 70 basis points, to 10.1%, resuming a troubling downward trend after showing a slight improvement at the end of last year. "The drop in share is noteworthy since it ultimately indicates how far and fast the company must shrink if it is to return profitability," Novak says.
At the heart of Ford's falling market share has been an over-reliance on trucks and sport-utility vehicles while those vehicles have been falling out of fashion with many consumers, and too few compelling and attractive passenger cars and crossover SUVs. It is trying to rapidly make over its lineup, and has been recently getting new Edge and Lincoln crossovers into dealerships. The company has also beefed up the engine offering in what has already been a successful trio of cars-Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln MKZ.
But several badly needed models won't be arriving until 2008 and 2009, including a small car, a slickly designed Fairlane crossover SUV, a second Lincoln crossover, a replacement for the Ford Explorer that is lighter and more fuel-efficient than the current truck-based Explorer, and the new F-150 pickup (see BusinessWeek.com, 12/21/06, "Lessened Bankruptcy Fears Lift Ford Shares").
Luckily, Ford has cash to deploy into new investments at this point. The company reported having $15.7 billion of cash as of March 31, compared to $16 billion in December.
"Though we do not expect No. American operations to be profitable in '07 or '08, and we see significant cash outflows from operations and restructuring during that period, we do believe Ford has enough liquidity to fund turnaround efforts," Standard & Poor's Corp. analyst Efraim Levy said in a research note. (S&P, like BusinessWeek.com, is owned by The McGraw-Hill Companies.)
David Kiley contributed to this report


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8 Things that Impacted Freight Transportation in 2015
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It’s been a transformative year for freight transportation. From new government regulations to the emergence of disruptive technology, here’s a look back at some of the hottest freight transportation topics of 2015.
- West Coast Port Lockout. The year opened with a contentious labor contract negotiation on the West Coast between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association. The conflict caused a series of slowdowns and port closures, affecting 29 ports in total. Although the labor issues are over, the affected ports are still dealing with the aftermath—cargo surges from big ships, chassis dislocations, and lengthy truck delays at terminal gates (JOC.com).
- Plunging Fuel Prices. We’ve seen a steep decline in oil prices over the past year. Now at less than $50 per barrel, many are wondering how much lower prices will get. Shippers are benefiting from lower fuel surcharges, while transportation providers have seen both positive and negative effects. Though operating costs are lower, transportation providers that serve the retail industry have benefited from increased discretionary income that consumers have as a result of lower prices at the pump (Dan Goodwill & Associates).
- FSMA & Sanitary Transportation. The FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has been the most extensive reform of our food safety laws in more than 70 years. New rules implemented this year have affected not only food manufacturers, but also those who transport food products. As scrutiny over manufacturing, packaging and distribution of the product continues to grow, it will be increasingly critical that carriers, brokers, 3PLs, and truckers alike are well versed in the compliance standards of the shippers and receivers they partner with.
- Mergers and Acquisitions Galore. The amount of transportation and logistics acquisition activity this year has been staggering. According to PwC, the total value of those deals reached $97.9 billion in Q3—a 55 percent year-over-year increase (Fleet Owner). As shippers look to trim the number of service providers they work with, we’re likely to see more consolidation in the near future. Carriers and 3PLs with the best technology, service, and national reach will come out on top.
- China’s Slowdown. China’s exports fell 8.3 percent year-over-year in July this year, leading to the devaluation of its currency. We’re beginning to see the emergence of a new era in China—one where both the middle class and labor costs are growing. In turn, China’s manufacturing sector is losing market share (JOC.com). These shifts have significant impacts on global trade, which is forcing many companies to rethink their supply chains.
- The Rise of On-Demand Everything. The massive success of Uber and other technology companies offering on-demand services has led to a revolution in consumer expectations when it comes to efficiency and convenience. From on-demand grocery delivery to crowdsourced warehouse capacity, many companies aiming to disrupt the supply chain and transportation industries have emerged.
- Investment in Technology. Compared to last year, there have been fewer truckload capacity shortages in 2015. Because of this, the most competitive transportation providers invested in technology to improve asset management and driver efficiency. Carriers and 3PLs are making use of more technology and data analytics now than ever before.
- The LTL Renaissance. Increased manufacturing and a growing need for last-mile delivery of items not easily packaged and conveyorized have given a bump to the less-than-truckload (LTL) market. After years on the decline, the combined revenue of the 25 largest LTL carriers jumped by 9.1 percent this year (Dan Goodwill & Associates).
It’s been quite the year for the supply chain and transportation industries. We’re likely to see many of these topics continue to resonate in 2016 and beyond.
Don’t rely on end-of-year recaps for industry news. Subscribe to our newsletter and get timely industry updates, tips, and more delivered to your inbox directly.


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Huawei unveiled the Mate X, awhile back at MWC 2019. This happens to be the first smartphone of the embattled company with 5G capabilities by the Balong 5000 platform. The Chinese company is currently on ready-mode to deliver its in-house chips to Apple.
This appears to be just speculation, owing to earlier valid reports of the platform to be used only on smart products which are part of Huawei portfolio, including phones and other IoT technology. However, Huawei stands open to this new deal probably because Apple(which runs iOS) is not a direct competitor to Android phones. Who’s going to refuse Apple’s mouthwatering deal anyway?
Apple could end up paying a lot of cash for Huawei’s 5G modem, because the Cupertino company wouldn’t want to be left behind in the ‘Race to 5G’ drag race on-going among high tech companies. Analysts are skeptical of the possibility of Intel providing XMM 8160 5G systems for any of the next two generations of iPhones, while Qualcomm and Samsung have completely left Apple out of their 5G technology plans.


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Metro Vancouver home sales return to more traditional levels in April
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 3,232 in April 2022, a 34.1 per cent decrease from the 4,908 sales recorded in April 2021, and a 25.6 per cent decrease from the 4,344 homes sold in March 2022.
Last month’s sales were 1.5 per cent above the 10-year April sales average.
There were 6,107 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the MLS® in Metro Vancouver in April 2022. This represents a 23.1per cent decrease compared to the 7,938 homes listed in April 2021 and an 8.5 per cent decrease compared to March 2022 when 6,673 homes were listed.
With interest rates climbing and the total inventory of homes for sale inching higher, it’s important to work with your local Realtor to understand how these factors could affect your home buying or selling situation.
The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,374,500. This represents an 18.9 per cent increase over April 2021 and a one per cent increase compared to March 2022.
So far this spring, we’ve seen home sales ease down from the record-breaking pace of the last year, REBGV Chair said. “While a small sample size, the return to a more traditional pace of home sales that we’ve experienced over the last two months provides hopeful home buyers more time to make decisions, secure financing and perform other due diligence such as home inspections.”


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Alexandra Daddario Becomes New Face of Dior
American actress Alexandra Daddario, of “Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches,” “White Lotus” and “True Detective” fame, has been named an ambassador for Dior women’s fashion, as well as the La Collection Privée fragrance collection.
“Alexandra will partner with the house, celebrating the designs and creations of women’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri and supporting Dior Beauty in the fragrance category, specifically La Collection Privée Christian Dior,” the brand said in a statement on Monday.
That collection includes Gris Dior and has unveiled a campaign including Jenna Ortega, Thuso Mbedu, Maya Hawke, Joseph Quinn, Fai Khadra, Liu Yuxin, and Orelsan. Gris Dior is considered to be the pillar of the collection.
Earlier this month, the brand held a pop-up around the fragrance, which featured works of art by Andrés Reisinger, Thomas Trum, Mileece, and Collectif Scale.
Though the partnership with Daddario is newly formalized, it isn’t her first time working with the brand. She wears Dior regularly, including at Gris Dior’s The Grey Zone opening event in L.A. as well as the premiere of her show “Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches”, and the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards.
She also attended the brand’s women’s fashion show in Paris in February.


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The Ascott Limited (Ascott) has deepened its sustainability commitment with the launch of Somerset Sustainability Passport Programme, which will engage guests in a series of eco-friendly activities, wellness programmes and community initiatives at Somerset properties globally.
It is aimed at promoting family bonding during stays while encouraging sustainability awareness, programme activities.
Examples of what to expect from the programme include a unique plant adoption drive, where guests can learn to cultivate plants in reused cups and bottles, at Somerset Suzhou Bay Suzhou in China; and herb-planting for children in an eco-friendly rooftop garden at Somerset Rama 9 Bangkok in Thailand.
Somerset also aims to educate guests on the importance of physical and mental well-being through workshops and classes at participating properties.
To build family bonding and interaction with the local community, guests can join cultural workshops and city tours to heritage locations.
The programme further seeks to educate kids on eco-friendly and community-related tasks that they can undertake in their daily lives. Through an engaging Sustainability Passport booklet, kids and their families can explore their property and complete meaningful tasks.
A unifying task that runs through the programme is a call for families to opt in for GoGreen, an eco-friendly initiative that allows guests to select a reduced housekeeping frequency via the DiscoverASR mobile app and receive Ascott Star Rewards points that can be redeemed for future stays. Upon completion, kids will be rewarded with prizes including limited-edition collectibles that are unique to each property.
“Sustainability is a global challenge that requires collective effort. By actively involving our guests in these efforts, we are not just telling them what the Somerset brand stands for; we are amplifying our impact to create a lasting emotional connection. Small individual actions, when multiplied across our portfolio of Somerset properties globally, can inspire our guests of all ages, especially the next generation, to recognise the importance of taking practical action today,” shared Tan Bee Leng, managing director for brand & marketing, Ascott.
“Positioning ourselves as forward-thinking and socially responsible in a world that increasingly values sustainability and inclusivity, is a strategic imperative for Ascott which goes beyond the transactional nature of business.”


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Source: Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC), the first bank to offer commercial and corporate customers mobile services and single sign-on access to online banking, said today that Secil Tabli Watson has been named head of Wholesale Internet Solutions.
"Secil has led innovation and growth of our consumer Internet and mobile channels for nearly a decade," said Danny Peltz, executive vice president and head of Treasury Management at Wells Fargo. "Her leadership, expertise, and insight will keep our commercial and corporate channel at the industry's forefront, deliver innovative new solutions, and enhance our customers' experience."
In her new role, Watson will guide strategic direction for the Commercial Electronic Office® (CEO®) portal, which provides instant online access to more than 80 applications, including cash management, credit and loans, foreign exchange, global payments, health benefit services, insurance, trade services, trust, investment, and retirement services. She also will be responsible for CEO Mobile® service, which allows customers to monitor their accounts and perform critical tasks from anywhere using Web-enabled mobile devices.
Watson joined Wells Fargo in 2002. She served nine years as senior vice president in the Internet Services Group, managing online and mobile payments, fraud prevention, authentication, customer experience and insights, payment and fraud operations. Under her leadership, active mobile channel customers grew to more than 7 million, and online banking customers reached 19.7 million. Bank Technology News named Watson its Innovator of the Year in 2009.
A senior vice president based in San Francisco, Watson earned an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's degree from Cornell University. She is an active member of the Wells Fargo Enterprise Diversity Council.


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General Electric took what Bloomberg Business dubbed “the unusual step” of issuing a public statement yesterday to try to get ahead of reported regulatory opposition to the $3.3 billion sale of its appliance business to Swedish firm Electrolux.
In the statement, GE also announced that the original timeline for closing the deal has been pushed back.
Citing an unnamed source “familiar with the matter,” as is common in reporting about deals at this level, Bloomberg Business reported earlier today that attorneys with the antitrust division of the Department of Justice have raised concerns about the deal in its current form. It is possible the two companies could negotiate a settlement to mollify regulators, the source told Bloomberg, leaving out specifics.
If Electrolux acquires the business, it would control 40 percent of the North American market, becoming peers with industry leader Whirlpool Corp. of the U.S.
GE Appliances includes Louisville’s own massive GE Appliance Park, which employs more than 6,000 people here. The entire appliance division at GE employs 15,000.
If regulators scuttled the deal, GE would be left with a division that is not a particularly large, nor particularly profitable, part of its overall corporate structure. It would also deny GE the chance to profit handsomely from the sale of the division to Electrolux, which desperately wants it.
As IL reported when the sale was announced in September, appliances and lighting accounted for only about 6 percent of the company’s $146 billion in 2013 revenue.
From GE’s public statement:
“GE announced today that the regulatory review for the sale of its Appliances business to Electrolux continues. As a result, the deal will not close during the second quarter of this year. Electrolux and GE continue to work actively with the Department of Justice to endeavor to resolve the remaining items in the clearance process, with the goal of closing the deal in 2015 … GE continues to believe that GE Appliances’ customers, consumers and employees will benefit from Electrolux’s commitment to the appliance business and its ability to compete with global competitors.”
A GE spokesman declined additional comment. IL also contacted an Electrolux spokeswoman for comment, but she did not immediately respond.


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Bain & Company is partnering with OpenAI, and Coca-Cola will be their first client.
OpenAI is the developer of AI software such as ChatGPT, DALL·E, and Codex. Its “global services alliance” with the consulting firm aims to bring the best of AI to Bain’s massive roster of clients.
Coca-Cola marketers plan to use ChatGPT and DALL·E, a digital image generator, to create more personalized ads.
“We see this as an industrial revolution for knowledge work, and a moment where all our clients will need to rethink their business architectures and adapt,” said Manny Maceda, Bain & Company’s Worldwide Managing Partner, in a press release.
Zack Kass, Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI, said that Coca-Cola’s vision for AI adoption is the “most ambitious” of any consumer products company.
Bain, OpenAI, and Coca-Cola leaders discuss the business impact of this partnership. Video from Bain’s press release.
The hype around AI has been dizzying recently, MarketingDive Senior Reporter Peter Adams wrote, but there is still skepticism.
“Solutions like ChatGPT still get a lot of things wrong but can express misinformation confidently or behave in odd ways,” Adams reported in MarketingDive. “Microsoft recently limited the amount of chat interactions users could have with its Bing AI after long conversations led to off-putting results. Artists have also decried tools like DALL.E, which are often trained on human-made images, raising questions around ethics and ownership.”
Check out our recent story on the top AI tools for content creators.
AI Identifies Prospective Customers
AI can do more for marketers than just content generation—tools like Zeta Global claim to be able to determine who’s actively in the market to buy your product.
In a CNBC Special, Co-Founder and CEO of Zeta Global David Steinberg said the platform works by analyzing customer data and behavior.
The better data it has access to, the better Zeta works, Steinberg said. Some of their sources include customer interactions with the business, browsing and purchase history, and third-party data.
BMW, Toyota, Volvo, Samsung, and Hanes all use Zeta Global.
- A new social media app called Nigh looks like TikTok but only shows you local businesses. It was developed in Boulder, Colorado, and is only available there at the moment.
- Adobe is partnering with chip supplier Qualcomm to incorporate its marketing technology software.
- Watch out! Mercedes will soon allow you and your passengers to scroll your respective TikTok feeds in the car.
- Austin-based app SkyFi, which aims to democratize access to satellite imagery, will be hosting a summit during SXSW. Register here for free.
That’s all for this week‘s Marketing Roundup. Check back in next Friday for more news. And subscribe to our newsletter below for additional updates.


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The Netherlands may celebrate the inauguration of king Willem-Alexander on April 30, but just 8% of the population plan to spend more money than they do on a normal Queen’s Day.
A survey for financial services group ING shows the average spend on April 30 will be just €27. And only 15% expect to spend more than €50 on Oranje-related items or on second-hand goods.
In total, 58% say they will spend the same amount as they always do on Queen’s Day, while 34% will spend less. And nearly three-quarters think it right the inauguration is low key, because of the economic situation.
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Computer Technology innovator AMD is about to unleash its most ambitious and powerful processing core "Ryzen." Running at a base clock of 3.4GHZ with 8 cores and 16 threads, it comes neck-to-neck with Intel's own powerful set of processing cores, particularly the Intel 8C/16T Broadwell-E.
AMD has recently announced that it will release new products in its computer arsenal. These will include three new AMD processors, AMD drivers and a CPU cooler. It seems the battle between AMD vs Intel is going to the next level.


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Confectionary and pet care brand Mars has announced its aim to grow its Ice Cream business segment to $1bn by 2030.
In order to achieve these growth targets, Mars’ Ice Cream segment has introduced ‘DOVEBAR’.
The company said it created the DOVEBAR by adopting sustainable practices across its entire supply chain, to eventually leave a positive lasting impact on society.
Mars has also ‘reimagined’ the packaging of this new offering by reducing the amount of film used to contain the ice cream.
It claims it is investing ‘hundreds of millions of dollars’ in order to shift its business towards sustainable packaging solutions.
Mars is aiming to adopt reusable, sustainable, recyclable, or compostable packaging for its entire product range.
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This has resulted in eliminating approximately 27 tonnes of plastic every year across four of its products.
Mars Ice Cream general manager Shaf Lalani said: “The widespread popularity of iconic Mars brands gives consumers the opportunity to enjoy their favourite candies as innovative Mars Ice Cream products.
“Mars Wrigley North America will deliver both growth and positive societal impact with our vanilla [flavour] for DOVEBAR and empower women throughout our supply chain.”
Mars has also adopted sustainable solutions in its industrial operations.
Its Illinois, US-based facility, which is also used to make the DOVEBAR, uses 100% renewable electricity and sends zero waste to landfills, for example.
Anton Vincent, Mars Wrigley North America president and Mars Ice Cream global head, said: “At Mars, we see an opportunity to grow our ice cream business not only in North America, but around the globe.
“We are innovating with a focus on product and purpose and expanding our global manufacturing capabilities to ensure we can meet rapidly rising consumer demand.”
Last month, Mars announced its plans to transition its chocolate bar packaging from plastic wrappers to recyclable paper across the UK.


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Google Wallet Archive
This evening I received the below email from Google – they have announced that in early 2012 (no firm date provided), Google Checkout will be merged into the new Google Wallet service. Chris Ziegler at Verge posted about this announcement a few hours ago as well.
We just moved off of Google Checkout (and Paypal) at CloudContacts earlier this month. I will eventually post about why but the short version is that I found that our customers were a bit confused as to what exactly are the payment options on both Google Checkout and Paypal. Also, to use Google Checkout you need a Google account and I didn’t want any barriers to sales – not everyone has a Google account and forcing a potential customer to create one before the purchase was a big barrier. In case you are interested, we are now using Stripe for our transactions and in the first two weeks since the conversion went live, I have been extremely pleased with their service.
Here is the full email I received (URLs removed for clarity):
Thank you for using Google Checkout. We’re writing about an important change coming to Google Checkout over the next few months – Google Checkout is becoming part of Google Wallet. To help you learn more about this transition, we’ll be hosting a webinar.
Please note that space in the webinar is limited, but we’ll have a recording posted for those who aren’t able to attend.
Google Wallet is a virtual wallet that securely stores payment information and makes paying fast both online and in-store. On the web, buyers simply click a Google Wallet button to make quick and secure purchases with their saved payment information. Buyers can also use the Google Wallet mobile app to make purchases at thousands of retail store locations with just a tap of the phone.
Google Checkout buyers will now manage all Google Checkout and Google Wallet orders at (redacted). Buyers will be able to make purchases with their existing accounts at sites that accept either Google Checkout or Google Wallet.
At this time, there’s no action required from you. In early 2012, we’ll ask merchants, organizations and developers who use Google Checkout to sell items or collect donations to change any website text that talks about Google Checkout to Google Wallet. No additional integration or other technical updates will be necessary. If you use Google Checkout through a third party shopping cart, your cart provider will make any necessary changes.
If you have questions or want to learn more, please attend or view our webinar and visit our website. We’re looking forward to bringing these new Google Wallet features to your customers and will email you again in the next few months to let you know when to expect the Google Wallet button.


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In-car DVDs that beat travel boredom
Last updated at 08:27 26 May 2005
Sales of in-car DVD players are soaring because parents are using the devices to occupy children on long journeys, a retailer said today.
Demand for the machines has risen by 400% in the past year, according to Argos.
The retailer predicts another jump in sales before families take to the road for the Bank Holiday weekend.
Twin screen in-car DVD players with combined games consoles are powered via the car's cigarette lighter.
They can be operated by the player or by a parent in the front seat using a remote control. Each screen has headphones to cut down on noise disturbance.
Argos spokeswoman Kerry Brayshaw said the store's research showed parents were using the device to stop child passengers repeatedly asking nagging questions such as 'Are we there yet?'.
She said parents regarded the electrical gadgets as 'life savers' on long road trips.
'At last technology has found a solution for one of the most excruciating aspects of modern life,' she said.
'It's been happening for at least the last 50 years - ever since parents could first afford cars to drive their families on special trips to the seaside.'
Psychologist Conrad King said many motorists compared their children's persistent questioning to Chinese water torture.
'The words sound innocuous at first, but repeated over and over again, they can have the same irritating and grating effect as the constant drip of a leaking tap,' he said.
'You begin to anticipate with dread when the next drip will fall.'
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By Jared A. Favole and Eric Morath
President Barack Obama on Thursday called U.S. exports one of the “biggest bright spots” in the U.S. economy, but data show his goal of doubling exports by the end of 2014 is likely unreachable unless the world economy dramatically revs up.
Mr. Obama, speaking to his Export Council from the White House, praised the growth in exports and said it shows that “‘Made in America’ means something and has provided a boost to our domestic economy and has reminded the world just how competitive we are.”
Through July, the most recent trade data available, exports had grown 51% since the president took office. That’s far behind the 75% advance needed at that point to meet to double exports before the end of next year…


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"The children's publications market has been thriving with many quality works that boost healthy development, but problems also exist, such as shoddy quality, improper content and overly high prices," reported Xinhua citing the circular Thursday.
The circular instructed administrative departments to strictly ban publications that contain murder, violence, obscenity and erotic content.
It also suggested publishing houses to train professional editing teams for children's titles.
Xu Dexia, editor-in-chief of 'Literature for Children' magazine, blamed books with improper content on some publishers' pursuit of profits at the cost of cultural and social responsibility.
Figures show that 523 of a total 581 Chinese publishing houses release books for children.
While the traditional publication market keeps shrinking in general, Xu said, children's books remain one of the few profitable genres, and many publishers "are digging into this last piece of cake".
Out of the country's top 100 bestsellers in the first half of 2013, children's books accounted for 52 titles.
According to the circular, administrative departments should strengthen supervision and impose serious punishment on violators for printing, copying or releasing children's books with tawdry content.
It also stressed on online monitoring of publications, calling for timely deletion of questionable digital publications and shutting down websites in severe cases.
--IANS (Posted on 13-09-2013)


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Kia Motors has made an impressive job again picking up two Red Dot awards for its outstanding design of the Kia Soul EV and all-new Kia Sorento.
This year, the judges of the Red Dot Awards program, headed by design experts from a range of industries have awarded their recognition to Kia Soul EV and made an ‘Honorable Mention’ for the Kia Sorento.
Since its first award received in 2009, Kia’s innovations have conquered the award slots every single year. And in fact, Kia has made 13 awards in total for its successful design on its previous models.
The Red Dot Award program is not the only organization that has seen Kia’s excellent work on Soul and Sorento because both of which have gained the If Design Awards in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
The official presentation of the 2015 Red Dot Awards will take place on 29 June in Essen, Germany at the Aalto Theater, an opera house designed by Alvar Aalto.
The Red Dot Awards program which has existed since 1954, is one of the most highly-respected international design competitions in the world that marks its quality seal to the best of the best products. It is now celebrating its 60th anniversary.
For more details about Kia cars, visit our dealerships in Pasong Tamo Makati and Dasmariñas Cavite.


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Apple forced Microsoft's tablet move
- Staff Puget Sound Business Journal
The New York Times reports Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) executives were shocked two years ago to find out that Apple was buying aluminum for the iPad directly from an Australian mine, controlling the iPad's production from start to finish. Microsoft hasn't been able to do that, especially working on hardware devices with partners such as Hewlett-Packard.
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Cudahy woman cited for OWI hands police Amazon gift card when asked for her license during traffic stop
CUDAHY - A 53-year-old woman, who narrowly missed hitting a squad car, handed police an Amazon gift card when asked for her drivers license during a traffic stop Aug. 15.
Nickalay Brzycki of Cudahy had a 0.20 BAC and was cited for her first OWI offense, operating with prohibited blood-alcohol concentration, failure to stop at a stop sign, and making an improper right turn.
Police encountered Brzycki at South Packard and East Allerton Avenues when they said she almost caused a head-on collision with the police squad car while making a right turn.
According to a police report, Brzycki failed to stop at a four-way intersection and instead coasted through at about 10 miles per hour. Once in the center of the intersection, she began turning right. The approaching police squad car had to stop well short of the intersection to avoid a collision as Brzycki had crossed the double yellow line.
When police conducted the traffic stop, Brzycki initially produced an Amazon gift card when asked for her license — she did end up handing over her actual license.
Brzycki admitted to having five beers between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. at three different establishments — Frank’s PowerPlant, the Salty Dog and the Lake Side Pub.


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Salesforce, the enterprise cloud computing company, today announced that pharmaceutical company, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, has deployed its CRM across 200 users within 60 days.
Online PR News – 08-February-2011 – – Salesforce and Bodhtree integrate cloud solution with legacy Mail, Calendar, and SAP systems in less than 60 days.
DELHI, India, 03February 2011 – Salesforce, the enterprise cloud computing company, today announced that India’s second largest pharmaceutical company, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, has deployed Salesforce CRM across 200 users within 60 days.
Dr. Reddy’s decided to move its Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) marketing business to the cloud in order to improve visibility into its deals pipeline, track its end-to-end sales cycle and better analyze its sales funnel.
Dr. Reddy’s implemented Salesforce CRM with the help of IT business consulting firm Bodhtree, who used its data integration engine MIDAS to integrate with existing Mail, Calendar, and SAP systems, By streamlining its sales business on Salesforce, Dr. Reddy’s expects to increase revenue by more than 30%.
Comments on the News
• “We eliminated bottle necks within the sales cycle almost immediately because of the greater visibility we gained into sales performance,” said B.V. Srinivas, Deputy CIO, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. “Salesforce’s ability to seamlessly integrate data captured offline with online systems, is of immense help to our field sales team who need to track and update customer data on regular basis but do not have access to internet connectivity at all times. Salesforce delivers all of the benefits of a world-class CRM system within a cost-effective ‘pay as you go’ model, which fits perfectly with Dr. Reddy’s ‘quality without the cost’ ethos.”
• Salesforce Asia Pacific Senior Vice President for Corporate Sales Lee Thompson said, “Dr. Reddy’s is a prime example of how cloud integration can add value to legacy systems. With cloud computing, there are no hidden costs in terms of hardware, software, or 22% annual maintenance fees. You know exactly what you're going to pay for, and people just love using Salesforce CRM.”
Salesforce is the enterprise cloud computing company. Based on salesforce’s real-time, multitenant architecture, the company’s platform and CRM applications have revolutionized the way companies collaborate and communicate with their customers, including:
• The Sales Cloud, for sales force automation and contact management
• The Service Cloud, for customer service and support solutions
• The Jigsaw Data Cloud, for ensuring data integrity and quality
• Salesforce Chatter, for social collaboration
• The Force platform, for custom application development
• Database, the world’s first enterprise cloud database
• The App Exchange, the world’s leading marketplace for enterprise cloud computing applications
Salesforce offers the fastest path to customer success with cloud computing. As of October 31, 2010, Salesforce manages customer information for approximately 87,200 customers including Allianz Commercial, Dell, Japan Post, Kaiser Permanente, KONE, and SunTrust Banks.
Any unreleased services or features referenced in this or other press releases or public statements are not currently available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers who purchase Salesforce applications should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available. Salesforce has headquarters in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and Asia, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CRM.” For more information please visit http://www.bodhtree.com/services-it-crmconsulting.shtml


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Current laws on information sharing between countries are slowing down efforts to stop international crime and terrorism. The present arrangement requires countries to enter into treaties, issue diplomatic requests, and then local warrants. That process can take months; too long for law enforcement to do its job right.
Revising or creating pertinent laws, however, run into a two-fold concern: balancing the right to information with the right to privacy. As a World Bank report stated, both rights have equal standing and must be respected as much as possible. Conflict arises, however, when something as serious as terrorism is considered.
An article on The Economist lays down the complexities and difficulties of balancing these two rights in the context of terror. The report says the Paris attacks revived this debate. It became clear that critical information on the movements of the attackers was not shared in time by other countries to France.
Further challenges are encryption and the terrorists’ own craftiness. Some forms of encryption cannot be broken even by governments. Terrorists are finding devious means to communicate, like using Playstation 4 gaming and messaging over the internet.
Information on potential terror threats, attacks, and other crimes can be gleaned from databases and servers in various countries, connected by the internet and cellular networks. However, privacy laws rightly keep most of that private and personal information away from law enforcement.
Tech giant Google recently suggested a way to fast-track information sharing between countries. According to Reuters, the company called on the U.S. Congress to provide a legal framework to let foreign governments directly request information from tech firms, without involving the U.S. government. This would be a reciprocal arrangement.
As a safeguard, foreign countries must adhere to a standard of human rights, privacy, and due process. Governments who violate that standard will be barred from the deal. Whether this actually happens or not is something governments and private citizens will have to decide.
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PASAY CITY, Philippines, Feb. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — SM Investments Corporation reported its net income grew 53% to PHP61.7 billion in 2022 from PHP40.4 billion in 2021.
Consolidated revenues hiked 28% to PHP553.8 billion compared with PHP432.4 billion last year.
“All of our business units delivered strong results, reflecting the Philippines’ economic recovery last year and the actions we took during the pandemic. We are stronger today having prioritized our people, our tenants, our business partners and our communities during the difficult times. SM also innovated and improved efficiencies across the board, and today we are focused again on expanding our footprint across the regions to serve more Filipinos,” SM Investments President and Chief Executive Officer Frederic C. DyBuncio said.
Banking contributed 45% to net income with property accounting for 23%, retail contributing 21% and portfolio investments the remaining 11%.
Among its portfolio investments, SM gained full ownership of Philippine Geothermal Production Company (PGPC) which pioneered the commercial development of geothermal resources in South East Asia in 1971. SM also increased its stake in its other logistics business, Airspeed to 51% from 35% to further support the movement of goods in a reopened economy.
“We increased our stakes in a number of companies that are investments in the growing Philippine economy and a testament to our commitment to sustainability. These companies are all profitable and generating significant contributions to our group earnings,” Mr. DyBuncio added.
SM Retail Inc., which consists of food and non-food stores, reported revenues of PHP378.2 billion, from PHP304.0 billion, up 24%. Net income increased 86% to PHP17.9 billion from PHP9.6 billion.
Retail’s robust performance was lifted by the return to face-to-face schooling and a strong last quarter due to vibrant holiday spending.
SM continued to expand its retail footprint. THE SM STORE opened four new stores in 2022 in Cubao, Makati, Quiapo and Delgado. The food group, which includes SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, Savemore, Alfamart and Waltermart added 231 new stores in 2022. By the end of the year, SM Retail added a total of 348 new stores across the entire portfolio for a total of 3,512 outlets, consisting of 72 The SM Stores, 1,611 specialty retail stores, 65 SM Supermarkets, 54 SM Hypermarkets, 215 Savemore, 82 WalterMart and 1,412 Alfamart stores.
SOURCE SM Investments Corporation